>>Previous threads can be found at: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Sorceress%20Quest
You are Ishelda, once Jewel of Arcturus, now, Queen of New Arcturus.You're currently in your nightclothes, and the sun is peeking through the window of your cabin in the airship Jormungandr, currently on it's way to the minotaur portal. Grayson, after exclaiming that he doesn't know what he was, just left the room before you could respond. You look out of the window, and all you see is the telltale fog of Jormungandr's invisibility enchantment. Your head's just stopped throbbing painfully, and once again you have full grasp of your magic power- magic that still feels like it's bursting at the seams, after a short time of being incapable of using your sorcery.
>>20555403tongue in kaliels butt
>>20555408Although it seems really tempting to simply stay in bed, I doubt we can afford that luxury right now.Get ready for the day, see how far away the ship is from the portal we're planning to close, ask Zeke to look after Grayson, as our bear doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk to us.Then eat breakfast, if possible, with our all friends. We can discuss strategies while eating.Also, spend some more time fawning all over Raziel('s wings). Kali will probably require hugs, as well.
where doing thiswhere making this shit fucking transpireso lets make shit take placeLet's start with getting up.
You get up, quickly wash up, and don one of your least-used hunting frocks, belting Rikar to your hip and strapping on your armor. You make your way out of your cabin, and make your way above-deck, where just Leon is standing there, not saying anything; he's simply staring out toward the rising sun. With a small bit of spellflame, you start the tea heating. Leon notices you, and nods to you once, before turning back to the sun.
>>20555513Wait for him to finish enjoying the sunrise, then offer him some tea.
He continues staring out at the sunrise for a full minute, until the teapot starts it's keening cry. He turns to you. "Would you like some tea?" You ask."Certainly." He said, and took a seat. You pour him the herbal blend Marigold had been experimenting with, and then pour some for yourself."It's beautiful." He said, by way of explanation, and nodded his head toward the sun. "Everything's so quiet in the morning. . it kind of feels like the sunrise is part of a secret world, all my own."
>>20555580"I think I understand what you mean." Wait for a minute or two and enjoy the sunrise. "Are you watching the sun every morning?"
"I think I understand what you mean." You say, and stare to the east for a minute or two. "Are you watching the sun every morning?""Almost every morning." He said. "I did back in Cerulean, when Darius woke me up for training. And before that, even. I'm always astounded. But it's not just the sight. It's the smell, the feel, the way it's so silent as one watches the skies slowly brighten. . "He shrugged, and sipped at his tea."The elves say it's made of astral fire." He said. "But I don't think something so astounding, and so big, could be something like that. We'd all be mutants."
>>20555639When I cast a ward against astral fire the sunlight set it off. It wasn't much but there's definitely some astral fire up there.
>Today's pretty slow, isn't it?"When I cast a ward against astral fire, the sunlight set it off." You say, thoughtfully. "It wasn't much, but there's definitely some astral fire up there.""Interesting." He said, and looked to the east again, where the two of you sat in silence, calmly. Leon didn't seem to feel the need to speak- perhaps he was still basking in his 'secret world'.Slowly, Sparrow made it's way closer to Jormungandr, and you see it fall in alongside the airship, where Ell and Kiyara stepped off."We've been circling the city for an hour or so." Ell said. "Our invisibility enchantment has been holding up, though, and it doesn't seem they know we're there."
>>20555758looks like it."What's the word?"
"That's good. Did you see anything interesting?" You ask."There are five different tiers, and the portal is on the very top one, next to a smouldering crater." Kiyara said. "Minotaurs have been switching posts all morning, but they're obviously guarding it. There's this big 'un with red fur and a sword, and it looks like he's leading them.""There's also the occasional kobold scurrying around, doing odd jobs for the minotaurs and taking care of whatever they're using as cattle." Ell added.
>>20555902"The red furred one, he's just out in the open?"
>>20555955What are you thinking, anon?
>>20555996I'm thinking we send what is effectively a magic projection to him to have a ranged conversation. If we can't come to a compromise, we wait a few minutes as the ship gets into position behind him, and unload everything we've got at the back of his head.
>>20555902"How many minotaurs and kobolds do you think are in the city?">>20555758>Today's pretty slow, isn't it?I wasn't expecting SORCQ today, to be honest.
"The red furred one, he's just out in the open?""They're . . all out in the open." Kiyara said. "The entire city is. . burned, the domes cracked. It's smouldering."Skerghaul came tromping up from below deck, and in his hands was a long halberd, scaled up to suit his ogrish frame."And we'll get them back." He snarled. "And that. . Dras'lea woman, too."As you wait, more people come above-deck. The soldiers, bringing food for everyone; Belethor, carrying a heavy chest full of dozens of weapons, both familiar and strange; Fellwind, Kris, and Jeanne- Fellwind, you saw, had a heavy cudgel, while Jeanne had a chain wrapped around her hips; And finally, Zeke and Raziel came above deck, laughing and joking to one another. The only people still below-deck to your knowledge were some of the soldiers, Grayson, and Kaliel.
>>20556013I like it.What's come of the Brick, by the way?Also we should check that those two haven't murderised each other yet.
>>20556048Get those personally. Everybody should be here when we discuss the situation, and I don't think we should leave either Kal or Grayson brooing on their own.
>>20556048Call Grayson and Kali above deck start planning a siege. Get numbers for soldiers on board and for minotaurs on land. Closing the portal and taking out the leader should be top priority.
>>20556057>Brick-kun was destroyed after you used it to capture and interrogate Eidolon's spirit."How many minotaurs and kobolds do you think are in the city?""At least as many as the attack on Bastion." Ell said. "Most likely more, and these look larger.""I'm not sure about the kobolds, because they're constantly running underfoot." Kiyara added."One moment." You say. "I'm going to go get everyone up here."One of the lizardmen offer to rouse the rest of the soldiers, so you pace through the underbelly of the ship, finally finding Grayson staring at Jormungandr's power crystal, hands in his pockets.He meets your eyes, and harrumphs.
>>20556127Hey, what's going on big guy?
>>20556127Harrumph back, and give him a hug.
>>20556127"Identity crisis, huh?"
rolled 132 = 132>>20556146This.>Rolling for getting over existential crisis.
You harrumph back, and give him a hug. He didn't move his arms."Identity crisis, huh?" You ask." . .I would like to be a bear again." He said, finally, his voice all but masked by the power crystal's humming. "It's simple. I am not good at thinking."
>>20556202"What makes you say that now, hmm?"
>>20556202"Why would you say that? I'd would miss you terribly."
>>20556202Do transformations affect intelligence? Once you've started thinking, it's quite hard to stop.But if you want to be a bear again, go and get Kaliel to remove the spell, you don't need my permission for that.
>>20556202"I just want to stick my tongue in your butt. You can do mine too."
"Why would you say that?" You ask. "I would miss you terribly.""I don't mean going home." He said. "I mean changing forms.""If you want to be a bear again, go and get Kaliel to remove the spell." You say. "You don't need my permission.""But-" He said, and then nodded, his eyes returning to their half-lidded state. He nodded, and together the two of you made your way back to Kaliel's cabin."Ishelda." Kaliel said, grinning at you. Her papers were strewn about her table, and embossed in a thick book was a single rune, with what looked like notes, on 'nervous system', and 'bullfrog', and something about 'hyperagonal media causing retromission of the-' You can't even understand that line. "I'd just finished designing the armor, and was preparing to bring it to life." She said. "How's your head?"
>>20556289>"But-" He said, and then nodded, his eyes returning to their half-lidded state."Grayson, I don't care which form you're in. You're you and that's all that matters to me. We can also talk through the rings when you're a bear."
>>20556289"Better, thanks.">Kaliel gains bullshit hacking>There's no technology to hack
"Better, thanks." You say."I would like to ask if you would change my shape back to my original form." Grayson said, not meeting her eyes."Oh, are you okay with me using my magic on you?" She asked, giving him a brilliant smile- it felt like an act, and the tension was amped up significantly."Yes, I am." Grayson said. "Please.""Well. . I don't want you busting up my cabin with your bear form, so I'll stick a delay on the spell." Kaliel said, her fingers twisting into somatic components. "You'll need to get abovedeck soon after I cast.""Thank you." Grayson said, and Kaliel spoke a word of power, putting her palm on Grayson's forehead. He huffed, and then nodded, pulling his hands out of his pockets and making himself scarce, most likely going abovedeck before he shifted back into bear form. Kaliel closed the door, and gave you a hug."I'm. . a bit nervous about this spell." She said, finally.
>>20556432"If you want to focus on the spell, I can try supplying the power for it if possible?"
>>20556432"That's understandable. Could you try to explain it to me?"
>>20556432"Should we get Kristoph down here? He could stop it if it starts going wrong.">Oh, are you okay with me using my magic on you?I said to go to Kaliel because she was the one that made him human in the first place. It doesn't take magic to just remove your transformation spell, right?
>>20556432Hold her hand. "How can I help? I have a lot of extra magic right now, if you need extra."
"That's understandable. Could you try to explain it to me?""First. . I'm conjuring a fake. . 'empty' animal, so to speak. And then shapeshifting it into the armor itself. . and then temporarily transmuting the armor into a liquid, and using evocation to 'weave' it, and transmuting it back into a being, and partially shapeshifting it a second time, and enchanting it's mind." She said. "What's stressing me out is the evocation. It needs to all be done at once, and if I get a single step wrong. . .""If you want to focus on the spell, I can try supplying the power for it, if possible." You say. In response, she gave you a hug."That would be perfect! That's exactly what I need." She said, and subtly, her cheeks went pink. "But. . . nevermind. Okay. With your help, I can do it, and if things go wrong. . I know you'll be able to use your sorcery to complete it."
rolled 83 = 83rolling to help her out!
>>20556547"Well then! We'll get started straight away right after I get Kristoph incase of mishaps.
>>20556547" I'm sure your siblings, Ell, Kiyara and Kristoph will be able to help, as well."
>>20556562yesyes.
>>20556567I think she has to be mostly naked to wear the armor. Meaning she probably doesn't want anyone but Ishelda around when she does it.
>>20556562>Using this roll when it comes time."Well then! we'll get started straight away after I get Kristoph, in case of mishaps. Or maybe your siblings, Ell, or Kiyara could help, as well.""But. . " She said. "I, um, can't exactly be wearing this robe when I make it. It was simpler to set it to grow around my body rather than, um, designing it to exact dimensions."
>>20556609"Oh, um, okay then. Shall we..uh...begin?"
>>20556609"Oh! Uh. Okay. When did you want to do it?"
>>20556609"Uhmm.. okay, just Raziel then, perhaps?"
>>20556609Oh, er, right. No Kristoph then.
I'm sensing a "mana transfer" coming up.
>>20556703
"Oh! Uh. Okay then. Shall we.. uh.. begin?"She nodded."Wish me luck." She said, and crossed her arms, grabbing onto her robe and removing it. Underneath was a. . substantial amount of skin, but nothing. . .especially scandalizing."Are... Are you ready?" She asked, and you nod.Slowly, she started chanting. You reach out with your magic, and she reaches out with her own- some kind of . . connection is established, and something. . enormous starts clawing at your mind. Something that reminds you of the beast she conjured only a day ago. A monster of rippling, fleshy tendrils, and endless maws. Pulsing, beating organs, lying strewn about the ground, bones and claws sticking out wherever it wished. The. . presence starts trying to burst free. . . and then you feel Kaliel crush it down.<Okay.> She said. <I just need a steady stream of energy. . Yes, like that.> She said, as you start funneling magic into her spell.>Field too long
Her chanting sped up, her fingers twisting into different somatic components at a calm, measured pace. Strange, black ichor burst into existence, and then slowly wove up her skin. That gruesome, hungry presence threatened to break free again, and Kaliel crushed it without a second thought. Thick black carapace sprouted up around her upper torso, her feet, and her wrists, the rest of the armor weaving into a thin, dull red material. From her spine launched a long spear of carapace, twisting into a bladed, whipping tail. After a long, careful moment, the armor pulsed with enchantment, and then the spell faded, and Kaliel broke the connection.She took a breath, and then raised her arms- instead of simple gauntlets, they were large, sharp talons, serrated- almost like Kristoph's kalak form, in a way.Kaliel took a deep breath, and then relaxed. "I think. . I think this is done." she said, examining herself.
>>20556795"Looking good Kali... even in your armour."
>>20556795"That's really... pointy."
>>20556795"oh my!""Uh...how do you take it off?"
"Oh my! That's really... pointy." You say. In response, The armor's tail coils around a stool and slams it into the floor, breaking it into splinters."Yes, yes it is. It was, uhm, designed for combat." She said. "I'd make it fluffy for you, but. . it'd be flammable.""Uh... how do you take it off?" You ask."W-well, it has some carapace clasps in the back, b-but why do you want to know?" She asked, suddenly turning around to pick up the broken legs of the stool.
>>20556884Quickly, while she's bent over! STICK IT IN HER BUTT! WE MAY NEVER HAVE SUCH A PRIME OPPORTUNITY AGAIN!
>>20556884"I-I was just curious."
>>20556884"I was a bit worried we'd have to do the ritual every time you need your armour."
>>20556884Just interested in how it works. Do you need to feed it?
>>20556884"Well, um... If you get knocked out we should take it off, it must uncomfortable to sleep in."
>>20556884"You know...I don't actually have any armor"
>>20556936We have plenty of armor.
>>20556936Actually we have an armored dress IIRC, something like brigandine with lots of padded cloth layers.
>>20556936Except for that armor we do have. That we're wearing right now. Other than that, we don't have any.
"I-I was just curious. If you get knocked out we should take it off, it must uncomfortable to sleep in.""It's not- uncomfortable, and it can only be removed by the person wearing it. I- I set it up that way, in case I ever get captured.""Do you need to feed it?""It, well, survives on my blood supply, sunlight, magic, or all three." She said. "But it makes me stronger, faster. . sharper." She said.
>>20556988"Wait, it feeds on your blood?"
>>20556988"I know it's very impressive, but I think you should be careful with it around Grayson. I think it might upset him."
>>20556988So if you take it off at night, it dies unless you constantly pump it with magic?
"Wait, it feeds on your blood?" You ask."I, uh, also changed my form a little bit so that I produce more blood than normal." She said. "And it will only do that if I'm out of magic. . in which case something is really, really wrong.""So if you take it off at night, it dies unless you constantly pump it with magic?""If it's not moving, it doesn't take any energy." She said. "It hibernates."Something in the suit's spine unclasped, carapace teeth disconnecting from one another, and she slowly peeled out of her armor, slipping her robe back on before you could get more than a glimpse, and folded up the armor itself, sliding it under her arm.She gave you a smile. "Thank you for helping me with this." She said.
>>20557045"Of course. Anything to help my friends."
>>20557045No problem.Hey, uh, that big... thing you kept pushing away - that was the Passion? That happens every time you cast?
"Of course. Anything to help my friends." You say. "Hey, uh, that big... thing you kept pushing away - that was the Passion? That happens every time you cast?""You felt that? Yeah, it was, and it does." She said. "It normally tries a lot more than it did- Your presence must have kept it away, for the most part. But I'm getting a lot better at controlling it, lately."
>>20557111"I'm not sure that was a passion...it seemed more like something from a forgotten world far away"
>>20557111"I am glad it worked, I don't really want to meet that thing personally. Still, there's breakfast to be had."
>>20557111It was unpleasant, I'm glad I don't get it.
>>20557111"I really admire you, Kal. I don't think I could resist it, but you squashed it like a bug."
"I really admire you, Kal. I don't think I could resist it, but you squashed it like a bug.""Well. . . it feels part bug, so that's simple enough." She said. "But. . a passion is inspiriation, first and foremost. Inspiration that wants to inspire, and be wrought into reality. If you think of it like that. . it isn't hard to ignore.""It was. . unpleasant." You say. "I'm glad I don't get it. Still, there's breakfast to be had.""Wonderful." She said. "I'm starving."By the time you get back above deck, breakfast is in full swing, and the soldiers are all quickly eating. Skerghaul isn't eating a thing- simply standing at the prow of the ship,. Ever so often, he gritted his teeth, and tightened his hands on his halberd."So." Kiyara asked, as you arrived. "Do you have a plan? With the number of minotaurs, it isn't likely we'll win in a straight fight- there's hundreds of them, and only thirty or so of us."
>>20557197Pretty sure we could resist it. Not as easily though.
>>20557217Well, I suppose we could start civilised and ask an honour duel with the leader for the command, I suppose.
>>20557217"hmm... We could block off the streets with magic, bombard them with the cannons, then go down there and shut them down."
>>20557217Well, the simplest way would be for me to make myself invisible, float down there and syphon off all the portal's magic. But then if they do detect me I'm screwed on my own.
>>20557217"If their leader is looking for me, then we should at least give them a chance to parley."Pretty much this:>>20556013And don't forget to give bear Grayson a hug. Something is obviously bothering him, other than being turned into a human.
>>20557217Elementals.Elementals everywhere.
"Well, the simplest way would be for me to make myself invisible, float down there, and syphon off all the portal's magic. But then if they do detect me...""Then Marigold is the new queen of Arcturus." Fellwind said, helpfully. You give Bear-grayson a reassuring hug, and he huffs."Hmm... We could block off the streets with magic, bombard them with the cannons, then go down there and shut them down." You say, scratching Grayson's chin.Belethor peeked over the edge, and then scetched out a basic design of the five-tiered, burned out city."Well. . " He said. "There are three stairs up from the second tier to the first." He said, marking those points. "North, Southeast, and Southwest. If we use the ship's cannons to blast the two sets of stairs, have the magicians destroy everyone on the top tier. . our soldiers could most likely hold the minotaurs off from the northern stairs. We can't destroy all three stairs because then they'd just start climbing up. . but if we leave the northern stairs it will funnel them..." Belethor said, thinking.
>>20557318can't we just combine everyone's magic on the ship and make a fucking huge bomb
>>20557318See>>20556013Attempt diplomacy with red-fur first, and failing that, kill the fuck out of him.
rolled 12 = 12>>20557318"Hmm... I suppose that will work."Send some shieldbearer elementals to help the soldiers when the plan starts.
>>20557350why diplomacy. just kill.
>>20557318Could shape the stone so they can't climb up. Big outward sloping walls and spikes and all that jazz.
>>20557318Funnel them into the killing fields. Obviously we take out the leader immediately, maybe I'll just pop his head from 100 feet away with magic. I'll support the funnel with elementals, I'm not sure if I want hundreds of big ones or one absurdly massive one that simply smashes through them.
>>20557350Seconded.
>>20557363Because it costs us nothing to do so and may be a valid solution.
Throw Kristoph at the portal. Job done.
"We'll attempt diplomacy with the red-furred minotaur first." You say."And if it fails?" Jeanne asked."We kill him."". . If he alerts the minotaurs, it might make this harder. . but with Zeke's help, we could raise some fortifications near the stairs just for an extra advantage. . " Belethor said."Hmm. .I suppose that would work." You say. "If diplomacy fails. Could he shape the stone so they can't climb up? Big, outward sloping walls and spikes, perhaps?" You ask."Not likely." Zeke said. "I do have a lot of raw power. . but not enough for that.""Understood, Ishelda." Belethor examined his map again- and then a roster of the people onboard. "If we set down, almost everybody will be needed at the stairs. . but you should have some guards near you. The more you have with you, the safer you'll be. . but the soldiers will likely have more to deal with.""I wish to stay near you and the portal, Ishelda." Skerghaul said, gripping the haft of his halberd. "It is my people and my city we're saving, after all.">Decide who's staying with you and who's going to the stairs, and then we can get straight to diplomacy.
>>20557419It costs us the element of surprise. They don't know we're here.
rolled 32 = 32>>20557431Kristoph, Skerghaul, Leon, Grayson, 4 soldiers.Give the soldiers a magic boost.
>>20557436We don't have to tell them we're anywhere close if we contact him by magic.
>>20557431be the badass go at it alone if not we will need grayson to counter dire magic with dire magic
>>20557456Actually that's probably the best idea. If he asks we'll just say we're far away.
>>20557431Fuck diplomacy, these guys are obviously not going to help.I would however advocate brain fucking him into killing his own men as a possible alternative but I still prefer just blowing his head up with MIND BULLETS."I can generally take care of myself, I won't need that many with me. Grayson, Skerghaul, Kristoph ought to suffice. Raziel, I am going to want undead, preferably for you to just animate the bodies and spirits of those behind enemy lines from a distance and use them to flank the enemy forces."
>>20557431Skerghaul, Grayson.That should do, we can handle ourselves. We're not trying to fight, we're trying to talk / rush the portal. And the bigger the party the harder it is for us to just teleport them all out of there if things go south. Which is also why we shouldn't bring Kristoph.
>>20557431Okay, who might be especially good at crowd control...Stairs: Zeke, Raz, LeonIshelda: Grayson, Belethor, KristophAir support: Ell and Kiyara
>>20557456This, the idea is we basically talk to him through a magical hologram and then kill him dead with the Jormungandr's heavy artillery if things break down. We can claim we're contacting him from another fucking continent even.
>>20557472Queen, you numbnut.Manners exist.
>>20557498Nah, we'll still be a queen, even if we forget our manners.>Void Queen, that is.
>>20557431Grayson, Kristoph and raz with us, everyone else on the stairs. Keep our knights and a caster with ourselves.>>20557519VQ has been very polite.
"I can generally take care of myself." You say. "I won't need that many with me. Grayson, Skerghaul, and Kristoph ought to suffice.""With you, Lady." Kristoph said, grinning. Grayson got to his feet, and rolled his shoulders.<-show them what dire *really* is-> He buzzed through the ring.Skerghaul didn't say a thing."Raziel, I am going to want undead.""That's going to be troublesome." She said. "The sun's up, and there are no clouds in sight. Unless Zeke wants to cloud things up, I can't do much except for funnel as much necromantic power into the dragon as possible.""To make enough clouds, it'd make me lose the last of my magic." Zeke said. "Definitely not enough to make the fortifications. . ""Ell, Kiyara, you two can be air support.""No need to have both of us up here." Kiyara said. "I can fly two airships at once. Ell's been aching to use his suit, anyway."
>>20557544Well, she must have begun falling at some point.
>>20557553"Alright then. Ell, be ready to drop the hammer."
>>20557553"Damn it, Zeke. Come here." Grab onto him, drag him to the nearest exposed magic wire. Charge him full of magical energy.
rolled 65 = 65>>20557553We're still overflowing with magic, right?Let's summon up a nice healthy thunderstorm. Sheets of rain, Lightning crackling through the sky and thunder rolling so loud that you get knocked off your feet, the whole shebang. It can build up over the next half hour or so, as we diplomance.
>>20557578Or, get this, we could use all that power to just kill all the minotaurs instead.
>>20557553I suppose a dragon ought to work. Ell you can be down with us, you can hold the line with you massive murdersuit.Zeke, how much work is it to summon a thunderstorm, I have more mana than ever right now so if you need fuel I can channel it through you for you to call down the lightning on them.
>>20557553Ell should stay on the ship until it becomes clear where he's needed the most. Belethor should get to a vantage point where he can direct our forces. If that's on the ship, so be it.
>>20557589Well we can use the lightning in the storm later, yes. Multitasking!
"Alright then." You say. "Ell, you can stay up here and drop off when it's clear you're needed the most.""Yes, Ishelda." He said, and started the arduous process of putting the armor on"Belethor, you need to get to a vantage point where you can direct our forces. If that's on the ship, so be it.""I'd best be in the field." He responded.Still bursting with magic. . you raise your hand. .And the entire world seems to shake. From around the mountain to the northeast, from the south, and the west. . long, dark clouds start forming, closing over the city, blotting out the sun.You're surprised. The air was already so thick with humidity, it seemed almost... easy. Your magic returns to normal, no longer so 'built up' as it was before, but already the rain is starting. You see lightning dance from a cloud to cloud- if you were any lower, you'd be in the storm proper.". . Well, I'm glad I taught you more about weather magic, now." Zeke said, scratching his head as the storm formed. "At least I can use this to create lightning. . Takes a lot less energy to use a storm then to just plain throw it.">Any other preparations?
>>20557696"That's why I did it, Zeke."Make sure all our crystals are charged from the Jormangandr.I'd also suggest summoning an air elemental, and binding it as a pair of wings, so we can fly about, but that comes later, before the battle.
>>20557696"Now then, Raziel, do you think you could muster up some undead?"
>>20557696Summon up all the hate we have for the minotaurs, our determination to throw them out of this world, our raw Queenly fury for them daring to invade this world. I want that ready to turn into an elemental that will utterly decimate the Minotaur forces.
rolled 82 = 82>>20557696If we enchanted something with an emergency teleport now that would save us from having to do it when we're actually in danger. Just break the magic stick and we're out of there. (One for each of the diplomacy team?)
"That's why I did it, Zeke." You say. You tap into Jormungandr's power crystal, and move as much as you can to your armor. "Now then, Raziel, do you think you could muster up some undead?""With this storm? Of course." She said. "The dragonflame will be a lot less useful, but I can use it's spirit to empower the other spectres. . and I'm going to be able to release Wharghaul.""Wharghaul?" Sker said, looking up."He's one of the ogre totems that lie within this staff." Raziel said.Skerghaul started. . laughing."Bringing the full might of the most legendary, most powerful warlord in all of ogrekind against our foes! How appropriate!" Sker cried, laughing, his head thrown back. He clapped a hand on Raziel's shoulder, and kissed her full on the lips, and then wandered back to the head of the ship, chuckling. "When I die, add me to that staff." He added, not even looking toward Raziel's widened, stunned eyes.
>>20557801>When I die.Damn it, he's going to die.
>>20557801Daww, Raziel has a suitor! But we saw her first, damnit!Jelousy systems activate. Go hug our angel.
>>20557801seem some likes he finds the idea of having his power still exist on this plane after he dead
>>20557801Blush a bit."I think he likes you Raz. and he wants to stay with you even after death, how romantic."
>>20557801Well that was weird.>>20557825He expects to. Ishelda is good at subverting expectations.
>>20557839Seconding the hugs, we must mark our property.
>>20557869A hug won't do that. You'll need to outdo him with a better kiss.
>>20557881A bend-kiss?
>>20557881I think that kissing her is a bit far and doesn't really suit Ishelda right now.
>>20557839>>20557869>>20557881>>20557895The only solution I can see is to stick our tongue down her throat. And in her butt.
"I think he likes you, Raz." You say, giving her a hug. "And he wants to stay with you even after death, how romantic.""Ah- I- wh-"Almost delirious, Skarghaul twirled his halberd above his head."All the fury of a dead legend. . " He mumbled to himself, in ogrish. Other than you, Raziel was the only one who spoke the tongue- and she wasn't exactly in a state to translate right now. He turned to you."Are we ready, Ishelda? I very suddenly can't wait."
>>20557915"Yes!" Said slightly too harshly with a hint of rivarly in our tone.My angel...
>>20557915Whisper to her."I don't know if I'll be able to let you go, though." Grin, give her hand a squeeze and into the battle it is.
rolled 84 = 84>>20557915Begin the bombardment
>>20557915Very well, let's hope we solve this with as little bloodshed as possible.
>>20557915I believe I am ready. I open the floor to anyone with suggestions on how to proceed, but otherwise we are prepared to go.Skerghaul, I believe after today they shall fear the fury of a new legend, myself, far more than the dead one. They shall run home with stories of the white haired destroyer who killed them and drove them from the lands they claimed.
>>20557954>They shall run home with stories of the white haired destroyer who killed them and drove them from the lands they claimed.Unless the diplomatic talks succeed.Who am I kidding?
"Yes." You say, with a bit more harshness in your voice than you meant to, flavored with. . jealousy. You're not entirely sure why you feel that way. "Let's hope we solve this with as little bloodshed as possible."The seer shrugged. "Well, if the prince can break prophecy. . you may be able to as well. Good luck."You close your eyes, and reach out toward the red-haired minotaur, and speak directly into his mind.>Wat say?
>>20558003<Greetings, O red breasted one. May I ask your name, and why you are searching for me?>
>>20558032We should probably also tell him our name.
>>20558003In the most disgustingly cute voice we can muster (which I imagine must be pretty disgusting):"Hey there Redfur, I'm Queen Ishelda. What's your name?I'm contacting you from a great distance on behalf of the Ogres, with the hopes of ending this war between your two peoples.Now what is it exactly that your people want, and what will it take to stop the fighting?"
>>20558003Hello there, you're the leader of this horde are you not?I am the Queen Ishelda. What was your goal in coming here?
>>20558044Maybe we should pretend to be Dres'lea/the void queen
>>20558003Yo, ur dood sed u wer lookin 4 me b4 i pwned him.
<Greetings, O red breasted one. May I ask your name, and why you are searching for me?><Dras'Lea.> He snarled in response. <You know my name. You know why I'm looking for you. You told us that this land was ripe for our settling, and instead we find beasts which hamper our every step! You lied, and for that, I'm going to kill you. And then these beasts.>
>>20558094<You are mistaken, sir. I am not Dras'lea, I am Ishelda.>
>>20558094<Err... Wrong little girl infused with too much magic, I'm afraid. I'm actually looking her as well, but it doesn't seem like you'll be able to help me much. Say, I don't suppose I could convince you to head back through the portal? There'd be a lot less fighting.>
>>20558094<I am not Dras'Lea. And I'm afraid you will have to leave. Either you pull your forces back through the portal, or we end your settling attempts for you.
>>20558094I am not Dras'Lea, I am the Queen Ishelda and these lands are under my protection. I would suggest you turn your horde around and march right back through it, you shall not settle here. I am being kind, the last person who refused my offers of non-violence and tried to fight me died, I would suggest you learn from his example.
<You are mistaken, Sir. I am not Dras'lea. I am Ishelda.><Bullshit.> The minotaur snarled. <I taste your mind as you speak to me. You taste the same, no matter how you mask it in sweet scents!><I'm afraid you have to leave.> You say. <Either you pull your forces back through the portal, or we end your settling attempts for you.><No. My army will burn the lands of these wild beasts. You will need to tear these lands from us. We'll dig in claw and hoof. Go ahead, Queen of the Void, tear my people's home from us! I dare you! I d-ghgulk->Suddenly, the connection was gone. You recall the feeling, from your connection with the sgragol; He's dead.Far, far below the storm, in the soaking rain, a woman with a golden blade pulled her cloak around her and vanished, something on a chain clenched in her hand.
>>20558197We still have our key, right?
>>20558197Angry time Ishelda."HER. IT'S HER. She killed him! We have to close the portal now!"
So this Dres'Lea girl, she seems to be more or less identical to us. Same voice, same height, same hair, same mind, and presumably same cup size. What do we think she is?Possibly something to do with the Arakroa? Maybe it's the demon half of us. It could be bad end Ishelda, but that seems a bit lame, since we can't really do anything about that.
>>20558197Well fuck you too Ms. Void Queen. I think that this is the signal to begin the bombardment, to begin to wipe this minotaur plague from the face of the continent. Let them know fear. Let them feel helpless in front of us. Let them know Death.
>>20558197"SHE'S HERE!""Slight change of plans everyone, if you see me with a golden sword, not Rikar, we've got troubles.
>>20558197Well, I'm sure we can use the death of their leader to our advantage.Get whoever takes over and offer him the chance to surrender. We've already killed their leader, they don't stand a chance.
>>20558197>Dras'lea = Void QueenWhoa dude, mind blown. That's the chick Gary was working for. Wonder what her deal is.This is actually news to Ishelda.
>>20558265Ishelda's had suspicions since the dreams, since we saw ourselves but evel.
>>20558265The VQ has been fucking with us a lot.
>>20558276We didn't even know we were seeing ourselves, we just thought the voice was familiar. And we didn't know the Void Queen was us either. That's two massive leaps that simply weren't made.
You draw the key out of your armor- it's still there. You're not even sure why you looked.And in the minotaur's dying eyes. . he showed you something. The woman, with the black cloak- The one who once visited you in your dreams. And she had something on her wrist. . It almost looked like bubbles, but. . with broken, shattered crystals.But that couldn't be Bubbles. . could it?"Begin the bombardment." You say, in a voice that chills even you- being in close touch with someone, as they die. . It's something utterly unexplainable. Something cold.Empty.Kiyara put her palm on Jormungandr's control crystal, and the airship tore through the clouds. A blast of lightning hit the ship, trailing from the orichalum wiring, as the arcane cannons blasted right where Belethor had planned, shattering the two of the three sets of stairs. Ell put his golem armor's hand near the crystal, and the cannons started moving, blasting down all of the minotaurs on the top tier.You hear the tell-tale roaring from the entire city, as the ship sets down near the portal."Jump!" Skerghaul said, and took a running leap off of the ship, placing his halberd into the eye of one of the minotaurs. The second one takes an angry dire bear to the face, as Grayson mauls the poor, poor minotaur. Kristop leaps over the balcony, drawing his sword just in case."We don't have long." Kiyara said. "We can set the soldiers down near the stairs.""I'll hold them off until we get there." Raziel said. She raised her staff, and to the north, you see a shimmering dragon tear out of the sky, breathing torrents of necromantic flame.
rolled 43 = 43>>20558342Drain that portal. Lob the excess energy into the lower sections of the city if necessary.
>>20558342Straight to the portal!Save our magic, we're probably going to need all of it.
>>20558372They might absorb it. Just shunt it into the sky.
rolled 24 = 24>>20558342Drain the portal, manipulate the magic keeping it together and transform it into an elemental that expresses our wrath. The minotaurs are going to die today.
>>20558342Draw Rikar and charge to the portal.
rolled 79 = 79>>20558342Eat the portal, use the magic.(rolling for positive side effects from eating the portal)
rolled 28 = 28>>20558342Get to the portal, destroy it.
rolled 5 = 5Rolling to support >>20558422
Stop rolling guys. You're only making it worse.
You leap off of the ship, landing agily on your feet- Rikar already in hand. Jormungandr takes off while you're still in the air, going to the north to back up Raziel's spectral vanguard. You quickly make your way toward the portal- the remaining minotaur guard roars, and starts to bring down his axe, but Skerghaul parried it with his halberd, and twisted the axe out of his hands. Grayson lopes forward, and tackles the 'taur.You run toward the portal, and finally reach it- it's larger, much larger than you thought it would be. Perfectly circular, and the surface looks like some. . bright pink color, strangely. You place your hand on the portal, and slowly start draining it. . But it isn't draining.It isn't draining at all. It's drawing on. . strange, inexhaustible energy supplies, from somewhere. . Else. The other side, perhaps? No, it's from somewhere completely different, you know intuitively. Your body wracks with pain as the raw magic sparks from your flesh, causing small burns on your skin- you remember something like this, such as the time Ell channeled the entire Weave. You try again, but the inexhaustible energy supply is just that- endless, as far as you can tell. you twitch again, as the magic sparks from your flesh-And you see the color of the sparks.Uncolors. The same thing you saw when you returned Kyvann's magic to him. The same thing you saw when you tore from one world to the other...The portal is being kept open by the energy in the gaps between worlds.
>>20558479Just eat the bloody thing.
rolled 75 = 75>>20558479Sever it instead.
>>20558479Stick our head through, what's on the other side?Maybe we can destroy the other end, or bury it or something, to solve the problem without actually closing the portal.
>>20558507Agreed. If it's getting too much power to be shut down, just pull the plug.
rolled 87 = 87>>20558479>Infinite magical powerShrink the portal, put it in a box and take it home. It's not like it matters if I roll low because we have fucking infinite magical power to try again with.
>>20558507This, grab hold of the connections to the spaces between worlds and rip them away, then drain whatever energy remains.
Your flesh still burning and charring with intense magical power, you feel like you're going to burst- so you shove your hands into the portal itself, feeling for the edge of the portal- the point where energy is pouring in from the void. Gritting your teeth, you pour every inch of magic your magic into the spell- you get dizzy, and it becomes difficult to breathe.<Lady, minotaurs are on their way.> Grayson said. <I do not know how they got past.>While you pour your magic into this. . this spell you're trying, to disable the portal, you look back- five minotaurs barrel towards you. With eloquent swordsmanship, Kristoph slices the knees of one, and starts combat with the other. Grayson barrels into the third. . Leaving Skerghaul with the final two.Beneath your palms. . something gives, and you start peeling at it, magic funneling around your arms, and the pain all but unbearable.>field too long
Skerghaul, laughing madly. . opens his eye. A strange, ethereal force surrounds him- something you can't quite put into words. Something ghostly, but not necromantic at all. You catch the whiff of divination, and the ogre laughs more loudly, weaving around the two minotaurs as they swing downward, as if he knew where they were going to attack. With a powerful arm, the ogre jammed the end of his halberd into one of the minotaur's spines, where it tore out of his chest-And the second minotaur went spinning, cleaving the ogre seer in half.The edge of the portal finally gave, and you tore apart the connection between the worlds.And then there's a humongous, gaping hole of nothingness, staring back out at you. The dire magic of the minotaur that just hewed Skerghaul in half starts going haywire, making the 'taur larger, and bulkier. . and then his spine snapped, as his fur got longer, bogging him down. Grayson started getting bulkier, and Kristoph grabbed ahold of him, pouring anti-magic against the storm of magic tearing through the world.You examine your hands- they're charred, blackened- little more than bones.
rolled 1 = 1>>20558652Seal it!
>>20558666FUCK
rolled 81 = 81>>20558666welp, no returning from this.
You reach up, with your magic, to seal the gaping hole to nowhere-Your hands spasm, and in horror, with so much extra magic, the spell goes wild-And you feel the seal clamp tightly around your own magic.With horror, you realize-You. . you can no longer cast spells.
rolled 74 = 74>>20558652Grab it and put it in a locket so that we have ULTIMATE ARCANE POWER.
>>20558652Funnel any excess magic into the thunderstorm.And stop suggesting we juggle raw magic you tots!
rolled 29 = 29>>20558652This is bad. But there's plenty of magic around to do what we want. Heal ourself with it and use the excess to unleash directly at the minotaurs.
>>20558682>flippingdesk.jpg
>>20558682quest over everyone go home
>>20558682I think it's time to pass out and let someone else deal with it.
>>20558682Run the fuck away.Mission failed.Hopefully we'll get our hands back sometime.
>>20558682Neat. I am sure that solves the Void Queen problem.
>>20558666>>20558682Fuckdamnit.Use Rikar to cut the seal. It's good at metaphorical shit like that.
>>20558682Well fuck. It was a fun quest guys.Time to turn it into a civ game?
>>20558709Yeah. Guess the quest needs to be renamed now that Ishelda ain't a sorceress anymore.
We might be able to get our magic back with a sacrifice.
>>20558682Motherwhorefucking nat 1. We have RIkar, it can cut anything. Also it sealed our Sorcery but our Soulfire Serpent might still be active, use the Soulfire to enhance Rikar and unseal our magic.
>>20558712Queen Quest?
Hey, if I remember correctly, we still have 1 fate point.
>>20558682>BAD END>Load Save?pleeeeease
Can we load a save?
>>20558720I'm more worried that we dont' seem to have HANDS anymore.
>>20558722Broken Queen quest. Losing her magic like that will probably not be good for Ishelda. Especially considering what a big part it was of her life.
Only one thing to do in such a perilous time.No magic? No needNo hands? No needTongue in butt
>>20558733Hands are for the weak.Magic is for the weak.We shall headbutt the minotaurs until they give up.
You draw Riker, twirl it in your hands, the artifact blade ubercharged with so much magic that the piercing purple light all but blinds you, and a bolt of lightning from the storm strikes somewhere near. You bring it up, and stab it directly into your wrist, where you feel the seal on your magic.The blade tears through your wrist. . And the seal is still perfectly intact.The hewn top half of Skerghaul climbs toward you, snarling something you can't tell. . and then he tears the whistle from your neck, and gives it a blow.There's a loud bang, and a sgragol tears out of the sky, and crashes into the ground, exhausted and tired- from one look, you can tell it's been flying . . from. . . .Your thought trail ends as you see the World Key fall out of it's mouth.
>>20558743This!
>>20558748World Key, that breaks magic, seals and so on. Use it.
>>20558748Grab that key! Break the seal on our magic, then break the portal.
>>20558748What a badarse Sker is.Worldkey our seal, and grow him some new legs.
>>20558748Fucking railroading prophecies. Eat the World Key, that's clearly what the sgragol was indicating.
>>20558758Seems reasonable.
>>20558778seconding this.we will digest the power of the key.
>>20558748Anything large and metallic around? Bang the world key against that like a bell. Maybe there's a shield or something.
>>20558758Use it to replace your source of magic with the portal.
>>20558818Fuck no! we keep our sorcery.
You grab the world key, the entangled wand of woven silver cables, and wave it over your wrist- the seal releases, easily, and Rikar stops glowing for a moment.And then you point it at the gaping hole in reality, and give it a flick-And the gaping hole in reality starts. . shrinking, and then. . pulling. Pulling at you, and at Sker, and Grayson. You skid a foot forward, as one of Sker's legs was torn through the hole, and you start to slip-Kristoph grabs your wrist, and the hole in reality seals itself.For a long moment, everyone is silent- and the world ceases to make any noise. Even the storm has stopped.Suddenly worried, you turn to Sker, your magic ready to heal him-But the seer is dead, collapsed, the whistle still between his lips, and his eye wide open.Slowly, the storm starts to dissolve, the spell running it having evaporated.
>>20558828Fuck."Everybody, back to the ship. There's nothing left for us here."Don't forget to bring the sgragol and Sker's corpse.
>>20558828"Let's... let's go."Collapse.
>>20558826And gain infinite cosmic power to fuel it. The sorcery is a talent, not an attribute of our mana.
>>20558828Fall over and die, you've ruined everything, you pitiful little girl. Sker died because you didn't pay attention, you lost your hands and almost your magic to recklessness, and now the minotaurs are going to fuck up your magicless party.
rolled 68 = 68>>20558828Well that was one hell of a death flag he gave earlier. It's to be expected.Our hands are still kinda screwed up so heal that first. While the portal is closed the battle with the minotaurs isn't over yet. We've still got things to kill.
>>20558859>Sker died because you didn't pay attentionIt was inevitable, he foresaw it.
>>20558875If you're any good you can change prophecy. Ishelda could not. Wretched creature.
>>20558885Belethor said he could do it with something simple like chess but not in real life. Nobody else has even come that close.
"Let's... Let's go." You say, drawing Rikar out of your wrist- you bite your tongue at the pain, and you bite your lip at the pain.<Fall over and die.> A vehement, snarling voice suddenly burst into your head, roaring at you. Something angry, and proud. <You've ruined everything, you pitiful little girl. Sker died because you didn't pay attention. Wretched creature. You lost your hands and almost your magic to recklessness, and now the mino->The sgragol suddenly presses it's head against yours, for a single moment, and intelligent eyes look into yours, and the voice fades. It snatches the World Key from your hand, and takes off again.You take that moment to collapse into unconsciousness.You blearily remember, dimly, being lashed to Grayson's back, as the bear charged toward the stairs.Dimly, you remember Jeanne clinging to a minotaur's horns with one hand, and tearing out it's eye with the other.Dimly, you remember Ell flailing a 'taur around like a ragdoll, slamming it into the roughshod fortifications Zeke had erected.Dimly, you remember Fellwind, his eyes afire with white flame, taking an axe to his arm, and then laughing as it regrew, flinging a minotaur's maul with one hand.And when you come to, you're on Jormungandr again, Leon sitting at your bedside, tongue between his lips as he read.
>>20558859>>20558885Oh look, the larval stages of an RPing tripfag...
>>20558915Gasp awake and sit up suddenly."Leon! What's happening? Where is everyone?"
>>20558915What happened?
>>20558915Sit up.
>>20558915Check hands, check magic, check friends.
>>20558915I don't deserve to be queen. I screwed up everything. What did I miss?
>>20558915>Neither Raz nor Kal are around"I feel terrible."
>>20558953We can use this chance to romance Leon, it's not all bad.
>>20558959After what happened, that would probably be the last thing on her mind.
>>20558959Eh, that's a chance I'm willing to miss, I really haven't found Leon all that interesting so far.
You suddenly sit up, eyes wide. Your hands are bandaged and patched up, but it doesn't seem you have the piercing wound from Rikar anymore. You reach for your magic, and it's just as free as it usually is."Leon! What's happening? Where is everyone?"He jumps, and then notes his page in the book, and closes it."Everyone is fine. Other then Sker, nobody died. One of the soldiers got mortally wounded, rambling on about 'nat ones' or something, but Fellwind says he'll be fine. Nobody else was hurt badly, surprisingly. Mostly because of Ezekiel, Raziel, and that, uh, elven guy with the heavy armor."In a low voice, he said something about how he should probably give some credit to the prince, too.
>>20558959
>>20558966Maybe, but sex does make you happier.
>>20558975"Now, now. You defeated me easily, so I am sure you contributed to our victory just as well as everybody else did."
>>20558975"Oh, everyone's ok then." Relax a bit."Except Sker." time to tear up a bit."I'm a horrible queen."
>>20558975"I'm sure Sker knew it. I wonder why he didn't try to change it."
>>20558975>mortally wounded>he'll be fineDude what. If it doesn't kill you it's not a mortal wound.
>>20559014It would have killed him, but then magic happened.
>>20559014He probably didn't read the manual properly.
"Oh, everyone's okay then." You say, relaxing.He didn't say anything."Except Sker." You say, and close your eyes, sniffling. "I'm a horrible queen.""No. no you're not." Leon said rather forcefully. He froze, took a deep breath, and put a hand on your shoulder, speaking more softly. "Kris told me what happened there. You were arms deep in a portal that would have let a lot more people get hurt. I was thinking about it, and he specifically asked to be there. He went down there willingly, and he knew he would die there. But if he hadn't. . the two minotaurs would have killed you, and the portal would have stayed open."
>>20559087"I know. It still doesn't make it any better. I hate it when my friends get hurt. To see them die is... I don't want to think about it, right now."Get up, see how the rest of our party is doing.
>>20559039Then it's not a mortal wound.>Oh my god I just had a terminal illness good job those antibiotics got rid of it
>>20559087That doesn't matter. I'm supposed to bend fate, he shouldn't have died. I should have saved him. I'm supposed to be able to do anything with my magic, what use am I if I can't save someone who was willing to die for me.
>>20558971>>20558976Why would you say that... Leon's a great choice for a nice traditional romance, staring at stars and long walks on the beach and such.>>20559087"Oh. Can I have some tea please?"
>>20559087Did- did Raz add him to her staff like he asked?
"That doesn't matter." You say. "I'm supposed to bend fate. He shouldn't have died. I should have saved him. I'm supposed to be able to do anything with my magic. What use am I if I can't save someone who was willing to die for me?""I. . don't mean to offend. . and I'm not a good judge of character, but. . I don't think he died for you." He said. "I think he died for his country. And he could have bent fate, easily, if he wanted it bent. He could have told someone what could happen, or he could have been somewhere else. Or stayed on the ship. Anything. Maybe. . maybe he was where he was because he wanted fate to stay on course.""Did- Did Raz add him to her staff like he asked?" You ask, and he nods."She's doing that right now." He said. "Her and Kaliel were taking turns watching over you, but when I checked up on you, Kaliel was asleep- she didn't sleep last night, it seems, so I took her back to her cabin and took her spot for now."
>>20559116Thank glob for magical antibiotics. Sounds like if they hadn't been magical you could have died.>Can't into magical bullshit.>Or would that be minotaurshit?
>>20559185Thanks Leon, I appreciate your care.I might.. Just stay here for a bit.Where's the ship going at the moment? Where are we heading? I'm not needed right now, am I?
>>20559185Grumble "Meddling seers.""Thanks you for watching over me, Leon. Where did we set course after we escaped from the city?"
>>20559227Meddling seers seems appropriate.Maybe we should get on the rings and tell the ogres he died, and tell Marigold we're not as dead as she may have though. For the second time in two days.
>>20559221Actually I think he was saying that magical healing isn't magical.
"Thanks Leon, I appreciate your care."He nods. "I might.. I might just stay here for a bit." "You might want to let everyone know you're awake. . we've all been rather worried about you. You were unconscious for a full day after the battle, and it's sometime. . past midday. But if you want to stay here, I can go get you some food and tea.""Where's the ship going at the moment? Where are we headed? I'm not needed right now, am I?""We. . weren't sure where you wanted to go next, so we're drifting around Sgragol mountain right now, because from there we can get everywhere."
>>20559301I'll stay here for now. Food and tea would be nice. I'll decide on our next destination soon.
>>20559301Alright. We're going to stay here for a few days, then probably head home after talking to the ogres. Tea would be nice. But keep the visitors to a minimum, please.
>>20559301"That would be nice. Just tell them I've woken up and if they wish to see me, I'm in my cabin. Just feeling a bit weak after all this."
>>20559301Bed rest sounds like a good idea, for now. People can visit Ishelda in there. And have everybody show up, we want to make sure they're alright.
>>20559221>>20559274>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_wound>A mortal wound is a very severe and serious injury which leads directly to the death of the victim.If it doesn't kill you, it's not a mortal wound. That's all I'm saying. It doesn't matter how you get better or how bad it was to start with. When Exabyte says "got mortally wounded" the assumption is he's fucking dead, which completely jars with the previous statement that nobody else died, making me go back and reread shit to try and work it out and throwing off my immersion.
>>20559359>Good point. He died, then. You rule lawyered him to death. Whoops!>Sorry, but 'mortal wound' had more flow than 'would-be-mortal-wound-if-fellwind-wasn't-there'."I'll stay here for now." You say. "Food and tea would be nice. I'll decide on our next destination soon. Just tell them I've woken up and if they wish to see me, I'm in my cabin. Just feeling a bit weak after all this."He nodded, set his book on a table, and got up and walked toward the door, before turning back.". . For what it's worth, Ishelda, you saved an entire continent, closed a portal, and sealed a hole in reality. To ask any more of yourself. . ."He shook his head. "Nobody can do everything. Not even a sorceress. But. . . I respect you for trying. Just don't. . don't work yourself to death. You're your own person."And then you were alone.>Who visits ishy?
>>20559359You can't just look at the literal meaning of the word though, you have to look at the intention of it. A mortal wound is a wound that should definitely kill you - unless magic or miracle occurs. Which it fucking did.Now pull back real hard to pop on out of your own colon, and shut the fuck up before Exabyte decides he really will kill off Nameless, you fucking grognard.
>>20559409Kaliel
>>20559409Void Queen visits her.
>>20559409I want to talk to fellwind, what' the deal with our hands, are we going to get them back?
>>20559409Grayson.
>>20559409>Who visits ishy?I'm pretty sure everybody does. Really, they're our friends, what friend wouldn't want to visit in this situation.If you just want one person, Raziel.
>>20559359I wish I could hate you to death.I really, really do.
>>20559409>Who visits Ishy?Nobody, Ishy goes to visit Kaliel in her bed.
>>20559409Woah, wait a second, that's greentext descision making.Dres'Lea.
>>20559409Zeke or Raz or both.
>>20559409>Sorry, but 'mortal wound' had more flow than 'would-be-mortal-wound-if-fellwind-wasn't-there'.You could have just used 'grievously wounded' or 'seriously wounded' or 'terribly wounded' or...>>20559416Haha, too late. I was just saying that it threw me, you started the argument with your "hurr he died but now he's fine can you even magic" bullshit.
>>20559470Seconded. Let's just have all the birds visit her.
>>20559409kal
>>20559409Kaliel.
>>20559409Belethor. He's a bro.Seriously, we've had plenty of Kaliel time, give her a break.
>>20559416Grayson!
>>20559478That wasn't even me, you cunt. Now you went and killed Nameless.
>>20559490But how can we get in her pants if we give her a break?
>>20559524We can break into her pants.
>Nameless isn't dead- I was being sarcastic. Although it *would* be appropriate, for a meta-soldier to die due to meta-reasons.There was a flicker of magic, and the woman in a black cloak appeared- Dras'lea.She held her hand over the endtable where Leon's book sat. . and dropped something, which clattered to the desk. A single gear, stained in blood, connected to a chain. It smelled strongly of minotaur. Someone knocked on the door, and the woman vanished, before you or her had said a word.The door opens, and Kaliel's standing there, holding a tray of two servings of food and some tea, wearing her robe over her living armor. The tail, poking through a hole in the butt of the robe, coiled around the doorknob and closed it behind her- she looked tired, as if she'd just awoken."How are you feeling?" She asked.
>>20559505No, Exabyte killed nameless. All I did was state the truth and he got buttmangled that somebody pointed out his writing wasn't flawless.
>>20559540"Kaliel! I'm feeling terrible. I need some tea."
>>20559540"Considering what happened? Quite well."
>>20559540"I've been better."weak smile.
>>20559540Ask her what's the title of the book on the table.
>>20559540Bad. I'm tired, exhausted and no matter what people tell me I feel like I screwed up and could have done more.
>>20559549No, he corrected his writing. It was you that got ass damaged because exabyte's writing isn't perfect. Do you remember how you were getting all anus pained when his writing wasn't perfect?>Just quit having an analpocalypse.
>>20559626>Implying I'm mad>Implying I'm going to sit here trading pointless insults with you now the argument is over
"Kaliel! I'm feeling terrible. I need some tea." You say."Good thing I got you some, then." She said, setting the tray on your bed. She took a seat, and plucked some bread from her own plate- it seemed that she wasn't wearing the thick, clawed gauntlets of her living armor right now. "You haven't had tea in at least twenty-four hours." She said. "Any longer and you'd be going through withdrawal.""What's the title of that book?" You ask.She moves the gear aside, and picked up the book. "Well, I saw Leon carrying this around. It's called 'Queens: How to seduce them'." She said, and then grinned. "It's a book of Sosarian mythology. I think he borrowed it from one of the soldiers Belethor brought with him. Or maybe Belethor. It's hard to tell if they're friends or enemies, sometimes."
>>20559654He's got some competition, that's for sure.
>>20559654"Hmmm, do you think we should just hand out copies to everybody on our ships who's not in a relationship at the moment?"
>>20559654"Hmph. I bet he left it there on purpose!"
>>20559654"Friendly rivals, I think. Any good tips in there?">Void Queen end go!
>>20559654I think the technical term for them would be rivals. They like each other, respect each other and simply both want the same thing. The machismo is amusing to watch, I like it when they fight for my favor.How are you doing?
"Friendly rivals, I think. Any good tips in there?" You ask, and she showed you the title- on front was simply an image of a large, angry minotaur, and at the bottom, 'The collected works of the mythology of old sosaria'. "I was kidding about the title." She said, and flipped it open, looking through."He's got some competition, that's for sure." You say.She looked to you and grinned. "Oh?" She asked. "Who's in the lead, then, out of all of his competition?"Before you could say anything, she laughed and shook her head. "I'm kidding, kidding. That's your own business. I'm just. . glad you're okay." She said, finally.
>>20559776"Sort of okay. I'm dreading taking off these bandages." Indicate your hands.
>>20559776I'm glad almost everyone's ok. It could have been a lot worse.
>>20559776"I'm just glad the rest of you made it to safety after I collapsed. You know, I think I haven't been hugged in more than 24 hours."
>>20559776"It could have been a lot worse..."
"Sort of okay. I'm just glad the rest of you made it to safety after I collapsed." You say. "It could have been a lot worse. I'm dreading taking off these bandages, though." You say, looking down at them."You shouldn't worry." She said, and gave you a hug, careful not to disturb your food. "They were charred by tremendous amounts of raw magic, and one had a hole straight through the wrist, but. . me and Fellwind worked together on healing them. They should be fine by now." She said, and put her hand on yours. "Do you mind if I take a look at them?"
>>20559776Actually, according to the impromptu poll we put together in the shipping googledoc, Kaliel and Raziel are winning by a landslide, with Kal edging slightly in at First.
"Thanks Kal."Hug time. Damnit I want to proceed with Kaliel waifu
>>20559882"O-okay. You're the healer.">>20559890Patience, good anon.
>>20559882"Go ahead... The hole was from Rikar. I-I accidentally sealed my own magic away, and wasn't thinking clearly. I tried to cut the seal..."
>>20559882"Of course, go ahead.That portal had access to an infinite magical source, Kal. It wouldn't have EVER shut off. When I disconnected it, it just became a hole in the world. After that, all the magic went completely berserk and the spell I was trying to use to seal the hole whipped around and was placed on myself. I tried to break it with Rikar, but it didn't work."
>>20559882"Um, okay." Start taking those bandages off.Also, check our clothes, did they undress us while we were out? Blush a bit?
"O-okay. You're the healer.""Fellwind's the healer, but. . " She said, and then slowly unwrapped them. Beneath, were your hands. But they were. . different. The skin tone was identical to what it had been before, but strange, curling, silver lines that danced along your skin- it almost looked like they were glowing. "They look like they've healed up nicely." She said. She didn't mention the silvery, unnatural lines."The hole was from Rikar." You say. "I-I accidentally sealed my own magic away, and wasn't thinking clearly. I tried to cut the seal...""Rikar has cut magic before, right?" She asked. "Then that's fair enough. If it was important enough, I would have done the same thing. You have your magic back, right?"You quickly check your clothes, and you're only wearing your nightclothes- someone had undressed you while you were unconscious. Heat rises in your cheeks.
>>20560009"Yeah. Who undressed me?"
>>20560009Y-yes. Who changed my clothes?
>>20560009Investigate these lines! Are they on the surface of the skin? Under, or above? Are they magic? Poke them with the soulfire serpent.
>>20560009"Yes. Kal, what about these strange silver lines on my hands?"Must. not. think. about who undressed us.
You run your hand over the surface of one of the lines- it seems like it's part of the skin, and underneath. . and you trace the lines up your arm, where they slowly merge. . into the tattoo of your soulfire serpent."We, uh, don't know what those are, but they were there before we even worked on them. They're there even after we regrew your skin. It's, uh, magic." She said.You bring your soulfire serpent to life, and you poke the line with your serpent, and something sparks."Y-yes." you say. Who changed my clothes?""It wasn't me!" She said, waving her hands. "I swear! It was Jeanne. Fellwind asked her to. He couldn't because he was a guy, and I couldn't because. . .well. . "Her face went red. "Anyway, about those lines. I think they're a sort of. . side effect from channelling too much magic power, or. . closing the portal, or the hole in reality."
>>20560104Good side effect or bad side effect? I think it might be a good one, magical tattoo things are always a good thing, right?
>>20560104"Huh. Well I guess I'm even more branded by magic now. Sooner or later I'm going to have my hair bleach and my eyes glow purple." With a smile.
>>20560104"I'll have to hear Zeke's opinion about them, but your explanation seems sound. So, how did your armour work? Y-you look very nice in it"
>>20560104Giggle at her"And you passed up the chance to see me naked?"
>>20560155"But you'd look so much better without it."we're all alone now
>>20560104"Guess I'll have to file Jeanne under admirer as well. I just hope she'll stay with Fellwind, although she is rather cute."
>>20560185Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's not interested in us.
"Huh. Well, I guess I'm even more branded by magic by now. Sooner or later I'm going to have my hair bleach and my eyes glow purple." You say, giving her a smile."Your hair is already silver, and your eyes turn purple whenever you use sorcery." She said.Suddenly, you giggle. "And you passed up the chance to see me naked?""W-well, I- uh." She started spluttering, and tripping over her own tongue for a full ten seconds. Finally, she closed her eyes and put her hand on her face. ". . You're acting strangely." She said, as her blush refused to fade.
Pout and ask, "Am I not pretty to you?" then make it clear we're just teasing her.
>>20560264"Well, it's been more than a day without tea, blushing or hugs, for me."
>>20560264I reserve the right to act strangely after not receiving any hugs in 24 hours!
>>20560264Maybe I am. I've just been through a slightly stressful situation, you see.
>>20560264"It was too good an opportunity to pass up."
>>20560264It's because you're very easy to tease. I've had a long day, now give me a hug before I go into withdrawal.
"The difference between giving and receiving I suppose, and I rarely get the option to give."
More testing with the lines is in order, cast that light spell, and see if we can pick it up and move it or crush it with our hands, without using magic.
"Maybe I am. I've just been through a slightly stressful situation, you see." You say. "Now give me a hug before I go into withdrawal."In response, she gave you a tight hug, and pushed a biscuit into your mouth."You also need to eat." She said. "You haven't eaten in a day. I baked these biscuits with Kiyara's help. She called them 'lembas bread' or something."
>>20560396"mmphm-mgarbm"
>>20560396"Thank you Kal."Say they're lovely no matter if they're really that good or not.
>>20560396"Thank you very much. They are incredibly tasty."Enjoy the hug some more. And inspect the armor's tail, I'm curious about that thing.
>>20560414This.
>>20560396our tongue in lembas bread's butt
>>20560468I think this might be the only tongue-in-butt request that actually gets granted.
>>20560396Use soulfire serpent to grab her tail.
"Mmphm-mgarbm." You say, and chew through the biscuit- it's almost more of a wafer, then anything, and other than a pleasant flaky texture and a tremendous amount of sugar and vanilla, it doesn't have much substance. You accidentally punch a hole into it with your tongue, so you quickly eat the rest of it."Thank you, Kal. They're lovely.""You're welcome." She responded. "I thought I made them too strong, but Kiyara said they're supposed to be that sweet."While you're enjoying the tongue, you examine the tail- it's made of black carapace, and looks... bladed, on both sides, and very, very sharp, twitching this way and that, like a cat's. It has a sharp spearpoint at the tip, and seems to be wiggling of it's own accord.
>>20560548"Could you, at some point in the future, make one of these suits of armor for me as well?"
>>20560548[x] Touch sharp tail
>>20560548"Is the armor alive? Do you feel it if I touch it?"[]touch xenomophic tail"How was it on the ground? Did you get to fight?"
>>20560573Add a "Pleeeeeease?" to that.
>>20560548>tongue-in-butt request acceptedmy life is complete
[x]Touch the Reverse scale on her tail
>>20560573This one was originally for us, but she found out it only works on the person casting the spell.
>>20560635Really. Must have missed that completely.
"Is the armor alive?" You ask, after a moment. "Do you feel it if I touch it?" "It is alive, and I do feel it. . sometimes. the thickest carapace I can't feel."On instinct. . you run your finger across the non-bladed portion of her tail, and she shivers."How was it on the ground? Did you get to fight?""I did. I didn't get hurt, and I was just leaping from minotaur to minotaur, slashing them apart." She said. "It was dark, and dreary, and wet but Belethor knew what he was doing while he was commanding, and then. . suddenly, the minotaurs shrank. All of them. Kristoph came by, and the look in his eyes as he and Grayson arrived... I don't want to ever make him angry."
>>20560654Yeah, Grayson teased that she just wanted to make us armor so she could see us naked.
>>20560671>By 'instinct', I mean 'on a whim'
>>20560682Bummer. Guess we'll have to magic ourselves some of that neat armor once we're fit again.
>>20560671"This was after I closed the portal? He's getting better at controling his antimagic, if he managed to get them and not you."
>>20560671We should talk to Kristoph, see if we can get him to anti-enchant items.
>>20560671That must have been the World Key dispelling all the magic. What size are they normally?
>>20560705We already have our own magic armor, and it's more awesome, because it stores magic in it.
>>20560724It could still use a combat upgrade, though. And I think Kaliel's armor beats ours when it comes to style.
>>20560744I don't think we should steal her style though, we can make something more awesome, and more Ishelda.
>>20560744But we have queenly swag. If we switch it out for crazy scientist swag, we might never wake up covered in bitches again!
>>20560805>>20560783Well, better do something before our armor is outdated!
>>20560805We could keep multiple armors around, just saying.
>>20560783But how does one make armor out of pure mana?
>>20560783Magical jewels we have Kaliel stick into our spine that we fill with magic to form a skin-thick barrier which also fuels our bullshit hac- I mean sorcery.With that, we can look as FABULOUS as possible with mundane clothes and still be protected.
rolled 77 = 77>>20560816Magic!
"That must have been the World Key dispelling all the magic. What size are they normally?""Oh, they're the size of ogres. Larger, some of them." She said., and then set her tea back down on the tray. . and thoughtfully took the tray aside.Then she swung one leg over, straddling you, her tail twitching as she did so."Ishelda." She said, suddenly, looming closer to you, amber eyes staring into yours. "I was really worried."She licked her lips, and. . >End of thread!>Whoops today went *way* past scheduled. .but it's fair, because I won't be able to quest tomorrow. From then on, though, things should be smooth sailing>Sticking around to answer questions and etc etc.
>>20560855did you plan for that nat 1
>>20560841>stuck into our spineWell obviously we'll just have to wear nothing but backless dresses from then on....and then mana backup occurs and Ishelda's body starts trying to store the excess magic in fat cells and she gets dat ass and dem tits.
>>20560855Maaaan. Now we have to wait two days!
>>20560855>Say you won't be able to run the quest on a certain day>Run it anyway>Say you're going to start finishing earlier>Run a couple of hours late insteadExabyte, why are you so untrustworthy?
>>20560855Smutfag, I'm waiting.
>>20560855>She licked her lips, and. . then Grayson burst through the door, throwing the young Kalak off Ishelda."Ishelda she's..... in league with the Void Queen!"DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAA
>>20560855WHOA. WHOA.EXABYTE IM TRYING TO DESIGN ISHELDA A MAGICAL BULLFROG HERE AND YOU THROW THIS SHIT AT ME"KALIEL YOU BETTER B-B-BACK DAT ASS UP, IM TRYING TO STAY PURE"
>>20560904I doubt Kaliel will go from *nothing* to *that*.
>>20560855She licked her lips and... took one of our lembas wafers?
>>20560904I'm actually starting right the fuck now. Would you all rather I do my usual pastebin dump or do it in (really slow) post sections here in the thread?Exabyte also has veto power here FYI.
>>20560935Nooooooo, they are Ishelda's!
>>20560855...grabbed another biscuit and ate it."At first I thought they were too sweet, but they're kind of growing on me, you know."
>>20560942Pastebin.Smut here can still net you a ban.
>>20560885>At least I'm untrustworthy in a good way!>Although, despite whatever I say in thread, sometimes plans change. The most up-to-date plans of mine are usually on my twitter.>Although today was a lot longer because I didn't notice the time.>>20560869>I didn't plan for it. . but I took it as it came. The whistle always called tired, exhausted fluffy, and tired, exhausted fluffy always had the world key. It wasn't the *only* option of closing the portal, but you needed a DC 90 or higher to close it without tearing open all of existence. And then you needed a DC 50 or higher to close the hole in reality. . but then whoops nat 1.
>>20560947If I wasn't on my phone I'd post THISnigga.jpg
>>20560855"Stop, Kaliel." The young girl on top of you seemed frozen for a minute, before her had sank and she began moving."I... I am sorry, I didn't know how..." You quickly grasp her hand to stop her from moving away."Where are you going?" you asked her while holding her in place. "I just have to call Raziel before we get started." Kaliel needed a moment to get her bearings, before opening her mouth and still being unable to say anything."What?" You ask here, very un-queenlike. "You only warm one of my sides after we've slept together. It's really annoying without your sister. Now let me find this ring..."
I'm just gonna post my first draft of everything that could reasonably be posted before it gets too intimate.Then she swung one leg over, straddling Ishelda, her tail twitching as she did so."Ishelda." Kaliel said, suddenly, looming closer to her, amber eyes staring into hers. "I was really worried."Kal licked her lips, and......planted a kiss on Ishelda's. Ishelda hesitated for a moment, stunned, and then returned it just as Kaliel started to pull away. They broke a moment later, and two girls stared at each other for a moment, each blushing heavily, and then couldn't help but avert their gazes."Sorry-" they both began at the same time, then chuckled. It broke the tension, and they looked at one another again.Ishelda's heart was beating so hard and so fast she thought she might faint. Her body felt locked up, and she couldn't get herself to say anything, much as she wanted to.Instead, she willed herself to take Kal's hand. It was warm. The contact gave her enough courage to find her voice again, but all she could manage to say to her was "More."Kaliel grinned, "As the queen commands." she teased, and went in for another, longer kiss.
>>20561023>>20561206FAPFAPFAP>But will you write one with one of them shapeshifted into a dude?>Maybe they start out kissing and touching and licking>Then one of them gets an idea>A penis shaped idea.
