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Auriel has decided to join you, Flint, and Joey on your journey to find Adavan and Abigail, supposedly to protect your other two companions from yourself. She is stubborn in her prejudice against the shadow, and whether you can convince her to abandon her position is an open question

In any case, you're not sure if you truly feel compelled to do so.

But, feeling obliged to your friend Sir Flint, who seemed to find affection for Auriel during the battle, you assisted the angel in coming to terms with her feelings for him. You've arrived at a coordial truce with her, which should at least hold while Sir Flint requires your aid.

You've followed Adavan's trail into Tarun Gakth, a maze of ancient, twisted canyons carved out by a centuries-past battle between Geb, the Earth Lord, and Aeolus, the Wind Lord. You were caught in a battle between a giant golem and a huge rock worm.

The worm took down the golem, and, after fighting a team of smaller golems that emerged from its inside as it tried to repair itself, retrieved its power core. You attempted to negotiate with the robots, but communication proved impossible, and you had no choice but to finish them off to keep your prize.

You continued to follow Adavan's trail. After walking for some time, you were set upon by a large group of orcs, led by an old orc mage named Rogul. Rogul denied you passage across his land, but, inspired by Flint's plea, a human with Rogul's group named Kirt offered to vouch for the party while they were in orc territory.

You've spent the day recuperating, then sparring with Flint and Kirt, who is an incredibly skilled swordsman himself. Flint and Auriel have gone off by themselves. You've asked Kirt to see Taremtis, and he's taken you to the sage's towers.

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Ability Tree

GREEN abilities have been unlocked and learned.

BLUE abilties are unlocked, but are not yet purchased.

RED abilities are revealed, but locked due to prerequisites.

UNDERLINED abilities are active-use, as opposed to passive. Not all active abilities require mana.

Unlocked Ability Descriptions Located in the following Pastebin link (full list in progress):

http://pastebin.com/dtAJU4u3

Books the Main Character has read can be found here:

http://pastebin.com/X59yWD5p

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Current Statistics:

HP: 29/37
Mana: 5/10
EXP: 5
Humanity: 67
Temerity: 43

Party Members:

Sir Donovan Flint - A knight of Dobshire, the capital of Arland. Fourth son of the lord and ruler of Arland. 29 years old. Wears iron armor and wields a two-handed longsword.

Joey - A young boy from Jacob's Field, now Sir Flint's squire. 16 years of age. No particular magical talent. Wields a shortsword.

Angel Auriel - Formerly a powerful angel of the Ringed City, now traveling with you, ostensibly to protect Sir Flint and Joey from you. 756 years old. Wears heavy plate steel and wields a one-handed sword and a wide, round buckler.

Equipment:

Utility belt with purse

Inventory:

Shadow Sword Shard
Fancy Sun-Moon Key
Mind-Scribing Pen
Succubus Reagents x2
Jen Fang's Diary (Abigail's father)
Summoning Textbooks (in saddlebags)
Golem Power Core

Current Location:

Tarun Gakth - Refuge

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Daily Reminder

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>Last time...

<In my short time I have been hunted, burned, shunned, and called a monster. I have been told that, inevitably, I am evil. That this evil is an intrinsic part of me. That my actions, even if good, mean nothing, because on the larger scale of things, my very existence will cause chaos and harm to others.>

"And?"

<And I choose to live and find a way,> you say.

"Good for you, Shadow," Kirt says. "We've discovered that those without a past have nothing but the future. Sounds nice."

<Let's go see this sage of yours.>

"...Taremtis? Now?"

<Yes. If you think our arrival here might jolt him into lucidity, then let us see. Perhaps he'll have more words for you, as well.>

Kirt says nothing for a moment. Then he leans up off the stone and walks into a back door of the tavern.

The kitchen is a mess of dishes and activity. Orcs call and shout to one another. It's a harsh contrast to the stark silence of the alley you sat in just before. Kirt finds Olga quickly. "Hey lady."

"I'm no lady. What do you want, you layabout?"

"...night off."

Olga leans back. She eyes Kirt for a long time. "...you haven't asked me for a off time in...ever."

"First time for everything."

"I sure as Light hope not," Ulga sighs. "Alright, get out of here."

Kirt ducks back through the kitchen and starts up toward the other end of refuge.

The cliffs become more wild and jagged. The relatively neat, carved stone of the Dwarven ruins fades into rocky paths. You're on the border of the Tarun Gakth wilderness.

But you continue to climb, up, up. Not as high as Kirt's plateau, but high enough to poke above the walls of some of the canyons. A star-covered sky twinkles high above you.

You reach the edge of the path.

Perched on the end, leaning out precipitously over a deep gap are two haphazard towers. Bridges and wood and rope connect the buildings, as it it was half-planned and half slapped together by a child playing with blocks. A fat wooden sign reading "Taremtis" points into the first tower.

<...why the sign?>

"Didn't want anyone to miss him."

You peer further into the buildings. Something is flying in the air around them...a group of things with wings, like chickens. But they're in the air, and they're much lighter-looking.

They circle the tower once, twice, three times, drifting, flapping. The Sky-Sever should have long struck them down by now.

<What are those flying things?>

"They're called birds," Kirt says. "Taremtis raises them. There used to be a lot more, all across Venia. A type of animal that could fly in the sky, believe it or not."

The idea seems...totally unfamiliar. You've never heard of such a thing. <Strange.>

"The Sky-Sever killed them off," Kirt says. He walks forward on the path and up to the tower door.

If this mage's magic can resist the Sky-Sever...he must be powerful.

perhaps we should start with spending our 5 exp?
mighty str, or maybe poison + robust immunity?
We could just ssve for somethin bigger too

>>24807482

You know, I've forgotten what your reminders are even for. Are you a representative of the anti-waifu camp or something?

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

Kirt walks up to the first tower, picking his way across a narrow stone bridge. He ducks under an ornate overhang and knocks on the door. "Anyone home?"

There's no response.

Kirt knocks again. "Hey, old man! Are you awake?"

The door flies open. Standing there is a man in blue and gray robes. He has a thick beard that droops over his neck, and wears a pointed hat. In his hand is a twisted wood cane. "The hell do you want you bothersome piece of shit?!"

"...well," Kirt says. "Refuge has a few visitors. You've mentioned interest in visitors, should any come, so - "

"VISITORS?!" The old man roars. He crouches low and peers out from under the wide brim of his hat. "Peeeeeople?"

"Well..." Kirt clears his throat. "Not exactly."

What do you do?

>let Kirt explain
>introduce yourself
>something else

>>24807543
>introduce yourself

>>24807543
let kirk handle it

>>24807543
>>introduce yourself

>>24807543
>You know, I've forgotten what your reminders are even for. Are you a representative of the anti-waifu camp or something?

It's probably just Snapple being a dick. He said in bfq one day that he just loves messing with scruffy.

>>24807543
intro yourself you knob gobbler

>>24807543
>introduce self

<Greetings, sage,> you say. You stand independent of Kirt's shadow. <I am - >

"A SHADOW...!" Taremtis cries. His voice drifts down to a whisper. "...elemental? Oh, that's not good, not good at all. Not good. Good, not."

<It isn't?>

"I never saw or heard a worse thing since my diarrhea two weeks past!" He declares. Taremtis abruptly stands and looks at Kirt. "You know, one of my birds died the other day. Her name was Cawly." His eyes water over with emotion. "Poor, sweet, beautiful Cawly. She was the most wonder dove...feathers like white snow...oh..." Taremtis grips his cane and shouts into the night. "CAWLY!!!! WWHHHYYYY??!!"

For a few seconds, the tail end of his moan echos back off the canyon walls, then eventually fades.

<...is he alright?>

"...told you he was insane," Kirt mutters out of the corner of his mouth. "Probably wouldn't last a month if I didn't bring him food every week."

"A month?!" Taremtis says. "A fine estimation of my independence! I'll beat that, I say! Don't bring me food for a month, let's see how I fare."

"Let's not."

"I don't need some idiot boy telling me when and how I can't starve myself! Get out, and come back with all the visitors, or don't come back at all!" Taremtis mutters a stream of curses under his breath as he turns and slams his tower door shut.

<Well. That was...interesting.>

"Stark, raving mad," Kirt says. It seems the experience of the sage has brought him back out of his depresses reverie. "A nice fellow, though, if you catch him in the mood. Well...what do you say to coming back tomorrow morning, assuming out two lovers aren't tired from their big night?"

What is your response?

>yes, let's return with them
>no, I think I'd rather not
>something else

>yes, let's return with them

>>24807785
>yes, let's return with them

<At least it took your mind off those troubling thoughts, right?>

>>24807785
return with em

>>24807785
>yes, let's return with them

>>24807785
>>yes, let's return with them

<I wonder if Flint will stumble in bed>

>>24807785
>something else
<Why would they be tired?>

>>24807785
Return with them in the morning. If Flint and Auri haven't worked things out we might want to ask them about medical treatment for Kurt's depression/potential bipolar disorder.

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I went back a bit to check up proper on character development.
Pretty much reaffirmed just how much Flint may be able to help Kirk.

yes, let's return with them

>>24807896
>kirk
I think I'll take a nap and come back later. Good luck with the quest SM.

<I suppose it couldn't hurt,> you say.

"Good. I...hope you're right. Maybe this'll get him lucid again." Kirt starts back down the path.

<You weigh what he has to say quite heavily, despite him being...mentally handicapped.>

"...kinda funny, isn't it?"

Kirt doesn't add to his statement, so you let the subject drop. He makes his way back toward Refuge proper.

<I wonder if Flint will stumble in bed.>

Kirt rubs his nose. "Let's hope not, hmm?" He glances at you. "Why? Are you a voyeur or something?"

<What's a voyeur?>

"Person that gets off watching other people get it on."

You nod in understanding. <I see. Actually, the last time I tried to watch them copulate, I was not aroused to any such acts myself. But overall, it didn't work out well.>

Kirt bursts into laughter. He doubles over and slaps his legs. "Now THAT sounds like a story I need to hear. But I guess we'll leave them to it, huh?"

By the time you near Kirt's plateau home, it's very late at night.

What do you do?

>stick with Kirt
>explore the town
>something else

>>24807938
Either check on Joey or ask Kurt whether there's anything we're allowed to hunt for food around here.

>>24807938
Stick with Kirt. I'd like to know him better he's husbando material

>>24807938
>stick with Kirt

>>24807938
Go hunt something with kirk...
Heck, he said there are several dwarven golems who are a danger to people around here.

>>24807970
As always, /tg/ can't resist the slightly crazy, seemingly depressed love interest...

>>24807938
>stick with Kirt

>>24807989
would you have anyother way

>>24807454
Fast regen has no cost listed

>>24808038
It was 7 last I remember. I guess he accidently deleted the number when he changed it from red.

You decide to stick with Kirt, sitting in shadow as he walks home. <I think I've done enough harm in my ignorance for one day.>

Kirt snorts. His feet clod up the stairs. "I didn't realize you were aware of your own lack of tact."

<It's become clear, over time. I have as much to learn about humans as I do about myself.>

"So do we all, Shadow."

He sits down heavily near the embers of the fire. After a few moments work, he starts it up again. The flame quickly grows to a healthy size.

You notice something in his clothes. That roll of red cloth pinned to his waist seems to almost reflect the firelight...it's odd.

What do you say to Kirt?

>I'm hungry. Anything to hunt around here?
>any interesting places to explore?
>what's that red cloth at your waist?
>where are you from? Why are you here?
>something else

>>24808078
>>24808038

oops

I actually noticed and fixed that but I only saved the correction in the PSD file. Thanks.

>>24808085
>what's that red cloth at your waist?

>>24808085
>I'm hungy. Want to hunt.

No pussy shit we are alpha men

Feelingfs r gay

>>24808085
what's that red cloth at your waist?

>>24808004
Well, it's kind of repetitive... I suppose I can hope he's psychotic or the OP's willing to throw an actual curveball instead of the usual "fix the broken cutie over the course of their character development arc" route.

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>>24808102

>>24808085
>what's that red cloth at your waist?
If it reflecting the fire's light in specific is relevant, I guess it could be the secret to his stealth. Reflect/shield his magic signature which was, if I recall, fire-oriented.

>>24808085
>What's that red cloth?
Clearly we are still unaware of how much tact we lack. Still ask this.

>>24808124
>Elemental resistances cannot be bought mid battle
>They give bonus XP from consuming related element
>Mages kick our ass
We should spend 4 of our 5XP to buy earth and wind resistance 1.

>>24808229
There arent any mages nearby, and vampiric will do us more good in the long run.

<That red cloth at your waist is strange,> you say.

"This?" Kirt grabs the bundle off his waist. "Check this out."

He wraps the cloth over his forearm and holds it around himself. It's not quite big enough to cover his whole body, almost a cape more than a cloak. What appears to be a ram's face with long, curled horns is imprinted in black in the middle of the cape.

And yet, suddenly, it's as if he's vanished. His fiery soul is simply gone; his life force isn't there. He still sits there, easily visible, but invisible to all other senses.

<Incredible. I sense nothing.>

"...a certain treasure of mine." He wraps it up and pins it back in place in a quick, deft motion. "Something from home."

<Where are you from?>

"...far away," he says.

What do you do?

>press him on the subject
>ask something else

>>24808229
I'd rather get mighty strength first, but there are some tempting purchases we could bank a few more xp for.

>>24808253
There are 8 elements, -1 for shadow. That leaves 7*2 = 14 XP to buy resistances vs 12XP for vampiric. It gives us bonus XP like vampiric but also gives bonus damage resistance.

>ask something else
Is there anything that I can hunt nearby? Preferably something with magic in its veins.

>>24808294
Vampiric probably provides a greater bonus.

>>24808274
Ask to go hunting... manly bonding time!
Plus if we do take out another murderous dwarven golem we would save lives of the people it would squish

>>24808274

Do the orcs care about things like us?

I would support the purchase of earth resistance 1 at this time, but not wind.

And hah, I was right about the cloth.

>>24808274
ask if he wants 2 hunt

>>24808323
That is a good question, do we actually NEED to hide here?
In the past when we revealed ourselves we had good results. Flint trusts, the refugees vouched for us, the survivors of the airship we rescued spoke up for us.

We cannot change people's minds and pave a road for peaceful coexistence if we are hiding ourselves.

>>24808274

I'm pretty sure he is a nobility from some nation or other. He related to Flint when he said that living cozy is boring.


>Flint looks back at the man. "What, roll around in the lap of luxury? Why do that when I can break my teeth on biscuits?"
>The man blinks, then smirks. "...it does get old, after a time." He turns, and moves off after the orcs.

Not sure if we should press on it though.

>>24808274
Perk him up. Flint's got his problems and Auriel too. Tell him once we're all together back at the tavern, we'll explain what's up with whom, with their permission, of course.

After that, let's sense where Flint and Auriel are.

<I am surprised...you do not fear me.>

Kirt shrugs. "The empire's propaganda grows weak beyond its own borders."

<What do you think the orcs would make of me?>

"They'd judge you as you presented yourself," he says. "They're an enclosed people, stubborn, and distrusting. But for good reason. They were created by Archon during one of its wars with the empire, as weapons, enhanced humans. Orcs are highly magic resistant, and they heal quickly, if they're given time to rest. Valuable skills, indeed. But they were treated as slaves."

<I see.>

"Rogul's clan escaped into the forests, and then eventually sough refuge here." He shrugs. "I you can get your foot in the door, they're fair. Hard, but fair. I was lucky enough to do so." He sighs. "It's probably better for you to stay undisclosed, at least for now. We'd have to explain to Rogul that he'd taken on one more person than he realized. And...they get real bothered by magic, when they think it might be aimed at them."

<Yes.> You decide to change the subject. <Is there anything I can hunt nearby? Preferably, something magical.>

"...not really," Kirt says. "Canyon lizards. A few Deep Hounds prowl the mushroom grove under the city every once in a while, but they aren't magical either. If you need food, I suppose either one will do."

<Feel like joining me?>

"Not really. I've had enough for one day, I think."

What do you do?

>ask him other questions
>go hunt Deep Hounds
>go hunt canyon lizards
>something else

>>24808499
>>go hunt Deep Hounds

>>24808347
>the refugees vouched for us
Yeah, let's hope that's not in the public record. Remember when we were fighting the other angel on the duke's airship? Remember what his solution to the potential bad PR generated by him "sinking" the ship? Just a thought. Oh, we might need to make sure Auriel doesn't pass any intel about this settlement back to her superiors, wouldn't want the orcs purged and all.

>>24808499
eat delicious chinese cuisine of the 4 legged kind

>>24808499
Ah hell, let's just ask him if he could get us a good meal tomorrow. I really want to sense how Flintybro is doing.

>>24808499
go hunt Deep Hounds

>>24808567
Yeah I do too, but it's not our place. Let's just do a quick sensing to see where he's at, then unless he's in the bar alone, without Auriel, we'll hunt for lizard.

>>24808499
We should probably just turn in for the night.

>>24808539
They vouched for us to Auriel and Illya the slave shadow mage went back to report. So the angels probably know now.

>>24808499
Ask about insane dwarven golems.

>>24808618
>Ask about insane dwarven golems.
Kirt might find it interesting that we actually managed to 'talk' with them somewhat.

>>24808618
>the civilians vouched to Ila

Hmm, I wonder how this will play out.

>>24808567
>>24808611
Agreed. We'll talk to him on the way back about the golems.

>>24808643
Oh yea, point.
Also, maybe rather then just insane golems we could specifically ask what threats directly target those orcs. If we can remove that threat it would make a nice gesture.

>>24808655
Sorry, I omitted a comma. They vouched to Aurial. Then later Ila (who was under her command at the time) went back to report.

<Alright. Come meet with us tomorrow.>

"Sure. I'll be in the tavern."

You walk back down the plateau. Curious about Flint and Auriel, you cut near the tavern. It's died down significantly, now that it's really late. You sense several souls floating up in the rooms above the bar. Joey, on the top of the bunk...and Flint, sleeping below him. Auriel is in her own room.

Hmm.

You walk toward the entrance to the inner city you spied earlier and slip within. It's quiet, and empty. You follow the carved stone halls along, and head down.

Soon, you reach a wide, expansive chamber. It's damp and reeks of mold...the rock between the chamber and the river must be thin. Huge mushrooms dot the floor like a small forest. They have stalks tough enough to pass as tree bark.

Roll 1d100 to hunt Deep Hounds

Rolled 81

>>24808726
dice for the 1 gods

Rolled 4

>>24808726
Super Hound Hunter

Rolled 83

>>24808726
OH GODDAMNIT FLINT.

Rolled 81

>>24808726

Rolled 16

>>24808726

>>24808741
>>24808748
Well that was unexpected.

Guess we're pro deep hound killers

>>24808762
Or, we found something more interesting.

>>24808726
nat 1

Rolled 100

>>24808786
forgot my roll

Once we're done with hunting, let's check in with Auriel. I want her to say thank you for our help in driving Flint into her arms.

Rolled 1

>>24808804
atta boy slugger

>>24808804
Too bad it's the sixth one instead of the fifth...

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>>24808804
>Almost deephound genocide

>>24808841
thats only when we use d20 you latch licker

You creep between the mushroom stalks, heading toward the back of the cave, where the dark turns as thick as pitch and more holes open up below.

The dark poses no problem for you.

When you sense a flicker of life, you wait.

Sure enough, hounds emerge. They're not like any dogs you've seen. Their eyes are slits, buried under thick, frowning lids. Their ears are perked high like a rabbits, and wide as dinner plates. They approach a mushroom stack and begin to gnaw at it. It seems they like the bark.

They don't notice you at all.

You pierce four of them with your shadows and consume them in an instant. The rest scamper back into the lower caves.

>you've gained 3 HP (32/37)

What do you do now?

>call it a night
>follow the hounds
>something else

>>24808804
>>24808804

Hold on, let me compensate for this.

>>24808918
Joy!

>>24808903
Back to the room. I want to have the joy of having Auriel feel appreciative of us.

You feel satisfied. Perhaps you've hunted enough for one night?

...but something is...off.

It's below you. But indistinct.

What do you do?

>call it a night
>follow the hounds
>follow your senses
>something else

>>24808952
FOLLOW DEM SENSES BABY

>>24808952
>>follow your senses

>inb4 sentient elemental in the canyon

>>24808952
follow senses

>>24808952
Follow the sense.

>>24808952

>follow your senses

>>24808952
>follow your senses

Rolled 92

>>24808952
>follow your senses

Rolled 1

>>24808952
>follow our nose.

>>24808978
>>24808977
>>24808976
>>24808972
>>24808971
>>24808968
>>24808965

WELL OKEY DOKEY

Rolled 79

>>24808952
Follow senses.

>>24808952
>>call it a night

yeah, lets go back, sleep and ignore nat 100 random event
What do you expect people to choose? I bet it is a trap

anyway,
>>follow your senses

>>24809008
that nat 100 couldn't have been bad? r-right?

>>24809008
THIS SOUNDS PERFECTLY LEGIT AND NOT AT ALL LIKE SOMETHING THAT'LL KILL US!

>>24809065
we dont fan the flames

Oh, this would be a good time to buy observe, in case this is a trap (it probably is).

>>24809002
>Toucan_Sam_you_gonna_get_raped_son.jpeg

>>24808952
We should note that we're wandering into the Timoran Deep, which was implied to be an even more inhospitable place to be than Tarun Gakth itself.

>Flint scratches under his helm. "Where'd they get the wood?"

>"Giant fungus, actually," Kirt says. "They farm them on the upper layers of the Deep. Most of the town is dwarven in construction, old ruins."

Should be on our toes.

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You wander into the deep.

It's dark. Stiflingly, excruciatingly dark.

You feel right at home. The darkness might as well be light itself.

You come to a broken bridge. You hop over to the other side and keep walking, taking a good look around the cave. It's strange...a mix of natural rock and intentionally carved paths, blended together. You can't tell where nature ends and architecture begins.

The feeling grows in your senses. Shadows. You move more quickly, certain there's something important to find.

A hole grabs at your attention. Yes. That way. You drop inside.

It's like going down a slide. You end up in a new chamber. Round, relatively small, but very high. You can see other holes and paths branching out in other directions. You carefully note the one you emerged from.

Before you lies a door. On either side of the door sits an intimidating-looking golem, both heavily armored and wielding spiked maces as big as a man. They are as statues.

You approach the door. Words are carved into it...words you can understand.

"I begin in fog, but long and dark, distended;
Middling I linger, small and silent;
By the time I fade, again I am great."

"Speak my name, and enter."

What do you do?

>attempt to answer the riddle
>return to the surface

How much would getting a second magic power cost?

>>24809154
I am: Shadow

Rolled 80

>>24809154
>>24809168
Well now. This will be interesting.

>>24809154
Wither Erberus or Shadow

50/50, y'all

>>24809168
Sounds right to me.

>>24809156

10 EXP.

Magic power cost increases by 5 with each purchase.

>>24809178
Either*

>>24809154
shadow

>>24809179
>>24809176
I was kidding....SM wouldnt make the answer that obvious....would he?

>>24809154
Head up. We've got a dungeon, and no delver in his right mind goes into a dungeon alone.

>>24809183
Perhaps worth it.

Even our low level spells hit like a truck.

>>24809154
i want to say it has something to do with the moon or the sun or something. anyone have any ideas pls?

>>24809154
Ohhhh. Another Sword Shard?

>>24809168
And yeah, it sounds like shadow.
Though the "I begin in fog" doesn't quite fit.

>>24809200
It fits with the riddle though.

>>24809200
>I was kidding....SM wouldnt make the answer that obvious....would he?

ahaha

hehe

HUEHUAHSUHAUAHEUAHUEHUEUA

I'll wait on a very solid consensus.

>>24809154
Shadow, foggy morning rises and causes the shadow to extend. Midday shadow is small and tiny. As sunset approaches, shadows again grow long. But then they fade in the night. (Not the first to answer, just explaining it for others)

Rolled 77

>>24809223
the sword shard was in a chest.
The last riddle gave us a sphere of spirit power source which we ate.

>>24809224
Except for the part about fog.

>>24809203
Dungeon, or sanctum/armory?

>>24809223
Early morning fog?

>>24809207
It's definitely related to the cycle of the sun's rise and set.

But it's being spoken from the point of view of the shadow created by the event, so "speak my name" would, indeed, be Shadow.

>"I begin in fog, but long and dark, distended;
As the sun rises (accompanied by morning dew, apparently, despite the desert conditions), a shadow is quite long.
>Middling I linger, small and silent;
During high noon, a shadow is at its smallest.
>By the time I fade, again I am great."
And grows again as the sun sets.

>>24809254
>Except for the part about fog.

I would imagine the fog refers to when everything is somewhat dark in the early morning and therefore shadows are less distinct from the overall darkness.

>>24809265
>By the time I fade, again I am great.
Should've mentioned that the "again I am great" probably refers more to the fact that after the sun sets, darkness is everywhere, as opposed to the fact that the shadow would begin to extend again as the sun gets lower in the sky.

You've selected

Shadow

Is that your final answer?

>>24809257
>>24809265
>>24809281
It -probably- is shadow, and SM is just trying to make us paranoid with the simplicity.

>>24809312
What if Erebus...

Aw fuck it we'll just say shadow

>>24809312
Yes.

>>24809312
FUCK YOU
but yes it is

>>24809324
and its working

YES

>>24809312
Sure. Worst case scenario we end up bugging out. I doubt the golem can fly.

>>24809312
Yesh

>>24809324
But what if he's hinting that we are about to do something very wrong?

yeah, I agree with you

>>24809345
rock falls the mountain city crumbles

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>>24809312
What could go wrong?

>>24809265
deserts tend to have shittons of morning dew. I'd know, being from one.

>>24809367
And we land on the rubble and look for party survivors (Flint probably saves Joey, parasite schmarasite).

"I...am Shadow," you say aloud.

Silence.

A pulse of magic shoots through the rock.

A long, groaning creek cracks the rust on the hinges of the door as it begins to open. Metal shrieks on metal, and you can hear the strain of gears about to break from age.

Slowly, the stone settles to a halt. A flash of magic pulses across the arch of the stone, and you hear a deep, thundering click.

Beyond the two doors is a blacker sort of darkness.

It feels...like you.

What do you do?

>enter
>return to the surface
>something else

>>24809473
Enter. FUCK YEAH I WAS RIGHT

>>24809473
ENTER

>>24809473
Enter.

>>24809473
enter the shit out of it

>>24809473
Enter.

>>24809473
>I thrust my shadowy appendage deep inside the metallic opening.

>>24809473
Well, enter, of course!

(goddamnit, I just want to know how Flint did with Auriel...)

>>24809473
dip shadow toes in to the water to check the temp

>>24809521
>I just want to know how Flint did Auriel...
FTFY

You enter the dark place.

Something...isn't right.

Roll 1d100

>>24809473
>enter

Rolled 13

>>24809568

Rolled 25

>>24809568

Rolled 66

>>24809568

Rolled 76

>>24809568
Oh shit

Rolled 3

>>24809568

Rolled 70

>>24809568
pls bless my roll, ye gods above and below!

Rolled 38

>>24809568
ah shit

>>24809553
Remember, he's in his bunk. Auriel's in her own room. I'm getting nervous about what the implications mean...

Rolled 100

>>24809568
ruh roh

>>24809601

BAM

>>24809601
I thought you could only roll shit.

>>24809601
OUR LUCK HAS TURNED

Rolled 76

>>24809601
based crits, pls god thank you for the based crits pls!

>>24809601
i could kiss ya

Rolled 51

>>24809601
>>24809568
Nice save m8

>>24809600
My guess would be that the parasite prevented him from getting a boner.

Rolled 14

>>24809568

>>24809609
AND NOW BECAUSE YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT, IT HAS WENT RIGHT BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION

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>>24809601
>100

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>>24809601

>>24809622
Parasitically induced erectile disfunction?

Rolled 37

>>24809606
two 100 in one thread it must be a new record for this quest

>>24809649
That was why it was biding its time in the bar, for maximum humiliation.

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>>24809601

AW SHIT WE PERCEPTIVE AS FUCK

>>24809654
Nah i think one time we hit three, and that was against that angel douche

The feeling is strange. It's like walking through a curtain of rain...water stained with shadow.

But oddly, it doesn't feel bad. Rather...it acknowledges you. You feel somehow refreshed.

>mana: 7/10

The room within is dark.

A spiral staircase leads down. You follow them.

The feeling of darkness grows stronger, and stronger. Finally, you reach the bottom of the stairs. There's a wooden door. You open it.

The rusty hinges break off completely. You leap back, surprised, as the door falls inwards. A clod of dust puffs off the floor and around the room.

You slink inside.

Sitting in the middle of the room is what appears to be a well...and within the well is a pool of darkness.

A mana pool - of your own element.

But that strange feeling still persists...it feels like you...but it isn't you.

What do you do?

>touch the mana pool
>try to sniff out that feeling
>take a better look around the large room
>leave
>something else

>>24809723
take a look around

>>24809723
>touch the mana pool
>try to sniff out that feeling

>>24809723
try to communicate with the feeling pls?

>>24809723
sniff dat feeling out nigga

Rolled 44

>>24809723
buy focus, active scan mode

>>24809723
>take a better look around the large room

Better see what's in here before doing anything.

>>24809723
Touch the mana pool, then look around. Also, let's take a look at the shard to see if it's reacting to this place in some way.

>>24809723
>>try to sniff out that feeling
>>take a better look around the large room

>>24809723
>take a better look around the large room

>>24809723
I'd say it's high time we buy Observe.

Anyway:
>take a better look around
followed by
>try to sniff out that feeling

>>24809783
>>24809760

I'll allow you to purchase observe or focus before doing anything, if it has consensus.

>>24809705
did a check of the tread where we eat the dynamo and i only found two 100 but that thread had alot of 90+ rolls

>>24809521
>>24809600
Gonna take a wild guess as to what happened.

I want to say he got cold feet about the whole thing due to lingering feels (probably over the lady he lost, partly due to his affliction), came to the conclusion that it would be unfair to her if he pursued a relationship while still harboring those feelings, did the "gentlemanly" thing and told her he couldn't return her affections despite the fact that he feels the same way (seriously, kissing her hand and everything made it feel like an "I like and respect you, but can't do the making out at this time" gesture), and Auriel, still not entirely used to not having her run of things (and also having told us prior that she thought he was "wrapped around her finger") got her state of mind flipped so hard that she kind of lost her composure.

TOTAL SPECULATION, YO.

>>24809675
Parasite only acts up when he's doing triumphant things; no sense in torpedoing him while he's already torpedoing himself.

>>24809808
Yeah buy it.

>>24809808
>>24809825
Nah. Gotta save for vamp. We'll never get it if we constantly make situational purchases like this.

>>24809808
I'm ok with that

>>24809723
buy focus and look around, also fondle the manapool

Rolled 84

>>24809723
do not buy focus.
>try to sniff out that feeling

>>24809808
do it

>>24809841
to remedy that, we need to get a lot of exp at once

Rolled 71

>>24809825
>>24809845
which one. both are a 3XP sensory upgrade.
>Focus - With a burst of concentration, you can significantly improve your detection of both the mundane and magical, but you also drastically increase the risk of giving yourself away...
>Observe - better chance to detect tricks and traps

>>24809879
focus

>>24809808
Focus.

Right now, there seems to be a majority that wants to buy Focus, and use it to investigate the room.

Is that correct?

>>24809819
Or maybe they had a romantic conversation deep into the night with a bit of makeout and cuddling but didn't go further to avoid rushing into a one night stand

>>24809879
Observe

>>24809879
Observe seems like an overall more interesting passive, but focus is a more active "see everything around us right now" ability, if I'm reading it right.
I think focus would be bad for our potential stealth right now, so I'm going with observe.

>>24809957
Correct.

The sooner we find everything the sooner we can figure out the massive amount of awkward happened.

>>24809879
>>24809957
Focus is better now, plus it opens up two paths.
I'd like to get observe later, as it's good for the trap's we will probably run into later and i'd like to know what's behind it, but we only need one more EXP to get it and Vision is important now.

>>24809957
Focus

>>24809957
If we have to get one get focus.

But I'd prefer to save our xp for now.

>>24809957
Focus

>>24809957
Focus boy

Rolled 73

>>24809957
in the choice between observe and focus, i choose focus. but i am in the wait and buy vampire camp

>>24809957
Focus, but I am with the goal of saving up for Vampire ability.

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>>24809957

>Deep Focus - Enhance focus, and gain the ability to focus over very long ranges (several miles) to detect foes or sources of magic. But you yourself will be that much more vulnerable to detection.

>Reinforce - Temporarily boost the physical strength of objects. Costs 5 mana.

>2 EXP Remains

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

You spread out your senses. This time, you truly Focus.

There's something underneath everything...energy. Mana. You peel back the first layer...and the world comes alive.

The pool of mana beams at you like a dark sun. Your power core spins with earth magic. Your enchanted pen almost seems to squirm and vibrate in its pouch. The shard of the sword you carry wavers and mists.

Something that feels just like it lies across the room, behind what appears to be a statue similar to the two you saw outside.

To your left...far in the shadows..is a presence. It wavers, hovers...watching. It -is- shadows. Lonely, silent shadows.

What do you do?

>touch the mana pool
>investigate behind the statue
>investigate the shadowy presence
>something else

>note: Focus will automatically shut off, so don't worry

>>24809723
...did we remember to shut the front door behind us so elemental darkness magic isn't venting into the surrounding area, potentially alerting any nearby mages to the presence of this mana pool?

save up for vamp.

I personally want observe before focus, but either works.

>>24810317
communicate with shadows pls

>investigate the shadowy presence
Send an impression. A greetings. Curiousity. Welcome.

>>24810317
Greet the shadow, pleasantly. It might also be a newborn shadow elemental.

Rolled 28

>>24810317
ohh my. we seem to have found a naturally occuring shadow elemental. i have no idea what to do from here

>>24810317
It all sounds good. So, in order,
>touch the mana pool
>investigate the shadowy presence
>investigate behind the statue

It's probably a mindless shadow elemental like the spirit elemental in the well.

>>24810352
>investigate the shadowy presence
>>24810317
I like it!

Rolled 7

>>24810379
so investigate the shadow. send impressions of curiosity and welcome. of introduction.

>>24810384
+1, do those things in order.

>>24810317
>>24810352
Seconding, investigate the shadows.
also
>Lonely shadows
we've felt this before, with the demon.

Proceed with caution.

>>24810384
>>24810423
This seems like a good plan

>>24810436
thirding.

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Before you investigate this...presence...it would probably be best to revitalize your mana.

You touch the mana pool.
>mana: 10/10

The essence of your being resonates with this darkness.

You feel like a bell. Ringing...

HUUM

Ringing...

HUUUMMM

Something is different.

The mana around you...you could change it, if you wanted to. You could change a soul. Change...

>you've unlocked
>SERVANT

>Servant - With the assistance of a mana pool, you can make any sentient soul a servant for 15 EXP. Your servants are stronger, faster, and have more magical power than normal individuals of their race.

>Shared Resistance - your servants share half all your magical resistances. They also share half your weaknesses, too.

>Shadow Gift - your servants can cast Shadow Assault, Shadow Bomb, and Nightflare, if they have the mana to cast these spells.

>Multishade - your servants can cast Multishade, confusing opponents with a troop of illusions

Shadow Eater - your servants all gain the Shadow Eater ability

The Sense - Your servants share many of your unnatural senses, giving them a greater awareness of the world around them.

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

>writing investigation of shadowy presence

>>24810317
>investigate behind the statue

>>24810584

oh fuck thats awesome and horrible at the same time

>>24810584
>>Servant - With the assistance of a mana pool, you can make any sentient soul a servant for 15 EXP. Your servants are stronger, faster, and have more magical power than normal individuals of their race.

I smell shadow angels.

>>24810584
... did we just learn how to make shadow angels?

>>24810584
Oh......OH MY!

>>24810584
HOLY SHIT WE EREBUS NOW

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You turn toward the shadowy presence.

It lingers against the wall...flat...emotionless. It is stained with something unique...you...but not you.

Loneliness seeps from it in a wave, thick in the air.

Isolation.

What do you do?

>attempt to communicate
>something else

>>24810584
Does "sentient soul" exclude demons? Since they are just made up of magical energy and what not.

>>24810584
...I think we shouldn't tell anyone we can do this until its good enough to let our Servants go toe to toe with Angels.

>>24810687
iirc they don't have souls, so I guess it does.

>>24810676
communicate.

>>24810676
Impression of curiosity and greeting.

>>24810676
>>attempt to communicate
try talking if that dont work try images

>>24810687
>>24810708

Nothing's stopping you from trying...

>writing

>>24810676
>communicate
Send it impressions. Of it being alone with the door shut, the door swinging open, Use entering, and finally sending a feeling of loneliness washing away being replace by belonging.

So. Who will be our First?

Abby already has some magical power, but she's just a little girl. Spirit will mix pretty good with shadow.

Flint is all light. I don't think it would mix well. Same goes for Auriel.

Joey is Joey. Also Auriel is scanning him every night.

Ila still needs her soul back first.

Assuming servant doesn't mindwipe them or something. I'd think it's more of a gift than an enslavement.

Rolled 47

>>24810676
try communication. start very slowly. feelings of contentment and safety. then move up to more complex images. and then actual sentences. but i do not have high hopes for this little shadow

>>24810772
abby all the way pls
the world wants to destroy her
we will make her stonger

You raise yourself up. <My greetings.>

The presence tenses slightly, but does not move.

<Can you understand me?> There's no response. It sits there, watching you.

What do you do?

>send it an Impression (specify)
>ignore it
>something else

>>24810763
Would trying take up the 15 exp? Because if not I know someone who already swore to serve us.

>>24810584
Not to belatedly look a gift horse in the mouth, but how can we gift a servant with multishade when we haven't unlocked it yet?

>>24810767
>>24810807

>>24810807
>send it an Impression (specify)
An impression of it doing a little jiggly dance like we did before we could talk.

>something else
eat it.

>>24810830
Magic!
>>24810807

do >>24810767

>>24810772

It doesn't harm their mind or change their personality. They are not enslaved by the servant-process. It's more a title than anything.

Rolled 27

>>24810830
we also dont have shadow eater. but it has been said in quest before that the servants of erebus could do things he could not

>>24810856
no, fuck you, that's a terrible idea

I'm guessing the servants will grow as we do and those are some of the specific abilities they will gain.

>>24810870
Ah, so it is shadow-angels.

>>24810870
Ok good.

I'm just kinda worried it may get the same kind of treatment consuming did before you changed corruption to temerity. People are weird about the way things sound.

>>24810807

An impression of friendship, or at least that we're not going to be hostile to it.

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>>24810830

>>24810917
If SM just includes what he said >>24810870 whenever he puts the servant info in the opening posts or the pastebin or whatever it should be fine.

>>24810870
Does it affect their natural element in any way? I mean, I could believe Flint or Auriel clashing with the very nature of the ability coming from us.

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>>24810969
Maybe Flint and Auriel would become pic related

Ok, probs not but it would be damn awesome.

>>24811003
I'ld rather not have them became a wizard in Bondage gear with purple lipstick.

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

Words don't seem to work. Perhaps images will.

You send it an impression of it being alone with the door shut. The door swinging open, and an image of you enters. You send the feeling of loneliness washing away, replaced by a warm sense of belonging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVNnzd2uA4

...you send the image...but it's as if that warmth you ended it with is swallowed whole by the shadow.

Absorbed.

Sucked in.

It cocks its head at you.

Roll 1d100

>>24811034
All wizards wear bondage gear

Rolled 26

>>24811047

Rolled 44

>>24811047
Great its gonna try to eat US instead...

Rolled 79

>>24811047

Rolled 22

>>24811047

Rolled 34

>>24811047

Rolled 56

>>24811047
Ugh

We didn't eat it and now it's going to eat us.

Rolled 76

>>24811047
god damn it. shadow got broken while erebus was gone. the demons lonely shadow is how shadow normaly behaves now. it specificaly was thrown off balance by our absence.
>ending paranoid rant

Rolled 88

>>24811047

Rolled 22

>>24811047
OH SHIT.
My first roll in SQ ever. Please let it be good, dice gods!

Rolled 28

>>24811047

Rolled 66

>>24811047
I'm sure this is just a big misunderstanding.

>>24811085
If it has gone crazy we will Euthanize it.

>>24811096
The dice gods shit in your mouth.

>>24810969
>Does it affect their natural element in any way?

It they're one of the lesser elements, it will compliment it. Otherwise, it will override it.

Spirit mage + shadow servant? Cool.

Light mage + shadow servant? Loses all light abilities.