Your conversations with Old One were interrupted by one of the Dramatae's Passion minions and an army of thugs. The Passion this time was Sally Albread, the raider trainer from First Stone Hall, who apparently survived the riot.

After a long battle, you managed to turn the great entrance hall into a blood soaked arena of broken bodies and shattered masks. Old One was very impressed.

But to the victors go the spoils, and despite the masked forces of the Dramatae not carrying any money on them, there was a much bigger prize. The Lightbringers themselves, brought here to 'slay a dragon' and 'destroy the evil coins that were sowing doubt and mistrust throughout the kingdom.' Naturally that plan has been, once more, derailed.

So now it's time for tea, sweetbread, and talk as you enlighten Ava, the Girl, on what has been happening to her life. Meanwhile, the Boy, Adahn, sulks outside.

do you have the stuff i posted last time or should I troll the archive for it?

Also if anyone else wants to add on to it I'm not quite sure how to wrap it up. What do we want her and Adahn to do exactly?

>>24343239
So is this kid just gonna stew in his own impotence for an hour or two while we have fun? Man, he gets more and more more stupid every time we meet him...

>>24343290
Go ahead and look it up, maybe rewrite it a little if you want to decide to focus on the message you're trying to send to her.

Oh, and before I forget.

Ava: When playing, be sure to play in a brightly lit room, and not sit so near to the screen!
Adahn: Whatever.

Oh man, the lamia quest! On a friday!

Time to settle in and enjoy. I might go make some snacks.

>>24343335
We should really send someone out to get him. Tell him it's cold.

>>24343419

Yes. Someone. She should offer to "warm him up"

>>24343419
>>24343476
Nah, leave him out there for now. We're trying to talk to Ava, and he'll interfere.

I don't know how many "whatever"'s I can stand in one conversation.

>>24343526
Agreed. Let the kid sit out there until he comes sulking back in to warm his ass back up.

This might just be paranoia talking, but does anyone else find it kind of weird that the Dramatae expected Passion/Sally Albrwhatever along with 9 other upjumped conscripts to kill the Old One? From what we saw from the last fight, the dragon was able to kill 3-4 of them effortlessly with his firebreath. While you could make a case for them being unprepared due to fighting off Ssen and Co., it seems a little fishy that three all-powerful mages would send an unproven underling along with some cannon fodder to go take care of a legendary creature. Especially when Passion/Sally claimed that the Dramatae were more willing to get their hands dirty in progressing the Lightbringer story.

>>24343569

It might pay to have someone go out there and make sure he doesn't get picked up by harpies or trip and impale himself on his own hair.

>>24343586
yes. They are delivering the lightbringers to us on purpose.

The key here is whether or not we are playing into their xanatos gambit or foiling it.

>>24343290
We want them to settle down and get out of combat or, at least, go about it sensibly.

Get some good armor, a reasonable sword, get that hair out of your eyes, wear some flat heeled shoes, check your healing potions...

>>24343586
I think the dramatae might just be getting kind of desperate.

I mean, Sally Albread, as Passion, really now.

I think it was the Lightbringers who were supposed to fight the Dragon, Sally and co. were just supposed to murder the dragon's attendants while he was trapped.

>>24343621

Perhaps their plan is to make Citadel much more interested in hearing the tale of the Serpent Paladin? If they care more for preserving the status quo than anything else, then they could be setting themselves up as the ultimate villains of the story, with some other hitherto unseen plans to get successors once this cycle has completed.

>>24343665
My theory is they are transferring the "lightbringerdom" to us, and will then arrange a way for us to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good later on.

>>24343621
If that's the case then it is really simple. They expect us to try to subvert the lightbringers so they can come up with a way to make us out to be the great evil the lightbringers sacrifice themselves to kill. I think we should let them draw their own conclusions rather than explain everything and sound like a madman.

>>24343683
I think we've done that already with Ava. The question is Whatever-kid will listen to any of it or not.

At least Ava should be down the path to questioning this crap now.

(super long posts coming)

I was lucky. I encountered someone who knew of the evil we faced. Who had fought its servants and lost, but survived. She told me a great many things. But the most important was that the story of the Lightbringers wasn't one of good triumphing over evil. It was one of sacrifice. The darkness uses the souls and bodies of those Lightbringers who die to further its goals.

She also told me more of its servants, of the Dramatae. Who would do anything to see the Lightbringers repeat that old story. We journied from Stone Hall to Citadel and saw first hand the evil. Its hard to understand really. But In Citadel everything is too perfect. Until you peel away the layers and see the rot. I had to do everything in my power to see good men not be executed. I saw a girl nearly driven mad because she would not conform. My friends for a time were nothing more then parodies of themselves.

When I learned of this, as I took my mantle of paladinhood I vowed to end that darkness. But I had no idea how. That is why I came here, to the Dark Peaks. To learn more about the evil and how to stop it. And that is why we've run into you twice. First by accident, the second time by design of the Dramatae.

When I learned of this, as I took my mantle of paladinhood I vowed to end that darkness. But I had no idea how. That is why I came here, to the Dark Peaks. To learn more about the evil and how to stop it.

On our journey here we encountered you for the first time. And we realized just how used you were. How helpless you were against the puppet masters. We gave you the medallion of His Light to hopefully help you resist them. And in doing that earned their ire. We then met Them for the first time. They wear the masks of the Dramatae. Tragedy, Comedy... and Peace. They were so powerful. They could freeze me and my friends with a gesture. They could stop time and manipulate people like characters in a storybook.

I think they meant to frighten us from our path, or send us chasing ghosts. But we preservered, and in Bronze Peak we triumphed over them. They were seeking someone to fill another Mask, one of Rage and we stopped them. They can be beaten, though it was through words and cunning, not strength that did so.

Then we journied here, our true goal in these mountains. We sought knowledge. From the Old One. The greatest of Dragons who lived before Citadel itself. Who saw something like this darkness before. We learned of the weapon that was used to defeat it. The nature of its servants.

Then those attacked with you in tow. I still do not know why exactly. We defeated them, and here we sit. A paladin and girl groomed to see her lover die. But that story doesn't have to come to pass. We can change it.

You have two options Ava. You can go home. I will escort you there myself. And bless you and your family with a wish for peace and long life. Or you can help fight these servants, and the master they serve. It will hard. My father tried, as did the one I mentioned who told me of the evil. It has been fought in the shadows for seven ages. And not once has the evil been defeated. I cannot promise a happily ever after if you come with us. But I will do my damnest to try. Light willing. Either way those who caused your life to become that story will not see it complete. They will have to find another Lightbringer to fill the gap... if they can.

>>24343742
>>24343757
We just said we weren't going to out and out reveal it yet.

>>24343775
we were on the path last thread. We had just revealed that her story mimics that of the Lightbringer story exactly.

>>24343775
>>24343817
yeah, we were pretty much on that path.

Maybe we should give pauses for her to put it together herself, but whatever.

>>24343775

Yeah, I'm a bit worried that the Dramatae may be expecting us to go full-on paladin stereotype and attempt to liberate them ourselves. Which would run the risk of having the Dawnchasers join the Lightbringer "faction" and attempt to dispose of the Dramatae, which may satisfy Citadel's thirst for a good story. Even if the Dawnchasers don't die and ensure that the Lightbringers live good lives, this is a technical defeat. Unless Citadel can somehow mature from this.

A harsher, but safer move might be to have the Lightbringers question their own role in the story without explicitly revealing anything else. That may lead to more waffling, which gives the Dawnchasers time to act.

>>24343817
Gotta say, at this point I'm not sure what good it would do to clam up regarding it; we've already said too much to avoid the dramatae getting pissed (assuming they weren't planning this), and it must be obvious to the girl that there's more to it than 'you randomly became the lightbringers', at the very least from how much we know and the fact that we keep popping up next to them.

>>24343872
Too much paranoia. Only way to win against the Dramatae is not to play their game. The only way to make sure they lose is to destroy the game.

>>24343872
>>24343899
Honestly, I think us setting the Dramatae up as the Shapers of Darkness might not be a bad idea...Especially since Citadel expects the Shapers to always lose.

>>24343872
>>24343899
Actually, our stated goal is to modify the game into one which doesn't require blood sacrifice or such extensive mind control. If it breaks while we try to do that, well, plan B accomplished.

>ah crap, missed the first part First this

"Now, what happens at the end of every one of these stories?"

(insert response here.)

It didn't happen this time, because there was something different. Myself and my friends. We interfered with your budding Shaper of Darkness. Though we didn't know it at the time. Did you here of the Wasp Witch of Purple Sands? She was to be your villian, an easy challenge to overcome and die to. But thanks to us defeating her those orchestrating your story needed something else.

And thus the Fell King. But because the storytellers were rushed they botched it. He was too strong, his daughter too cunning. She poisoned your healing potions and he killed your friends. And you fled. The story unravelled. It was only chance that we were there to clean up the pieces.

When we encountered the Fell King he was little better then a puppet, reciting the lines ment for you and your companions. That was when WE realized something was wrong. And I knew I had to do something about it. Something that could cause ALL the ghouls to rise up and slaughter a city must be stopped.

>these these
>>24343742
>>24343757
>>24343770

>>24343945
that makes a lot more sense now.

>>24343742
"I was lucky. I encountered someone who knew of the evil we faced. Who had fought its servants and lost, but survived. She told me a great many things. But the most important was that the story of the Lightbringers wasn't one of good triumphing over evil. It was one of sacrifice. The Darkness uses the souls and bodies of those Lightbringers who die to further its goals.

"She also told me more of its servants, of the Dramatae. Who would do anything to see the Lightbringers repeat that old story. We journied from Stone Hall to Citadel and saw first hand the evil. Its hard to understand really. But In Citadel everything is too perfect. Until you peel away the layers and see the rot. I had to do everything in my power to see good men not be executed. I saw a girl nearly driven mad because she would not conform. My friends for a time were nothing more then parodies of themselves.

"When I learned of this, as I took my mantle of paladinhood I vowed to end that darkness. But I had no idea how. That is why I came here, to the Dark Peaks. To learn more about the evil and how to stop it. And that is why we've run into you twice. First by accident, the second time by design of the Dramatae.

"When I learned of this, as I took my mantle of paladinhood I vowed to end that darkness. But I had no idea how. That is why I came here, to the Dark Peaks. To learn more about the evil and how to stop it.

"On our journey here we encountered you for the first time. And we realized just how used you were. How helpless you were against the puppet masters. We gave you the medallion of His Light to hopefully help you resist them. And in doing that earned their ire. We then met Them for the first time. They wear the masks of the Dramatae. Tragedy, Comedy and Peace. They were so powerful. They could freeze me and my friends with a gesture. They could stop time and manipulate people like characters in a storybook."

"Why? How?" Ava asks.

>>24343969
>>24343945
gag blastit

sorry echo, my fault!

>>24343993
Redaeth_Bedelia_Fucks_It_Up_Again.cbr

>>24343993
Oh well, could have been worse.

I'm too tired to come up with responses myself, so any effort is appreciated.

>>24344056
generally I write it all cold. this time I was editting from a notepad and the word limit screwed me over.

"I think they meant to frighten us from our path, or send us chasing ghosts. But we preservered, and in Bronze Peak we triumphed over them. They were seeking someone to fill another Mask, one of Rage and we stopped them. They can be beaten, though it was through words and cunning, not strength that did so."

"Then we journied here, our true goal in these mountains. We sought knowledge. From the Old One. The greatest of Dragons who lived before Citadel itself. Who saw something like this darkness before. We learned of the weapon that was used to defeat it. The nature of its servants.

Then those attacked, with you in tow. I still do not know why exactly. We defeated them, and here we sit. A paladin and girl groomed to see her lover die. But that story doesn't have to come to pass. We can change it.

"We changed it before with the first challenge the Dramatae tried to put in your way. Did you hear of Purple Sands? That was us, upsetting their plans. She was to be your first villain, but due to us upsetting things, they went with something else.

"And thus the Fell King. But they botched it. His forces were too strong for just five people, and his daughter too cunning. You lost, and you fled. The story unravelled, and we cleaned up the pieces.

"When we encountered the Fell King he was a puppet, reciting the lines meant for you and your companions. That was when WE realized something was wrong. And I knew I had to do something about it.

"But Ava, for the first time in a long while, you have a choice. You can go home. I'll escort you there myself. Or you can help fight these servants, and their master. It will hard. My father, and others, tried, but not once has the evil been defeated. I cannot promise a happily ever after if you come with us. But I will do my damnest to try. Those who caused your life to become that story will not see it complete."

"Why me?" She asks quietly. "Why'd they pick me for this?"

>>24344098
That's something only they could answer.

>>24344098
>>24344134
I would prefer to modulate this dialogue:

"A very good question. I hope to pose it to them in person."

>>24344098
"Because you were convenient. You'd have to ask them to be sure, but I'd imagine any girl with a similar background to yours could have been chosen just as easily. The Dramatae don't seem to particularly care about their chess-pieces; they pick from a list of necessary traits, and run the show themselves from there, not giving you any chance to disrupt their ideal story. When they can decide what you do and don't do, what use have they for a person or individual, rather than a blank piece on the board?

But of course, no-one is actually a blank canvas for them to paint on. They may wish it were so, and do their best to make things that way, but there's always the margin of error."

Think we should mention our suspicions re. the lightbringers dropping in our laps (seriously no reason why a Passion would drag the lightbringers to us otherwise).

http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/69825.html#70073
>Since I always miss the threads I'll post here.

>Next time we should tell Adahn and Ava that we can teleport them back to Bronze Peak. We should also tell them of the risks of either that or the trek back on foot. We would have had to fight a lot of harpies and there are only the two of them. Unless they've seriously leveled up (which I doubt) they could have some problems. On the other hand it might delay them and buy us time to get other shit done.

>Adahn has some serious issues to work out regarding Ssen. She stole his thunder and he has to find a way to deal with us being his equivilant of Gary Oak.
"So you didn't save Stone Hall, so what? If I hadn't stepped in it would have been someone else. Another paladin maybe, or some other adventurer, and you'd be just as angry with them. Everyone screws up some time, even when they've done everything right. Are you going to let that define who you are?"

>I suggest that Ssen or Peri spar with him, see what he's got and if possible help him improve. If he pulls his "Whatever" bullshit we'll need to call him out.

>>24344244
>we fight him, we get all nat 1s, he gets all nat 20s

>CITADEEEEEEEEEL!

>>24344257
that might make him feel better about himself.

>>24344244
>ssen is his equivalent of gary oak

Oh my god. That's entirely accurate.

What does this mean in this situation? We'll defeat the great evil, only for him to show up and defeat the... greaterer evil?

>>24344098
"Honestly, I don't know. It was likely an act of opportunity. You were likely just the most convenient target for them. I'm sorry, but that's how they treat human lives, as resources."

"A very good question. I hope to pose it to them in person." You say. "But, it might have been because you were convenient. You'd have to ask them to be sure, but I'd imagine any girl with a similar background to yours could have been chosen just as easily. The Dramatae don't seem to particularly care about their chess-pieces; they pick from a list of necessary traits, and run the show themselves from there, not giving you any chance to disrupt their ideal story. When they can decide what you do and don't do, what use have they for a person or individual, rather than a blank piece on the board?

"But of course, no-one is actually a blank canvas for them to paint on. They may wish it were so, and do their best to make things that way, but there's always the margin of error."

Ava sighs. She looks into her tea for a long, long time. "I...I need some time to think. I can't leave Adahn alone. He needs me. But, if what you're saying is true, then I'm going to try to stop this. I don't want to do this, I don't like adventuring, I don't like fighting...I thought I would, but then you actually GET hit in the face or stabbed, or you see what happens when someone else gets stabbed in the guts...it's the smell that's the worst."

Paul nods. "That area is the location of the large intestine, where fecal matter and waste it kept. It is a little striking, that is why you aim for the upper chest, or ideally under the armpits. That are the areas of the humanoid body where it is easiest to land a fatal blow."

Ava closes her eyes and shakes her head. "They NEVER mention that in the stories." She sighs and drinks her tea. "I don't think Adahn likes it either, but he doesn't want to say it. He...I don't know what he wants anymore. That loss..."

>>24344341
It means our girth cannot be ignored.

>>24344341
>>24344372
It means that we get all the bitches and a cushy job in a nice town while he becomes a hobo living in a mountain.

>>24344414
That does sound nice.

>>24344369
"I understand, but the Dramatae's reach and speed is terrifying. Honestly, I believe it's quite likely they are watching us as we speak, and may well be preparing to teleport into this room and retaliate to our derailing of their story. I think it would be best if we could bring Adahn in here. We'll give you privacy to think or talk it out with him, but I don't like the idea of leaving their victims alone on the road for even a second."

>>24344369
"Battle's a gruesome thing. My least favorite part of the job. Not many are cut out for it, and the process of being cut for it is terribly unpleasant. I won't decide for you, but I do offer an escort to your town, if you so desire."

>>24344453
I like this too, maybe stick that after or before.

>>24344369
>paul is up and talking
Holy shit. How is he so tough? Are we that tough?

Is this what it looks like when Ssen gets up from being stabbed five times?

>>24344601
"Battle's a gruesome thing. My least favorite part of the job. Not many are cut out for it, and the process of being cut for it is terribly unpleasant. I won't decide for you, but I do offer an escort to your town, if you so desire.

"But the Dramatae's reach and speed is terrifying. Honestly, I believe it's quite likely they are watching us as we speak, and may well be preparing to teleport into this room and retaliate to our derailing of their story. I think it would be best if we could bring Adahn in here. We'll give you privacy to think or talk it out with him, but I don't like the idea of leaving their victims alone on the road for even a second."

"No. I'm ready." She nods. "Lets go talk to him." She gets up from the table. "What should I say to him? I know he's not going to listen to you."

>>24344632
Paul is sitting at the table, extensively bandages and medicated with potions. He's capable of talk, but don't ask him to fly, much less fight, for a while.

>>24344688
"Tell him the truth. Nothing so surely crumbles the walls we build in our own mind like the cold ring of reality."

>>24344688
>getting "whatever" to listen to exposition
"How would he respond to the truth? Would he listen? I also want to tell him that he should try not to dwell on what happened in stonewall- lost comrades wound even the strongest, and he shouldn't torture himself with blame."

>>24344688
tell him its a lie, the entire thing. the prophesy, the sage, all of it. then explain the details. how the Lightbringers are a story that is MADE to happen. And his town died for that reason only. He doesn't have to wander. He doesn't have to fight. He can find peace elsewhere.

>>24344792
This is a good point we may want to use if he seems not to be buying it.
"The reason you were driven back at Stone Hall is because you were being driven by the Dramatae. But words are wind and prophecy is bunk. You make your own destiny, Adahn. Knowing now how you've been manipulated, the next steps are yours to choose.

>>24344726
"Tell him the truth. Nothing so surely crumbles the walls we build in our own mind like the cold ring of reality."

"I suppose." She goes to the door and motions for you to wait there. "Adahn? Can I have a word?"

"Whatever."

She goes outside.

"She's not going to leave him." Lea says. She's standing a little behind you. "She's convinced herself that he needs her, or she can't do better, or that she loves him, or one of any number of reasons." She sighs. "And whenever it looks like she MIGHT get the courage, he'll put on a show of how weak and helpless he is without her, and then they'll probably have sex, and then he'll got back to 'whatever-ing' and grinding her life down to the nub." Lea sighs.

"You?" Peri asks.

"My mother...and me." She sighed. "My father was skilled, a great fighter, and a good man...didn't make him a kind one. Never laid a hand on either of us, but there's more than one way to chain someone." She sighed.

>>24344855
"I'm not going to claim to be an expert on romance, or difficult relationships or anything like that. I hope maybe they can be better people, but that's always up to them. Maybe smack him upside the head occasionally if he gets too 'whatever'."

If he wont listen maybe offer to fight him.
>>24344244
One of us face off against him and try to talk to him while practicing. Or we could try to piss him of with the truth.

intentionally piss him off

>>24345085
Eh, if he's feeling angry or anything like that we could offer a spar. I'd like to spar with him, at some point, but maybe in a more positive context.

>>24345152
>but maybe in a more positive context.
Probably a good idea.

>>24344994
"I'm not going to claim to be an expert on romance, or difficult relationships or anything like that. I hope maybe they can be better people, but that's always up to them. Maybe smack him upside the head occasionally if he gets too 'whatever'."

"Agreed." Lea says. She sighs. "Idiot probably doesn't even realize it himself. They never really do." She shrugs.

You wait a bit more.

"Taking a bit." Mari says.

"I don't hear shouting." Lea says.

"That a good thing?" Mari asks.

Peri and Lea both shake their heads. "Come on."

You go outside. Ava is on the ground. She has a dagger in her stomach.

"No!" Lea says. "TRICIA GET OVER HERE! BRING POTIONS AND YOUR SICKLE!"

Ava's head slowly lifts and she looks at you. "Took...him...Mask." She whispers. Her hands glow blue and she touches the side of your face. Your head swims and you see.

- - -
"Adhan." Ava asks as she comes outside. "We need to talk."

"-overed in blood with, dead bodies everywhere." Adhan is talking. "I...I don't know what to do! The book said that the evil dragon and his evil coins were helpless against the might of the Lightbringers. That we were fated to stop them."

"And you were." A voice says. Ava moves into view. It's Peace, a flickering shuddery illusion of the person, but you know that voice. "The spell was to take you to the lair, and then you would have faced the dragon, and with your power, you would have won. What caused this?"

"It was that lamia monster! She's covered in blood, and her freak friends are helping this harpy, and there's this old lady with kids...and...and I don't know Great Sage! This isn't what the book said would happen!" He gasps. "This is all wrong again. I'm supposed to slay the dragon, aren't I?"

"The serpent...you know what I have told you about her." Peace says.

"Don't trust her. She's part of the evil that's seeping into the Paladin order, I don't...why don't you just have me fight her? Or she seems intelligent, can't I just talk to her?"

(continued)

>>24345247
>He expresses desire to talk
Fuck son, now I just feel bad.

>>24345247
And this is why we should never leave any of the Lightbringers alone ever.

>>24345272
I feel ... indifferent.

Mostly because I question the way he'll speak in that talk should it ever come to pass.

>>24345305
Why not? There's only 1 left. It's obvious Ava is a 'traitorous wench' now.

>>24345306
it's better than we've been dealing with, more often than not. I'm content with it.

will her to heal. your a dragon so do it. your flesh is pure. you have been called such by the Old One himself. prove it.

(lay on hands?)

>>24345429
what?

We have extra healing potions. Let's just give her one.

>>24345247
"NO!" Peace snaps. Wow that was loud for her. "You must NOT get too close to the lamia! Every part of her is poison, and until you have truly gained the power of Citadel, you CANNOT face her and live. This is...how did she get past Father?" Peace mutters. "She should be frozen and dead in despair!"

(Thank you, Ted.)

"Sage?"

"Nothing...you must find a way to escape. This is too dangerous for you here. There are two more places where you can reclaim the power, and then move on the Shaper of Darkness that is leeching the joy from Citadel...as well as purify the corruption that has infected our land. It is your destiny."

"Adahn," Ava says. "No...don't. Don't listen to him."

"Ava?!" He spins around. "Ava, the Great Sage has told us that we're in terrible danger, we have to run. See if there's a way out from here, and..."

"No. Adhan. I'm done. No more fighting, no more grave robbing, no more combat. I'm /tired/ Adahn, and Ssen and the others have told me what's really going on." She points at Peace. "That thing has been playing us. IT'S the reason why our lives were ruined, and it's been behind everything."

Peace exhales. "No...she's lost. This is...no...she has been lost to the Serpent and her poison. You must flee, Lightbringer."

"Ava...how...don't you...don't you CARE about what's happening to the world? How people are being turned into joyless zombies, how the Paladins have been corrupted and tuned into mindless zealots? That monsters run wild and a madman sits upon the throne of Stone Hall?"

"Adhan, please. Listen to yourself, and hear me when I say this...even if that was all true, I don't want to be the one who fights it."

"You don't get a CHOICE!" Peace snaps.

"Yes. I. Do." Ava says. "I'm not turning my back, or running away. If what the Sage says is true, then there must be others out there fighting, just like they fought in Stone Hall. I'll help, but my way, and that's NOT by fighting! I'm going home to Hollowshade, Adhan."

(continue)

>>24345429
We might be able to use The Old one's blood. Let him know that we need it to heal the lightbringer girl, to save what could be the biggest thorn in the Dramatae's side yet. Make sure he knows this would fuck up their plans terribly.

>>24345457
Lets save that for after attempting a potion.

>>24345445
Yeah, Ava! You tell that bent!

Now what happens to Adhan.

>>24345457
>>24345429
old one specifically told us not to use our blood to heal, since that won't work and might make them worse.

A healing potion is our best, most economical choice. unless we used them ALL on paul, in which case nooooo.

>>24345514
I said the old one's blood. Lamia blood won't work but pure dragon blood will.

>>24345514
Not our blood, his blood is different.

>>24345478
This. If she's been poisoned, which doesn't seem to be the case at first glance, then we could ask the Old One or consider risking the use of our own blood if he refuses. Until then healing potion or Tricia's healing.

I wasn't talking about using our blood, I was talking about using dragon magic. though I don't know exactly how it works but it is apparently will based. A Dragon does not ask their magic to do something. They demand it.

>>24345445
"Ava, no..." He gasps. You can see it on his face. He's gobsmacked, and heartbroken. "I can't...I can't do this without you. I love you! Don't you...don't you love me?"

Ava pauses for a long while. "I don't know. I'm happy to find out, if you'll come with me. Let's go inside, talk to Ssen and the others. They'll explain what's been going on, and what THAT thing really is." She points at Peace.

"Ava, I saved your life. You're...you were my first. We're supposed to be together. 'To be one in the stars!' Like they said, I...I need you!"

Ava goes up to Adhan and takes his hands. She smiles at him. "And I thank you, but this life isn't what I want to have. I want to know who you are, Adhan."

"I'm a Lightbringer!"

"No, Adhan. You're you...please, walk away from this and find out what that is!" She squeezes her hands. "Maybe we are meant to be together, but I want to find out for myself."

Adhan takes a step back. Tears running down his face, shaking his head. "I...I don't...the Lightbringer is the most important person in the world!"

"You know what you must do, Lightbringer." Peace says. There's a flare of that black-purple light from their hands. "Don't think about it. This next impulse is the only thing, and it's the right one. You HAVE no other thought!" Peace's voice has a little bit of a reverb.

Adhan moves quickly. Ava gasps in surprise, and staggers back.

Adhan takes a few steps back. He shakes his head. "No...no...oh, what have I done?"

"What you must..." Peace says. "Hurry, go this way, if you can reach this point..." Peace points and there's a flare of light down the mountain trail. "I can reach you with my power and return you to safety, but you must run."

"Ava..."

"You are the Lightpringer, you will bring the world to Paradise...you must not let a woman's babbling come between you and your destiny." Peace says. "She said she didn't love you anymore, anyway."

"Ava...forgive me." Adahn says as he runs off into the cold and the snow.
- - -

>>24345630
>Lightpringer
Not sure if intentional or someone scratched the disc.

>>24345630
>"You are the Lightpringer, you will bring the world to Paradise...you must not let a woman's babbling come between you and your destiny." Peace says. "She said she didn't love you anymore, anyway."

Because we needed *more* reasons for Peace to die...

fool boy, she said she wanted to find out if she loved you without their influence.

>>24345630
Anyone else getting flashbacks to the brainwashed kid from New Stone Hall?

>>24345630
You take Ava inside, and put her on the table. Tricia has already used her pollen, and (Eight to start, One to Grace, one to Paul) you pour one healing potion down her throat, and pour another on the wound. Mage even uses ghoul magic to boost the troll blood inside the potions as well.

"Shit..." Tricia says. "She's going pale."

"Poison?" Lea asks.

"Maybe, but healing potions can't fix an organ that's been damaged so badly that it starts to fail even after regenerating, or if it cracked a bone and her marrow poisoning her."

"How much time do we have?" Mari asks.

"Hour, max." Tricia says. "We need to get her to Cups for the high powered stuff."

"We could use Ted's teleport?"

"Risky." Ted says. "It's hard on a body even in perfect health. If she's going into shock, I don't want to know what could happen."

>>24345721
"Grace, is there anything you could do? If not, I might have to try a sprint to town. Carrying her won't be so hard. Think the cups could stabilize her?"

>>24345721
Tell the Old one. Explain it like in: >>24345457

Remember what was stated.
Dragon Magic is all about willpower. The Dragon does not ask something to lend it power. The Dragon IS power. It tells its magic to do something. And the magic obeys.

Be the Dragon. Heal her.

>>24345721
Carry her in to see Old One, and ask his help in saving her. Don't specify *how*; we made that mistake last time. Just ask for help.

>>24345788
do this, then if he has nothing he can do, sprint back with her while doing this
>>24345774
modified to just keeping her alive. Not doing miracles yet.

Sound like a good composite plan?

>>24345788
Good point.

(can we at least try to heal ourselves before relying on the tempermental old dragon?)

>>24345721
>>24345774
Place hands over afflicted area, put on best srsface and Paladin Command Voice "HEAL!"

>>24345771
>>24345806
There's no possible way we can sprint back to town within an hour without using the teleport.

>>24345813
Sure, it can't hurt to try.

>>24345813
Probably not a good idea in this context. We don't know the first thing about using our magic and now is not the time to wing it and try learning.

>>24345813
Might as well, but we don't have a lot of time to try it.

Otherwise this.
>>24345806

>>24345827
that's what I meant. Teleport. I think it'll be fine.

Also those are both me, so don't doublevote me. I am now taking up a name to represent this.

>>24345833
It's Dragon Magic, bro. It's just forcefully imposing your will on the world so hard it bends over and obeys.

>>24345867
Yeah but we don't know what to demand, is my point.

>>24345811
>>24345806
>>24345788

You scoop her up into her arms and go to the doors. "Open them!" You snap. Ted and Grace pull them open without a word.

Old One opens an eye. "What is this?" He asks.

"Old One, I need your help in saving this one." You say as you lie her down on the warm stones. "She is a victim of the Dramatae, and her living would be a giant blow to their plans."

Old One looks at Ava. He sniffs her. "Her body is weak and is failing her. There is also the stench of corruption all along her body. She is less human and more puppet. Death would be kinder." Old One says. "But you would have me give what is the most valued to Dragons by all, you ask for something that you yourself will never have. Dragon Blood is LIFE and it is ME...even if this were to harm my foes...is it not a wound you or I could not equal with OUR might ALONE? Or why do you not go to your OTHER Dragon, The Light, and have THEIR blood be used?"

>>24345867

Ehhhh, we're not really a dragon, though. Just with some distant ancestry. I don't think the world is going to roll over and do tricks for us.

>>24345918
"Allright then, no fancy dragon healing magic, got it. Gotta run."

Assuming we're all of the plan to run through the teleport?

What is the fast version of "slither"?

>>24345937
>I don't think the world is going to roll over and do tricks for us.
And neither will an ancient Dragon it seems.

>>24345918
"I did not come here to ask you for blood, or to dictate a solution rather than a problem; I will not make that mistake again. I came to ask if there was anything you could think of that could save her. Your book spoke of powerful dragon magic that could even raise the dead; surely one still living would be well within your capabilities? Or, tell me how to do so and I'll do it myself, whatever the cost.

She has less than an hour to live, she may not survive the teleport back to Bronze Peak, and I'm appealing to your ingenuity for some way that she might live."

>>24346003
Seconding this.

>>24346003
this works, if we still have our composure.

Teleport should still be last resort. If we can't talk him into doing so we should still try healing ourselves.

>>24345918
"Because The Light cannot bleed; but that is beside the point.

Old one, I propose not that we save this girl as a blow against the Dramate in lieu of a greater harm we may visit upon their designs. I intend to save this girl and wound them in every other way possible. We must take EVERYTHING from them. We must undo them at EVERY turn. We MUST take every CRUMB from their hoard. It is the only way to teach them how terribly WRONG they have been in seeking to steal from you."

Caps near end because speaking with the fervor of an enraged dragon.

>>24346003
>whatever the cost.
Please leave out this. Remember dragon. As much as I want to save Ava, I don't want us getting fucked over because of wordings.

>>24346071
Seconding this.

>>24346079
>>24346003
yes, skip whatever the cost. Just "and I'll do it myself."

>>24346071
We will crush them, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentation of... whatever they've got.

>>24346079
Here.

>>24346071
Really like this one more.

>>24346071
Sounds good. I'd change "from you" to "from us", and follow it with the explanation from
>>24346003
lest he still think we're asking for blood.

>>24346003
"I did not come here to ask you for blood, or to dictate a solution rather than a problem; I will not make that mistake again. I came to ask if there was anything you could think of that could save her. Your book spoke of powerful dragon magic that could even raise the dead; surely one still living would be well within your capabilities? Or, tell me how to do so and I'll do it myself, whatever the cost.

"She has less than an hour to live, she may not survive the teleport back to Bronze Peak, and I'm appealing to your ingenuity for some way that she might live."

Old One closes his eye, and then opens it. "There is one way. She is filled with magic, and changes, and an assortment of other alterations. Your blood holds the poisons of the Leviathans locked within it. A drop on her tongue, and I will unlock them. They would burn away all that she was NOT and bring her back to what she WAS. That would save her life."

Ava opens her eyes and looks at you. She shakes her head. "No...I don't..." She swallows. "I don't want to be that plain, brown haired, small, plain, boring, Lilly." She swallows. "I don't like this, but I want to still be Ava. It's okay... " She sniffs. "I've lost Adhan anyway...I knew we could make it work but..." She sheds tears. "He wont love me if I'm a nothing again. I can't save him if I'm not Ava. Please, don't kill Ava...I hate Lilly."

Old One humphs. "Do not listen to that NOTHING. You are a DRAGON. YOUR will is greater than ALL. YOU decided what people DO. YOURS is the ONLY choice."

>>24346187
Unless we're gonna retcon for >>24346071,
then we shall save her. Her reasons for thinking she wants to die are delusional and shallow. She's a good kid and she deserves life but is so mixed up right now, she doesn't know what she wants.

>>24346187
Oh man, this is a tough one.

Echo, how far is it from ted's house to the cup's guild? assuming we went as fast as possible?

>>24346187
If we don't Ava dies anyway.

So long as you're alive, at least you're not dead.

>>24346187
To Ava/Lilly: "Think how the stories of the Lightbringers always end. Is that what you want, to sacrifice yourself for a story that isn't even true? It only takes a storybook hero to sacrifice themselves for a cause. That isn't the hardest part. The hardest part is choosing to live, when the alternative starts to seem appealing.

Let me tell you a story I like far better than those. A Paladin went up against Peace and the other Dramatae, wielding a weapon made from the fragments of the First Lantern. But those fragments had been corrupted, and he failed, at great cost. He survived, but could not bring himself to keep fighting. Yet he still came back to his home, and went on to raise a family. And without him, I wouldn't be here today; he was my father.

Ava, Lilly, live by whatever name you wish, but choose to live. If Adahn truly loves you, he'll love you in any form."

>>24346187
"So you don't want to go back to who you were? Deal with it. If you want to save Adahn, do it with your own two hands, as yourself, not with this false mask you wear. Besides..." Smile. "...If you're a real person beneath this false identity, what about him? Don't you want to meet the real him?"

>>24346258
>Echo, how far is it from ted's house to the cup's guild? assuming we went as fast as possible?

Close enough, if Ava survives the teleport. You can make it and she can be saved as Ava.

>>24346281
this sounds best. Then heal her.

>>24346285
>>24346281
Can we combine these? I like the eloquence of Stitcher's, but the thing about how Adahn's probably a 'normal' person beneath his identity is too good to pass up.

>>24346187
"Don't you get it? You've always been Lilly, and nothing can change that."

>>24346187

Better to live as yourself, than die as something you were made into.

>>24346281

"You've always been Lilly, and nothing can change that. Think how the stories of the Lightbringers always end. Is that what you want, to sacrifice yourself for a story that isn't even true? It only takes a storybook hero to sacrifice themselves for a cause. That isn't the hardest part. The hardest part is choosing to live, when the alternative starts to seem appealing.

"Let me tell you a story I like far better than those. A Paladin went up against Peace and the other Dramatae, wielding a weapon made from the fragments of the First Lantern. But those fragments had been corrupted, and he failed, at great cost. He survived, but could not bring himself to keep fighting. Yet he still came back to his home, and went on to raise a family. And without him, I wouldn't be here today; he was my father.

"Ava, Lilly, live by whatever name you wish, but choose to live. If Adahn truly loves you, he'll love you in any form.

"If you want to save Adahn, do it with your own two hands, as yourself, not with this false mask you wear. Besides..." Smile. "...If you're a real person beneath this false identity, what about him? Don't you want to meet the real him?"

Ava closes her eyes, and clenches her fists. She grits her teeth but relaxes her mouth, so you can open it.

She's not going to give you permission. She can't bring herself to take that step. But she isn't going to resist you if you do it. She wants you to make the choice for her, so she doesn't have to blame herself.

>>24346436
Purge heretical Dramatae bullshit. Oh, and the wounds too.

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>>24346436
>She isn't going to resist
She wants it.

Give her the Dragon-Leviathan blood

Thats enough permission for me. poke ourselves on Beacon.

>>24346436
"Then let it be done. I'm sorry."
>>24346474
does poking ourself with the beacon give a charge? I'd laugh.

>>24346474
>She's not resisting, she must want it!
Geez, you rapist.

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>>24346436

For crying out loud, this is the one time she has the opportunity to take charge of her life and she PASSES THE BUCK?

>>24346436
"No. I'm not going to make this decision for you, Lilly. You have to do it. YOU have to take charge of YOUR OWN life, not let others dictate what you want."

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>>24346513
She has bitch dependancy syndrome.

>>24346535
Seconding this.

>>24346539
Amen.

>>24346535

Thirding.

It's one thing to save people who do not have the means to do it themselves. But to pour all the responsibility of a hard choice upon someone else just so that you can blame that person for everything that happens afterwards is just being a dick.

>>24346535
Thirded.

>>24346535
I am gonna second this and cancel my previous, pro-act-right-now vote. If it's not too late.

>>24346535
Agreeing with this.

SHE needs to pick not us, not the dragon, not even the Light, HER. Fucking stupid ass bitch.

>>24346513

It might not be COMPLETELY her fault. Old One described her as being a puppet, as being changed. Altered by the Dramatae's magic, she may not be able to take a stand for herself.

>>24346573
She showed some backbone here >>24345445

She needs to show it again

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>>24346535
If she doesn't listen to this, then pic related.

>>24346609
Punch her until she says yes?

>>24346436
>>24346584
This.

"You showed incredible strength when you faced Peace and Adahn, stood up to all the lies you'd been fed and demanded the truth. I can't make this decision for you. That's what the Dramatae, the so-called Sages, have been doing for you all your life. If you want to live, then make your choice."

>>24346535
"No. I'm not going to make this decision for you, Lilly. You have to do it. YOU have to take charge of YOUR OWN life, not let others dictate what you want."

She's crying and shakes her head. "I can't! I can't...I wont...Ava's brave, Ava can stand up to people, and Ava's the one who can deal with this. Lilly's weak, afraid, ugly...please." She swallows. "I'll risk the teleport, but don't make me take away the only good thing that's come out of this!"

>>24346652
Alright, that's the best we're getting. Load her up, lets go.

>>24346436
(I'm picturing Old One just kinda resting his head on his forelegs here, staring at the Little Dragon while she demonstrates her most important skill as a Paladin.)

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>>24346652
Its time.

>>24346711
We probably shouldn't slap someone who's dying.

>>24346624
Or no.

She has to make SOME sort of decision.

>>24346711
No, none of that.
Girl's been through enough abuse as it is.

>>24346652
"We're not going anywhere or doing anything until you say yes, or you say no."

>>24346652
AVA IS A LIE.

>>24346652
"No! Ava, you have control of your own life! You can make Lilly just as good, or BETTER than Ava if you just had the Light damned testicular fortitude to try! Now tell me in no uncertain terms what you want!" I just really wanted to say testicular fortitude.

>>24346652
Save her, this way, the sure way. Her decision-making skills are SHOT right now. Deal with the other consequences later.

>>24346652
"Where do you think Ava's strength came from? You've been Ava the whole time. You had a mission to complete, and that made you feel like you had a purpose; for that, you could feel like something more, act with confidence. You're right, that was one of the few good things to come out of all this, but that's because it wasn't a fake; that was you, the whole time.

That confidence isn't going anywhere unless you let it. Ava, Lilly, they're the same person. They always have been.

Make your choice, right now. Don't leave it to someone else, not me, and not fate."

>>24346767
Testicular fortitude is a great phrase. So versatile.

>>24346790
Should say: "not me, not Peace, and not fate."

>>24346652
We're forgetting something important, here, by the way. She still has that medallion, right?

Rolled 2

>>24346790
"You can make Lilly just as good, or BETTER than Ava if you just had the Darkness-be-damned testicular fortitude to try!
Where do you think Ava's strength came from? You've been Ava the whole time. You had a mission to complete, and that made you feel like you had a purpose; for that, you could feel like something more, act with confidence. You're right, that was one of the few good things to come out of all this, but that's because it wasn't a fake; that was you, the whole time.

That confidence isn't going anywhere unless you let it. Ava, Lilly, they're the same person. They always have been.

Make your choice, right now. Don't leave it to someone else, not me, not Peace, and not fate. Now tell me in no uncertain terms what you want!"

>>24346866
"I'd rather be dead than be Lilly...but I don't want to die." She says. "I choose the Teleport spell."

damnit dice.

alright. to the teleporter

>>24346884
Well shit, guess she's going to look like some freakish tittymonster forever.

Fire up the Teleport.

>>24346884
"Fine. At least it's your choice. Let's go."

"And thank you, Old One."

>>24346884
Goddamnit, if she wasn't dying I'd slap her so hard.

>>24346884
This bitch needs a good slap, but fine. Lets get her on the teleporter.

>>24346884
Stupid girl ...

"Thank you, Old One.

"TED! Get that teleport spell ready NOW!"

>>24346884
I can't say I'm not deeply tempted to do it anyway, but what kind of person would we be if we're fighting so hard to let people make their own choices and then take that away from them when they don't choose what we think they should, even if it's what's best for them. We're not Citadel.

I *am* curious what the odds were of her making the sensible choice there.

>>24346979
ya knowing what kinda chances we had of convincing her to do what we wanted would be nice

>>24346979
You'd think low would be good in this case since its a social defense against our arguement, but alas.

>>24346866
I assume that rerolls are only usable on our own choices, and not someone else's? (It'd feel a bit like cheating the plot otherwise, but I have to ask.)

>>24346884
Let's get running.

Bring an extra healing potion. If the motion worstens her condition, it can bring her back to dying. Maybe.

>>24346979
>I *am* curious what the odds were of her making the sensible choice there.
50%, 1 would be she picks death. /tg/ diiiiice!

You look at her and sigh.

"Fine. At least it's your choice. Let's go. And thank you, Old One."

Old One just closes his eye at you. You get the feeling that you've disappointed him somewhat. "Take the coins with you, return to me when you have shown your dragon blood has emerged again Beautiful One.

"TED! Get that teleport spell ready NOW!"

Ted and Mage are on it, prepping everything. The others are getting the coins into the barrels and rolling them into the circle There's four barrels and they weight about as much as a full keg of wine. You could have made it two, but no way you could have carried those.

"Just you, the Girl, and one more person first." Ted says. "Then I'll send the others through with the barrels. Who's going with you?"

>>24347078
>Old One just closes his eye at you. You get the feeling that you've disappointed him somewhat. "Take the coins with you, return to me when you have shown your dragon blood has emerged again Beautiful One.

That hurts, but this is one time that the dragon ego isn't necessarily right.

>>24347078
Whoever has the most skill in healing to help keep her stable.

>>24347078
Awwww, we're not Little Dragon anymore...

>>24347078
(Also, I thought he specifically said that he'd keep them here until we un-corrupted them? Did he suddenly change his mind just because we seemed less like Little Dragon to him? Seems kinda unrelated.)

>>24347078
"Lea. You mind?" Lea's probably the most physically fit of our party. Plus she probably has decent medic skills. Tricia would be second choice if anyone else.

>>24347078
Lea's fastest, right? I mean over long distances?

She not might be able to carry her the fastest like us, but she can sprint ahead and get the conclave prepped. Right?

>>24347121
And some how I don't care.

>>24347109
>>24347078
>Whoever has the most skill in healing to help keep her stable.
This.

>>24347124
Yeah, asking permission from our lessers isn't Dragon enough for him. Note that he called us "Beautiful One" again.
>pride ordbyst
Oh captcha...

>>24347109
>Whoever has the most skill in healing to help keep her stable.
Thirded

>>24346866
I still reckon we should have used our reroll here.

>>24347150
True enough. And any other time, I might have said that she really did just need someone else to lend her strength. But we're fighting an enemy that makes people's lives idyllic at the cost of taking away their choices; it'd be far too hypocritical for us to do the same.

>>24347192
If we could, I'd agree. But we've only been allowed to use rerolls on our own rolls, which I think makes more sense; we're affecting our own abilities, not the way the world turns out.

>>24347124
>(Also, I thought he specifically said that he'd keep them here until we un-corrupted them? Did he suddenly change his mind just because we seemed less like Little Dragon to him? Seems kinda unrelated.)
He doesn't want you just coming back. He doesn't want to see you any more. So he's getting rid of the excuse you (or he) might use to have you visit.

"Lea. You're with me." You say.

Lea grabs the healing potion satchel.

"I juiced them up, so that they should be stronger." Mage says. "Can I go on record that this isn't the smartest thing we've ever done, and I mean that seriously and not just by our standards."

"We are aware." Lea says. She glares at Ava. "If this kills you, you will have a LONG journey ahead of you."

You're all ready to go. You nod at Ted and he and Mage start to chant. The circle goes bright, adnt here's a feeling of being tossed in five directions at once. Ava jerks and shudders and cries out in pain as you hold onto her.

Roll 1d10, lower is better.

Rolled 3

>>24347230

Rolled 6

>>24347230

Rolled 4

>>24347230
Oh shiiiiit.

Rolled 1

>>24347230
>in during 10

Rolled 2

>>24347230
Citadel.

>>24347245
Omg /tg/ dice actually delivered.

Rolled 3

>>24347258
Or are they just warming up to flub us on a d20?
>roll related.

>>24347230
>He doesn't want you just coming back. He doesn't want to see you any more. So he's getting rid of the excuse you (or he) might use to have you visit.
Echo, you are the master of the gutpunch-by-proxy.

(we should have tried Dragon Magic...)

>>24347230
We'll still make plans to come back some day right?


.. right?

I wonder how granny and this old coot would interact

>>24347305
We did try. And we got asked not to.

>>24347313
That was leviathan poison

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>>24347198

Although I hear there are some other options for Paladins who think that freedom is a little bit too much for some people.

Hey guys, this whole situation has me thinking. Does Ssen *really* have the balls to get rid of Citadel? So far we've just smoothed over the obvious rocking-of-the-boat caused by our actions of forcing The Truth onto Citadel and it's people but the one time it looks us in the face we pussy out? Old One is right, we're no Dragon. We're a fool who dropped an entire egg carton and is afraid to break one more.

>>24347368
wut

We should have just done it. Of course she's too brainwashed to even CONSIDER the fact that MAYBE her life might be better if she weren't the meat puppet that Peace made her into. Of course she'd make this choice.

>>24347368
but right now we are taking the action that might break an egg

RIGHT NOW

>>24347377
We broke plenty of people's livelyhoods by forcibly removing Citadel's influence from their lives. Why is Ava special?

What the flying fuck. I come back to this? This isn't a case of making a choice on her part. This is a fucking case of exactly what we did in Stone Hall. Its not fucking pretty, its a choice of giving them the ability to fucking get a clear perspective on things. All she has to fucking relate to is a boring citadel influence complacency compared to the semi interesting citadel lightbringer induced complacency. People will fucking stick to old familiarity no matter how fucking bad it is. It is our job to show them another way.
Not to mention the fact as I said earlier, its fucking citadel magic in her, she is now a latent vulnerability if she does live.

>>24347406
yup, I kinda agree.

>>24347406
We shouldn't have given her the choice, she wasn't going to resist man. Shoulda just forced our Leviathan down her throat.

>>24347406
I think people swayed votes by saying she had the balls to talk down peace and adahn

oh well

Things happen when you make decisions.

I wonder what would have happened if she accepted to turn back to lily, would Old Man Dragon still be disappoint?

Wait, so if nobody thinks this was a good idea, why did it fucking happen?

>>24347456
>>24347471
That is what I am fucking saying I just find it funny that the one time that Echo actually waits for the wave of second guessing is the one time it actually fucked it up.
>>24347475
Wave of Me-tooists supporting a shitty dialogue write in, because all dialogue write ins are always voted in.

>>24347434
>>24347406
This might have been one of our failings. We don't always succeed.
>>24347399
I think you might have discovered a conflict in our philosophy between allowing choice and removing citadel to allow choice.

Many would choose citadel. What should we do with them? We've never addressed this other than stabbing the ones who've tried to stab us.

>>24347434
>>24347406

That's one way of looking at it.

But it was also a chance to show that Citadel's influence could be willingly broken by one person who stood to benefit significantly from its continued influence. It's one thing to force a person into a hard outcome, but it's another thing entirely to have them see what looms on the other side and take the dive anyway.

>>24347456
>>24347471
>>24347475
At this point:
>>24346187
we could have just decided we needed to be strong on her behalf, and done it. But once we went down the road of offering her the choice, which a pile of people did want to do, we couldn't turn back from it when she decided otherwise; we could only try to convince her.

>>24347245
The light fades and you're back in Ted's basement. Ava coughs a little and it's pure blood, but she's alive and still holding on.

"Come on!" Lea says taking Ava as it's easier for Lea to go up the ladder with a body. You pull yourself up and slither after Lea and catch up to her. You reach the Cups, and the healers take Ava inside. They assure you that she's going to be 'just fine' but that there might be some 'lingering issues.'

"Well..." Lea sighs as the two of you go back to Ted's. "You can't stop people from being foolish. Isn't that what we're fighting for?"

You pass a group of people, it's a familiar sight from Stone Hall. People are shouting and arguing. Jeremy turning his free loans into an actual bank has caused a lot of people to flip out. Mostly because a lot of people can't afford to pay other people, that also includes people looking the other way about some things, and paying off unhappy people. So now there's shouting about unions, strikes at the mines, and the counter-reaction to things like that. Balles people are making sure that there's no violence, and have arrested some goon squads, but the problem is still growing, because Jeremy's got an 'Hang me for a lion, if not a cat' mindset, and is seeing his financial reform all the way to the end...despite his pleasant whorehouse now covered in graffiti, thrown stones, and vegetables.

"This is our prize, isn't it?" Lea says. "We are going to make a lot of people very unhappy, and a lot of innocent people will suffer."

>>24347456
The intial "giving her the choice" wasn't so bad [even its probably the reason we lost favor with the old one], we definitely got stuck between a rock and a hard place when she picked the ava decision.

Be like citadel and force it on her anyway and earn her resentment..? or...?

I kinda wish we just teleported to begin with

>>24347475
Goons

Makers of
> Lick the Soul gem

and who could ever forget

> get fucked

>>24347456
Damn it, I can't think of this situation in any way other than throat rape now.

>>24347389
I agree

>>24347544
Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time, remembering our past actions of allowing choice.

Then I remembered our past actions of ousting citadel influence, after people pointed it out.

>>24347531
aww shit I forgot about Jeremy's shenanigans

Today isn't Ssen's day apparently

>>24347508
Except she didn't see what loomed on the other side at all. One conversation is not the other side. Especially when we didn't even explain the full nature of Citadel to her. But no, we fucking go ahead and go of what she fucking said in a state that can hardly be said to be lucid when the very reason we came up here was to force people to be lucid to save them.
>>24347568
Had I not been in the shower after saying DO IT when she fucking gave up her right to chose I would have, but no.

>>24347549
Don't forget it'd also involve poisonous substances and blood. Anyway,>>24347475
because we had 3 votes for forcing it, someone posted a dialogue telling her to make a choice instead, dialogue gets support, gets chosen. Now stuck between rock and hard place because she didn't pick Truth.

>>24347531
"The times of plenty may be ending. We'll need new ways of doing things.

Who knew the keystone of this entire place's economy was a single brothel?"

>>24347531
"Nobody said change was going to be easy or everyone was going to be happy with it.

"The most we can do lay out their choices ...

"Light only knows how bad it will be when Citadel goes."

I wonder if this shitstorm would have been worse had she chosen death and died on the spot

wait your right, 3 votes of do it should have locked it in. Thats been the rule for a while.

>>24347587
Well, let's roll with it regardless. We're gonna have one of our less pleasant days.

And that vampire next! We have to waterboard her with pig blood!

>>24347645
It really should have. I'm wondering why it didn't in that case. I feel like the nature of the game has been changed after you come back from fucking halftime.

>>24347531
Have a long silence in contemplative thought. "Yeah, I guess it is. Everything comes at a price... Is it worth it? No, it's too late to worry about silly things like that now, isn't it? It has to be worth it, we will MAKE it so. Too much blood has been spilled for it not to be..."

>>24347531
You know, if the Dramatae weren't destroying people's lives and livelihoods in their little farce, I'd be willing to say fuck it. Because the Lightbringers are beyond rational thought, and the emo douche seems like a complete asshole to boot.

But they're willing to destroy towns and cities just to give the Lightbringers something to do, and they're not going to stop until we kill them all. In terms of innocents suffering, these idiots will get over it. If not this generation than the next. But with the Dramatae, it'll never end.

>>24347665
uh oh.

>>24347652
I'm still curious to when "Beautiful One, I am disappoint" was locked in

was it our giving her the choice or her picking to remain as Ava?

>>24347711
Oh yes. Crippling self doubt now that the fruit of our 'liberation' has come to stare us in the face once more. :3

I find it disturbing that I am agreeing with Redaeth here. That is not something I usually do.

Ssen:

Sleep poorly that night.

Anyone feel like checking up on Jeremy post-"STOP TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE LIKE YOU"

got yelled into his head for hours would have prevented this?

trying pull discussion away from -that- even if I didn't vote for it

>>24347731
It was either at >>24346187
or the very next post. I assume the second one was the last straw though.

>>24347731

I think it was the point where we insisted that Ava makes the call, and not Ssen deciding for her.

>Old One humphs. "Do not listen to that NOTHING. You are a DRAGON. YOUR will is greater than ALL. YOU decided what people DO. YOURS is the ONLY choice."

Even if she chose to become Lily once more, the Old One probably would not have liked that we gave a choice rather than imposing our will, even if that will is to have that one person make a call and not dump responsibility on you.

>>24347531
>"This is our prize, isn't it?" Lea says. "We are going to make a lot of people very unhappy, and a lot of innocent people will suffer."

In an effort to reflect our conflicted wishes into the plot:

"It's sad; I was so tempted to just make the choice for her, help her live on as she once was, burning away the Lightbringer corruption with Old One's help. It certainly would have been the Dragon thing to do, to put my own will above others and assume I knew best. Might even have been the Paladin thing to do. But at that moment, all I could think of was that it seemed like the Citadel thing to do."

>>24347731
We didn't MAKE her do the smart thing, nor could we CONVINCE her to do it. We failed twice.

>>24347669
This. Citadel can stay, but the Dramatae and their insane bullshit have to go.

I don't care if it means we have to take their jobs afterwards, Peace and her cronies are total fucking nutjobs and cannot be allowed to continue.

>>24347798
At that point, if it hadn't been a distraction from saving Ava, I would have been tempted to respond to Old One and ask him if that was what made the Dark One and Citadel like Dragons, imposing their will on others. Dark One because it wanted power, and Citadel because it thought it knew best.

>>24347828
no just know taking their jobs afterwards means they win

>>24347798
This leads to a question I've been meaning to ask.

Remember how it said, in the biology book, that lamias used pherimones in hunting, perhaps? Remember how focused dragon biology is on producing servants and those mutually linked to dragons?

What if we are influencing our friends via more sinister means than we are aware of to do what they are doing? If we gave them breath masks for a few weeks, would they start disagreeing more? Maybe not even want to go with us?

>>24347818
We MADE her choose for HERSELF. If she was too WEAK to make the RIGHT decision, she was too WEAK for us to bother with.

>>24347786
I don't think we should pull discussion from it since it broke the 3 agree-locking that has been pretty much agreed on since quest start. Only time it hasn't is when a write in has the same gist, but is either a wall or particularly witty dialogue, and in both cases are still in line with the original locked in thing. I think a deviation from this was arbitrary.

>>24347855
Does it really? Even if it puts us in a position to change Citadel into something not utterly insane?

>>24347834
Yeah I had wanted to make a write-in to say something to the old one before leaving but we were already out of there in the narration

maybe we can leave him a letter or something, Force ted to dictate it out if he's too proud to read it

While the city may be tearing itself apart we shouldn't expect a delay on our Vamp's execution. If anything the dwarf in charge may be even more inclined to carry it out on time to free up guards needed elsewhere.
Find and buy a domesticated pig ASAP.

>>24347856
That's an ugly thought ...

>>24347860
That almost makes sense, in a twisted way. It was *her* will to make it *our* fault. It was *our* will to make it *her* choice.

Too bad Old One didn't see it that way.

But honestly, I suspect we lost some respect in Old One's eyes the moment we ran to him to solve the problem.

>>24347885
This. But just find a butcher and see if we can get the blood in quantity. Cut out the middle-pig.

>>24347669

One of the better scenarios is that Citadel grows up and matures to become benevolent land-god-entity-thing. Which will hopefully include graudally decreasing its influence and will upon the world, instead opting to use that same influence to help the people grow as a civilization rather than the whole "Brave New World" schtick where it keeps the people pacified by keeping them busy with bread & circuses.

>>24347874
okay, fair enough. We've already progressed like two scenes though, so please don't call for a retcon on the last like hour and a half.

>>24347623
"Yeah, I guess it is. Everything comes at a price... Is it worth it? No, it's too late to worry about silly things like that now, isn't it? It has to be worth it, we will MAKE it so. Too much blood has been spilled for it not to be...but, the times of plenty may be ending. We'll need new ways of doing things.

"The most we can do lay out their choices ...Light only knows how bad it will be when Citadel goes."

Lea shudders. "Half the city is just kept standing by magic."

You shake your head and wave your hand. One crisis at a time. "Who knew the keystone of this entire place's economy was a single brothel?"

"More like a man who thought that he could be liked if he kept giving people money." Lea sighs. "We should go get the others, and then deal with the vampire."

The coins are collected, and kept at Ted's. He's only using it as a way station when he makes grocery runs, so in the meantime, you guys can use it as a base, and a place to sleep.

Balles' paperwork on his desk and his minions is growing all around him. You can see cracks in his world of perfect order, but he seems to be holding strong. The pig blood idea is one that causes him to slap his face.

"Of course!" He says. "Staves always has a supply of it, and there's always been a period of heavy lethargy and rationality when a vampire has fed excessively."

"Why does Staves keep a lot of pig blood on hand, readily?" Peri asks.

"Blood's useful in countless spells and studies." Mari says. "Having pig blood around is just sensible for your blood needs, and far less gross or difficult to get."

Helen is fed in a way that's...more than a little upsetting to you. They can't risk her breaking free, so they shackle her down and chain her to a stone table. Then they force a funnel down onto her throat and start pouring the blood in. She obviously chokes enough to cause the sides of her mouth to overflow, as well as bubble to gurgle up in the funnel's bowl, but the occuli keep on pouring.

(continued)

>>24347860
If we can't exercise our will over the weak, then what good are we? And make no mistake, making the decision for her is the same as convincing her. It's ultimately ensuring that OUR will is what decides her actions.

And we failed. Twice.

>>24347878
pretty sure it would make us Citadel's pets

>>24347880
>maybe we can leave him a letter or something, Force ted to dictate it out if he's too proud to read it

You want to play passive-aggressive with a dragon?

>>24347874
He already wrote the update though, and I'm certain there hasn't been an retcon in this story yet

it'd still be nice to get echo's thoughts on it though

I feel like retcon would be a cop-out at this point, but first to three clause was broken...

>>24347925
There is EXERCISING our will, and there is TESTING others to see if they are WORTHY of our efforts.

>>24347926
We honestly don't know what the relationship between Peace and Citadel is at this point. Either one could be in control.

>>24347918
Its the same arbitrary heavy handedness that happened with the arrow. I remember the fit that was raised then too.
>>24347938
I'm surprised he hasn't commented on it. He usually at least acknowledges grievances.
I'm becoming the resident bitchfester but fuck man, I am not happy. Especially in something I had no say in.

>>24347976
I am starting to think Peace is Citadel's avatar

I hope picking Ava over Lily will bear fruit in the future...

If this ends up punching us in the gut, the shitstorm will be legendary

>>24347938
First to three was only ever a thing in battles with fast action choices that individually didn't deeply matter to the plot. The rule outside of battle has always been that we keep discussing it until Echo posts, and whatever seems to have the most combination of support and eloquence wins. Otherwise, the options that take longer to write up will always tend to lose out even when more people end up wanting them.

In any case, I'm inclined to take the in-plot gut punch and move on.

holy crap, Im late for one session and we both have someone nearly die and lose the respect of Old One.

>>24347923
Eventually the red eyes of a vampire slowly begin to clear and Helen stops struggling against the chains and shackles.

"Enough." Balles says, and the funnel is ripped out of her mouth.

Helen turns her head and vomits some of the black blood up, causing it to stain the floor. She then starts to sob for a while. Finally she stops to regain her breath.

"Please...no more...it's cold, and horrible." She says. Finally there's proof of sanity in those eyes of hers. "I'm sorry...please...no more. I'll tell you anything...no more."

Balles nods at you. She is your prisoner. You may proceed.

>>24348037
"Tell us what happened after you left Jeremy's place, up until you met Trivalon."

>>24348067
(Or "Passion", if she doesn't recognize the name "Trivalon".)

>>24348018

I'm beginning to think that most of the grief is over losing the Old One's respect more than anything else (and maybe one-upping smug Ted). Which is perfectly understandable, since he may have been a strong ally in the future (and Ted is a real dickwad).

>>24348029
This was it. I knew there were going to be some really quick 'do it' votes, but I also knew that there were going to be people writing out long arguments. So I waited for the longer ones, and the longer ones were really good and very in-character for what you've guys made Ssen into.

>>24347960
Why bother testing? Assume that NOBODY is worth our efforts until they SHOW us otherwise, through their OWN efforts. If they need to be TESTED, then they are already unworthy.

>>24348029
> that feel when I see this AND I see that one of the 3 voters votechanged to the dialogue

oh well

I hope we can be a little dragon in the future
although loss of the Dragon's Gaze/Respect means we've opened ourselves to Leviathans if we ever meet any sane ones in the future

KEEP THAT IN MIND FOLKS, ITS A POSITIVE RESULT OF OUR ACTIONS

should probably check one of the bear shrine books for a leviathan book.

>>24348067
>>24348076
I thought it was Peace that turned them into vamps and Passion merely controlled them after that.

>>24347976
I get this weird feeling that Peace is like Yubaba, and Citadel is like a giant mentally stunted baby she keeps pacified with pretty toys.

>>24348037
Learning a lesson from our time with the kid in Stone Hall's prison, let's *not* make it clear to her what password answer will get her out of this. Let's just get the whole story from her.

>>24348082
Yeah. I think it's a sign of how good this quest has become that the consequences of our actions have us second-guessing so much. I'd like to think Ssen has this much internal conflict, too.

>>24348118
Might well be, but we want to know the whole story, not just the answer to the one question that might get Helen off the hook.

>>24348095
She had already SHOWN that she had PROMISE when she stood up to Peace. That PROMISE could have been either MUTED by the external influence clouding her mind, or it could have OVERCOME it. The only way to know for sure was to TEST.

>>24348087
Except it isn't because the very fucking reason we went to dark peaks was to make sure someone was lucid when we fucking talked to them, something that someone that is stabbed in the gut and high on citadel magic. In fact we've rarely if ever been the one looking over someone else dying, its usually us. So how is it in keeping when it is contradictory to the short term goal we were doing in tandem?

You want to be the Little Dragon again? Deliver Old One what he wants. Dragons show respect to strength, and that's just one, two, or three severed heads away.

File: 1366428768169.jpg-(22 KB, 281x441, vhailor.jpg)

22 KB JPG

>>24348087
>>24348141

Ideological evolution! Which path will Ssen take? Only time will tell.

>>24348148
Heh. I foresee some Tragedy or Comedy in our future.

>>24348037
"Sorry about that. I don't mean for this to be more unpleasant than it has to be."
then this
>>24348067

>>24348148
yeah, honestly. Nothing has been damaged here that can't be solved by murdering citadel harder.

except the economic crisis

The thought occurs to me, by the way, that even if we'd picked to use the Leviathan blood, there'd probably still have been at least one roll involved. And *that* roll might have had an even less pleasant failure.

Standard problem with choices that leads people to second-guess them: you can see all the consequences of the choice you made, and only the first-level consequences of the choice you didn't, so making a different choice in the past often seems much better than it would have been.

>>24348082
this is probably true

>>24348037
this is kinda... kinky
Ask for testimony of the last few weeks, nothing more nothing less

>>24348148
Oh boy this sounds like an adventure thanks for the re-affirmation we can get it back... and for the information on the voting process

>>24348141
>sign of a good quest
We've been eerily cohesive up until this point by the standards of the quests I frequent, given the nature of the decisions we make.

>>24347856
can I draw attention to this once more?

Am I just being paranoid, or could we be pherimone influencing our friends? Is that important?

>>24348267
She is a latent vulnerability, its like having a drugged up dramatae in our basement having an imminent system purge. I'd honestly rather her dead than tainted in this case.

>>24348284
It's because /tg/ wants to be the Paladin but cannot into Hard Choices. Why do you think we have so many threads about Paladins falling?

>>24348319

A sudden influx of very poor footwear and roads in constant disrepair?

>>24348087
I respectfully disagree.

Sometimes the immediate decisions are the correct ones. The longer you think about it, the more likely you are to second-guess yourself. That is what happened here. Instead of freeing her from the utter lie that Peace had made her life into, and giving her a chance to be free of all this bullshit, people piled onto the idea that "making her choose" was better.

Isn't Truth something the Caligo Clarus is supposed to be about? Is letting the brainwashing victim choose the lies over the truth really what Ssen would do?

>>24348313
I really doubt this unless the pheromones are just keeping Citadel from driving them nuts. Those few months after taking the arrow for His Royal Audaciousness should be testament to that. We managed to get everyone back to their senses rather quickly, far too quickly for it to be some passive enthrallment.

>>24348284
Yeah, we seem to have a really coherent picture of what it means to be a decent Paladin, of the non-Lawful-Stupid non-Immovable-Rod variety. Plus, we typically get pretty good results from our efforts at diplomacy and similar; we're collectively a very Pavlovian Paladin.

But we've had some pretty impressive disagreements in the past as well. For instance, the kid in Stone Hall, and Helen; there's always a pretty vocal contingent with relatively low bounds on forgiveness in this life as opposed to the next.

In any case, it's definitely the most interesting and engaging quest I've ever been in or read.

>>24348374
Given how conflicted I am about it:

Yes, obviously, it happened, but she has no idea if it was the right thing.

She may be seriously doubting it now in fact.

If Ava says she wants to come with us to save Adahn...

"No. You made your choice when you wanted to stay as Ava, to take the easy way out, to remain part of the Lightbringer's doomed story. You honestly think you can save your little fairytale boyfriend as you are? Face the facts - you're going to get close to him, and you're just going to get sucked back into the story again. You're a liability, Ava - and you chose to be one the instant you couldn't bear to go without Peace's slave collar. If you came with us while still wearing the chains of the Dramatae you could have your will snatched away from you again at any moment."

"I'm sorry, Ava, but you made the wrong choice. Its game over. If you don't want to start helping Adahn walk to his death again I advise you to find a nice, deep hole to hide in, because if the Dramatae find you, its not going to be pleasant."

>>24348406
> dumping the investment that cost us Dragon Respect and burdened us with lugging this cursed coins around
> potentially opening us to backstabbing when this bitch eventually gets manipulated OFF-SCREEN

please.

No.

>>24348397
This is why Paladin orders have a creed or a set f oaths. It helps you make the "tough calls" in a manner that is at least internally consistent.

Make no mistake, I'm not conflicted about it. This entire crusade is about undoing the web of lies and manipulation that the Dramatae have spun. And in this case, as a group, we chose to let Ava go on living the lie.

>>24348067
"Sorry about that. I don't mean for this to be more unpleasant than it has to be. Now, tell us what happened after you left Jeremy's place, up until you met Trivalon."

"I...I was so angry at Jeremy. I loved him, I love him...I wanted to show him that I'm still good for the parlor. I can still make him smile and be happy. I know how to make people laugh, and then he comes over, and everyone's happy and everyone likes Jeremy and then he's happy and he loves me." She frowns. "So, I COULDN'T leave the parlor. I had some money saved up, and I thought I'd do a little off the books work and go get some surgery to be young again, Jeremy's the best, but there are other people here who know how to make people pretty.

"That's when Trivalon came to me. He showed me the other sisters, the other girls that had run off. They were so beautiful, and he said that I could be like it too...I said no. I didn't want to be an insane vampire! I couldn't...so I ran, and I found out that it's hard to get money, and surgery was expensive. I was sad...and I remember getting some blue-smoke, and getting high as I cried and cried...and then Trivalon was back there...and he made so much sense." She sobs. "And I said yes."

Balles sags with relief. "Blue-smoke is a known mind-altering substance. We can say that she has 'womanly moods,' couple that with the blue-smoke, add Trivalon's testimony." He nods. "It's enough. She'll still be sent to the asylum, but she'll be on the cure list." He says.

"No." Helen says. "I...I've killed people. I've become a vampire, and I've done...I've done horrible things." She sobs. "Children." She shakes her head. "I would like to give a full confession...and then be allowed a chance to redeem myself on the Journey. I don't...I know I do stupid things when I get in my moods. I don't think I can't stop myself from hurting others again...and I can't keep gorging myself on this pig blood. It's evil...and I'm so very very tired...please."

>>24348087
Echo, can I ask why in this case you chose to ignore the quick stuff in this case, when other people have made longer quotes and posts only to be cut off because you went with the first write in, I've seen at least two cases of this. I can see where complaints are coming from.

>>24348493
"I'm listening."

>>24348468
Its a lead-in to guilt-tripping her into changing her mind. Its essentially forcing a second choice - not between Ava and Ellen, but between Ava and Adahn.

>>24348493
Balles looks at you. "She's your prisoner. It's your call."

"This has been a bitch of a day." Mage says.

>>24348493
"If you'd like me to take your confession, I can.

Paladin Balles, could you give us some time, please?"

(Not giving up on convincing her to live, but for now let's take her confession.)

>>24348514
This.

>>24348503
Because then I get people mad at me for going with the quick stuff and ignoring the other stuff.