You suddenly snap awake, torn out of the dream with Kaliel; The coiled tattoo on your arm, that was the soulflame serpent, was suddenly burning, almost painfully. Biting your lip, you rub at it, and the feeling fades. Curious, you try to rouse the serpent, but it simple snoozes there, exhausted. You look out the window, and the full moon stares back at you, and below, you see the Galadriel's light in Marigold's garden glowing softly, making the field outside look ethereal, small blue wisps of magic difting upward, toward the moon itself.

Someone starts rapping softly at your door.
"...Are you still awake?" Marigold's voice asks, quietly.

>>20811016
"I'm awake. Come in Mar."

>>20811016
"I woke up a few seconds before you knocked, come in."

>>20811016
"Probably."

"I'm awake." You say. "Come in, Mar."
Gingerly, she stepped into the room, and sat at the foot of your bed, frowning.
"... Kristoph is convinced he can't be a knight anymore." She said. "I keep trying to encourage him... but he's determined. Stubborn."

>>20811071
Sigh. "I was afraid he would come to this conclusion. He must feel terrible right now, I can't imagine what I would feel like if somebody stole my talent."

>>20811071
"Thanks for encouraging him, Mar. He needs all the support he can get in this situation."

"I was afraid he'd come to this conclusion. He must feel terrible right now. Thanks for encouraging him, Mar." You sigh. "He needs all the support he can get in this situation. I can't imagine what I would feel like if somebody stole my talent."
"... It was stolen?" She asked. "He thinks he just... lost it. That he lost whatever... honor, or valor that first awoke his talent. I've just... never seen him like this, before. He always seemed so... casual, so sure of himself, and now he isn't."

File: 1348250738937.jpg-(14 KB, 177x284, Necromancer.jpg)

>>20811002
Necromancer:

<What most people imagine.

File: 1348250782167.jpg-(8 KB, 241x209, Angel.jpg)

>>20811002
Necromancer:

<What Exabyte gave us.

File: 1348250854622.jpg-(6 KB, 236x213, Fuzzy Puppy.jpg)

>>20811002
Young girls fuzzy animal companion:

<What most people imagine.

>>20811158
"I..I forgot to tell him." Facepalm. "I feel so stupid right now. We must tell him."

"I'd best go speak with him then."

File: 1348250944817.jpg-(6 KB, 223x226, Sir Grayson.jpg)

>>20811002
Young girls fuzzy animal companion:

<What Exabyte gave us.

File: 1348250996840.jpg-(11 KB, 190x266, Mai Waifu.jpg)

>>20811002
Lesbian Waifu:

<What most people imagine.

>>20811158
"Oh! No, that's not it at all. When the spirit left it took the antimagic with it. Otherwise I could have stopped it."

File: 1348251064417.jpg-(5 KB, 169x298, Big Bird.jpg)

>>20811002
Lesbian Waifu:

<What Exabyte gave us.


Never change Exa. Never change.

>>20811173
>>20811212
>>20811238

not this quest's player, but that all sounds pretty awesome

"Oh! No, that's not it at all. I... I forgot to tell him." You say. "I feel so stupid right now. We must tell him."
"Yes, we must." She said. "He was down in the kitchens, drinking swamp brew, last I saw him. Should we... wait until morning?"

>>20811238
Can't unsee.

>>20811267
"How drunk was he when you left? If he's already gone then we'll have to tell him in the morning."

>>20811267
"If he's still awake I'm marching down there right now."

>>20811267
We can't just let him drink alone. I'm feeling in the mood for some swampbrew myself.

>>20811267
"We should tell him, and if he's already too drunk, we should at least make sure he won't do anything he'll regret tomorrow. Just give me a second to get dressed, and we can head to the kitchen."

>>20811294
This

>>20811267
I miss keli. I need to swampbrew.

>>20811301
This

>>20811304
No need for clothes. just swampbrew.

"If he's still awake, then I'm marching down there right now." You say. "Just give me a second to get dressed, and we can head to the kitchen."
"Okay." she said.
You get up, and quickly get changed into into a simple frock, putting Rikar on your hip, and fastening Kaliel's dragon crystal to your neck, like a brooch. Together, the two of you leave. Nobody else seems to be awake, and the dark castle is rather creepy. Eventually, you make your way down to the kitchens, where Kristoph is hunched over a table, eying the remainder of the swamp brew in his cup, swishing it around.

>>20811349
"Kristoph! Stop feeling sorry for yourself this instant!"

>>20811349
Place a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Kris. How are you holding up?"

>>20811349
Hey! I heard you need a drinking buddy and came right away.

>Pour glass for ourself and marigold.

>>20811380
This

>>20811349
Let's see how drunk he is. "So... how many cups of swamp brew did you have?"

"Hey!" You say. "I heard you need a drinking buddy and came right away."
"I *have* a drinking buddy." Kristoph slurred, still glaring into the bottom of the cup. "He's too busy looking after his sister."
He upended the last of the cup, and slid it forward. You ready a cup for yourself, and for Marigold, before kristoph pours his own, getting a refill.
"So... how many cups of swamp brew did you have?"
"This is the third." He said.

>>20811410
"Marigold tells me you think your talent left you because you're 'not worthy' or something stupid like that."

>>20811410
"Let me get this out of the way before you're completely drunk - you didn't lose your talent because you did something wrong. It was stolen from you bythat spirit."

>>20811410
"Oh, you should be fine. It takes at least 6 before it gets really interesting for me.

Marigold is telling me you're being an idiot. Kris, I thought you realized this, you didn't lose your talent, it was stolen by that spirit. And as your Queen I'm going to kick it in the teeth, once I find it, until you get your birthright back.

>>20811410
"That's about what I expected.

Listen, Kristoph, when I was magically grappling with the spirit, I had my magical sight on. Whenever I do, your anti-magic looks sort of like a hole. A dark void where nothing is. When the spirit left you, I saw it for a moment. It was that sort of nothingness color.
I don't believe you've lost your talent, Kris. I believe it's been *stolen*."

>>20811469
>He looked that sort of color
There was also the more compelling evidence that it negated our spells.

>>20811450
How would he know that? It's not like he noticed anything while the spirit possessed him, and afterwards Kal basically shut him down so he wouldn't go insane from the pain.

>>20811238
That's not an accurate representation of Kalak at all, and you know it. Or you should, at least.

"Listen, Kristoph." You say. He raises an eyebrow at your tone. "When I was magically grappling with the spirit, I had my magical sight on. whenever I do, your anti-magic looks sort of like a hole. A dark void where nothing is."
"Right. Zeke told me about that." Kristoph said.
"When the spirit left you, I saw it for a moment. It was that sort of nothingness color." You say. "I don't believe you've lost your talent, Kris. I believe it's been *stolen*."
"So... we have to steal it back." He said. "But... I thought that talents were a part of you. A part of what you are and who you are. I thought they couldn't be stolen."

>>20811525
"They are. But that doesn't mean they can't be stolen. To make a bad comparison, your hand is part of you, but I could cut it off and steal it."

>>20811525
"To be honest, I don't have the slightest clue how talents work. Even Grayson, who somehow has a natural understanding of these things, can't put it into words."

>>20811525
"Well, we know of one man who erased the very concept of his own identity, which should be just as impossible. And then there's the Lizardman who, in death, bestowed me my Soulfire."

>>20811525
"So did I. Apparently we're wrong."

>>20811525
"Probably not normally. Gareth does have quite a lot of experience with magic, though. Do you have any recollection of what happened while you were possessed? I think he sacrificed the Fell to do... something, if only we knew what."

rolled 32 = 32

>>20811525
Let's scan him, make sure it didn't just get sealed while ghostboy made off with a copy.

>>20811603
Overr 9000!?!?!!!

rolled 94 = 94

>>20811620
apparently just 5900.
rerollin

rolled 68 = 68

>>20811525
Rolling to deaden smell and taste so as to better drinking swampbrew

>>20811643
OVER 9000?!?!?!?

"Well, we know of one man who erased the very concept of his own identity, which should be just as impossible." You say.
"The Wanderer." Kristoph said. "Gareth."
"And then there's Ghujj, who, in death, bestowed me my soulfire."
"Nobody knows exactly how talents work." Marigold said. "Not Ishelda, not Azariel, nobody. But... talents aren't a part of your personality. Without your talent, you aren't anything less."
"And how do you know?" Kristoph said.
"Look at me, Kris." Marigold said. "If I didn't have my talent, what would I do? If I couldn't heal?"
"You would... do the same thing." He said. "You would care for your garden, only one by one instead of all at once, and you would speak with the citizens like normal."
"Exactly." Marigold said. "My ability doesn't change who I am. Yours never changed who you are, either. It's a result of who you are, not the cause."

Curiously, you close your eyes, and focus on Kristoph. You feel the silver lines on your arms blaze with divination magic, and you peer into Kristoph...
And there's a burning, ring-shaped hole just to the left of his heart- not an unnatural void of anything, but a literal hole, the vacuum being filled by whatever else is in Kristoph. His spirit, perhaps.

>>20811674
Interesting. Tell him about it.

>>20811674
"Ahh, now I get it. That's what he sacrificed the fell for. There's a distinctly ring-shaped hole in your metaphysical being, Kristoph. Very near your heart."

>>20811674
Poke him in the chest where the hole is.

"You've still got everything that makes you who you are Kris, you're just missing a little bit right here. You're still my knight, still the man who the first time he saw Grayson, even without the magic of the hat, just figured he was a rather friendly bear.

Swamp brew isn't meant to be drunk by depressed people so cheer up before I have to use my voice of authority."

>>20811674
"Mar's ability changed fundamentally when she fused with the Ankh, but she herself didn't change. She was still the cheerful and caring person she had been before."

rolled 89 = 89

>>20811674
See if we can find any trace or connection to his talent.

Maybe it left a trail or something when it was removed.

>>20811760
Good idea. Nice roll. let me help you with that.

rolled 1 = 1

>>20811772
whoops.

>>20811778
Yeah, a noko'd 1. Real original.

>>20811778
I liked you better when you were obviously trolling.

>>20811778
your noko only makes my cock harder

>>20811787
>>20811789
>>20811791
>>20811795
So simpru.

>>20811674
"I can see it Kris, just left of the heart, you didn't loose it, it was torn from you. It has left a very nasty looking hole."

rolled 19 = 19

>>20811778
Sir, I believe you accientallied the economy.

"You've still got everything that makes you who you are, Kris, you're just missing a little bit right here." You say, poking him around the area the burning, empty ring sat. "You're still my knight, still the man who, when he first saw Grayson, even without the magic of the hat, just figured he was a rather friendly bear."
"Well, he was wearing a hat." He mumbled. "Figured he was civilized."
You close your eyes again, seeing the burning ring, and reach forth with your power, trying to trace it. And you see... no, you sense... Something faint. Something far to the northwest.
"Mar's ability changed fundamentally when she fused with the ankh, but she herself didn't change. She was still the cheerful and caring person she had been before."
"You're... right." He said, wiping his hand on his brow. "I've changed my mind about asking to be released from your vow. I'll continue to be your knight 'til the day I die... Starting the day after tomorrow. I still have to talk with Raziel."

>>20811809
"It's probably best if you get some rest right now. I'll see how Raz and Zeke are doing."

>>20811809
"Good luck. I'll have Marigold ready."

Lets rest and get some power back, then lets make a shield for Kris. We will mimic his talent with the power of the void and craft a shield made from the metal core of a fallen star.

>>20811809
Chug the rest of the swampbrew. Tell him we should be able to track his talent.

>>20811846
No, say nothing of it for now.
If we fail we shouldn't get his hopes up and he's drunk at the moment

File: 1348254856382.jpg-(155 KB, 1754x1240, an ishelda fanart- by pudding.jpg)

hooray for streamdoodles!

>>20811884
Neat

>>20811884
What's the thing on the right?

"Good luck." You say. "It's probably best if you get some rest right now."
"You're right." He responded, looking down to the still-full cup in his hand. "... I'm not entirely sure why I started drinking this."
He frowned, set it down, and then saluted you, taking a deep breath and leaving the kitchens.
"Thank you for helping." Marigold said, and took a tiny sip of her glass. "Bleugh."

>>20811927
a vaguely monster demon type thing that we may or may not encounter maybe.

>>20811927
A pokemon, obviously.

rolled 22 = 22

>>20811942
"It's not that bad."
rolling to chugging down our cup without bad effects

>>20811961
fuck

rolled 98 = 98

>>20811942
Deaden the senses for easier drinking. Tell her how delicious it is.

>>20811942
"He's a friend. A would do the same for any of you." Flash a brief smile. "To be honest, I would probably do it for most strangers, too."

We'll defiantly help Kris and get his talent back but first, shouldn't we do something about Old Arctures?

A few threads ago we wee going to have to spend a few years studying portal spells ourself before we could go there. But now we have the master of portals working for us. A servant that has opened portals to other worlds before.

Wasn't our city pretty much the last bastion when we left? I doubt there's that many people left.

We could easily evacuate that many people to New Arctures. Considering how much Ishelda cares about people and this is her home world and her farther I can't picture her putting this off a moment longer than she has to.

>>20811942
"I happen to find it delicious. I really don't understand why nobody else does.

It was good to be able to help him, he's a good friend and a loyal knight. I hope he feels better in the morning."

>>20811975
>Arctures
Okay, you've been doing that for the last three threads, at least.
It is Arcturus. Like the real star of the same name:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcturus

>>20811953
A mountain range wearing armor? Better than that ice cream one I suppose.

>>20811975
Has nobody told you that you're spelling Arcturus wrong? Or did you just assume that OP has been spelling it wrong this whole time?

>Please go.

>>20811942
"So... I saw you and Kristoph earlier..."

>>20811990
People have corrected him before, he just likes being ignorant.

"It's not that bad." You say, temporarily deadening your sense of taste. You take a deep drought of it, and immediately your tongue starts tingling. "But he's a friend. I would do the same for any of you."
You flash Marigold a brilliant smile. "To be honest, I would probably do it for most strangers, too."

"I'm betting you tried it on Eidolon before she refused and you had to find a brick." Marigold said, smiling back at you.
"So." You say, already feeling rather lightheaded. "I saw you and Kristoph earlier..."
"He rejected my advances." She said, without missing a beat. "Until he's in a ... better place, he said. Then he would consider... us."

>>20812004
To be honest, I often catch myself writing "Sosoria" instead of "Sosaria."

>"Hey, Belethor, how's your home?"
>"Eh, so-so. In fact it's so very much so-so, we named it after that."

>>20812014
"If you want any help or advice you can ask me. I can't guarantee I'll be of much or any help, but I'll try."

>>20812014
"Right after he feels like a complete failure for letting Raziel seduce him? You do need to time your advances better."

>>20812014
"You know, I think I entirely understand where he's coming from. The middle of an identity crisis is not a good time to start a relationship."

>>20811990
>>20811994
>>20812004

Yes, focus on a typo and completely ignore the suggested course of action that could reunite Ishelda with her farther, save thousands of lives and get us some demon killing action.

Priorities. Get some.

>>20812014
so merryglod wut is your tinking about us. im pritty no?

>>20812014
"I may not be very experienced when it comes to relationships, but I doubt anything that would start in the current situation could end well. The two of you would make a cute couple, though. I managed to get on relatively good terms with Eidolon when I spoke with his spirit. I wish we had managed to get to that point somewhat earlier."

>>20812054
Opening a portal to Old Arcturus is a decidedly long-term goal. We simply don't have the raw power necessary to do it yet.

>>20812054
>her farther

>>20812054
Hey shit fucker. Opening portals to other worlds pretty much requires human sacrifice. I have to assume that you're saying Ishelda should do something evil or kill herself. She has to become stronger before she can go home. It's not something that can be done quickly.

>>20812080
And we actually need to find the people hiding on our homeworld, make sure the demons don't somehow manage to make our portal permanent and invade New Arcturus all over again, etc. etc.

We could, however, start sending care packages home, if we can somehow pinpoint a safe location to transport them to. Some weapons, medicin, or rations.

"Right after he feels like a complete failure for letting Raziel seduce him?" You ask. "You do need to time your advances better."
"I do." She said. "I was just encouraging him... and then I didn't think about it."
She frowned, and took another sip. "But I'd best get to sleep. Jelkul wanted me to use my talent on their pluvash farm. I'll... worry about Kris courting me later."

>>20812109
Wat. The whole point of that spell the wizard gave us is that it can open portals without human sacrifice. And Aeriel can cast it. Right now.

>>20812080
It was a long term goal for Ishelda. Now we have someone working for us who is the master of portals.

He can do it pretty much at will. It's even been explained that he's opened portals to other worlds before.

>>20812110
We still need the power for the portal spell for that, and we flat-out ain't got it. and there's the matter of whether unattended items even CAN be sent through.

>>20812114
"Worry?" Point a finger at her. "Who are you, and what have you done with Marigold?"

>>20812129
>>20812127
He could cast it, but since he doesn't have nearly enough power, it'd require a sacrifice. We're waiting so we can get enough power to cast it.

>>20812114
"Yes, it's late. I should get back to sleep too."

>>20812145
What makes you think he doesn't have enough power? What makes you think we can't provide enough power with a link if he doesn't?

>>20812129
I dunno about you, but I don't know if I trust Ragnarok (or his spirit) that much just yet. Besides, we have plenty of unfinished business we can take care of in THIS world while we work our reserves to the point that we can cast the spell on our own.

That's even without worrying about fucking up and letting the demons back in.

>>20812165
Because ISHELDA DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER.

>>20812165
>What makes you think he doesn't have enough power?

Thread 69
>He panted, and fell to one knee.
"Whoops." He said. "Took a... bit too much out of me."
>"I didn't give you any magic energy." Kaliel said. "You'll need to regrow it the old fashioned way."

>>20812183
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
LET'S ALL REPEAT OURSELVES IN CAPS THAT WILL HELP.

>>20812133
>We still need the power for the portal spell
Aeriel has ALREADY DONE IT.

Clearly he has the power for the spell.

The thing that was holding Ishelda up was the complexity of the spell and skill and practice needed to cast it.

Aeriel has the skill and practice. Give me one IC reason Ishelda wouldn't be all over this.

Her farther.
Her people.
She can save them. Why would she EVER not try?

>>20812189
Yes, he was low on power then. We get low too. It will regrow just like Kal said.

>>20812202
Aeriel HAD the power for the spell - or one similar - WHILE HE WAS ALIVE. Now he's a wraith housed in a magical construct. We can give him a look at the spell and get his thoughts, but I wouldn't expect any miracles.

Can't we just ask Ragnarok how much power the spell needs, if he and Ishelda combined have enough to power it and just go from there, instead of having this useless discussion?

>>20812201
Because we know how much power is required for the spell. It's a lot more than we have, unless we kill ourselves for it.
>>20812202
He has already cast the spell that creates a giant portal to Old Arcturus? When did that happen? Oh wait it didn't. He made a tiny portal, reached one hand through, and grabbed a tiny ring.
Big difference.

>>20812227
>Aeriel HAD the power for the spell WHILE HE WAS ALIVE. Now he's a wraith housed in a magical construct.
The Void Queen used him for trans-dimensional transport while he was in the ball. That was his whole purpose. That's why she doesn't need him now he's taught her portal magic.

"Worry?" You ask. "Who are you, and what have you done with Marigold?"
"Just because I heard about this stuff all the time in the duchy, doesn't mean I know what's going on!" She cried, frowning. "But still, it's late."
"Yes, it's late." You respond. "I should get back to sleep too."
"Again, I'm sorry for waking you up." She said, giving you a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Ishelda."

You make your way back up to your room, putting away the blade, brooch, and your clothing, and you lay back down in bed, before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

Not long later, you snap awake, the sun shining through your open blinds. Your tongue is fuzzy, but you don't have any sort of headache from the swamp brew, luckily. A few moments after you wake up and get dressed, your ring buzzes.
<Erm...> Kaliel said. <... What was your dream last night?>

>>20812236
>Because we know how much power is required for the spell.
Then tell me how much. Point me to where Exabyte says that for fuck's sake I'm not going to go "no we don't" "yes we do" "no we don't" like a couple of children any longer.

>>20812254
<I popped into your's Kali. Then I was woken up, and didn't dream after that.>

>>20812254
<You. I'm sorry, something woke me up too soon...>

>>20812254
<You mean the one with you, and your old world and the tentacle monsters?

Sorry about leaving part way through, something came up on my end.>

>>20812227
If need be we can supply him with all the power he needs.

Even if this doesn't work, if something stops us from doing it, this is something we can't just ignore.

We have to look into this, find if it can be done.

I've never seen Ishelda turn her back on anyone, including complete strangers. This is her farther and people we're talking about, she should be climbing the walls right now knowing it's so close.

>>20812289
It's because she isn't ready for it.
And she's going to do the spell herself.
Because it was meant for her.

>>20812254
<I had a terrible nightmare. There were towers as far as the eye could see and they were all full of tentacle monsters and they were destroying everything. I think you were there.>

>>20812254
Let's tease her a bit.
<Well... you and I... erm... we, you know... and Grayson, and Qu'az, Marigold, Belethor... and of course the other Kalak. Zeke, Raz, Aeriel, fluffy Dariel..
I'm just kidding, Dras'Lea visited me in a dream once, and I wanted to see if I could keep in touch with you the same way. I hope you don't mind I did so without asking.>

<You.> You say. <I.. popped into yours Kali. Then something woke me up too soon, and I didn't dream after I went back to sleep.>
<I was just making sure that... really happened.> She said. <Because you made... a promise, to come to my homeworld, with me. You seemed kind of... upset, though.> She said.

>>20812291
So... You think she should delay it for years, risking the lives of everyone in her old world, including her own farther, because.... She'd rather do the spell herself than just let someone else do it for her right now?

You just went full retard right there.

>>20812330
<I'm sorry, the place felt kind of eery...>

>>20812330
<Kaliel, I'm looking forward to visiting your home at your side, it's just that the tentacle towers in your dream took me a bit to get used to. Sorry.>

>>20812330
<I've had a few long days recently and I wasn't really expecting or used to the alien behemoths tearing up the architecture.

It's not your fault honey.>

>>20812289
>>20812266
Regardless, do we really want to go with our allies in anything less than top form? Let's resolve some of our outsanding business first (like, you know Gareth and Kris' talent) before we go haring off.

>>20812330
<Once I realised that every single tower had a creepy tentacle monster in it that was kind of offputting.>

>>20812330
Your brain freaks me out.

>>20812398
Bad anon. That's no way to talk to mai birdy waifu a friend.

<I've had a few long days, recently, and I wasn't really expecting or used to the alien behemoths tearing up the architecture.> You say. <It's not your fault, honey.>

<Oh. Then... I suppose we shouldn't share dreams again.> She said, quietly. <I'd best get to work, and figure out what these birds and flowers really are.>
She broke the connection, and you cease to feel her heartbeat and emotions, quite suddenly.

>>20812422
She took off the ring. God damnit. SEE ANON LOOK WHAT YOU DID YOU MADE HER FEEL LIKE A MONSTER AGAIN.

>>20812430
It's not my fault she's a monster.

>>20812422
Kelly? KELLYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

>>20812442
Once upon a time Fellwind said we were a monster too. Ishelda knows how it feels to be treated that way.

>>20812422
Re-connect.
<What, you don't want to share dreams any more? I was thinking about showing you one of mine next time.>

rolled 38 = 38

>>20812422
You put that ring back on right now young lady. We can still talk to you without it, you know.

rolled 28 = 28

>>20812465
adding the proper ARTIFACT BONUS

>>20812422
Ouch, what a great way to start the day.
Well, I'm sure we can make amends for this tonight. We don't really need the ring to do this, I hope.

Anyway, let's get breakfast.

rolled 10 = 10

>>20812465
>>20812473
Good job anons.

>>20812487
Please stop talking to yourself.
Thank you.

rolled 5 = 5

>>20812487
The dice gods do not want.

>>20812456
It's not Fellwind's fault we're a monster.
One little post different and we would have ended up as the Void Queen.

>>20812494
It just keeps getting worse.

rolled 856 = 856

>>20812512
testing how much the dicegods hate us

>>20812523
wow

You have a cold, anxious feeling in your gut. She didn't take off the ring, did she? You try to bring up a connection again.
<What, you don't want to share dreams anymore? I was thinking about showing you one of mine, next time.> You say. Thankfully, she responds- she hadn't taken off the ring, apparently.
<Maybe.> She said, although it sounded rather bitter. <But I'll just... finish up here so I can hurry up and come back. I'm sorry to cut this short, but I do need to focus.>

>>20812543
<I'm sorry, Kal. Let's talk about it this evening. Would that be alright with you?>

>>20812473
>>20812487
>>20812494
I hereby dub these Skrillex Dice.

Because they keep dropping.

>>20812543
<Kal, I love you. All of you. Even the tentacle monsters. It was just a slightly disturbing dream.>

>>20812365
Even if we don't go right away. Even if we find out we can't go yet for some reason. This is something that should be looked into.

Best case: We can open the portal, fly through with our invisible ship, find our people and evacuate them back here.

Worst case: We find if there's a problem, we know what it is and we can start looking for ways to solve it.

I think there's been 2 or 3 people speaking up on both sides of this. Can we get a vote or something?

[ ] At least look into it. Go for it if we have a green light.

[ ] Put it off for later. Do something else.

>>20812543
I soree celly. but hay mabe you kin mak sum tintikles menstr for fun tim.

>>20812596
<Kal, I love you. All of you. Even the tentacle monsters. I just didn't expect that at the moment.>

>>20812604
>[ ] Maybe look into it. Put it off until properly prepared.

>>20812604
Actually, worst case scenario is the spell requires more power than Ishelda has and drains her into her death.

rolled 6107591209 = 6107591209

>>20812543
Kal, I didn't mean to offend. I just want to keep bugging you so you get even less done than when I'm with you. I love you.

>>20812620
That would be the
>is something that should be looked into
part.

I'm not saying we should just leap in blind. If there is a problem, find out what it is and find a way to solve it.

If no problem, great. We get to see our farther again and save a lot of people.

But we'll never know one way or the other if we don't do /something/

rolled 6948337120 = 6948337120

>>20812656
Something will be done. Just not right this second.

>>20812656
Eye egry. Wee shuld sav ar farther frum Arctures.

<Kali, I love you.> You say. <All of you. Even the tentacle monsters. I just didn't expect that at the moment.>
<They're... part of me.> She said. <They're always there in the dreams. Always. They hide in the shadows.>
She hesitated for a moment.
<I love you too.> She said, sounding a bit better, and broke the connection again.

You stretch, feeling better than you had before, your tongue much less fuzzy, and you don't think you have anything on your itinerary.
>Wat do?

>>20812656
Look. Why don't we just follow the natural progression of what my Merlin told us to do and learn everything about Wizardry from the book he made BEFORE attempting a spell that requires mastery of wizardry. You guys are going pants-on-head retarded with this portal thing. It's OBVIOUSLY implied to be a high-level encounter and here we are trying to rush in blind.

>>20812677
Ask leon about his sex change spell.

>>20812677
<Voidy, can we talk?>

>>20812677
We still need to welcome our new ogre citizens.

>>20812684
I think he thinks it will never happen ever and will be impossible unless we do it RIGHT NOW.

>But what do I know?
>I can't into retarded.

>>20812684
>Airborn: Ishelda finally has a way to save her father, she should investigate how to use it and prepare to do so.
>You: Who cares about the character? Forget about it, we need to grind before the final boss.
Ok, I think I've chosen my side in this argument.

Yeah, I gotta say AirbornDisaster is being kinda pants on head right now. The portal isn't going anywhere, and neither is Arcturus. I'm not saying we shouldn't look into the matter, just that we decided that Ishelda wants to do this the way Merlin intended - with wizardry, under her own power, with no sacrifices or blood magic. And frankly, that's going to take awhile. A long while. The best we can do in the meantime is keep practicing.

Also, A typo is a mistake. It's not a typo if you keep making it over and over again. It's you being too stupid to spell it right.

>>20812731
Airborn: Let's go RIGHT NOW even though we aren't at full power, and have been warned by Her Voidyness that going to Old Arcturus is a BAD IDEA.
Him: He's been alive for two years. He can wait a few more months.

>>20812687
This, and ask Newbird about the portal spell.

>>20812760
okay.jpg

>>20812684
Reading comprehension fail.

At no point did anyone suggest Ishelda go screwing about with a high level spell that she lacks the skill and training to use.

We were all in favour of taking the time needed to learn wizardry.

Then Exabyte dropped The Master of Portals in our lap. He does have the skill and practice needed to do this.

We don't need to do everything our self. The anon going 'we is the chosen one, we must do this our own' is stupid. We have an expert here that can do it for us.

At least let's just ask him and find out what our options are before everyone starts going 'IT CAN'T BE DONE.'

>>20812752
>Let's go RIGHT NOW
That's not what he's saying. He's saying we should look into how it all works so that we can to go immediately when we're ready.

>>20812769
Well, we can still ask about it. We're going to need his help to learn translocation magic anyways.

You make your way out of the tower, looking for someone you're curious about, to ask about something you're curious about. While walking through the castle, nodding to the servants and guards that bow to or salute you, you eventually find Leon, sitting back at a table in the corner of the garrison, carefully drawing runes on his arms, looking down at an open spellbook in his lap. From what you see, the spellbook has absolutely no text in it- it's all runes, one after the other after the other. It's not a spellbook for learning wizardry, it's a spellbook for keeping spells.
"Your majesty." Leon said.

>>20812791
"Leon, how are you? Have you heard about what happened to Kristoph"

>>20812772
Here's the thing genius, if we can't even cast the /portal into Arcturus/ how are we going to combat the demons? lolsorcery? Hope we can bullshit something together at random? Zeke is making PROPER PREPARATIONS in the form of charms to convert his fireballs into astral fire. What proper preparations have we done? read:none.

>>20812791
"So Leon. You have an interesting spellbook."

>>20812791
I need to know: Why is there a sex change spell in your spellbook?

File: 1348260401090.jpg-(32 KB, 361x480, anon and his portal.jpg)

>the vibe i get from Airborn about Arcturus

>>20812825
>combat the demons
He wasn't talking about fighting them. He was talking about evacuating people to New Arcturus. We can fight them off enough to do that, we did it with Kyvann.

>>20812838
Hahahahaha, yes. That's it exactly.

>>20812703
>>20812745
>>20812752
Reading comprehension fail EVERYONE.

I have never said RUSH IN NOW. LEAP BEFORE WE LOOK.

I'm saying we have an option right in front of us. Look into it. If there are problems, find out what they are, find a way to solve them.

>The portal isn't going anywhere, and neither is Arcturus.
Er... Demons. Eating people. Last survivors holding out against infernal army that murdered the entire world. Ringing any bells?

>we decided that Ishelda wants to do this the way Merlin intended - with wizardry, under her own power
Who the fuck decided on this? We were going with this because it was our only option. Now we have another option and you refuse to even look at it?

>>20812838
Perfect. My sentiments precisely.

>>20812838
Except there is actually a real danger and more people die every day we leave it.

>>20812862
You know what, I'm just gonna start filtering your posts.

>>20812862
They've been there for over two years. We saw a few of them hunting, and they pretty clearly killed the fuck out of the single demon that they encountered.
They'll be fine for a few more months.

"So, Leon." You say. "You have an interesting spellbook."
"I do." He said. "I don't actually know wizardry very well- Just enough to be able to tell which spells are what. My brother's the smart one. This spellbook is all so that I have enough spells to mark on my arms, and use through my talents."
"I need to know." You say, sitting down at the other end of the table. You see several orc knights don their armor, behind you- apparently Redglare decided that New Arcturus needed some heavy armor, rather than just archers and runners- But that's beside the point. "Why is there a sex change spell in your spellbook?"
"... A what?" He asked, looking down. He started flipping through pages. "Zeke did ask for a bunch of my transformation spells to help with teaching you, but... You didn't..."

He looked up, and showed you a page- one with a rune you recognized.
"Was this it?" He asked. You nodded, and he chuckled.
"They aren't all my spells." He said. "Romulus has a habit of collecting spellbooks, and when I made this I just copied over every rune I saw. Almost didn't have enough space for all of them."

>>20812884
Yep. I've been alive for over two years so now I'm immortal. Go me.

>>20812884
NO WE HAVE TO GO RIGHT STRAIGHT NOW. THERE IS NO WAY ANYBODY WILL SURVIVE ANY LONGER. THERE IS JUST NO WAY. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY. EVEN CONSIDERING THAT ISHELDA'S FARTHER IS A SORCERER TOO. THERE'S JUST NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR HER FATHER TO BE MORE POWERFUL THAN HER.

>>20812911
Arcturus doesn't run on dramatic tension physics.
People don't suddenly start dying just because we have a method of saving them.

>>20812907
Will you cast it on yourself?

>>20812920
There's still danger. Every day we leave it is a day he could roll that nat 1 on his spell and get his face mauled off.

>>20812948
YES THEY DO.

>>20812907
"Well, I guess you missed the appearance of Ishelda's brother. We did manage to fool Belethor with it, for a bit at least."

Christ, how about ya'll stop being bitches and play the game, see Newbird about the portal spell, ask what it would take for him to cast the spell, see if we can power it. If we can, thats great, if we can't, well we still have a dragon cult out for our blood that needs dealing with.

>>20812907
"Well, just be careful with making sure you know which spells are which. As hilarious, and distracting, as it would be to see you go girly in the middle of a fight."

>>20812964
Don't say this. We mustn't reveal our secret to anybody. Not until we have trolled everybody.

>>20812948
No, they continue dying at the same rate they have been. The only difference is that now we have a method of saving them, they don't have to die. If her father died in the last two years - that's sad, she was expecting it, oh well. If her father dies now - she could have saved him, it's her fault, she's an awful person.

>>20812982
we'll suffer that ptsd when we jump from that bridge

>>20812907
"Zeke didn't know what they did, he just picked one that looked simple and told me to cast it. I'm holding you responsible."

>>20812968
>newbird
Aeriel.

>>20812982
Clearly it isn't a very high rate of attrition, or there wouldn't be anyone left after two years. They can wait until we're actually ready to cast the ridiculously complicated and power hungry spell.

>>20812993
Or we could cross the bridge instead of jumping off it. But clearly that's a retarded idea.

>>20812907
"Romulus is your brother? I had no idea."

>>20813014
Nobody crosses bridges anymore. Didn't you know that?

>>20812825
Yes, because that's exactly what I've been saying this whole time. "MUST GO NOW. NO TIME FOR PREPARATIONS!"

How about we let Zeke finish his spell modification. Let Ell finish converting the ships cannons to astral fire. Maybe bring in some extra muscle, those heavy Ork knights held up wee last time.

Once we've gone over things with Ariel, if it'll work and we get the green light THEN we can go.

There is a difference between
"Let's look into this option. If it checks out we should do it."
and
"DO IT NOW. NO TIME TO SEE IF IT'S SAFE!"

>>20813045
Disregard that. I suck cocks.

>There is a real risk for the remaining refugees, because, y'know, demons, but it isn't an immediate danger. Though, if you take too long, then they all *will* end up dead.
>Now please, let's stop the shitstorm.

"... Will you cast it on yourself?" You ask.
"... What?" He asked. "You want me to turn into a woman? Well..."
He shrugged, and opened up one of his palms.
"I don't write on my palms normally because the ink rubs off too easily, but for a spell that'll only see a use or two..."
He started scribbling on his hand, until the rune was copied.
"Why did you cast a gender swap spell?" He asked. "Zeke took a whole page."
"Zeke didn't know what they did, he just picked one that looked simple and told me to cast it. I'm holding you responsible."
"Fair enough." He said. He opened his palm to the sky, closed his eyes, and focused...
When the spell was complete, a tall woman stood there, with a young face, a rather large bust, and enormously long, lanky blond hair that covered half of her face from view.
"Is there anything I should worry about, your majesty?" She asked, her voice softer than normal. "... I sound very strange."

>>20813054
We know you do. No need to be redundant.

>>20813061
I just need everybody to know. I'll suck your cock right now.

>>20813059
"Hmm... Nothing's showing. It's sorta strange how long your hair got, but I don't see anything worrying."

>>20813059
"Well, that's only to be expected, with the change of... things. You look quite nice, if you don't mind me saying so."

>>20813059
Not at all. You'll probably get flirted with. You do make a very pretty woman. [blush]

>>20813071
Character assassination only works if the individual is respected. You're just being juvenile.

>>20813059
"Nothing comes to mind, no."

>>20813059
"Looking good, Leona."

>>20813107
>Character assassination only works if the individual is respected. You're just being juvenile.

Absolutely.

"Nothing comes to mind, no." You say. "You'll probably get flirted with. You look quite nice, if you don't mind me saying so."
"I don't." She said, and tugged at her scale mail. "This is... rather uncomfortable."
She shrugged, tried to brush her hair out of her eyes, and sat back in the chair, starting to continue writing runes on her arm. Immediately, her hair fell back in front of her face again.

With the sound of something shattering, She conjured her sword, and slashed off most of her hair at jaw length, before the blade vanished.

>>20813107
When it's just "I suck cocks" it's juvenile whoever it's directed at.

>>20813168
"...or you could have just had me or mar to braid it or something."

>>20813168
Gasp. "You can't ruin your pretty hair like that!"

>>20813179
"but that would have been too easy, wouldn't it?"

>>20813171
True. If you're going to character assassinate, put some EFFORT into it.

>>20813168
I am saddened at the loss of hair with such potential. All she had to do was tie it back!

>>20813179
>>20813181
Do a good combination of these.

You gasp. "You can't ruin your pretty hair like that!" You say. "You could have just had me or Mar braid it or something."
"Probably, but I'm trying to think of this pragmatically." She said. "It'd just get in the way, during combat. That's why none of the cerulean knights, even the women, have long hair. Even though it doesn't matter in peace time..."
"I am saddened at the loss of hair with such potential. All you had to do was tie it back!"
"... that probably would have been a better idea." She said, after a moment. "Next time I cast the spell, my hair should be that length again. I'll let you and her highness braid it, I suppose. Of course, if this was Kris talking, he'd probably make a comment about pillowfights in underwear... but I'm not so crude."

>>20813221
Do you want to? That actually sounds fun.

>>20813221
"Oh, okay. If you don't want to."

>>20813221
"Next time?"

>>20813221
"What's wrong with pillowfights?"

>>20813221
"Do you think that would cheer him up? We could cast it on him too and have a big sleepover."

"Oh, okay, if you don't want to." You say, teasing her.
She shrugged. "Even with this form, I'm still a man. I'd feel like I'm intruding, and I can't promise I won't leer."
"... Next time?" You ask, and she shrugs again.
"I can think of all sorts of uses to have a transformation spell that isn't dangerous." She said. "Disguises, mostly."

>>20813289
"Leon, you're just too good for this world." A kiss on the cheek, perhaps?

>>20813289
"If you stop to leer you'll end up with a pillow in your face. You can't afford to get distracted in battle."

"Leon, you're just too good for this world." You say, and kiss her on the cheek.
"Why, thank you." She said, giving you a slight grin, before she looks back down to the book. "By the way, the cooks decided to experiment today. They made striplisk muffins, and they're delicious."

>>20813368
I must try one immediately!

>>20813368
"Thanks, Leon. I'll have to try at least one before they're all gone."

"Thanks, Leon!" You say, and she nods. "I'll have to try at least one before they're all gone."
"It just takes bread and striplisk, apparently." She said. While you leave the room, you notice her surroptiously grab her own chest, curiously.
You make your way in the kitchen, and you see Aeriel, sitting there, rather lost, with a plate so full of muffins that you don't even think he could eat all of them. Absentmindedly, he popped one in his mouth.
You steal one from his plate, and take a seat next to him, taking a bite out of it- it's still warm, and fluffy, and there are small green shredded into the muffin, which, somehow, is incredibly delicious.
"Feel free." Aeriel said. "The cooks made a ton, and everyone seems to like them. They had Cassie use transmutation to seperate the natural toxins and such out of it."

>>20813428
Swallow, then say "omigodtheseareamazing"

>>20813428
"That's pretty smart. Say, who of our group have you met so far?"

>>20813428
>fluffy
Best food ever.

"So, how are you settling in?"

"Ohmygodtheseareamazing." You say quickly, and steal a bit more than half off of Aeriel's plate, happily taking another bite out of the muffin. "Say, who of our group have you met so far?"
"Cassiel, Redglare, Captain Nahzit..." He said. "And then Gehenna, but he's busy right now, and I keep seeing the woman with the curled hair and the troll wandering about, and a few of the ambassadors, but I prefer to keep to myself most of the time."
"So, how are you settling in?"
"Mostly, I'm glad to have a body again. Although I did try constructing a new spell, but I can't find the right type of paper, so I've been sitting here, waiting until Cassiel is done cooking so he can transmute it for me."

>>20813428
"Cookies, muffins... If everything he does is this nice I'll gain weight.
Aeriel, could you take a look at a portal spell for me? It's far to complicated for me to cast at present but you might have better luck. I'd like you to tell me if it's possible or if there might be any difficulties."

>>20813507
>have better luck
have better knowledge about it.

>>20813494
"If you want to stay here, you're more than welcome to do so. I'm sure we can find some quiet place for you. The girl with the curled hair is my cousin Marigold, if you ever need something healed, just ask her. The troll's Kell, the two are pretty much inseperable."

"Cookies, muffins... If everything he does is this nice, I'll gain weight."
He shrugged.
"If you want to stay here, you're more than welcome to do so. I'm sure we could find some quiet place for you."
"Glad to hear it." He said. "After all, you're still technically the owner of the cage. I'm obliged to stick around you and help you."
"The girl with the curled hair is my cousin, Marigold. If you ever need something healed, just ask her. The Troll is Kell, and the two are pretty much inseperable."
"I see." He said. "I may just introduce myself to them, then."
"Aeriel, could you take a look at this portal spell for me? It's far too complicated for me to cast, at present, but you might know more. I'd like you to tell me if it's possible, or if there might be any difficulties."
You open the book, and show it to him. He looks down, and then chuckles.
"No wonder it's too complicated." He said. "This kind of spell can't be written down and be understood. You have to write it in your head, and then scribble it out as a reminder. You can't learn something like this from a book... unless you know how to read it. Now I have an excuse to have Cassiel transmute that paper for me, now that you're asking for my help."

He shrugged, and got to his feet. "Excuse me."
>Field too long!

He made his way toward Cassiel. While he was gone, you quickly take another portion of his muffins, and eat those as well.
A spell later, he comes back, an extra muffin in his beak, as he has several sheaves of paper in his hands. He sets them down.
"Now, this spell?" He asked, after swallowing the muffin whole. You nod, and he started copying it over.
"Runes, by nature, are flat. Just words on a page. But some spells aren't as simple as all that. Some spells require multiple stages, different transfusions of energy, and ... extradimensional markings or such. And for that... you have to make them... shapes."

He closed his eyes, and incanted a spell. The needlessly complicated rune burst into light, and above it sat a floating sphere, runes scrawled over each inch of surface, with layers of words of power drifting around the sphere, like a halo.

"This is a spell to travel to another world." He said. "What do you want to know about it?"

>>20813649
"Everything. But for starters how."

>>20813649
How much power does it need to be cast?
What are the properties of the gateway it creates?

>>20813649
"Everything. How to cast it. How much power one needs. Anything that will be useful. Just everything about it."

>>20813649
"The most important questions are can you cast it, and can you teach me to cast it?"

>>20813649
Swallow whatever muffin is in our mouths, and then explain our situation.

About our homeworld being overrun with demons, and recently learning that our father is still there, alive and fighting. That we'd like to be able to get there to save him, and whoever else is still alive, and bring them back here.

>>20813649
"It's a spell to travel to my old world. It fell to the demons like yours but there are still a few survivors. I was hoping I could evacuate them here if the portal was viable."

>>20813649
I need to know everything. Also, can you tell me how much magic is needed to do it? And how much magic I currently have? Please enumerate them. And call them Dave Units. How many Dave Units are required to cast a simple light spell?

>>20813693
Why may I ask.

I really don't see the reason to explain that right now. Or at all for time being. Right now the only thing he needs to know is that we want to learn the spell.

Truthfully we give out way too much info to people all the damn time.

>>20813727
Yes.

"Everything." You say. "But for starters, how?"
"It's rather simple." He said, waving his hand and incanting another spell. A series of several runes and words of power appeared above the shimmering sphere. "These components, in this order. These dashes mean how long you have to hold the component before moving to the next. Just do it in order and the spell should work fine."
"How much power does it need to be cast?"
"That's... hard to say." He said. "The borders between worlds is sometimes thick, and sometimes thin. It shouldn't take too much- maybe if all of the wizards here shared the burden, we would be out a half day's worth of power, at maximum. Maybe less, based on how thin the borders between the worlds are. Dras'lea would know more, I suppose, about the border between worlds. It changes, sometimes."
"What are the properties of the gateway it creates?"
"It's a large, oval portal, that allows passageway both ways. The caster must focus on keeping it open, but they can also control who can enter or exit the portal, and if it's visible. If they have tremendous focus, they can choose where the portal on the other side ends up."

>>20813727
>Truthfully we give out way too much info to people all the damn time.
>16 year old girl
Well yes.

>>20813756
With knowledge that makes her older, mentally, than any kalak.

>>20813752
"So... I can't do it yet, then."

>>20813765
But she did spend two years hugging her cousin and kissing cheeks, while they should have been preparing a nation.

>>20813752
"Do you know how to contact Dras'lea? She always turns up when she wants to talk but she never answers my questions."

>>20813752
"You have the most experience with portals of anyone I know, could you do that if we gave you the power?"

>>20813765
>Actually, she didn't learn anything from the Tower except for what I wrote. she *experienced* the rest, which makes her older according to the laws of magic or whatever, but she forgot most of it immediately, as if it were a dream.

"So... I can't do it yet, then." You say.
He chuckled. "You could, if I walked you through each step. Matters how much you know about wizardry. All you need to do is be able to cast spells without any components, and you should be good."
"You have the most experience with portals of anyone I know. Could you do that if we gave you the power?"
"Of course." He said. "I could do a more complex one than this one."
"Do you know how to contact Dras'lea? She always turns up when she wants to talk, but she never answers my questions."
"She has a ring that feels like yours, except made out of wood." He said. "She always said it was magic for communicating at a distance, though I never saw her use it. Maybe you could contact the ring, or something."

>>20813752
"Thank you. I guess I'll probably have to work on my casting skills, and energy reserves before I cast it."

>>20813823
"...That sounds like one of my original communication rings."

>>20813823
"Thank you. How would you recommend to train for this?"

>>20813823
"I can't cast without components yet, unfortunately. How long could you keep the portal open?"

>>20813841
It was. She contacted us privately with it and they didn't have that functionality so it seems she's modified it.

>>20813837
Damn slow phone posting.

>>20813823
"I don't think I'm ready for it, yet. Nor is New Arcturus."

Also
>contact Dras'lea
You wot?

>>20813823
>"Of course." He said. "I could do a more complex one than this one."
Jackpot!

"It's a spell to travel to my old world. It fell to the demons like yours but there are still a few survivors. I was hoping I could evacuate them here if the portal was viable. "

Preparations: Astral fire cannons and Zekes' spell, find out how the're coming along.

Contact the Ork king and Queen, see if we can borrow some extra knights.

Our soulfire seems to be able to change the nature of the flames to suit our needs. Let's find out if it can produce astral fire too.

Relief supplies. Once we get there they'll probably need food and medical aid.

Anything else?

>>20813867
>You wot?
Remember when we were asking her questions and she just walked off? Do you not want to know why she has our mother's sword, if she knows anything about what happened to her, what she plans to do about Gary, if she can get Kristoph's talent back, why she opened the minotaur portal, why she killed our astral fire elemental...

>>20813875
Yeah. Get back Kris's talent. It could save our lives if we encounter a magic demon. also, we need to only bring very skilled warriors, and as few as possible so as to make room for refugees. we'll probably need to make several trips. leaving the most powerful people for last (sorry dad) and taking the weak ones first.

>>20813841
Time to test it. Ask her why she seems to have some of our stuff, like the ring and bubbles, and ask what she did with the astral fire elemental.

>>20813894
Nope.jpg