Let's go check out Sun Pantheon's sea god (whose name escapes me at the moment.)

>>17059668

seconding visit to Danarius, since we're on a boat

>>17059668
Thirding Danarius. We should ask him where he would like his temples to be built.

>>17059712
There. Short, simple, business-like goal.

>>17059645
I say we visit the god Wulf worships. Forgot his name. Partly to check up on him, see if he has anything to say about Wulf and to be contrary to everyone else.

>>17059780
I don't really see the point in chatting with Eago about Wulf specifically, since Wulf has been in a pseudo-contact with Lena via his Owl and that new power of his...

I don't really know what else to speak about to Eago, though

You force a mock frown, before replying "You are correct I suppose. It woudl seem prudent to visit Danarius, as we are at sea, and Karythria is rather... abrasive, to deal with." Vi simply nods and follows you.

Before long, you are standing a decent way from a large pavilion along the sea. From the massive structure, the dull roar of reverie and merryment can be heard. And before you, the large, solidly built, red-faced, white-haired Danarius stands, goblet in one hand, the other resting at his side "Ahh, Justinian Trentz! How good of you to visit me, I suppose... theough it is a shame that you did not bring your Sansa with you."

Vi chuckles "She is most likely abed, or keeping our maniple from falling apart at the moment. Not work that she could be taken from."

"Work?" the god asks, chuckling knowingly.

You nod "My wives can be, voracious, when the mood takes them."

Vi elbows you in the gut, playfully "And you let us to them, not taking any care to shield us from their appetites."

You smirk "It was... enjoyable to watch. Besides, you would have had that happen to you sooner or later."

Danarius laughs again, before offering you a platter with a pair of goblets "If we are to converse, be it business, or simple conversation for its own sake, we are to have drink to go with it. I trust you will not object to this?" You shake your head and accept the goblet, Vi doing the same. "So," the god asks, after allowing you to savor the first few sips of the delicious liquor "What brings you too my domain?"

>>17059808
Personally I don't think we need to talk to the gods anymore at this point. Maybe talk to angry sea goddess but we send Vi back ahead of us and find out why she was brooding.

>>17059829
Ask how his return into the world is going. Some simple conversation and later ask about his preferences regarding his temples.

>>17059923
Second. If he has any requests, I'm sure he'll mention it.

"I'm willing to bet you've heard by now that I've been asking the others where they'd like their temples placed, should the old structures be unavailable, and now it's come time for me to ask the same question to you.

Also, I am plotting to fund an expedition to discover new lands over the seas sometime in the future when war is not as much of a pressing matter as it is now. I'm hoping to see what it would cost to garner fair winds for the men I'll be sending out."

You smirk as the fiery fluid sluices down your throat "I simply hoped to see how your return to the mortal realm fares, and see what your preferences to temple sites is. As I hope to sponsor at least a few temples for each god."

Danarius' perpetual smile deepens momentarily "It goes well. Your Sansa is unwittingly spreading my faith quite well, with every feast and celebration she organizes, I am able to find new devotees. As to temples, any large building would suffice, as my followers can make any structure into a proper feasting hall. And large spaces are the best sort of spaces for reverie. Being near the sea is nice, but by no means necessary."

You nod, and take another big drink from the goblet you were offered "That should be quite easy for me to accomplish."

Vi laughs, and interjects "We are wholly unsurprised that Sansa has been a strong source of power for you, though, we wonder how you are able to convert drunks."

The god laughs, long and heartily, before replying "Your celebrations are veritable locus's of power for me. Is simply walk into the drunken dreams of those who most heartily enjoyed the reverie, and speak with them."

You join int he contagious laughter, nearly spilling your drink "I suppose it does not surprise me either. Though, it must be quite the shock to your converts, to say the least."

Danarius shakes his head, still guffawing "For most, though your soldiers, especially after you told them of my return, and the return of the other deities, was depressingly unsurprised." the god spilling from his crystal goblet, which stays full, despite the massive loss of fluid it suffered.
>cont'd

This revelation brightens your mood further, even as the laughter dies off "I am truly glad to hear that, I suppose. though, I do have one favor to ask of you, in light of that, though it will not need to be acted upon until the war is ended, and reconstructions finished."

The god wipes his chin, and replies with an amused "Oh?"

You nod "I intend to send exploratory ships to the north at that point, and I would like it if they had a modicum of protection from you."

Danarius nods, happily "They will have that and more, though, Karythria being who she is, I cannot guarantee perfect safety, when that time comes."

You nod, slowly, as you sigh contently "Then you have my thanks, Danarius."

>so, anything else here, or move on. If so to where (another god, or just leaving for the mortal plane?)

>>17060133
If we can convince Vi to leave ahead of us, I say let's see Karythria. Otherwise let's head back. Who knows how much time has passed in the real world.

>>17060139
Ehh, I'm not so sure about seeing her, but I will agree that IF we see her, we should go ahead and let Vi have a break.

>>17060161
Let's just head back then. She was brooding but didn't make it seem like she wanted to talk to us. Let's let her simmer a bit and approach her later when she's in a better mood I guess.

>>17060209
Yeah, if she wanted to talk to us she would have told us when we were doing our overview of the gods. Let's head back.

head back then

You nod again, and bid your farewells to the god before surfacing back to the area between the gods realms, then again to the mortal realm. You find it nighttime, and all in your cabin sound asleep, save yourself and Vi "We should sleep as well. Who knows what tomorrow will bring." she offers, strething, rising, and staggering drunkenly.

You laugh "If I had known that drinking in the divine realms would leave me so pleasantly innebriated upon waking, I would have done so more often." as you stumble upwards as well. Damn, Danarius' brew is strong, you muse to yourself as you move over to your cot.

-----CQ-----

The next few days pass uneventfully, save for the passing of a small storm, and boredom sink in in across the fleet. Of course, one misty morning, something breaks the waves that makes you wish you hadent wished for excitement. It is as group of four massive tortoises, each of them the size of the Ghezrobans Wrath, and supporting a massive howdah. Each howdah bristles with balistae, and what appear to be some form of ancient arcana, and teem with life.

As they draw near, the admiral walks up beside you, and swears "Dragons cocks! TERTIOSE RAID!!! he bellows out, and the crew launches into action. As the massive tortoises draw near, you can make out their riders, some form of turtle-folk, each would be the height of a large man, were it not for their slouch. Their scaled skins ranging in hue from greens to blues, and every shade inbetween, their thick shells all white, black or gray. Their heads are tortoise-like, save for hte tentacles dangling where most would have a lower jaw. All of them wield some manner of weapon, and, as the oldest looking sea-beast approaches, you realize that all of them look eager to use the weapons.

>>17060409

Our sword excretes its poison... time to see if that warcrime of a poison works on ship-sized turtles.

Bring Vi with us and get to one of the ship's repeaters/steam repeaters.

We're going to attempt to apply our sword's poisons (in fairly large amounts if Vi can up the production rate for a bit) onto ballista bolts while they target the giant fucking turtles!

>>17060409
Ask the admiral if he wants us to help in any way. I imagine our ranged units would be good.

rolled 96 = 96

Well, I would not want to presume to command a captain on his own ship nor would i want to use earth elementalism on the sea so PREPARE FOR COMBAT!

>>17060409
Get our legionaries, warlords, and our other melee mercenary's ready to assist with boarding counter-boarding efforts. Our ranged units should be prepared to fire on the enemy when they get in range and to focus on trying to take out their siege engine crews and stop any enemy trying to board the ship. Elementalists and arcanists should attack the enemy when they get in range and try to take out the enemy siege weapons. If they can they should try to block the projectiles the enemy will throw at us.

Your face sets, and you draw your blade, as you turn to find your men. You spot Gaius and grab his arm "Get the men ready, tell them to-"

Admiral Tenum, chuckles and shakes his head, once again, perfectly calm and controlled "Thank you, Commander, but my maries are both trained and prepared for this sort of attack. Your men are better off below-decks, where their strength wont be sapped before your campaign begins."

"But-" you start to reply, at once indignant and grateful.

The Admiral grins "If you wish to help, yourself and your command staff will be more than enough." he cuts you off, resting a hand on your shoulder. After you nod, he turns and bellows "LOAD BREAKERS!"

You consider things for a moment, before instructing Gaius "Gather the command staff, have them meet me here as quickly as possible."

The admiral nods as he turn s to you "You are new to most things nautical, so I will give you the short of this situation. We are being raided by Tertiose, they live somewhere under the sea, and this is how they sustain their livelihoods. They are slow above water, and quite strong. They are not normally bold enough to attack a fleet, but with a force this size, it is not surprising that they struck at us." the ship begins to rock as balista bolts begin to slam into its side "The best way to combat them is to get aboard their beasts, instead of letting them come to us, if you like, I can allow you to lead one of my boarding parties. Most of their weapons that aren't stone tridents, or cudgels is stolen, so try to not loose to many blades if you do lead an assault."

Your command staff jogs to meet you, all of them fully prepared for battle, and eagerly awaiting your command "Commander, what are your orders?" Cornelius asks, his usual no-nonsense self on campaign.

The admiral grins "Either way, I would like for your wives and yourself to join me in my cabin for dinner once this is done. If you aren't too injured to do so."

>>17060694
Orders are to listen to the captain. He's the master in nautical battles such as this. Also, the dice gods have forsaken me this day, and as such i will not roll.

>>17060694
I say we board one of em and take em on there. If they're using stone weapons, that makes our elementalism useful.

"We'll be boarding the enemy vessels. I'm going to try finding a good soft spot to stick one of those damn things with Vi's poison blade while the rest of you keep their men busy. Remember, they're scavengers, so don't lose anything overboard that they could use."

>>17060694

Support the battle from aboard the friendly ship. The Admiral and his men are bringing us to fight another battle, so let them handle this one.

Support in what capacity we have with ranged skills and repel boarders or tend to wounded as the situation calls for.

>>17060556
I still want to try poisoning one of those giant turtles, though.

>>17060813
If we poison a turtle, we better make damn sure we can get off before it dies.

>>17060694
I say we lead one of the boarding parties.

>>17060797

I'm very much against boarding a living turtle and stabbing it with a poisoned sword that may or may not cause it to violently spasm as it dies a horrible death.

Changing the fuck out of my vote.

Have Vi poison bolts, everyone else repel boarders.

from irc
<Pax> if it helps, you do have tyour sea legs
.....
<Pax> but there wont be much, if any of a negative mod to combat at this point
(for ship fighting)

>>17060928
what he says is true, and we need a tiebreaker here

>>17060973
If Vi can poison the bolts, let's defiintely do that.

You think for a moment, before asking aloud "Vi, do you think you can get this poison onto some of our balistae bolts?" as you bat the hilt of your sword, unlocking it from its sheath in the same gesture.

The woman steps forward, thinking, before she replies "WE... we dont think so. the Syptionus can barely contain that poison. To any other substance, it would be like oil to water, they simply would not combine."

You nod, slowly "Can you think of any other way to deliver it to the enemy beasts?"

She shakes her head "We're sorry, Commander, but we can think of nothing. If you have no other questions for us, we think we should head to the medicae." she replies sadly, as the 'breaker' bolts begin to, well, break apart, shortly before they reach the nearest beast. Most of the other bolts, however, are either hanging loosely from the massive mounts hides, or shattering against their armored shells.

>>17061073
Probably for the best if she goes to the medicae now.

And can someone refresh my memory: Can Justinian swim?

>>17061099
>yes he can, there was a river by the town he grew up in, you see

>>17061129
Alright, still voting to stay here and help repel any boarders.

I say we keep to the ship and let the admiral do his job.

>>17061099

hahaha...

well, now we know!

Also voting to repel boarders. The Admiral knows what he's doing.

To reach a consensus I change my vote to stay here and help repel boarders.

>>17061213
I'll go along with this. Probably the best to let the man do his job.

You nod your ascent, and turn to face the admiral "Sadly, that is the extent of my ideas for this situation. I will help repel borders, I suppose."

The admiral nods, albeit sadly "Very well, though if the stories are even half-true I know that you and your command staff would server me far better assaulting the shells. My current marine captains are rather... lackluster. They are not unskilled, but I have had better in my career. If you change your mind, feel free to join any assault, I will inform my captains that they are to defer to you if you join them." And at that, the man snaps off a crisp salute, and walks off down the rocking deck, bellowing orders.

For a few minutes more, all you hear, and see, is the crashing of balista bolts back and forth, combined with the occasional arcane blast from the arcana mounted to the massive open-topped howdahs on the turtles. As soon as the largest of the beasts is within range, boarding ramps are dropped, hooks are thrown, and archers begin to fire.
>cont'd

For a while, the mulch-teared insane maze connecting the beast with the ship seems to be a stalemate. Crimson-clad Degnarians in breastplates and chain-mail moving in small tight formations across the wooden boards, circle-shields, short-spears, and momentum taking them as far as they can go before a tertiose drops into the formation, shattering bones, and sending marines plunging to their deaths. Laelith forces a dry laugh "Loukys of the sea indeed." as the true number of enemy warriors becomes increasingly apparent, as does the fact that they handily outnumber you.

At the same time, you realize that a decent-sized group of tertiose is bearing down on your position along the Wraths deck, and several groups of marines fight clear the path to the enemy beast. Hurling their spears at the guards along the edge of the howdah as they draw their gladius's. Gaius grins "Draw steel and brace yourselves!" he shouts to the marines nearby, as he sets himself to be at the center of the formation of onrushing creatures.

>roll combat

rolled 99 = 99

FUCKING VIKING RAGE GO

rolled 64 = 64

>>17061346
Hmm. If his captains are that lackluster, maybe we should join in on the assault after dealing with these guys.

rolled 83 = 83

>>17061346
they see me rollin

rolled 90 = 90

>>17061346
Rolling for combat.

Why, /tg/ dice? why?

You set your shield, and brace your spear back next to Gaius, Cornelius to the other side of the massive Centurion. Behind you Sansa and Aurelius have their bows drawn, and to their flanks, Finian and Kyria are ready to fire. Between the archers and front line, Collin, Jayne and Uurist stand ready to counter-charge. Lena, Laelith and Catalina stand behind and to the flanks of all of you, silently channeling power. Tou absently notice Blackbird leaping about the upper levels of the maze of crossing points, slaying tertiose as he does so.

Then, the first of the beasts hit, and they hit _hard_. You can feel the saturated granite dent your shield, even as your meteorite spear impales the rushing turtle-man, in synch with the other spear-men, you kick the corpse free, and pull back your spear, before digging it into the next tortoises flesh. Then, the arrows and bolts begin to fly, cutting into, but not killing, many of the onrushing foes. You stab into the still standing tertiose before you, as Lena switches from shielding the ship, to blasting the next group of onrushing foes with a lance of arcane energy.

Seconds later, bladed shards of bone burst from the falling corpses, and flense the remainder of that group as they are burned alive. So distracted are you by the awesome display of arcane might, that you are nearly pulled from the ship by the falling corpse your spear is imbedded in. You recover before you are pulled to your doom, but your shield is further abused, as the top-right point of the battered kite-shield is bent inwards towards you, and the thing is pulled as out-of-position as you are. Before any foes can capitalize on this, Collin strikes out at the beast accosting you, allowing both of you to drop back to the formation, as another group rushes forwards, and your arcanists return to drawing power to themselves.

>Another combat roll please.

rolled 45 = 45

test roll

rolled 84 = 84

rolling combat

rolled 32 = 32

>>17061595
Combat roll. Stay in formation for now.

>>17061595

Elementalism roll

"throw" the stone weapons of slain foes at their allies with terakinisis

rolled 55 = 55

>>17061692

whoops, lets try that again...

Elementalism roll, terakinisis stone weapons of enemies into their allies/selves

As the next wave approaches, you steady your spear, and do your best to not impale your own face on your now misshapen shield. This time, yourself, Gaius and Cornelius are able to stride forward confidently into the wave of foes, stabbing, kicking out, and stepping up in unison.

Behind you Uurist, Jayne and Collin show no mercy, dispatching any foes that survived your initial onslaught. As the next wave of foes is again obliterated by an arcane assault, you decide to add your own arcane prowess to the battle. It takes so effort, but as the next live wave approaches, you lift some of the still-drenched clubs, and hurl them at the approaching tertiose. The chunks of stone are hard to move, and sluggish, but you succeed in sending a few back to the depths.

You glance about, to see several clear lanes of troops forming, The crossers now mostly ignoring each other, instead trying to cut off the flow of foes at its source. Gaius growls "We could be stuck here all day if we dont push them back." as he sets his feet again, as your battle-line is now a few steps out on to the plank connecting the great tortoise with your ship. You nod griml;y, flourishing your spear to clear some of the grey blood, chunks of flesh, and bone that had begun to pile up on it, before setting yourself back into position again yourself.

>combat roll, if you would

rolled 8 = 8

making a combat roll.

let's try this. Comabat

rolled 62 = 62

>>17061757

Combat Roll

voting to press onto the enemy turtle ship and kill everything on it, perhaps leaving our spear on this ship with someone?

just popping for a roll, you know, something I tend not to screw up....heh

>>17061790
YES.

SUCK IT, BITCHES

>>17061795
I agree. Now is the time to push them back.

rolled 19 = 19

>>17061800
>>17061800
Yes, I did just kind of eat my words........

rolled 49 = 49

since TRO beat me to the combat roll...
command roll
"They're taking too long to get here! Bring their deaths to them! CHARGE!"

You nod, before you turn to shout at the unit of marines passing behind your line "We're advancing down this lane NOW!" you order the men. They freeze for a moment, before forming up behind your small group. Then, you tighten your formation with Gaius and Cornelius, Uurist, Collin and Jayne fan out to form a wedge, you all draw your blades, and you meet the onrushing foes with momentum of your own. To say it is a slaughter is an understatement. Your blade dances before you, severing arms, disemboweling warriors, skewering heads. Every foe before you falls within seconds. To your right, Jayne is sending even more of them flying from the gangplanks, as Gaius and Cornelius effortlessly break the initial shock of impact from every wave of foes that you come across.

Not that they have much weight when you strike them, as your ranged support is mercilessly slashing through the approaching foes with arcane power, their own bones, fire, and the occasional arrow or bolt. Your entire command staff stride froward in silent, perfectly synchronized assault. Each of you knowing where the others will strike, and when. As you approach the enemy fortifications, you realize that it is the marines behind you that are shouting battle-cries, barely able to keep pace with you over the blood-slick planks. The battlements are as impressive as coral, stone and shell battlements can be. and the tridents protruding from them are rather intimidating, but you are not overly worried as you gaze of the three-tared howdah complex appraisingly. You observe it, measure it, and mentally weigh it. And, moments before you reach the battlements, which you blast apart with a cluster of stone weapons you had been collecting with your terrakenisis, you find it wanting.

>roll for combat again

rolled 26 = 26

>>17061935
Rollan

rolled 89 = 89

>>17061935
Elementalism roll. Keep killing them on their own weapons

"OVER THE EDGE!!" you bellow as you mentally reach out for the fallen tertoises weapons, only to find them grasped to securely to wrench free, especially as water-logged as they are. You do not, however, let it affect you. As you begin carving a bloody path through your foes. A few manage to block your blows, but none of them stand for very long. As Gaius roars, and truly begins to lay into the larger of your foes, as Blackbird drops down and decapitates one that had nearly snuck up on the mountain of a man, now that the formation had broken. To your right, Jayne is still sending foes flying, though she now has Sansa darting about before her, knives drawn, killing even more of the beasts. Collin look bored as he carves through enemy wariors, Uurist pacing the dwarven blademaster expertly.

Behind you, Lena and Bellatrix hold the rear of your force, as you move towards the large group of marines trying to push towards the stairs to the second tier of the massive howdah. Intact shells and muscle begin to tear from the corpses littered about the howdah, as a series of ropes and planks bearing only beasts light ablaze, despite the water dripping from them, You grin wildly, as you eviscerate another foe. This is going quite well.

rolled 7 = 7

>>17062051
Combat roll.

rolled 89 = 89

Command roll.
"THESE BEASTS COME FROM THE DEEP ABYSS, LETS SEND THEM BACK AND MAKE SURE THEY TELL THEIR FELLOWS THEY ARE NOT WELCOME!!!!!!"

>>17062081
and its about to get better

rolled 83 = 83

>>17062051
Elementalism roll. See if we can break any of their battlements.

This train ain't stoppin till we've commandeered us a giant turtle!

Redoubling your resolve, you spur yourself onwards. Behind you, you hear the beasts chittering in terror. after decapitating the one before you, you let your momentum spin you around. You see Catlina standing between what look to be a pair of armored giants, though you quickly realize that they are actually golems made of tertiose shell, muscle and bone. "GO!" she shouts "I will protect the rear!" As she shouts her constructs sprout blades that dwarf Collins from their arms, and begin slicing through the sea-creatures counter attack.

Taking her advice, you spin about, and hew a pair of foes in half, as Gaius lifts one up on his blade, and hurls it into a small group of foes. Before he can close the gap, Uurist is hacking the prone beasts to bits, as Sansa flits through the gore, slitting the throats of those he missed. Cornelius and Jayne press ahead of the other pair, the latter crushing shells and shattering shields, the former striking out with his spear, killing every foe opened.

You leap forwards, landing amongst the last group of foes between your force and the main group, which is now pushing against the stone gate barring their path to the ramp to the second level. As several of their number burst into flame, you lash out, felling four more with quick, precise strikes. Then Blackbird and Collin join you, sending arcs of grey blood in every direction.
>Cont'd

You hear a mighty roar, and glance behind you. There, you see Lena and what seems to be some sort of shaman, or holy... turtle? clashing on the increasingly abandoned paths between the ship and massive turtle you are fighting on. Bolts of arcane energy firing from the tip of the shamans driftwood staff, the gaudy gems and totems dangling from it glittering every color imaginable. None of either bolts striking the other, as wither glittering shields, or countering blasts intercept or deflect them, many roaring into the ocean and detonating there, amplifying the noise that already stands out over the roar of battle.

Bereft of foes to slay, you calmly walk up to the captain leading the marines trying to gain access tot he next tier "How do you plan on getting past this gate?" you ask, wiping the sweat from your brow, and frowning as the greave of your adamant armor leaves a deep scrape in your forehead.

"I, we... they are still killing any men that come across with hand-rams. I, I dont know how else we can counter this gate, Commander Trentz." he stutters out, clearly in awe of your battle prowess, and embarrassed at his own apparent ineptitude.

rolled 45 = 45

"Then I will make an opening myself"

ELEMENTALISM ROLL: FUCK THAT GATE UP

>>17062219
Might be best if we focus fully on doing this for this round.

You know, if she can, Cat should try keeping the golems made from these guys. They're dead killy, and the shells make them tough as fuck.

rolled 34 = 34

>>17062239
>>17062228
Seconding these

>>17062219
Focusing on destroying the gate sounds like a good idea to me.

You throw the man a smug smirk "I'll handle this then. Just have your soldiers ready to take advantage of the opening." At that, you relax your arms, and reach out to the stone weapons laying about. As you pull them together, you idly notice them drying out incredibly quickly, and mentally not to yourself to thank Laelith. Seconds later, you have a set of perfectly round stones the size of your head orbiting your uplifted right fist. You level it, and begin firing the boulders. The first one shatters agisnt the gate, ste second punches through it. the third through fifth obliterate the construct. As you begin lifting the spare rocks you had prepared, and fire them through the gate, the marines rush forward, not the perfect blade that yourself and your command staff were, but making steady progress nonetheless. Eventually, the last of your stones is exhausted, pulping the torso of one last tertiose before you confidently stride forward, all of your still unengaged command staff half a step behind you weapons drawn, and ready to push forward to the final tier.

>>17062323
>need a combat roll

rolled 45 = 45

>>17062323
>>17062382
Combat roll.

>>17062386
>thanks, is IRC down for you guys too? or is it just my connection to it going bad?
>update inbound now, by the way

>>17062394
It's down for me as well.

>>17062394
Just went down for the second time in a row for me. Guess the IRC server is having some trouble.

>>17062394
Down for me as well.

Still smirking confidently, you wade back into the battle. Your momentum is gone, but you are still an instrument of death, nonetheless. Your blade still night unstoppable, though more foes are blocking your blows, a few managing a lucky dodge. Despite your blood-soaked, no doubt terrifying visage, your foes still throw themselves at you, battering your shield, crashing into your armor, none of it wounding you, rather providing a more familiar feel during battle. You let these thoughts roll about the back of your head, as Sansa leaps up, pushes off of your shoulder, spins about mid-air, and decapitates the two tertiose before you. You rush ahead, and catch the one that was about to stab her in the back on the tip of your blade, sending it into slow, clearly painful convulsions, as it dies from your blades toxin.

You hear another crash behind you, and turn to see Gaius on the ground, a corpse atop him. Cornelius is dueling with a pair of foes, and Collin finally looking better than about to fall asleep as he dispatches his foes. Then you realize that all of the enemies on this level are older, more scarred, clearly of higher quality as combatants. As you help your captain up, and disembowel another foe, you decide that it still will not be enough to save them from Degnars wrath, now that they have attacked you.

rolled 32 = 32

Time to find the boss and claim his head!

COMBAT!

rolled 4 = 4

>>17062439
Rolling for elementalism. Keep using their weapons against them.

You grin viciously as you tear into the flesh of another foe, as it tries to flee from Blackbird, as he hacks a trio of the now dead tertiose's comrades to pieces. You realize, in the back of your mind, as you relieve another foe of his leg, that the orc had been angling his blows to hit still living foes heads with the chunks of meat. TO your right and left Cornelius and gaius push ahead, directly for the gate to the final, and uppermost level of the howdah. Behind you, the unmistakeable shambling stomp of Catalinas constructs can be heard approaching. Glancing back, you can see what few foes remain on that level diving for the sea, clearly intending to make use of their gills and webbed appendages to escape home, no matter how far the swim is.

As you prepare to shatter the next gate, you glance up, and see something that... frightens you. The air seems to tear, then, shimmers purple in the same manor that it does when Autronius is ending a glamor. It reveals a contingency of wasp-winged humanoids. At their center a lone figure flies, suspended on his six wings, a massive cleaver resting on his shoulder, his hair blue and ethereal, ears rounded at the top, as is normal for a man, though the bottoms of them end in tips, as the top of elves ears do. His teeth like needles, are set in a vicious grin. "Slaughter the last Marked, then slay these rebels, finally we are free to resume the will of the Matraons and Patrons." about him, fly four more of his kind, with golden hair, though as the light catches it, you see streaks of red, brown, white and green, each of them similarly armed to their apparent leader. For each golden haired creature, there are two silver haired creatures, their cleavers slung across their backs, preferring longbows that they have leveled at the top of the howdah, though their hair continues to shine streaks that match the hues you have learned to associate with the five elements when using your detection crystal as the sun catches it.
>cont'd

For each silver haired creature, is a score of black-haired folk of the same race. Though the streaks of color are barely visible, if present at all, and, while they too have bows drawn, instead of great cleavers they all have a pair of butchers meat cleavers affixed to their belts. "Faeries?" Laelith postulates, awed and terrified, as she gazes up into the hosts cold, uncaring black eyes.

Then, the leader gestures with his hand, and a veritable constellation of ice spikes forms from thin air above him, pointed to the top level of the howdah. His Golden-haired guards ape him, arcs of lighting from the white-streaked one, and tongues of flame from the one whose hair shines red when the sun catches it right. As the third gestures, and she forms a series of stone spikes that your elementalism recognizes, but is powerless against, you realize how impossibly beautiful they are, even as the final one makes a dismissing gesture, and a larger host of diminutive, two-winged kin of the host now posed to strike fall in one final shimmer of mysticism, clearly the group that was holding the glamor, and clearly dead from the exertion. The leader nods, and the top of the howdah simply... ceases to be. A shower of arcane power and arrows is followed by an onrush of furious warriors, hacking into the tertiose with a fanatics fury, many of them taking bites from the raw flesh, and consuming it as they fight in the process.

"Commander?" Gaius asks, as you realize you had fired off perhaps your most powerful blast of terrakinetic power in your life into the gate that could have very well kept these things from you.

Laelith repeats herself "Faeries..." before latching on to your arm, and finishing "free again, and doing their dead masters bidding."

>>17062613
"Are we going to have to fight them Laelith? Or would a tactical retreat be appropriate here?"

rolled 99 = 99

Oh fuck... why couldn't it have been Boss Turtle?

Uhh... Uhh... COMBAT ROLL.

rolled 37 = 37

>>17062656
Damnit TRO...

I'm done. That's it, I'm just done.

rolled 14 = 14

Let's see if a botch roll is applicable here

>>17062697
>it is, and you have your three rolls if you choose to use it

rolled 9 = 9

>>17062613
Rolling elementalism. See if we can use some of the left over rock weapons around to kill some faeries.

rolled 60 = 60

>>17061935

Elementalism roll

We kill the leader with a hail of weapons from the dead turtles. Not like we can run, really.

>>17062699
Definitely botch time.

>>17062713

agreed on the botch.

We're not going to let some elven-eared pansies take us out, damn it.

Let's botch it.

I agree, lets botch

Botch please.

You growl "I take it we will have to fight them, Laelith?" you ask as they begin to bear down on the swiftly forming Degnarian battle-line. The elf nods, and slowly steps away from your arm, allowing you free motion. You nod "BRACE!!" you shout, as the first of the black-haired fae bear down on your line. You lash out at the first one to come near, and are shocked to see it take the cut, but not go into convulsions and die.

"A most excellent poison, meat. Though, I have crafted better for my master." he taunts, inclining his head to the silver haired fae at the rear of this first wave. You easily parry the grunts slashes, and, as you bury your blade in his neck, launch a salvo or stone weapons at the very same fae your first victim inclined his head to. From thin air a barrier of stone materializes, though your powerful assault dusts it, and you are rewarded by the fae in question taking a trident through its neck. To one side, you see Sansa darting about, barely keeping pace with a trio of fae, as she switches off between attacking and defending against the trio.

Off to the other intensely brightly lighted side, you see Laelith dodging too and fro, leveling her arcane torch, and spewing magefire at the golden-haired fae with crimson-streaked hair as it flits about above her. In front of the elf, Collin is locked in a battle with the golden-haired fae with streaks of emerald in its hair, both experts with their blades, and moving faster than your eye can track. About the field, you see groups of marines struggling to take down single faeries, screaming as they are eaten alive or cut apart and down by cleavers. You quickly notice, after seeing Gaius and Cornelius back to back as three silver-haired fae accost them, and Uurist engaged with another golden-haired fae, that only the leader remains unengaged. Confidently he strides towards you, spitting on the corpse of a marine as he flourishes his blade.

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings! We were not wrong!"

Aaand someone else make the combat roll. It's obvious I was not meant to, but I want to at least get this quip in.

rolled 43 = 43

>>17062772
Combat Roll.

rolled 60 = 60

elementalism

rolled 21 = 21

command/inspire roll

"They shall fall to our blades as their masters fell to our forefathers! For Degnar!"

You set your face, and drop into you stance, before gesturing a silent challenge to the leading Fae. In the blink of an eye, it is in front of you, its blade grinding against your own. He smirks contemptuously, before pushing back and moving to strike again. You easily sidestep the strike, and retaliate with one of your own, which the fae blocks, but it helps you gauge him better nonetheless. Instead of pushing back, however, the faerie fades away, and up, giving you barely enough time to react before his cleaver shears through where your shield-arm had been, instead taking the bottom point from the trusty shield.

Nonplussed, you try to launch a salvo of the few remaining stone weapons at the faerie, who yawns, and shears through he stone weapons with ice blades he had suddenly materialized.

You dodge, destroy, or both to each blade as they lash out at you, and nearly catch the faerie as he strikes at you himself, though you only manage to graze his left forearm, and take a nasty nick to your forehead in the process. The combat breaks, and you smirk as the faerie again appraises you, with slightly less derision now "They shall fall to our blades as their forefathers did to the hounds we have made sport of this entire war!! Forward sons and daughters of Degnar, TO VICTORY!!" you shout, before launching yourself at your foe. The exchange of blows is rapid, and powerful, and at the end of it, both yourself and your opponent are not much worse for the wear, clearly being evenly matched.

rolled 55 = 55

>>17062847
Combat time.

>>17062847
Elementalism roll.

rolled 51 = 51

>>17062847
Lets try this again. Elementalism roll.

Face still set in a harsh mask, you launch back at your foe, still unable to make any leeway against him, as he cannot get through your guard. You glance to one side, to see Jayne pulp the skull of a silver-haired faerie, the black-haired fae around it screaming in rage and sorrow, before throwing themselves at your wife. Before you have time to react, Blackbird drops amongst them, tipping the scales of the battle back to a favorable one, though the orc is covered in slashes, cuts and lacerations from the battle.

Then, you are pulled back into the whirlwind of block, parry, strike and feint. The steel dance spirals on completely out of control, and perfectly meted out to both partners at once. As your blade rings out against your foes blade, your shield taking even more abuse, you resolutely push back as hard as you are pushed. Eventually, you steal another glance up, to see Uurist standing atop a mound of fae, triumphant, only to be knocked to the ground by an avenging golden-haired warrior. Within seconds, the dwarf springs up, and launches into battle with his new foe, despite the deep gash across his face.
>cont'd

Again, you are pulled back into your own fight, and again, you strive to gain the upper hand, only to find that your best is equal o that of your foes best. Proud that you are preforming to your full potential, yet frustrated that it is not enough to guarantee victory. You steel a glance up to see Collin and his foe moving impoossibly quickly, cutting each other to ribbons in the most beautiful display of swardsmanship you have ever seen.

Dodge. Strike. Parry. Feint.

Laelith and her foe incinerating the ground and air around them, both women barely clad in scraps from the inferno they are barely controlling between themselves, and still unable to fell, or even singe, each other.

Dodge. Strike. Parry. Feint.

Sansa and a pair of silver haired fae, leaping about now. All of them bearing a few cuts, and the fae both missing several wings, but none of them showing any signs of slowing.

Dodge. Strike. Parry. Feint. You need to find an opening, a weakness, but where? How?

SWEEP THE LEG

>>17062920
Attack the wings! It probably flies by magic, but cutting its wings might disorient it.

rolled 80 = 80

>>17062920

Elementism. Not rocks, sand. Into the eyes.

Then take advantage of the loss in concentration.

rolled 18 = 18

>>17062920
Combat Roll. Slice his wings off.

You grin as an idea comes to you, you lash out at your foes again, trying to put dust up into his eye. That ploy fails miserably, but your next ploy, as you feint, and instead of striking for his heart or head, you flow around his side, and take off his two upper right wings.

the fae falls to the ground, screaming, allowing you to look up in time to see Uurist being beaten back, bleeding from several new, deep wounds, and a few bites. Across the field, you see Sansa slay one of her attackers, even as Jayne is battered back and down by her foe.

Then, just before your blade connects for the killing blow, a field of ice intercepts it, and buys your foe the time to force himself up, sweating, and shaking in pain, but still able to fight. You frown and drop back into your stance, in just enough time to see Laelith and her foe close to inches of each other, fire flaring more out than forwards as they both press their assaults.

rolled 79 = 79

>>17062966

Command roll, rally the troops.

rolled 55 = 55

>>17062966
Combat Roll. Let's see if this faerie dies tonight.

rolled 47 = 47

Elementalism roll

Even if there's only dust left to throw, fucking do it.

You grin "Your time ended with your dead masters, fae." you taunt him. As you confidently stride up to him, prepared to rally the troops, and deliver the last blow in one, your foe lashes out one last desperate time. Your shout of encouragement dies on your lips as you move to defend yourself against the faerie as it fights through its agony. The duel resumes for a short while, but before long, you bat his blade aside, then sever the arm that holds it. He desperately dodges the next few attacks, annoyed, you fill his face with dust. Unable to anticipate your strikes through his injured eyes he can do nothing as you sever his head from his neck.

Triumphant, you look up to see Collin leaning heavily against his blade, wounded from head to toe, but triumphant. Like many of the victorious soldiers, he is barely able to keep to his feet, Sansa is hobbling towards the beleagured Jayne, though you are not certain how much help she will be. Gaius moves to aid the prone, and unarmed Uurist, his now one-armed foe attempting to maneuver a stone trident above the dwarfs neck, but unable to manipulate the thing with but two fingers and a thumb, bitten off from the look of it.

Elsewhere, you see Lena leaned against Catalinas back, both of them passed out, a large group of the diminutive creatures you only saw dead, lying dead about the battered pair. While Laelith, not even covered anymore, so intense the fires from her battle had become, burns the ashes of her foe, rage in her eyes.

rolled 49 = 49

>>17063022

Elementalism roll

slay Uurist's foe with the stone trident it is fiddling with, and use any spare power to slay Jayne's foes

>>17063022
Quick question: We're on the giant tortoise now, right? Is it still alive? Or dying?
And any faeries still left alive for mind-ripping and elemental experimentation?

Clean up what remains, claim loot, back to base.

rolled 47 = 47

>>17063022
Combat Roll to finish off those faeries attacking Jayne.

>>17063022
Finish off any enemy's that are left.
Make sure none of our group are too badly injured.
Investigate the dead and the ship for anything interesting.

Smirking, you reach out with your elmentalism to snap the neck of the faerie that had been trying to kill Uurist with the trident he had picked up. You nearly laugh through the sudden onset of bone-chilling exhaustion you feel grip you as you walk over to Jayne. The realization of who your trying to save hits you, and your energy returns in a blaze of fury and fear. Your walk becomes a sprint, than a leap, a shout forms on your lips as you hurl yourself at the beast that dared accost one of your wives.

As you land, the faeries head thumps down beside you. Again, the exhaustion ceases you, as Jayne breathily wheezes out "You saved me, love." before passing out on top of you.

You force a smirk, and reply to her battered, exhausted form "Of course I did." as you shift her body about your arms, and rise.

"Do you need help carrying her, love?" a stark naked, and lightly burnt Laelith asks, wearily sauntering up to you, still bearing a switch in her step despite how clearly exhausted she is. You shake your head, though you give her a quick kiss to relay your gratitude. As a group, your command staff hobbles or carries itself back to the Wrath, even as the turtle you had been fighting on begins to shake loose the ropes and grappling hooks.
>cont'd

By the time the tortoise frees itself, your troops had finished clearing out any decent loot, though most of it still needs to be identified properly. Your entire command staff is at the very least on bed-rest, with Uurist, Collin, Jayne, Cornelius and Sansa all with the medicae, though, mostly a very concerned Vi, being treated.

The Admiral smirks over your bed "And you claimed that the stories were exaggeration, my friend. When your family is recovered, join me in my cabin for a meal. I feel that we will have much to discuss, and celebrate."

>well, thats gonna do it for the night
>someone archive please
>I'll be back, thursday at 9pm server time (I hope)
>if you have any setting/CQ questions just e-mail me at paxcomquest@yahoo.com

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