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Recent Events Summary:

After a dramatic battle at the Ringed City, you managed to free the enslaved Shadow and Spirit mages. With Auriel's help, you were able to make your escape using the the airship Noiralev's jump drive. The battle has crippled the ship, but your new group is otherwise secure, transported to the Shiprakers, an isolated region where Tarun Gakth meets the sea. Your newfound allies have looked to you for leadership and guidance.

After ensuring that Ila, a powerful shadow mage, is a trustworthy leader of your new group, you spoke with Sir Flint - and you both agreed it was time to see the archmage, Yi Fang. You flew with him to the mighty fortress of Archon, and met with the mage in person.

Your friend, Abigail, is already twisted into a complex political situation. Fang requires his own trustworthy leader to succeed him, and he sees Abigail, his niece as that leader. But unless she performs, her admission to the Archonium - a requirement for any would-be councilor or archmage - is in question, and while that is so, she is a target for those that would take a seat, or the archmage's tower, for themselves. Fang sees you as the "summon" that will ensure none question her abilities.

You've already destroyed a family that targeted her for their own political gain, but learned that they were only puppets of a greater threat - the councilor Hae Cheung, who seeks the title of Archmage for himself.

There are ten council seats - 9 currently occupied. Abigail requires a majority approval to be admitted to the Archonium. Yi fang claims he has 3 votes secured, but therefore requires 2 more - one of which he hopes to obtain from Tae Wong, a fair-minded and powerful councilor. Tae Wong is reputedly resonable, but doubts Abigail's powers, and has requested that she duel his own son, whom he has high hopes for.

You've just arrived at Tae Wong's home outside of the Archon fortress...

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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/u2vjPJiL

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/WmwYTGnZ

NEW:

Scale of Shard 'strength' levels now included in character sheet

Shard Scale: Broken < Fragile < Weak < Normal < Strong < Empowered < Resonant

Broken - Unable to be used.
Fragile - About to break. A little power could be forced out. Possible backfire.
Weak - Not a good idea to use it, but might make the difference in a pinch. Small chance of backfire.
Normal - The shard is at normal strength. No chance of backfire, but no huge effect.
Strong - The shard is charged with dark power, and can make a large difference in battle.
Empowered - The shard is fully empowered, and can easily turn the tide of battle, if the timing is right.
Resonant - (special)

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A new reminder is required.

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Current Statistics:

HP: 48/56
Mana: 18/20
EXP: 17
Humanity: 431
Temerity: 221

Shards of True Darkness: 2
(Isolation) - Weak
{Hunger} - Strong

Summoned:

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

Equipment:

Utility belt with purse

Inventory:

Shadow Sword Shard x 2
Fancy Sun-Moon Key
Succubus Reagents x 1

Current Location:

Archon

>>25588109
>Resonant - (special)
I bet anything that 'Resonant' is how we unlock Darkness Within and Mighty Regeneration.

>Last time...

Before you is an extensive manor. A long fence, complete with an ornate iron gate, walls in a vast property sections off from the wild hills. Preened gardens and flowerbeds lie within, surrounding a neat and angular brick manor.

"The home of councilor Tae Wong," Fang says.

<...how likely is this duel?> you ask.

"He's already asked me permission, secretly," Fang says. "It's inevitable. I couldn't refuse and still pretend to have confidence in Abigail, and refusing his son a chance to impress himself before me would be equally insulting."

<And her chances?>

"With you?" Fang purses his lips. "Reasonable. But don't worry. In the worst case, he only means to win, not to harm her. The Wongs are more morally respectable than my own house."

The door of the manor opens, and several people walk out. The man that heads them wears a brown robe witha bright sheen. His long beard is tied in an elaborate series of knots. He smells like Earth.

"The councilor himself, and entourage," Fang says. "Stay close to Abigail."

>>25588150

New theory on that every thread, I swear.

Here's a hint while I'm feeling generous: in your many guesses, you have already hit on the correct solution.

>>25588153
Lets get into Abigail's Shadow.

we could still Servant Abigail, we haven't spent that xp yet.

The procession is a notable one. Some, in more plain clothing, hang back from the main group. You pin them as servants. Tae Wong walks at the front of the group.

Three others wear more elaborate clothing. Yi Fang points them out to you. A tall woman with sharp features steps next to the councilor. "His wife, Jing. Powerful with water." You note a younger girl - just a little older than Abigail. Her hair is done up in a similar style, a tight bob held by a single, long pin, though her hair is jet black, as opposed to Abigail's blonde. "Their daughter, Yan," Fang informs you.

The last person, on the other side of the councilor, is a burly young man. He seems young for his stature, similar to his father. He, too, radiates with powerful earth magic. "And that is his son, Daniu. He's the one dueling Abigail."

You take a good long look at the boy. His face is set with grim determination. He might be stronger than his father...you feel a tingle of worry.

Yi Fang leads Abigail and Adavan off his ship and to the gate of the manor, and there, your parties meet.

Wong bows deeply. "Archmage. I am glad to have you, and your recently rediscovered family, to my home. The grounds you walk upon are honored."

Fang waves a hand. "Formal, as always, councilor. Raise your head."

Wong does so.

His son steps forward. "Let your niece present herself. I am not afraid."

"Daniu!" his mother says sharply. "By the Spirit, have you no manners?"

Wong cuts his son with a look. The burly boy withdraws quickly. "...my apologies, Archmage. His honor gets ahead...of his head."

>con't

>>25588177
EAT THE SWORD CONFIRMED!

>>25588191

I've assumed you're there.

>>25588177
Didn't you already say something similar to this a few threads back?

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>>25588177
>here's a hint
>out of the 500 guesses, one of them is right!
I love you SM

>>25588109
>Broken - Unable to be used.
So does that mean that the shard that broke is in us and can be meditated on?

Time to start the threadly shitstorm on EXP expenditures. I'm voting on that new Magic Power, gotta get that regen going.

>>25588177
It's meditation on our inner nature, isn't it? Gotta look inward to see the darkness within.

>>25588197
oh great Shadow himself is worried about Abigail's chances with her current skill and power.

>>25588258
I agree with getting the next level of magic power we need that mana regen as well as the fact that it may unlock a magic tree like how Water was unlocked.

>>25588153
><And her chances?>
>
>"With you?" Fang purses his lips. "Reasonable."
Yeaaaahhhhhhhh.......

>>25588191

No. At least not yet.

Wait on servanting her until we know the effects of what it does to a person.

>>25588308
we can always take the power back you know if it does have consequences further down the line.

>>25588308
See >>25588115

And if you meant the aging thing, good fucking luck discerning that from Adavan's lichy ass.

>>25588217
>trollface.jpg

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

Fang just chuckles. "Young men and their honor." He glances down. "Don't be shy, Abby."

Abigail swallows hard, but steps forward. She curtsies deeply. "Um...nice to meet you. It's a great honor."

"Oh, how adorable!" Jing says.

"The honor is ours, young one," Wong says. "Please, follow me."

You are conducted inside a vast manor. The inside is as neat and exact as the front gardens. Wood floors are polished to a bright shine. You can see reflections in the wood furniture. You are led into a parlor room.

Standing within is a another man, waiting with his arms folded. Fang's eyes pinch slightly, but he betrays nothing other than that.

"And, of course, you know Jun Cheung, Councilor Cheung's nephew," Tae Wong says, gesturing between Fang and the man, Jun. "He cited an eagerness to meet your niece, and I couldn't well refuse a friend of the family. I hope you don't mind.

"Of course not," Fang says gruffly. "Well met."

Jun bows. "Archmage."

Councilor Cheung. The name echoes in your head. The bastard that used the Suen family to get at Abigail. And this, apparently, is his nephew.

Obviously here to cause trouble.

Adavan takes a discrete position in a corner of the parlor room, keeping a sharp eye on Jun. Fang and Wong sit and talk pleasantries. Jing serves them drinks. Yan and Daniu sit off to the side, and Abigail, next to them. Jun is on the other side of the room. They children all remain quiet.

"She has pretty nails," Abigail whispers. You follow her gaze. Yan's nails are long and elaborately pained with tiny blue flowers.

What do you do?

>encourage Abigail to speak with her
>silence is golden. She's probably on her brother's side
>something else

>>25588308

well, we know that it gives them optional Shadow Wings....

either way, we can't Servant without a mana pool...


I will third getting Magic Power. want to unlock that earth branch in the top right....

>encourage Abigail to speak with her
a friend is good. Though if I was the paranoid sort I'd worry that those nails could be poisoned.

>>25588360
I'll 4th MP

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>>25588053
I am order.

A list of ongoing tasks of varying importance, sorted to groups by relation, ongoing starred:

Personal:
>*Make sure Abigail isn't murdered in school
>*Deal with Flint's parasite (Yi Fang promised to help)
>*Find the Staff of the Winds (Yi Fang needs it too, see above)
>*Find more fragments of Shadow

Elemental:
>Free Geb, make a new friend (Or don't)
>Get all keys, free Hecate. (Adavan wants to help)

Political/Leaders:
>Find out situation in Kelvere, is the Duke really dead?
>Find out what else the Duke was hiding from us
>Get information on Sandalphon’s movements and the Light empire’s situation
>Get in contact with Steward/City 001
>Find out what's up with the Black Lady. Could she be trusted?
>Get Obis his throne back
>Ask the Elven Queen some very pointed questions about our memories

Misc/Faction:
>Find Joey
>See to it that Haven is safe, make sure differently aligned mages behave
>Research Dynamos

Potential new tasks:
>Share your power with more people/make your Gift more powerful
>End Skysever (we have read that the spell is physically located somewhere and visible, yet hard to access)
>Deal with Legion
>Explore, this world feels small
>Find the rest of the Sword
>Find the other Elementals
>Convince Flint to become the leader of his people, after the parasite has been dealt with
>Find what happened to the Dwarves
>Find out about the Presence we felt when using Focus in the Shadow temple underneath Tarun Gakt


Remember all of these have direct and indirect solutions. For instance, the keys: We could just go in and take them by storm, sneaking around and killing those who spot us, but do we want that? Would it help upkeep our image as a good-intending catalystic force, or would we appear as a self-righteous destroyer? Atlantis is believed to have a key. Too bad for us, their water supply relies on it.

>>25588331
>encourage Abigail to speak with her

Play nice :)

>>25588198
no, remake the sword, become king, etc.

>>25588382
5th. More mana is always nice, some potential for unlocking a new tree or getting passive mana regen

>>25588331

Encourage Abby-Sabby to speak with her.
Just because she is to duel the girls brother, does not mean that plesantries cannot be exchanged and friendships made. Fang did mention the strong morals of their family. So we should not be too suspicious of dirty tricks.
Vigilant, always, Suspicious, no. Suspicion only clouds ones judgement.

>>25588428
Fully agree with faceless here.

Magic Power seems popular at the moment. It would cost you 15 experience.

Going ahead with encouraging Abigail to speak with her.

>>25588331
>silence is golden. She's probably on her brother's side

>>25588450

Yeah, go with magic power.

>>25588450
I'll erm, where were we... 8th MP?

How do we want to go about this during the duel?

Act as full on summon, flinging offensive magic and shadow fists left and right?
Pretend to be a reactive shadow forcefield barrier thing and just prevent anything from hitting Abby if it looks like it's too much?
Sit in her shadow and use shadow attacks, tripping up the other kid with shadow domination and the like?
Just sit there and nightblaze/flare all his spells as he starts them?
Sneak up behind him, bind him somehow, and stick a shadowy blade to his throat and have Abby tell him to surrender?

>>25588484
Make it nine.

Ah fuck, a shadow quest thread right when I was going to sleep.

Since I won't be able to post for more than 1 hour I will post this now:


After Abby wins the duel, we need to talk to Fang and Adavan about our darkness brother that lingers here. They NEED to understant that Shadow MUST meet and "befriend" it because otherwise a rival family to Fang's might enslave it and stuff it with magical artifacts in order to further their own goals.

Said goals might even lead to Abby getting eaten by said Elemental. So yeah.

>>25588500
>Pretend to be a reactive shadow forcefield barrier thing and just prevent anything from hitting Abby if it looks like it's too much?

I think this.

Try not to interfere as much since this is her fight, but if he throws like a boulder at her then we'll smash it good.

>>25588500
>Act as full on summon, flinging offensive magic and shadow fists left and right?

This is the plan as far as I understant it.

I vote we act as a defensive aura, only displaying more might if it's absolutely neccessary.

I like the Shadow Barrier plan, gives Abigail a chance to shine without risking her life.

If we'd servanted Abby and bought The Sense, she'd be able to see in the dark like us. So we could drop a Doom Aura to kill every light in here and Wong would be fucked.

Alone in the dark vs Abby and Shadow? You've already lost.


But we didn't buy it, so we get to do something else. Fun imagining, though.

<Why don't you ask her about them?> you suggest.

Abigail fidgets for a moment, then looks up at Yan. "Um...your nails are really nice. I like them a lot."

Yan smiles demurely. "Thank you. You know...I like your hair. I wish mine was that color."

Abigail smiles back. "Thanks. So...do you, paint them?"

"Of course." Yan puts a finger to her chin. "I suppose the Fang household doesn't have many women. I could show you how, if you'd like?"

Abigail's smile brightens. "Yeah, definitely! I mean, um, it would be my honor."

Yan giggles. "You're too cute." Daniu huffs loudly from his seat next to his sister. Yan gives him a look, then turns back to Abigail. "Ignore the ox. We should have tea. I'll bring my paints."

"Ok!" Abigail settles back in her seat with a half-bounce. Her face is bright, her worries about the duel forgotten.

You turn back to the conversation at hand, and note it's taking a relevant turn...

"...but you know," Wong says, "my own son isn't half bad with his magic. If a bit bullheaded," Wong adds, more abruptly. "I feel as though he has a chance at rule."

>con't

"Abigail, too, of course," Fang says. "Now I too know the wonders of planning for my own family's ascension. A new feeling, but a good one. Wouldn't you say that Daniu, though, would be more suited as a councilor?"

"Hmm," Wong says, smiling slightly. "Perhaps Abigail as the councilor, and Daniu the archmage?"

"We have competing interests."

"Indeed."

"Well," Fang says, "there's a way to sort out which is superior in magic...though I couldn't suggest such a thing while a guest in your house."

"You couldn't mean a duel."

"Well..."

"A friendly bout."

"You have it."

"Interesting," Wong says, as if they hadn't all agreed to it beforehand. You find politics to be rather confusing. "Daniu, what say you to demonstrating your magics to the archmage?"

"I would be happy to, father," Daniu says sharply.

"Now, I couldn't impose on my young ward..." Fang says. "But if she would be bold enough..." Fang looks at Abigail, pointedly.

"Um...sure..." Abigail mumbles.

"Excellent," Fang says. "Shall we adjourn somewhere more appropriate?"

>con't

>>25588198
yes we should eat the sword !!

>>25588662
No thx

You idiots, to unlock Darkness within we obviously need to buy Earth and Wind resistance so stop being dense.

Oh I'll also support Magic Power 3.

>>25588695
this is the next likely guess.

>>25588662
It's the bad suggestion guy again!

But then again, the blind hen somethingsomething.
The sword would be incredibly powerful if wielded by one of our allies, but can we trust power like that in their hands? Is it not something we'd like to reclaim as our own?

>>25588695
Mighty Regen is better than DW. If the complete the tree method is right, I'd rather work towards MR.

>>25588708
>The sword would be incredibly powerful if wielded by one of our allies
Give the sword to Abby.

>>25588717
we'd need most of the water tree.,,, but that would probably lead us to Magic Power 4 pretty quickly.

>>25588724
its not completed yet though. We only have the base and two shards.

Currently working on an abigal drawing, should be done by next thread. Should have done this long ago, but art school takes up all my drawing energy.

>>25588724
Oh I also forgot to add, remember how Flint couldn't touch the spirit sword? Might be because it was differently aligned, or because these aren't exactly meant for mortals to wield.

>>25588736
Finding more Sword fragments overlaps with our currently running side quest goal of finding more Shadow fragments / elementals.

The group quickly moves behind the house, and you find yourself on the edge of an extensive training ground. The land is barren, but smooth. Targets and pillars of stone stick up at random angles. You can see crumbled rock and pools of water scattered about - no doubt magical droppings.

Jun walks apart from the group, silent and observant. Adavan shadows him.

Still in Abigail's shadow, you're close enough to hear Fang and Wong.

"...you invited the Jun boy," Fang says.

"Well," Wong retorts, "we could be spied on in the open, or spied on in secret."

"Point. I don't like giving up intelligence so easily, but I suppose it's better than unexpected sabotage."

"My men have surrounded the house," Wong says. "We won't have any uninvited guests."

"I hope you're right."

Abigail is positioned at one end of the field. Her gargoyle-controlling pendant is secreted away by Adavan for the time being; she has only her clothes and orange-crystal pin. And you.

Daniu faces you from about fifty feet away.

"Ready, duelists!" Wong says. "To end upon submission to the other party!" He raises his hand.

What is your opening strategy?

>stay defensive; block attacks from reaching Abigail
>wrap Abigail like liquid armor
>charge Daniu, keep him distracted
>bombard him with Nightflare to cancel his spells
>some other strategy

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

I haven't heard any mad outrage about Magic Power, and a lot of people seem in favor, so going with that.

>>25588787
Block attacks, lets see what Abby can do in her own.

>>25588787
>bombard him with Nightflare to cancel his spells

>>25588787
>>wrap Abigail like liquid armor
Fucking badass.

>>25588787
>stay defensive; block attacks from reaching Abigail

>>25588787

stay defensive until Abby 'Summons' us.
though, do ensure to tell her if she wants us to fight, she should 'summon' us...

>wrap Abigail like liquid armor

>>25588820
>though, do ensure to tell her if she wants us to fight, she should 'summon' us...
Quoting for truth

>>25588820
This

>>25588787
>wrap Abigail like liquid armor

>>25588787
>block attacks from reaching Abby-sabby

>>25588787
>>stay defensive; block attacks from reaching Abigail

Lets her do her thing.

Liquid armor is straight up in the fetish territory, just so you know.

Work from her shadow, as a reactive defense.

>>25588820

Seconded

>>25588905
>Liquid armor is straight up in the fetish territory, just so you know.
I don't understand how.

>>25588923

Latex fetish, I think.

>>25588930
Nah, living armor fetish.

>>25588930
But we're much bigger than Abby, and making it skintight would reduce the effectiveness.

>>25588951
The fuck? That's almost as bullshit as claiming that this whole thing is a "help little girls cheat in duels" fetish.

I'm calling ruseman.

>>25588951
>>25588923
>>25588930
Second skin, think Venom. Loss of control, etc. Used to be very popular on /d/ at one point.

>>25588977
So if we have the option to give Abby a balloon at some point, are we going to not do it on the grounds that balloon fetishists exist?

>Implying this quest hasn't been vore fetishfuel since the first thread.

CONSUME!

Evening questers. I see we went for servanting Adavan. I hope the crowd is at rest for now. And as always, great show SM, great show. 10/10 will lurk more.

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>Terror - Spend 4 to 14 mana. Unleash the true horror of darkness unknowable. Stun or disrupt target enemy, and other enemies around you in a large radius. Weaker enemies may flee.

>you purchased Magic Power 3!

EXP: 2

Mana: 32/34

>you've unlocked Earth Magic!
>you've unlocked Earthforge!

>Earthforge - Reshape and move the earth and stone. Mana spend determines power level. Must spend 6 mana to launch a projectile of earth. (2, 4, or 6 mana)

>Harden - Grant a temporary physical defense boost to an object. Does not work directly on individuals. (3 mana)

>Sharpen - Sharpen an object, temporarily enchancing its cutting and slicing power. (3 mana)

>Construct - Create an earthen golem assistant with a tiny power core. It isn't very intelligent, and can follow only simple orders, such as "move that boulder" or "protect this person". Otherwise, it will default to being your bodyguard. It shares earth/shadow elements. Golems last until defeated, but only 1 can be controlled at a time. (4 mana)

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

Going with stay in the background and protect her.

Roll 1d20 for Abby-Sabby

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>2013
>still objecting to ideas on the grounds that they are fetishy

Rolled 3

>>25589030

Rolled 5

>>25589030

Rolling

Rolled 25

>>25589030

Rolled 10

>>25589030

BLOCKIN' LIKE A MASTAH

Rolled 17

>>25589017

It was agreed to both find out what it actually did, and to let Abby see. Once she has a firm grasp of her own natural powers, then we will see about granting her a piece of ourselves...


>>25589030
FOR A.S!

>>25589030
>>Construct - Create an earthen golem assistant with a tiny power core. It isn't very intelligent, and can follow only simple orders, such as "move that boulder" or "protect this person". Otherwise, it will default to being your bodyguard. It shares earth/shadow elements. Golems last until defeated, but only 1 can be controlled at a time. (4 mana)
>with a tiny power core
>power core

WE'RE GETTING THAT NEXT

Rolled 5

>>25589030
>nat 1

Rolled 8

>>25589030

Rolled 8

>>25589030

Rolled 9

>>25589030
roll

>>25589030
>Create an earthen golem assistant with a tiny power core.
>tiny power core
>power core

So that upgrade let's us understand power cores enough to make one?

Rolled 13

>>25589030

roll

>>25589073

That, and it leads to Pocket... and Shadow Totem...

>>25589073
And it leads to Pocket directly, and it goes towards Shadow Totem.

Must. Get. Construct.

>>25589042
>>25589059
>>25589069
>>25589077
>>25589078
>>25589081
>>25589093

We better get some sort of bonus to these.

Rolled 1

And here I thought people were just rolling low. Damn d20s.

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Time for Abby to "summon" her trump card.

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>>25589105
Shadow Totem is the turret power, right?

>mfw we cover the world in shadow turrets, heralding an endless age of darkness

>>25589113
ON THE 10TH ROLL
WHAT THE FUCK

>>25589113

If memory serves d20's only go to first 5 rolls, not first 10....

>>25589131
It has a time limit now.

>>25589136
It wasn't linked. And crits only count for the first 5 on d20.

>>25589136

It's ok, d20 rolls I only count first 5 for crits. Otherwise it would be ridiculous.

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

<I'll protect you from your shadow, Abby. Don't hesitate!>

She gives you a shaky nod. She seems nervous.

Wong throws his hand down.

Earth magic flares out from Daniu. A wave of stone lifts him up on a pillar. Golems start to grow from the rock, and they land hard, lumbering forward. He perches on top of his pedestal, directing them from safety.

Abigail bites her lip and focuses hard. A single glowing sigil appears in front of her. A doorway to the nether opens.

Abigail summons a single wisp to the battle. It zips around her head.

The first wave of golems is upon you!

The wisp fires a shadow strike! The black magic needles the first golem, ripping its legs out from underneath it. It crashes to the ground and dissolves.

Two more golems are still coming on!

Roll 1d100

Oh, right.

BATTLE MUSIC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqd8CPg7l8

>>25589030
Hey SM, shouldnt reinforce be blue now?

Rolled 94

>>25589158
defence

>>25589167

You are correct, sir.

Rolled 51

>>25589158

Rolled 18

>>25589158
This aint gonna go well

>>25589171

I'm happy with this. no more rolls....

>>25589158
>A single wisp
Abby knows the power. But where is our wispbro?

Rolled 94

>>25589158
Can I eat it?

>>25589171

Everyone else might want to refrain from rolling

Rolled 53

>>25589158
(isolation shard makes for good forcefields)

should we buy harden for abby's clothes?

>>25589196
keep em coming

Rolled 83

>>25589200
We'll still get the minimum number of rolls even if you are afraid to toss the dice!

>>25589158
mandatory link

>>25589200
It's a 2/3 dc system. So we're looking at the 94 and the 51.

>>25589209
we never strengthened isolation though. Only had the chance for Hunger.

>>25589225
So it looks like we get to consume golems instead.

Rolled 84

>>25589158
Rolling for defense.

The golems charge forward. Abigail steps back, frightened. She looks about to break.

<Don't worry, Abigail,> you say. <They're just mud.>

The golems reach her, both at once. And at the same time, two shadowy whips lash out from your body. It's like attacking putty. The golems shower into bits of rock under the force of your attack. Your aura shields Abigail from the shrapnel.

<I'll protect you. Focus on attacking!>

Abigail sets her feet. Her confidence is restored. She begins to focus.

Meanwhile, the wisp uses its advantage of flight to stay above the fray. It takes out another golem, but four more are coming on.

Daniu sits on top of his high pedestal, keeping an eye on the wisp, but otherwise picking at his nails in disdain. More golems are forming rapidly out of the earth around his pillar. They were easy to break, but at this rate, they'll be overwhelming.

Roll 1d20 for Abby!

Rolled 6

>>25589245

go abby!

Rolled 4

>>25589245

Rolled 20

Try some Sunn O))), very relaxing.

Rolled 13

>>25589245

Rolled 1

>>25589245
defence

Rolled 17

>>25589245
Shadow beam this jerk right in the dome

Rolled 16

>>25589245
Here comes a 1.

>>25589258
Woo woo

>>25589258

I love you man.

Rolled 9

>>25589245
go !

Rolled 20

>>25589245

Rolled 17

>>25589261
>>25589258
>>25589245
At least they cancel each other.

Rolled 15

>>25589258
Fuck where did my link go! The bastard!
>>25589245

>>25589261
no i cancelld out the 20 FUUUCCKKK

>>25589258
Not linked

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>>25589258
>Didn't link
>>25589261
>Did link

>>25589261
5th :/

>>25589258
>>25589261
Yer kidding, right...

d20s crit real easy compared to d100s

Rolled 16

>>25589304
I participate at Bleach Quest, I know too well this fact.

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>>25589258
>>25589261
>How I imagine this looks.

>>25589304
thats why i never play the 20d systems irl

Abigail focuses hard, and a gate to the nether opens...

...and then it fizzles shut. She blinks, confused.

The wisp takes out a golem, but the four charging constructs are on top of you!

Roll 1d100

Rolled 65

>>25589333
CONSUME

Rolled 86

>>25589333

Rolled 26

>>25589333
I won't fail this time, not again.

Rolled 80

>>25589333

We shoulda taken the offensive, guys...

Ask Abby to "summon" us. We need to end this fast.

Rolled 76

>>25589333

Rolled 82

>>25589333
Rolling.

Rolled 9

>>25589333

Rolled 29

>>25589333

She ain't looking like hot shit now, I tell you what.

Rolled 58

>>25589333
trying to redeem

Does shadow totem get mana reduced by oneness? It is more in the shadow tree than the earth tree.

Rolled 9

>>25589333
What's the point of link/not linked bs.

You limbs snap out like black whips, bashing some back in the torso and splitting others limb from limb. You stab through one golem, then slam it to the ground. These things aren't on your level.

Another wave is coming, and this time, there's a lot more - at least 12. That could be troublesome, unless Abigail makes something happen - and fast.

"An impressive defense," Wong comments. "But she won't hold out long once Daniu gets bored."

"We'll see," Fang says. <Shadow,> comes his voice in your head. <You might want to pick up the pace, here. Abigail's inconsistency is showing.>

Abigail stomps her foot. "Darn it! Don't worry, Mr. Shadow. I'm not going to mess up again!"

She clasps her hands and bends her head in focus.

What do you do?

>give her one more shot
>it's time to attack. Have her 'summon' you
>some other strategy

>>25589443
>>give her one more shot

We need to make it Abby's victory if possible, girl needs more confidence.

>>25589443
>give her one more shot

>give her one more shot
might as well.

>>25589443

>give her one more shot

>>25589443
>it's time to attack. Have her 'summon' you
I trust Abby, but not the d20

Rolled 95

>>25589443
>give her one more shot

if it dont work theres is only one answer CONSUME

>>25589443
One more shot ofcourse.

>>25589443
>some other strategy
lets attack togethr

>>25589469
ya don't.

This family can be allies... eating the kid we're battling would be the worst thing to do.

>>25589438

It's to keep track of rolls after I lock in the official decision. Once we start rolling, there's random rolls for nothing all over the place. If I didn't do it this way, it would quickly become confusing as to which action was associated with what roll, and I could easily fizz and flibb where rolls are going, which would result in a lot of pressure to do so when things went your way, and a lot of pressure to look the other way when you failed. And frankly, sometimes I do want to fudge the numbers. It's not healthy.

The rules keep us all honest.

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>>25589443
>give her one more shot

Alright, people.

Keep the faith.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 2

>>25589500

Rolled 19

>>25589500

Rolled 19

>>25589500

Rolled 6

>>25589500

Rolled 3

>>25589500
natural 1

>>25589505
>>25589506
GO ABBY!

Rolled 6

>>25589500

>>25589500

Do I roll or leave it at?

Rolled 16

>>25589506
good job !

>>25589518
For a d20, you're already too late.

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>>25589505
>>25589506

>>25589505
>>25589506

remember to call her Abby-Sabby for MAXIMUM FRIENDSHIP POWER BOOST!

>>25589518
further rolls won't matter. First three for the DC and the first five for minor crits

Rolled 15

>>25589500
There is no faith. Only math.

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>>25589505
>>25589506

>>25589505
>>25589506

Finally.

It's time.

>>25589478
just the clay golems and scare the shit out of the kid thats getting bored when Abby is trying her best

>>25589529
Stop that you. Stop that.

Sitting at my desk with my snuggy. The thread on one monitor, all the pastebins and skilltrees on the other.

Battle music running on repeat in the background.

Shadow Quest commanders unite.

>>25589552

ABBY SQUISH LIDDLE GOLUMS!

>>25589552

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ0Yd-Pburs

Here we go!

>>25589559
Is a second monitor worth it? I've been thinking of going to a multi-monitor setup, but I'd hate to waste a few hundred dollars on something I'll never use.

>>25589586
Lest you plan on streaming or multitasking hard then probably not. Cept for cool factor of moving the mouse from one to the other.

>>25589586
Very worth it. I can't go back to single monitors after this.

Just get a shitbad cheap monitor at a thriftshop to test it out first if you want.

I've seen old monitors for $5 that still work.

>>25589586
Having two screens is the best thing ever. Except having three, four and so on.

>>25589586
I'd say it's worth it, but I got my second monitor for free.

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Pretend that's Abby. Time to fuck shit up.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW8CvBMQBpI

Abigail opens a portal to the nether.

This one is different. Stable. Wide. Powerful.

The creature that steps through walks upon the ground, but it does not touch it. It is insubstantial, a ghost, but clothed and armored in black. From its hand dangles a severed head, and resting in its other is the pommel of a mighty sword.

A revenant.

It looks at Abigail. "What is your command, master?"

Abigail points at Daniu, who has stood up in surprise. "Make him surrender!"

"I hear, and obey."

The ghost-knight drops the head - which vanishes before it hits the ground - and takes up its sword in two hands. It flies forward, skating across the barren ground.

It flashes back and forward, slicing the golems. Its sword cuts the stone like a hot knife through butter. In moments, the wave of golems is dust.

It reaches the column upon which Daniu stands and, with a heavy blow, cuts forward. A black wave runs out from its sword, slicing the pillar through with a diagnal cut. The stone slides, then tilts, unbalanced. Daniu leaps before his perch crashes into the ground.

The revenant is on top of him almost before he can react, but react he does. The earth leaps to his defense, blocking the revenant's sword blows as if the rock has become water. Bits of mud begin to crawl up Daniu's legs as he continues to fight, drying on his legs and arms to form plates of rocky armor imbued with magic.

The revenant presses him back, but he's slowly fighting it to a standstill.

What do you do?

>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push
>have her 'summon' you as the final blow
>something else

I'll be taking a break for a couple hours for dinner/family, will be back later tonight.

>>25589681

Believe in Abby-Sabby. This is her battle, we are but a shield to keep her from harm. Her sword is her own...

>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

Rolled 12

>>25589681
>have her 'summon' you as the final blow

You did great Abby-Sabby. Now its time to finish this with bang.

>>25589681
>>have her 'summon' you as the final blow
Nightflare his defenses. Let the rev do the rest

>>25589681
>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

>>25589681
>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

You got this, girl.

>>25589681

>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

she's doing fine, if the battle starts going bad for her we can always intervene, as long as it's in her favor, let's keep defending.

>>25589681
>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

Holy shit, Abby is a badass.

>>25589681
>>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

Best to make it purely her victory.

>>25589681
Stay on defense.

We should let Abby win this if she can. Only intervene directly if she fails.

>>25589681
>>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

Now I know why SM called Spirit a beastly element.

>>25589681
>>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push
if you gonna eat then i can sleep seey when i wake up

>>25589681
>>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

>>25589742
The Revanent looks pretty shadowy to me.

>>25589681
Stay defensive.

>>25589681
SM, how far in the summoning tree is the revenant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLM2s7g2-hk
>inb4 HAL 9000

>>25589681

Tell Abigail to have the Wisp sneak behind Daniu, with his attention focus solely on the knight he will not see it coming. That way we don't need to intervene.

>>25589768
hah I like it.

>>25589754
nahh. i think it is a teir 2 or 3 etherial summon. we could probably get it in the ghost line of summons. we have wisps at the bottom. ghosts that are more for info gathering than combat. then revenant after that. i think it might be the lowest form of wrath summon. succubi are lust, and i am pretty sure there are at least one type of summon for every emotion.
>end rambling

>>25589768

Yes. Can that wisp use Nightflare?

Wonder how surprised the Wongs are that Abby, who should be Spiriting it up as Fang's niece, is mainly using Shadow magic?

The wisp was using shadow assault. Then there's us being her shadow magic defensive aura thing, and now there's the revanent.

Even back in class, the only spell she cast (that we saw) was summon a shadow thing with a bit of spirit in it.

>>25589788
Seems a decent staller/distraction. Might be worth looking into.

>>25588177

SM, is the solution symbolic, mechanical, or both?

>>25589788
From the pastebin

>Ethereal - ghosts, spirits, and haunts. These summons have weaker attacks, but are highly resilient, and generally have a cheaper action-cost once summoned. They are difficult to detect by mundane means, but easily visible to most kinds of magical detection. They are found in the left branch of the summon tree.

>Demonic - demons of the nether. While not stealthy by any means, they are physically strong and command powerful fire magic. They have some of the highest raw attack power, but tend to be more expensive, and have higher control-break risks. They are the central branch of the tree.

>Shadow - animated undead, as well as shadow spirits and wisps. While these summons tend to be the weakest in endurance and attack power, they are cheaper. They also passively gain whatever stealth bonus you have, and have lower control-break risks. They make up the right branch of the tree.

Revenant seems like a shadow tree thing. It's an animated undead. Might be a mix of shadow and ethereal.

>>25589788
>A black wave runs out from its sword
It's shadow. Also, Sm said that Spirit just doesn't have raw power. It's got a lot of things, but pure destruction isn't one of them.

>>25589822
Looking at the skill tree, it looks like Fae unlocks two other options. So it's probably a mix of Demonic and Shadow.

>>25589681
>>stay on the defense. Abigail just needs one more push

SM, I have a question, and I don't know if its been explained or not.

If all of the people in Archon are chinese, or are at least asian-eque, why is Li Fang's neice blonde?

Also, how does an undying lich have living family?

>>25589906
Long life is possible for Spirit mages without becoming liches. His brother wasn't a lich, apparently.

As for blonde, I dunno.

>>25589906
Well, if I recall from when we read Abby's father's journal, Abby's mother was something inhuman. The usual genetic assumptions relating to being half-asian don't really apply.

>>25589848
idk. the descriptions seem to put it pretty firmly into ethereal
>It is insubstantial, a ghost, but clothed and armored in black
>The ghost-knight

if i had to call it i would say spirit with a hint of shadow or demon.

>>25589906
Yeah, been wondering about that too... If yi fang is a few hundred years old, or at least one hundred, how can he have a brother with a 9 year old daughter...

>>25589995
I think Yi Fang is like, 900-ish years old. The 9 year old daughter thing could be excused as taking 891 years to perfect the humanization process. Not sure how his brother lived that long without being a lich.

>>25590014
>Not sure how his brother lived that long without being a lich.
By being a strong spirit mage. People are just now becoming suspicious of Yi Fang's long life. Remember, that the whole "he's a lich" is rumor to most people.

>>25589995
The brother was very old as well, thanks to his spirit magic. And perhaps he was born later than Yi.

>>25590014
The great war happened 700-something years ago. Yi Fang has only been around for about a hundred years. Read the books we've seen while waiting for SM to get back.

>>25589978

My theory is that Abby mother was either a denizen of the Nether, or a Spirit Elemental...
What her father done, was created a rather powerful ritual that gave her human form. It is possible that Abby is not only a Spirit Mage, but half Spirit herself. It may explain why it was though her that Adavan and Hecate woke from their century long slumbers...


>>25590014
Yi Fang isn't that old. He was born after the Elementomancy. Adavan is the oldest in Archon, at least as far as we know...

>>25590014
No, the elementomancy was 700 years ago, and that was before Yi Fang's time.

Y'know a thought occurs to me.

Auriel has Spirit Magic. By SM's own lore, possessing both a Greater and Lesser Element simultaneously is pretty much something that never happens.

So does that mean that she never had the light element, and reached her rank among the Angels purely by virtue of her angelic blessing? Because that's pretty impressive.

>>25590082
You know this would probably be a great time to have her train that.

559 A.E. - Yi Fang takes power in Archon.

703 A.E. - Present day. Your story begins.

How old was he when he took power?

>>25590082
But we've seen Auriel use light magic.

>>25590082
I believe its a natural impossibility, Infusing someone with an element is an artificial thing so it could theoretically work.

>>25590082
Well, SM confirmed that were we to servant someone with an affinity for one of the "higher" elements, they would lose that affinity. So she must have had both spirit and light before being uplifted to angel status. (assuming hyperion followed the same rules)

>Elementomachy began in 65 B.E.
>0 A.E. - Elementomachy ends
>Archon was founded in 67 A.E.
We know Yi Fang was the apprentice to the founder of Archon.
>236-242 A.E. - First Archonian-Imperial War.
>344-357 A.E. - Second Archonian-Imperial War.
>559 A.E. - Yi Fang takes power in Archon.
>703 A.E. - Present day.
So we know he is at least 144 years old, and at most 703 years old. My guess is that he's something like 500-650ish years old.

>After most birds went instinct due to the aggressive nature of the Sky-Sever
>instinct
Found a typo line 127 of the books we read pastebin.

>>25590151
When did he confirm that?

>>25590197
When we just got servant we asked tons of questions. I think it must be in that thread or one of the ones following right after.

>>25590197
a few threads ago, around the time people thought about servanting auriel i think.

>>25590197
Around the time servant was introduced someone asked what happened if we servanted someone with an elemental affinity other than shadow.

>>25590151
>>25590151
Opposing element. Like light and shadow.
Im pretty sure shadow and fire, or shadow and wind, aren't out of the question. So

>>25590235
Link to archive or didn't happen. I only remember him saying something along the lines of "You should test it and see what happens"

The Keystone of Atlantis:
>However, it is - as noted by many top minds in the field - among the most powerful magical artifacts in the world, perhaps as powerful as several dynamos combined.
Let's get the hunger shard up to resonant state and then we can consume the keystone. All that power..

>>25590235
Yeah, I was the one that asked that. I really don't know when exactly it was. The thread we unlocked it in or one of the few following, as I said >>25590227 here.

>>25590288
how about no. i am pretty sure that the keystone is the element of water in a similar vault as hecate. so dont eat it. crack it like an egg and release the liquidy center

>>25589681
I think this is a pretty good indication of why we should get some summoning related powers next. After we get construct of course.

>>25590271
>>25590271
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24807418/#p24811117

>>25590365
There, that solves it, thank you. So yeah, it was overriding the higher elements, and for hyperius the lower then, if it works the same.

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>>25590365
Thank you. Here's an angelic lich for you.

>>25590341
Construct might actually be better than going for summons for now.

From the looks of things, it looks like there is an upgrade tree in Earth that is focused on the construction of automatons and power cores.

If we managed to unlock that tree to the point where we could make full power cores, we would pretty much have the loyalty of the robots completely secured, and we might be able to work toward building dynamos from there.

>>25590386
neat

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>>25590392
What could go wrong with building a robot army?

>>25590392
I think we should fish around summoning and earth powers anyway because they might unlock some sort of mana regen. Who would have thought fear would have opened up magic power 3? We should poke around more

>>25590392
We're eventually going to have to dip into the summoning tree. There is cool shit to unlock in other trees that we can't get without summoning. Probably a few magic powers in there too, since it's a big tree.

>>25590422
The dice rolls

>>25590430
>>25590436
Ghost and Ghoul are a couple that we do need for later.

Ghost for the prerequisite for grave silence, and Ghoul for some kind of turret upgrade.

>>25590436
I agree that revnant was fucking badass

>>25590455
They are so cheap as well, I'm amazed we haven't picked them up already

>>25590436
I wonder if we maxed out one of the summoning trees, if we would be able to summon a supernatural army like the demon lord did outside of Kelvere.

>>25590436
>>25590430
Where did this borderline phobia of the summoning tree come from in the first place?

>>25590468
yeah. im thinking that it is kind of a one shot summon though. the first thing it did when summoned was ask abby's will. im probably taking it wrong but i would think it cool that we are basicaly summoning an angry warrior ghost and them telling it what its unfinished buisness is.

>>25590492
Probably because we have been operating with a party of followers and preferred focusing on becoming a combat monster ourselves.

Looked up Ila on wikipedia. Apparently that's the founder of the "Lunar Dynasty".

Also, Nyx was the personification of the night, and Erebus' consort in Greek mythology.

Three letter names.

We're winding up with Ila, methinks.

>>25590496
I think it came from that whole succubus mess, made us question our own free will.

>>25590496
i think it rose from xella giving summoning a bad name. then the problem with ghoul is that we need a corpse to raise. i think. and demons have a bad rap. and no one cares about ghosts. and the fact we didnt need summons since we have nice simple followers to fill there spots. need meatshield? send in flint. that kind of stuff

>>25590501
Maybe we summon a different angry ghost dude every time?

>>25590520
Not to mention she was irredeemably evil and it was more trouble keeping her from eating our friends than she was useful.

>>25590528
though a pack of ghouls right now would be stealthy as fuck, since we have a lot so stealth power and they get it as well

we should get summoning one and ghoul, to see what the unlock and to see what comes after shadow totem.

>>25590528
>no one cares about ghosts
>revenant kicks all the asses

>>25590528
We really wouldn't lack for corpses if we didn't CONSUME so many of them.

>>25590542
i dont think it is actually an angry dude. but if we go with human emotions for elemental in the nether naturaly, then revenants might be made from the impotant anger of warriors who have died on the field of battle.
pretty much every summon starts out knowing as much about itself as we did.

>>25590570
Maybe the corpses will come back out of us.

>>25590570
B-but, so tasteh.

>>25590560
I actually think Revenant is a third level summon of Demonic and Shadow, or maybe a fourth level summon of all three trees.

>>25590570
That's why we stick with ghosts anon, we don't need any corpses! everyone wins!

>>25590512

>implying we won't be the father figure Abby-Sabby deserves

>>25590578
Like zombies coming out of pure black water? Well that would be fucking terrifying.

>>25590528
I wonder if we maxed out the undead tree, if it would be possible to reanimate sentient undead.

I mean, we haven't lost any major party members yet, but being able to bring somebody back might come in handy in the future.

>>25590574
on that note i think i might have figured out the deal with our memory block and then them disapearing. the elf queen said she would give us choice. then she blocked out all of our memories. and what did we do? we went with the flow and thought we would get them back eventually. that wall blockign our memories was a choice. if we ignored it, then our base self does not care about the past, at not to the exlusion of all else. i get the feeling that if we had made getting the memories a priority, we could have gotten them

>>25590570
Maybe we are getting strong to the point that scrubs wont give us exp any more so we can just use them as zombie fodder