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GREEN abilities have been unlocked and learned.

BLUE abilties are unlocked, but are not yet purchased.

RED abilities are revealed, but locked due to prerequisites.

UNDERLINED abilities are active-use, as opposed to passive.

Unlocked Ability Descriptions:

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

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

>Spirit Resistance - gives 1st spirit 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)

>Tough Skin - increases defense

>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. Opens shadow magic tree.

>Observe - better chance to detect tricks and traps

>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 attack is stronger. Success is based on physical shadow power.

>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, allowing you to 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.

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

>Robust immunity - Gain a greater natural immunity to ailments.

>regeneration - slow health regeneration in dark areas

>parasitic - potential for a larger heal after consuming something

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

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

>Quiet - You naturally make much less noise, granting a bonus to physical stealth.

>Marathon Monster - You are have great stamina and won't get tired even from miles of running. This grants you a dodge and accuracy bonus; you are unphased by rough terrain or poor conditions.

>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.

>Fist - all physical attacks gain a small armor piercing bonus

>Fear - Stun and disrupt foes nearby with a spiritual blast of magic. Weaker enemies may flee. (3 mana to cast)

Statistics:

HP: 15/15
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 2
Humanity: 2
Corruption: 0

Current party members

Sir Donovan Flint - A knight of Dobshire. He is clad in half-plate with a minor protection enchantment and wields a two-handed longsword. He is skilled in combat and knows some basic Light magic. He has a clumsy streak, but has sharp senses.

Joey - A 16 year old boy from Jacob's Field. Feeling responsible for Pastor John's death, he trailed you and Flint through the Old Forest. He is inexperienced in combat. He wears thick leather clothing and wields a long hunting knife.

Basic Battle Options to keep in mind during fights (it would get tedious to list all of them every time):

-Physical Attack
-Shadow Attack (requires light source!)
-Magic Attack (Spirit Whip)
-Defend
-Dodge and Counter
-specific ability (takes one turn. Defensive abilities activate same-turn)
-Flee (dodge check if enemy attacks)

*AHEM*

To summarize what happened in last night's somewhat aborted thread...

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

You nudge Flint with an image of the tower collapsing, a feeling of great caution, and then direct him to the staircase leading down.

Flint moves down the stone stair. The door below is made of iron. Oddly, the iron hasn't rusted at all, despite the obvious age of the surrounding materials.

There's a sun crest on the door matching the one that was on the mausoleum. Flint focuses for a moment, then nods to himself. "I think I'm beginning to see the idea of this place. Defense in depth. We need one key to open this door. I'd bet you anything the second key is down there. Once we have both, we can open that mausoleum." His face darkens. "But what did they want to keep locked up?"

"...maybe they wanted to keep something locked in," Joey mutters.

"Your speaking privileges have been revoked," Flint snaps. "Think positive. I'm not going to be eaten alive by zombies. I'm going to survive what is by far the most dangerous situation I've ever been in. Sir Flint is not going to kill me out of sheer frustration."

Joey swallows, but wisely keeps to his new no-speaking rule. Flint marches up the rotting wood steps with slightly more gusto than is probably wise. He opens the door to the second floor...

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>mfw shadow quest is back

He peers around; you peer with him. It's as empty as the first floor. Dimmed, orange light from the setting sun filters in from a sizable hole in the corner of the wall. The stone is covered in a layer of dust, and a slight yellow haze. The disease of the magic hangs in the air palpably.

Flint goes still. "...my senses are dulling. Something's wrong."

"...what do you mean?" Joey asks.

"I could sense 4 zombies out in the woods, still beyond the wall," Flint says. "Now, nothing." He glances to another flight of stairs in the center of the room, curling up into the upper reaches of the keep. "Nowhere to go but up..."

What do you do?

>Stay hidden in Flint's shadow and let him walk up
>suggest some other plan

The stairs creak and groan as Flint walks up them. Joey stays right on his heels, nervously glancing about as you work your way into the dimmer recesses of the broken rafters higher up.

The third floor is, like the others, rather bare. There's a dusty-looking container in the corner. Two doors, wood, lead to the outside. If you remember correctly, that should probably be the upper walk of the keep. They're old, and slightly ajar.

The spiral staircase continues to the fourth floor. Shafts of light beam down from above. The roof of the keep is worn and collapsed in places, exposing the highest reaches to the sky.

What do you do?

>look at the container
>go outside
>to the fourth floor
>something else

>>24195739

look at container, check outside then continue on up.

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You send Flint an image of the container in the corner.

He approaches cautiously. The chest, about three feet wide and two high, is coated in dust. He reaches out a gauntlet and gingerly swipes across the top. That reveals a grey burnish. He beings to brush at the rest of it, slowly revealing a solid steel box.

Like the iron doors leading into the basement of the keep, it seems untouched by time or the elements. Flint frowns heavily. "I sure hope our key isn't in there." He squints. Etched into the top of the chest are the same symbols that were on the mausoleum - a sun and a moon.

Now what do you do?

>look outside
>forth floor

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

You send an image to Flint of the old wooden doors.

He walks over to them and places a hand on the first of the two doors. It begins to creak open...

...then tilts and falls forward. Flint, surprised, falls backward. The door slams onto the walkways with a hard WHOOMPH.

He clambers to his feet and brushes himself off "...scared the hell out of me."

You walk out onto the upper level of the keep. The forest is quiet. Flint frowns deeply, then shakes his head. "Nothing."

From your high position, you noticed something you didn't before - two large gargoyles on the north side of the retaining wall. You came from the south, so you didn't see them when you were down on the ground.

Other than that, nothing's changed.

>proceed to the fourth floor
>split up
>some other plan

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

Last time you elected to move on up to the top, and then I was promptly unable to post. Rewriting...

>DM's note: people noticed that the gargoyles moved in the last thread. This was just a retcon on my part; I had meant to describe them when you looked at the mausoleum but forgot, so I put them where you could see them from the balcony of the keep.
>It's unlikely I'd describe anything you didn't need to know about...so you're right to be wary.
>Or I might be mixing in crap to distract you from more important things...HUEHUEHUE

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Sir Flint proceeds up the stairs, with Joey at his heels. They groan with each shifting clank of Flint's armor.

You reach the top floor. The upper room of the keep is totally exposed to the elements; the roof has been ripped and blasted away with time. Some rotting wood support beams still protrude into the air. The light of the setting sun illuminates one wall brightly, while the other is deeply shadowed.

But the floor, like the other rooms, is bare.

Flint glances around. The key he'd predicted is nowhere to be seen. He shoves his hands into his hips. "...shit."

Joey looks crestfallen. He scuffs his boot against the floor, kicking up dust and rot. He frowns, then slides his shoe back and forward, then begins to shuffle like mad.

Flint waves a hand at the approaching cloud of dust. "Boy, what are you - "

"Look! It's a picture. Like a mural, on the wall of the church."

Flint peers down. You join him. Indeed, there is an imaged etched into the stone tiles that line the floor of the room. You spend the next few minutes clearing dust off the floor, then stand there, staring at it.

"...this makes no sense," Joey says. "It's just random lines."

"No." Flint bends down. He wedges his fingers in-between one tile and the next. With a grunt, he lifts it up and moves it to the side. Spiders and centipedes scurry out from under the slab that hasn't moved in probably several hundred years. "...the pieces are all here. We've got to put it back in the write order."

What do you do?

>help solve the puzzle
>something else

>(to solve the puzzle, rearrange the pieces and post the completed image!)

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>>24195914

impress image to Flint.

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>>24195914
>help solve the puzzle
Pic very much related.

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>>24195914
puzzle

thank god my version isn't the worst edited

>>24196169
>>24196175

When Flint's shadow begins to move on its own, Joey nearly has a heart attack from the fear.

Flint coughs loudly. "Ah...shadow, assist us move the slabs!"

You stifle a response - the cover is convenient - and begin to assist moving the slabs. You Strength allows you to be of great assistance. Flint makes a show of directing you carefully, and helps you carry pieces hear and there.

Joey stands back, amazed. "That magic is incredible. I didn't know knights could do that. Is...it a kind of light magic?"

"Obviously," Flint answers smoothly.

"Oh, well, right. Um, is it smart?"

"Sort of like a golem."

"Oh." Joey looks like he has no idea what a golem is, but he bites his tongue there.

You quickly make out the image, but moving every piece into place takes a long time. When you're finally finished, the sun is dipping below the trees, and it's getting dark fast.

The last slab thuds down into place.

The image, formerly stone, glows orange. It's like the picture of some sort of...Spirit.

Something rises from the center of the floor, right where the 'head' of the spirit is. The grating of stone on stone echoes in the small space until a waist-high pedestal has settled into place. The top of the stone platform glows very bright orange, then vanishes. In its place is a talisman in the shape of a sun.

Flint nods. "Now we're getting somewhere."

What do you do?

>take the key
>something else

>>24196284
test for traps, then take key

>>24196314
>test for traps
So, send Joey in to grab it and see what happens to him?

>>24196336
>>Observe - better chance to detect tricks and traps

>>24196336

If you so choose, you can have Joey take the key. Or Flint, or yourself. You can also attempt to check for a trap before taking the key.

can we have our shadow get it from the pedestal?

>>24196373
>observe for traps
then use shadow to grab key, if traps then grab it from a distance and run

>>24196375

You don't have quite enough dexterity to pluck the key from the pedestal with just your shadows.

>>24196409
okay then, observe then either grab if no traps or grab and dash before traps reacts. we should be quick/agile enough for that?

>>24196409
We've got an annoying disposable kid with us, don't we? Check for traps, then let him go pick it up.

>>24196438
>we should be quick/agile enough for that?

I don't know. Maybe you are, maybe you aren't!

Locking in
>check for traps
>grab it yourself

Unless there is significant dissent in the next few minutes.

>>24196336
>>24196470

Or is Joey taking the key?

>>24196485
fine with these, we're a lot tougher than Joey. Could we use a 0-1 mana bind spell to grab with "spirit rope?"

>>24196526
>Could we use a 0-1 mana bind spell to grab with "spirit rope?"

I might allow for spell flexibility in the future, but you have 1 spell, 4 mana, and no other magic upgrades. You can't do this yet.

>>24196409

then could our shadow 'hit' the key off the pedestal towards the staircase so that Flint can pick it up?

>>24196498
Let Joey grab it. Losing a hand or something to a trap just helps build character.

>>24196577
ooh, tricky I like that

>>24196569
fair enough

>>24196595

lel

>>24196577

That's acceptable. But it might take a tumble if you get unlucky...

>>24196373
Joey take the key while i get ready to pull him our of any danger

Flint begins to move toward the pedestal. You stop him with a strong Impression of caution. He hesitates, then lets his arm drop.

You inspect the pedestal carefully. It is etched with images itself, congruent with the image on the floor, as if the artist included it originally. You focus all your senses on the pedestal...

Roll 1d20

>>24196710
/r d20

Rolled 4

>>24196710
>observe

>>24196710

Rolled 12

>>24196757
wait, that was d6. rolling d20

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>>24196738
>>24196757
>>24196761

roll

>>24196773

>implying I can't read

Rolled 17

>>24196710

Rolled 13

>>24196710

>>24196778
i know i know, fuckin auto type on phone is pissing me off

>>24196757
>>24196773
>>24196798

gives an average of 11...
i assume that we don't find any evidence of traps at this time...

You can't sense anything out of place about the pedestal. So, either there's nothing wrong with taking the key...

...or your senses aren't as sharp as you'd like to believe.

What do you do?

>take the key yourself
>knock the key off the pedestal
>have Flint take the key
>have Joey take the key
>leave it for now
>something else

>>24196829
flint should be quick enough to grb it with no surprises, otherwise us

>>24196829

i vote for knocking the key off with our shadow.
better to err on the side of caution.
We don't want to take an arrow to the knee... that would end our adventures before they truly began!

>>24196846
i kinda want this, but what if the arrow to the knee is knocking the key off and something just happening to it

>>24196829
>>have Flint take the key

>>24196829
Maybe we can have flint grab key and as soon as he does we pull him away as fast as we can.

>>24196829
kid needs to earn his keep for following us

>>24196841
>>24196884
>>24196889
welp.

>>24196821

I actually don't usually use the averages. You see, if I used the average, you'd always tend to get an average roll, because the three numbers would tend to average to a middlish value. An adventure without extremes is no fun at all.

Rather, I sort of play a miniature game of Risk, then take into the account of the quality of the rolls after success/failure is determined.

But I digress...

>>24196909
>>24196889
>>24196884
>>24196841

Locked.

Having finished your inspection, you send Flint an Impression of him reaching for the pedestal. He nods, then walks forward. He snatches the key from the pedestal, then skips back.

For a moment, nothing happens.

And then several things happen all at once.

A snap of orange energy crackles down the pedestal.

A ear-splitting screech echoes from the stairwell.

A roar blasts over your heads, echoing from the edge of the forest.

You're not sure what's coming, but you're rather certain it won't be friendly.

What do you do?

>lead the charge down the stairs
>defend the upper room, there's only one way in
>head down yourself, telling Joey and Flint to stay put
>ask Flint to head down first, and guard Joey yourself

>>24197029
>>lead the charge down the stairs
Like hell we're going to get trapped up here.

>>24197029

mayhap we could prepare to throw one of the tiles down the stairs at the enemy?
if not, then move down the stairs to the third floor as fighting on an exposed rooftop is not a particularly good idea...

>>24197029
lead the charge, don't get caught or cornered and make for outside. keep in mind the gargoyles and undead mentioned earlier (4 i believe).

>>24197067
This, but first send an impression to flint so he doesnt think I'm fleeing. And as I run down, I try to walk a concealed path, so I can Hide if needed

Well, damn. I thought I had the market on playing a somewhat novel supernatural creature with cool powers progression cornered.

>>24197100
>>24197097
>>24197067
>>24197095

You flash Flint an impression of yourself running down the stairs and stabbing zombies to death, with him at your back. You lope to the stairs and start down.

"Joey, stay behind me!" Flint sprints after you. The wood thuds under their feet as they pound down the stairs after you.

Another huge roar rips down the stairs after you. You can hear several smaller shrieks echo after it, along with a chorus of zombie-like moans.

You hit the stone of the third floor. The room is still empty, but you can hear footsteps on the stairs leading up from the second floor!

What do you do?

>run out onto the balcony
>meet the enemy at the stairs, leading yourself
>have Flint take the lead
>something else

>>24197164

Which one is your quest? I like reading them as much as anything.

>>24197253
Is this balcony to high to a human jump and expect to not break a leg?

>>24197316

You're three stories up.

You and Flint might be ok, but Joey would probably hurt himself.

Depends on the dice.

>>24197253
Get to the top of the stairs and be ready to fight. Have Flint join us there.

It should be easier to fight the undead when they're trying to come up the stairway than letting them rush up into the room.

>>24197332
Send a impression to flint of we three jumping the balcony and another of we not jumping and dying surrounded

>>24197253
meet them at stairs and ready for fight

>>24197379
>>run out onto the balcony

>>24197253
take point on stairs but tell Flint that the balcony is our escape plan

We could try to use the remains of the door to make a crude barricade. that should allow us to make use of our superior range to attack the zombies.
Also, is the container suitable for reinforcing the potential barricade?

>>24197397
This except we and flint should jump first because we having the strength of 3 men to catch Joey without him getting hurt.

>>24197406

The steel container is too heavy to move. However, with difficulty, one of the doors could be shifted over by yourself or Flint.

One of you would have to hold the line while the other does this, and there's no guarantee the door will stop them - if you just want to use it to block passage upward.

The majority seem to want to make a stand at the top of the stairs.

Will you have Flint or yourself try to move the fallen door to the stairwell as a makeshift barricade or fight together?

>>24197472
together

>>24197472
We stand together.

>>24197472
Together. Stairs are basically one-person-at-a-time thoroughfares in ye olde keeps, so we should be fine. We take the lead in combat though.

>>24197267

Trickster Daemon Quest. It's about a supernatural creature with shadow-themed powers who acts through a mundane proxy as much as on its own and who meets a young girl with unusually powerful magic, the few rules the quest has revolving around the expansion of the cool powers available to the protagonist due to their supernatural nature. Granted I'm going out of my way to highlight the similarities.

>>24197472

I vote let Flint hold the line while we make the barricade.

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You dash toward the top of the stairs. Flint is just behind you. You stop at the top of the wooden stairwell, ready to kill.

A monster tears up the steps faster than you've seen any zombie move. It's not a normal zombie...it's a ghoul! Its shriek seems to cut into your ears.

With little time to react, you lash out with your shadows!

Roll 1d20.

>>24197472
stand together, save barricade for emergency escape out balcony

Rolled 3

>>24197611
here goes nothing

>>24197611

Rolled 6

>>24197611
>implying

>>24197611

Rolled 8

>>24197611

Rolled 5

>>24197611

>>24197636

>>24197576

Sounds boss. Great minds think alike.

Rolled 20

>>24197611

TAKE OUT ITS EYES!!!!!!
that should give it a negative mod to attacks...

Rolled 5

>>24197643

>>24197654
this, for the love of OP this!

>>24197654
Doesn't look like it has eyes.

>>24197679

i assume ploping them on our head area would not confer a bonus to either humanity or perception...
mayhap a small boost to corruption, but little else...

Rolled 16

Fuck most of these rolls suck.

>>24197672
>>24197654
>>24197645
>>24197644
>>24197642
>>24197631

You shadow spear stabs in...

...and the ghoul leaps up, deftly evading your strike! Its clawed feet rip into the stone wall, and it rebounds onto the second floor...

...but Sir Flint's sword meets it in midair, decapitating it in an instant! The ghoul's body drops limp to the ground, dead.

Another ghoul is coming. And another - and a third!

In the meantime, Joey has run over to the balcony door. He's trying to drag the wood over, but he's not as strong as either you or Flint. It's slow going.

What do you do?

>continue to attack as they come up the stairs (specify means of attack)
>leave Flint to defend and join Joey
>have Flint assist Joey
>some other combination of people and methods
>something else

>>24197756

continue to assist Flint in fighting the undead horde.

>>24197756
While Flint is distracted, sneak over and eat Joey.

>>24197756
>>something else
>>24197756
Try to pile up/push the dead bodies making the ghouls base of attack weak

>>24197756
keep at it, the sooner these are taken care of the sooner we can breath. try and hit the ghoul dead center to knock it back, have flint get ready to take the next one

Rolled 7

>>24197756
>ghoul that is at least as strong as we are
>not able to remove a wooden fucking door that we can move by ourselves

Barricading confirmed for pls go.

Continue to kill. We need a long weapon - try and make our spear as long as possible, and use it as a pike. If they get close then reform it into something more stabby.

>>24197843
but...there's only one body

>>24197756
>>something else
>>24197756
Try to pile up/push the dead bodies making the ghouls base of attack weak.

Rolled 17

>>24197756
Continue to attack as they come up the stairs via crushing and piercing blows to the head/spine.
If we can find say a metal rod or some kind of metal sword we could make very short work of these monsters due to Strength.

Questions, is our strength high enough to just rip their heads off? They are slightly decayed after all.

>>24197860
yeah, sorry. Read wrong. If spear like weapon is possible to create, i voted this.

>>24197886
>Questions, is our strength high enough to just rip their heads off? They are slightly decayed after all.

Yes, if you land a solid blow.

>>24197875
>>24197843

?

Plan of attack:

- use shadow attack to keep the ghouls at bay
- Flint engages any that get by
- Joey still dragging door

Yes?

If unspecified, I'll assume you're defaulting to your strongest attack that requires no mana. Currently, that's your shadow spear(s); while it has the same base strength as your totally mundane physical attack (at the moment) it currently has a longer range.

>>24197942
keep at it with spears, if one gets close use strongest close range melee

>>24197942

yes

Rolled 1

>>24197942
:/> Confirm (Y/N)
:/> Y_
:/> Executing...

Rolled 18

>>24197972

Rolled 9

>>24197979

Rolled 2

>>24197981

hopefully this does not mean we spear Joey as he stumbles into the combat with the door...

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>>24197981

You are so lucky that the decision had not yet been locked in.

Please roll 1d20 in response to this post for the aforementioned actions.

Rolled 13

>>24198041

>>24198032
And nothing of value was lost.

>>24198032
>>24198031
>>24197998
>>24197981

Roll again! Respond to >>24198041

Rolled 1

>>24198041

Rolled 1

>>24198041
>>24198084
OH THE IRONY

>>24198084
lol

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>>24198084

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>>24198092
>>24198084

Unbelievable.

>>24198084
>>24198092
ALL IS LOST

So is this the point where we devour our friends and turn to evil?

>>24198049
lucky number 13

Rolled 6

>>24198041

Rolled 4

>>24198092
I.. I am so sorry

You stab forward straight down the stairs, trying to throw off the ghouls with your superior range.

But they aren't normal zombies. The ghouls react faster than you could possibly expect, twisting out of the way of your spear-attack. Your shadows can't unravel fast enough to defend before they're on top of you!

The first ghoul slams into you, smashing you with a clenched fist. You tumble into a ball and fly backwards, rolling from the top of the stairwell, a mess of claws and shadow.

You've lost 4 HP!
HP: 11/15

The second ghoul is in the room, charging at Flint. The knight raises his sword -

- and trips. The ghoul catches him under the chin with an uppercut. His sword falls from his hands as he stumbles backwards, dazed from the blow.

The third ghoul sprints up into the room unchecked! It runs straight for Joey, who was almost across the room with the door! Joey drops his load and unsheathes his knife. He's shaking, but there's a grim look on his face.

What do you do?

>focus on your own opponent
>try to get back and help Joey
>try to assist Flint
>something else

Rolled 16

>>24198084
>>24198092
>>24198191
>>24198209

all is lost.

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>>24198209
>>24198084

>>24198250
>focus on your own opponent
These niggas aren't fuckin' around. Every man for himself.

>>24198250
>>try to assist Flint

>>24198250
Flint's more important, and if Joey survives, he'll have done it on his own. confidence is a beautiful thing.
>if not out of range, split our shadow spears and hit our opponent and Flint's until the knight can regain his feet.

>>24198250

well, we were never going to remain untouched for the entirety of the quest... though it is our first hit taken...

on the matter of what to do, assist Joey by distracting his opponent and manipulating it into returning to our line...

>>24198296
same guy, adding that if we can't hit flint's, just focus ours.

Rolled 14

>>24198250
>>something else
Try to push my enemy (impaling with spear) onto Ghoul that just knocked flint (also impaling, locking both)

>>24198292
>>24198293
>>24198296
>>24198298
>>24198306
>>24198310

Focusing on your own opponent.

Secondary: use attack to help flint.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 10

>>24198330
Rolling Good this time?

Rolled 7

>>24198330
>>24198310
already got 14, rerroling just if needed

Rolled 7

>>24198330

Rolled 20

>>24198330

Rolled 13

>>24198330

You step back from the ghoul and strike again.

It manages to evade once more, but not entirely. You spear rips its arm clear from its body. The blow huts it significantly -
- but extending your shadow leaves you vulnerable to its speed! Its claws rake across your side!

You've lost 1HP!
HP: 10/15

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Flint's swift recovery. He rolls sideways, grabbing his sword and popping to his feet in one smooth motion. His slash catches the overconfident ghoul from below, slicing off one of its legs! That kills its movement, and he seals its fate by slicing its head in half.

Meanwhile, the ghoul facing Joey launches a series of wild clawing attacks. Joey steps backward toward the balcony entrance, keeping his knife pointed squarely at his opponent. He's losing ground fast, but he hasn't been hit.

What do you do?

>finish off your opponent
>help Joey
>something else

>>24198492
>The blow huts it
>hurts

>>24198492
>>finish off your opponent

Rolled 5

>>24198492
Go help Joey

>>24198492
Finish him!

Rolled 12

>>24198492
>>finish off your opponent
>>help Joey
>>something else
Try to push my enemy (impaling with spear) onto Ghoul that is chasing joey (also impaling, locking both)
[already rolling for this]

>>24198492
spear at both ghouls, first at joey's then yours once its to close to dodge

Rolled 20

>>24198492
How close is it to us? If we close enough it will only be able to bite us, leaving it open for us to just grab its head and rip it clean off.

>>24198547

It's about five feet away. This might happen depending on the success of your roll.

Also, rolls made before we lock in a decision do nothing. I can't use a roll for calculations before I know what I'm calculating for. Or I might need to figure a DC, or take into account some other specific request in terms of dice.

>>24198514
>>24198524
>>24198530
>>24198539
>>24198544
>>24198547

Locked:

Primary: finish your opponent
Secondary: help Joey

Roll 1d20

Rolled 7

>>24198626

Rolled 2

>>24198626

Rolled 19

>>24198644
>>24198651
The Dice god frown upon us this night.

>>24198662
Seriously...

Rolled 6

>>24198626

>>24198662
perhaps not

Rolled 2

>>24198685
>>24198691
You fuckers are Jinxing it.
>>24198690

>>24198705
Fuck!

>>24198705
I knocked on wood after i posted, will that help?

You dance across the stone floor with the ghoul, acting and reacting. You're fast, but the ghoul is just as fast. Neither of you seem to be able to land a blow.

You overextend your shadow a bit too much! The ghoul rakes its remaining arm back the other way. You deflect it up with your shadow, but you don't expect its kick! You stumble back.
You have lost 1 HP!
HP: 9/10

Flint runs to help Joey, but trips. He growls in anger and shoves up to his feet.

The ghoul catches Joey on the arm! The force of the blow spins the boy to the side. He sprawls on the stone with a sharp cut near his shoulder. His knife clatters across the floor.

The powerful roar blasts through the room.

The remaining half of the balcony door splinters inward. The ghoul that had just cornered Joey looks up just in time to be blown in half by the force.

Standing in the doorway is a gargoyle. It's as tall as a man, but nearly twice as wide. A stone tail sweeps the floor menacingly. It raises a mighty spear, turning its head from side to side as it takes in the scene. Its eyes stop on Flint, who has the Sun Key tucked into his pack. A low rumble rises out of its throat.

Flint levels his sword at the new opponent. Joey crawls back on his hands and knees, his eyes wide with fear.

What do you do?

>continue to fight the ghoul
>try to disengage and help your allies
>something else

>>24198824
Grab joey and run/lead him to cover

>>24198824
We need to finish our ghoul, if we just leave him he will just go after the others.

Rolled 16

>>24198824
>>continue to fight the ghoul

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>>24198824

>pictured: gargoyle

>>24198864
sorry for the roll

>>24198824
attempt to consume ghoul after slaying

>>24198824
While the ghoul is distracted punt its heavy ass at the gargolye to distract it then take Flint and Joey and book it out to the balcony.

We can either jump and parachute using ourselves or we can punch into the side of the tower to slow our decent.

Probably require some godlike rolls but it would be pretty badass i think

>>24198878

It's ok, I realize it sticks in the email field. Just letting people know what the policy is so they don't get up in arms when their 20 doesn't do anything.

>>24198885
>parachute using ourselves

A cool idea, but very impossible without the Ink ability.

>punt its heavy ass at the gargolye to distract it
>punch into the side of the tower to slow our decent

More likely, but it would require some nice rolls...

>>24198824
I have a feeling if we just run it's going to throw it's spear and it's not going to miss.
We should try and take the spear away from it, we have the strength of 3 men on our side.

>>24198918
I don't think that is going to work, I have a feeling the gargoyle's strength is closer to a gorilla and they tend to be around 5 to 20 times stronger then a man depending where you as.

>>24198864
>>24198859
>>24198879

>>24198918
>>24198885
>>24198839

Seems split between sticking to the ghoul and focusing on the gargoyle/Joey.

>>24198980
Flint can take care of the ghoul while we help Joey

>>24198980
3 - fight ghoul
1 - fight garg
2 - run

Tell Flint to give us the Key! The gargoyle and hopefully the zombies won't focus on them giving them time to recover while we jump down.

>>24199050
this might work

>>24198918
Why I wanted to kick the one were fighting at it, cause a distraction while we get out with our meat- I mean companions

This is getting sluggish. Let me break this down into choices people can vote on.

>finish off your Ghoul (hopefully)
>disengage and get Joey out of the way and onto the balcony, letting Flint take on the gargoyle
>switch with Flint. He tosses you the key, making you the gargoyle's target, and he takes on the ghoul. You then run like mad.

Vote.

>>24198980
This ghoul deserves pay back. Sticking with
>> fight the ghoul

>>24199100
>Fight Ghoul

>>24199100

Adding in:
>push the ghoul at the gargoyle as a means of distraction

>>24199100
>>finish off your Ghoul (hopefully)

>>24199115
this, shadow control gargoyle if possible

>>24199100
>Finish off the ghoul

>>24199115
>>push the ghoul at the gargoyle as a means of distraction
this as secondary

>>24199100
>Finish off Ghoul
>Hopefully use ghoul to distract Gargo

>>24199100
>finish the ghoul

>>24199123

You don't have shadow control unlocked yet.

Locked:

- finish off ghoul
- secondary: try to distract the gargoyle with your attack

Roll 1d20 and 1d6

Rolled 10 + 1

>>24199193
May the dice god smile upon us...

Rolled 1 + 1

>>24199193

>>24199193
Not sure if i did the two dice roll right...

Rolled 4 + 1

>>24199193

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>>24199220
>>24199223
This isn't fun anymore...

Rolled 14 + 1

>>24199247
oh damnit

>>24199255
no, no its not...

Rolled 16 + 1

>>24199193

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>>24199264
>>24199254
>>24199223
>>24199220

You are not prepared.

Rolled 16 + 1

>>24199193
>>24199223
>>24199254

>>24199287
this is getting infuriating though, you can't deny that

Rolled 3 + 1

>>24199287
>>24199193
It's really fucking late in my timezone. I was hoping to stay awake until combat is over so i can vote on EXP this time, but guess i cant. If im able, i would like to vote any exps points to go to centipede and great strength. Motives:
- fucking awsome centipedal monster
- honoring the dragon that the death we caused
- u can't be a complete shadow creature if u cant scare people with a monster like form
- centipedal legs for wall crawling! possible roof crawling

Rolled 2

>>24199287
I think the d6 might be broken, or we're just very unlucky. Rolling just d6 to test.

File: 1365746337343.jpg-(26 KB, 300x219, Centipede-Hidesato.jpg)

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>>24199324

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>>24199220
>>24199223
>>24199254
>>24199264
>>24199285
>>24199295
>>24199324
Look at all those fucking 1s! What kind of bullshit is this.

>>24199342

I told you guys your day would come.

>>24199342
We're gonna die aren't we?

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>>24199331

>>24199303

It's absolutely infuriating. I don't want you people to fail.

That said, I'll stick by my mechanics and kill you if I have to. If there is no real threat of death there is no real glory in victory.

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>>24199342
not sure the d6 worked right...

Rolled 14 + 1

this is a test

>>24199383
How about we fail so hard we succeed?


>>24199412
This confirms broken d6

>>24199383
that said, maybe just a broader spectrum. d20 is limiting and i think this proves d6 is shit

>>24199412
Ones, ones as far as the eye can see!

>>24199342
>>24199383
The RNG is a fickle deity.
Prone to sessions of good and average rolls with no risk of loss, then suddenly your time comes, and all you have to cling to are some measly health points that no longer seem robust as they once did.

I'm really pretty sure you might need to roll your individual dice types separately? Because rolling d20 and d6 together is functionally just the same as just rolling d20 + 1, it looks like.

trying to add two different dice types in the same post won't work

File: 1365746757204.png-(63 KB, 550x427, 1332702056033.png)

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mwf we lose not because of our choices but because "fuck you that's why".

>>24199428
and I think i saw a 2

Rolled 2

>>24199419
>>24199392
I tested the d6 at >>24199331
Here's another go, it might be just the addition of the D20 that makes it bug out

You decide enough it enough. You charge at the ghoul, shoving it forward, throwing your strength and your shadows into the attack. It hits you back head on, but its rotting body succumbs to your momentum. You take several direct hits from your foe, but your shadow nearly severs its head. As its twitching body tries to get in one last hit, you rip its other arm off.

At the same time, you've pushed it toward the gargoyle, hoping to distract it long enough to be of some use. The gargoyle snaps its head over at the noise. Still dealing with the body of the ghoul bleeding on you, you don't see the thrust of its spear.

The weapon stabs into you, landing a direct hit. The ancient stone, bolstered by spirit magic, is much stronger than it looks. The spear pierces through the body of the ghoul and almost punctures through you, as well. You're sent back to the stone floor, hard.

You have lost 5 HP!
HP: 4/15

Flint runs up to the gargoyle and engages it in battle. His heavy two-handed sword is able to block the first swipe of its spear. He deflects its tail, but his own counter attack misses.

Joey has managed to crawl into a corner, away from immediate danger.

You're really hurting now. You can feel the pain of the fight, but a deeper instinct tells you your life force is significantly reduced. If you recklessly attack, you might die.

...and that same instinct drags your gaze to the four corpses surrounding you on the floor...

What do you do?

>aid Flint in open combat
>aid Flint from his shadow
>CONSUME

>>24199446
>>24199448
I thought everyone knew this.

Using two dice rolls in the email field gives you the first die roll as normal, and then uses the number of dice rolled for the second roll as a plus.
Otherwise you couldn't roll xDy+z.

>>24199468
aid from shadow, block what he can't attack when he blocks

>>24199468
consume ghoul, aid from shadow

>>24199468
CONSUME

We haven't done it yet, may as well try it.

>>24199468
If we drop into Flints shadow can we heal using his shadow to bolster our own? Or add what remains of our meager strength to his for better hits?
If no to both, those corpses look mighty tempting now...
Eh screw it
>Aid Flint in open combat flank the bastard!

>>24199484
It's actually really sort of laughable to me that everyone was freaking out about this and nobody came to the conclusion that maybe they're just rolling wrong.

>>24199468
Consume, then aid from the shadow

>>24199468
Just eat some fucking corpses already, I would ashamed if we died without ever knowing what happens when we do it.

>>24199468
consume corpses to regain health

>>24199508
yeah, but there dead rotting carcasses that have been out in mud, sewage, and gods knows what else out in that forest.
Not to mention the maggots that must be infesting it.
The maggots man the maggots!

>>24199571
We're (presumably) a Shadow Elemental. Bacteria doesn't really enter into our feeding.

>>24199571
so a little extra protein?

>>24199571
fuck maggots, consume zombies.
THE HUNGER.

>CONSUME

>>24199468

You need energy.
You need health.
You
Must
CONSUME

You let instinct take over. You roil over the nearest corpse like a cloud of black acid. The energy and warmth it used to move, still lingering form its brief time in undeath, is absorbed into your body. You immediately feel yourself begin to heal, and greedily latch on to each of the bodies in turn, sucking them dry.

All that remains of each corpse is a skeletal dust.

Roll 1d2.

>>24199599
all caps, no period cuz it never ends.

>CONSUME

File: 1365747405673.jpg-(136 KB, 1067x1600, lifeless corpse.jpg)

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>>24199602

Rolled 2

>>24199602
really?

Rolled 11

>>24199602
Im going on a limb here and say that he meant a d20

>>24199620

Really.

It's the part you participate in. I guess I can do it all in the future.

Don't worry, the part you don't participate in is happening in the background...

>>24199620
Sublime.

>>24199638

Nope, 1d2 mofo. Health regained per corpse.

Rolled 5

>>24199602
>>24199620
I'm assuming he meant twenty.
If not, anything higher than ten is two.
Ten and below is one.

>>24199620
>>24199638
roll d2
rolled 2
1+1=2

>>24199649
ah, that was why i asked really :P
making sure that wasn't a "1d20" typo.

>>24199655

Way ahead of you.

Rolled 14

>>24199655
>>24199649
So I rolled a one then.

>>24199602

Rolled 2

>>24199602

Rolled 2

>>24199683
silly me

>>24199679
Gah, forgot to turn off dice rolling.

You feel the energy of undeath roll through your veins...

...yes...

You gain 1 exp from killing the ghoul.

You have regained 7 HP from consumption.
You have gained 1 exp from consumption.
...you have gained 2 corruption from consumption...

HP: 11/15
Corruption: 2
EXP: 4

Joey watches you, wide-eyed. His face has gone pale. He draws his knees in to his chest, as if trying to get as much of himself away from you as possible.

Meanwhile, Flint is locked in battle with the gargoyle! Neither side has made any inroads. What do you do?

>hide in Flint's shadow and support from there
>flank the gargoyle in the open
>something else

>>24199728
Cut off its tail to get an axe!

>>24199728

there are other shadows in the room...
>shadow slip into nearest shadow BEHIND gargoyle
>shadowlance as hard as possible, attempt to pin wings to ceiling, if we can.

>>24199753
Seconded


Also watch out for the second one that breathes fire.

>>24199728
Buy ink quickly, then use your body to cover the gargoyle's head allowing Flint to strike easy blows.

>>24199728
Do we still have the humanity from before or will we need to re-earn it?
>Flank the gargoyle

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>>24199753

>>24199728
Huh, 2 corruption points to match our 2 humanity points (unless I miscounted).

Flank the Gargoyle in the open, even if we only provide a moments distraction it'd probably help Flint out a little.

>>24199780
are we able to consume the nearby shadows instead of creatures? just a lil' question

>>24199769

HP: 11/14
Mana: 4/4
Humanity: 2
Corruption: 2
EXP: 4

Joey needs to man up

>>24199797

Well, since you randomly guessed it out of nowhere, I suppose I can tell you that consuming shadows is an ability you can unlock.

>>24199799

>11/14
Sorry, should be 11/15

>>24199822
we can spend exp in the heat of the moment, right?

if so can we
>buy living shadow
for extra +hit and +dmg?

>>24199842
>>24199768

Spending EXP is a free action and can be done at any time.

Current popular choice seems to be flank. Ideally, hiding in shadows opposite the gargoyle and attacking from there.

>>24199768
I'm up for this.

>>24199859
this, then
>>24199842

>>24199768
>get eaten

No.

>>24199876
other way around :P i want the bonuses BEFORE the attack, hahaha...

>buy living shadow, flank+attack from shadows
>buy ink, throw self at the gargoyle's head
>something else

Note: Each point of physical defense increases HP by 4 points. Each point of physical strength increases HP by 1 point.

Just throwing that out there for savvy shoppers.

>>24199900
>buy tough skin and living shadow
>flank and attempt to pin to ceiling

>>24199900
Will Ink give us a dodge or defense bonus?
I say get Ink and flank, best of both works.

>>24199946

Ink grants a small passive dodge bonus. Other than that, it allows you to briefly turn yourself near-liquid to perform wild feats I would otherwise slap a huge DC on. It's more a tool than a combat upgrade, but that said, it could prove very useful in combat.

>choke a person by inking into their throat

>>24199946
That sounds like a decent compromise. Ink's versatility also interests me.

>>24199946
>>24200054

I'm getting tired so

We're going with this in 5 minutes unless another choice gets a sudden flood of votes.

>>24199983
>>24200054

Let's ink the sumbitch already then.

>>24200054
>>24199946
>>24199935

Theoretically you could buy both Ink and either
- tough skin
- living shadow

>>24200093
living shadow then... we need more +hit.

>>24200093
I say we buy Fist, we will need that Armor piercing bonus.

>>24200132

Note:

Fist's armor piercing applies to mundane physical attacks only, not physical shadow attacks.

>>24200132
Actually I'm switching to
>>24200118
Living Shadow will be better overall, we can get fist later.

>>24200152

Good.

>>24200118

Yes. Yes you do.

Alright.

You have purchased:

>Ink
>Living Shadow

Roll 1d20 to flank the gargoyle in the shadows and attack, ultimately trying to pin it to the ceiling...

In the meantime I'll update the ability tree...