>>25323379

There you are!

>>25323379
The fun begins

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Events Summary:

You defeated and subsumed another Shadow, named Darkxis, who was working with the lich Magnock, and gained a second Shard of True Darkness. Auriel protected the party with some sort of Light-based barrier, but Magnock teleported them into his lair to work on cracking it open - after finishing the job of 'breaking' Adavan.

You disguised yourself as Darkxis to infiltrate Magnock's lair within the Palthair Mines and find your friends - but when push came to shove, you were forced to kill one of Magnock's close accomplices. As he confronted you, a new threat appeared - a huge presence of Spirit even stronger than Magnock himself.

Magnock rushed to defend his stronghold, and you took the opportunity to reach your friends in his laboratory. But before you could escape, the Spirit mage killed Magnock and pinned you into a corner. And on top of that, you sensed a huge army and what felt like several angels waiting above the mines.

Your friends prepared to teleport out of the base while you held off the mage as long as possible. But the mage, Yi Fang, turned out to be perfectly willing to talk, rather than fight. You managed to secure a promise of protection for yourself and your allies, and he led you up from the room.

It wasn't long before you encountered Sandalphon - the Most High, leader of the angels. While Abigail escaped notice, he honed in on you, demanding that Fang, who was pretending that you were his summon, turn you in for study. Unwilling to endanger your allies, you submitted to capture.

The angel Michael, one of the greatest healers in the world, is responsible for your 'examination'. But a curse he received from a Demon Lord has twisted his mind into that of a psychotic madman.

Auriel is working with him to restore her powers. You communicated with her telepathically, begging her for help and informing her of Michael's insanity, but you're not sure if you convinced her of the truth.

HAHA TIME FOR SHADOW QUEST

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:

http://pastebin.com/Bf1PUChz

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

-----------
Active (intent-use abilities that don't require mana)
-----------

Consume - Devour the latent energy of enemies and magical artifacts to add to your own power and restore your health.

Glide - Your aura allows you to glide, dropping safely from large heights or covering large distances if starting from a high position. Gliding is always stealthier than flying.

Flight - Spread wings of darkness to soar through the air. Carrying capacity is based on physical strength.

Supersonic - Fly at supersonic speeds. You'll move extremely fast, but suffer a large penalty to stealth and magic stealth. Takes 1 turn to activate.

Mimic - Take on the vague form of things you've seen. Won't stand up to close examination, but works well in the dark.

Snuff - You shadow can put out the lights it touches.

Blink - Sight-range teleportation. (Cannot blink through walls, through the ground, into places you can't see, etc. 5-turn cooldown in battle. Auto-cooldown if battle ends. You can only Blink yourself and inanimate objects on your person. Max range 1/4 mile or 0.4 kilometers)

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. (think sonic ping)

Berserk - Ignore your defenses and strike all around you in a vicious physical assault. Difficult to determine friend from foe.

Shadow Eater - Eat an enemy's shadow for a small heal. Their shadow will regenerate over the course of a day. People might notice it's missing...

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Doom Aura - Puts out all lights in an area at once. Large penalty to dodge if used during battle.

-----------
Spells (and other abilities that DO use mana)
-----------

Shadow Strike - Strike the foe with needles of darkness. (base power 2. Costs 2 mana)

Shadow Assault - Launch a flurry of shadowy projectiles at the enemy. (base power 4. Costs 4 mana. Can hit multiple enemies)

Shadow Beam - A concentrated beam of shadow power. Attacks faster than shadow strike/assault, and is more accurate. (Costs 6 mana; 6 base damage)

Nightflare - Disrupt target spell or enchantment. (costs 2 mana)

Nightblaze - Cancel enchantments and spells in an area around you. Success and range based on mana spent. (Spend 4 to 10 mana. Radius: 30 feet. Additional 20 feet per mana. Alternate: Spend 10 mana to attempt to cancel any one single spell in sight-range with a greatly enhanced success rate)

Shade - Create an illusory projection of yourself to confuse enemies. (dodge buff. Costs 1 mana)

Spirit Whip - Lash the enemy with a whip of spirit magic. (base power 2. Costs 2 mana)

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

Water Strike - A pressurized blast of water imbued with magical force. (2 base power. Costs 2 mana)

Heal - Spend either 2, 4, or 6 mana to heal a target 4, 7, or 10 HP, respectively.

Purify - Spend 3 Mana: 100% chance to heal 1 ailment on target. Spend 6 mana: 85% chance to heal all target's ailments. Spend 9 mana: heal all of a target's ailments and the ailments of all those you are physically touching.

-----------
Summons
-----------

Wisp - A shadowy wisp from the Nether. (2 base shadow attack). Costs 1 mana to summon, 1 mana per action. Never breaks your control; if you run out of mana, it will merely vanish. [Level 0, Shadow]

>Haven't finished taking notes on my archive binge
>oh well

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Current Statistics:

HP: 29/52
Mana: 20/20
EXP: 0
Humanity: 161
Temerity: 139
Shards of True Darkness: 2 (Isolation, Hunger)

Party Members:

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

Joey - A young boy from Jacob's Field, now Sir Flint's squire. No particular magical talent. Wears leather armor and wields a shortsword. 16 years old.

Angel Auriel - Formerly a powerful angel of the Ringed City, now traveling with you, ostensibly to protect Sir Flint and Joey from you. Wears heavy plate steel and wields a one-handed sword and a wide, round buckler. 732 years old.

Obis Vin - The exiled Prince of Kan Abar. He wears steel-adamantium plate armor and wields a Ram-headed shield and a one-handed sword. 32 years old.

Summoned:

Wisp (1 mana per order, does not break control, stealths with you)

Equipment:

None

Inventory:

None

Current Location:

Ringed City - Michael's Tower

Hmm should we try to juggernaut our way out of this cage? Or shall we wait for the insane scientist to return for his revenge?

I say try the juggernaut.

>Last time...

<Auriel.>

You send her an impression of Michael - a grinning, maniacal Michael, his face twisted in gleeful nostalgia as he recalls one of his freakish conquests.

<It's hilarious, actually.> His voice echoes into her head from your memories. <Bringing them so low they beg for death. There was this one woman, you see - I cut off her arms. I brought her around my quarters - that's actually the upper portion of the entire tower you're in - on a leash. I kicked her around, made her eat from bowls. She begged me to die. I told her I'd kill her if she fucked me. Best sex I ever had. I buried her in the Great Gardens, under a tree. I visit sometimes, when I need a laugh.>

You hear a stumble. A concerned Michael's voice rings out. "Are you alright?"

"...fine," Auriel mumbles. A scuff of a shoe as she picks herself up. "I'm fine. Caught my foot on the carpet."

<I wouldn't lie about this,> you say. <If you don't believe in me...believe in Flint's trust in me,> you say. <Michael is poison. Find the body.>

"...thank you, Michael," Auriel says. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Until then."

The door opens, then shuts.

There's a long silence. You feel yourself growing tense.

>con't

>>25323502

Fucking yes!

Also don't get discouraged, SM, I love this quest no matter the bitching from the other players.

The magic shroud falls off your cage. Michael stands there, fists clenched. His bad arm twitches with the strain. "...if you had any idea of how awful I could make your life," he says, "you wouldn't have done that. Embarrassing me - in front of her. HER!" Michael hobbles up to the cage, his crutch thumping into the floor with each step. "I won't just take what I need from you, Shadow. I'm going to make you suffer. I'm going to make you pay tenfold - with interest. You'll beg me for death before it's over. But I won't give it to you. I'll just keep going, until you're just a little drop of black ink, too weak to move - and then I'll put you in a bottle and bury you in the earth, and there you can stay until the end of times!" Michael turns, and begins to walk out of the room. "Expect me tomorrow, Shadow. Bright and early!"

You remain silent. Michael slams the door behind him without another word.

You feel as though you have more to say to Auriel. You focus hard...you've never needed to see another person to speak to them, but you always had an idea of where they were.

<Auriel. If you can hear me...you need to protect Flint. If nothing else, keep your relationship with him a secret. You cannot trust Michael. Please, help me.>

Uncertain if your words reached her, you settle back to floating at the center of your cage. The confined space puts you on edge. You're used to shifting, warping, bending as you please. Now, you're curled into a tight ball.

But it's barely afternoon. You have an entire day to break free. He was foolish to leave you alone.

>con't

>>25323500

The sword. The fucking shadow sword. It's a Shard of True Darkness, isn't it?

Well trolled, SM.

...but your cage is made of solid Light. You don't feel very hopeful.

But you don't have much choice.

Something wavers in the corner of the room. You clench up. Of course, Michael wouldn't just let you alone. This is his guard.

Steward steps out of the corner of the room.

You're too surprised to speak.

"Shadow. I hope your current state is not too uncomfortable."

<...how did you get here? How long have you been there?>

"I stowed away on the airship. I've been here since Michael returned to the room a second time, after you, I presume, harmed him."

Silence.

<...so. Are you going to help me escape?>

"I am here to observe."

You slam into the walls of your cage, ignoring the buzzing light. <Steward, this isn't the time to -observe-! What's the point if I'm captured, or worse, dead!?>

"If you can escape without our aid, truly, you would make a useful ally," Steward says. "This is the current thinking of the collective. You have more than met the standards we set for your morality. Now, you must demonstrate your resourcefulness."

<Steward. If you help me now, I'll sign whatever treaty you want, be your ally in whatever way you wish. This is life or death.>

"Your desperation is not becoming," Steward says. His robotic voice holds no pity. "I am here to observe. Though, in opinion seperate from the collective, I wish you good luck."

Somthing floats up to the window.

You sit there a moment, baffled.

Your wisp is bumping against the window, trying to get inside.

You watch it struggle for a moment before you snap out of your amazement. <The window. Open the window!>

"I am only here to - "

<By the night and the moon, Steward, open the damn window!>

Steward pauses. It feels like the longest moment of your life.

"...it is agreed that the wisp would merely gain entrance by other means." He opens the window.

The wisp zips into the room and up to your cage. It throws you an impression of itself circling you cheerily, then follows through with its own image. Somehow, though you're cut off from more magic, your summon has survived.

Did it fly all the way here itself? No. Maybe it hitched a ride on the airship, like Steward.

<Can you get me out of here?>

The wisp stops. You see a few images play out in your mind. The wisp touches the bars of light, then puffs away in a cloud of purple smoke. You see a picture of it firing a Shadow Strike at the bars. The spell glances off and dissapates.

You hunch down and think hard.

What do you do?

>Send the wisp on a scouting mission. Have it tail Michael.
>Have the wisp tail Auriel
>Have the wisp find Flint, and let him know where you are.
>Maybe Ila is in the city. Tell the wisp to track her down.
>Have the wisp fire as much as it can at the cage anyway. Every bit should help.

SHADOW MASTER! Is the secret you've been hinting at that the sword shard we found in thread 6 is actually a shard of darkness? Along with those fragments of a shard we found later with the isolation shadow?

>>25323591

>Have the wisp find Flint.

Let's not risk its destruction by Michael.

>>25323576

ok if we are able to break out what are we going to do next?

Super Sanic out of ring city or stealth our way out?

Hey, could we... like... meditate on the Hunger Shard, and bring it to the surface? Use it to CONSUME a hole in the cage and break out? I remember we could move the two shards around while we were meditating.

>>25323591
OH MY GOD
YES
THANK YOU BASED WISP

>>25323591
>Have the wisp tail Auriel

>>25323635
>>25323628
>>25323618

Yes, yes. Give orders to the wisp, first, and then I'll give you your own choices. Essentially it can help you break out, if that's what you're going with, or it can act as your spy while you meditate on your shards/think of something else

>>25323591
Can we take a look around the room for switches and such? We could tell the wisp to toggle any if we can see any. I know we're in a light cage that was made earlier but it seems prudent to look.

>>25323635

we could try that but it's almost guarantied HP damage at the very least

>>25323591
>Have the wisp find Flint, and let him know where you are.

>>25323576

<You have my thanks Steward>

Have Wispy find our magic. Maybe, if we can get that back, we can then use our anti-magic abilities to dispel the cage...

While Wispy is on his hunt, we can meditate on the shards. Isolation might be a good one for a 'farewell' to Micheal... Though Hunger is good for eating attacks...

Also, I assume that we can't regen health in the cage...

>>25323674
We can restore HP damage quickly enough. It'd be worth it to be out of this damn cage.

>>25323691
Our magic isn't gone, it hasn't been taken, it's just suppressed by the cage.

>>25323704

This.

>>25323591
>>25323613
Next time we have a chance to meditate, we should focus on the sword shards, maybe try and reassemble them.
>>25323618
Seconding this.
Trying to track Michael when he was able to tell that we were communicating is an exercise in futility.
We could also ask it to scout around a bit.

>>25323635
We would probably end up breaking the shard, if it worked at all. We just used it to eat the light attack.

>>25323558
.... can we try and eat the cage?

>>25323672
Seconding looking around Michaels lab for things that our wisp can interact with.

>>25323713
We already tried piecing the shards together, but we couldn't because we're missing pieces. My guess is those fragments we found could help to stitch the sword together.

We need to escape. Too bad I wasn't here yesterday to convince anybody of buying either Compress or Gaping Maw. Small auras can be hidden near big auras and no one would have asked the Archmage to hand over his shadowy armband even if it was noticed. The second would probably let us destroy the cage.

>>25323591
Ideas:
1) Berserk. The incurred harm could most likely be survived and we regenerate fast. We would need to leave immediately (after eating some magic equipments) because there might be sensors.
2) Have the wisp examine the room. Maybe something here can help.
3) The wisp exists. We can not be completely cut off from magic. Maybe there is a way to use spells.
4) Meditate on our shards. Have the wisp/Steward awaken us in a couple of hours because we will lose track of time. Might lead to:
5) Combine Hunger Shard with Berserk.

>>25323379
IT'S SHADOW TIME!
>>25323591
>Have the wisp find Flint, and let him know where you are.

>>25323635
I'm thinking this is our best chance to get out. If both of the shards have a maximum of two uses before needing to recharge., then this would be our second use of the hunger shard.

>>25323591
>Have the wisp find Flint, and let him know where you are.

And, if possible, tell/warn Flint of Michael being with Auriel.

>>25323591
Wait, I got it! If the wisp can impression as good as we can, why not give it a full recording of all of our interactions with Michael thus far? That way, if we send the wisp to one of our allies it can give them the information at their leisure instead of knowledge bombing like we did Auriel.

>>25323762
We could even include Auriels interaction with Michael if we send it to Flint. That will get results.

>>25323762

That's perfectly feasible. Who will you send your wisp to?

>>25323762
This is a good idea. I say we send it to Flint.

>>25323792

Flint seems popular. Is that a go?

You can have it look around the room for a bit before it leaves.

>>25323792

Flint

>>25323804
Yup, send it to Flint.

>>25323762
A good idea if I say so.
>>25323804
Flint is confirmed.

>>25323727
Maybe.
Going over them and the True Darkness together might lead to something.

>>25323747
It's also possible that damage to the shards is proportional to the extent we use them.
Isolation almost broke from blanketing the Vog, Hunger would probably break if we tried to eat out of a cage formed by the highest of the angels.

>>25323804
Yep, we seem to be sending it to flint.
A little local scouting wouldn't hurt though.

>>25323804
I'd certainly want to know if it can interact with anything in Michaels lab before we send it off, but when we send it off I think Flint and
>>25323762
>>25323785
Are good bets.

>>25323804
>Flint seems popular. Is that a go?

Spike up his desire to help us!

And let's look around the room too. See what else is there.

>>25323822
>>25323827

Check out the room first.

>>25323822
We don't have the other shard, the one we found in a chest. That was in our little utility belt, which we left with Fang.

>>25323804
Look around a bit before it leaves.
There might be something in the room that we can use. Either as evidence to help convince Auriel, or something that can help us escape.

>>25323804
First scouting then Flint sounds good.

>>25323847
>Spike

Spark up his desire, I meant.

>>25323712

ah. I misunderstood the situation then.

In that case, While we, dare I say it, Trust Ariel to follow up on the Micheal lead, Get Wispy to give Flint >>25323762

also, has anyone removed the blasted sheet? if so, see if Wispy can tug it off before he leaves...

You thump a shadowy fist on a shadowy palm.

<Wisp. Remember this information.>

You send the wisp a long impression, essentially your memories of your capture and conversation with Michael. The wisp sits quietly for a moment, the sends you a sort of affirmative.

<Also remember where I am, right now. Before you leave, take a look around the lab. See if you can find anything interesting.>

The wisp zips around the cabinets and starts throwing them opening. You peer at their contents.

Roll 1d100

>>25323591
Another bright side is that once we get out of this we should have secured Steward as an ally.

Rolled 72

>>25323879

>>25323804
What? No! The Angels are looking for an excuse to discredit/kill Flint if they can't establish control of him. Why in the hell would we send a minor shadow elemental to him when the darn this will probably be detected by the enemy?

Rolled 44

>>25323879
Weehee observe roll!

Rolled 13

>>25323879

Rolling for wisp-bro to find something awesome!

Rolled 26

>>25323879

Rolled 31

>>25323879

Rolled 20

>>25323879
Shit.

>>25323871
>also, has anyone removed the blasted sheet? if so, see if Wispy can tug it off before he leaves...

Michael removed it before he left. He didn't bother putting it back on.

Rolled 36

>>25323879

Rolled 11

I hope our observe is enough to boost that to something useful.

>>25323879
rolling a second time just because

>>25323890
It wasn't detected before, so that's basically why we're trying now.
It also somehow got here without being detected.

To be safe let's also tell it to only contact Flint when he's alone or only when he's surrounded by our friends. That should be good.

>>25323908

Remind me, does Focus or Deep Focus require mana?

if not, since everyone know Micheal has a shadow elemental in his room, us doing a quick 'ping' shouldn't have everyone up in arms...

>>25323944
well we did get balance. Might as well get some use out of it.

>>25323944
We are also a little harder to detect while doing it thanks to what we bought last session.

>>25323908
Anyone else felling like using focus/deep focus to check out our surroundings?

>>25323932
Seconding telling wispbro this.

>>25323971
It's out of range. We should tell Steward to make himself scarce again, we wouldn't want him detected in the meantime.

>>25324011
Steward can simply make himself invisible again. He somehow managed to escape detection after all.

We are strong, can we punch the cage out?

If we do escape we gotta eat everything in this lab.

>>25324011
We should also tell steward to close the window when our wisp leaves so Michael won't suspect anything.

>>25324011
Pretty sure steward is absolutely fine. I think he's probably the best stealth character so far- if we gave him Obis's cloak he'd be the most OP assassin in the setting.

>>25324025

This should be our first attempt at escape. Pop Berserk and try to bust our way out.

honestly if we can find a switch to turn the cage off it'd be best. But yeah either use Juggernaut or CONSUME the cage.

>>25324061
I'd prefer we focus/deep focus first before trying anything, if it's an option.

The wisp throws open more cabinets. Wood slams on wood. It knocks over beakers as it goes, sending them rolling around the lab tables.

The wisp flies into the reagents cabinet and begins zooming around. Bottles of powers and liquids go flying.

"I would recommend caution," Steward says.

The wisp apparently doesn't understand what caution is. It lands in a tub of white dust and then blows out of it, sending powder flying across the room. It lands on a stone table and begins hitting switches and levers and knobs connected to the large purifying apparatus.

Liquids begin to flow. Black ooze drips out of one container. A spark flashes on one end of the contraption.

The white powder ignites in a green-white fire!

A beaker flies toward you like a little missile of magic. It slams into the side of the cage and explodes in a plume of flame. You flinch in alarm, but the cage apparently keeps everything out, as well. You are unharmed.

But the cage isn't. One of the rods of light is bent at a sharp angle. You probe at it. It feels significantly weaker.

The wisp hovers in front of you. You glance over the room. The lab is a wreck. Shards of glass cover the floor. The apparatus still sputters and heaves.

Steward just looks at you. "Your summon has given itself away."

<...could I ask you for another favor?>

Steward doesn't say a word. He moves over to the laboratory and begins to clean up with robotic efficiency. In just a few minutes, he's restored everything to its previous position, even fixing up the apparatus with spare pieces from the cabinets. "Assuming the angel does not do an inventory of his glassware, your secrecy should be assured. I can do nothing about your cage, itself."

You look at the cage. Maybe...

...you gasp the bent bar. It stuns your hand, but you ignore the sensation and bend the bar straight. It snaps back into position. You bend it out, then in several times.

>con't

>>25324061
Oh, yeah totally. LETS TAKE MASSIVE HP DAMAGE FRO NO GAIN GUYS.

>>25324025
We should probably give Auriel a day to verify our story about Michael's victim before escaping. That revelation should solidify the schism between her and the empire, and we can use that to sow dissension within their ranks.

>>25324085
It would be a roll for breaking anyways, but....>>25324079

>>25324079
Put it back in place! We need to hide our escape route!

>>25324104
>wait
No, waiting is never a good option; ever. For all games and for all time waiting while trapped is bad. It's a theme. It's been how it is since cages were a thing in stories. No wait'n in a cage.

You test a shadow at the edge of the cage. You're shocked, just as strongly as before. You flinch back from the contact.

Well...maybe not -just- as strong as before.

You're still still locked in...but.

You look around your tiny cell. 1 bar down. 13 to go.

<Wisp.> The wisp stutters to a halt in front of you. <Find Flint, and stay quiet. When he's alone - or only amongst allies - give him all the information I just gave you, and tell him where to find me. If he asks for you help, follow his instructions. Otherwise, report back to me.>

The wisp zips out the window. Steward closes it behind him.

"I'll be observing," Steward says. His green core glows, and then he vanishes. "But you've had two favors too many."

Well. At least you got a little out of him.

What do you do?

>Use your strength to try and damage the cage.
>go berserk. You're getting out or bust.
>Focus on the Isolation Shard.
>Try to strengthen the Hunger Shard. It feels a bit worn down...
>Meditate; rebuild your own strength.
>Use Deep Focus to try and sense beyond the cage.
>some other strategy

I agree if we can get out now we should seize the chance to do so.

>>25324141
Oh, question. Does Snuff work on magic light?

>Use your strength to try and damage the cage.
Lets do it!

>>25324153

Focus on the Isolation shard.

We're isolated - time to master this Aspect of Darkness.

>>25324153
>Try to strengthen the Hunger Shard. It feels a bit worn down...

>>25324161

Any light source, including magically-created lights. If the light is from a spell that is being actively maintained, then you'd have to roll for success, which would be dependent on the mage and the light in question, etc

>>25324173
That'll do jack and shit.

>>25324171

Seems like this would be a waste of time - besides, what happens when we only damage the cage moderately and Michael returns to find us all battered from escape attempts?

He'll only triple-reinforce the bars.

We need to continue weakening the cage imperceptably so that when we DO bust out, it's guaranteed we escape.

>>25324153
>strengthen the Hunger shard
Dude save our ass, return the favor.

>>25324187
lets try Snuff.

>>25324153
>Try to strengthen the Hunger Shard. It feels a bit worn down...

>>25324205
I think Doom Aura would be better.
>Doom Aura - Puts out all lights in an area at once. Large penalty to dodge if used during battle.

>>25324153
>Try to strengthen the Hunger Shard. It feels a bit worn down...
Can't have anything happen to our favorite

>>25324218
Do both?

>>25324218
Seconding doom aura attempt after strengthening our Darkxis bud.

>>25324205
Premature, we need to take out a few more bars first. Or use focus to locat the external power source for the cage and find some way to attack it (preferably with Flint).

>>25324153
Fixing the hunger shard back up seems like a good idea. We might need it to tear away more of the cage or survive another attack.

>>25324237

I'll second using Deep Focus. we'll need to plan an escape route, and at least, should anyone investigate, we are still 'in a cage' and 'harmless'...

I think we should talk to the Isolation shard. That fight was one of our more dificult ones. Compared to Isolation Darkxis was a cake walk.

You decide to meditate on the Hunger Shard.

You'll then test out Doom Aura and see if it has any effect on the cage.

Roll 1d100. First three for the shard, second three for the aura.

>>25324245
The power source for the cage is Sandelass, he's the one that made it? If I recall correctly.

Rolled 41

>>25324281

Rolled 61

>>25324281

Rolled 59

>>25324281

Rolling

Rolled 74

>>25324281
Watch me roll a 1.

Rolled 67

>>25324281
now for DOOM

>>25324079
>>25324153

So, Wisp-bro got detected and our solution was to send him straight to Flint? (no roll for success)... Great plan guys.

Rolled 39

>>25324281

DOOOOOOOOOOM

Rolled 37

>>25324281

Rolled 32

>>25324281
rollan

>>25324291
>>25324293
Ehhhh... maybe?

Rolled 22

and a third roll just because
>>25324281

>>25324290
>>25324291
>>25324293
>>25324294
>>25324297
>>25324301
Nothing below a 35. That's not terrible failure, at least.

>>25324300
Our summon would only have been detected if someone came back and found the workshop a wreck.

>>25324320

Shadow Quest: The bets at mediocre rolls.

>>25324281
We have no plan for how to hide/escape after breaking the cage right? I wonder if Michael's going to pin this on Auri (last person besides himself in the room and she opened the window even if it was later closed). I think she'd make a great fall girl for the Highest.

>>25324346
Our plan for after we break out of the cage is consume some shadows, or guards. Then find Michael and consume him. Then Mach 5 our way out of here.

>>25324346
And hopefully, very hopefully, she's smart enough to try looking for a body.

>>25324367
Straight to Fang, to get that fucking sword fragment.

>>25324377
And then... maybe off to Geb?

You focus on the Hunger Shard.

It's a tiny, glimmering core of black-purple light deep within you.

It feels like you, but it's separate from you. Distinct.

A voice floats up from the depths.

-eat. Hungry. I want to eat. The robot looks tasty. Eat it? Eat the cage first-

<Darkxis...is that you?>

-me, you, you, hungry? we, hunger. Your hunger. I-

It seems that the personality of Darkxis doesn't distinguish itself much anymore...

<We need to fix you up.>

-Eat. eat the world. eat everything. consume it-

You focus your power on the shard. You run your essence along the shard, smoothing it out, warming it.

It returns to the state it was in before you used it to defend yourself against Michael. You draw away, and the voice fades. You glance up. Gold light streams in through the window. It's late afternoon.

A thought strikes you. You push your aura out...blackness, to counter the light of the cage.

Your aura strikes the edges of the cage. It flashes white hot, reacting strongly to the darkest of your shadows!

You manage to withdraw before it can do any damage.

What do you do now?

>use your strength to try and damage the cage
>focus on the Isolation Shard
>try to strengthen the Hunger Shard again
>meditate; rebuild your own strength
>use Focus or Deep Focus to try and sense beyond the cage
>some other strategy

>focus on the Isolation Shard

>>25324377
Do me a favor and check to see if our internal shards resonate with the sword before we Consume it. It would not be funny if we destroyed a powerful artifact because of a hunch based on meta information that has not been explicitly confirmed.

>>25324408
Meditate, heal ourselves. We don't want low HP for what Michael may have planned.

>>25324346
Plans:
1) Surprise attack Michael. Consume, purchase some stealth abilities, sneak out.
2) Burrow out, we are strong enough to easily rend stone, harder than mundane tools, don't tire, don't need to see, don't need to eat.

>>25324408
>>focus on the Isolation Shard

>>25324408

Ping Deep Focus, then meditate

>>25324408
Hold on just a sec... Can we blink out of this bitch? Or does that cost mana that we don't have, or does the cage prevent that?

>>25324408
Did we burn any mana just now?

>meditate on the isolation shard
See if we can use it to block pain or put up a shield or something.

>>25324408
>focus on the Isolation Shard

I know we can use the feeling of "Isolation" but maybe it has other powers? It did have that insane regen ability.

>>25324408
Try to use the Hunger Shard like a knife to cut the bars.

>>25324481
We have no magic, and Blink is magic. Doom Aura is not magic.

>>25324408
Use Deep Focus to see if we can get a feel for the immediate area, make sure their aren't any unpleasent surprises outside on the off chance that we escape in the near future.

Afterwards, or if Focus fails, time to meditate and do some reflection.

>>25324481
Supposedly we have mana, but I don't think we can blink out (I thought I suggested it yesterday, but then again my visual of the cage was very different then than today).

>>25324499

This.

>>25324481
Worth a try? We should be able to blink to wherever we can see within range.

>>25324499
>We have no magic
Did you not read what SM wrote earlier? or what everyone else has been saying?

We have our magic, its just that the cage is suppressing it

>>25324489
It will break. Bad plan.

>>25324515
The phrase "we have no magic" was meant as in "we have no magic available" not "our magic is gone".

>>25324408

Focus on the Isolation Shard.

We need to find out how to utilize these shards properly and we're getting closer to understand how to use them properly.

>>25324517
It's our best chance of getting out. Unless you want to meditate on the hunger shard again and make it even stronger. Which will almost assuredly land us at the mercy of Michael again.

>>25324515

I think he meant it in the sense you meant.

To clarify, you don't have access to Blink.

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

You'll meditate on the isolation shard.

You'll then 'ping' Deep Focus.

Roll 1d100

>>25324537
then you might want to add that extra word when you say that next, makes a very big difference

Rolled 97

>>25324566

Rolled 100

>>25324566
God damn it guys, you've fucking wasted this chance. Seriously.

Rolled 61

>>25324566

Rolling for isolation shard and ping.

Rolled 94

>>25324566

Rolled 83

>>25324566
now for deep focus

>>25324565
Eh? It didn't take that long. We went from early afternoon to late afternoon, so if we focus on another shard it will likely be night or late night. Still before tomorrow.

>>25324583

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rolled 56

>>25324580
>>25324583
>>25324591

Holy fucking shit!

Rolled 37

>>25324566
!

STOP ROLLING!

>>25324580
>>25324583
>>25324586
HahHAHAHIDIAUWHAWDHAHAWAWD

File: 1370729042599.gif-(2.91 MB, 200x155, Dance-an.gif)

2.91 MB GIF

>>25324583
>>25324580

File: 1370729053434.jpg-(80 KB, 642x643, Untitled.jpg)

80 KB JPG

Rolled 70

>>25324566

>>25324583
SUPERCRIT WOO

>>25324604
STOP ROLLING.

>>25324583
HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

Maybe now we can talk to him openly without having to focus.

>>25324583
this is literaly the best thing ever. i cant breath. we needed some good luck

EVERYONE STOP ROLLING

>>25324617
STOP ROLLING.

this is the third 100 we've had with Isolation

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560 KB GIF

>>25324583
>God damn it guys, you've fucking wasted this chance. Seriously.

So much irony.

>>25324636
so, so, so much irony.

>>25324636
Clearly, the dice gods enjoy our pessimism.

And it turns out when disconnected from everything, Isolation (who I suggest we call Solitary) opens the cage for us.

>in before nothing happens...

>>25324632
I wonder what it all means.
Maybe we should start striking out on our own after all.

>>25324636

you know had we suggested that we do something that could/would have gotten us out, it would have been 2,1,6...

>>25324636
i am in love with the fact that this is the most alone we have been since the escape from jacob's landing. we are in a better posistion to understand isolation than we have ever been before

>>25324683
>dat insight
I bet that's quite a bonus.

>>25324694
>dat bonus...
If it wasn't there before...

>>25324694

Nope.

You push your way into yourself once more.

Isolation glows with a sickly green light.

It hums deeply.

You've never felt more alone than you have right now, trapped in a cage in the tower of angels that could destroy you with the flick of a finger.

A deep, terribly sound resonates from you. Green power ignites around the Shard of Darkness.

Cracks of green energy spark from your form, striking the inside of the cage. The light flares in an attempt to contain it. Three of the bars twist sideways, bent at odd angles.

The shard sits there, vibrating. Silent. Ready.

You test yourself on the cage. It looks the same, but it's effect on you is noticeably weaker. With a bit of jostling, you bend the bars back into their proper place. <4 down, 10 to go,> you think to yourself.

Outside the window, night has fallen.

You know nothing about your surroundings. You use Deep Focus.

A static haze clouds your senses. The cage resists your power. But your awareness expands past it. You thank Isolation for the help.

Things are indistinct, but you can sense a few things. A great light that must be Sandalphon takes residence in the highest tower. Hundreds of smaller lights rest in the city itself. Seven bright, burning pools sit below, in the foundations of the complex. Four of them are Light; one each is Fire, Wind, and Lightning. You can see lines of power running up through the buildings and structures from the source of mana.

Your awareness continues to grow...

...and something grabs your attention. Small, but concentrated. A bank of both Light, and Shadow...it's several stories deep in the earth, far below the fortress.

Another light, just a story beneath you, is bright, but quiet. You assume that might be Michael.

What do you do now?


>use your strength to try and damage the cage
>try to strengthen the Hunger Shard
>meditate; rebuild your health
>use Focus or Deep Focus again; look at something specific
>some other strategy

>>25324822
>use your strength to try and damage the cage
I think if we focus on the 4 damaged bars we might be able to bust out.

>>25324822
now would be a good time to try Juggernauting the cage...

also, I suspect the bank of Light and Shadow is where they keep the souls of the Shadow mages.
The question is, if we eat the bindings, do we also eat the mages? If so, then we should just run a 'smash&grab' on them.
At least that way, we're not Kiting Geb to the city as a distraction...

>>25324822
Meditate and regain health, we're going nowhere right now with less than 1/3 of the bars weakened and we'll need all the strength we have to resist Michael when he returns with his revenge boner.

Pun possibly intended.

>>25324822
>regain our health and break out
or
>break out now

Hmm..

>>25324822
>try to strengthen the Hunger Shard
Why not?

>>25324890
Because time is of the essence.

>>25324886
Seconding this indecision...

>>25324822
>meditate; rebuild your health
THEN we break out.

>>25324903
>>25324886
When in doubt, 1d2.

>>25324822
>meditate; rebuild your health

>>25324822
use your strength to try and damage the cage
we are at half health. we can take a little more

Rolled 2

>>25324916
Sure.
1 - Meditate
2 - I'm the juggernaut bitch!
3 - this poster goes to get lunch.

>>25324923
and then we can be at less than half health with an incoming Michael, if he senses/hears us in his sleep.

Although that would be semi-bullshit considering everything that's happened so far and he still hasn't noticed.

>>25324905

but it is night, we want to be gone by morning...

There is no time to be lost...

Also, I want to try and free the shadow mages. Angels are dicks, and do dickish things to them. So that is why they are not allowed nice things...
that and it's harder to pin 'evil' on shadow mages when they don't have any to do said evil under their orders...

>>25324954
Ok, so I was thinking before, elemental spells get a bit more powerful if you turn them into a whirling vortex instead of just chucking the energy as is right? Well, we don't have to worry about getting dizzy, so anyone else interest to see a tornado of shadow star rampaging?

>>25324965
The only way to get them out safely would be super sonic into the distance if we... could free their souls and then also somehow put their souls back in their bodies and then somehow take them to the surface to escape.

We should keep trying to weaken the cage as much as possible. Use Doom Aura ( Its not an spell so it most work) and shadow eater to make the room darker.

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

You've decided to meditate and rebuild your health.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 60

>>25325031

Rolled 20

>>25325031
Guh. I hate this choice.

Rolled 97

>>25325031
ok

>>25325024
Wouldn't shadow eater remove darkness from the room?

Rolled 65

>>25324882

This. I'd feel more comfortably with busting out with 8 or 6 bars, but with the bars in position but weakened and Wispbro fucking with Michael's science equipment, we have an excellent shot at escaping tomorrow night flawlessly.

Rolled 30

>>25325031

Ohmmm

>>25325036
>>25325040
Not bad.

>>25325043
Then we can try strengthening hunger again and letting him have a go at the other bars first? Any other ideas as to how to weaken them quickly would be nice.

>>25325041

If their is no light the darkness will some return and we could have our strength back. We will have to eventually overpower the cage with physical force.

What are the chances we'd be able to steal Ilas soul away from the angels, along with a few others. Possibly by hiding them in our pocket dimension?

>>25325087
As far as we know, the cage itself is the only light source in the room right now though... I expect there are more that haven't been pointed out though.

>>25325149
About as good as us buying pocket dimension anytime soon?

>>25325149
Considering we don't have the XP at the moment, zero.
If we had it? We don't have the slightest... complete hint... that we know how to take souls out of living people, take them out of wherever and however they're held, or how to put them back in. I'm also gonna guess that it's not exactly common knowledge.

It's dark, but you aren't regenerating.

Maybe if you focused inwardly...

You fall into yourself.

>you've healed 12 HP (41/52)

Time passes as you heal.

Being alone...is lonely.

Isolation throbs slightly. It knows. It understands. It wants to be unleashed at the source of your frustration.

You think on your situation. How did you get here?

You trusted Fang's plan. He seemed to be in control. But was that your mistake? Maybe you were meant to be the sacrificial lamb the entire time, to distract Sandalphon from Abigail. Maybe he has no intention of coming to your rescue. Maybe he played you like a fiddle.

Even if it was simply bad luck, how would he help you now? Why would he - what could he possibly leverage to secure your freedom? Maybe he's even glad for this turn of events. Maybe you were a potential problem that needed removal.

Did you make the wrong choice?

...your friends escaped without harm. You took the hit, but in that sense, you succeeded. Abigail is safe. Adavan will keep an eye on her, at the very least.

Abigail.

You've tried to help her. To be there for her. To protect that innocence...because you cherish her easy acceptance of you. But people...

...people.

They're a liability. They slow you down. They walk when you could fly. They run - but you could outpace sound itself. These grand figures you mingle with come burdened with problems, and they attract yet more like dust sticks to old books. And look where it's gotten you.

You feel fed up with the world.

Abigail is the only person who didn't flinch in terror, or examine you with revulsion, or spit on you in derision. Abigail.

She's halfway across the world.

You feel so alone.

Isolation rings again.

...there was another. Ila, the shadow mage. Auriel looked at her in the same way she looked at you. Like a bird eyeing a rotting worm it doesn't really want to eat.

But who knows where she is.

>con't

>>25325149

Let focus our effort on getting out of the cage.

>>25325164

What ever helps, if taking the light away weakens the cage or let us regenerate even better and we have nothing to lose if we try. So lets do it!

>>25325183
You are forgetting that we also have to unlock that other orangish tree to even get to pocket...

Flint. He's stood by your side. He gave you a chance. That's worth something. That's important. He's more -human- than any of these other humans you've met.

But the rest of them couldn't care less about your existence. Most of them immediately despise it. Humanity, at large, doesn't want you around. It would prefer you gone. Dead. Forgotten.

If that's the way they feel...then perhaps you don't want them around, either.

You're bothered by the hardness of your own judgement. Are you no better, if you label them all at once, unequivocally? But you can't deny that you feel persecuted. No - you ARE persecuted. No one in this world seems to care about what's right. The leaders of men are concerned only with their own ambitions, their maneuverings, their one-sided arguments and petty disagreements based on something as superficial as the color of magic they were born with. How can you convince people to abandon their old prejudices while you're ground between stones of power too great for you to move?

Maybe you can't. Maybe the fact that you're bothering to try is the problem.

For the first time in a long time...you feel unsure of what you should do.

But your worries will have to wait. You're still caged.

It's getting light outside the window.

What do you do now?

>use your strength to try and damage the cage
>try to strengthen the Hunger Shard
>some other strategy

>>25325209
Oh, I didn't forget that. I said as much that the current chance is Zero.

>>25325213
Well that took too long...

>>25325213
>use your strength to try and damage the cage

>>25325235
I'm guessing that other orange-ish area is Earth. Maybe if we consumed an Earth elemental it would unlock?

>>25325213

Doom Aura as much as we can try to focus it on the cage, and then try the to damage it by force.

>>25325213
>try to strengthen the Hunger Shard

Rolled 13

>>25325213
>use your strength to try and damage the cage
we will get free. we will get out. we will. we promised abigail we would come back. that is a promise we will not break

>>25325271
We don't have the time for more meditation. It's now or never.

>>25325213
[X] BUST THE FUCK OUT

NO MORE WASTING TIME

WE NEED OUT NOW

>>25325213
Check to see if Michael is still below, We don't want to break out right as he walks in.

>>25325251
Maybe, it looks like a combined earth/spirit effects to me though.

>>25325257
Considering that it didn't do anything before -that is, no damage- with even average rolls I don't think it's our best option.

>>25325213
Strengthen hunger.

>>25325295

Do we lose anything from trying again? Nope.

>>25325213
>try to strengthen the Hunger Shard

Darkxis is hungry and will have to be ready to CoNsUmE all of the angel's power. We must have all of it.

Vote 1:
>try to bust the fuck out

Vote 2:
>time to get HUNGRY

>>25325320
Time.
Oh, and the more rolling we have to do the worse it can get, is also a thing.

>>25325361
>Vote 1:

>>25325361
2

>>25325361
Scan to see where Michael is first, before we do anything else.
If he is away or still out, then we break out.

>>25325361

1

>>25325366

I am saying to try both at same time so there is no time wasted.

>>25325361
Well, since there's no chance to make the cage look unbroken, I guess I'll go with 1.

Rolled 57

>>25325361
3: deep focus. find michal. if still sleeping? then 1

>>25325361

1.

unfortunatly due to the meditation we only have time to escape ourselves. a shame, but we can always come back with Geb... I'm sure he doesn't like the light very much either...

>>25325389
He's going to be here around dawn, so we have maybe twenty minutes to an hour.

>>25325213
....oh man...just wait until we secure the Shard of Darkness that represents Anger.

>>25325361
One I guess?

>>25325419
>Anger shard
I think you meant Righteous Fury. And we broke that one.

>>25325441
...Was it stated as to exactly which shard it was before it broke? IDR.

>all this hesitation
>here comes the bone

You use Deep Focus again.

Michael is at the bottom of his tower. His spirit is scurrying about rapidly.

Do you still try to break out of the cage? Or try something else?

Y/N

>>25325361
2

>>25325457
Y

Y

Rolled 83

>>25325457
ok then. Y

>>25325456

No, you don't know which one it was.

>>25325419
>>25325441

It's Wrath, actually.

>>25325457
Y

>>25325456
Nope. Just spewing cynicism.

>>25325456
I don't think it was stated which shard broke.

>>25325457

Y

Alrighty. Roll 1d100 to be the juggernaut, bitch.

>>25325480
Well stop it you're making me feel bad.
I mean, it's not like this is the shittiest situation we've been in so far and also completely fucking boring or anything like that.

Rolled 54

>>25325493
Rollan to smash shit

>>25325457
Y

Time to start the great escape or the great angel massacre

Rolled 42

>>25325493
god damn it.

Rolled 50

>>25325493
Time for failure. HERE WE GO.

>>25325476
>it's Wrath actually
Ooh, I know you can't answer this, but please tell me Wrath comes in both hot (impulsive fury) and cold (calculated, calmly enacted vengeance) varieties? Please with puppy dog eyes?

>>25325441
>we broke that one.

What where went? Did I miss something?

Rolled 71

>>25325493

Rolled 39

>>25325493

Rolled 85

>>25325493

Smash!

>>25325509
>>25325516
>>25325519
WE ARE A JUGGERNAUT OF AVERAGE PROWESS

Rolled 12

>>25325509
>>25325516
>>25325519
>>25325493

Shit to average. Fuck.

Rolled 24

>>25325493

Here it comes

>>25325476
When we aren't running for our life we could ask Darkxis about the other shard.

>>25325547
Would he even remember? It seems he lost most of his personality.

>>25325503
>completely boring
Don't really agree with that. Given the tension from our potential demise/torture hanging over head, and the potential to get our allies killed/soulraped, I'd say I'm pretty engaged.

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14 KB JPG

>>25325532
>WE ARE A JUGGERNAUT OF AVERAGE PROWESS
>my face

>>25325520

I can't answer that, Dave.

Writing.

Huh. I just realized something.
If the shards of darkness are the various pieces of Erebus and they can consume one another the most powerful shadows/those with the greatest self identity are going to eat all the others.
Like natural elemental selection.

>>25325564
>I'm sitting in a cage
>I'm ENGAGED!
I'll agree on the tension part.

>>25325573
>can't answer that, Dave.
I know I know, just got excited that we wouldn't be stuck in boring rage mode if we activated it.

You slam into the bars, hard.

The light flashes and flares against you. You keep hammering.

The ba's you've already bent buckle outward, but the others hold firm. You smash harder.

>you take 4 damage (33/52)

One of the bars bends out. The power in it fades significantly, just like the others.

Briefly tired from the effort, you sit back and check on Michael with another focus.

He's heading up the tower!

What do you do?

>arrange the cage back in its proper position. Minimize suspicion
>go for broke. Now or never.
>some other strategy

>>25325476
What if we are actually wrath but haven't completely awakened our nature?

>>25325642

BERSERK!!!
WE SHALL EXIT THIS INFERNAL HELL HOLE OR KILL MICHEAL TRYING!!!

>>25325611
More of "can we escape in time?" "did our wisp make it to Flint?" "is Auriel dumb enough to bring the evidence to her superiors, who are no doubt aware of Michael's extracurricular activities?"... Yes we are in a cage, but we are still a part of this game.

>>25325660
I'm pretty sure we're actually both humanity and temerity.

>>25325642
Berserk. Go for broke.

>>25325456
>>25325441

Went did we broke a shard?

>>25325642
>25325642
There is no way we can break them all in time.
Arrange the cage back, and try to survive for another day.

File: 1370732657610.jpg-(523 KB, 2400x3200, michael.jpg)

523 KB JPG

>Get here 2 hours late
>Things are looking up
Neat.

>>25325642
Berserk, berserk!

Rolled 49

>>25325642
i am trying to figure out what shard we are. if another shadow was to eat us, what would they get? i dont think it is something nice. i think we are inclusion or something like that. shadow accepts all. but we are not to be contained.

>beserk juggernaught. we are getting the fuck out

>>25325689
When we ate hunger

>>25325689
During the consumption of Darkxis, we got his hunger shard but the rolls were not merciful and one of the others that Darkxis had collected broke.

>>25325642

Full on BERSERK!