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>>24284602

Ability Tree

(I know this is messy, but please bear with it until I get a tgchan account for organizational purposes)

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:

>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)

>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.

>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.

>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.

>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.

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

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

>Berserk - Ignore your defenses and strike all around you in a vicious physical assault. Powerful bonuses to strength and armor piercing, but lowered dodge and defense. It becomes much more difficult for you to distinguish friend from foe.

>Mind Crush - A brutal spirit magic attack directly into the mind of your foe. (costs 10 mana)

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Statistics:

HP: 21/21
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 2
Humanity: 6
Temerity: 5

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
-Defend
-Dodge and Counter
-specific ability (takes one turn. Defensive abilities activate same-turn)
-Flee (dodge check if enemy attacks)

Inventory:

None

Current Location:

Kelvere - Jacob's Field

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Notable Characters

Abigail - a young girl with powerful latent Spirit magic. You saved her from a zombie attack and have grown rather protective of her. (pictured)

Sir Donovan Flint - a knight of Dobshire. He is strongly aligned with the spirit element. Competent and worldy, he's a fierce ally and skilled combatant - when he isn't tripping over himself.

Joey - a young boy that accompanied you and Flint to the Old Forest Keep

Fredrick - Pastor John's brother, and the town mayor. He believes Abigail is responsible for the Spirit Plague.

Adavan - once a wizard, now a greatly reduced lich. He was sealed away under the Old Forest Keep during the Elementomachy. He has reigned in the spell that slipped out of his control, ending the plague.

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>Last time...

Flint is silent for a moment. "...this is wrong, and we are not finished. Damn you, if she gains so much as another scratch - "

"...Sir Flint? Mr. Mayor?"

Abigail has awoken. She looks back and forward between the two men.

Flint takes a breath. He leans in to Fredrick's ear to speak, but you can still hear him. "...one more scratch, Fredrick, and maybe I don't care if I start a war." He turns back. "Abby, you just be good and sit there, alright?"

"Will Mr. Shadow help?"

"You see." Fredrick looks triumphant. "Age 9, and summoning familiars. This is why Spirit is a forbidden element."

Flint ignores him. "Yes. Mr. Shadow will help. Be a good girl. Everything's going to be fine."

"Ok."

Flint struggles not to storm his way out of the gaol in front of Abigail.

Fredrick narrows his eyes. "You don't fool me, witch. I'll see you turned firewood, mark my words."

"...it wasn't my fault," Abigail says. "And I didn't mean to - "

"Whether you meant to or not makes no difference! My brother is dead!" And with that, Fredrick slams the door behind him. You hear a few muttered words muffled by the door, and then the front door opens and closes.

Light shines in through the window. You're alone with Abigail.

What do you do?

>break Abigail out of her cell and run to Adavan
>reassure Abigail, then consult with Sir Flint
>follow Fredrick. This problem...can be easily CONSUMED.
>something else

>pictured: Sir Donovan Flint

SHADOW QUEST! YES! OH GOD, YES!

My night is set.

>>24284645

Slight typo: Sir Flint is strongly aligned with the LIGHT element, not the Spirit element.

>>24284665
>>something else

Reassure Abigail and just stay with her. We are confident that Flint can deal with this himself but if anyone threatens Abigail, we will be here to protect her.

>>24284665
Let's comfort Abigail. Let her know that we have a plan to get her out safe, and let her know what was going on when we were with Sir Flint.

>>24284665
>>reassure Abigail, then consult with Sir Flint
We need to plan this out.

>>24284727
>>24284719
>>24284718

Are we going to Sir Flint or staying put?

>>24284665
Stay with Abigail and reassure her that everything will be alright and tell her of what has happened in the forest. Let Sir Flint do his own thing for now.

>>24284771
I say we stay put.

>>24284665
>reassure Abigail and stay with her

>>24284665
>reassure

>>24284799
>>24284789
>>24284780
>>24284727
>>24284719
>>24284718

When you reassure her, would you like to reveal you can speak or simply use Impressions and gestures?

>>24284836
I'd say gestures as that's what she's most used to. What kind of voice do we have? It might freak her out more.

>>24284836
Don't see any reason to hide that we can talk but using images can work better for a child. We could do both, right?

>>24284771
Stay put for now. Explain to her what happened through images for now.

>>24284836
A combo of both.
>>24284849
I can't help but imagine we sound like Arakune from Blaze Blue.

>>24284836
Images first, then when we get to us speaking we let her know through images.

Abigail shifts and sits upright against the straw. She tries to brush some off her dirty clothing, but it sticks, and she promptly huffs and gives up. She draws a finger in the dirt.

Curious, you stay silent for a moment and watch. People emerge in her drawing. There's a small stick figure holding hands with two larger stick figures. Then, a fourth is added, holding a sword and wearing a square helmet. Finally, above them, is a big blob with eyes and a smile.

You bob out of Abigail's shadow.

"Mr. Shadow?!" She grabs your squishy side and hugs tight. "Did you beat the mean thing in the forest with Sir Flint?"

You send her an image of the affirmative and bob up and down. "We did."

"...you can talk?" She stares at you. "Since when?"

"I've recently...remembered. But it's rather difficult."

"That's ok, I like picture messages. Maybe I can do it to, if I practice." She tilts her head. "So what happened?"

You explain the major points of your recent adventure. You don't hold back the details about Adavan, describing him as a good wizard that was trying to stop the plague all along, but couldn't because he was imprisoned.

"...wow..." Abigail falls back. "Can I meet him?"

You send her an Impression of the affirmative and bob a yes.

"Cool. Maybe he can show me more magic stuff?" She frowns, and something crosses her features. "...maybe...not. The mayor doesn't like it, and..." She begins to tremble. "...am I a witch?"

"No." You bob next to her. "You are a remarkable young lady. None of this was your fault."

She nods. "...ok." But she starts crying anyway and latches on to you once again. You let her, quietly absorbing her tears into your inky form. "I miss my mom and dad."

An odd thought strikes you: you have no parents. A Shadow Spirit such as yourself is simply born from instability...a physical phenomenon. A thing that happens, like the sunset and the tide.

The thought is sobering.

>you have gained 2 humanity!

What do you do now?

>>24285048

>stay put, Flint is on the case
>find Fredrick and make him pay
>time for a breakout.
>something else

HP: 21/21
Mana: 4/4
EXP: 2
Humanity: 8
Temerity: 5

>>24285048
>>something else
Play a shadow picture show for Abigail to lighten up her mood. With our Ink ability it should be possible. But keep an eye out so that no one notices you.

>>24285107
also
>stay put, Flint is on the case

samefag btw

>>24285064
Stay put, even though going to CONSUME Fredrick is tempting.

>>24285064
A breakout would probably just give Freddy more fuel for his fire, but I don't see how staying put will help.

Maybe finding Flint to confer with him, and snagging that shadow blade fragment off of Joey.

>>24285048
Hug her for a bit, then tell her that you might have a plan that you thought of...

My idea is this: We convince Flint that he mention that if he cannot get Abigail out of her punishment, then at least the mayor should banish her from the town into a dangerous area. Have him suggest sealing her into the old mausoleum, as what was once sealed there was using the spirit of a person capable of using magic. Then, as it's sealed, have the lich make some sort of magical noise like a ear-bleedingly loud shriek, as if the girl's soul was trapped into the building itself. Thus she gets to meet the lich, and learn how to control her magic with a mentor!

>>24285193
That is a very interesting plan I have to say,though I'm more of a CONSUME anyone who tries to harm her type of person.

You lazily contort yourself into various shapes. Abigail considers each one with the too-serious attitude of a child.

Time passes. The light of the window slowly rotates through the prison as the sun follows its course. You duck into Abigail's shadow when she's brought food - soup and water. Her jailer seems sympathetic, but makes no conversation.

In the meantime, Abigail quietly tells you about herself - not line by line, but in a sort of meandering way, hopping from subject to subject as her mind grasps different things. She likes climbing trees. Her mother makes great pumpkin pie. Her parents were turnip farmers. She's been able to see ghosts since she was five. She can make things move with her mind if she tries, and sometime orange sparks fly from her fingers when she gets angry. She does her best not to get angry. She's glad she met you and Sir Flint. Turnips are really tasty, you know. What kind of magic does the wizard use?

Sounds turn your attention to the outside. You peer out the window of the gaol. Abigail tries to hop to get a view, but she's not tall enough. You grab her by the back of her old dress and lift her so she can see.

A large number of men are moving into the town center. Fredrick leads. Flint is nowhere to be seen.

You continue to watch. A moment later, Flint appears, Joey and a few others in tow. They head into the hall.

Over time, more people gather. The hall is packed with lights and sound. Whatever Flint's going to do, he's probably going to do it soon.

What do you do?

>everyone's distracted. Time for a jailbreak.
>everyone's in one place. Time to put the fear of the shadow into them.
>sneak into the hall and see what happens
>stay with Abigail

>>24285268

>stay with Abigail

Paranoid vote, in case Fredrick has everyone in the town hall distracted to do something stupid with some lackeys.

>>24285268

>>stay with Abigail

>>24285245
Thank you! Consuming him is something of a Godzilla Threshold situation for me, so that's why I'm a bit unwilling to do that...

Another idea: have the which burning start, but before she is put to the torch, take over Mayor McDick's shadow and twist it into something demonic. Have Joey be a plant who notices the horrible shadow that the Mayor is casting, and point it out to everyone. As Flint is sent to make sure the town is safe from situations like that, he will have to get everyone to hold the Mayor down so that the villagers can dispense "Justice", by having them kill the mayor.

>>24285268
Head over to Flint and tell him our plan >>24285193. And quick, too.

>>24285344
Doubt Flint will agree with such an underhand move.

Best we can do is have Flint take Abigail away from the town and bring her to the capitol where mages are sought after and respected

>>24285193
>>24285359

The plan is to give away Abigail to a Lich? Do you honestly think that Flint is going agree with this?

>>24285359 here.
On second thought, >>24285316 makes some sense. Still, if we see him again, we need to talk to him...

>>24285268
Stay with Abigail, maybe ask her questions while we are here? If she wants to learn magic, does she want to stay in the town, etc.
>>24285344
Do you know what might help with this plan? Doom aura.
Shadow Master does Doom aura puts all light sources including fire right?

>>24285386
Give away? Of course not, which is why we shall form a party and travel together.

>>24285396

Yes. Everything in the room or within a reasonable radius.

Cannot be used in combat easily, however, as it requires an intense moment of concentration. Out of battle, however, there won't be a penalty.

So, looks like we're sitting tight with Abigail...? Leaving quite a bit up to Flint, but ok. Choo-choo! Here comes the plot train...

>>24285417
I'd rather wish we don't. We went with Flint to eliminate the danger because of the necessity, I prefer our relationship with him ends here and I don't trust the Lich.

>>24285440
WAIT!

Lets prepare for an escape if it is necessary. Loose the bars/bricks on the window so that if we have to escape, we can quickly break them and run away with Abigail.

Advalon will be able to help her with her abilities.
Since she is untrained, her abilities are unstable, thus manifest when her emotions are heightened, Advalon can teach her how to control her powers.

Shadow, does our half of the elemental paradigm have a 'healing' class? Since Spirit seems to include the art of Necromancy, could it also use healing abilities?

>>24285440
I say we buy Doom aura and if it looks like someones is about to use fire put all light out.
>>24285450
Well he doesn't have to join us unless you are worried he might track us down and I don't trust the lich either, but he has information we need.

>>24285472
Ah shit yeah good idea.

>>24285417
I was saving this for later, when I was talking to Sir Flint but goddamnit, I have to tell you what I plan to send him an image of.

After we mention enlisting the help of the lich, when he protests Send an image of Sir Flint and Adavan the Lich skipping down the forest, hand in hand, friends forever! You and Abigail are behind them, cheering them on and throwing flower petals behind you while skipping in thime with them. The scene is so rediculous it warps back into hilarity. Theme song: God only knows by the Beach Boys.
Then a big red X and a buzzer sound goes over the scene. Remind him that asking the lich to help doesn't mean being the bestest friends forever.

>>24285472
Would be good to have a contingency if and when shit goes down, throw this in with the next action.

>>24285478
Or she could go to the established institution and learn magic there

>>24285489
Lets not waste Exp on Doom Aura.

>>24285478

Spirit magic is not at all specialized in healing, and you won't gain anything like that in your Spirit magic tree.

An adept Spirit mage could heal minor to serious injuries with time and the right spell, but they specialize in modifying/controlling passed souls, not ones still living.

>>24285512
Problem with this is that if the last thread is to be believed there are no established institutes for spirit magic. It was on the loosing side of the war. So spirit magic along with shadow might be illegal.

>>24285512
>>24285508
>>24285472

Ok.

So, sit still, plan contingency.

>>24285547
Didn't we ask Flint about mages few threads ago? He said something about how they are sought after and how there is an University or something like that in the capitol. He said he would take Abigail there as she would be safer

Though it's tempting to take action, you're unwilling to take any chances. You decide to put your faith in Flint and sit tight with Abigail.

But you do wrap your arms tight around the window bars...and tug, hard. The stone is firm...and the metal is sunk in deep. It might make too much noise to just rip them right out.

You turn back to the longer, thinner bars that wall off the cell. You put about half your strength into it, and you're able to bend them slightly. Confident you can do more as soon as needed, you turn back to the hall.

You bend your senses toward the town hall in an effort to discern more...but it's too far to hear clearly.

However, you are able to vaguely sense the position and movements of the souls within. Someone is standing at the front of the room, before a panel of individuals...the hall has fallen silent but for a single, muffled voice. It must be some kind of speech.

After he's finished, another soul moves to the front...one that's bright as a sun. Flint.

He stands there, moving to and fro on the stage. You can hear gasps and voices from the hall reacting to his words...maybe he's telling the story? You can almost feel the crowd coming around to his side, like a pendulum of emotion swinging back....and Flint's soul seems to -react- to the warmth of the crowd, glowing brighter.

Something slithers across your senses.

The black thing bent around Flint's soul suddenly warps. It twists, constricting, rattling like a snake.

Flint trips. You can hear the thud from here. Laughter echoes from the hall.

You wince.

But the sense of a turning tide is suddenly gone. The muffled stream of Flint's speech is stolen - he's practically stuttering. You hear what might be Joey adding something into the mix, but it falls flat.

You don't have a good feeling about this.

What do you do?

>breakout. Run to Adavan.
>breakout. Hide on the outskirts of town and signal to Flint.
>sit tight. Trust Flint to bring it back.
>something else

>>24285685
Final Plan: Break out and become the BBEG. Shout out how this child is only a puppet, that you were the one who was controlling the dead, and have Flint give chase to us, to kill us in the forest.

>>24285685
Welp, we gave him a chance.
>breakout. Run to Adavan

>>24285685
Help Flint. He needs to win this!

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>>24285685
Hmm. Perhaps we should have dealt with that shadowthing beforehand.

Nevermind, lets wait and see.

>>24285759
Might try this if all fails.

>>24285759
The problem is they would still kill the puppet as the crazy mayor is still there.

>>24285685
Flint. We need to get that shade thing off of him, or at least calmed down enough not to blow his chance.

>>24285786
Okay, lets do this.
Go there and encourage Flint, maybe deal with that shadow thing too.
He just needs to get over his spaghetti

Tell Abigail we're going to help Flint out

>>24285786
>Help Flint.

How can we do that though? A shadowy elemental would probably spook the entire town.

Hiding on the outskirts is probably a good choice, but it might come back to bite flint somehow.

Going to adavan just seems like a bad idea altogether, I mean really who brings a 9 year old to a lich?

>>24285537

so, the only 'school' of magic that specialises in healing is the one that is the opposite to Spirit then?

if we were to get magic healing, would it be necromantic or *biomantic* (not sure if there is actually an existing word that is the antonym of Necromantic...)

>>24285547 >>24285646
This one is an interesting matter, as it has been established that Shadow, Spirit, Water and Earth lost the war. Based on everyone's reactions to Shadow and Spirit magic, any known place of learning is liable to heavily suspect, monitor or limit anyone with an affinity to those Elements.

Adavan could teach her unbiased Spirit magic, not the limited and censored versions that this 'Magic Institution' would teach her.

>>24285685
hmmm, could we try to tunnel underneath the walls? we could use our shadow to obscure it...

>>24285823
We just jump from shadow to shadow, I doubt the villagers in the hall are going to be attentive to their feet anyway.

>>24285786

>help Flint

How?

Waiting, as it seems opinion is quite divided at the moment.

>>24285798
Simple. Jump from shadow to shadow. Find the mayor's shadow and stick there, screaming blashemies and murdurous vengance in his voice till the knight exorcises us. Leave.

>>24285685
Go deal with that fucking thing in Flint's shadow and then trust him to rally the crowd back to his side.

>>24285855
I told you, go and encourage the Knight. He is now flushed and lost his steam, we need to get him back on track. Images, words, whatever.
Also, deal with that thing in his shadow so this wont happen again.

>>24285858
Or do this and fill his mind with images of regret and not wanting to kill the girl and at the same time sending images to the crowd to believe Flint.

>>24285855
Crawl from peasant shadow to peasant shadow till we can reach him.

>>24285847
>Adavan could teach her unbiased Spirit magic, not the limited and censored versions that this 'Magic Institution' would teach her.

You're good. I'm going to watch out for you...

>so, the only 'school' of magic that specialises in healing is the one that is the opposite to Spirit then?

Every element has some bit of healing but Shadow and Fire. Water and Light have the maximum potential for healing.

>>24285861
Seeing as running doesn't seem too popular, I'll throw my vote in with jumping into Flint's shadow to deal with his "stage fright".

Alright, I've concluded that people pretty much want to intervene now.

But are we going to

>Aid Flint by sending him encouragement and Impressing Abigail-positive images on the crowd
>Aid Flint by trying to deal with the black thing
>Use the mayor as a scapegoat; position yourself near him and try to mimic his voice/make his shadow look evil
>Burst out with Abigail and make yourself look like the real bad guy, then run

>>24285918
>>Aid Flint by sending him encouragement and Impressing Abigail-positive images on the crowd
>>Aid Flint by trying to deal with the black thing

Can't we do both? Encourage first and then deal with the black thing

>>24285918
>Aid Flint by sending him encouragement and Impressing Abigail-positive images on the crowd

Let's not touch the black thing yet as we don't know what might happen if we do.

>>24285944

Of course you can do both. I'm just trying to build consensus by listing common threads of thought. You never have to feel that you have to pick one or the other when I list options.

>>24285918
I say encourage him. Send images of that poor little girl. She lost her parents to that last attack, and now she has the burden of dealing with magic. The poor lass has suffered enough...

>>24285944
>>24285945
I'm thinking we deal with that snake later, when we get out of this place. Ask him if he has been tripping far too often, or if he feels oddly "off balance"...

>>24285945
Try to put doubt in the mayor's head if possible as well.

You Impress Abigail with yourself standing next to Flint, propping him up.

"Gonna help?"

You bob a yes.

"Ok. Be careful. Um...thank you, Mr. Shadow."

"You're welcome," you say.

You Ink out through the prison window and slip into the town hall.

It's crowded, but there's a lot of light. Shadows play everywhere as people shift and move about...and Flint's all the way across the room.

People are frowning and giving Flint looks as he tries to find his place. "...there's...the thing is, in the keep - "

"This is ridiculous," Fredick says. "Out with it, or quit wasting our time. I don't care who you are, this is our town and this needs to be dealt with in a serious manner, not like some sort of bedtime story."

A rumble of agreement rises from the crowd. Flint's face twists between nerves and frustration.

You blast him with Impressions. You and him, fighting side-by-side against the ghouls. Abigail, locked in a cell. And Flint himself - promising her it'll be alright.

Flint's head jerks up. He gives a subtle nod. "...you don't care who I am?" He turns. "Then you're an ignorant fool. I am Donovan Flint, fourth son of Timerius Flint, Lord of Dobshire! And you will hear me out before you put to the stake an innocent young girl!"

Fredrick sits back, stunned. The townspeople go silent. You use the opportunity to sneak up through the shadows. None of them notice you, and before long, you've slipped into Flint's shadow!

"Not just an innocent," he continues. "A girl you've all known all your lives. A sweet, goodhearted child - and yes one with magic, but one that never meant or did harm to anyone. She...she's - "

The black thing twists on the light of Flint's soul - and now you see it stealing the light away, siphoning it off as if its sipping from a drink.

Flint clutches his head. He shakes himself.

"Proclamations of authority will do you know good here!" Fredrick says, taking advantage. "My brother is dead. Our friends, families - our loved ones are dead!"

>>24286114

What do you do?

>try to attack the strange creature
>continue to support Flint's speech and leave the thing be; influence the villagers and the mayor
>try to frame Fredrick
>something else

>>24286124
try to attack the strange creature
its stealing his ability to do good and great things by making him look like a fool.

>>24285945

also throwing my vote in with Pro-Abigail Impressions on crowd.

>>24285886
Interesting glimpse into one facet of the Elemental workings...
Also, I have a bad tendency to bring my work into quest threads... Creative Analysis rarely has an off switch

>send Flint a picture of what we see, his brightness in chains. Send worry, confusion... and conviction to do something about it

followed by:
>try to attack the strange creature
consume.

>>24286149
This.
I don't think Flint can win this while something withing him is working against him.

>>24286154

I think you meant

CONSUME

But your vote is acknowledged.

>>24286114
Strange creature get's a clawful of NO! BAD! in the form of an asskicking.

>>24286124
>continue to support Flint's speech and leave the thing be; influence the villagers and the mayor

Maybe try talking the thing into not sucking it all now and wait until the speech is over when he is full of light?

>>24286154
>>24286182

I think we should, if we can, subdue the creature till Flint is done with the villagers, THEN we can try to consume it or something. I'm just afraid it will be noticeable otherwise.

>>24286114
Send Flint an impression of Abigail with her mother and father, all smiles. Then an impression of how she is now, orphaned and imprisoned.

Try to send him a strong feeling of injustice.

Would it be possible to whisper to him softly enough that no one else could hear?

>>24286124

Support with the impressions. This seems to be something he has been living with for at least some time. The middle of a 'court hearing' over the fate of Abigail is probably a poor choice in time and location to be dealing with it...

Once Abigail is free and we have left the village, and are unlikely to scare any local with the impending 'Clash of the Shadows'.

note; create a play called 'Clash of the Shadows' and use it portray the conflicting nature of Shadows... or a mans fight with his 'inner demon'...

>>24286124

It's past time we dealt with mysterious shade monster. It's obvious by now we should've dealt with that thing a long time ago.

>>24286124

Attack the shadow creature. Nobody messes with our bros and gets away with it.

>>24286241
Maybe, but in front of a crowd is not the best place to mess with this shadow. It can such the light out of him and who knows what else if agitated.

>>24286241
...forgive me, sons of /tg/...

I'm sick of these motherfuckin shades on my motherfuckin knave!

...yes I know he's not a knave, but it was easier to make it rhyme...

You send Flint an Impression of his brightness in chains, along with worry and confusion. Flint raises his head and tries to shake the distraction. You send Impressions into the crowd as he begins again, images of Abigail picking turnips, smiling, playing near the river. You can see the faces of the people you're working on change once more...

"While in the keep, we found a Spirit dynamo. This is a special type of magic that perpetuates..."

Donovan's speech continues, and you focus on the creature.

It's snake-like indeed, wrapping about him like a rope. It eyes you warily.

You strike with your shadows!

...nothing happens. Your shadows, though magical, slip by your target as if it isn't even there!

It slithers and rattles...almost as if it's chuckling.

Roll 1d100 for your screw-up getting noticed by the crowd!

Rolled 36

>>24286114
Rolling Sneaky

Rolled 23

>>24286312

shittttt

Rolled 73

>>24286312

Please.

>>24286312
Man, we told you to not attack it

>>24286312

How quickly can we MIND CRUSH it?

File: 1366160314875.jpg-(10 KB, 205x246, warned.jpg)

10 KB JPG

Rolled 40

>>24286312

rolling.

>>24286312
I had a feeling something like this would happen.

>>24286377

>implying you have MIND CRUSH

Rolled 87

...well, time to bring out >>24285759 if this fails...

Rolled 51

>>24286393

Damn.

>>24286377

I sort of felt a reflexive "delusion is not suggestion" from that.

Hope we didn't get noticed and that we can distract the thing enough to have Flint finish his speech

>>24286393
looks like no shadow realm for us

>>24286312
Try sending images to the shadow thing of flint finishing his speech and how bright he is and the next one the shadow thing consuming the light.

Go Diplomacy!

Rolled 67

>>24286431
>>24286312

TM, pay attention to your own quest.

>which is amazingly hypocritical of me.

>>24286393
Could we control this thing with shadow control?

>>24286312

"...concentrated instability, thereby continuing a very old spell," Flint finishes. "I believe that it may have stemmed from as far back as the Elementomachy."

The room watches him...but doesn't react in horror. You've escaped notice.

"You expect us to believe something like that?" Fredrick asks.

"More likely than a 9-year old witch bent on destroying her own neighbors," Flint shoots back.

"Clearly she's possessed!"

"If she were, I would know," Flint said, "and if I couldn't do it, I'd bring her to Heavensgate myself if need be to exorcise her."

"Then it was intentional," Fredrick insists. "Spells don't work on their own. They need a human channeler."

"That's not always the case. With a dynamo - "

"A magical dynamo, an object capable of powering an airship - but one of the Spirit alignment, a forbidden element - just so happened to be located under an ancient keep deep in the Old Forest, a remnant of the great war of the elements," Fredrick summarizes. "Or, Abigail, as awful as it may be, is a witch. I think that makes things clear."

"I saw it!" Joey says. "He's telling the truth. There was a big orange ball, and we cracked it open and the ghouls died!"

"I'm calling this vote right now," Fredrick says. "By a show of hands, those over 18 years of age shall vote. For those believing Abigail guilty of witchcraft?"

Roll 1d100

Rolled 7

>>24286573
You're evil, OP
Leaving this to a die roll

Rolled 91

>>24286573
Not Guilty!

Rolled 7

>>24286573
Rollin

Rolled 80

>>24286573
OHPLEASEOHPLEASEOHPLEASE

Rolled 51

>>24286573

>>24286611
>>24286602
same time, bigger number wins

>>24286602

>Rolled 7

Hey man, I gave you ALL DAY to do stuff, and you left it to Flint.

Your modifiers have therefore been locked in. ROLL FOR YOUR FATE MORTALS

>>24286620
>>24286616
>>24286614
>>24286611
>>24286602

Oh shit, these rolls could go either way.

>>24286573
We get a modifier on this test, right?

You wouldn't leave it entirely up to chance, RIGHT?

Rolled 22

>>24286638
I failed at Rolling

Fear not, mortals. If the good townspeople vote to put Abigail to death, that will only give us an opportunity to show our truly awesome power and commitment to justice.

>>24286655
Damnitall

>>24286662
By CONSUMING every villager that voted against her?

>>24286650

>small bonus from changing minds
>bonus from encouraging Flint to use his influence
>large negative from Fredrick's heckling
>huge negative from as-of-yet characterized black thing

None of your rolls are without modifiers, but I prefer keeping the hard numbers in the background. I can always -not- do that, but I feel as though you'd lose a bit of immersion.

Also, for some calculations (damage chance, damage amount, heal amounts, etc) I do lots of little rolls and having you all roll all those numbers is rather silly.

>>24286632
Doesn't exclude you from being evil

>>24286692
Keep them in background

>>24286662
>>24286680
Lets not. The Mayor may seem like a huge asshole but maybe his intentions are good. The townspeople are just ignorant plebs.

>>24286602
Fuck.

>>24286719
If I have to choose taking over the mayor's shadow so the town kills him instead of my first friend, HE IS DEAD, regardless of how "NICE" he could be.

>>24286680
By continuously tripping anyone trying to hurt Abigail.

Fredrick's hand leaps into the air to proclaim Abigail guilty...

...as does a solid majority of other hands in the audience.

Fredrick nods solemnly. Now that he's won, he's all the serious pillar of leadership. "We'll do it calmly, and humanely."

"There's nothing humane about this!" Fredrick says. "Good folk, please reconsider. There's -"

The black thing twists. Flint nearly loses his balance, but catches himself on the pedestal. The brightness of his soul is dimmed back. But it cuts off his words.

"We've heard your case, Sir knight, and no one here doubts that your intentions are pure. But the town has made its choice." Fredrick frowns. "I'd hoped we'd not see a noble of Arland try to bend us with his influence...but in the end you felt pushed to it. You have no place here. We can take care of our own in Jacob's Field. And in Kelvere."

A grumble of agreement strikes the crowd at large. It seems that the mayor is playing off of foreign tensions...

The crowd begins to mill near the doors. Fredrick is rallying several men to help him gather the wood for the stake. You overhear them planning to simply hang Abigail, then burn her so as to spare her the prolonged suffering.

The injustice makes your skin boil with rage, but you carefully hold yourself still within Flint's shadow.

There's not much time. What do you do?

>break Abigail free, make yourself out to be the bad guy
>break Abigail free and vanish into the forest, signaling Flint that you're going to Adavan
>break Abigail free and wait on the outskirts of town for Flint
>try to make Fredrick look evil
>some other plan

>>24286820
>break Abigail free and vanish into the forest, signaling Flint that you're going to Adavan

>>24286820
>>try to make Fredrick look evil

Also tell Flint that we might murder them and hope that he doesn't take it against us.

>>24286820

>Break Abigail free and wait on the outskirts of town for Flint.

It. Is. Dead.

That shadow thing is a marked motherfucker.

We will make it slow. We will make it painful.

>>24286820
JUMP IN MAYOR'S FUKKIN SHADOW. EVIL TIME NOW, GOD-FUCKING-DAMNIT. ACT LIKE THE BIGGEST BAD OF ALL (though we should warn Flint about this and have him fake an exorcism).

Rolled 80

>>24286820
>break Abigail free and wait on the outskirts of town for Flint

screw this town I'd say burn it down but they were tricked by a mans revenge boner to do this.

>>24286820

Impress on Flint to cause a distraction. We will break Abigail out, cloak her in our darkness and vanish into the forest, taking refuge in Adavan's Keep.

>>24286820
>>break Abigail free and wait on the outskirts of town for Flint

>>24286872
>>24286866
We might want to go to Adavan and ask him about that Shadow, he might be able to help us defeat it.

>>24286871
This. Now.

Fuck him.

I don't care if he gives to charity and is the bestest person ever. Fucker's going down. HARD.

>>24286889
I like this plan and my vote goes to it.

It looks like the majority of votes are for breaking Abigail free, use Flint for a distraction.

But will you meet Flint on the outskirts of town, or head into the forest?

We can use words to talk telepathically (same way we send pictures, but with words). So send flint the message "you are possessed by something, a curse or a being, that is causing you to trip, verbally or physically. We should meet up later to try to take care of it. In the meantime don't make yourself a target too, I will help Abigail escape"

break Abigail free and vanish into the forest, signaling Flint that you're going to Adavan

>>24286871
Agreed.

Oh, and tell flint to take joey's pack with him later on because we forgot the sword shard in there.

>>24286983
Head into the forest

Rolled 87

>>24286983

Wait for him in the forest, have him bring Joey, he has proven trust worthy and I don't want him sticking with those fools in the village.

>>24286983
Into forest, I guess

>>24286983

TO THE KEEP!!! None shall stand between our Friend and her much needed education!

>>24286983
And tell him to bring joey because he still have our shard

>>24286983
>Wait for Flint in the forest
Also that sword shard in Joey's pack seems kind of important so maybe, JUST MAYBE mind, we should grab it.

>>24286983
To the forest. Also can we get the shard

>>24287223
Just tell Joey to come too

You speak directly into the knight's mind. You feel your words echo, ethereal, unnatural. But plain to hear. <Flint.>

Flint jerks his head back from the view of the townspeople. He looks at his shadow - and at you. He does not look happy.

<There's some kind of curse upon you...some being actively thwarting you. It is wrapped about your soul.>

"What?" he hisses.

<It is making you clumsy and lose your words,> you clarify. <...siphoning something off from you.>

Flint seems stunned. He says nothing.

<I will get Abigail and retreat into the forest, to Adavan's keep. Follow afterward.>

Flint glances back around the room. "...no choice. Do it. Wait for me on the forest's edge. I'll create a distraction."

You slip out of his shadow and out the back door of the hall. You cross the cobblestone square and get into the gaol.

"Mr. Shadow?" Abigail stands up. "What happened?"

You send her images - angry townsfolk not understanding. Pitchforks and fire. And then you and her, running into the forest with held hands.

"...ok. Um, but how do I get out? I can do that thing you - " You bend the bars open. They grate and creak, nearly snapping. Abigail's eyes go wide. "You're really strong."

You snatch her around the arm and drag her toward the entrance.

The doors of the gaol burst open. You can sense them - Fredrick is there with a group of other men. That was fast.

What do you do?

>hide Abigail within your shadows
>full-frontal assault
>some other plan

>>24287011
That is actually a good idea... Perhaps he could make joey his squire.
However its ultimately their choice.

>>24287251

>retcon

<What happened to the shard of the sword we found?>

"With my things," Flint hisses. "Get going!"

>>24286983
Can we just slay the mayor outright first? In the most hideously gory way we can conceive of? Dude is a total asshole and needs to go.

Then go free Abigail while the peasants are distracted by the sheer horror of what they've just witnessed.

>>24287251

HIDE HIDE HIDE. Let's not piss off Flint by killing the mayor.

>>24287251
Wait for Flints distraction and then

>>hide Abigail within your shadows

We shall hide Abigail within our form, see if we can't get the key from Fredrick and seal him in his own Gaol...

>>24287271
Hide her. We'll listen in on what Freddy boy is saying to the guards.

>>24287251
>hide
No need to kill a bunch of people, Flint wouldn't like it either.

>>24287251
>hide Abigail within your shadows
>>24287291
>killing the mayor in front of Abigail
Yeah, na lets not do that.

>>24287251
>full-frontal assault
These ignorant dirt-farming peasants are nothing to us. They seek to execute our first and only real friend for a crime she did not commit. Kill them all.

Don't hurt anyone!

Grab her and run shielding her with your body. And as you go tell abigail to yell "I didn't do it! and if you want to punish me you will have to catch me first!"

>>24287354
To clarify, PUSH people out of the way but don't actually try to harm them. Just use your superior strength to push them.

>>24287251

Hide her

>>24287354
>And as you go tell abigail to yell "I didn't do it! and if you want to punish me you will have to catch me first!"

Lets not.
It's better if she just disappears
Heck, lets bend the bars back so it is not obvious how she got out.

File: 1366163204619.jpg-(65 KB, 426x600, Keep Calm and Kill Them All.jpg)

65 KB JPG

>>24287251
Pic very related.

>>24287388
Good idea.

>>24287416
Well, the mayor should at least get some sort of comeuppance.

>>24287251
>hide Abigail within your shadows
I just realized that at this point the townsfolk are going to definitely define Abigail as a witch considering that either she escapes without a trace, or a living shadow freed her. Let's just get her out of here without horrifying her, and get Abigail to safety.

>>24287446
1. He just had his brother die on him.
2. He needs to organize the defenses against another attacking force.
3. If we really must absolutely kill him for it we could do so some time in the future rather then here where it looks bad for abigail and flint and also might traumatize the watching children

>>24287251

You lift Abigail and tuck her into a corner deep in the gaol. You wrap her up and send her a sharp image of fingers pressed to lips. And then you go very still.

The door to the small cell block opens. Fredrick lifts a torch high to see in the dark space. "...did you move her?"

"...no."

He marches down the block. His eyes pass over you sightlessly.

"She's gone!" Fredrick kicks the bars. "I knew it! This proves everything!"

Suddenly, Flint is there. "...by the light. You were right. I can't believe it."

"Of course I was right," Fredrick snaps.

Flint shoves his gauntlet into the stone. "I can't believe I was fooled. Dammit!" He freezes, cocks his head. "Wait. A spell. I can sense her!"

"Where?" someone asks.

"She's headed east, out of the village! She must be trying to use the river to escape!" Flint glances around. "Where are the boats? Where would she head first?"

"Her family was good friends with the Millers!" someone calls. "They have a fishin' boat!"

"There's no time to lose," Flint declares. "With me!"

And just like that, Flint is leading the march for blood. A rather surprised Fredrick waddles behind as the men sweep through the village toward the east.

You hear a heavy clank as Flint trips and falls flat on the cobblestone outside. There's a heavy sigh. "Leave the leading to me, Sir Knight," Fredrick calls. "To the river!"

In his haste to co-opt the spotlight, Fredrick's witch hunt has backfired...

You bring Abigail along for a shadow-ride. It's a simple matter to duck past the few people still remaining in the square. You've pass into the forest edge...

...and stop dead. The yellowed rot of the keep has rebounded closer to the village than ever.

"Hello, Shadow." Adavan steps out from behind a tree. "I'm glad you managed to get away from the knight. Everything's fallen into place rather well."

"...what is he?" Abigail whispers.

con't

>>24287488
I didn't say a lethal one, just one that makes him look like an asshole of some kind. Or traumatizes him.

...just saying...

>>24287520

...fuck. Double-cross?

>>24287553
Doubtful. Probably wants to propose us jioning him to destroy light or some shit without Flint there.

>>24287520

"What are you doing Lich?"

>>24287553
we never trusted the lich anyway, it was just unreasonable to try to kill him IC

>>24287520
"Hardly." to the lich
"A friend, I hope." to Abigail

>>24287520
Aww yeah, lich-bro is back.

After that episode with the townspeople, I'm not even mad that he's still spreading his dark power around. Let the ghouls have those witch-burning faggots.

>>24287520
He's the lich, Abigail.

Can I ask what you want? Forgive me if my first thought is less then pleasant for her welfare...

>>24287520

"yes. We managed to retrieve young Abigail without having to kill anyone. I trust that you can help her with her powers? After all, with the way those villagers reacted to her power, I doubt that the rest of the Kingdoms will treat her any differently. Though your presence is appreciated. I assume you came here lest they tried to begin their execution..."

>>24287611
GAH! NO NO NO THAT CAME OUT VERY WRONG!

>Forgive me if I think that you have plans that are less then convenient for her welfare...

He said cont., suggesting dialog probably isn't going to do anything.

"Fear not child. I am a wizard, living in the forest. We are of a similar nature, you and I - both able to do magic, see the spirits of the dead. Spirit magic runs in our souls."

"...you look like a zombie."

Adavan's hand twitches toward his face. "...so I do. There's no denying it." He looks at you. "When I told the knight I had no intention of starting a war, I lied. This isolated river town is the perfect foundation for an undead army. The knight is hardly an honest fellow, either - I expect that, upon arrival to his home, I would have been outed in short order. In any case, Shadow, I'm sure I have your allegiance in this matter...?"

"Wait," Abigail says. "What do you mean? You want to make the whole town zombies?"

"That's exactly what I mean," Adavan says.

"But - "

"But what?" he says. He looks at Abigail. "Do you know what they were about to do? I was watching, young lady. They were going to kill you and burn you at the stake for being a witch - simply because of who you are, even though you had nothing to do with the, ah, zombies, and never did anything wrong. I am sorry your family died - I am. But these people do not deserve mercy."

"...but...even though they did bad things to me, doesn't make it ok to do bad things to them," Abigail says matter-of-factly.

"...to be young again," the lich says wistfully. He looks to you. "Well, Shadow? I'm afraid the knight...will have to be made a permanent -friend- of mine, to ensure at least temporary secrecy. Though I do not plan to make a stronghold here. The keep is aged, and we are too close to...whatever force backs the new strength in these lands."

What is your response?

>Agreed. To hell with the town.
>No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.
>Die, traitor! (attack)
>something else (write-in)

>Die, traitor! (attack)
The war is over, and this thing does not, will not, acknowledge it. Furthermore it is an oathbreaker. It has lied once and will lie again. Destroy it.

>>24287694
>something else
Ask if he knows anything about that fucking shadow. in Flint

>>24287694
>Agreed. To hell with the town.
On the condition that he swears to spare Flint's life. Joey is negotiable.

>>24287694
>>No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.

Also ask what Abigail thinks.

>>24287694

>No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.

Adavan's been a bro thus far. If he doesn't go away, then attack.

>>24287694
>>No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.

Flint has stuck with us through thick and thin. I can understand that the lich is a little angsty after losing a war, but he needs to calm down. Killing these people isn't going to allow him to win a war fought long ago. If he were to move on, and help the town, then he could probably do a lot more for the reputation and stature of Spirit, than raising it for an undead army.

>>24287694
flint is a friend, but kill this guy! ask abigail to try and drain the spirit magic from lich

>>24287694
No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.

"In the town he talked of a large crystal ball that caused the undead to rise, he did not blame you and even wished to come here to talk again. It is you that is so untrustworthy. Go leave and know that if you threaten my friends then you will have made me an enemy, until that time though, we may yet have peace."

>>24287694
I'm liking the lich a lot more than the people in the town right about now.

I say we side with him.

>>24287694
...I'm truly sorry, but I can't. I am guilty of being just as petty and malicious as anyone or... any thing else. But I can't just let everyone in a village die for following a man who is an idiot. For if they cannot be redeamed, then I fear that I couldn't either, knowing full well what would happen.

File: 1366164338059.jpg-(36 KB, 259x220, 1354596094839.jpg)

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>>24287745
>Joey is negotiable.

Noted.

>>24287694
>>24287752
I like everything you just said.
Try to talk the lich down and into helping you.

>>24287694
>No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.

Taking the middle ground here despite the fact that I like the lich a lot.

>>24287694
Helping the lich just makes a lot more sense right now.

I would like to point out that while the town was won over by the mayor, it was not unanimous. Merely a majority of the adults.
Furthermore it was because we botched her defense and flint was tripped up by a being of shadow.
And technically speaking, her magic DID trigger the issue... it fueled long defunct spells. She didn't mean to and does not deserve punishment for it, but it is what happened.

>>24287752
This, and if he cannot be convinced then he shall be put down and we will take up the mantle. Lets make a third side, one that is for peace and accepts beings of both elements. The foundation for it is Flint (of the light) and us (of the shadow).

>>24287694
>agreed

>>24287801
eh, i kinda like the little fucker

>>24287780
This sounds good. Maybe we can convince the Lich to leave the old war behind?
Flint wont sell him out, he's an honest man. Tell Adavan that trying to resurrect the war is foolish and he would never succeeded anyway, seeing how the old alliance was beaten, which I suspect was a magnificent force to be reckoned with.

>>24287672
you'd be surprised the number of times players posting responses mid update has actually affected the interaction...

>>24287694
Clearly times have changed, would it not prove best to learn more of the new order, if not only to improve long term plan fruition. I will keep the Knight silent of the matter. While these people would think nothing of killing the three of us with no hesitation, we shall not do the same as them, if only as to prove our superiority to them. After all, only the weak lash out at that they do not understand. The leader of this settlement lost his brother in one of the attacks from the rogue zombies. While I know you could resurrect him, would he retain his mind?

>>24287752
agreed. but make an attempt at convencing it that his current path is a bad idea

>>24287694
If we can convince the lich to give Flint a chance to leave in peace, I say we side with the lich. The townspeople are unquestionably our enemies and we'd be better off without them around.

If he's set on killing everyone, including our friends, I suppose we'll have to intervene.

>>24287801
Joey is not negotiable, joey is a good guy. He tried, he messed up a bit but he is good. He didn't reveal us, he fought by us, and he didn't die.
I think he would make a wonderful knight one day and we should encourage flint to make him his squire

>>24287838
Creating a third side?...I LIKE IT

We need to put that into our message to him and that we NEED him to help us with creating a better place for everyone.

>Die, traitor! (attack)

Called it, dispose of the fucker.

>>24287752
This. Continuing a war long dead isn't what a man who lived through the greatest war to have ever been fought should be doing. He needs to preserve what he had known and done, so others could learn why it had happened, and what they could do to avoid repeating history's mistakes.

File: 1366164599243.jpg-(25 KB, 347x397, grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.jpg)

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>>24287850
Agrrrrrrrrrrrrrreed

Also, try to give a new goal to Adavan, ie teaching Abigail magic.


>>24287838
>I would like to point out that while the town was won over by the mayor, it was not unanimous. Merely a majority of the adults.
>Furthermore it was because we botched her defense and flint was tripped up by a being of shadow.
>And technically speaking, her magic DID trigger the issue... it fueled long defunct spells. She didn't mean to and does not deserve punishment for it, but it is what happened.

This is true, also they are driven by fear.

>>24287867
>>24287745
Seconding this.

I want to side with the Lich, but not if that means killing Flint. He's been a loyal ally and I won't be responsible for his death.

>>24287872
I agree, I like the idear of creating a third side of co-existance. I'm sure we have enough shadow charisma for it.

>>24287694

Agree, under condition that Flint be spared.

Though I'm not actually planning to give him the town. It's just that now is not the opportune moment to strike.

>>24287910
Add this to our argument that he should join us.

>>24287745

Nigga, that also means that CHILDREN (everyone under 18) are going to die too. Do they deserve that?
Hell no. We shouldn't allow this if we can help it.

>>24287780
>>24287752

You set yourself back.

<During the meeting,>" you project, <Flint spoke of the source of the magic in the keep. He spoke of a large crystal ball that caused the undead to rise - when it would have been easy to claim you as the source. He has already had a chance to -out- you.>

<And when I first approached him...a Shadow spirit that did not know its own name...he accepted me quickly, when I showed I meant well. He is a righteous man. It is you who is unwilling to put your faith in Light, not the other way around.>

"...I did not believe the day would come when a Shadow Spirit would defend a man aligned with the Light."

<The war you fought is over,> you add. <Perhaps it is time for more.>

"...never speak to me of the war again, Shadow. Ever. Clearly, you have yet to be reminded of the terror of the Light."

<But it is over. If you cannot live with the town in peace, I must ask that you leave.>

Adavan frowns in thought.


Roll 1d100

>No. Flint is a friend, and ally. If you cannot stay your hand, leave. I will ensure he does not speak of you.
Abby will hate us if we help destroy her town.

>>24287694
>Agreed. To hell with the town.
Whether or not we join up with the Lich long-term, he'll at least help us do away with that angry mob.

Those guys may be a disorganized rabble now, but they could become a real problem for us and Abigail if they keep up this fanatical witch hunt.

>>24285502
That made me laugh
Good post

Rolled 26

>>24287953

Rolled 29

>>24287953
Rollin

>>24287931
>Let him butcher the town if he spares flint
Flint will NEVER agree to let the lich butcher the entire town.
Furthermore he means to butcher all the innocent children and the minority of adults who voted against the mayor!
If you are that hard up for revenge then we can assassinate the mayor later.

Rolled 75

>>24287953

>>24287938
>Nigga, that also means that CHILDREN (everyone under 18) are going to die too
Hey, they'll be brought back.

Rolled 57

>>24287953

Rolled 52

>>24287953
roll

Rolled 41

>>24287953

might have to sprint with abby away and come and finish him if this goes wrong

Rolled 88

>>24287953

>>24287953
"Light, Shadow, one cannot exist without the other"

Rolled 34

>>24287982
pretty sure undead do not retain their souls

Rolled 49

>>24287953
OH PLEASE DON'T FAIL ME NOW

>>24287974

As I mentioned: I have no intention of actually letting him have the town. He'll just be easier to kill once his back is turned. Honestly, bargaining for Flint's life is just there to make the offer seem more genuine.

Looks like we're going with the diplomancy option instead, though, so let's hope that works out.

>>24288028
>Lets hope diplomacy works out
>>24287971
>Rolled 26
Welp, putting him down it is.

Trip: cried sinroll

>>24288055
If it comes down to it, I say we just go on our way with Abigail and let things play out as they will between the Lich and the village.

Natural selection, circle of life (and unlife), etc.

>>24288055
OP is evil for deciding important parts with dice roll

>>24288090

Strongly oppose. Flint has proven his willingness to see past old enemies and has been a good friend. The Lich has done neither. It's obvious which of these two we want for the foundation of the Third Option, and either of them would be better than neither.

>>24288132
agreed

Adavan hesitates.

<They follow a fool,> you add, <but only some raised their hands against Abigail. Do women and children deserve to die over this? Walk as undead?>

Adavan clenches his fists. His eyes are distant. For a moment, you see a man layered over rotting flesh, a man trapped in a room for hundreds of years and forced to turn himself into what he wrought to survive.

"...they do not, as much as my soul cries for blood." Adavan heaves a sigh. "...I will leave this place. But to where I go, or for what I live...I do not know."

<There is a young mage that could use your guidance.>

Adavan perks up. He glances down at Abigail. "...would you like to learn magic, little one?"

"Does it mean the town doesn't become zombies?" she asks petulantly.

Adavan's rotted lips crack in a smile. "...I suppose so."

"Then I want to learn magic and do good things for people. I bet I can make turnips grow really well, right? I tried that once, but it just burned it sort of."

Adavan laughs, and, despite the rattle of a dried throat, it's filled with warmth. "You might have to find an earth mage to help you with that."

A sound rises in the distance. All three of you snap your heads to the west.

BaaaarrrrRRROOOOOM
BaaaarrrrRRROOOOOM

Torches line the edge of the dark horizon - men, hundreds of them, pouring down a hill towards the village!

"...what is this?" Adavan asks.

You can send him only uncertainty.

You hear shouts rising from the village. Torches scurry around the town center. Many boats are being corralled into the docks close to the town square.

"Ironically, it seems war has found me," Adavan says. "...I will not harm these people, but I will not save them."

What do you do?

>try to convince Adavan to defend the town
>leave with Adavan and Abigail
>take on the approaching forces yourself as a distraction
>something else

>>24288144
>>take on the approaching forces yourself as a distraction
Fuck it, lead through example!

>>24288144

>Try to convince Adavan to defend the town.

>>24288182

Then >>24288180.

>>24288144
>>something else
Leave Abigail in care of Adavan and then go to town to Flint. Ask Adavan to go to the keep or at least somewhere where we can find them later.

I cannot in good conscience ask him to defend the town, he really has no reason to.

>>24288144
convince adavan
"well since you're leaving anyway, why not use what you've got since you can't take it all with you"
>offer sword perhaps?

>>24288144
>take on the approaching forces yourself as a distraction

>>24288144
Have Abby go with Ad while we go and distract them with fuck huge shadows and impressions of death.
We can project horrible images into their minds right? That plus the big terrifying lovecraftian horrors we can mime with Ink should scare them pant less hopefully..

Rolled 32

>>24288144
>something else

Wish Adavan well as we turn back to help the Village, Abigail can wait here were its safe and tell her to hide to the best of her ability. She has friends there, people she liked. Might as well try to save them.

>>24288144
The Lich is not willing to save them, but Shadow (Is that our name? If not we need to pick ourselves a name) and Abigail certainly are. Besides, going back to what I said earlier, he may actually earn the support of the town for him, Abigail, and Spirit by helping defend it.
Anyways I vote that we point this out to the lich, and then sprint towards the town to CONSUME the attackers.

>>24288144
Take on the approaching forces yourself as a distraction
AND convince Adavan to defend the town.
"Don't help the village then....help me...."

Also, any AOE skills we can buy?

>>24288144

<neither do I expect you to. You are a Teacher now, no longer a Soldier. The keep where we met should remain safe for the time being. There is business I must attend to before this town is overrun>

Head towards the rear lines of the approaching soldiers. we can use our shadow to attack them

>>24288144
>try to convince Adavan to defend the town
"Adavan, you were looking to build an undead army, and here we find a supply of men ready to die, practically on your doorstep. Come fight them with me and you will have all the bodies you need."

>>24288144

Don't do it to protect the town, Adavan. Do it to make a giant army of zombies.

>>24288207
>but Shadow (Is that our name? If not we need to pick ourselves a name)

I like Mr Shadow

>>24288217
I like this text.

>>24288217
Dammit Faceless Archivist, you have won me over again!

>>24288144
I'll fight them off. You've done all that I could ever ask.

(go down to Abigail) Abigail, it won't be safe here for a while. Go with Adavan, he'll take care of you. I cannot guarenntee I'll come back, but if nothing else, thank you. Thank you for being my friend.

>>24288222
>>24288229
THIS. So much this.

Adavan can have his zombie army and the townspeople can keep their lives.

Rolled 68

>>24288217
add something about even if we fall, keep her safe.
or something like this>>24288239

>>24288212

Shadow Assault has minor AOE, but you don't have the EXP anyway.

It seems a popular choice is to distract the approaching armies yourself with Impressions and fear and general scariness, if you fail to convince Adavan to join the town's cause.

But do you ask for his assistance at all?

y/n

>>24288230
We need to shadow ourselves a dapper had and cane when we get more control over our selves.

>>24288252
>Adavan can have his zombie army and the townspeople can keep their lives.

NO!
We JUST convinced him to forget about the war and armies and you want to go back on that? Come on.

>>24288262

YES. He is now on Team Third Option and Team Third Option could use a zombie army.

>>24288262

No. >>24288217.

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87 KB JPG

>>24288222
This would be awesome as fuck. Let us teem up with Adavan and fight the invaders simply to make lots of corpses.

>Lich's face when confronting the soldiers

>>24288262
We'll lead by example. Make it his choice of whether or not to join.

>>24288262
n

He should take Abigail away, to safety.

Rolled 22

>>24288262
only in the form of protecting abigail

>>24288262
Yes.

I doubt he'll ever really give up attacking the town unless he gets his zombies from some other source. The invaders are that source.

>>24288262

We have asked enough of Adavan.
let him be, asking him to help fight will only endanger Abigail anyway.

>>24288262
Y.

>>24288292
Have him protect Abigail and that meet up with him after we take care of some annoying soldiers .

>>24288281
>>24288283

Come the fuck on. And what is he going to do with his undead army when this is over? Well, what do people do with armies?

read this >>24288279

>>24288262
Yes. See: >>24288222 and >>24288252

>>24288306
>I doubt he'll ever really give up attacking the town unless he gets his zombies from some other source. The invaders are that source.

He wanted zombies to wage a war, we convinced him to not do that. He does not need any zombies anymore.

>>24288262

No. Just have him keep Abigail safe. He's made his position very clear, and it's all we can really ask of him.

>>24288262
N

>>24288322
Surely he means to make war against some other land. What of it?

>>24288262
No, have him keep our friend safe.

>>24288322

What he does with his undead army is mostly going to depend on what the current geopolitical situation looks like. I doubt he's going to immediately turn around and murder the children he just promised to leave alone. I also doubt we'll have a hard time finding him targets that need to be taken out for the good of the Third Option.

I understand, withdraw your forces and the yellow plague and take abigail with you; hide underground in the crypt for now. I will see what is happening and return as soon as possible and we could leave together.
And Adavan, I am NOT joining with the light nor am I naive enough to assume all of them will be willing to have peace. But I will reach to those who are willing for it and make them our allies, if our people are to be restored they need you as a protector and a teacher not as a butcher who sparks a crusade against us that we cannot win.
Also, consider Abigail is of the spirit yet your ancient spells still considered her parents to be of the light.

>>24288347
No. If he wants to help, he can do it of his own volition.