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You snuck into the city sewers and used them to access the underground complex holding the souls of many Shadow and Spirit mages captive. You destroyed the magic holding them in place - and the suddenly-freed slaves immediately turned on their masters, throwing the city into chaos.

Intent on helping them escape, you rushed to the Airship Noiralev to consume its core and use its power, but you ran into Auriel and Flint in the engine room. They explained that they'd found the remains of one of Michael's victims. That - combined with Flint's encouragement, and her own experiences - has led her to put her trust in you.

In one swoop, she took command of the ship, turned its crew against Sandalphon's despotism, and used it as a rallying point for the embattled shadow mages huddled inside the collapsing city.

Meanwhile, you used your powers to overclock the airship's dynamo, directing its firepower and shields far beyond their normal abilities - but even still, you were overwhelmed, and your efforts destroyed the dynamo in the process. Before the airship was destroyed, you were able to charge its jump drive and teleport to safety.

The battle has rendered the Noiralev useless, but you managed to safely guide the craft to one of many stone plataeus in the Shiprakers, an isolated and desolate region where Tarun Gakth meets the sea. You've convinced your fellows that the best place to set up something more permanent for your renegades and refugees is in the Great Forest. The spirit mages, led by Hamil, are currently putting together a mass teleport spell to bring you there.

You've started scouting the surroundings, hoping to find some trace of Steward or his proclaimed home, City 001.

File: 1371261399797.jpg-(881 KB, 1949x759, ability tree (74).jpg)

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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:

http://pastebin.com/zYkUY1zM

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)

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Deep Focus - Long-range focus with heightened detection and scouting ability, but with a correspondingly higher chance of revealing yourself.

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. However, things might turn sour if they notice their shadow is missing...

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

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

-----------
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)

Shadowmeld - Magic-based stealth. Pay any amount of mana. Physical and magical stealth increases based on how much mana was spent until stealth is broken. Can be used to re-stealth mid-battle.

HAHA TIME FOR SHADOW QUEST

>>25442200
IT'S SHADOW TIME!

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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]

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Current Statistics:

>you've healed from regeneration since the camp's been set up to 2/3 HP

HP: 37/56
Mana: 0/20
EXP: 11
Humanity: 261
Temerity: 203
Shards of True Darkness: 2 (Isolation, Hunger)

Party Members:

None

Summoned:

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

Equipment:

None

Inventory:

None

Current Location:

Tarun Gakth

File: 1371261706201.jpg-(110 KB, 808x988, Ila (8).jpg)

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You get a few shadow mages together, along with Cain, for the purpose of scouting out your immediate area. You use Deep Focus.

Something grabs your attention...a little flicker of magic. You fly across a few plateaus toward a large reef.

More than one ship is crushed up and rotted away within the Shiprakers...most are at the bottom of the sea, now, but this particular ship was lodged between two rocks. You dive down and search it.

The ship holds war supplies - specifically, armor. You find iron helmets, shields, and weapons...and they're all completely rusted.

But you do come across five pristine sets of adamantium half-plate. You ferry them back to camp, and deposit them in the Noiralev's armory, which holds a large number of steel shields and spears.

You then decide to scout into the canyons back on the mainland, searching for Steward, or any other constructs you might call allies.

>using rolls from last thread:
>96
>86
>97

>con't

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You inform Auriel and Ila of your intentions, and then take flight over Tarun Gakth. You use Deep Focus several times, sending out your awareness over the twisting, barren canyons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t_59E37ndg

It isn't long before you find some constructs - in the midst of heavy combat. A giant stonesteel golem lies sprawled across a wide canyon. You recognize its smaller repair constructs from when you first encountered one.

The other constructs are distinct. They are smooth, and metallic. Their artifical design feels much less like pure earth magic, and more a scattered combination of various elements, rather like Steward. The fight between the two sides goes on, construct against construct. Neither side seems to have an advantage...though you suppose the giant golem must have been downed somehow. It doesn't appear to be damaged on the outside.

In any case, you're not sure if they're the droids you're looking for.

What do you do?

>intervene on the side of the Steward-like droids
>land on top of the canyon, then watch and wait
>retreat back to your camp
>some other strategy

>>25442287
>intervene on the side of the Steward-like droids

Might as well try to make contact.

Ok, guys, we still owe City 001 a Power Core, and there is still one golem left in the Shadow Temple near the Orc tribe. We should head there first.

Also, let's see if Flint can fit into a set of Adamantium armor.

>>25442287
>Watch and wait
Its only fair

>>25442287
>intervene on the side of the Steward-like droids

>>25442287
Impress the Steward-lookalikes with recognition, and us emerging from the large golem and handing them the earth core.

Proceed to do exactly that.

>>25442287
The large Golem is downed? Sweet.We could stealth into the construct and grab its power core before it has time to fix whatever bad happened to it.

>>25442287

We Owe Steward two small favors from back at the Ringed City...

Intervene on the side of the Steward-like droids.

Maybe attempt communication to confirm that they are in fact the forces of City 001...

Alrighty.

Vote 1:
>prioritize stealthing into the golem and taking its power core

Vote 2:
>prioritize helping in the battle

>>25442347
1

>>25442347
1

>>25442347

2

>>25442347
2

>>25442343
...don't we also owe him a power core? I thought the one he had got trashed from our Nightblaze.

...sigh... ...420 blaze it...

>>25442347
1

>>25442347
2

>>25442347
I imagine the entire point of the battle is to get that power core, so securing that would be in our best interest.

>>25442347
2

>>25442347
2

>>25442347
1

>>25442347
1

>>25442372
If you want to vote, the only things accepted are a link to SMs post and the number. No spaces, no punctuation, no extraneous text.

Close, but the power core peeps won out.

Do you use any special abilities to help stealth, or just sneak in with passive stealth?

>>25442394
does Fog activate automatically?
can it cover other shadow mages/can they use it?

>>25442394
Passive.

>>25442394
We can easily sneak past the golems, they don't expect us and we have improved our skills since the last time.

>>25442394
Just do passive.

>>25442393

Thanks.

As a reminder, a vote should be only a link back to the post and a number. Easy to tally, anti-samefagging, etc. Anything else will be discounted.

>>25442406

Fog is passive. Fog only works for you. If you want others to share your stealth bonuses, you need the "Conceal" ability.

>>25442394
passive should be enough.

>>25442394
Maybe shadowmeld with 3 mana.

>>25442415
It's still up to having a good roll. Whatever can lower that DC, etc.

Ok, roll 1d100 to sneak.

File: 1371262660019.png-(15 KB, 800x501, Star of Unity.png)

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>>25442394
I know I'm a little late tonight, but since talk of faction was brought up I put together something as a symbol

Rolled 26

>>25442425

Rolled 16

>>25442425

Rolled 100

>>25442425
A pretty fast pace there SM. I like it.

Rolled 63

>>25442425
not this time mr golem

Rolled 51

>>25442425

>>25442437
wow, you just saved us from utter failure

>>25442437
Yay me.

>>25442437
super crit on stealth, great start to the night

Rolled 1

>>25442425


>>25442437
damn nigga that was helpful

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>>25442437

RIGHT OUT OF THE STARTING GATE

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>>25442437
Sneaky as fuck

Rolled 89

>>25442425

>>25442448
that doesn't fool anyone mr 1d1

>>25442448
nice 1d1 there....

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>>25442437

>>25442425
I wonder how many rolls you want

>>25442449
>Erebus confirmed

Rolled 48

>>25442437

>>25442428
not bad, we still need a name at some point

>>25442462
I think we have enough

>>25442423
>>25442437
passive is more than enough

>>25442462
It's always first 3 rolls 2/3rds needed to pass DC to not fail. First three are supercrit win/fail, top ten are crit win/fails count.

>>25442428
It looks like a poker chip.

And having Shadow / Light in the center like a star kind of goes against the whole unity thing.

It almost looks like Light is getting shoved into the void by Shadow while all the others stand around and keep Light from running away.

Rolled 19

>>25442428
I like the symbol
>>25442470
I think "The Brotherhood as suggested earlier has a nice ring to it.

>>25442494
How about an eight-pointed star?

>>25442494
well, we are primarily Light and Shadow at the moment

You tilt your wings, and dive.

The ground rushes up at you. The sound of steel clanking on steal and magic warping the earth grows high-pitched as your speed increases.

You pull up at the last moment, swooping up and into the belly of the golem. The only thing to mark your passing is a brief flicker of shadow, and a sound like the beat of a butterfly's wings.

Your speed conveys you up to the head of the golem. You spread your wings and slight soundlessly.

The power core sits in the nest of steel cables. The structure of this golem closely mirrors the one you found earlier. Several screens and consoles reminiscent of the engine room of the Noiralev ring the power core's housing.

You snatch up the earthen globe, and the room goes dark. It isn't long before you hear the clamping sound of the repair constructs clambering up inside their bigger cousin. It will be harder to hide from them while you're carrying the power core...

What do you do?

>sneak back out
>take them down as they come; you're in a tight space
>slip back out into the open, and fight them there
>some other strategy

>>25442502
Probably half our mages are women though. No matter how bro they may be, "the brotherhood" still sounds odd.
>>25442510
How about a rainbow? I jest

>>25442470
The four and the four.

Rolled 1

>>25442516
bust out like the primal GOAT nigga we are

>>25442428

That looks pretty alright. Other suggestions that build on this are welcome. Anything to unify your faction is probably a good idea...

>>25442463

psssh

>>25442516
>>slip back out into the open, and fight them there

>>25442516
Ambush them by laying down the core as distant from the entrance into the head as we can manage and while they're focused on retrieving it we can stealth attack them all.

>>25442516
Sneak out back. We need to find out which side is which.

>>25442516
>slip back out into the open, and fight them there

>>25442533
The previous crew seemed open to discussion, even though we weren't able to understand a thing. Perhaps the City-001 aligned bots could help, if only we could get them to pause fighting?

>take them down as they come; you're in a tight space

>>25442516
>sneak back out

>>25442516
>>sneak back out

like a ghost

>>25442516
sneak back out.

You've decided upon more sneaking.

Considering you have no mana and using compress is rather silly during a battle,

Roll 1d100

Rolled 52

>>25442593

Rolled 37

>>25442593

Rolled 83

>>25442593
Let's see.

Rolled 9

>>25442593

>>25442428
i kinda like it, light and shadow share the middle with the others encircling it with their opposites on either side. The star against the black reminds me of what the Duke said about the stars in the sky against a black background.
>>25442502
I thought something like Unity's Dawn or Unity's First Light sounded nice (or even take "Star(s) of Unity" from the file name), Brotherhood sounds kinda mannish/Assassins Creed rip-offish

Rolled 59

>>25442598
>>25442602
might be a pass, we have lots of sneak

Rolled 65

>>25442593

Rolled 37

>>25442593
DICE

Rolled 66

>>25442593

>>25442603
Why do I seem to get all the low rolls nowadays? I haven't gotten anything in the sixties since two weeks ago.

>>25442605
True, it was just one of the suggestions from last thread that I remembered. Though Unity's Dawn...has quite a nice ring to it.

Rolled 64

>>25442593

Rolled 46

>>25442593

>>25442470

How about the Synod Elementarium?

Not wanting to get caught up in the golem with several machines coming down on top of you, you slip back down through the cables and wiring.

But the machines turn to follow you, climbing through the steel jungle with the agility of mechanical monkeys. They aren't honing in on your position, per se...they must be able to feel the power core.

You Ink your way to the bottom, and bolt out the front door.

The other robots are arrayed there, silent, but crouched, ready to act.

You stare at them. They stare at you.

You notice something odd. Their 'breasts' are all painted with something - a gleaming bronze 002.

What do you do?

>fly away!
>try to communicate
>rip them to shreds
>some other strategy

>>25442645
Sounds like an aquarium exhibit.

>>25442645
>Synod

wft is a Synod?

Why don't we name our merry band the justice league.

>>25442649
>try to communicate

HAHA TIME FOR DIPLOMANCY

>>25442649
Ask them what their affiliation is with 001.

>>25442649
>try to communicate

Though that 002 worries me a bit...

>>25442649

try to communicate.

>>25442649

The plot thickens

>try to communicate

>>25442649
Aww shit the big mechs are a rival faction

My guess? Not everyone in golem city agreed with a democracy.

>>25442654

The council of a church. It draws from the Greek word synodos meaning assembly or meeting.

>>25442649
Bug out. Our deal is with City 001.

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Incoming communication.

>>25442689

You learn something new every day.

I kinda like Unity as the name of our nation. And Unity's Dawn for our first city\town.

>>25442645

If we're drawing in ancient languages, then I prefer the Concilium Elementarium. For one thing, it doesn't mix and match greek and latin.

>>25442688
Perhaps their masters didn't create them to agree with each other. I can't imagine the entire Dwarven race was on the same with everything.
Perhaps legacies of their conflicts.

>>25442649
Attempt communication, it's possible that 002 is just another potentially friendly city.

>>25442700
That sounds pretty _gay_ bro.

>>25442708
Could be, though this orb is a gift to Steward, we stole it fair and square.

>>25442700
I whole heartily agree. Which reminds me that we should recruit some earth element users or maybe get in contact with the elves since they are good with trees and...well...we live in a forest at the moment.

>>25442649
>try to communicate

>>25442728
Not at the moment, but very soon. So yes. But we've got quite a lot on our plate at the moment.

>>25442738
True, it's just added to the long list of goal we have...you know we should make a concrete list of things we want to do for future reference.

<...are you with Steward?> you ask.

One of the robots steps forward. It gives you a sharp nod, then speaks quickly, in a hollow, metallic voice. "We act under the authority of the Steward to collect extant wild power cores. Your cooperation in this effort would be appreciated, Undesignated Shadow Elemental. If my sensors are accurate, code-corrupted repair droids will arrive at our position in three seconds."

Well...looks like you've found what you're looking for. <I'll help you fend them off,> you say.

"Understood."

The robots ready themselves behind you. The repair droids burst out from the golem!

What do you do?

>attack; disable as many as possible as quickly as possible
>attack! But stop to consume whatever you kill
>drop into the background; support where needed
>let them fight until they weaken each other to strengthen your own position, then assist your allies
>some other strategy

>>25442756
>>attack! But stop to consume whatever you kill

>attack! But stop to consume whatever you kill

>>25442756

disable as many as possible as quickly as possible

>>25442756
>attack! But stop to consume whatever you kill

>>25442756
>drop into the background; support where needed

>>25442756
>attack; disable as many as possible as quickly as possible

Juggernaut does what he wants!

Rolled 71

>>25442756
attack and consume

>>25442767
Forgot to link your post.

>>25442756
>attack! But stop to consume whatever you kill

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Our symbol is glob. Glob is Power. Glob is Freedom. Glob is Victory.

>>25442756
>Undesignated Shadow Elemental

Yeah. Pretty sure these are not the droids we're looking for. Our Steward was telling everyone about us in order to reach consensus.

>>25442791
All glory to Glob.

I don't exactly trust these guys. They could mean a second Steward. He never mentioned that he sends out goons as well.

>>25442756
>>drop into the background; support where needed

i'm pretty sure eating the things the robots want is not going to get us friendly with them guys

>>25442756
>other
Once everything is dealt with, confirm that they are acting under the authority of the Steward WE interacted with.

>>25442800
Yeah, basically what this guy is saying. The governing body already knows about us, so the fact that they're referring to us as an Undesignated ANYTHING should tell us that we're probably interacting with a rival (or at least unrelated) faction.

>>25442791

All glory to the Hypno Glob.

Roll 1d100 for your attack/consume

Rolled 20

>>25442825

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>>25442791

>>25442791
Fuck shrek, his time is ogre.
Glob is love, glob is life.

>>25442756
>attack; disable as many as possible as quickly as possible

lets not piss off the robots by eating their cores

>>25442821
They want the core. We already got that covered

>>25442811
He never mentioned a lot of things. Restricted information etc.

>>25442821
Good point.

Changing >>25442772 to >attack; disable as many as possible as quickly as possible

Rolled 92

>>25442825
CONSUME ROLL

Rolled 75

>>25442825
I feel lucky.

Rolled 80

>>25442825
yolo

Rolled 16

>>25442825

Dice Gods take these dice and bless them

Rolled 74

>>25442825

Rolled 3

>>25442825

Rolled 70

>>25442825

>>25442847
>>25442844
Yus!

>>25442844
>>25442847
and we made it despite my lackluster roll.

Rolled 75

>>25442825
DICE

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>>25442791
>>25442514
>>25442494
>>25442428
Guys, guys I just got an idea... Like, basically, a rainbow... With light and shadow.. You know what makes those? A prism!

>>25442827
You fuc-

>>25442844
>>25442847
Good day sirs.

>>25442851
why the d20?

>>25442862
>we aren't a Pink Floyd album cover...

>>25442866
Got caught up in the moment and picked the wrong dice.

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Rolled 36

>>25442854
>>25442855
I did nothing, praise to the dice gods!

>>25442791
>>25442862
>>25442791
I was thinking something more like a bunch of interconnected rings of each element.

Kind of like the Olympic Rings, but with all the color rings interlocking at the center, with opposing elements on opposite sides.

Ill try to whip something up.

>>25442915
How about a sort of 8 part Yin-Yang symbol?

The last time you faced these robots, they gave you a lot of trouble.

But you're a lot faster than last time.

You move toward them even as they come at you, flickering forward in a long, single step. The quick, awkward movement throws off their timing. You slam into two of them, clotheslining them at the waist. They crack in two around your arms and fly back into the golem.

With another step, you're on top of them. The steel isn't very appetizing, but the magic pulsing in their bodies is.

>you gain 4 EXP (15)
>you gain 3 HP (40/56)

While you're eating, a robot gets the drop on you! A steel fist slams into your backside.

>you take 1 damage (39/56)

The fist glances off you, but it aches slightly. You slowly turn. The robot prepares another first.

You wrap a tentacle around its incoming limb, stopping it an inch before it hits you. The robot strains to remove itself from your grip, shaking and clanking. You cock your head, then tear the limb out from its body. It stumbles forward, off balance. You swing the arm down, then up, crushing the robot into a metal plate above your heads.

You're on it before it can move again.

>you gain 1 EXP (16)

You step back outside. With the enemy team split in half, the civilized robots made quick work of the wild ones - bits and pieces of them are scattered about the canyon floor. They march up to you.

The lead robot nods to you again. "Thank you for your assistance."

<Not at all,> you say. <I want to get in touch with Steward again. We've a few things to discuss.>

The robot extends its hand. "I will relay this request upon our return. Where is your location?"

<I've made camp at the Shiprakers.>

"Shiprakers: colloquial reference to Coastal Region 32. Understood."

What do you do?

>hand over the power core
>ask some more questions
>tell the robot you'll deal with Steward directly, then fly back to camp with the power core
>some other strategy

>>25442971
Hand over the power core, say <First favor for first favor.>

>>25442971
>hand over the power core

>>25442971
Hand over power core, we can study some when we gain access to their city at some later point

>>25442971
Tell it we'll deal with steward directly and fly back with the power core.

>>25442971
Wait.. uhhh... we decided to tell them that? Without being sure that they were referring to the same Steward?

>ask some more questions
Why am I undesignated? I thought all of the robots were consulted when I first encountered Steward

>>25442988
>>25442991
>>25442994
NO! These guys might not be OUR steward.

>>25442971
Ask about their city structure. They have 002 painted on them, we only knew of 001 before. I wouldn't trust these robots to be unable to lie.

>>25442988
Actually, let's ask about the 002 on them first.

>>25442971

Ask specifically about city 002's relationship to 001

Then

Fly back to camp with the power core.

>>25443009
not be with our steward I mean

>>25442971
>ask some more questions

Specifically about the 002.

>>25442971
Ask them to which city they belong. If they don't say 001, ask them what their relation to 001 is.

I think the robots are fighting over the cores.

questions incoming

>>25442971
>ask some more questions

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>>25442971
Guys, remember how Steward reffed to himself as 002, a copy of Steward 001?

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A little corn, but how about something like:
We are the Stars of Unity, against the cold, dark world we are the stars that shine hope upon it.

>Freedom: Those bound and oppressed shall find allies and sanctuary with us, those who seek enslavement will find only enemies amongst us.
>Balance:True harmony of the elements is impossible, for their disharmony is their very nature. We seek only peaceful existence with the elements and will fight for that right, just as we will fight til our last to preserve the existence of others
>Justice: In a world smothered in hypocrisy and injustice, we refuse to turn away. We stand for no one force, only what is right. Our protection shall be firm, our justice swift, and our humanity great to behold.

>>25443056
Not dark. It implies we're against shadow.

See how difficult this is?

>>25443056
I don't like the symbol you have there but the flavor text is gorgeous.

>>25443036
I don't mean to start an upgrade argument, but could we use our 16 exp for Tao, Summoning 1, and Poison?

>>25443081
No. Because Tao is 25 xp. Still need just a bit more.

>>25443081
We have been neglecting Summoning for a while now

>>25443090
oh! I'm looking at the wrong upgrade image, my bad. You're right

>>25443081
And a lot of people are in favour of giving one of the mages we know our gift, so we need XP for that

>>25443081
Perhaps we should look at the Servant tree for Ila and co

>>25443081
We sill need more for Tao and I think some people wanted to turn IIa into our first servent or as I had suggested our fist knight in our slow order we shall build.

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>>25443056

>>25443081
>>25443110
>>25443115
I agree with servant, but we should think of one upgrade to Servant before giving our blessing... just a thought

>>25443115
>>25443110
We're going to wait a bit for that, and focus on the more immediately advantageous abilities for the moment. It was agreed quite a while ago to save for Tao.

>>25443127
damn, I knew that typo would get me. But I love that image

>>25443110
>>25443115
>>25443128
I think some of us are on the fence about Servant because of all the trouble it caused for Erebus with everyone trying to get his blessing and since we don't have a bunch of exp we can hand out whenever it's kind of not the best idea right now.

>>25443115
Let's wait until we get Eclipse first...

You begin to hand over the core...but then you hesitate.

<...why am I undesignated? I thought all of the robots were consulted when I first encountered Steward...his 'mobile form', as he called it.>

The robot responds quickly. "Steward does not share all data equally. It is noted that we are uniformed. What is your designation?"

<...Shadow. Just Shadow.>

"Understood, Shadow." The robot's arm shifts slightly, impatient.

<Wait a minute. Why wouldn't Steward share data equally?>

"That is classified."

<Are you from City 001?>

"Yes."

<And you're working on behalf of Steward?>

"Yes."

<Then why didn't you know me? Why wouldn't he tell you about me?>

"That is classified," the robot says. "We were recently polled for a vote of favorability regarding renewed alliance with the shadow element. Further information was withheld."

<...how did you answer him?>

"In the negative," the robot responds. "We have other business. Please hand over the core."

<...I have more questions,> you say firmly. <What does the 002 on your shoulder mean?>

"That is classified."

<By whom? Until when?>

"By Steward. Until you are fully accepted as an ally of City 001. The core."

What do you do?

>ask some other question
>keep the core. Tell the robot you want to see Steward in person.
>tell the robot it can have the core, but only if it tells you what you want to know
>some other strategy

>>25443128
The servant upgrades are retroactive. Anything we get on the servant tree will buff all servants when we get the ability. SM said so don't bother him about it

>>25443146
it only caused trouble for Erebus because he went all anti social humans aren't worth my time. Ila knows us better than that to Legion out on us

>>25443135
You're welcome. Show it across the 'chans and let them all suffer from the implications

>spending xp to upgrade something that isn't us

Naw

Ila doesn't even travel with us full time. After this, she won't either. She needs to manage the shadow mages.

Let's get analyze, we could use it right now to see if they really are that similar to the Steward we know.

Rolled 61

>>25443156
keep le core. Tell steward to visit us at shipwreckers

>>25443156
Give him the core, but in return ask to meet steward

>>25443156
>some other strategy
Hand over the core, good enough for me. Lets not make an enemy out of City 001.

>>25443172

>implying Cain isn't there to do that so you could take her with you if you wanted

That said, there's been a recent trend toward traveling without so much party weighing you down.

>>25443172
in the Great Forest, filled with vampires, werewolves, orcs, rogue mages and other horrors. And you don't want her to have the power to hold back those forces while we are away on Flint quest?

>>25443156
Ahh man. Looks like steward didn't keep his promise about us becoming his allies if we got out of the cage.

>keep the core. Tell the robot you want to see Steward in person

>>25443156
Give them the core.

>>25443156

If they were really enemies they wouldn't know about the poll. Fork it over and tell them to tell steward to kick his robot ass into gear. We have bidniz to disccus.

>>25443185
Keep the core. Tell the bots we are afraid there may be a feud in the city that would endanger the proper use of the core, and would rather meet Steward in person. Remind them we are currently in the position to destroying both the core and them should they not comply.

>>25443156

Tell him we will give the core to Steward once we reestablish contact with him.

I would like to servant up illa. If only to see just how our servants compare to angles

>>25443156
Hand over the core. We can probably find another if need be.

>>25443198
The mages are already quite powerful, spending that much experience on something like that right now isn't an incredible advantage when we can soon obtain a skill that allows us to Berserk with allies around us while also having less of a defense debuff.

We're saving for Tao.

>>25443156
How I see it is that either way we should request a meeting with steward.

Vote 1:
>withhold the core, saying that you'd feel more comfortable giving it to Steward in person

Vote 2:
>hand over the core, but emphasize that you'd like to talk to Steward as soon as possible

>>25443156
Tell him we will hold on to it until we meet up with steward. He seems shady

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
2

>>25443156
>Tell the robot you want to see Steward in person.

Also, we should let them know that the remains of Unit 234.X4-B, alias: Steward, were removed from Designation: Ring City, so as not to be traced.

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
1

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
l

>>25443233
2

>>25443233
2

>>25443198
They haven't teleported yet, and we don't yet exactly know how much danger they'll face. So I'd rather not risk the XP now.

>>25443226
>exactly what I wanted to say

>>25443233

1

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>>25443264

>>25443233
|

Rolled 15

>>25443233
1

>>25443226
Having the equivalent of powered aurial helping us out sounds like a big advantage to me. we cant be every where at once

>>25443233
already voted
>Tell them to tell Steward <A favor for a favor friend>
>also what became of Steward's remains from Ring City

>>25443233
2

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>>25443281
>>25443274
>>25443264

>>25443289

OH GOD THE SPIRALS

THEY'LL HAUNT ME FOREVER

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>>25443264

>>25443233
1

>>25443289
why would you bring that image back to my memories!?

>>25443287
We consumed them so they wouldn't be discovered.

>>25443233
1

>>25443306
that wasn't a question, it meant tell them what we did with his remains

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>>25443274
>>25443281

>>25443233

Cutting off votes.

>>25443285
It's not about being everywhere at once, it's about reinforcing ourselves and our abilities so we can be more effective wherever WE are.
I understand you may want them to be safe, but we're at least a week and a half away from them teleporting, and I'd prefer prioritizing our own strengths in the mean time.

oh by the way guys these ones are obviously lying. They're clearly with a rival city.

>>25443319
agreed, plus we need a mana pool to Servant. and if we are gonna make our first Shadow Pool, I'd prefer it at our new home in the forest

>>25443322
Dwarven robots can't lie!

Wait.

Shit.

>>25443322
Fuck it. We'll find out later. More power cores and shit to steal if they are.

>>25443334
Well the plan was to go back to that mana pool we found and do the ceremony there.

>>25443322
>>25443338
if its true, then we'll just find another golem later and fuck any robot other than Steward who tries to take our new core

>>25443319
I suppose the way things have been going lately we probably CAN get both by the time we go to this forest. I just like having higher numbers of heavy hitters and berserk hasn't seemed super useful so far.
Also I forgot about: >>25443334

Where's the troop of mages we took with us right now?

>>25443348
i figured, but remember that Ila may not be able to fit down the hole we had to ink our way through to get there

>>25443334
Don't forget, the shadow pool in Refuge has a golem left over, it might still have a power core.

Also we just gave our location to potential hostiles

Good going guys.

>>25443348
The plan was saving for Tao. We were suspending servantizing anyone until we actually have a foothold in the Great Forest and a better grasp of the circumstances surrounding Flints parasite.

>>25443360
we took them to search the shiprakers, we went solo for this one

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

You hand the core over to the robot.

Its chestplate opens with a quick snap, and it tucks it inside. "Thank you."

<Please inform Steward that I'd like to speak to him as soon as possible,> you say. <It's very important. Also, let him know I destroyed his remains. They won't be discovered.>

"This information will be relayed, along with your request."

The robots turn, and begin to lope away at a high speed down the canyon.

You glance back up at the massive golem and stare at it for a while. That kind of power...could be incredibly useful.

You sigh to yourself. The robots aren't very good communicators, and their logic and secrecy is odd - even by your standards. You suppose there's nothing for it. That's how it is.

You begin to turn.

You freeze.

A twisting ray of brown light crackling with dark green sparks is boring down the canyon!

Roll 1d100 to dodge!

>>25443366
true, but it may not be worth 15 exp so I'd rather not bank on it entirely

Rolled 41

>>25443376
Told ya

Rolled 39

>>25443376
cross counter

Rolled 84

>>25443376

Rolled 70

>>25443376

>>25443366
Oh shit I thought we ate him, We should go check it out
>>25443367
Hey I voted for 1

>>25443357
Well, yes. That's why we chose to save for it, because Berserk is just a risk we can only take away from other people. But then the description for Tao came along and showed that we would be able to use our strongest traits to our advantage much more easily and with less pitfalls.

>>25443367
we have nothing thy would even want, these are machines remember

Rolled 90

>>25443376

>>25443367
Nah, SM did that. No one suggested it. Meh.

>>25443395
No I mean when we used Berserk it just seemed a little underwelmhing

>>25443381
Not the pool. The GOLEM.

>>25443413
>>25443367
he's got ya there

Rolled 48

>>25443376
Zen master dodge

Rolled 11

>>25443376

>>25443395
I'm just imagining that when we get Tao Shadow will just go everywhere constantly berserked.

I've got a mental image of Shadow walking around with a Trogdor arm.

>>25443405
So why are they shooting lasers at us?

Rolled 89

>>25443376

>>25443416
i know that Barman, but the last golem core we ate was only 12 exp! I'm just saying don't us that as your only reason when it may not be enough when we get there, alright?

>>25443424
>implying its them

Rolled 45

>>25443424
because they were a different city and lied to us, you're being led like cattle

>>25443419
it does lower our defences when 'zerked out. Even mitigated with Tao thats not exactly a good thing.

>>25443405
I think these guys are hostile to City 001 and any potential allies they have. Logically a surprise attack to wipe out allies before they can change the status quo is something that would be done.

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>>25443415
It was. Also because we only activated it against really, really damn strong opponents.

>>25443419
>my face

>>25443405
...the existence of the late Duke Vellik's Dwarven dynamo research.

>>25442971
>The fist glances off you, but it aches slightly. You slowly turn. The robot prepares another first.
>You slowly turn.
Shadow doesn't have a designated front or back, why did it turn?

>>25443430
Why don't we just go there for the core and leave illa at home then? It didn't seem super dangerous apart from isolation.

>>25443443
then how would they know steward would call a vote to ally with us, if they aren't form city 001?

>>25443413
>implying you wouldn't have told the robots where Steward needed to go after you all voted to hand over the power core

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

You throw yourself inside the body of the golem!

The light roars past, slamming into the canyon wall at the next fork. The brown light crackles and sparks across the stone in little arcs of magic power, then fades.

A sharp spike of earth magic twisted with other elements is rushing toward you.

What do you do?

>hide. Maybe it'll think you're dead.
>hide, then ambush it
>there's no guarantee it doesn't have the ability to find you. Attack and end this quickly.
>some other strategy

>>25443430
I wasn't saying that we should EAT it, I was saying we should GIVE IT TO STEWARD.

>>25443415
We did need it just to break Darkxis' hold on us.

>>25443448
Like those robo scrubs we just busted?

>>25443450
>Shadow doesn't have a designated front or back, why did it turn?

For dramatic effect, of course.

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http://pastebin.com/4WBA7BfJ

WATCH OUR HERO JOEY GO ON HIS OWN EPIC QUEST TO GET THE GIRL, SAVE THE DAY, AND BECOME AN EPIC LVL 20 HERO