uhay

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Ability Tree

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.

>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.

>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.

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>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)

>Shadow shield: Your aura is a shield against not only might, but magic. You gain a small bonus to all resistances.

>Compress: By sacrificing strength and defense, you can compress yourself and your aura to the size of a small mouse, greatly increasing dodge and physical and magical stealth. Warning: requires a turn to activate and deactivate.

>Lash: You become adept at whipping your amorphous body to strike your enemies, greatly increasing your range and accuracy.

>>24213055

I try.

Sorry I'm a bit late, friend wanted to get out of work early so I closed for him.

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Just in time.

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Statistics:

HP: 11/15
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 2
Humanity: 4
Corruption: 2

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)

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.
- minor injury

Inventory:

-Sun Key

Current Location:

Old Forest Keep

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>Last time...

The battle has ended.

You glance to the corpse of the gargoyle. Another feast awaits you...
...but your relationship with Joey could use some mending.

But then, do you care what some cowardly boy thinks of you?

The life force of the gargoyle is rapidly bleeding away. Instinct tells you to move quickly if you want its strength...

What do you do?

>Elected to console Joey

You slowly spindle your way over to Joey. He stiffens. Flint watches carefully, but makes no move to stop you.

You work a long tendril into his pack. After feeling around a bit, you find something you know a boy used to hunting would carry - bandages. You withdraw them, and your new dexterity allows you two wrap his wound. He winces as you tighten the cloth around the cut, but his trembling stops.

You lift his knife off the ground and turn it so it faces him hilt-first. He gingerly plucks it from your "hand" and returns it to its sheath.

You send him an Impression of confidence and warmth. Joey blinks for a moment. "...so...can a golem think?"

"...well, this is a special golem," Flint lies. "My family knows a powerful mage, a family friend that gave me Shadow as a gift. Think of it as a hunting dog." Flint points to the dried-up corpses. "A dog has to eat. It can turn the power of our enemies against us. If it didn't, who knows if I would've been able to beat the gargoyle?"

A small smile works up onto Joey's face. He nods. "...yeah. Um, thanks, Shadow."

You send Joey the best version of "your welcome" you can muster. His smile broadens.

You have gained 2 humanity.

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

Battle results:

HP: 11/15
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 2
Humanity: 4
Corruption: 2

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Unfortunately, the energy you might have harvested from the gargoyle is gone by the time the exchange is over. It seems only fresh beings will do...

A roar echoes into the third floor of the keep from the balcony, reminding you that you're not quite finished. It's the second gargoyle - but its cry is more pained than angry. You can hear the shrieking of more ghouls.

What do you do?

>check the balcony
>head down to the basement door
>something else

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>>24213075
>mfw that pic
Please excuse my while I rip my eyes out and go insane.

>>24213090
time to heal and got crypt diving

>>24213091

>nice pic. saved.

>>24213103
bandage everyone up, check balcony

>>24213103
>check the balcony

and spend 1 EXP point in shadow strike (to open up possibilities and improve magic attack)

>>24213103
check balcony, spend exp for unnatural speed, we'll need it against ghouls

>>24213190
this, fucking ghouls

>>24213144
I say the EXP in ether Great Strength or Unnatural Speed as these will help us earn more EXP.
We don't even have a way to replenish mana right now anyway.

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With Joey taken care of, you flash Flint an image of the balcony and lope out to investigate. His and Joey's boots smack the stone just behind you.

The sky is a dull yellow pink; the sun has almost fallen behind the trees. But that's not what draws your attention.

Down in the courtyard, the second gargoyle is fighting against a mob of 8 ghouls - and the ghouls seem to be winning. The gargoyle swings his spear back and forward, trying to keep them at bay, but the undead are too fast. He manages to catch one, ripping in in half with a single blow, but three more latch on to his side. The gargoyle drops his spear to rip them off his body, but the rest attack all at once.

The gargoyle attempts to use its wings to take to the air, but it's weighed down by 4 ghouls. As it manages to beat itself into the air, the ghouls grab on in a chain of bodies, forcing it to drag their weight. The gargoyle gives up, but not before using its weight to crush some of the monsters as it lands on the ground.

Now it's one chewed up gargoyle against five ghouls. The gargoyle looks beaten.

What do you do?

>intervene on the side of the gargoyle, then finish it off
>let them fight it out, then finish off who remains
>let them rip each other apart and head down to the keep's basement
>something else

>>24213190
If you are going for speed and dodge, consider waiting for centipede. Climb walls would be awesome. (not to mention the monstrous features when needed)

>>24213238
>>intervene on the side of the gargoyle, then finish it off
buy unnatural speed.

>>24213262
>>24213239
I agree with this

>>24213239
why? centipede focuses on momentum, with no speed no momentum

>>24213238
>intervene on the side of the gargoyle, then finish it off

>>24213238
>>intervene on the side of the gargoyle, then finish it off
>between Great Strength and Unnatural Speed I take the first one

>>24213238
>Intervene on the side of the gargoyle and finish it off
Id say wait for centipede before we spend anything.

>>24213239
>>24213262
>>24213278
>>24213287
>>24213289
>>24213294

Would you like to purchase an upgrade before you intervene?

>>24213287
>Centipede gives Dodge, stealth, and accuracy bonus.

>>24213318
gotta go with unnatural speed

>>24213287
and in this particular case, could stabilize the fall

>>24213324
>>24213287

To clarify, centipede is a wide but shallow bonus to three traits. Unnatural speed focuses specifically on dodge/sprinting speed.

>>24213324
but not speed, which the ghouls easily outclass us in. whats the point if they can hit us before we hit them

>>24213339
exactly, take big boost now

>>24213339
Unnatural speed sounds more immediately useful.

>>24213294
Great Strength and Unnatural Speed are equally useful, but Unnatural Speed will allow us to both avoid and get more hit in a fight.

>>24213318
well. we dont have 3 points anyway.
I vote Great Strength, but i'm already guessing i'm the only one

>>24213318
Now

>>24213318
we will get more exp latter, just count votes and go on with the narrative

>>24213344
>>24213358
>>24213368
>>24213382

Purchasing unnatural speed. Adjusting ability tree...

Meanwhile, will you be attempting to jump from the balcony into battle or running down the stairs?

>>24213416
If we get speed, might as well use it. Run down the stairs.

>>24213416
err, with joey hurt/a puss better take stairs
unless flint and you can catch him

>>24213393
But we don't seem to have a problem with strength. When we actually manage to hit somebody, they're torn to bits.

>>24213416
Stairs is a long way and could be blocked.
Jump to try to get there while garg still alive

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>>24213416

New Visible Abilities:

>Lightning Shadow - You move like the shadow of a lightning bolt--flickering, darting, able to confuse lesser opponents with your speed alone and pursue even the swiftest foes. Bonus to dodge and accuracy.

>>24213430
>>24213435
ask flint if he can carry/catch joey, if not help him do so

>>24213445
>Bonus to dodge and accuracy.
noice.

>>24213461
expensive though :/

>>24213431
Not him but I will say we have the strength of 3 men right now, Great Strength seems to give us the strength of roughly a gorilla, which depending where you ask is at least between 5-8 men.
AKA we won't have to throw blows we can just grab people and rip their limbs off.

>>24213509
>>24213431

Remember that you've been attacking with your shadows, not your body. You rip them to pieces because shadow spears tend to stab through flesh.

The strength of three men isn't enough to rip an arm off THAT easily...break it like a twig, yes.

Alright.

Are we jumping down and catching Flint and Joey?

>>24213445
Here are my skill recommendations, in order of desirability.

Great Strength| No brainer.
Fist/Tough Skin| Both equally good.
Shadow Walk/Quiet| Go hand in hand.
Shadow Strike| We need unlock this tree at some point.

>>24213569
assit flint, help catch joey, make a mad dash to battle

>>24213569

Locked in since I haven't seen a flood of dissent.

...it's that time again...

Roll 1d20!

Rolled 4

>>24213632
Go!

Rolled 2

>>24213561
I said Great Strength seems to be equivalent to a Gorilla, which definitely have the strength to rip peoples limbs off.

Rolled 5

>>24213632
roll

Rolled 4

>>24213632

Rolled 13

>>24213632
Not this again.

whelp, good thing flint should make the jump at least

>>24213671
you. be faster next time.

>>24213651

Ah.

The rolls are in.

COMPILING

We're off to a fine start.

>>24213691
told you d20 is a bastard

You don't hesitate - an advantage lost here is another, harder battle. You leap of the edge of the balcony. The sun shines bright behind you. You dig your shadow into the wall of the keep. It finds the nooks and cracks in the weathered stone, slowing your fall. You hit the ground hard, but without injury.

Flint and Joey are peering down at you. You flash them both an image of them jumping down and you catching them. They exchanged glances.

"Did it just tell us to jump?" Joey asks.

"Yes."

"...I think I'll take the - "

Flint grabs Joey and throws him over the edge.

The boy screams all the way down. You gently catch him in your arms and set him on the rotting grass. He's breathing hard, but totally unharmed by the trip. He clambers unsteadily to his feet.

Flint jumps without reservation, almost falling into a sort of swan dive. You then realize that catching a full-grown man in plate armor after having fallen three stories is going to be difficult.

Flint falls into your arms. You slow him as much as possible, but he slams into the ground, hard. He rolls over and coughs. "..dammit...Shadow...shit..." He's struggling to draw a breath - the wind is totally knocked out of him. But he's ok.

You turn back. The gargoyle is missing an arm, and its tail is gone. Another ghoul is dead, leaving four still moving.

What do you do?

>jump into Joey's shadow; guard him until Flint recovers
>hop into battle. Target the ghouls from the gargoyle's shadow.
>hop into battle. Target the ghouls from one of their shadows
>some other strategy

>>24213785
>>24213691

Forgot name. Signature applied.

>>24213803
>>hop into battle. Target the ghouls from the gargoyle's shadow.

>>24213785
>hop into battle. Target the ghouls from the gargoyle's shadow.

>>24213785
joey should be fine with flint
battle from gargoyle's shadow

The battles you've fought, consuming those monsters - it's like stretching old, rusted muscles. You're faster than you were before. You duck into the shadow of the gargoyle. With its attention on the four ghouls, it doesn't notice you.

The ghouls have surrounded your position. The gargoyle cocks its head, wary, trying to watch all its enemies at once.

They attack together. Two strike from the monster's front side. The other two come from behind it. What do you do?

>aid the frontal defense; the gargoyle only has one arm
>watch its back
>do nothing
>something else

>>24213920
watch its back, better to not revel ourselves

>>24213920
can we use our shadow or "ink" to replace lost limbs of gargoyle?

>>24213920
>watch its back

>>24213920
>watch its back, attack to defend it if necessary

>>24213958

It sounds plausible, though you could only hold it for the turn.

How the gargoyle would react to having a new, independently moving hand is another matter.

>>24214021
true, how 'bout just watch its back and defend it if necessary

>>24213920
Watch its back.

You decide to focus on the two ghouls running at the monster's backside.

One of the ghouls leaps high. It's going for the gargoyle's wing.

The other ghoul ducks low, trying to score a hit on the creature's legs.

What do you do?

>defend high
>defend low
>try to strike both ghouls at once
>something else

>>24214085
>>try to strike both ghouls at once
but put priority on lower, don't want gargoyle to lose footing

>>24214085
Stalk around the battle, CONSUME the fallen until there is just one left. Then finish them off and CONSUME them as well.

>>24213920
>something else

use ink to create sliperry ground around the gargoyle, making ghouls fall

>>24214108
>>24214132

Both viable options.

>>24214108
This.

The gargoyle is not our friend. The other one stabbed the fuck out of us, and this one is probably pissed off that we killed its bro and/or mate. The idea here is that neither the gargoyle nor the ghouls survive.

>>24214132
That would only get the ghoul going low unless you mean to trip the gargoyle too and make him fall as well. The other ghoul is already in mid-air.
I'd suggest just striking the lower one down.

>>24214108
>>24214208
But.. MUH HUMANITIES

>>24214211
Posting in support of this.

>>24214211
Can we use ink before he jumps?

>>24214254

No, he has already jumped. You do have very fast reflexes, but you can't go back in time.

Unless I need to retcon something that was an obvious error on my part.

>waiting patiently for consensus

>>24214249
Uh... just think of it as us reuniting it with its fallen comrade.

>>24214208
Saving the gargoyle is not the primal goal. The point is make him stay alive a little longer, since he is the main target of the gouls, not one of us

>>24214106
i vote with this then. Jump middle air and try to pierce both with shadow spear

>>24214249
We shouldn't plan our actions based on corruption or humanity points TOO much, seems a bit meta-gamey anyway.

Mr. Shadow does know he feels stronger after eating though, and with this strength we can more easily help Flint.

>>24214317
>>24214322
true, gain some corruption consuming gargoyle, humanity for saving everybody. either way take 'em out

Two main threads of opinion:

>focus on lower ghoul, attacking jumping ghoul is secondary
>stay on the outskirts of the battle/hidden in shadows and CONSUME fallen enemies. Finish off the remainder.

>>24214372
yes, these work

>>24214372
>Focus on lower ghoul
Better to cut down on their forces now then gamble for more of them falling before the gargoyle.

>>24214372
>>focus on lower ghoul, attacking jumping ghoul is secondary
If we just wait, the remainder will be more. They are not targeting us yet, take advantage of the surprise element

>>24214372
Second option

>>24214372
focus on lower ghoul, consume gargoyle as soon as its downed. flint should be up by them hopefully

>>24214372
Consume the fallen. We know they stop being good eats after they're dead for too long, so let's get to it.

Polite reminder to put "quest" in your quest thread subject field

This is the comment field

Rolled 97

IMO we should try to stay even in humanity/corruption. Not as a metagame plan mind you. It just feels like what our character is like ATM. We want to help these people (why? It just feels right? Idk) but we know we need to become stronger for that and eating seems to help us remember who we are.
Captcha: vishnu meinten. Seems we were Vishnu

>>24214436
>>24214429
>>24214420
>>24214417
>>24214412
>>24214405

For the sake of moving us along:

- attack lower ghoul
- then move about and consume any fallen enemies

We're having bad luck with d20, so

Roll 1d100

I'll just multiply all your modifiers by five. HP calculation occurs separately so no problems there.

>>24214439

Sorry about that.

>>24214544
>Rolled 97

It's a sign. All hail d100

Rolled 70

>>24214555

Rolled 16

>>24214555

Rolled 72

>>24214555

Rolled 19

>>24214555
rollan

Your shadows fly through the air...
...and slam into the ghoul that was going for the gargoyle's legs, piercing through its head and neck. Its limp body slides down your shadow spears before stopping, then drops to the ground as they unravel.

You send a third spear at the leaping ghoul, but miss! It lands on the gargoyle's back and begins to tear into the stony flesh connecting its wing to its back.

The gargoyle's fist smacks one of the ghouls charging from the front, pummeling it into the ground. The final ghoul strikes at the gargoyle's armless side, landing nasty blows on its stomach.

The gargoyle spins angrily, trying to throw the ghoul on its back. Unprepared for the movement, the ghoul tumbles away and slides to the ground in a confused tangle - but that same motion snaps the gargoyle's left wing right off.

The gargoyle faces the final ghoul and tries to smash it, but it's fast enough to dodge the attack.

Two ghouls remain. Two are dead.

What do you do?

>CONSUME AS PLANNED
>continue to fight against the remaining ghouls
>turn on the gargoyle

Rolled 16

>>24214704
CONSUME

Rolled 36

>>24214704
>>continue to fight against the remaining ghouls

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>>24214730

>>24214704
>CONSUME AS PLANNED
Delicious corpse meat is delicious.

With any luck, the gargoyle will manage to take down another ghouls before it dies.

Rolled 40

>>24214759
changing to consume for the sake of quick narrative

>>24214704
>>continue to fight against the remaining ghouls

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>>24214704
Hi, I'm Alton Brown and today on Good Eats, we'll be talking about all the tasty ways you prepare fresh ghoul.

You
Must
CONSUME

You latch onto the ghoul you killed yourself. Its energy becomes your own. As the two remaining ghouls attack the gargoyle, you find the other ghoul that was smashed and suck in the remnants of its spiritual energy.

>3 HP from consumption
>3 EXP so far from kill/consumption
>2 corruption from consumption

HP: 14/15
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 3
Humanity: 4
Corruption: 4

Meanwhile...

The gargoyle is stripped of its wings entirely, but one of the ghouls has lost both of its legs. It feebly tries to claw away from the battle...

...only to be met by Sir Flint's glowing sword. The steel pierces the monster's skull. Its body twitches futilely, then goes still.

The gargoyle is in a close-range clawing match with the final ghoul. The two beasts take bites out of one another, exchanging death blows. The ghoul is only standing because the gargoyle has been so weakened.

But finally, the gargoyle catches the ghoul on the neck, rending through deep. The ghoul's shriek is cut low by a spluttering of blood and yellow pus. The gargoyle finishes the beast with a punch to the head with its good arm.

The gargoyle's eyes land on Flint. It narrows its gaze, but it doesn't move. You realize why - one of its feet is chewed to bits. You both stand side-by-side in front of the monster. Joey is some distance behind you, close to the wall of the keep.

What do you do?

>move in and finish it off
>let Flint take the lead on this one. CONSUME the last ghoul
>something else

Rolled 57

>>24214901
If the gargoyle makes a hostile action, move in to finish it off and CONSUME it.

If it does not, then just CONSUME the last ghoul.

Either way, CONSUME

>>24214901
>>move in and finish it off
kill it, consume it

Rolled 85

>>24214901
>>something else
try to send an impression of peace to the gargoyle

>>24214901
Kill it off, consume it right afterward.

We should by centipede now. All in favor?

Rolled 44

>>24214901
spend 1 little point in shadow strike (that tree is the big one, need to start discovering it)

>>24214983
buy*

>>24214901
Consume the ghoul, but let Flint decide the gargoyle's fate.

Rolled 60

>>24214987
Seconding buying Shadow Strike.

Rolled 18

>>24214987
>>24215015
Also Buy Great Strength.

Rolled 83

>>24215059
I will probaly agreed, but want to see what will be unlocked first

>>24214987
>spend 1 little point in shadow strike
Sounds good to me.

Rolled 6

>>24214901
Can we tame it?

>>24215132
Maybe with some sort of advanced magic, but even if we had that it would not look good to Flint/

You feast upon the final ghoul.

>you gain 2HP!
>you gain 1 EXP
>...you gain 1 corruption...

Flint steps toward the gargoyle. The monster tries to move into a striking position, but its damaged footing leaves it sorely unbalanced. Flint dives in, dodges the Gargoyle's attempt to strike, and cleaves off its head with one flash of his longsword.

He then promptly trips and falls into the battle-churned dust face-first. The gargoyle's body falls on top of him. He's pinned, squirming and yelping. "...ow.w...shit! Shadow, get this thing off me!"

You grab the gargoyle's body. With a long heave, you lift the stone off the knight. Flint gets to his feet and sighs heavily. You hear him mutter something under his breath. "...damn...always happens to me."

"Sir Flint, are you ok?"

"My dignity could use some polishing, but I'm alright."

Joey seems beside himself. With the battle finished, he's forgotten his fear. "That was amazing! You killed the ghouls and the gargoyles too, and Shadow ate the zombies, and, Light Spirit, we jumped off a castle keep! My friends are never going to believe this!"

Flint withdraws the Sun Key from his pouch. "...focus on survival, Joey. We're only half done." Flint pockets the key. "Probably not even half, I expect. We haven't even found out what's causing this mess." Flint looks at the fallen, half-eaten foes. "...but we do know one thing. It's actively controlling these things as its minions."

Joey seems puzzled by this. "How do you know?"

"A wild guess," Flint says.

"...oh."

The knight just shakes his head. "Use your brain. Do you think the timing of that attack was an accident?"

"I guess not."

"No. I guess not." Flint marches toward the keep. "Let's go."

>follow Flint
>do something else

>>24215132
I can't imagine there'd be much point. It's been pretty seriously dismembered.

>>24215162
Follow flint, not much else to do. He has the key, he should know what to do with it

>>24215162

HP: 15/15
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 4
Humanity: 4
Corruption: 5

Rolled 89

>>24215213
we agreed to spend 1 point in shadow strike

>>24215162
Can we ask if the second key might be located in the basement?

Rolled 16

>>24215213
Buy Great Strength and Shadow Strike, save the last point.

>>24215162
Follow flint. Also, spend an exp point on Shadow Strike.

>>24215162
>follow Flint

>>24215253

You send Flint an image of a moon, then of the steel basement doors.

"Indeed. A Moon Key to match," Flint says to you. "More or less what I was thinking."

Purchasing shadow strike...

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>>24215300

Purchased: Shadow Strike
-basic shadow magic attack (costs 2 mana. 2 base magic power)

>Spirit sight: allows you to see and interact with spirits easily. Removes natural dodge bonus of spiritual creatures.

>Shadow sense: Better trap detection, and enemy stealth detection. You also become more attuned to the elements...

>Shadow assault: Launch several shadowy projectiles at the enemy. Costs 4 mana. 4 base magic power. Can hit multiple enemies.

>>24215379

3 EXP remaining

>>24215379
soo... great strenght, centipede or maybe fangs?

>>24215418
centipede, more useful for dungeons like this.

>>24215393
any tips in wich tree gives wings or maybe a breath attack?

You follow Flint into the keep. He marches confidently down the stone steps to the steel basement doors.

"I know I saw...ah." He takes the Sun Key in his hand and slowly lifts it to the door. It fits snugly into a small, etched sun-shape embedded in the door.

The steel glows once, bright orange. The key falls loose; Flint picks it up. When he pushes on the doors, they open smoothly and soundlessly.

The sun is set, and the darkness beyond the doors is quite deep. This poses no problem to you, but Joey swallows audibly. Flint shuffles around in his pack a bit, then withdraws a torch.

He seems about to light it, then pauses. He glances at you. "...I know a minor spell to give myself and Joey sight in the darkness. No color. But perhaps it would be better to have an invisible friend than a torch?"

What do you do?

>let him light the torch (reduces stealth, allows shadow attacks)
>stay in the dark (large stealth/dodge bonus)
>some other idea

>>24215418
Nothing else yet, just save some xp for awhile.

>>24215418
Fangs might be a good one. We seem to be nomming on our foes quite a bit as it is, so we might as well develop that set of skill some more.

>>24215469

>wouldn't you like to know

Well, I guess.

Movement-related things can be found in the movement tree...

As for a breath attack, you don't really have one, but you do have medium-range "shotgun-like" spells somewhere in there...

...ellipses...they're so mysterious...

>>24215502
agreed

>>24215491
Let him light it, we can move ahead of the torch light to scout ahead.

>>24215540
good, keep to shadows and have flint ready with torch

>>24215491
we need light to use fangs (if we have it)

>>24215540
seconding this

>>24215582
that was a question

i vote this >>24215540

>>24215582

You don't need light to use fangs, it's a physical ability. Note the background colors. Shadow attack abilities are all in the grey tree.

You have selected
>Flint lights torch
>stay ahead of the light to scout things out

>>24215629

To clarify further, you only need a light source for ACTIVE-USE abilities in the physical shadow tree. Passive abilities, such as shadow aura, are always on regardless of the light.

>>24215629
yep. suggest fist and great strength

>>24215629
That is correct.
Still in favor of centipede

>>24215671
suggest fangs and great strength, but keep the exp to spend as needed is wise too

>>24215705
centipede, fangs and great strenght are all good to me.

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You send Flint and Joey an affirmative of him lightning the torch, backing that with an image of the knight feeling his way through the dark, only to trip over a rock and smack into Joey.

He snorts. "Very amusing."

You send them another image of yourself clearly bobbing around outside their bubble of torchlight, scouting. Flint nods. "That sounds like a plan. Let us know if you see anything."

"How smart is Shadow?" Joey asks.

"Very," Flint says. "A very smart wolf."

"...oh. Well, good!" Rather than frightened by your intelligence, it seems Joey has a rising confidence in your abilities.

This pleases you greatly, though you're still rather miffed as being labeled a pet by Flint. It is, however, a convenient cover story, so you don't contradict him.

You proceed into the darkness, continuing down the stone steps...

...your shadowy body splashes into water.

"What's that?" Flint asks.

You send him what you see: an image of flooded hallways.

"...fantastic. Hope you've waterproofed those boots, boy."

They splash into the water behind you. You creep forward, wary of any enemies.

You come to a fork. The path splits left and right.

Which way do you go?

>left
>right

>>24215709
current exp is 3
fangs 2 great strength 2

>>24215731
Tell them to wait here we will head ahead on the right about a 100 feet and turn back to report what we found.

Rolled 2

>>24215732
1 - right
2 - left

>>24215418
get great strenght.

Rolled 16

>>24215731
Left for glorious exciting riveting convulsing aspiring twitching homoerotic democratic theistic paleolithic malevolent magnificent adventure.

Jesus Christ Op, its like 9 am in my timezone (GMT+3) . Could you try starting the quest a bit earlier so that us Europeans could post too?

>>24215731
>left
Oh god, that image... not this game again...

Rolled 1

>>24215801
3 pm here
lol

>>24215418
great strenght then

>>24215801

I got off work at 10pm EST. What do you want from me?

>>24215835
be in two places at once?

You send Flint a note of caution and tell him to stop. The splashing from behind you comes to a halt; you hear Flint mutter the command to Joey.

You creep off to the left. Your shadowy footfalls plink through the water. It's the only sound. The left-hand hall slowly curves to the side.

A faint haze greets you. You move forward, and come to the edge of a wall. A long crack runs up its side, and is the source of the light. You peer in.

You can see the shaft of the setting sun piercing down into what must be the well. The wall, cracked with age, has let the water flood into the bottom of the keep.

The well is very deep. You can't see the bottom. But resting on a hunk of stone is a faint glimmer of steel. It looks like a sword...

What do you do?

>Ink through the crack and examine the sword
>turn around, it's of no interest to you
>signal to Flint and Joey
>something else

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>>24215910

>>24215912
sword, tell flint

>>24215912
Let Flint know about the sword and we're going to nudge it to see what happens

Rolled 1

>>24215912
>something else

Sleep time. See the end of this session tomorrow. good narrative OP.

[vote4fangs]

>>24215910
Har Har.

>>24215835
>>24215925
I don't know your program, but a good timeline that other American questrunners use is early afternoon till late night. That way people on both continents are able to participate.

>>24215912
Tell flint, then investigate.

examine, might be a weapon upgrade for Flint or even Joey.

You send Flint an image of the bottom of the well and the sword, as well as a note of curiosity. He should get the message that you're going to investigate.

You Ink your way through the crack, liquifying and plopping into the water on the other side. You reach a tendril toward the sword.

It springs into the air! Its metal glows hot orange. It brandishes itself left, right, then levels itself in your direction!

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

Calling the thread there, I want to get to bed.

Archival of Shadow Quest 5 is completed.

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

>>24216072
>early afternoon till late night

When I can, I suppose.

I'll be back Sunday evening around the same time as usual, earlier if I can manage it.

>>24216147
nice cliffhanger there Master, see you sunday!