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10 HP
4 Mana
0 EXP
1 Humanity Point
0 Corruption Points

You decide to head toward the graveyard. It seems dark, and safe. If the sun rises, it might offer good shelter. With your recent gain of a Black Aura, you no longer fear the light of day itself, but discretion is the better part of valor. It's the sort of place with few visitors.

You stride around the edges of the town, keeping distant from any lights. You pass through without event.

You make your way into the graveyard. Fog has settled low around the lines of tombstones. They're etched with characters. You are unfamiliar with the language, and yet, understanding of the words comes to mind even as you look upon them - they're names, and the dates of life.

Some few stones have flowers next to them. The moon casts long shadows through the mist. The older stones are weathered with age to nubs. This town has been here for a long time. That bodes well, considering you're looking for elves.

Why did that elf woman send you out here? Why did she block your memories? Questions buzz in your mind.

You hear a shriek tumble out of the fog to your left. You peer through the fog...

...there's a small girl. She's lying on the ground in front of a grave.

A human form lurches toward her, arms outstretched. Rotting skin hangs off its bones, exposing blackened flesh and sinew.

What do you do?

>engage the zombie
>observe from the shadows
>Move on. It's no business of yours.
>other [write in]

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Current Ability Tree

Possible upgrades:

>(tough skin: increases defense)

>(amorphous: your shadow body can absorb blows, increasing defense. Required to unlock Fist.)

>(Fangs: Armor piercing at close ranges)

>(Iron stomach: Nullifies negative effects from consuming nasty sorts of things. Actual nutritional value may vary)

>(Shadow strike: basic shadow magic attack)

>(observe: better chance to detect tricks and traps)

writing remainder...

>>24136055

>(Snuff - your shadow can put out lights it touches)

>Shade - create an illusory projection of yourself to confuse the enemy (costs 1 mana, grants temporary dodge bonus)

>Mimic - take on the vague form of things you've seen. Won't stand up to close examination, but works well in the dark

>Shadow control: You can grab at the shadows near you, manipulating the object that casts them. Your physical shadow is stronger.

>Living Shadow: Your shadow is larger and more powerful than your form would suggest. Your physical shadow is stronger.

>Fog: A cloud of darkness shrouds your form, helping you stay undetected out of combat and helping you dodge blows in combat.

>Shadow Walk - You no longer have to remain still while hiding in the shadows of other objects. You can move between shadows that touch each other. you gain a small overall bonus to stealth.

>Agile - You can sprint for short distances. You have better overall stamina and can better dodge enemy attacks. Unlocks other parts of the movement/speed tree.

>Bind - trap and enemy in ropes of spirit magic. May spend 0 to 10 mana (determines strength)

>Spirit resistance - become more resistant to spirit magic
>costs N experience. Right now, that's 2 EXP points. Resistance costs increase for each one purchased for the same element.

>Robust immunity - moar immune

>regeneration - slow health regeneration in dark areas

>parasitic - heal after consuming something

>poison - there is a 5% chance you will poison the enemy with any physical attack

>>24136055

>Doom Aura - puts out all lights in an area at once

>Quiet - You naturally make much less noise. Bonus to physical stealth.

>Marathon Monster - You are have stamina and won't get tired even from miles of running. This grants you a dodge and accuracy bonus.

>Unnatural Speed - Move faster than any human could. Dodge bonus.

>Centipede - Your amorphous form allows you to create many additional legs which can immediately redirect you, reducing the impact of your own momentum and distributing your weight for better balance. Dodge, stealth, and accuracy bonus.

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Current Location:

Jacob's Field

Graveyard

>>24136011
Engage the Zombie

The girl scrambles back on her hands and knees. The zombie teeters along. It lets out a soft groan.

The scene before you is clear.

You step between the girl and her assailant. It seems to refocus on you, but does little beyond continue forward, intent on eating you as it did her.

What do you do?

>dodge and counterattack
>immediately attack head on
>strike it with your shadows
>magical attack
>other [write in]

>>24136393
>intent on eating you as it did her.

...that sounds awkward. The zombie hasn't eaten her yet, it's just as intent upon eating you as it was intent upon eating her.

>>24136393
>strike it with your shadows

>>24136412
intent on eating you as it intended to eat her?

Rolled 10 + 5

>>24136430

Zombie roll

Roll 1d20 + 1 to attack the zombie with shadows!

(if nothing is specified, the physical shadow strike takes the form of a spear-like stab)

>>24136454

Yes, thank you.

>>24136483

Also, that should be -5, so you need to beat a roll of 5.

Rolled 10 + 1

>>24136483

Rolled 2

>>24136483

Rolled 8 + 1

>>24136483

>>24136605
>>24136608

Your shadow spears out toward the zombie, puncturing its chest with a sickening splat. The blood falls to the ground as your shadow unravels and fades back into your aura. The zombie steps back, unbalanced, but it's still hanging on.

The girl is standing behind you. Her eyes are wide. "...who are you?" Her language isn't familiar, but you can understand the words.

You try to speak, but it simply comes out as a strange murmur. She worries at your side, watching as the zombie rights itself. It comes forward once again.

What do you do?


>dodge and counterattack
>immediately attack head on
>strike it with your shadows
>magical attack
>other [write in]

Rolled 2

>>24136483

Rolled 8

>>24136706
It's a zombie, i don't think stabbing it repeatedly is going to do a whole lot.

>attempt to pin the zombie to the ground with our shadow-spears, like an insect on display

Rolled 16

>>24136706
>>24136763
That seems interesting, I'll second it.

>>24136763

I'll go with that if it gets a second.

>>24136812
thanks for bolstering the roll :D

Rolled 1, 11 = 12

>>24136812

Well then

Zombie rolls...

>>24136011
Engage the zombie

The zombie is stubborn. The wound you've inflicted has already stopped bleeding. But you're hardly afraid.

You unleash your shadow in three pieces. Your spears plunge into its heart, abdomen, and left leg, throwing it back onto the ground and pinning it there. You twist the spears in their holes, carving the wounds larger. The zombie twitches, moans, and struggles, but it can't get free.

The little girl appears by the zombie's head. You're about to push her away with a tendril of shadow when you see the rock in her hands. A moment later, it's smashing into the zombie's head.

The zombie stops moving. You can feel its death.

>You have gained 1 EXP!

You withdraw your shadowy spears. The zombie's hunger reminds you of something, something forgotten in the rush of events.

You're hungry.

Zombie's body sits there...ripe.

The little girl stares at you. "...are you a person?" she asks.

What do you do?

>will down the urge to feed. You are not like the zombie
>CONSUME the zombie
>CONSUME the little girl
>CONSUME THEM BOTH

>>24136941
clarification: how hungry are we? are we in pain? or just a passing "now would be a good time to eat, and that looks tasty"

>>24136941
Nod yes, slowly. Do not feed yet.

>>24136973
>or just a passing "now would be a good time to eat, and that looks tasty"

It's not painful.

But it's not casual, either.

Closer to instinct. An urge. Ignorable, but distinct.

>>24137005
>>24137004
Agreed. assuming it does not seem likely to spoil, we can hold off on the consuming for a moment.

or... idk, try to eat politely? xD

>>24137025
>>24137004

To clarify, you can regain HP from consuming enemies. Consuming certain enemies will also replenish mana.

But giving in to primal urges comes with its own set of consequences.

Rolled 13

>>24137052
oh.

well we're uninjured, and we don't want to scare the poor girl. let's not consume either just now.

>wobble all friendly-like at her.

After the battle:
10/10 HP
4/4 Mana
1 EXP
1 Humanity
0 Corruption

You tear your gaze off the zombie. The pressure of the hunger fades.

You turn to the little girl. You can't speak. You nod your body up in a very obvious "yes".

"Oh," she says. "You're more like a ghost. I guess you're a person though, because ghosts are people."

You can only shrug at this strange logic. You notice she is definitely a human. Perhaps this isn't an elf village after all.

"My name's Abigail. What's your name?"

You begin to think...and then stop. You realize you don't remember your name.

You shrug at her.

"You don't have a name?" She seems more amused than anything else. Strange, after she was about to be eaten. "That's silly. Well, you're kind of like a shadow, so how about Mr. Shadow?"

You shrug in acceptance. You wiggle yourself back and forward, trying to ask why she was out in the middle of a graveyard at night fighting a zombie. You tap the dead zombie's body.

"...the zombie...it was an accident," she says. "I can talk to some dead people. I was trying to talk to my parents. But this thing came out of the ground and...well, now you're here." The girl yawns. "I should get home." She looks at you. "If you're traveling...you can stay with me, if you want."

What do you do?

>follow the girl home
>remain in the graveyard
>other

>>24137232
Shrug again and nod yes. Follow the girl home, stealthily. Keep looking for elves.

Rolled 9

>>24137232
she seems nice enough... i guess. And she hasn't tried to kill us yet. That's a good sign.

>follow the girl home, hide in her shadow.
>assign her the title of "Friendtoo"

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>>24137232

You decide that, considering your lack of options, following the girl home seems prudent.

Shadow Slip allows you to anchor into her shadow, hiding within it. You discover that, while you cannot move, you move along with her shadow as she does, still as it flits and flickers past the edge of the graveyard.

Abigail walks past the still-bright town center and toward the farm. She stops in front of it. You reappearance out of her shadow doesn't seem to phase her. "You know, you're the second person I've met today that was traveling."

You poke your shadow about in what you hope is a questioning manner.

"Oh, he's not here right now," she says. "He went to the meet house. But I'll introduce you later if you want, he said we're friends. His name is Donovan Flint." Her voice gains an admiring quality. "He's a knight of Dobshire, a city waaaaay down in Arland! It's really far, not even in Kelvere. I've never been out of the village before."

It all pours out of her mouth really quickly. You can only shrug. But perhaps you'd rather not be introduced to a knight. It doesn't sound like the sort of person that would like a living shadow.

"...um..." Abigail seems uncertain of something. "...you can stay in the farmhouse, ok? But promise not to come inside. Ok?"

She ducks inside the house quickly, opening and shutting the door before you can catch a glimpse of the inside.

But something wafts out to you. A smell. If you had a nose, you'd wrinkle it in disgust. What on earth is that?

>wait, then slip into her house
>do as she says and stay in the barn
>investigate the town center before resting
>something else

>>24137500
Does the house have any windows? Is there a gap under the door? Is there a chimney?

>>24137592

There is a chimney. There are no windows. There is a gap under the door, but you can't fit.

>>24137629
Crumple part of us up against the gap and try to sniff through it. If that doesn't give us any more information, climb up to the chimney.

Odd for a house to have no windows at all.

Rolled 13

>>24137500
Are we not curious?
>inspect the house from the outside, but do not go inside just yet. there is more here than meets the... black holes where our eyes should be.

also
>spend 1exp on impression?
communication would be nice...

>>24137730

Impression costs 2 exp.

>>24137688

>Odd for a house to have no windows at all.

Glass windows are luxuries afforded only by the rich. There are some shuttered holes in the wall, but the wood is barred tight. You might be able to pry it open, but not without making a lot of noise.

----
----

You press yourself up against the gap to the door. The pungent smell greets you. It's...filthy. Sickening.

And Abigail is in there without a care in the world? Maybe this has something to do with how quickly she seemed to brush off being attacked by a zombie. Who exactly is this girl?

A chimney is perched at an angle above the main room of he house. Plenty of handholds offer a way up, but you doubt you could climb back out if you dropped in that way...

What do you do now?

>>24137836
Climb up to the chimney, but don't drop in just yet. Try to pick up any sounds coming from inside the house.

>>24137862

You quickly scale the building. The chimney is tight, but you could fit inside without difficulty.

There's no smoke. You are silent as you listen to the house below. The smell is much more faint here. There aren't any sounds. She did seem tired, so perhaps she's gone to sleep?

But what is the source of that smell?

What do you do?

>wait a few minutes, then drop in
>go to the farmhouse and rest. You've pried enough.
>investigate the town center
>something else

>>24137964
Wait a few minutes, then drop in. Curiosity will get the better of us.

You wait a few minutes, just to be sure Abigail is asleep, then drop sound the chimney.

You land quietly in a puff of soot. The smell is stronger, but still subdued. You're in a long room. A bench is set in front of the fireplace along with a large, cotton-stuffed chair.

In the corner of the room is the slumbering form of Abigail. She's wrapped in a nest of blankets. She rolls over, murmurs, and then her breathing settles.

You creep into the middle of the room. There is a door to your right, and a door to your left.

What do you do?

>wake Abigail
>explore left
>explore right

>>24138068

>*down the chimney

>>24138068
Explore left. Try to follow the smell.

>>24138143
Seconding.

Might as well have a look around. Quietly.

>>24138068

You edge to the left, and grow close to the door. The smell grows unmistakably stronger.

You stand before the door. It is unlocked and could be easily opened. You're sure the smell is coming from inside.

You finally place it. Rotten - that's the best word to describe it.

What do you do?

>>24138231

Should we really be investigating the house of our new friend? Following our last friend did not end well...

Maybe we might catch some 'gossip' in the town inn... plenty of shadows there, and lots of loose lips as well.

Maybe our new friend might like to join us for adventure. We do need a 'face' after all, and she seems nice...

Rolled 16

>>24138231
Gtfo. We shouldn't be here. Let's not instantly make the second (?) person we've ever really met pissed at us. Also 2spooky.

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>>24138231
Should probably have a look in there to see if it's dead people.

>mfw Abigail turns out to be a wannabe necromancer

Rolled 9

>>24138231
can we see through our shadows? for example

>slip a shadow tentacle into the room and look around before doing anything too drastic?

Rolled 20

>>24138317
actually, scratch that, let's go with the slipping away. Everyone deserves their secrets, we can ask later.

>>24138317

No, you aren't able to do something that pronounced with your body.

Yet.

Consensus...?

Alrighty, going with the option to stop there and look for a way out.

>>24138317

we all know that if we look in the room, we will turn around and she will be stood there, then problems will arise... we may loose our second friend if problems arise... I don't want to loose our second friend...

maybe we could ask her in the morning. We are concerned for her health and would like to help if she has any problems...

>>24138366
yea, lol... just thought of that.

You begin to reach for the door handle, but hesitate. Maybe...this isn't such a good idea. Maybe you shouldn't break the first promise you've ever made.

You withdraw your arm and turn back.

>You gain 1 humanity point!

You explore the other door. Past it is what seems to be a tool shed that forms an L-shape with the rest of the house. There's kitchen supplies, empty jars, dried food, hoes, scythes, animal harnesses and brushes...everything a farm could need. You spot a door at the far end and make your way down to it.

You unbar the latch. The door opens with a slight creak. You close it, and the latch clinks shut, locking in place.

Now what do you do?

>check out the town center
>rest at the farmhouse
>something else

>>24138420
>check out the town center
Let's go find a tasty homeless person.

>>24138420

check out the town center. let us sit in a darkened corner of the local inn and absorb information. maybe even partake in local cuisine. our shadow can grab a few choice items of sustenance from a particularly unobservant and obnoxious patron...

>>24138420
we don't know much about ourselves...
can we

>explore our abilities?
>then rest

Rolled 9

>>24138488
we should combine our ideas

>practice seeing what we can do with shadow manipulation by stealing food (as little as we need, as stealthily as possible)

>>24138420

You flit and walk and ooze your way toward the town center.

The dirt road transforms into uneven, broken cobblestone. The buildings turn from scattered farmhouses to a small cluster of stores and specialty shops. It's a small but seemingly quite permanent setup.

Most of the buildings are shut tight and dark for the night. But one building blazes with light and activity - a wide, tall meeting house at the center of the town square. It rises high from the cobblestone. Its tower, a wooden outpost with a ladder leading up to it, is even higher than the steeple of the nearby church. You can just make out a man sitting up there in a chair, resting with a single candle. What appears to be some sort of large alarm bell dangles next to him.

There's plenty of noise coming from the hall. Lights flicker and shift as people move about. The babble of conversation is constant.

The hall's door is cracked open. Most of the windows are shuttered, but a few are open to the night air.

What do you do?

>try to enter the hall
>eavesdrop from under one of the shutters
>something else

>>24138573
>>24138558

On the way to the town center, you practice a bit with your shadow manipulation.

It seems you can split your shadow into four different parts. More than that and they get very weak. Even four is a bit much; three is the optimum.

It's tough for you to focus on multiple things at a time, even with three 'arms'...

You can make your shadows into a point, but you can't really sharpen them for slashes. Bludgeoning or stabbing seems possible.

You aren't dextrous enough to use them as fingers, but you can wrap them about things like rope and pull or push.

>>24138616

approach one of the open windows and listen to see if there is anyone the other side of it. if not, we could enter there, otherwise we can just listen in to the various conversations.

>>24138616
We should probably eavesdrop for now. It might cause a fuss if a living shadow just strolled right into the meeting hall.

Rolled 7

>>24138662
what sort of sensation do we have in our tendrils?
and >>24138705
i agree: lay low, but gather information.

>recon mode

>>24138420
oh that reminds me:
what are humanity points?

You stop beneath an open shutter. It's quite dark under the window sill. You feel confident no one would notice you.

The babble continues. You pick out bits and pieces - something about a place called Kan-Abar. A disease. Undead. The Duke Vellik of Kelvere.

"Everyone, please! Attention!"

The voice seems lost for a moment amidst all the babble.

"AH, SHUT UP, YOU FILTHY IDIOTS!"

The babble quickly softens. You poke yourself above the windowsill. The closest people to you are sitting at a table a few feet away, but they're all turned to the inside.

A man on a slightly raised platform in the back looks like the one who's just finished shouting. He's dressed in simple brown robes. A small sun-shaped pendant hangs around his neck.

There's a second man near him. He's clad in half-plate, and a long sheath dangles from his hip. You suspect he's the knight Abigail mentioned - Donovan Flint. The way he's timidly cowering from the other man seems almost comical, especially considering the knight's huge size. His arms are almost as big around as the other man's thighs, and he's easily over 6 feet tall.

"Alright," says the robed man. "We need to get this straightened and under control. We're treating this like a plague until it's done. Any questions?"

A single man raises his hand. "...ah...pastor...is that really-"

"What? Necessary? The disease makes you shit until you die and any contact with them is practically a half chance of dying yourself. There's walking dead coming out of the woods, rising up from the burial pit! And Sir Flint here says he can virtually smell the magic leaking out of the Old Forest!" The pastor turns toward the man in armor. "Right?"

"Ah, yes, pastor," Donovan says meekly.

"There you have it. Double the pit's size. I want 20 men digging. 40 are going to the woods to gather wood; stick close, no wandering off alone. We have to burn everything. Clothes, blankets, anything that's been in contact with the dead or diseased. And then..."

con't

>>24138921

>what are humanity points?

Wouldn't you like to know?

Consider it a hidden statistic that doesn't directly effect the game.

But it might come back to haunt you later if you neglect it...unless you choose another path entirely.

>i.e., corruption

Note the situations in which you gain humanity points, and make more of those if you want to earn more.

>>24138756

>what sort of sensation do we have in our tendrils?

A rather numbed sense of touch and temperature.

>>24138935

The pastor's voice grows much softer. Somehow, it's a lot more threatening than the loud version.

"I need volunteers. 1 group to treat the infected, move the bodies. I won't like. It's risky. But we've got me, and the knight knows a bit of healing magic. We might be able to stop its progress if we catch anyone early.

"And second...men willing to go into the forest and find the source of this mess."

The hall is very quiet. A few scattered men volunteer to help with the bodies and treat the sick - maybe ten or 15 out of the hundred or so gathered. No one volunteers to venture into the forest.

"Am I going alone with the knight?" the pastor demands. The men look away from his gaze.

A young boy near the back stands up. His eyes are bright. "I'll go, pastor!"

"Dammit, Joey, you're 16. I repeat: I need MEN."

"I'm just as good as anyone! Better than this lot of cowards!"

"Boy, that's enough out of you!"

"Joey," Sir Flint begins. "It's too dangerous. This isn't just a bandit that knows a spell or two. This is serious magic. I can't use anyone that doesn't know how to fight."

"But I do know how to-"

"Or that's as young as you. Experience is important."

Joey sits in a huff and folds his arms. Donovan looks like he wants to say more, but he holds his tongue.

con't

>>24139162

"Alright," the pastor says. "We need to get to work right away. We can sort the rest out when the sun rises. Get to knocking on doors, get people to come out of their shells, spread the word. Flint, come with me. We need to-"

The bell on the roof of the hall beings to ring. Long, low, belching clanks.

The men burst into whispers. There's a thudding and pounding of wood. A man leaps down the stairs leading up to the second floor of the hall. "Pastor! There's men coming! Two, three dozen of 'em walking out of the woods! I swear one's just a skeleton!"

The conversation gets louder. The men exchange glances.

"Arms, men!" Flint says. "The north side of the town! If you value the lives of your families, we've got to fight!"

The hall bursts into action. Many men already have shovels or picks they'd been planning on using to dig. Most have knives. They crowd the door of the hall as they try to get out, then start toward the north in disorganized groups of 5 or 10 men each. Sir Flint and the pastor take the lead of the largest group. Joey sticks close to the knight.

What do you do?

>head back to the farmhouse
>follow one of the smaller groups
>follow the large group with the knight and pastor
>something else

>>24139162
>I won't lie*

>>24139201
>head back to the farmhouse
Don't want the undead doing away with Abigail.

>>24139201

To the farmhouse!
This might be an emergency, so we must legitimately break our promise and enter our friends house to inform her of this occurance.

>>24139162
hahaha, good luck joey, you young fool. I'm going back to the farmhouse. Sir flint can handle this.

Rolled 11

>>24139201
the child has spirit... but he could almost certainly use our help...

>slip into joey's shadow, unnoticed, and stay there.

>>24139298
Joey will make an excellent zombie.

>>24139312
outvoted :( lol

I say we stay as natural as possible by interfering with things as little as possible, but doesn't mean we shouldn't watch.

I also suggest we spend out EXP on amorphous because I'm sure that will also mean we will be able to greater change our form.

>>24139387
is that 1 exp?

>>24139229
>>24139257
>>24139298
This.

The townspeople will probably freak out and try to kill us if we're spotted at a time like this. Let's go back and make sure our comrade at the farmhouse is safe.

>>24139201

This isn't your town; you feel no compulsion to leap to its defense. But you do have a friend who is relatively defenseless: Abigail.

You rise up on your legs and run as fast as you can back toward the farmhouse. You pass several groups of men who are gathering innocents into the town center for easier protection. They won't get to Abigail's farmhouse for some time. All the more reason to move faster.

You arrive back in a few minutes, slightly winded, but you recover quickly. The farmhouse is still shut tight.

Do you:

>break open the back shed door
>enter through the room that was the apparent source of the smell
>drop in through the chimney
>something else

>>24139387

Amorphous will give you substantial shape-changing powers, but it won't quite let you slip through cracks or under doors. It does, however, provide a physical defense bonus.

>>24139424

Amorphous costs 1 exp. See the numbers next to each ability:
>>24136055

>>24139424
I believe so, it will also allow us to buy fist, which is going to be extremely useful no mater what.

i am against spending it on Amorphous at this time, but i will consent if it is the hiveminds will...

>>24139476

I realize I forgot the description for Fist.

>Fist: Concentrate physical attack power into the shape of a fist. Grants an armor piercing bonus to all physical and physical shadow attacks.

>>24139474
Can we knock on the door? Breaking in seems rather rude.

>>24139516
Anything you'd suggest instead?

>>24139590
let's save the exp for when we need it. shadow master said we could spend at any time, no need to do it just now.

and yea, let's knock. I really hope we don't need a fist to knock xD

>>24139474
I think now we should enter through the door that is the source of the smell. The next ability I wanted to get is shade, which also has defensive bonuses (dodge boost). But I see it also has a mana cost.... hmmmm

>>24139622

Sure, you can knock. You can attempt to do whatever you want if the majority agrees to it.

>>24139622

i would advocate saving it for either Shadow Control or Observe...

Though if my memory serves; Shadow Walk, Impression and Regeneration were thrown around a fair bit at the end of the last thread...

>>24139657

also voting for knocking. if that doesn't work, the chimney entrance will suffice for our needs...

>>24139663

Shade is an active ability. You cast it as a spell, and the illusion it creates grants a short-term dodge bonus.

Notably, successful dodges present good counterattack opportunities in combat, or allow you to flee, or give time for other actions such as the use of another ability.

>>24139694
yes but those people are not here now, are they? You could lead with bold measures and disregard the weak past.

>>24139622
>>24139657
>>24139747

Knock on the door?

Which door, the shed door or the front door?

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>>24139694
People really seemed into trying to become like the Auditor, Amorphous will be key in achieving that.

>>24139771
Whichever door would be closest to where she's sleeping.

>>24139771
front door i guess? would seem rude just to walk in... but perhaps forgivable under the circumstances.

>>24139474
go in the smelly room, we have a good reason to enter.

>>24139771
the door she entered from.

>>24139786
I always viewed us as a guardian type of character. Protecting our friends from the shadows, likely their own...

>>24139798

Both are about the same distance. I'll default to the shed door since it avoids promise-breaking, which seems to be an accepted course of action going from earlier.

>>24139834
>>24139832
>>24139814

Front door has the most votes.

Rolled 18

>>24139841
sounds good.

>rolling to knock

>>24139875

if the front doesn't yield any results, we can try the shed door, then enter via the chimney...

>>24139875
I say knock, then hide and see who answers, if we like them we show our self.

>>24139953
oooohhhh yeaaa....
good idea. seconding.

>>24139881

Damn good roll.

Writing...

>>24139834
I thought of us as an observer who only intervened in out best interest, being nether good or bad but a 3rd party.

>>24139992
we help the Friends. because the friends can and have helped us.

Rolled 5

>>24139771
Front I guess? If someone else votes take that.

Rolled 2

You pound a part of yourself against the front door, loudly. It makes a satisfyingly heavy knock against the wood. You knock again, then a third time.

There's no answer. You hesitate for a moment, then slam harder, five times in a row. Still nothing.

A massive strike cleaves the door in front of you. Wood splinters go flying - you barely avoid being skewered. The ugly smell of rotting flesh roils out around you.

You freeze.

Standing in the door is something that, even by your standards, you can only describe as a twisted monster. A warped head protrudes from its neck, distended like a human's skull elongated into a sort of crocodile jaw. A second head gnaws at the air, a defective face embedded in its shoulder. Yellowy pustules throb on its skin, the remnants of disease and rot.

The creature has the jump on you. It exhales a long breath. A yellow gas bursts forward from its mouth.

What do you do?

>attack through the gas with shadows (roll 1d20+1d6)
>dodge! (roll 1d20)
>something else

Rolled 12

>>24140046
ohshi-

>bone out

>>24140080

>bone out

Is that a vote for dodge, or flee?

Rolled 11

>>24140104
both, but dodge first. Then retreat to a safer distance.

Rolled 15

>>24140046
Dodge.

Rolled 6

>>24140046

welp, the ball has defiantly been dropped on this one.

Dodge the gas attack. we must decide whether to bring this combat outside, where the locals may discover it and mayhap execute our friend... or keep the combat inside and hope that we don't accidentally cause injury to our friend, with the off chance that she could help prevent either the creature killing us, or us having to kill it, as obviously she has some kind of attachment to it... though it could also be part of the towns problem...

i vote for keeping it inside.

Rolled 12

Seconded.

Rolled 15

>>24140169
Herp. That's for dodge.

Rolled 18

>>24140157
Move move move! if we fail natural immunity might save us, but the risk is to great.

>>24140210
Simple miss-click.

>>24140046

You leap back. The gas dissipates into the air in front of you, leaving an acrid, putrid stench behind. You continue backwards, putting a comfortable distance between yourself and the monster.

It seems unsteady, but it isn't like the last zombie you've seen. Its footsteps crunch into the dirt, heavy, plodding. It has weight, stamina. It raises a long, crooked arm.

What do you do?

>dodge, then counterattack (roll 1d20)
>shadow attack, preemptive strike! (roll 1d20)
>physical attack (1d20)
>use spirit whip (roll 1d20)
>something else

Rolled 16

>>24140295
Spirit whip the arm. Aim for the joints.

>>24140295

Reminder, Spirit Whip costs 2 Mana and has 2 attack power.

You currently have no method of recharging mana other than consuming certain enemies.

Rolled 4

>>24140295
I say if we can't kill it we should try and bait it away from here, ether to the forest where I might come back later or towards the town where everyone might kill or be killed by it.

Rolled 11

>>24140295
I'm voting to restrain this thing, if we can. with shadows.

Rolled 18

>>24140393
we don't even know if it's evil yet. If we were trapped in a house and someone came knocking right now we'd more than likely try to splay their innards all over our patio before we asked questions.

Rolled 3

>>24140295

I still advocate luring it back into the house. We could try to restrain it or just barricade it in mayhap. Our friend will know what to do.

I vote for barricading it back in the house, possibly in either another room or the basement if it has one...

Are we

>>24140477
>>24140452
>>24140393

Restraining with shadows?

>>24140518
Seems like a plan.

Rolled 19

>>24140452
Shadow Attack to restrain it sounds fine to me

Rolled 10, 4, 8, 14 = 36

>>24140393
>>24140452
>>24140477
>>24140535

Zombie rolls

You unleash three prongs of shadow.

The first stabs straight through the exposed, outstretched arm. The second spikes through its stomach, and the third through its left leg. The momentum drives the zombie back and slams it against the wall. Your tendrils pin it into the wood of the house.

The zombie struggles and groans. Your shadows buckle under its strength. Its free arm swipes at your shadow, trying to knock itself lose, and it lands a few solid blows, but you're able to hold for the moment.

"Mr. Shadow!"

Abigail is running from the tool shed. She stops when she sees the monster. "What...what is that thing?!"

You can't answer while you're using all you strength just to keep it pinned. It turns to her voice, stretching itself toward the morsel. "Muuhhh...UHHGHGH!"

"Don't hurt Mr. Shadow!" Abigail raises her hands.

Beams of orange light slice through the air, slamming into the zombie. It rattles against the wood as the energy hits it. Its arm and leg are severed clean off.

In the process, it is torn free from your grip. It falls to the ground and crawls toward Abigail, pulling itself forward with one arm.

Abigail's face has gone pale. She stumbles back, then falls. Her breathing is labored.

What do you do?

>finish the zombie (select means of attack)
>grab Abigail and run
>something else

>>24140751

To keep this a bit more organized, let's vote on an approach, and then I'll lock it in and have people roll in response to that choice.

>>24140751
>finish the zombie (select means of attack)
It's a zombie, so stabbing it in the head should do the trick.

>>24140751
We are so finishing this. Shadow strike once more with the intent of pushing or throwing its chopped up body away from the girl. Hopefully with space, she can return to the fight with us. Orange light blasts seem pretty strong. But if nothing else, we must protect her.

>>24140751

killing it would be bad at this point in time, as our Friend seems to be having an internal conflict over this 'zombie'. See if Shadow can restrain it again.
I doubt that this was an intended creation, but more along the lines of something that went terribly wrong. mayhap her first attempt at raising the dead was for her parents but nothing she tried worked, and this is the result of all the various magics invoked in her attempts to resurrect them...

NO KILLY!!! If she wants us to kill it, she will ask, otherwise, just restrain.

>>24140854
She did just blast it in half with energy beams. Surely she's not too worried about its survival.

Rolled 8

>>24140751
I vote making it mostly harmless by removing all non-vital limbs and piercing it's mouth shut.

>>24140854
what internal conflict? She saw the thing, and asked "what is that?" Then she attacked it. These actions show it is strange to her and she has no other interest than making it go away. The part about her breathing getting worse as the monster approaches her, I would attribute that to the bad smell and yellow gas attack it used earlier.

So KILL the frakin thing!

>>24140751

Vote in response:

Kill or restrain?

>>24140928
seconded. I'm not feeling particularly generous with keeping this thing alive right now.

>>24140957
restrain. if it struggles, kill it.

Rolled 1

>>24140957

I'm voting for killing it by piercing it's brain.

>>24140957
Kill it. Zombies are horrible.

>>24140976
hate you

>>24140976
quick everyone vote for restraining it! lol

Rolled 4

>>24140976
>you miss and stab yourself

>>24140957

seems like the majority is for finishing it off.


to be honest >>24140854 probably didn't portray the intended reasoning as well as it could have.


>>24140976
i will not take the nat 1 as the dice gods agreeing with me, just a humorous coincidence.

>>24140976
>>24140993

Actually, this was just a vote to find out what people wanted to do, I wasn't taking rolls. You people have gotten really lucky in this quest so far, dammit. Take some damage already.

Now that -Kill It Dehd- is locked in, please roll 1d20.

Considering first 3 linked rolls.

Rolled 17

>>24141031
you want a fail roll? i'm pretty good at those.

Rolled 4, 9, 9 = 22

>>24141031

Zombie rolls (only d12 due to missing limbs)

Rolled 6

>>24140976
Can you fail so badly you succeed?

Rolled 13

>>24141031
Need a shadow strike catchphrase.

Rolled 18

>>24141053
have you ever heard of the paladin that singlehandedly ended an assault by a dragonrider on a town after his crew managed to get themselves all killed, then rolled a critical fail, and slaughtered both the boss and himself in an explosion of raw fail?

it's a good story, i'm sure someone can link it.

>>24141053

>Can you fail so badly you succeed?

I can't wait until you meet a certain character...

>>24141079
joey, pls go

>>24141053

there was that one tg storytime about a paladin who was doing gorilla style warfare against an ork warlord, and after killing his dragon mount with a tree sized ballista, got three nat 1s in a row to attack the warlord. ended up with 'Kills player and adjacent target'.

Rolled 19

>>24141111
quads, and yes, that one :D

>>24141122
well, at least my post number got it right...

Rolled 10

>>24141031
Smash the brain kill the zombie sounds legit

>>24141111
>>24141122
>>24141144

our post numbers are strong in this thread.

You launch your shadow once again. The crawling zombie is an easy target. The three prongs of your shadow meet and pierce its skull through and down inches into the dirt. And again, you attack, severing its head from its body totally, and again, destroying the second head in its torso.

>You gain 3 EXP!
>finalfantasyvictory.mp3

Abigail crawls away from the monster and toward you. She seems alright, if shaken - perhaps exhausted from her efforts. There are tears in her eyes. "...I'm sorry, Mr. Shadow. It's my fault."

You wiggle and bobble. You tap her on the head. She sinks to the ground and cries. "...they...mommy and daddy died from the yellow disease thing...I wanted to talk to them, like I can talk to the nice lady, and ghosts...but, they wouldn't talk back..." the wailing grows louder, and she's practically shouting the words through her tears. "And then they came back but I didn't want that, that's a zombie, so I put them in the room and tried to practice at the graveyard but then I made a zombie again by mistake. And then the bad magic in the forest made them like this and it almost hurt you!"

You're a little overwhelmed by the torrent of words. You pat her gently on the head. She wraps her arms around you, cradling your slightly gelatinous body. Her crying is somewhat muffled by the shadows.

But distracted as you are by the monster and her story, you don't hear the sounds of men approaching until they're nearly on top of you!

Several men are jogging up to the farm, carrying lanterns. You can see a glint of armor - Sir Flint is with them!

What do you do?

>hide in the farmhouse
>hide in Abigail's shadow
>stay in the open. Abigail will defend you.
>something else

You may spend your experience between events if you wish. Purchasing abilities is a "free" action.

>>24141111
Oh wow that reminded me of its counter opposite where a small kobold with trap expertise got mad as hell at this barbarian fellow who was constantly giving him crap for being a small little guy. Well the kobold took exception to this by basically saving the entire party from a fuck huge dragon by using an ungodly amount of traps and ballistas that shot trees then leading it into a canyon thin that crumbled atop of the dragon killing it.

Probably hashed it up in telling it but it was amazing in the fact that the kobold said that even tho he was small and weak. He was still smart and crafty enough to save himself the party and kill the dragon.

>>24141227
oh... oh boy I suggest we pick Abigail and vacate the area quick nothing says witch burning then potential necromancer and a mob with torchs and pitchforks

>>24141227

After the battle:

10/10 HP
4/4 Mana
4 EXP
2 Humanity
0 Corruption

>>24141227

called the 'was parents but turned into abomination' thing...
not as eloquently, but still, the gist was there... though my prediction on negative response was misplaced, so not all bad then...

Master, are we strong enough to carry Abigail with our current strength? if not, will we be if we buy Strength?


my thoughts for upgrades;
Shadow Control.

and IF we need it, Strength... otherwise just save the left over 1exp...

Rolled 9

>>24141284
list available exp options please.

>>24141284
impression
shadow strike
strength

>>24141270
our only other option would be to take points in impression and try to convince them that this thing came from the forest and she was just another victim... :/ ha, like that'd work

>vote for hiding in abigail's shadow, but get ready to grab her and bone out if we have to.

>>24141352
See

>>24136055
>>24136095
>>24136179

>>24141352

See:
>>24136055
>>24136095
>>24136179

Abilities that have been purchased are green.

Abilities that can be purchased are blue.

Abilities that haven't been unlocked due to requisites are red.

Rolled 12

>>24141284
suggest we get amorphous atleast

>>24141387

are we strong enough to carry her without having to upgrade?

>>24141369
I would say that instead of impression we would just cart Abigail out to the center of town make it look like she was making it to safety while we hide in her shadow.

Which I think is a pretty kickass stealth abilitly myself

>>24141392
Amorphous and Shadow control are sound investments to me i think

>>24141345
ok, fine you were right on that one. I felt kinda shitty once a fully realized. You can be in charge of picking up on subtleties like that from now on.

Lets Hide in Abigail's shadow.

>>24141399

You have the strength of a normal man, and those physical limitations. It's likely they'd catch you if you tried to carry her away.

The "Strength" upgrade will give you the strength of about three men.

It's worth noting that "Impression" will allow you to project images and emotions to others, allowing for basic but effective communication.

>>24141392
Agree.

We might also consider taking Impression, so we can communicate more effectively than just gesturing.

Guys, get Fog. I love passive dodge bonuses and I don't think it has any harsh mana cost.

It seems like people really want Amorphous and Impression. Strength seems like it's VERY useful now.

Lots of indecision here.

Vote with lists. We can consolidate overlapping agreement, then work on what's remaining if wanted.

>>24141448
In that case I suggest we grab impression to try diplomancer on the crowd to explain.
Abigail is pretty much in shock from death of her folks and her explaining this to a priest and a knight just has baad juju written all over.
Would also say get the Strength upgrade so we can just book it if things go south as the crowd would be seeing us running off with her would lead to pointy stabby things hitting us

>>24141514
Impression
Strength
Shadow strike

>>24141513
Looks like we could get all three, since Amorphous and Strength are 1 point each while Impression is 2.

>>24141514
oops sorry...
>>24141523
was this guy
>Impression
>Strength
>Attempt Diplomancy
>If fail run with Abigail to forest or somewhere safe

well forget about the fog bit for now, get amorphous.

I need to look at these trees more closely anyways, I kept calling for shadow strike in combat, but it is still a blue node. = unlocked but not learned!

>>24141551
>kept calling for shadow strike in combat, but it is still a blue node. = unlocked but not learned!

Precisely.

I'm getting this vibe:

Strength
Impression
Amorphous

This would spend all 4 exp.

How does that sound?

Rolled 8

>>24141514
Impression
Doom Aura

>>24141548
Yeah I vote
Amorphous
Strength
Impression.

>>24141577
sounds good. I vote for that.

>>24141577
Sounds good to me.

hey anons what are going to do with the situation at hand?
im still thinking
>>24141550

>>24141455

hmmm, in theory, by getting Strength and Unnatural Speed, we would be able to easily wisk Abigail away to safety....

Though the big question is to we buy in response to this arising situation, or buy for future situations? as in, Shadow Control might not be too helpful in getting out of this situation, but could help in sneaking a document or item off of a desk some-when else...

>>24141551
I don't feel that Shadow Strike is all that useful to us, especially since we can use it twice before we are out of mana, and we are trying to not canabalize everything on the off chance it will replenish our supply...

>>24141579
we vetoed snuff as it makes our shadow attacks useless...

>>24141590
I yield to the Amorphous & Strength in place of Unnatural Speed... mainly as Amorphous has been pursued at each upgrade point...

>>24141590
Make it so.

>>24141623
Please stop with the constant ellipses.

You have gained 1 HP from strength!

11/11 HP

New Ability Tree

Unlocked:

>Great Strength - you have the strength to shift boulders. Bonus to physical attack.

>Earth Resistance - gives 1st earth resist upgrade. Costs 2 exp.

>Ink - gain great control over your body shape, slipping under cracks like water or twisting your hand into keyholes.

>Communicate - you gain a natural understanding of languages. You can project your words into the minds of those that are within normal speaking range. With ink, you can physically speak the words aloud (would help with blending in)

>>24141668
constilation ellipses...
like seeing the meaning of the cosmos and the legends of history, in little pinpoint pauses.

File: 1365487308679.jpg-(337 KB, 1440x759, ability tree (7).jpg)

337 KB JPG

>>24141693

Forgot picture.

So, as to the action:

>open diplomacy
>hide in Abigail's shadow
>just grab her and try to double back to town center, avoiding confrontation

File: 1365487378103.jpg-(39 KB, 640x640, (2).jpg)

39 KB JPG

>>24141715
>>24141693

Oh, and you have gained 4 HP from Amorphous!

15/15 HP

Lel.

>>24141715
time to hide in the shadow. my only worry is Sir Flint may be able to sense magic or magic presences.

>>24141715
What do the n's mean? Null? Is the upgrade free?

>>24141715
hide in Abigail's Shadow, if/when people discover the room, try diplomancing them, but stay prepared to make an escape if things progress negatively...

>>24141715
Shield her from the group attempt diplomacy
i dont really trust paladins and priests that much when we are something that they would most likly purge us

>>24141751
Passive abiblity i think

>>24141726
amorphous comes with damage resist too, yes?

as for action:
> hide in shadow, if detected, try to explain with impression, if fail, grab Abby and try to find somewhere safe

>>24141751

n means the cost is Level+1, so the level 1 resistance costs 2, level 2 resistance costs 3... level n resistance costs n+1...

goodness gracious Master, you aren't kidding around when you call it shadow quest. It is so late at night where I am. Dead tired. Good luck everyone.

>>24141715
I agree hide in Abigail's shadow.

>>24141751

"n" means the cost can vary.

As you explore the tree, you'll find resistance upgrades of the same type. Each one stacks, but costs more than the last; it doesn't matter what order you buy them in, but the first one is 2 exp, and then they go up from there.

>>24141776
Yes, amorphous gives a small physical defense bonus. All physical defense bonuses also count toward HP (4 per point). Physical strength bonuses grant 1 HP per point.

>>24141731
>>24141755
>>24141816
I think this could end badly this way but the hivemind demands...

>>24141816
agree

>>24141797

Not quite. I used:

2+4n

So, 2, then 6, then 10. There are three upgrades for each resistance.

I'd put the numbers in but since you could buy them in any order I decided on "n"

Looks like we're hiding in her shadow. Diplomacy is plan B.

...writing...

You hop into Abigail's shadow. She blinks at your sudden disappearance. "Mr. Shadow? Are you there still?"

You feel something turn in you...an Impression.

You try to push the feeling at Abigail. You send her an image of you and her standing on a hill on a sunny day. You wave cheerily from her shadow.

She looks at her shadow. her eyes seem to light up in recognition. "Oh, ok! You're secret place is my shadow!"

She seems startled by the arrival of the men. "Abigail!" Flint calls. "Abigail. Are you - by the light, what is that?!"

The men crowd around the corpse of the monster. Sir Flint examines it, then turns back to her. He peers at her closely. "Abigail? What happened? Did you do this?"

"...um...uh - the disease made the monster come," she says. "Mr. Shadow killed it."

You mentally wince at she innocently denounces you.

"Mr. Shadow?" Sir Flint asks. He frowns. "What do you mean?"

"Mr. Shadow. He's my magic friend. He saved me from the zombies."

Sir Flint eyes her a long time. You go as still as you can.

Roll 1d20 motherfuckers

Rolled 16

>>24141951
I do not appreciate being outed by Friendtoo.

File: 1365488337081.jpg-(310 KB, 640x915, Donovan (2).jpg)

310 KB JPG

>>24141951

>pictured: Sir Flint

Rolled 10

>>24141951
Oh shit prepare your anus!
>>24141972
Well she is just a kid...

Rolled 19

>>24141996
We should try to find more discerning Friends.

>>24141996
>>24142010
>>24141972

Sir Flint nods. "...I see. Mr. Shadow. That's what you call it."

"ah...Sir Flint," one of the men says awkwardly. "What do we do?"

"It's obvious." Sir Flint walks up to the zombie. His sword glows with a faint white light. He stabs it straight into the heart of the beast.

There's a sharp hiss as the blade sinks into the dead flesh. He nods. "It's dead." He looks carefully at the severed limbs. "I see."

He withdraws his sword...

...but overbalances. He stumbles, trips backwards, and falls on his rear. His sword clatters to the ground. The men, having been impressed by the display, quickly move to cover grins and smirks. Flint scrambles to his feet and sheaths his weapon.

He coughs his throat clear. "..ah. I'll escort the girl into town. Check the building. Then...bury this thing. Deep."

The men nod, humor gone. They open the house, waving their hands over their noses as they enter the front door of the farmhouse. One of them, still staring at the zombie, wretches onto the grass.

Donovan sighs. "Come on, girl."

"Are we going to the town?"

"Yes. Stay close."

Still crouched in her shadow, you're towed along, sitting silently as they walk into the town center. You're almost up the cobble road when Flint's leather boots catch on the stone. He stumbles forward and clanks face-first onto the pavement.

Abigail grins. "You're funny, Sir Flint. But you should be more careful."

Flint is as red as a beet. "...good advice, Abby."

It's strange. You thought you felt something...when he tripped? And when he fell, earlier. Odd, that. Maybe it was nothing.

You reach the town center and head upstairs. The pastor is there. You crouch further into the small shadow cast by your friend.

con't

>>24142124
does anyone else feel like our earthbending friend might be nearby...?

>>24142124

"Abigail," Flint says, "go downstairs and get something to eat. Talk to Linda. She's arranging dinner for everyone."

"Why is everyone together? What's going on?"

"...we'll explain in a bit, girl. Go, and make sure you mind."

Abigail sighs and nods. As she starts to turn the corner down to the first floor, you see Flint turn to the pastor. "John. We need to talk. Her house-"

She's around the corner, but not quite down the stairs. But you can't hear any more of that conversation...

What do you do?

>slip back up and listen in
>stay in the shadow where it's safe
>something else

>>24142160
Welp shes dead.

>Listen in.
We need to find out what they are going to do with her. If they just dont straight up kill her.

>>24142160
We'll have time to eavesdrop on the good holy men later, as interested as we are, we don't want our cover blown. Hang out in the shadow, maybe we can get a better feel for this place from this "Linda".

>continue hitching a ride on the little girl
>Impression her with a thankyou, but a hush over our lips telling her to stay quiet

>>24142194
this, much better than my idea

>>24142194
Agreed. Would really be bad to get seperated from her and have the pastor and knight use her as a hostage to force ourselves on a sword or something.
Or her being burned to death for being a budding wizard? mage? necromancer?

>>24142194
Umm Flint saw that she was practicing necromancy in her basement. The town has been plagued by zombies for awhile now. It wont take them long to put 2 and 2 together you know. We need to evacuate the little girl or just run away ourselves.

>>24142238
just between you and me i think this girl's more than a little broken, little girls usually don't turn to necromancy. I'd like to think we can help her get right again, but right now, self-interest.

>>24142246
might be premature. we didn't see the basement. you may well be right, but even so, we can't exactly drag her out the front door with the two holy-men up there guarding the door.

>>24142270
She told us herself that she raised the bodies of her parents. Just saying.

You decide not to risk it and stick inside Abigail's shadow.

The first floor of the hall is a gathering of woman and children. Most are playing games; many wave and call out at her. She waves back and shouts a few names. The mothers sit in hushed circles, one eye on their children, another on the door of the hall. A few men keep a vigil along the walls and just outside the door.

You send an impression to Abigail. It's a series of pictures; the zombies, her magic, and you - followed by a finger pressed up to lips.

She looks at you, her shadow, and gives a big, conspiratorial wink, and puts a finger to her lips. "It's a secret. Well, unless Sir Flint wants to know. He's a good person."

You hastily send an image of Flint with big red marks over his ears. She frowns at you. "But why?"

You repeat the image. Abigail scratches her head a bit. "Well...ok, I guess."

"Abby, dear, come get some soup!"

A fat, pleasant-faced woman is waving from the kitchen. Abigail plops herself down and begins some menial conversation with Linda, who, judging by how Abby is eating, isn't a bad cook.

You're reminded of your own hunger, but it seems a bit distant, now, surrounded by all this activity.

"Where're your parents at, dear?"

"...um..." Abigail hesitates. "At home."

"Ah, out helping, then," Linda says. "Good, good. Well, you relax - oh." Linda turns a bit red. "Sir Flint, Pastor John. Feeling hungry?"

"No, thank you, Linda," Sir Flint says. "We need to borrow Abigail a moment."

"I see. You mind them, girl."

"I always have to mind grown-ups," Abigail mutters.

They begin to lead Abigail up the stairs. Sir Flint is in front; pastor John just behind.

What do you do?

>nothing. Movement will give me away. Ride out the storm.
>RUN!
>attack with the element of surprise
>something else

>>24142282
On accident she thought she could talk to them again like she did with the nice lady and other pleasent dead folk most of which were ghosts or shades not zombies.

I think this is a case of her having some kind of talent for comuning with the dead much like a sage or seer. The parents coming back could have been caused by some other fool dealing in necromancy using the disease as to spread out his magic or the girls talent was twisted by recent dead and whatever the disease is.

Sides we dont know the full story as of yet

>>24142326
>Wait it out and see where this goes
Can we ready ourselves to grab her and bolt if it gets ugly?

>>24142326
Kill Flint first he is a paladin then turn on the pastor. If we give a shit about the little girl then wait till they start trying to burn her for necromancy to gain her trust.

>>24142332
She then went onto say that she "accidentally" raised another zombie, the one we fought earlier. Sorry guy but your precious little girl isnt pure, give it up.

>>24142349

Sure. You're pretty ready at the moment.

>>24142326
>nothing. Movement will give me away. Ride out the storm.
let's wait and see for the moment

>>24142371
Nothing says we are pure ether.

>>24142378
>>24142349

>waiting on lock-in third/fourth vote

>>24142394
Of course we arent, we are a fucking shadow monster. But why do want to reveal ourselves to a paladin or paladin-in-training for a little girl we met literally not 3 hours ago?

>>24142326
>[x] RUN!

This isnt worth it. We need to remember ourselves. Not die here.

>>24142378
>>24142394

I stay put.

>>24142371
True but she was pretty shocked that had happened as well or atleast that is what it read as to me so you maybe right i might be right just have to see where it takes us
>>24142413
Shes a friend more or less and we care for our friends... and I wasnt saying revel right out the gate just do it if they are going to kill a little girl for shadows sakes

>>24142326
>nothing. Movement will give me away. Ride out the storm.

>>24142378
this

>>24142440
>>24142436
>>24142378
>>24142349

Majority says stay in the shadow and wait; rest are divided amongst several options. Locked in.

One or two posts before bedtime, it's almost 3am in my timezone.

>>24142326
Stay in the shadow, but get ready to bolt the second something goes wrong.

Rolled 14

>>24142326
>ready an action:
sweep john back away from us, pull abigail into us and dash past flint. if he gets aggressive, shove him away too. AVOID hurting them, we don't want any enemies we can avoid making.

>>24142471
If they start bringing out rope and holy items I seconded this
>>24142457
alright then Master thanks for doing the quest seems pretty fun!

You stay motionless. Neither the knight nor the pastor give anything away to say they've noticed you, but you don't want to take any risks.

Abigail is led up to a small room on the second floor. They close the door. Pastor John stands in front of the door. "Go ahead, Flint. You know more about this business than me."

Flint nods. He turns, then trips again. He manages to catch himself on the desk in the middle of the room, then straightens.

"You really need to pick up your feet," John says.

"...right," Flint mutters. He sighs. "Abby, have a seat."

Abigail clambers into the chair of the desk. She swallows hard. She's picked up on the score somewhat. You remain in her shadow, still and silent.

"You don't have to look so nervous," Flint says. "I know you're not responsible for what's going on. It's not your fault." Abigail visibly relaxes. "But you do have magic, don't you?"

Abigail bites her lip. She glances over her shoulder. Her eyes briefly wander to you, then back to Flint. "Um...yes."

"Did you use that magic to kill the zombie?"

"...um..well, it's-"

"I sensed the spirit residue on its severed limbs," Flint says. "And I can sense the spirit magic resting within you. It resonates with the magic coming from the forest."

"But the forest is bad!" Abigail says. "I'm not like that!"

Flint raises his armored palms. "I know. That's not what I meant." Abigail sits back down. Flint thinks for a moment. "This...may be a bit advanced for you, but I'll do my best. Magic is instability. That instability creates more instability...which creates more magic. Do you understand?"

"...so," Abigail says, "it's a big circle that gets worse, isn't it?"

"That's right." Flint seems relieved that she understood so quickly. "There's something bad in the forest - something with powerful spiritual magic. You have natural spiritual magic, and this creates a sort of loop near you - more of everything near you."

con't

>>24142535
WELP! Get ready for a fight. See if we can sneak up behind the paladin and one shot him.

>>24142558
if we have to one-shot anyone, i'd say the priest...
I couldn't tell you why, but I genuinely feel that this... Flint... is a good guy.

>>24142567
Hes either gonna banish her or have her burned at the stake. Even IF hes a good guy, he still has to worry about the safety of everyone else, so he will choose the town and its safety over this little girl.

>>24142590
and he's scared of the priest.

>>24142605
Well the priest IS the local representative of his masters, so thats not that hard to believe for a Paladin-in-training.

>>24142535
I say flash really really pleasant looking images in Flint and the priest's head, what's the worst that can happen?

Or we could show him images of how we and Abigail met and how we saved her life, it's not like he will beable to know what she did.

>>24142535
Impression Abigail to ask if the priest's magic works the same way

>>24142627
Give ourselves away to a priest and a paladin....yeah how about no.

>>24142535

"But...about the creature at your house," Flint says. "Where did it come from? Your house...let's just say it had a lot of spirit magic in it."

Abigail's eyes begin to water again. "...the bad magic made the disease...and...mommy and daddy got sick...I...tried to..." She hiccups. "...they...went to heaven. But, I tried to talk to them...and...but the bad magic made them like that. I hate it!" She slams her hands down onto the sides of the chair. Orange light sizzles into the leather.

"Easy, Abby, easy," Flint says. He rubs a hand on her shoulder. She starts to cry once again, and he awkwardly allows her to clutch his arm.

"So?" John asks.

"Abby, you're quite talented," Flint says. He looks at John pointedly. "But not responsible for anything that's happening. No more than a rock is responsible for the avalanche."

"...then the forest is the source. Even the girl thinks so."

"...I can feel it," Abby whispers. "A bad thing in the forest. The nice lady told me, too."

"Nice lady?" John asks.

"Likely a spirit," Flint says. "Alright. Abigail, keep this to yourself, understand? This is important, and people need to find this sort of thing out in a calm and rational manner."

"...ok. Mr. Shadow said so too. I guess he was right."

Flint smiles and nods. "That's good. Listen to Mr. Shadow, ok?"

Abigail nods rapidly. "Ok."

"Then..." John sighs. "What do we do, now?"

"What I figured we'd have to do," Flint answers. "Find the source in the forest, and destroy it."

"You'll be marching into hell alone."

"The entire town will be swallowed at this rate."

John's face goes quiet and stern. He has no words for that.

"What do you mean?" Abigail asks. "Is the bad thing coming?"

"Don't you worry." Flint smiles brightly. "Nothing's going to hurt you, or this town. Go downstairs and play, alright?"

"Ok. Um... thank you, Sir Flint."

"...yes. Well, you're welcome."

con't

>>24142644
called it. They're not gonna eff us over just yet.

>>24142644
Wow.....they dont want to kill her? Huh.

>>24142644
Oh thank shadows!
They are nuetral good not lawful stupid.

>>24142676
It seems people in this setting are not complete idiots when it comes to judging other people. Remember the elf in the beginning?

>>24142702
we very nearly broke with that tradition lol...

>>24142644
Good,they are supporting our influence over her without him even knowing it.

>>24142644

Abigail hops off her chair. You are towed along with her shadow. John opens the door for her, and she turns the corner.

"...too much faith in a knight like me," you hear Flint say. "Honestly, I don't know if I can handle this. Actually, I probably can't. But there's no time."

"You're all we've got," John answers. "But I'm with you, so that should be plenty. I can shout it do death."

You hear a dark chuckle, and the door to the room closes.

Abigail marches down stairs.

The rest of the evening is uneventful. Abigail plays a bit with some girls that know her. More men return, and others leave. You see some of the men that went to Abigail's house spread whispers around the room. By sunrise, everyone will know about what happened there, and that her parents are dead.

Eventually, the hall goes quiet. The lights are put out, and the room is stuffed with blankets. Everyone shares a fitful sleep.

There's a few hours before dawn. What do you do?

---------
---------

That concludes tonight's thread! If you enjoyed, be sure to give it a vote up in the archive:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html

I'll be on tomorrow sometime after 10pm, but it will be a shorter thread, as I have work early the next day.

If anyone has any brief questions, I'll stay on a few minutes longer to answer.

>>24142722
Just how many abilities are there?

>>24142866

Counting resistance and magic upgrades, about 150.

You've barely seen much of the tree at all, really.

>>24142900
fuck how much EXP total would we need to fully unlock all that?

dude thisis awesome, be sure to link the next thread you start

Just gonna throw this in there, in case Shadow Master reads it later...

Eat.

Everyone is asleep, it's relatively dark, and we're a shadow.

Find some leftovers, find a corpse, whatever we must find... and eat.

>>24143752
Yeah i agree. We probably need nutrients and energy and stuff

>>24143752

true, there will probably be some left-overs from the soup Linda was serving everyone.
Maybe while Abigail is sleeping, we can 'talk' with the Flint, as he has indirectly asked us to look after Abigail.

Maybe Flint can be a new friend. After helping sort out this mess, the three of us could go on adventures together!

>>24142987

A lot. I only have it denoted in the tree, and I don't feel like adding it up. Maybe about 400-500?

>>24143752

When I make the new thread later I'll include this in your immediate choices as a reminder.

And I'm out to lunch.

I think we should follow Flint when he goes to the woods and shadow (heh) him at a distance. If worse comes, we could always grab him and take him away from danger.

>>24147840
Still think this might be our earth counterpart. Perhaps we should literally shadow him, instead of from a distance? Being too late is generally a bad thing.

>>24148820
>>24147840
I agree with this.

>inb4 the power in the forest is another shadow.