CHARACTER SHEETS:

Brooklyn (Protagonist): https://docs.google.com/document/d/16x32JNNBRnUAk-PQNXcqMaVvtDMLsHRARj3kk4mrj1M/edit
Mina: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wAOC8_7DCjRIiV2_Zzzfz0xu9_JHCGfti8dw0eZSS8E/edit
Brodin: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jIfmmTHbwrujeLZ9CkBeVoTEs6_uJPpo7CW5EKKTj_8/edit
Ada: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19LG6d19luxQjAWNtKHiL2MMmTsUygdaHZ4WSd-9hid8/edit
Sebastien: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DRNg7dimGiWmwD1dalLgw2H_8L_K930KL4Mr4mEk1x4/edit
Erika:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JDLySqbJ1IgrLkXV7glI7ucP2U5dpYweaQErAZ_5nd0/edit

OLD GAMES:
Thread 2 (Contains link to thread 1 in first few posts): http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/22034277/
Thread 3: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/22094978/
Thread 6: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/22181221/
Thread 21: http://www.mediafire.com/?p6pwskaau8px2vc (The achiever messed up, so here's the entire thread I saved in complete form)

Rest here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Succbus%20Lord%20Quest

If you enjoy, then please vote!

Chat: #SuccubiDemonLordCYOA in irc.rizon.net
Twitter: Sandact6

Tell me if I forgot anything on the sheets.

With nothing much left to do, you simply make your way out of the castle. You know where the Dungeon is located and the section of the castle where the ‘lesser’ nobles, that is anyone who isn’t a direct Langy ancestor, is located to. Hell you teach in it. But just on the safe side, you use your suggestion power to off-handly ‘ask’ one of the guards where Erika stays in the castle while asking to be escorted out of the building.

******

“So how’d the tutoring job go?” Mina asks, still doing kata’s in your room.

“Oh good. Brothen is the same as ever. I do worry about his math skills at times though.” you reply as you put down your bag.

“Pfft! Math! I’ve lived for 50 years without much of it!” Mina says.

You simply stare blankly at her for a few seconds, about to stare a lengthy discussion of why math is CRITICALLY important, before you stop yourself. “We got bigger things to worry about now. We’re due to meet the rest of the adventurers in about an hour and a half. Factoring in the time it takes to get to the castle, we have leave here in an hour. Once we get in, we simply have a half hour to locate the other adventurers, wait for Ada’s signal, then just go from there.” you simply say, hanging your back over the PSI-Blade armshield leaned against the wall.

“Anything we should do before we head to the castle then?” Mina asks as she slowly breathes while extending her arms out.

“...Why do you do that so slowly anyways?” you ask.

“I’m also focusing rather intensively. This slow movement allows me to notice even the slightest error in my physical abilities.” Mina says. “Plus I don’t want to tear your house apart in fast movements!”

“...Good point. Thank you.” you tell her.

An hour. That's just enough time to give Mina a quick kiss, work on our disguises some, and give Mina a bigger kiss!

>>23584824
Leave in 45 minutes or so, give ourselves us some wriggle room with timing.

I think we're pretty much full on Aether. If we're not we should spend this last bit of free time going out and getting a small snack before we leave.

If we're doing pretty okay then lounge on a couch, read a book, get a bit of relaxation in.

>>23584824
If we got anymore spell books around to read. Might be good time to do that if not. Eh, work on lesson plans?

>>23584914
>I think we're pretty much full on Aether
85% full, we used some to get Cloaking (Average) and Aetheric Disguise

>>23584824
Are we going to be doing the rescue as Sara?

>>23584813
>Tell me if I forgot anything on the sheets.
>ALTERNATE IDENTITIES: Sara
Didn't we have another alternate identity for the merchant twins? I don't think that was Sara anyway, we were too confident and assertive with them.

>>23585080
no, I think we're going as a throw away form.

>>23585104

You did. Miranda IIRC

>>23585104
>Didn't we have another alternate identity for the merchant twins?
yes, i think that that form was called miranda

>>23585104

The name for that form started with an M I think.. Miranda or something? And yea, it was definitely a different form, with scars and everything!

>>23585116
Yeah. A throw away identity is needed for this.

>>23585080
Hell no.

We're going to be some random anonymous chick who we've never been before and never will be again.

We'll probably switch to an entirely different random chick for different portions of the plan.

But at no time in this are we going to look like ourself.

“I’m full on aether. Any training for me now would only waste my reserves. I think I’m going to engage in some relaxing reading.” you stay picking up a book from your shelf.

“You need to get more books.” Brodin says.

“I can only wish I had an entire library at my disposal.” you mutter as you pick out the old world Sci-fi novel you had been reading before and continue to read through it, calmly sitting next to the fireplace and relaxing yourself.

******

Both you and Mina are now casually walking downtown. You dressed up in your leather armour while Mina is bundled up in her thick winter coat and pants. Both of you approach castle Langy, seeing the towering castle looming over you. It somehow looks more... ominous than usual. The orange glow of the sunset painting it and their banners to a fiery colour to the point where you can almost feel the heat as you stand looking up at the shadow.

You and Mina stop just short of the castle gates, walking behind an alleyway rather inconspicuously.

“Alright! How are we going to get in!?” Mina asks in a hushed whisper. “Suggestion? Maid disguise?”

>>23585351
First, find somewhere not looked at, change our faces, right fucking now. We need to look different.

"The maid disguise, if for some reason they question it we'll use Suggestion."

>>23585351
>Maid disguise?
Why do i get the feeling that she has two sets under that coat?

>>23585351
Both. The disguise should throw off most people and lays the ground work for Suggesting we have a right to be here to anyone that questions us.

>>23585351

How do we get in? Invisibility and shadow step! They never saw us coming, and we don't need doors as long as there's shadows!

>>23585476
mina can't into Invisibility or shadow
>>23585351
Suggestion

>>23585530

She doesn't need to. We make her invisible and take her with us through the shadows. Then we let her punch stuff. It's called teamwork!

>>23585553
waste of Aether that we may need for fighting with

>>23585351
Wasn't our plan to get in to pretend to be Seb's arm candy, or am I just talking out of my ass, I can't tell, I was pretty tired during that thread.

>>23585410
Go with this.

>>23585618
I have no idea what he's talking about ... anyone got a clue?

>>23585618
Oh yeah, Sebastian's meant to come with us.

>>23585553
Shadow jumping is limited to visual range, so the guards we would be trying to avoid might still be close enough to hear/sense us. Also I don't think we can take mina with us when we shadow port, could be wrong.

>>23585648
Wasn't he sneaking in with the other two?

>>23585618
Seabass got smuggled in by Amanda, along with the Pally and Cleric.

>>23585676

He was sneaking in with the Paladin and Cleric yes.

>>23585410

throwing my vote in with this

>>23585410
Do this.

[1/2]

“Maids.” you tell Mina as you shapeshift into a blond girl with blue eyes, making your voice sound slightly younger as well. “Change your appearance as well. I’ll illusion us up some clothing.”

“OK!” Mina says changing her disguise, altering herself to make it so that her hair is brown, slightly darkened skin like you see from the Eskimo’s up north, deep brown eyes, and giving herself slightly large cup size.

“...You tempt me too much. You know that?” you ask as you conjure you and Mina up some clothing. You make it so that Mina’s dress appears to be under the coat itself while you illusion yourself up both a coat and dress. Extra long skirts, simply because doing long skirts makes it so that you don’t need to make your normal clothes invisible.

You and Mina then walk up to the guards at the gate, approaching them until you’re up in front.

“Hm? Shift change isn’t for another few hours.” the royal guard says looking at you.

“Oh? Really?” you ask him. “W-we were requested to come in during one of the off days. Lady Leona said something about needing extra help today.”

“...Fair enough.” the guard shrugs. “Not my department. Just report in to the head maid when you get in.”

“So we’re free to go in?” Mina asks.

The royal guard simply raises his weapon, allowing you and Mina to continue onto the castle.

You give a large sigh of relief once you’re in the castle. “Oh... It’s so warm in here.”

“...Wow... Bigger than I thought on the inside...” Mina says, looking around at the various knight statues in the entranceway.

“Yea, I was impressed the first time I got here too. But for now we need to meet up with the others.” you tell Mina as you start to walk down the hall.

[2/2]


As you walk down the hall, you can see two maids running down the hall at the cross section, both of them carrying sheets. One of them stops upon seeing you.

“Oh thank Articus you’ve arrived!” she says, dumping the rather large bedsheet in your arms.

“Huh?” you ask in a confused tone. Noticing a rather strong smell coming off of it.

“Young Master Zeppy has wet the bed again in his nap, and right now he’s crying his eyes out! Bring those sheets down to the cleaning room! I need to head back!” the maid says rushing down the hall again.

...Great... You’re carrying piss stained blankets...

“...Where do we wash the clothes?” Mina whispers in your ears.

“...I have no idea...” you admit.

>>23585894
Run around looking like we're in a rush. Then the next maid we see, do they exact same thing that was just done to us, to them. Problem solved.

>>23585946
Clever

>>23585894
Fob the problem off on someone else. Find a maid, look like we're in a hurry, give it to them with the orders we got, Suggest if needed, then get to where we need to go.

>>23585894

well, we have three options;
1. drop them, shape change and continue the search.
2. hide them, shape change and continue the search.
3. do as requested, find the cleaning room then continue search.


I would say to at least pretend to do the task, we could grab some clean blankets and take them to a nobles room so we don't get asked to do anything else...

>>23585966
I like this idea. pass the buck

>>23585946
>>23585966
Supporting passing it along to someone else.

“I got an idea.” you say to Mina as you begin to rush down the hall.

“H-hey! Wait up!” Mina says chasing after you.

You keep running down to the storage space. Hoping... Praying that you’ll find another maid on the way there. Fortunately, you do manage to see a maid pushing a trolly of dirty plates nearby.

“Oh thank Articus we’ve found you!” you say to the Maid.

“...Eh?” the maid asks while pushing up her glasses to look at you.

“Young Master Zeppy has had an accident! We’ve busy as the hells themselves and we need all the help we can get!” You say passing her the dirty blankets.

“Eh!? B-but isn’t the washing room on the oth-”

“No time to explain! We’ve got to get going now!” you tell her, using your Suggestion power behind it.

“R-Right! Please handle the dishes then!” the maid says as she dashes down the hall.

“...Nice.” Mina says as the maid goes off. “...What about the dishes?”

“Not our problem.” you tell Mina as you continue to walk to the hall towards the storage room.

Finding the storage room itself isn’t that hard. It’s in the basement area, and you’ve been down there once before to help catalog some things. However as you head down the stairs, you can see two royal guards in fullplate armour standing guard by the large, iron door.

“Hm? What are you two doing here?” The guard asks as he notices you.

>>23586146
"Orders, same as you.

I was told that Lady (Insert name here, maybe the one who gave us the dress) needed some (Something that she might order people to get) from the storage room and that us two had to go down here and fetch some.

With my luck it's probably in the back or going to be impossible to find."

>>23586146
Do either you or Mina need a quiet snack?

>>23586216

seconding this. Though throw in a suggestion to the guard that asked that he heard said Lady has been using said item often recently

>>23586259

Well if you want to get 15% aether, by all means.

>>23586284
Was more asking about Mina's status while debating knocking him out. Thanks, not worth the risk for 15% though.
Go with >>23586216

>>23586313

Mina's pretty much full. She goes on her own feeding binges offscreen.

[1/2]

“Orders, just the same as you. Lady Mary-Anne has requested some more curtains for her room. I went to the seamstress's room, but they’re out of the fabric Lady Mary-Anne wants. We’ve been called to fetch some more of it.” you tell the guards.

“Alright. Just gotta be sure.” the guard says. “After all... It’s not like anything big will be going on today which will result in getting me killed or anything!”

“Oh give it a rest...” the other guard sighs as he reaches for the key to unlock the door. He then turns around, passing you a laturn for the room. “Here you go ladies.”

“Arigato!” Mina replies.

“...Pardon?” one of the guards replies in a confused tone of voice.

“It’s... part of her tribal tongue. She’s new here. I’m teaching her the ropes.” you tell him.

“Ah, well you should tell her to cut it out. Langy would have her head if she spoke anything other than English, French, or High Astral.” the guard warns you.

“Oh of course, but you know. Barbarians.” you say.

The Royal Guard rolls his eyes, seeming to understand exactly what you mean.

You and Mina enter the storage room, you holding the lit lantern as you go into the room. ...Though rather than lighting it you just used a bit of your light magic to create a fake flame. Inside of the storage room, you can see what appears to be stacks upon stacks of boxes as far as the eye can see. The room itself is poorly ventilated, resulting in the air being rather stale. The air itself is also quite cold itself. Not as cold as the outside, but cold enough for you to prefer your jacket. The area is also rather poorly lit, as the lamp you have is basically the only light source for the area.

“...So which is the crate?” you ask Mina.

“Uh... The one with people inside of it?” Mina asks.

[2/3]

You just simply look at Mina and sigh. “Right. Look let’s just start opening crates until we find them.” you say as you look over at a rather large crate. You summon darkness tentacles to pry off the side of it, jumping in fright as several bags drop down to the floor and explode, showering the floor in coffee beans.

“...At least this place smells better now.” you say smelling the aroma of the beans. You don’t normally drink coffee, but you do know a good aroma when you smell one.

Mina continues to sneak around, carefully looking at all the crates before stopping in front of one of them. “...I think its this one.”

Mina then grabs and rips off the crate side, tossing it down to the floor. As soon as he does, you can see a figure nearly falling out of the side in fullplate, gasping for breath.

“Air! Sweet, sweet air!” the Paladin says gasping for breath.

(“Oh god you don’t know how long I’ve been stuck in with these bastards...”) Sebastien mentally tells you as he exits the crate.

Sorry Sebastien, not much you could do about that situation. Thankfully with the gas mask on you shouldn’t be able to smell how stale the air is in this place.

“Be on your toes Pollock.” the Cleric says stepping out, a mace in hand. You can hear the slight jingle of his chainmail as he steps out, the bright sunrise symbol of the church of Illysia displayed on a piece of cloth over his chainmail proudly.

“Of course!” The Paladin says standing up. “After all! This is the foul base of the madman who set a trap for us! I swear upon the lives of our fallen comrades, we shall avenge them!” The Paladin says while doing a pose of pointing his sword up into the air.

“And rescue the person about to be sacrificed!” Mina says.

[3/3]

“But of course!” the Paladin replies, before he turns looking at you. “So Stacy, when does this plan of yours begin?”

“Well as soon a-”

You can then feel a light rumble beneath your feet, but still strong enough to make the lamp rattle a bit. ...Was that... The explosion?

“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!” you can hear one of the mercenary guards shouting down the hallway.

...How much explosive power did Ada use!?

(“Some of the better things money could buy I'd imagine.”) Sebastien replies.

(What now?)

>>23586726
>“After all... It’s not like anything big will be going on today which will result in getting me killed or anything!”
Heh, I forgot about the doomed guard.

>>23586771
Good job Ada.

Okay, let's try to stay quiet for now, we want to give the explosion as much time to draw people away as possible.

Start heading towards where we need to be for the rescue and screwing up the ritual, if any guards see us we end the fights quickly and quietly, don't give them a chance to raise an alarm. Seb takes point and scouts ahead of course.

>>23586771
The illusionary maid outfits are now illusionary warriors of Illysia outfits! We could also get an illusionary spellbook so we can pretend to be a wizard when we cast.
Then I guess we should go find Erika.

>>23586771

time to commence the operations!

first priority is to 'rescue' Erika. If we are lucky, we can lure the demon guards into a choke point where the Paladin & cleric can keep them occupied while we sort our Erika, rendezvous with Leona so they can make their temporary fair-wells. By this time, either the Demon guards or the fodder should be mostly finished, so we help finish off the lot of them, them make our escape.

>>23586771
See if Sebastien can act as radar for us.

Avoid as much trash mobs as we can and cut right to where Erika is.

From there we can just play it by ear, I guess.

>>23586945
>See if Sebastien can act as radar for us.
this, Sebastien can see though walls

[1/3]

“Alright, let’s begin.” you say dropping the soligram clothing on both you and Mina. “Take it slow at first. We’ll need to see how far we can get to Erika’s place before encountering any sort of guards.” you tell the group, putting down the lantern and just making a small ball of light. No need to keep the lantern any more after all. “Seabass, can you keep your aura sight up? Tell us of anyone through the walls.”

“Way ahead of you.” Sebastien replies.

“Then onwards!” the Paladin says pointing his sword towards the entrance.

You all rush up and out of the storage room. Sure enough, the Royal guards were called away from the storage room to other, more vitally important areas. Even though the castle is made of pure stone, you can almost feel it shake with all of the bodies rushing through it at the moment. Sebastien stops you all a few times, all of you ducking behind some walls to see another group Crimson Bear mercenaries rush around and presumably towards the main entrance.

“They’re barricading the main entrance.” The Cleric says after noticing a few guards head down the hall a few times.

“Then we’ll just go the other way! You know the way, right Stacy?” Pollock asks you.

“Of course. It’ll be a bit longer though.” you say as you lead the group around the longer route, towards the lower noble section of the castle. During this time, you can walk by a window and see another large explosion go off in the city, this time towards the slums. ...Yea... This sort of thing is going to make the whole town go nuts, not just the castle.

Approaching up to the lesser noble section, you notice there are some guards here, but nothing this is too difficult to avoid thanks to Sebastien seeing them long before they can see you.

[2/3]

“This is the one!” you say pointing out to Pollock.

Pollock wastes no time kicking down the door with a mighty kick, cracking the door open with a single boot. “We’re here to save you miss Damsel!”

“...But where’s the damsel?” Mina asks looking around the room.

...She’s right. Erika isn’t here at all. You can tell this is her room. A few sappy romance novels can be seen on her dresser in addition to a few swords that appear to be well used hung on the wall.

“...What!?” you ask looking around her room.

“...Huh? Who are you!?” you hear a voice from outside of the room.

Running at a speed you’re surprised an old man like him can reach, Sebastien quickly closes the distance between himself and the noble man. Grabbing his shoulder and slamming him down on the ground in seemingly one swift movement. Just as fast, you can see Sebastien pull out a knife, holding it to the man’s throat.

“Where’s the girl who lives in this room!?” Sebastien demands while holding the knife to the man’s throat. “Answer me!”

“U-u-uh I-I-I saw them take Lady Erika away! Lord Langy said he needed to be sure she was protected!” the noble man gasps.

“WHERE!?” Seabstien asks pressing the blade more.

“I-I-I don’t know! Maybe in Langy’s tower!” The man replies.

[3/3]

Sebastien then puts his hands around the man’s throat, squeezing his grip around the man’s neck.

“Stop! You’ll kill him!” The Cleric protests.

“Sleeper hold. He’ll be fine.” Sebastien says climbing off the noble.

“I heard something this way!” you can hear some guards call down the hallway, the armour and weapons clinking as they rush down.

Looking up and down the hallway, you can see that it is only a straight hallway, no other places to duck into besides Erika’s room. There's also the few scattered knight statues you see around the hallway as well. You doubt you can cloak this many people too, as just trying to make Mina and Brodin invisible was somewhat tricky to hold. Plus back then you had the luxury of time compared to the handful of seconds you have now...

>>23587294
In retrospect, I have to wonder why we didn't just disappear her last night or something. Not sure why we left it to the last minute.

>>23587294
get them into the room, cloak self and summon a few more knight statues. Then try to ambush them with the statues and our laser.

>>23587336

Mainly as a way to pin the blame on the Church of Illysia and take out the Paladin and Cleric in one blow.

>>23587336
Probably thinking that we didn't want to give the good Lord any time to find a replacement for his blood ritual.

>>23587294
Make the door a soliogram wall.

>>23587336
That would be dodging fate without using aether, and would mean Brodin would have to kill her.

>>23587378
>>23587377
That also.

>>23587294

duck into Erikas room and hold the door shut. wait for the soldier to pass then continue on our hunt for Erika...

Since Erika is now a succubus, she will have a brighter aura, and the only others in the castle who have brighter aruas are Langly, Ada and possibly the Demon Guards.
Can we see far enough to get a glimpse of where they may be?

>>23587336
we wanted to be able to kill off the Paladin & Cleric while preventing Langly from thinking that it was a demonic influence that disrupted his ritual, but the Church of Illisia.

>>23587383

Sebastien isn't able to see Erika or any other powerful auras from his current distance.

>>23587397
Can Sebastien reach out to Erika and be like 'Hey where you at?' or no?

>>23587294
Okay, duck into Erika's room, make sure the noble's body is with us.

Now if it comes to a fight we want it to be quick and quiet, us dropping a pile of tentacles on them binding their mouths as the rest of the party takes them out, but I'd rather not have to do that as there's the chance that they'd raise an alarm.

Don't try to make us invisible if we think they'll check the room, too much work, but making a hologram of an empty room in front of the door could work, then cause a distraction further down the hall, just some loud noise, could be doable by having Seb use TK to make some stompy noises, or anything like that, they'll open the door, take a look, hear a noise, and think that nothing is in here and go after that.

If they see through it or investigate too close we make it quick and quiet.

>>23587430

Nope. He can try sensing a fellow Psionic though. I'd get a rough location.

>>23587463
sounds like a plan

>>23587463
Better than nothing.

Well, after we deal with the guards of course. Be it non-violence or very violently

The body! We need to get it into Erika’s room!

(“On it.”) Sebastien says as he begins to drag the noble into the room after you.

“What at are yo-”

“Ssshhh!” you say as you force everyone into Erika’s room. Once Sebastien makes it in with the noble, you quickly put up a soligram door, materializing it so it looks like nothing ever happened here at all.

You can hear the footsteps of the guards outside, coming to a halt just a little bit in front of the room.

“...I don’t see anything!”

“I heard something! Jefferson! You and your group remain here! The rest of us will scout around this area!” you hear one group of guards say as one group thunders off.

(“Four of em just outside the door. They’re not the royal guard by the looks of things.”) Sebastien says to you mentally.

Great... What about Erika? Can you do something to sense her using your psychic powers?

(“On it. Give me a minute.”) Sebastien says, letting about 30 seconds go by before he replies to you next. (“I sense another psionic. It feels as if this signal is coming from the center tower area. Somewhere around the middle of it.”)

Oh that’s great... Just Great...

>>23587720
Joy.

Give it a tiny bit longer, let the group that left be completely out of earshot.

Then we take these guys down, we do it quick and quiet, shadow tentacles bind their mouths, everyone else piles on the group and beats them down.

After that we head towards the central tower, using SeaBass's Wallsight and Telepathy to avoid major groups, staying quiet if possible.

>>23587720
Any windows for Erikas room?

If so, how far is drop?

If not, well, we need to get rid of these guards quickly and quietly as we can.

>>23587830

There is one window in Erika's room. The distance down is about three stories.

>>23587852
Could we make a soliogram ladder?

>>23587852
How close to the center tower would that put us if we used that window? (longs we find way not to break our legs or neck)

>>23587862
lets not

>>23587862

You could, but remember one attack would cause the whole thing to vanish.

>>23587866

The window down leads into the courtyard. Risky as the window is facing away from the center tower, and you can see quite a few soldiers lined up on top of the castle walls armed with bows.

>>23587895
>window is facing away from the center tower, and you can see quite a few soldiers lined up on top of the castle walls armed with bows

Yeah, let's just take out the guards outside the room then. Quick and quite. If we can pull this off >>23587793 lets.

>>23587921
Agreed.

And let's make a note to improve the durability of our soliograms later.

[1/2]

OK... We’re going to wait a little bit longer. At least until the other group is out of earshot. Once that’s done, we’ll see about taking out these guards non-lethally. I’ll use darkness tentacles to restrain them, then the rest of the group can knock them out non-lethally. Relay that message to everyone else. We’ll begin it as soon as the door is brought down.

(“Then a mad scramble to the center tower?”) Sebastien asks.

That’s what it seems like at the moment.

(“Passing it on.”) Sebastien says as he begins to relay the message to others.

You make a small part invisible in your soligram door, just enough to see the guards on the other side. Once you have a good sight of them, you begin to go to work. Thin tendrils of darkness slowly waggling out of the shadows of the nearby soldiers.

Then with a sudden lurch, you make all of the tentacles lurch forward, making the very shadows of the guards entangle them with their own shadows.

“W-what th-” you cover the mouth of the last man before he can shout out his sentence.

You then make the door disappear from view. Everyone in the room rushes out, clobbering the Adventurers with everything they’ve got in order to knock them out cold. You release your darkness tentacles once they’re on the ground, the tentacles slithering back into their shadows.

“...Are they still alive?” Mina asks giving the body a tap with her foot.

“They’re shaken, but they’re fine.” the Cleric says looking over them.

“I can’t say I approve of using the magic of darkness, but right now we cannot afford to be picky!” Pollock says, pointing his sword down the hall. “Onward! To the center tower!”

[2/3]

With that, the group continues to head onwards to the center tower area, avoid all of the guard patrols that seem to be running through the area. Eventually you manage to reach the spiral staircase of the tower, but as you do you can hear two men gasping for breath followed by a clunk on the floor. You look around the corner, seeing two Royal Guards knocked out on the ground.

“We don’t have time to fuss around. They’re going to be catching onto our plan sooner or later, and I doubt we’re going to fight off an entire army garrison.” Sebastien says as he walks past the bodies.

You all quickly begin to ascend the staircase, climbing up as quickly as possible. The only light in the area are the torches on the wall leading upwards, the smell of burnt wood thick throughout the air. Occasionally there are doors situated to show rooms, but Sebastien doesn’t stop at any of them going up. You trust him, so you keep going up.

“...Do you feel that?” the Cleric asks as you continue climbing the stairs.

“...Feel what?” Both Mina and Pollock ask.

You are wondering what he means, but now that you think of it, you can feel... something slithering across your skin. It feels almost as if someone was dragging a wet feather across your skin. Feeling more gross than anything else.

“...Yea... I feel it too...” you mention to yourself.

“We’re nearby.” Sebastien says, stopping in front of a door. He raises his hand to signal you all to stop, before pointing to a wooden door that is next to him.

Upon listening closely, you can hear other voices in the room.

“We don’t care about that! We want you to get us a live connection with Lord Articus!” A deep, gruff, inhuman sounding voice says.

[3/3]

“What!? No! This ritual is extremely difficult to pull off correctly! Plus we’d need another sacrifice just to power the ritual!” you can hear Langy say. “With the city under attack, Lord Ar-”

“LORD ARTICUS CARES NOT FOR THIS BACKWATER FORT NOR YOU MORTAL!” another gruff voice replies.

“What!? I am a favoured servant of Articus himself! I will not tolerate such treasonous language in my castle!” Langy replies back.

“We hardly care about what your status is mortal! We demand that you establish connection with Blizzarios!” a gruff voice says.

“His letters have been off! Plus he should’ve seen this attack coming days ago!” a gruff voice replies.

(“On the other side, I can see about seven enlightened targets followed by a dozen or more mortals. I believe it’s Erika, Langy, and the bodyguards. I cannot tell which auras belong to whom though.”) Sebastien says.

>>23588402
How many Demon Bodyguards did Blizzy bring with him?

>>23588402
Use light control to look into the room, assign targets open door "flash them" and attack.

>>23588441

Five

>>23588441
>>23588402
Also do they want to contact Blizzy or Arty, both are named.

>>23588456
Okay, I wanted to make sure that there wasn't 4 demon bodyguards and a wild card.

>>23588464

It appears Langy and the Bodyguards are fighting over who to contact in this event.

>>23588446
second, see if we can't subtly contact Erika about the plan

>>23588402
Dynamic entry time? Create a flash bang of sorts, grab Erika, and run. Have the pally and cleric stay behind to 'buy time.' Which I mean, die please.

I know we can't suggest them to die.

>>23588402
Have Sebastien tell Erika to cover her eyes then do this: >>23588522

Well everyone, ready to fight demons and save damsels?

>>23588497
Gotcha.

>>23588402
Okay, he can't tell which Auras belong to who, but he can gauge strength, and he can use Telepathy to scan surface thoughts and determine consciousness and so on, so if he's given a bit of time he should be able to sort out which ones are which. He relays that information to our group.

Have him contact Erika, tell her what's about to happen, keep her in the loop.

We prioritize the strongest bodyguard if there's any significant difference between them. We want him down first.

Paladin takes point of course, we want him to soak damage. Have him kick down the door, use Light Control to make a flash of extremely bright light to disorient them, while Erika knows to close her eyes, and use the targeting info Seb gives us we start flinging Annihilator Beams towards large concentrations of enemies, to soften them up before our friends do what they do best, Paladin and Mina in melee to extract Erika, Cleric buffing people and taking hits, us and Seb staying back and laying down fire support. We'll keep on flinging lasers when things get into serious melee and using Darkness Tentacles to interfere with them.

And of course while we're doing this we're all shouting about Illyssia, how we're saving a maiden from their vile demonic hands, bringing the light of god to them, all that stuff.

We want to take down the Bodyguards now if possible, if they kill or severely weaken the Pally and Cleric so much the better, if they're still up after this we'll leave them to die against a swarm of royal guard.

>>23588670
thats fine, just remember to keep langy alive.

>>23588694
Of course. He's part of Ada's plans.

At most we knock him out or bruise him a lot. Injured is fine, dead is not.

File: 1362808341767.jpg-(23 KB, 312x264, Evan's_Spiked_Tentac(...).jpg)

23 KB JPG

>>23588670
Darkness CC
>>23588694
Janine would love to eat him

You know Erika has precognition. She probably sees this shit coming from a mile away. More than likely going 'don't waste time contacting me just do it already!'

Well, if she's awake of course.

>>23588670
As long as we follow up and insure that the paladin and cleric die, we don't want to assume they die and it comes back to bite us in the ass later.

[1/2]

Tell everyone to get ready. I’m going to open the door and try to blind everyone in the room. Tell Erika to be ready as well.

(“Got it.”) Sebastien says taking out his rifle and loading it.

You charge up a bright ball of light in your hands, it literally becoming so bright that it even makes you squint just by looking at it. Once you have it charged up, you look over to Pollock and give him a small nod.

Pollock looks down at you, smiling gently as he nods in return. He gets over to the door, giving it another mighty kick, sending it sailing off it’s hinges. Wood splinters and metal bolts flying across the room.

“What the!?” all of the guards and Langy say at once, looking at your direction.

You look into the room, briefly only seeing all of the bodyguards, some mortals dressed in freaky red robes, and Erika being held by two people with the red robes, all standing around a circle lit with candles.

Nothing else can be processed before you close your eyes and let loose your flash. The resulting flash so bright that you can even see some of it through your eyelids.

[2/2]

“Prepare to face the Holy Light of Illysia you fiends!” the Pollock says charging into the room.

“GET THEM!” the oversized, gorilla like bodyguards say charging at Pollock. These ones appear to have fine sight as they charge straight towards him. Everyone else in the room appears to be dazed for the moment, holding their eyes.

BOOM

You nearly go deaf as well as Sebastien’s cannon fires off directly next to you, making your own ears ring a bit. One of the cannon shots impacts one of the crippled demonic bodyguards, hitting it square in the chest and scoring a direct hit. The bodyguard roars in pain, something you’re unable to hear due to your ears ringing. Hand over his stomach as red blood spills out on the ground below.

Glancing over, it appears the cultists who were holding Erika have let her go. She appears to be on the left side of the chamber at the current moment.

(What action do you or the other party members want to do at this point?)

>>23588805
Do we have her sword? We should probably give her that.
Also Sand I have missed this, but are we wearing Blizz armor?

>>23588805
If we brought the psy-blade throw it to Erika, otherwise kill the cultists and knock out/shove Langly in a corner under the cultist body
>>23588834
.No we aren't we went in with the leather armor

>>23588834
>Blizz armor
no we're in our leather armor

>>23588805
We should kill or incapacitate the cultist and regroup with Erika.

>>23588834

...Yea I can rule that you've been carrying her sword, having it cloaked the entire time. Why not.

>>23588805
Any chance we could soligram disguise Erika as a cultist and get her to flee to safety on her own while we handle this?

>>23588805
Erika and Langly must survive. The mortal minions must be dealt with swiftly, and the paladin can tank the bodyguards for now.

We have the PSI blade, right? Or do we not want Erika fighting right now?

>>23588861
Er, isn't the sword way too heavy for Broooklyn to carry? So Mina has it?

>>23588805
Start throwing Annihilator Beams around. Aim for concentrations of enemies who aren't close to our allies, the red robes are great for that, they're clumped up a bit, disoriented, and Erika has gotten distance from them, just take them out of the fight, explode them.

Once they're taken care of we'll move on to fire support and CC on the bodyguards with Light beams and Tentacles.

Paladin acts as a meat shield, he gets stuck in melee with as many bodyguards as possible, beats them up, gets beat up, smites them something fierce.

The Cleric, he's helping the Pally on anti-bodyguard duty, he'll buff the Paladin, call down holy light on the bodyguards, all of that stuff. He knows what to do.

Seb continues to take shots at the bodyguards, we want them taken out.

Mina makes her way to Erika beating up anything in her way and if she sees a good opportunity hit the bodyguards hard while she's making her way over there.

We should smack Langy around if he gets in the way, but be sure not to kill him.

>>23588834
>>23588839
I personally wouldn't give her the sword. We want them to think that Erika was rescued, not that she became a psychic swordsman out of nowhere, once she's out of sight and this area is dealt with we can give her the sword and she shape shifts into a different appearance.

>>23588805
Agreed. We wanted it to be 'Adventures saved the day' bullshit.

And yeah go with that plan.

>>23588905
She doesn't need to activate the psychic ability of the sword.Giving a trained swordsman a sword during her rescue is actually a decent plan

>>23588927
And I meant to link here >>23588905

Herp

>>23588938
It harms the impact of ADVENTURERS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND SAVED HER when she is given a sword by the Adventurers and uses it really well.

>>23588968
I'm sure Langly already know Erika can use a sword really well

>>23588968
I agree, it would sell the deception better if we didn't give her the sword till after we start fleeing.

>>23588989
But how would the group of Adventurers coming from no where know about it?

>>23589023
Because since they knew about the ritual and the location it would be performed they may have investigated who was going to be the sacrifice for it?

>>23589023
they could ask her?

>>23588989
He actually probably doesn't. He's unlikely to have paid much attention to her, it's a large family and she's on one of the less important branches.

If he did he might know that she fenced, but he wouldn't know that she snuck out and paid mercenaries to train her with sword/bow/shield as she mentioned during her personal lesson, she keeps that secret.

>>23589042
And they would pull this one piece of information about her and planned around it?

>>23589056
During a fight to save her?

>>23589100
why not? the question "can you use this?" happens in action movies all the time

>>23589073
Then it doesn't matter because he doesn't know shit about her.
>>23589100
"Hey if you know how to use a weapon use this."
No need to ask her, having one more person able to fight is always a good option, saving someone able to defend themselves is easier than having to protect a VIP

>>23589023
How do adventurers find out about any of the evil schemes they show up to foil? Some staff member talked to someone who passed it on and eventually a conveniently timed rumor reaches an adventurer's ears. Happens all the time, we ain't got ta explain anything

You decloak and take off the shield sheath from your arm before giving it a heave to Erika. “ERIKA! HERE!”

The shield sheath sails across the room, spinning around as it sails over the bodyguard’s and cultists heads before Erika grabs it, quickly putting it over her arm and fastening the straps to it.

Meanwhile back in the fight, you can see the Cleric is busy chanting a spell in a tongue you don’t recognize, holding up a holy cross of Illysia in his hands. As he does, the Paladin’s blade begins to glow in a whitish gold colour.

Pollock hardly has time to use his buff as he’s forced to raise his shield in response to nearly two attacks by the large, brutish bodyguards. The bodyguards halberds striking the shield, the sound of metal clashing hard enough to the point where you can hear it.

Mina attempts to get in front of a bodyguard, but barely has time to react as the bodyguard pushes her aside and barrels towards Sebastien with his shield raised. Sebastien tries to react, but the demonic bodyguard manages to bat Sebastien’s cannon aside. Sebastien maintains a grip, but the shot just fires off and embeds itself into the roof.

It appears that your flash spell is wearing off. You can see that Langy himself has recovered eyesight enough to the point where he’s walking over to the bodyguard whom Sebastien shot, chanting his own words you cannot hear thanks to that damn ringing. But sure enough, you can actually see the blood that was pouring out of the demon’s stomach quickly stop.

(Action? Most of the enemies in the room will be recovering eyesight enough to the point where close range things can be seen)

>>23589127
It still matters. It harms the impact of the ADVENTURERS coming out of the woodwork and saving her when she starts whipping a sword around like an expert. We don't want people to remember her part, we want them to remember the Paladin and the Cleric's parts.

>>23589167
Start flinging Annihilator Beams about. Take down the cultists, wound Langy and hit the Bodyguards, just fill the room with them, though avoid Erika, and don't make it obvious that we're purposefully hitting the Paladin and Cleric with the edges of the explosions.

>>23589169
No, we're saving someone they will remember her anyways. ADVENTURER SAVE TO BE SACRIFICE. The fact that we give her a sword doesn't change anything to that.

Rolled 50

>>23589167
>we rolling now?
bind langy's mouth with a darkness tentacle, then help sebastien with that demon guard

More important than killing the cultists or bodyguards is getting Erika out of there.

>>23589167
Move towards Erika longs blasting the guy on Sebastien off him. Light beams I guess. Don't want to cause friendly fire.

>>23589201
It brings more questions than one would like in this case.

>>23589231
It doesn't, it's like giving a gun to someone when you're in a dangerous place. better they can defend themselves if we can't do it for them.

Rolled 92

>>23589216
second

>>23589250
Actually you almost never arm the VIP, you want them surviving, that's the point, not killing the other guys, and if they're armed, they're going to fight and risk getting killed instead of staying behind lots and lots of cover.

>>23589231
Friendly fire isn't a bad thing if it "just happens" to hit the Paladin and Cleric with Annihilator Beams targeted at the Bodyguards.

>>23589352
Yeah that's fine with /them/ but Sebastien not so much.

Rolled 74

>>23589288
I don't get why you people refer to Erika as a VIP, this isn't a bodyguard job, this is a rescue operation behind enemy lines.

>>23589216
Do this, entangle Langy, help out with others.

[1/2]

You summon up a shadow tentacle, attempting to seal up Langy’s mouth to prevent him from doing any more magic, or at least the vocal magic.

Langy grabs his mouth in surprise, his fingers digging into the shadow as he attempts to pull it out from his mouth.

Meanwhile the Cleric jumps into action against the bodyguard attacking Sebastien, ghiving it a firm uppercut with his mace, striking a bone crunching blow on the demon. Sebastien instantly replies in kind as well, taking out his revolver and fanning it near point blank at the demon, unloading six rounds into the demon in the span of a heartbeat.

Pollock seems to have his hands full with the two bodyguards. He grits his teeth, sliding his shield so both of the demons weapons slide off the shield and into the ground. He tries for an uppercut, but is struck in the sides by one of the bodyguards. The Bodyguard quickly lifts his halberd out of the ground, preparing for a strike against Pollock, before a loud crack echos throughout the room. Mina’s punch being so fast that it compress the air into a small explosion as it hit the bodyguard, sending him sailing across the room and becoming embedded within the brick wall.

The second bodyguard on Pollock reacts, lifting his weapon back up quickly, sinking it’s rather hefty weight into it so that the halberd rises up and strikes Pollock directly in the head. Pollock seemed to see this coming, deliberately moving forward a bit so the pole of the blade hits him in the his so only something blunt and not as much force hits him, but judging by the tooth flying out of his mouth, he still felt that attack.

[2/2]


Langy then points towards Erika, his cries somewhat muffled, but appearing that the cultists seem to know what to do. They all take out their knives, beginning to approach Erika.

You see Erika take out her PSI blade, holding it out in front of her. The cultists jump back at first, but then slowly begin to advance. You’re wondering why Erika is so hesitant, before what Leona told you earlier before comes back to you. All of these people are other nobles. Mind you nobles probably as far gone as Langy himself, but still nobles. People Erika grew up around and probably still sees as a family somewhat.

Your mind races as it tries to determine your next course of action.

Rolled 21

>>23589502
Grab the noble threatening Erika with tentacles and throw them at the bodyguard fighting the pally

Rolled 100

>>23589502
black tentacle those cultist, try and trip andor disarm them

>>23589502
Drop a giant pile of Annihilator Beams on the Cultists. Also hit Bodyguards who aren't close to allies we care about with them.

GET

HER

OUT

NOW

>>23589502
We really need to get her out of here.

>>23589559
The dice gods have spoken. Make an opening for Erika to run.

>>23589559
With a roll like that why not just take them out permanently?

>>23589502

while they are momentarily distracted by the tentacles, we can cloak Erika and make a Solidogram copy of her for the cultists & Langly to focus on while she retreats from the room. Once she is secure, we can slowly replace our own forces with solidogram clones, telling Sebastian & Mina to get her to safety while we 'help' the Paladin & Cleric with the rest of the enemies.

>>23589804
Agreed. 'disarm' them.

>>23589559
If by disarm you mean completely incapacitate possibly removing their arms as well, I'm on board with this.

Rolled 89

>>23589881
I was thinking more like breaking their hands and legs

>>23589881
Only if we beat other people with the arms afterward.

>>23589926

NO, bad anon. We are not Cheshire in this one...

>>23589933
We are what we want to be. Stop pushing you opinion on me etc..

I just don't get why we're not going for the kill here ... what point is there in letting them live? Less people we have to deal with later on.

[1/2]

Deciding to try and help Erika out, you try to summon a batch of darkness tentacles to help restrain all of the cultists. The tentacles at first quickly snap around the feet of the cultists, forcing them to trip up and fall to the ground.

“Get her! She is required for the ritual!” the now recovered Demonic bodyguard says pointing at Erika.

The demonic bodyguard near him walks over to Erika, more seemingly focused on the rest of you rather than her. He mustn’t think a mere mortal with a weapon is a threat to her.

But Erika proves she is no mere mortal. She quickly outstretches her hand at the demonic bodyguard, blasting him off his feet completely and crashing to the floor.

The injured bodyguards, cultist, and Langy simply stare at Erika with wide eyes and open mouths, metaphorically hitting the floor over what they’ve just saw.

“T-that bitch! She’s awakened!?” the injured Bodyguard asks.

“Sorry Uncle... But I’m taking control of my own destiny now...” Erika says as she gets into a stance with her sword, giving him a deathly stare.

Mina quickly takes advantage of the bodyguard Erika toppled over. Rushing over to him and jumping on top. Mina’s fists glow as she continues to pound the demonic bodyguard with all that she’s worth. Strikes too fast to see can be heard banging and echoing off the bodyguards armour, the bodyguard being literally pounded into the floor bit by bit.

“NOW FALL!” Mina srceams as she raises one fist above her head, it glowing a bright white before she slams it into the bodyguard. A miniature explosion happens as bits and pieces of brick fly everywhere around the room.

[2/2]

Pollock regains his senses seemingly. Coming to terms as he cracks his shield across the demon bodyguard’s face in front of him before following it up with a slash across the demon’s chest. Even though the sword only nicks the side of the demon, you can literally see smoke coming out of it, the demon howling in pain even from a seemingly small wound.

It is then the bodyguard that Langy healed rushes towards Pollock, giving him a solid full body shoulder charge and sending him off his feet and skidding along the ground towards you, Sebastien, and the Cleric.

The bodyguard Sebastien shot full of holes is still standing, proving how tough these bastards are. Sebastien takes out his revolver, quickly aiming to reload his gun as brass casing ting against the floor.

But the bodyguard has other plans. He tries to rush Sebastien while he’s reloading, bu the Cleric already has his countered. Swinging his mace which impacts against the demonic bodyguards arm. The bodyguard grunts in pain, spitting out some blood before wiping his mouth and tusks, grabbing his halberd as he prepares for a duel against the Cleric.

Langy meanwhile recovers from his shock, pulling at the darkness around his mouth, but unable to pull it off. Filled with rage, Langy takes out his knife and begins to rush towards you. You counter by taking out your axe. You try to swing it, but Langy is too quick. Your axe’s metal handle slides along Langy’s sacrificial knife. He pushes against you with a seemingly unholy strength, his muscles bursting with power and his bloodshot eyes interlocking with your own, filled with rage. You try to push the knife off, but you cannot shake off his strength. You can feel the cold tip of the metal knife beginning to slip into the flesh of your shoulder. The very chill of the blade ripping throughout your entire body, fighting off the pain to struggle and think of your next move.

>>23589966

I was mainly going by what Erika was reacting like. She could've cut down the cultists, but didn't, rather seeming stressed and worried about doing so. When I started writing, I assumed non-lethal tactics were the order of putting them out.

If you want to switch to lethal tactics, then by all means, just mention so in your vote.

Rolled 3

>>23589966
Kill Everything that isn't Langly.

Light ray to langly eyes

>>23590001
No no. Not you, I get why Erika did what she did. I'm talking about the people that 'just trip them' or 'disarm them.' What's the point in that.

Rolled 100

>>23589979
shadow step away, then shoot him in the back with lasers

>>23589979
close range? eyes interlocking with ours?
looks like someone's making the mistake of looking at the sun, and are about to get burned.
FLASH HIM! FLASH HIM GOOD!

>>23590001
i vote for staying non-lethal with the nobles, lest we upset Ada too much...

Extricate, use lethal force.

Rolled 48

>>23589979
This is bad, we don't want him in melee with us.

First, increase Gravity on him, hit him with Gravity Axe Crusher, and use shadow jump to get some distance from him.

Once we have distance unleash Annihilator Beams. Take out the cultists, they're easy targets now, focus primarily on the bodyguards, especially those who are right next to the Paladin and Cleric.

Lethality is fine, don't bother being non-lethal except with Langy.

If Langy advances on us again put a pile of explosive Soliograms between us.

>>23590029
>another 100
my god I did it again

>>23590029
I support this, just don't kill him. blind him and disable.

>>23590035
How would killing some nobles loyal to Langy mess with her plans? If anything it's less for her to deal with.

>>23589979
Just flash him then kick him in the balls.

Rolled 5

>>23590029
Remember not to kill him, and I still advocate throwing Annihilator Beams at all the enemies as well unless it'd tag someone we care about in the AoE, because explosions are awesome.

Non-lethality preferred if possible.

>>23590051
Interrogation, at least. If Ada wants them dead, they can be killed later. If Ada wants them alive, we can't very well bring them back to life.

Also it makes us look merciful in front of the paladin.

>>23590157
The paladin that's about to be killed?

>>23590159
Oh, is he? I lost track of that. No worries; it was a kicker anyway.

(Shame; a paladin with a positive Intimacy towards us (to borrow Exalted's jargon) could be useful. Oh well.)

>>23590196
Plan has been and continues to be; Get the paladin and cleric killed longs rescuing Erika.

Praise be to Ilisia! sending us shock troops like that. next thing you know, they'll be sending us free aether and rare books!

[1/2]

Looking to see a nearby torch, you snuff out the light source down the hall, allowing you to be covered in Sebastien’s shadow. You then disappear completely, your vision appearing to make almost a flash cut to the shadow of the cleric as he wails on the demonic bodyguard. You hold your hand, making a solid beam of light come out and head straight towards Langy.

It impacts Langy, catching his clothes on fire rather than instantly burrowing through him. Langy screams in pain as his robes burst into flames.

The Paladin gets back up on his feet, wiping his mouth of the blood coming out of it before charging back into the fray towards the demon that shoulder charged him. The demonic bodyguards quickly react by thrusting the spear tip of their halberds directly at Pollock. One of them slides off his shield while the other impacts him directly into his shoulder. The Paladin roars, fighting through the wound and slamming his sword directly down into the monsterous foe before him. Golden sword slamming into the demonic bodyguards shoulder, the room being filled with burnt flesh as the bodyguard roars in pain.

The demonic bodyguard fighting against the Cleric continue their standoff, both of them looking into the eyes of each other. Ready to capitalize on the smallest mistake. The Cleric moves fist, raising his mace on high as he prepares to bring it down on the bodyguard. The Bodyguard sees the attack incoming, blocking it with halberd before kicking the Cleric away. Then in one swift movement, he puts his halberd into the stabbing position, quickly thrusting at the Cleric. The blow is enough to land a solid hit on the Cleric, causing him to cough up blood from his mouth as the spear tip sinks into his flesh.

[2/2]

The last bodyguard seems to get up, preparing to rush towards the Cleric to finish him off, but not before Mina quickly rushes over to him, her fists and eyes glowing with the power of justice. She attempts to attack the demon with all she’s got, her hits landing with solid rings even though the demon does his work to partially parry some of them. Erika joins in as well, swinging her sword in tandem with Mina’s attacks. The demon bodyguard is forced to put all of his efforts into just defending himself.

The cultists continue to struggle on the floor, the tentacle bindings keeping them down appearing to be near absolute in this case.

Sebastien meanwhile grabs his rifle, which has been floating next to him the entire him since he grabbed his revolver. He takes aim at the demon Mna and Erika are attacking, plugging another around into its leg, causing an explosion of muscle tissue, armour, and bone to be blow across the floor.

(“If this keeps up, I think we’re going to be winning this with the Illysia freaks also surviving as well.”) Sebastien mentions as he ejects the shell casing on his rifle.

Bodyguards are down, they were the biggest threats.

We leave. NOW.

The bodygards are still up. Two are fighting the Paladin, one against the Cleric, Mina and Erika fighting the last.

...OK granted the last probably isn't walking against anytime soon.

Rolled 41

>>23590441
Arrange for the two freak to die while taking out the last bodyguards

Rolled 69

>>23590391
lets "help" the paladin by bombarding his area with Annihilator Beam

Rolled 35

>>23590391
Go Artillery on the one that the Paladin is fighting, hit it with Annihilator Beams. A lot of them. The explosions will hurt the Paladin some too.

We'll finish off the Paladin and Cleric by throwing them at the Royal Guard after this and not supporting them.

>>23590441
regardless, we need to book it if we want the plan to go smoothly.

shout something like "We have the girl! We're getting her to safety!"

>>23590391
Can't we just begin retreating? (while not telling the Paladin and Cleric about it).
Have the two bodyguards kill them, then finish off the bodyguards.

Rolled 13

>>23590391
Annihilator Beam spam the paladins and clerics spots if they're close enough. Otherwise aim for the paladins area.

Then start to pull out with Mina and Erika.

>>23590391
(Ok, lets blow this Popsicle stand, can you pass the message?)

No matter. Even if you win here, they’ll most likely be in no shape to take on the Royal Guard as the next step.

You reach out with your hands, firing off a few Annihilator shots at the bodyguards around Pollock. The area fills with explosions. Most of your shots are aimed at the bodyguards, but at the range they’re at to Pollock? He’ll be getting hit as well. From the smoke that fills the air, you cannot make out what happens to them next.

“Had enough dog of Illysia?” the bodyguard impaling the Cleric asks.

“Hardly!” The Cleric responds, spinning around the mace and slamming it into the ground. As he does, a large circle of golden white runes seems to spin out from the weapon, illuminating the area in a bright light. The cultists scream in pain as the light seems to burn them, but in return only seems to heal the Cleric. Presumably Pollock too knowing your luck.

...Wait... If it’s hurting t-

As if on cue, you can literally begin to feel your flesh begin to boil inside of your armour again. A quick glance around you can see the bodyguards are feeling this as well, but unfortunately so are Mina and Erika. All of you seem to have smoke coming from your bodies. Even worse the light seems to snuff out all traces of shadow within the circle radius, which nearly fills the entire room up in divine light.

Mina, Erika, and the bodyguard all freeze in place, trying to grit their teeth to fight through the pain. Sebastien seems to be completely unphased by this circle though.

Great... The Cleric tried to help you but it seems the powers that be still want you to suffer. If the Paladin and Cleric see your flesh smoking, some questions will probably be raised...

Rolled 98

>>23590766
You know what this calls for. More explosions.

Just keep on dropping balls of murdery death at the Demon bodyguards by the Paladin and Cleric, and hitting the Paladin and Cleric as well with the explosions. And enough explosion dust, smoke, and so on will mask what's happening to us.

Seb since he's fine can fire some more shots at the Bodyguards, once they're down the Cleric will stop using that spell.

Rolled 49

illusion the smoke invisible. For all succubus. Should be fairly easy since its fairly trasparent anyway.

Lets start a fighting retreat. Say you think the Royal Bodygaurds are probably on the way and you don't want to be trapped. Try to modify some darkness tentacles to put Langly in a sleeper hold

>>23590766
Quick! Make an illusion of yourself, Erika, and Mina -not- being harmed by the spell that only harms demons!

>>23590803
Do this, but also start retreating.

>>23590766
We leave now.

Hopefully Mina and Erika are both able to move or at the very least Mina so she can carry Erika. Anyways. Time to pull out fully without telling the paladin or cleric.

Use Sebastien to inform the other Mina and Erika.

I wonder if Sebastien has a det pack with him.be nice time to use it.

Aren't we be able to see through hazy things like smoke as a passive part of our light control?

Illusions, soligrams doubles, we need out NOW.

>>23590830
yup

>>23590830

...Derp. I forgot.

In that case both the Bodyguards and Pollock felt the hit. Pollock is gravely injured, but the healing power of the Cleric is putting him back into action slowly.

>>23590766
Time to skedadle. Collect Mina and Erika and GTFO. Leave the god brothers here to have fun.

>>23590838
Well, this is a good opportunity to finish off the Paladin isn't it.

Enough explosions on him and the Cleric might disrupt the spell and it ought to do enough damage that the bodyguard he's up against can finish him off.

I say just run for it. We still have to worry about the Royal Guard, and even if they are mortals we'll still need to burn aether to take them out.

>>23590886
We want to be sure the Pally and Cleric die, and leaving them here they'll probably lose and die against the remaining forces, but that's a bit of a risk and if we don't drag them with us they might manage to kill Langy, which would be bad. We do a tactical retreat, finish off the Bodyguards, and wound them enough that they die against the Royal Guard.

[1/2]

Seabass! Send a message to Mina and Erika! We’re leaving!

(“And the bodyguards?”) Sebastien asks.

We’ll deal with the another time! With luck the holy men will be able to take a few more out before the die! We need to get out now before our smoking bodies blow our cover and make the Cleric and Pollock attack us as well! If we go now, we’ll only need to look after the Royal Guard! You look on, to see the one bodyguard that Mina punched was literally hammered *through* the floor itself, so that one’s gotta be out.

(“Fair enough. Passing it on.”) Sebastien replies.

“Go my comrades! We’ll buy you the time needed to escape!” Pollock shouts out, swinging his sword and forcing the two demon bodyguards to take a step back.

“B-but you’ll be killed!” Erika says.

“A small price to pay to save your life and rid the world of these foul servants of Articus!” The Cleric says pulling himself off of the spear, grunting from the sensation. He then turns around, jumping into the air with the mace above his head. The demon bodyguard raises his weapon, intercepting the attack, the thunderous blow echoing throughout the chamber.

“They know what they’re doing! We need to go now!” Mina says as she grabs Erika by the end and begins to drag her out of the holy circle.

As you run towards the exit, you can notice Sebastien has Langy grabbed by the collar of his robe, his masked eyes staring directly into Langy’s charred flesh.

“Tell your boss that next time, I’ll be coming for him.” Sebastien says before decking Langy across the face, knocking him out cold before he can have any reaction.

[2/2]

With that, all of you begin to head down the stairs as fast as you can, Erika in tow as the sounds of battle can still be heard up above, the Cleric and Paladin still valiantly fighting for their lives.

“QUICKLY! LORD LANGY IS IN TROUBLE IN THE RITUAL CHAMBER!” you can hear some incoming guards say as they quickly ascend the stairs.

Shit... The closest room is actually back up at the ritual chamber... Looks like you’re going to need to blow through these guys somehow...

>>23591027
Are they all in a line?

CANNON

Rolled 24

>>23591027
Hopefully those two guys die, if not we might have to have Ada confirm the kill.

We've got a large group of mooks coming up a confined staircase and we have the high ground and distance.

Life is perfect. Start chucking Annihilator Beams down the stairs, use Homing to make them hit, and blow massive holes in their grouping.

If that doesn't take them out fill the stairs below us with a group of Explosive Light Goons and have them charge the enemies and explode when they die.

>>23591027
Use darkness tentacles to make them trip and fall down the stairs.
>It keeps happening.

Rolled 56

>>23591038
Yeah pretty much this. Only needs a better roll.

Watch, I roll even lower.

Rolled 100

>>23591027
have a wave of bladed tentacles erupt underneath them

>>23591052
>100
>The soldiers are now chunky salsa

>>23591059
mmmmmmh tasty!

>>23591052
that or we could also flash bang them.

You don’t waste any time beginning to charge your new attack. Darkness warps around your axe before you take it and slam it into the ground. A torrent of razor sharp spikes made of pure darkness erupt from the ground, rushing down the stairs at a blistering speed. Garbled gurgles of men can be heard followed by the sounds of flesh hitting the floors.

As you rush around the corner, you witness your handiwork first hand. The piles of flesh on the floor can barely be called men any more, as all of them are virtually indistinguishable from the heap of flesh they’re currently piled into. The armour, or what’s left of it, shows the logo of the Crimson Bears on it. Despite all of the rush you’re in the middle of, even you’re somewhat taken back from this for a second.

“O-O-Oh... Oh my...” Erika says, stopping and gagging at the site.

“Yes this is what happened to people who are in the way of spells, now keep it together! We can’t have snapping here!” Sebastien demands.

Erika’s cheeks fill up with bile before she finally vomits onto the floor. Puke running down to meet up with the blood down on the floor.

“Come on! We need to get out!” Mina says, grabbing onto Erika and leaping over the flesh pile. “They’re going to realize our friend’s trick any minute now!”

“Agreed.” Sebastien says as he grabs your collar and jumps after her. You gag from the sudden force around your next, but when you land a few heavy breaths and readjusting your collar you’re back in action.

You continue to barrel down the spiral staircase as fast as you all can go. Thankfully you cannot hear any more guards while heading down the stairs. Eventually, you reach the bottom of the stairs. No guards appear to be stationed around the immediate hallway.

“Alright... So we’re in a castle crawling with guards on high alert, fortified to not let anything in at all.” Mina says. “Any idea how we’re getting out in one piece?”

>>23591052
>set tentacles to 'puree'

>>23591172
Cast about, see if anyone is fleeing the castle. If so, try to look like that, but panicky and run out shrieking.

>>23591172
Maid outfits?

>>23591172
Erika knows the layout. Hmm. Transform into maids, turn Seb invisible?

hum could pretend to be maids running in terror. Use illusion on Sebastian making him look like a guard. Arrived late but did we disguise him using illusions at the beginning? last thread in chat made joke about making him look like 007.

>>23591172
>Crimson Bears
Oh god, i hope we didn't just turn Lance into man mush.

>>23591206
That's what I'm thinking ... or turn Seb into a butler. Either or.

>>23591172
"Seb, do you have an exit?

If you can get out the rest of us can just change our appearance, look like shrieking maids and a noble girl and follow the crowd of fleeing people. They're probably funneling them somewhere, but it'll be easy to get out from the group at that point.

As for you Seb, if you don't already have an exit we have options. I could use magic to cover your armor so you look like a manservant or a guard escorting the random Noble Girl Erika will look like. I could turn you invisible and give you a bit of help getting out, or once we get outside with the disguises Mina could throw you over a wall or something.

Thoughts? Questions? Any better ideas?"

Rolled 59

>>23591218
>Oh god, i hope we didn't just turn Lance into man mush
bonus

>>23591218
That'd be annoying. We'd have to get another contact in the mercs and everything.

And he was a pretty nice guy.

>>23591232
There is literally no practical upside to Lance dying here.

>>23591232
if he died we won't be able to get free (human) meals. ah well shits happens

Rolled 75

>>23591244
>There is literally no practical upside to Lance dying here.
that's wrong though. If he's dead then there can't be anymore arguments about boneing him

>>23591269
There will always be other men. Other arguments.

Search your heart, you know it to be true.

>>23591269
There's always going to be more arguments. You know that.

And it was pretty obviously referring to practical in game, not to appeasement of your hatred of Lance.

>>23591172
right, time for some invisibility

>>23591172
Maybe we should ask Erica on what options might seem more positive in outcome via future sight.

>>23591297
Just going invisible won't work.

We have a large group of people in a chaotic situation, even if we do manage to get all of them invisible, a feat in and of itself, we won't be able to move fast with it on, and people aren't unlikely to bump into us as we're getting out of here.

If we turn anyone invisible it'll be Seb, the rest of us can shapeshift, and we can fake clothing with either Darkness or Light magic, and escape suspicion that way.

[1/3]

“Seb, do you have a way out?” you ask him.

“It’d be tricky, but yes. I’d need Ada to pick up my armour and equipment, but I doubt they’ll do much to an old man.” Sebastien says.

“Perfect. For the rest of us, it’ll be easy. We’ll simply change our forms and turn into what is basically a bunch of panicked maids.” you says.

“Y-yes... They’ll either funnel us to an area or demand that all non-essential personnel leave the castle.” Erika replies, still apparently shaken by the flesh mound.

“Good, we have our escape plan. Seabass, can you make due from here?” you ask him.

“Not a problem. I’ll meet you and the rest of the group back at your house later. Tell Brodin to get me the stiffest drink he can find.” Sebastien says as he looks down the hallway quickly running down it while somewhat slouched over, holding a revolver in both hands.

“Now for us.” you say as you begin to shapeshift into another form, appearing to be a younger maid with red hair and green eyes. Erika and Mina follow suit after, altering their shapes to become different people. After which you cast a spell on them both, giving them both Soligram clothing in addition an illusion spell to hide your axe and Erika’s shield sheath.

After that, it’s merely a run to the exit as fast as you all can go, folllowing Erika’s lead to get straight to the exit as fast as you can. You can only round about two corners before you’re stopped by a Crimson Bear group.

“Maids!? What are you doing here!?” the guards ask rushing over to you. “All non-essential personnel should’ve left ages ago!”

“T-The fighting the tower! W-we were cleaning then all of that horrible noise started in the tower! We were too scared to move!” Mina says in a fearful tone.

“We could hear it all the way on the ground floor!” Erika adds.

[2/3]

“Damnit! Charles! Get this non-combatants to the exit of this place! Jabowski, you’re with me!” the man calls out as the two men bolt down to the tower area.

“Come on girls! With us! Move it!” The Crimson Bear calls out to you.

The Crimson Bear then begins to usher you out of the castle, speeding you down the hallways. Upon reaching the main entrance, it is as if the place was entirely transformed in nearly no time flat. Squads of guards armed with crossbows can be seen in the area, all of them taking cover behind a literal maze of flipped over wooden tables and other obstacles. The front of the room is taken up by a literal wall of steel, royal knights taking position with their eyes scanning for any sort of problem.

As you approach the the courtyard area outside, you can see archers issued nearly all along the walls, nearly all of them being Soaring Hawks.

“Ha ha ha... Na... There’s no enemy... We get to live! LIVE! NOT DIE THIS DAY! LLLLIIVVAA!” you see a Royal Guard standing on the fortress wall say before he slips on a patch of ice, falling down to the ground, landing face first with a sickening crunch.

You make a sour face upon seeing that happen to the guard as you’re being escorted out. Eventually you reach the castle gates themselves.

“Now hurry on back to your homes and lock your doors! If you need any extra security, remember the Crimson Bears have the best long term duration rates in Fort Hope!” The Crimson Bear says to you before he heads back into the castle.

“Thank you!” you all say as you run off away from the castle. The streets themselves appear to be literally dead at this point. Virtually no one seems to be going outside of their houses.

All of you duck into a nearby alleyway once you’re out of the castles visual range, all three of you giving a giantic sigh of relief.

[3/3]

“Oh my god... I thought my heart would explode...” you admit while taking deep breaths.

“You and me both...” Erika says.

“Well they haven’t! We all got out of the castle alive and well, even Erika!” Mina says. “So what’d we do now!?”

“I think finding a place for me to stay would be nice... Probably something to help calm my tattered nerves...” Erika replies, pulling on the collar of her shirt.

(I need to head to bed now. If the thread is still up when I wake up, I'll see if we can do a bit more. For now, it's probably best to discuss what you want to do now and how to house Erika. Remember that Brodin himself often sleeps on the floor of your house)

>>23591517
So, Brooklyns house and tea, check.

>>23591527
to brooklyn's place for tea, but I don''t know about sleeping arrangements

>>23591517
For time being head to Brooklyns place.

After that ... maybe have Erika start up on her training a bit early? Meaning have her stay with Sebastien.

>>23591561
Brooklyn's bed is big enough for her, Mina and Erika, totally.

>>23591517
if this keeps up we're gonna need a couch

>>23591517
Weren't we planning on having her hiding out at Sebastien's house?

Poor doomed guard, never stood a chance against that tricky ice. He thumbed his nose in the face of death, but just couldn't hold his ground.

>>23591517
Ada probably already knows that she's tying up loose ends, making sure the Pally and Cleric die, that everything is properly taken care of.

First thing to do, we head back home, we all relax, we get some tea brewing, we give Erika some hugs, preferably with succubus traits out, and we talk to her to calm her down.

Prepare a stiff drink for Seabass.

For tonight she can sleep with us and Mina if we don't work it out tonight, we'll need a bigger bed if we mean to make a habit of this. Probably a new apartment for that matter, we have a lot of house guests and honestly money isn't an issue.

We have two good options for getting Erika a place to stay that don't require much work on our part. The first is Amanda, I'd be surprised if the Richardson family didn't have spare property lying around that Erika could use. If Sebastien's place is appropriate for a young lady we'll have her board with him, he's going to be training her after all.

>>23591172
>You don’t waste any time beginning to charge your new attack. Darkness warps around your axe before you take it and slam it into the ground. A torrent of razor sharp spikes made of pure darkness erupt from the ground, rushing down the stairs at a blistering speed. Garbled gurgles of men can be heard followed by the sounds of flesh hitting the floors.
Remember, you said in the Irc that we get to keep that spell as a special attack

File: 1362827597828.jpg-(95 KB, 1250x890, succubut_cave(steam).jpg)

95 KB JPG

while we wait for sand to come back here a drawing of the cave of the bathhouse, the crappy thing on the right is supposed to be an ice waterfall but I couldn't find a good model.
constructive remarks are appreciated

>>23591851
An ice waterfall? That cave was sweltering.

>>23592772
at the time I started drawing I didn't have the description of the place on hand and was too lazy to change afterwards

>>23591851
it's not bad, but it looks a little flat

>>23591172
You know, linking the carnage of this attack to the paladin and cleric might go a long way towards undermining Leona's faith...

>>23593714
This?
This.
Watch the Pally and Cleric make it out by some sort of unlucky miracle.

>>23593714
Or reinforce it. She'll see it as the church rescuing her sister from the Demonic.

>>23594045
We could then show ourselves as demons to counter that, but she would most likely take it a different direction, if we don't word it right.

>>23594045
And what about all of the innocents that they harmed with their "distraction" that let them get into the castle?
I'm assuming at least a few people died in Ada's castle-rocking explosions.
Also, I think Brooklyn's going to have sleeping trouble for the next few days.

>>23594098
Yeah, that salsa didn't look nice.

>>23594098
>I think Brooklyn's going to have sleeping trouble for the next few days.
I actually think it would be entirely appropriate for Brooklyn to have a mini breakdown once the group is safely back at her apartment and can relax. It would be good for Erica to see that (so she knows turning into a succubus hast turned Brooklyn into a complete sociopath or anything). Besides, the whole "I should have found another way. I didn't need to kill them." crying into Mina's arms scene is very much in line with Brooklyn's theatrics.

>>23594390
>Brooklyn's theatrics.
what? Doesn't Brooklyn just do those theatrics when joking or overblowing things? I don't think something as a breakdown is a joking manner. (or voluntary)

>>23594463

Not really. Very strong emotions are a side effect of this type of succubus.

>>23594516
You are right. But wasn't the argument.
>Brooklyn's theatrics.
Instead it's better to just say.
is very much in line with Okarian emotions.

>>23594549
Except it was said that it wouldn't come up anymore.

>>23594554
It would also be against what was previously shown, Brooklyn had no problem slaughtering a bandit camp, this is about the same if a bit messier.

>>23594565

I think the issue is that you can't really call the mercs bad guys. You can EASILY call the bandits that.

>>23594578
Killing a human being is killing a human being. they were mercenaries employed by the enemy in a "warzone" as such they were the bad guys.

>>23594589

Objectively? Yes.

Emotionally? That's a little harder to stomach. Brooklyn hasn't exactly proven to be emotionless.

and Brooklyn could never look at raw meat the same way ever again...

I'm awake now. Let's see about updating this bitch.

>>23591851

Aside the ice waterfall everything looks to be seriously bitchin! I like it! Even the ice waterfall looks cool!

...What's the thing in the center though?

>>23594632

Secret plot hooks.

>>23594596
Being emotionless has nothing to do with it. We knew there would be mercenaries in the castle and that there would be confrontation. The fact that we would have to kill people was there from the start. Sure it was messy but that's hardly a reason to break down, especially since we didn't see the spell in action but only it's effect.

a period of physical rejection of it is understandable, as up until this point, our kills have been clean and haven't really done any major deformation of the bodies. worst one for that was Sebastian decapitating Blizzys corpse. Brooklyn is entitled to a bit of shock over knowing that he turned a group of men into a splattering of meaty chunks, barely resembling anything human in nature...
Very few types of people can take that situation in their stride, even fewer on their first encounter with it. I for one don't see Brooklyn as being any of those types of people, so physical rejection. Possibly just sitting in a corner with a cup of tea, rocking back and forth muttering incoherent words to himself for a while...

>>23594645
Didn't we in all likelihood play poker with some of the mercs we mulched last night?

>>23594760
Some other card game and it was a less than pleasant experience.

>>23594775
Doesn't matter if it was unpleasant, the experience is humanizing toward the mercs. Our only interactions with bandits have been killing them, draining them, herding to their deaths (the queens) and saving people from their predations.

Also, since Erika is a romantic it might be easier to manipulate her if she sees us as the flawed hero rather than the ruthless strategist. Just saying...

>>23594516
This anon has it.
What I was trying (and failing) to say is that this is the first time Brooklyn has slaughtered, with almost laughable ease, a group of people that he doesnt consider inherently evil and are from his home, fort hope. It's the combination of the lack of thought he put into the consequence of throwing lethal magic at an easily restrainable or bypassable group that I think should get to him. Yes he knew people were going to die but was this one particularly gruesome act necessary? In absence of awakened opponents? I think he should struggle with that, he's still new to the game after all.

>>23594516
>>23594549
>>23595039
Actually, the strong emotions thing was retconned and we all promised never to mention it again.

>>23595074
Huh, must have missed that thread. How about standard human grade emotions then?

>>23594902
Our only experience with the merc was a gruff guy and someone trying to trick us into being a "comfort" woman. Hardly what I'd call humanizing. You also forget that a pile of meat makes the humanizing part really hard.
>manipulating Erika
Unless you explain why this is a good idea, I'm just reading this as "I have no argument and I am grasping at straws."
>>23595039
>Doesn't consider inherently evil
That's debatable and up to the player interpretation
> an easily restrainable or bypassable group
Again debatable, it would have taken more time and it's time we didn't have.
>Gruesome act
We only saw the effect of the spell it's not like we saw it happen.

>>23595089

Somewhere. I retconned it into Okarians being more susceptible to emotional magic and mental attacks instead.

But in this next update, I will mention that it is perfectly and logically human to feel such a thing.

>>23595039
> lack of thought
No, I'm pretty damn sure we knew what we doing there and how it was going. Possible not as messy. But we knew we clearing house there.

>easily restrainable
Possibly. But why take the chance in fucking it up and getting someone hurt. Better to be make sure they're down for the count.

>bypassable group
We were in hallway vs large group. What bypass?

[1/2]

“For the moment, my place. We can discuss things in more detail there and relax so our pulses can regain some sense of normality.” you say to the group.

“Good idea...” exhales Erika as you all head back to your place

******

You head back to your place, dropping the Soligram clothing and cloaking on your weapons as soon as you’re back in. You make a soligram couch for you to flop down on. Even if it feels a bit off from a standard couch, the feeling of you sinking inside of the couch makes you feel it be good enough.

“...I take it that your little event went well?” Brodin asks as you all come in. “...Seems to be since another girl is with you, I assume one of them being Erika.”

“Yea... Everything went peachy...” Mina says as she transforms back into herself, hanging up her coat before falling down on the bed face first.

“...Brooklyn, might we have a spot of tea?” Erika asks as she takes off the shield on her arm.

“On it.” you say as you summon a soligram butler copy of your male self to go on about preparing the tea.

You want to relax... You want to think of fun and entertaining things to say to the rest of the group but... you can’t. Every time you think of something your mind goes back to the vision of the castle floor, seeing all those people who were reduced to a pile of meat by your attack. You have grown in power, but seeing this was... quite a shock for you to be honest. Beforehand you had never used such a powerful attack on something like a mortal. You couldn’t even recognize them as their former selves. Mina and Sebastien hardly seemed phased by such a thing. But you... No... The smell of blood, feces, and other material filling your nose back then makes you wonder how exactly you didn’t vomit all over the place like Erika did.

“...Brooklyn? Something wrong?” Brodin asks, looking up from his book. “Your face looks like you’ve see a ghost.”

[2/3]

“I... Back at the castle... We were heading down a staircase... We... heard guards coming up and... I reacted by instinct. Sending some shadow spikes at them.” you say summoning some shadow spikes on the floor to show what you mean.

“By the Gods... Those poor men...” Erika says while gagging once again. “You couldn’t even tell them apart anymore!”

“...First time seeing such a thing?” Brodin asks both you and Erika.

You and Erika can only both nod in response.

Brodin gives a small sigh as he closes his book. “The first time you see such a thing is... Shocking to say the least yes. Hell, I see that kind of thing on my job virtually all the time, if I’m lucky that day.”

“B-B-But to use such a thing on mortal men!” Erika says.

“As Brooklyn said before, it was a reaction. When people have their own lives on the line, people rarely have time to stop and second guess their actions. Heck even just in fighting or normal spars!” Mina says.

“Exactly. Could’ve it have happened differently? Yes it could’ve, but what’s done is done.” Brodin says. “I understand that this is far more different than defending yourself against something like Snow Pirates, who are off of the grey of the hypothetical black white morality system and nearly all the way into the black, compared to the mercenaries who were in the grey. On the bright side, no civilians were caught up in that assault you did.”

You mind then goes blank at the sheer mention of such a thing. “O-O-Oh god! W-what if th-”

“There were no civilian clothes in that pile Brooklyn. I had my focus on during that time, and had enough time to check out such a thing.” Mina reassures you.

>>23595109
Please Sandact, Brooklyn has been slaughtering defenseless human at least once with no emotional bullshit

[3/3]


Upon saying that, it feels as if a literal ton has been lifted off your shoulders, but still a backpack fill of sandbags remain. These were mercenaries yes but... Other respectable people with hopes and dreams of their own... Hell! They even give their lives to defend this Fort and the people inside of it!

Looking over at Erika, you can see her leaning against the wall, hand over her face as she tries to come to grip with such a thing as well.

(Anything how you want to say/feel?)

>>23595143
Man the fuck up for christ sake, we've been slaughtering human with none of this bullshit.
>inb4 bandit women and children were bad guy too

>>23595143
>(Anything how you want to say/feel?)
No, just sitting there, quiet and numb, for a little while sounds about right.

>>23595143
Supress guilt. We're planning to start a world war to free two races from domination. This will happen more than once. We need to be able to deal with it.

>>23595143
Erika needs comfort, and we probably need a hug too.

"The fact that you feel sick, and I feel guilty, is a reminder that even if you are now a demon you are not a monster unless you choose to be."

>>23595143
Comfort Erika.
And while we are disturbed by this, and would never want to feel ok with just slaughtering people like this, we recognize that its unfortunate truth of our existence. We have to be strong.

>>23595197
>Never want to feel ok
Our plan involve doing so at least two more time, stop being a hypocrite, we made it clear from the beginning that we were fine with slaughtering people.

>>23595191
probably one of the best things to say

>>23595176
Better to avoid it where possible. In retrospect we could probably have disabled them without killing them. (A sufficiently bright flash of light and some entangling tentacles would have put them out of usefulness for a while. But hindsight, 20/20, etc.) Today's enemy can often be tomorrow's ally, especially if they work for coin.

(This is a comment on strategy, and is entirely orthogonal to the question of how we should feel about having done it.)

>>23595217
>we made it clear from the beginning that we were fine with slaughtering people.
really? I don't think that is the case.
Bandits, evil people? sure. Not just your regular soldier doing his job, even if it's your enemy.

>>23595217
A bit strong, but we certainly shouldn't be wracked with guilt.

>>23595143

No words now. Just time for quiet reflection. Let this unpleasant experience be absorbed for it shall make us stronger. It is not weakness to regret ones actions, It is only weakness when one allows said regret to control them.
We have had our system shock in regards to the destructive potential of our powers now. since everyone is getting riled up like back when the Lance issue was the 'big' topic, Let us accept that Brooklyn has had his 'harshities of magic vs mortal combat' lesson, and move on from there. It does not need to be a constant thing, but having it occur once allows Brooklyn to remember, even though he has a succubus body, he still has a human heart.

We had feels. got over it. end of story. please.

>>23595143
Now ought to be a good time to realize Seabass issued a direct challenge to Articus in the middle of fort hope, so things will likely be escalating quickly...

>>23595267
>regular soldier doing it's job
You do know that dying is part of a soldier job right? Be they mercenaries, professional or conscript.

>>23595339
Yes. I don't see what you are tying to say. I never disputed that.

>>23595312
Agreed.

Just move on from this.

>>23595339
>>23595267

Well... if my memory serves me right, Brooklyn was shaken the moment he first fed on snow bandits, both because of that he did, and what he did.

I don't really find it bad this time, I mean, yea now he knows that he can use magic and stuff, but its the first time he fuck up someone THAT badly.

>>23595217
We aren't planning to slaughter our neighbors or citizens of fort hope in general. Sure it's hypocritical, but we don't want to turn a potential base of power against us because we are indiscriminate. Also, I'm pretty sure Mina would leave if whe thought we weren't on the side of justice anymore...

>>23595396
Side of Justice is really up to interpretation.
>>23595392
Yet she had no problem murdering women and children when it suited her plans.

>>23595418
Note i said FIRST time

>>23595418
>side of Justice is really up to interpretation.
Yep, Mina's. Remember she likes this town, or at least some of it.

>>23595312
Sounds good to me.