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Recent Events Summary:

Your friend, Abigail, and niece of the Archmage Yi Fang, was twisted into a complex political situation in Archon. As the Archmage's niece, she is expected by him and much of the city of be a prime candidate to succeed his seat - making her an obvious target for ambitious rivals. You decided to infiltrate her main opposition, the Cheung family, to assassinate their leaders - a merciful alternative to Yi Fang's plan to erase them in their entirety, women and children included. You killed and impersonated a high ranking member of the family, and discovered that the family was divided between an aggressive and moderate faction. You instigated a coup, and with the element of surprise, and your own efforts in killing the leaders of the more violent faction, managed to put the moderates into power.

With Abigail's immediate problems taken care of, you returned to help your new allies, refugees from the battle at the Ring City, establish themselves in the forest. After fighting off an attack by yet more constructs marked with "002" the teleportation was successful. You decided to explore the forest and scout out any possible dangers, and soon found that you weren't alone. The native elves, werewolves, and humans seem friendly enough, but you didn't exactly make friends with the orcs. Meeting the challenge of the orc leader, Vaz Grak, only seemed to antagonize them further, but for now, things are peaceful. Auriel is confident that, with the help of your neighbors, you will be established in record time.

You decided that one of the keys to the vault under Jacob's Field needs to be collected - the lightning key, possessed by the late Duke Vellik of Evinbrook. You found the castle city locked in a battle for survival. Kan-Abar's armies returned, with two demon lords in tow.

>con't

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Duke Vellik made a plan to stall the demons with patched-up dwarven technology. You brought him to safety in exchange for the lightning key. You offered him further sanctuary, but he chose to remain with what forces he has left and make the Kanians pay for every inch they take.

In order to permanently resolve this situation, you need the rightful king back on the throne of Kan-Abar - Obis Vin. You decided to track him down, and you've followed him as far as Port Vanta, where he was looking for an old ally, a pirate captain named Blackwater who used to work as a privateer for Kan-Abar. Blackwater, however, made an enemy in a particular crime lord - Damian Vonnegut. After asking around for Blackwater, Obis has vanished, but you're on the still-warm trail of Vonnegut's men.

File: 1373696918483.jpg-(889 KB, 1949x759, ability tree (84).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.

All Revealed Ability Descriptions:

http://pastebin.com/vAZTpZvB

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/jj7uYhsV

>sitting in hospital
>wife being induced for baby delivery
>slow going, nurses aren't pushing it at night
>not shit to do
>suddenly shadow quest

Based SM

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Current Statistics:

HP: 78/81
Mana: 7/34
EXP: 10
Humanity: 448
Temerity: 287

Shards of True Darkness: 3
(Isolation) - Normal
{Hunger} - Strong
(Silence) - Empowered

--Summoned--

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

--Automatons--

Earthen Construct (currently in Haven)

--Equipment--

Utility belt with purse

--Inventory--

Moonsong Shards x 2
Sun-Moon Key
Lightning Key
Succubus Reagents x 1

--Current Location--

Port Vanta

>>25984849

The hero of justice always arrives just in time, anon.

>>25984858

Edit: your wisp was destroyed last thread, you don't have it at the moment

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>Last time...

You quickly find the brick building and the alley that was in the image your wisp sent you before it was destroyed. There's nothing remarkable about it. You Focus on it, trying to keep the range of your magic as small as possible.

You sense nothing. You spread your senses slightly, but you can't feel the shadow mage, either. The men your wisp was following are gone.

Shit.

It's already been a week since Obis vanished - you can't sit and wait. You use Deep Focus.

A few things come to your immediate attention.

A large building in the center of the city holds a high concentration of mages. You suspect that is some sort of city building; perhaps the empire's men. Others are scattered about, dots of power both small and large.

A spike of earth and spirit magic catches your attention. It doesn't feel strong...but it's oddly unique. It's four or five blocks away.

Finally, a column of soldiers, headed by a mage, is marching through the streets. They're headed toward the spike of magic you just sensed.

>you decided to head toward the spike of magic

You quickly climb up to the rooftops. The sun has already set, and the dim light will be perfect for sneaking. You leap and scramble over slate and tin rooftops, still maintaining your human form.

It isn't long before you find the source of the magic. In the far corner of a dead-end alley, a long slab of stone is laid up against one of the walls. The slab glows with a sigil - the magic you sensed. No ordinary magic gate.

However, what the slab is covering is wide open. A dark opening leads underground.

You frown, trying to understand why they'd leave it open - and then it begins to close!

>con't

You tense, about to jump -

Something slips down into the hole in front of you. It was only there for a moment, but you're sure of what you saw - a human, quick and light as a breeze.

The stone slab grates on the pavement as it closes further...

What do you do?

>slip into the entrance
>use some stealth ability first, then enter
>wait for the soldiers, who have made quick time. See what they do
>some other strategy

>use some stealth ability first, then enter
shadow meld, 3 mana. Leave enough for to nightflares.

>>25984906

do we have enough time to compress before entering? If so, do that. If not, then we can worry about stealth once we are in there...

>>25984920
Ill second this

>>25984920
Second. We really need to eat some fuckers soon and get some mana back.

>>25984931

Yes, you have enough time for one ability. So, your immediate stealth-boosting choices would be shadowmeld and compress.

>>25984949

Alrighty, 3 mana shadowmeld it is.

Oneness reduces the cost by 1, so:

>mana: 5/34

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

You wrap shadow about your form, drawing on your inner pool of power. You jump straight down, and after a fall of about ten feet or so, land on hard stone. The light from above closes to a sliver, and then is cut off altogether as the slab seals shut. The magic seal glows bright, and you hear the click of a lock.

You're in the middle of getting to your feet when a person a small way down the tunnel turns to face you.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 5

>>25985170

Rolled 93

>>25985170

numbers!

... where is everyone else?

Rolled 4

>>25985170

I'd suspect d10s if I didn't know better jesus christ dice why you rolling low?

>>25985281
Maybe they assumed SM was done for the day and went to bed.

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Because I missed the last thread.

But from what I saw, there wasn't much knob chewing. Good job.

Rolled 39

>>25985170

>>25985314
Well, at least we got Shadowmeld and a good passive bonus for an Empowered Silence shard

Rolled 69

>>25985170

>>25985281

clearly the dice gods are displeased by the lack of participation

But hey, this could be interesting! With fewer anons, though, each of you must shoulder greater responsibility. CONSTANT VIGILANCE

also, writing.

Rolled 24

>>25985170

Rolled 45

>>25985170
lets hope for a nat 100?

Rolled 92

>>25985358

Finally, my time to subvert the quest has arrived!!!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

So um. How long is this gonna last until? Like 1hr from now?

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The man - no, the woman - whips a weapon up to your throat, a sort of serrated projection forming from her ornate vambraces. It glows with an orange flame that stings your skin. Her armor isn't ordinary, either - it's mostly well-kept black leather, but the buckles and plates here and there are forged from adamantium, some of which glows with more magic.

But she herself feels like Wind. Is this the presence you sensed earlier? Did she open the door?

In any case, she appears to be somewhat formidable. You keep still.

She cocks her head. "...and just who the fuck are you?"

What is your response?

>I'm with Damian Vonnegut
>I'm looking for a friend taken by Vonnegut
>"None of your fucking business."
>attack the woman
>some other strategy

>>25985491

Dunno, not a very long time.

>I'm looking for a friend taken by Vonnegut
for some reason I feel this is the best response.

Call it a hunch.

>>25985550
>I'm looking for a friend taken by Vonnegut

>>25985550
>I'm looking for a friend.

>>25985550
I'm looking for a friend.

>>25985550
>I'm looking for a friend

You slowly, slowly raise you hands in a gesture of peace. For some reason, you've got a strong hunch that she isn't an enemy.

"I'm looking for a friend taken by Vonnegut," you say.

She narrows her eyes, and keeps her weapon at your neck. "Really? What's the name of this friend?"

What is your response?

>"...can't tell you that."
>"Obis Vin."
>some other strategy

>>25985745
>"...can't tell you that."

>>25985745
What was it that we called him before we learned his real name?

>"He goes by the name of [Insert fake name he used in orc place.]"

>>25985745
Kurt

>>25985745
"Obis"

Say just the first name.

>>25985797
Or Kirt. I forgot.

>>25985745
Say Kurt. If she doesn't respond to that, say Obis.

>>25985745
describe his appearance, but don't say his name. we don't know what fake name he's using here.

>>25985783

"Kurt. He came here looking for an old captain, Black-something. Though it seems that I have to drag him out of the fire that he has leapt into..."

>>25985819
This.
<He tends to use pseudonyms. He looks like [description]. He might have gone by [name from orc place].>

>>25985842
... anyone who knows of Blackwater is going to know who you mean. Someone that infamous you don't forget their name. Saying Black-something means you sound like an incompetent spy.

Kirt was his previous alias. Will do.

>>25985842

Approval for that much detail?

Why the fuck are we telling this chick anything substantial? She's got a fucking magic whip on our neck and only seems to have gotten angrier.

>>25985880
Na. Just say Kirt

>>25985880
nah. minimum information until we know more about her.

"...his name...is Kirt."

She doesn't budge an inch. "...if you're his friend, you should know his real name."

What do you do?

>"Obis Vin."
>attack her
>some other strategy

>>25985974
"I am his friend. Which is why I don't speak his real name. "

>"Obis Vin."

>>25985974
>"Obis Vin."
Get ready for consuming because this might backfire.

>>25985994
actually this is a better answer.

>>25985994

This. but telepathically tell her his real name so that anyone listening in can not hear it...

>>25985974
<Obis Vin, and he is friend and comrade>

>>25985994
>>25985997
Do both.

"I am his friend. Which is why I don't go calling him Obis Vin."

>>25986024
Na. She already knows who we are talking about. She's just testing us. Keep it simple, she doesn't need to know we can do that.

>>25985994
this telepathically
>>25986041
>>25985974

>>25986041
ya... that kinda defeats the purpose of keeping Obis's identity quiet.

>>25986008

So, <Obis Vin>, telepathically?

>>25986100
sure

>>25986100
No.

>>25986100
yes

>>25986100

yes. If she is friends with Obis, it is possible that she knows of us...

>>25986100
nah, a true friend of Obis wouldn't reveal his name to anyone until they had his direct permission.

>>25985994
which is why this is the best answer.

>>25986100
No

>>25986142
This

guys we gotta learn to keep secrets better. This is Adavan all over again.

>>25986142
this

>>25986100
see how this goes>>25986142
we can always tell her after

>>25986142
>>25986157

okey dokey

You carefully pick through your words. "...a friend wouldn't reveal that name without permission."

The woman pushes a breath through her throat in frustration. "I don't have time for guessing games. Name him, or you can join Leviathan in the ocean."

What do you do?

>"Obis Vin."
>"And I don't betray my friends. Do your worst."
>some other strategy

>>25986249
>some other strategy
"No."

Blink past her.

>>25986249
>>"And I don't betray my friends. Do your worst."

Rolled 52

>>25986249
I roll to put her in a headlock.

>>25986249
Time to serious up
Telepathically now
<If you think yourself my equal, you are sorely mistaken>

>>25986249
>"And I don't betray my friends. Do your worst."

>>25986341
>>25986288
>>25986375

Ok

Roll 1d100

Rolled 57

>>25986388
>rape

Rolled 55

>>25986388

Rolled 68

>>25986388

calling crit fail now.

>>25986249
Ink around her arms and restrain her.
<Why don't you tell me who YOU are looking for?>

Rolled 61

>>25986388
HERE COMES THE 100

What's the terrain like? Room big enough to blink away and then schattenkrieg her?

Rolled 58

>>25986388
Can I eat her?

>>25986433
>terrain

You're in a cramped underground hallway.

writing

Did we actually make it inside before it closed or did she stop us?

Welp, here's hoping we are stronger.

>>25986494

we made it in, but Shadow has forgotten how to hide...

"And I don't betray my friends. Do your worst."

"You're making this extremely annoying," the woman hisses. "You have three seconds. 3. 2."

You don't budge.

"...1." Her arm begins to move.

You Ink your neck out the way, and she only cuts air. A thick limb splits your torso wide, and then itself splits into a dozen hands. You grab her arms, legs, and neck, and slam her up against the wall. She coughs hard, the air knocked from her lungs.

<Now,> you say. <You're going to tell me who you are, what you're doing here, and what your relationship with Kirt is.>

You can feel her flex her muscles under your grip. She's strong - but you're a hell of a lot stronger. She quickly gives up the attempt.

You briefly tighten the tendril of shadow around her neck. <I don't have time for this, either. Talk. Otherwise, you won't be joining Leviathan in the ocean, because there'll be nothing left.>

"...my name is Freja Blackwater."

<...you're Blackwater?>

Despite her predicament, an exasperated look crosses her face - the expression of someone explaining the same thing for the thousandth time. "The one you're thinking of is my father. He sent me to find Obis before Vonnegut got to him. Barring that...well...here I am."

What do you do?

>ask more questions
>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>
>some other strategy

>>25986566
>release her. <Then we're not enemies. I apologize for the trouble.>

>>25986534
Seriously, we get the fucking stealth boost shard and then all our stealth rolls turn into shit. Decietful asshole must still be resisting us or some bullshit.

>>25986566
>>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>
Welp, there we are

>>25986566
<Then you have found yourself a partner. We can talk while we walk.>

>>25986595
SNEAK SNEAK SNEAK

>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>

>>25986566
>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>

>>25986566

<Then let us get moving. we have wasted enough time with this game already.>

>>25986566
>>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>
But ask her what's up with the vambrace, it actually feels like it might hurt a bit.

>>25986566
>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>

got it

>>25986566
>>release her. <Then we're not enemies.>
"Then it seems you have found a powerful ally, tell me what has become our friend? I would hope someone as capable as yourself would know Miss....."

>>25986654
She's Miss Blackwater.

She is also most likely the one the sage told Obis to seek out.

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Filename no longer appropriate since he's actually alive.

>>25986680
Can you repost what the Sage told him to do?

Obis was told this:
"Go with them. Reclaim the truth of your birth. If the Shadow does not help you, you will certainly fail, though even if it does, you may still fall short. And if you fail, you -will- die."

"...one...last...thing..." He looks at Kirt. "...to reclaim what is yours...Blackwater...you'll need her..."

>>25986740
We should probably mention this to her.

<One last thing. Obis isn't looking for your father, he is looking for -you-. Why is anybody's guess. Unless he's gotten a revelation since we last talked I don't think he does either. But a certain sage said that you'd be necessary for reclaiming what is his.>

>>25986796
Ehhhh, keep the whole prophecy stuff to ourselves for now I think

You slacken your grip and set her on the ground. <Then we aren't enemies. I'm here for the same reason.>

She rubs her neck and coughs slightly. "...ah. Well. Good."

<My apologies, Miss Blackwater. I couldn't be too cautious.>

"No hard feelings. I mean, I just did the same thing to you, right?"

<I suppose so.>

<How did your father know Obis was in trouble?> you ask.

"...let's walk and talk." She peers into the darkness of the tunnel. "We need to be careful."

<Let me take the lead. I can see quite well in the dark.>

"Glad to know you're not one of those 'ladies first' types." The two of you begin to walk forward. "Well, you know my name...?"

<You can call me Shadow.>

"Shadow huh? Subtle." She turns her gaze ahead. "My father has a few ears scattered around his old stomping grounds. He heard that Obis was asking around for him, and realized that Vonnegut would probably pick up on it. He can't leave his position, though, so he sent me. Obis...his family and mine go way back. I've been sailing downriver day and night to get here, but...he's definitely not in town. My father's contacts told me that he'd vanished."

<I learned the same thing,> you say. <I fear the worst.>

"...he'll be alright," she says. But she doesn't look, or sound, confident. "...he has to be."

<How do you fight?> you ask, eyeing her vambraces.

She lifts her arms. "...these were my father's. One fire, one ice. Aside from that, I know some wind magic...as well as my family's specialty, a certain line of summoned creatures. Yourself?"

<I can change my form fluidly,> you say, <and I'm quite strong.>

"Yeah, I got that part. Anything else?"

<I know powerful shadow magic...but I prefer to save it for emergencies. On that note, if it looks like we need a quick getaway, run to me. I've...got something up my sleeve, in case of that.>

"Good to know."

>con't

Lights flicker in the tunnel ahead of you. You slow, and Freja slows with you.

She glances up when you stop. "...they might be expecting us. I didn't sense anything in the tunnel, but it wouldn't be built to be sensed."

What do you do?

>sneak forward alone
>sneak forward together
>casually walk in
>some other strategy

>>25986865

GO! WISPBRO!!! We Need Your Skills To Aid Us This Day!

>>25986865
can we pick her up and spider our way over the ceiling?

>>25986895
He's dead, Jim.

>>25986895

fyi it would cost two mana to summon the wisp and order him forward

>>25986865
focus

>>25986865
can we use normal focus and analyze

>>25986912
Resummon him.

>>25986865
just a regular Focus, then sneak.

>>25986929

roll 1d100 focus/analyze

>>25986912

Can we detect any magic or life?

We could compress, sneak in, then contact Freja with a sit-rep.

Rolled 13

>>25986955

Rolled 17

>>25986955

>>25986837
>Ehhhh, keep the whole prophecy stuff to ourselves for now I think

how probable is it she knows of the prophecy too?

Rolled 63

>>25986955

Rolled 73

>>25986955
Failure ahoy!

Rolled 38

>>25986955

More Numbers!

Rolled 27

>>25986955
asdf

Fucking dice

Rolled 8

>>25986955

Rolled 97

>>25986955
>we see all

Rolled 52

>>25986955

The dice don't like late night threads apparently.

Rolled 81

>>25986955
Number 10!

Rolled 8

>>25986955

OBEY ME.
Motherfucking dice.

Rolled 85

>>25986998
>The dice don't like late night threads apparently.

The counter to this may be to Fully Charge our shards and bask in the passive bonuses

god, these fucking dice.

>>25986998

late night? It's quarter past nine, Saturday morning...

>>25987026
We're already basking in the passive bonus of our Silence shard and look how good at being sneaky we are today.

>Shadow quest at 4 in the morning

u wont ruse me, cheeky cunt ill reck you hard m8 i swear on me mum

>>25987033
>the world is one timezone

>>25987033
SM is est, I'm fairly sure. 4am can still be considered late night rather than early morning.

3am or earlier for the rest of America, the only timezones that matter.

You detect neither life, traps, or magic aside from the tiny bit of fire in the braziers that light the hallway.

<I don't sense anything either,> you say. <Let's stay quiet.>

She nods to you, and you being forward again. The hallway soon ends, and you position yourselves on either side of an opening.

Beyond lies a large stone chamber. Several more hallways branch off in various directions from the first floor. A wide, carpeted staircase leads up to a balcony that rings the room, and it's all brightly lit by a metal chandelier. The sudden decorations clash with the bare stone.

Freja looks at you and raises a questioning eyebrow. You raise a hand for patience, and look for any sign of movement.

"Now, now, don't be shy!" comes a crackling, happy voice. "You're the guests of honor! Step on in...to my little clubhouse."

You glance at Freja. She angrily mouths one word to you - Vonnegut.

What do you do?

>he knows you're here - but he doesn't know your strength. Play along, for now.
>don't budge. Force him to come to you.
>some other strategy

>>25987066

currently on vacation in PST actually

>>25987120
>he knows you're here - but he doesn't know your strength. Play along, for now.

>>25987120
>he knows you're here - but he doesn't know your strength. Play along, for now.

>>25987048

Is Empowered where we start to get passives?
May want to bring it up a notch

>>25987120
Tell Freja to stay behind and we go forward

He knows she's there, but we won't lose everything if a net falls on us or something gay like that

>>25987133
This

Could it be Legion is here?
I don't see Wisp disappearing like that without good cause.

>>25987120
>he knows you're here - but he doesn't know your strength. Play along, for now.
Bitch please, we eat Angels for breakfast. Unless they've got firepower way out of their league we're in minimal danger.

Our allies are probably a different story, though.

>>25987120
>Blink at him
>Head in a vice
><Any last words?>

>>25987120
>>he knows you're here - but he doesn't know your strength. Play along, for now.
<And a host should always greet his guests in person, unless oh course this is the same treatment my friend recieved>

>>25987155
OH NO, A TINY NET

OUR GREATEST WEAKNESS

This isn't /v/ so I'm not going to stream that damn movie

>>25987120

Let him bring us to him. We should be able to deal with anything he might do...

>>25987149
No. We get the highest possible passive at Empowered. The only thing higher is resonant and that's special according to the pastebin.

>>25987180
WHERE'S THE STREAM

>>25987120
>on a side note SM
you said before the Obis would benefit from Servant, but he is a Fire type. If I understand correctly while he is Fire allied he isn't a mage and would therefore not lose as much taking Shadow magic, correct?

>>25987243

That's correct.

>>25987258
>guys, who can say shadow fighter to pair with our lich and shadow mage

>>25987278
I still wanna complete the servant tree to see what the completionist ability is.

>>25987296
>43xp
Expensive, but not that bad really.

>>25987296
obviously, but he's still the most skilled candidate we have besides Ila and maybe Cain or Hamil

>>25987120
>he knows you're here - but he doesn't know your strength. Play along, for now.
But go forward alone.

>>25987314
Abby

>>25987296
It's just a big exp sink. We've got to play a lot for the skills and pay a lot to servant a number of people. I really want to get what we can personal skill-wise first

>>25987324
>we decided to give her the choice when she was old enough and once we understood the effects of Servant

>>25987314
and every single shadow mage.

>>25987296
>Free servanting

>>25987314
that is until Sandalphon joins us

>>25987296
Probably the ability to freely posses people and combine their abilities with yours.

>>25987330
servant is the emperor choice, where we sit back and tell others to do our job. we have nearly completely been on the forefront the entire quest, so lets continue that thought thread

>>25987343
SM said as is Ila and Obis are best bets to get the most out of Servant
>>25987354
>punish him by canceling his light and forcing him to live as a Shadow Mage
love it

>>25987376
>>punish him by canceling his light and forcing him to live as a Shadow Mage
I still think we're actually Hyperion and Erebus did that to him.

>>25987296
>I still wanna complete the servant tree to see what the completionist ability is.

I want to see the competion ability for the Shadow Prime/MetaAbility tree. Its expensive as shit though.

darkness within, hydra, mighty regeneration, pure darkness is 70 alone, plus two other abilities we can see the links too.

If we're going to complete anything, toxic smog and robust immunity is only 6.

However, I'm pretty firmly in the Pocket camp at the moment. Bags of holding, and the ability to NOT lose our keys again, is worth 15 xp.

>>25987374
We're the dark knight though, not an emperor

We're an avenger in the dark - vigilant against injustice, not some emperor who orders people around

>>25987374
>>25987417
>Batman Inc

File: 1373704590154.gif-(2.86 MB, 853x480, secret yes.gif)

2.86 MB GIF

>>25987354
>final battle
>reach Sandalphon
>pull an Avatar Aang
>let him live and take away his power
mfw

>>25987343
>and every single shadow mage.

Actually, i've been wondering about those mages.

If they can stream mana to us, and we have a few hundred of them, I'm wondering if a Group Construction Project would help defray the cost of a shadow mana pool.

We probably want one in Haven due to how much shadowcasters we have.

The other anon's point a bout installing one in the airship in place of the dynamo is also valid.

>>25987396
>I still think we're actually Hyperion and Erebus did that to him.

Hmn. One clever anon DID spot a light magic tree.

>>25987436
we'd need a pool for a well established town anyway, and shadow pool/dynamo has merit

>>25987447
I still think thats just a gap between the trees like the white next to darkness within and analyze

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<Stay here,> you tell Freja. <If I get pinned, move in.>

She gives you a hard nod. You walk into the center of the chamber, glancing around. "And does the host greet his guests in person?"

A bevy of men suddenly appear at the balcony - you quickly count sixteen. You didn't sense a thing beforehand - you're starting to suspect there's something going on in this place that you don't know about.

"But of course!" comes the voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbVivq7ExWo

A man walks down the stairs. His long black clothes are matched by a tall black hat perched on his head. A hooked, pointed nose dominates his face. His eyes are dark and cold, the exact opposite of his happy tone. You sense a deep reservoir of water within his soul.

"My name," the man says, "is Damian Vonnegut. Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"My name is Shadow," you say.

"Greetings, Shadow!" Vonnegut frowns. "But I could have sworn I had two guests. Isn't that right?" He gives you a smug look. "Is she a tad shy?"

Annoyed by the man's demeanor, you decide to get straight to the point. "I'm looking for a man named Kirt. Where is he?"

Vonnegut grins. "Don't you mean Obis Vin?" He raises a hand.

Fire explodes from the hallway behind you, leaping out from the braziers. Freja dives into the chamber, barely escaping getting singed.

<Are you alright?>

She nods, and climbs to her feet, brushing her armor clean. "...some way to treat a woman."

"My dear, dear Miss Blackwater," Vonnegut says. His cheery tone shifts into something ugly. "That isn't the half of it. Seize them!"

Magic is launched from the balcony from four different directions! Light, lightning, water, and wind!

What do you do?

>grab Freja, haul her behind a pillar under the balcony
>focus your aura on defending her and your position
>nightblaze all the magic
>nightflare some of the magic
>some other strategy

>>25987447
>It's the reward for completing the hydra dark grey tree.
>It's darkest before the dawn.

>>25987482
dont nightblaze, itll break her daggers. grab and dodge, with some isolation use for backup

>>25987482
nightblaze

>>25987482
>focus your aura on defending her and your position
either
>nightblaze all the magic
if we nightblaze though, it would cancel Freja stuff too

>>25987482
>grab Freja, haul her behind a pillar under the balcony
save our mana. we don't want to waste our last nightblaze.

>>25987482
>nightblaze all the magic
<I eat Angels for breakfast, Mister Vonnegut. You don't want to mess with me. Tell me where Obis is, and we will leave without me consuming you.>

>mfw we really are the dark knight
>This entire quest has just been a parallel universe to Batman

>>25987482
can you describe the room we're in?

>>25987482
>>focus your aura on defending her and your position
doom aura the lights!

>>25987482
>Blink to Vonnegut and shadow dominate him.
This might be a good time to buy puppet master.

>>25987482
Say, SM, how's our shards doing?

>>25987482
Nightflare the magic aimed at us, advance

>>25987522
>>25987519
>>25987517
>>25987515
dont nightblaze, enchanted items are rare as shit. thats retarded

>>25987537
This is a great idea.

>>25987501
...that actually makes sense

>>25987482
>some other strategy
Doom Aura, Blink behind Damian and Gaping Maw. Let's see what these guys do if their leader dies like a chump.

>>25987482
>>grab Freja, haul her behind a pillar under the balcony
>>focus your aura on defending her and your position
either of these
>>25987528
take out the lights
>>25987537
or dominate the ringleader

>>25987537
Do this
>>25987522
With this speech.

>>25987482
>grab Freja, haul her behind a pillar under the balcony
Also, use shuf to darken the room

>>25987544
as i said, unless we push her away that would happen

>>25987555
Seconding this.

>>25987482
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbVivq7ExWo
Woah. Favorite TSFH song so far. Will listen to on repeat and might actually buy.

>>25987537
this

>>25987537
might I suggest gently throwing Freja out of harms way?

>>25987542

Shards of True Darkness: 3
(Isolation) - Normal
{Hunger} - Strong
(Silence) - Empowered

>>25987525

>Several more hallways branch off in various directions from the first floor. A wide, carpeted staircase leads up to a balcony that rings the room, and it's all brightly lit by a metal chandelier. The sudden decorations clash with the bare stone.

It's a large square room. The second floor balcony overhangs the first floor for several feet on all sides. Four fat pillars are supporting the balcony. Vonnegut is standing near the top of the central staircase, his men are positioned on the balcony.

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>>25987522
><I eat Angels for breakfast, Mister Vonnegut. You don't want to mess with me. Tell me where Obis is, and we will leave without me consuming you.>
Oh lawd that sounds like something a middleschooler would say. If we go with this, it needs some editing.

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>>25987537
THAT IS A FUN IDEA, SIR, AND I APPROVE!

>>25987482
>grab Freja, haul her behind a pillar under the balcony
Then
>>25987551

>>25987612
>You better listen to me or ill take your lunch money

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Dinnertime!

>>25987628
We may need him alive to find Obis.

>>25987610
Let's filter isolation and silence through our fear ability and throw it out into the croud!

>>25987501
>>25987549
No, I think it's like >>25987467 said. There are also some white gaps between grave silence and the summoning tree, pool of darkness and the servant tree and between shared resistance and the earth magic tree.

Vote 1:

>throw Freja to safety, Doom Aura to kill the lights, Blink behind Vonnegut, Gaping Maw

Vote 2:

>throw Freja to safety, Blink behind Vonnegut, buy puppet master and Control his shadow

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
1

>>25987662
1

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
guys, we may need him alive. lets capture him first
>not voting

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
1

>>25987662
1

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
2

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>>25987537
>after Vonnecunt gets shadow dominated and pulls his pants down for a darkshard up his ass.
<BEND OVER...>

>>25987662
2

>>25987662
2

Man, these choices. I don't want to force a surrender. We won't get the chance to eat these guys if we do.

so we are going to need 9 rolls

joy

>>25987698
OOC, but so totally worth it.

>>25987482
>Light, lightning, water, and wind!

Nightblaze. Whatever it is can't be good.

>>25987662
2

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>>25987698
Yes

>>25987587

You'd probably like the whole Pathogen album, then. It's very much like that, techno, guitar rifts, etc.

>>25987662

cutting off votes, option 2 won, one moment

>>25987732

man that was a slow one

>>25987719
>Implying we won't eat them after they've told us all we know
They're criminal scum that've been strongarming the local populace. They need to be excised.

>>25987732
eventually we really should buy lightning resist.

>>25987748
agreed

>>25987732
And everyone was saying that we shouldn't buy lightning resistance because we never encounter it earlier today.

>>25987732
If Light was Fire and Lightning was Earth then I'd think they were trying to summon something.

>>25987763
Doorknob chewing at it's finest, that was.

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>>25987698

>>25987748
That's just it. We might lose the chance to because we'll be negotiating and having this guy lead us to Obis and might get caught up in other shit.

>>25987763
err only one person mentioned lightning resist and no one said anything against it. The votes were all for summonning or saving xp remember?

>>25987748
Yeah, also, I want the Exp.

>>25987793
I was the one who mentioned it and everyone basically said to buy other things because we never encounter lightning.

>>25987788
We should send Freja on to find Obis while we stay and eat.

>>25987828
Lightning seems like a less likely element to encounter, all things considered

>>25987847
Lucifer. He's going to be a problem. Big problem eventually.

>>25987847
It's one of the four greater elements. How? Except for wind, all of those should be the most abundant.

>>25987868
As if the biggest problem isn't going to be the dread plotberg.

>>25987922
All those demon lords popping up like weeds.

>>25987764
>If Light was Fire and Lightning was Earth then I'd think they were trying to summon something.

Yeah, captain planet

>>25987974
That was the joke, yes.

SM writeup incoming?

>>25988078
SM still on vacation, patience

>>25988078
We need to roll still.

>>25988078
I think he passed out from lack of sleep.

I know that I wouoaegije[ijfw2R4 (descends into nonsense gibberish)

>>25988090

still here

few minutes

Remember guys, we bought something in addition to doing combat in the same round and probably having some villainous monologue from not-the penguin.

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>Sock Puppet - Force a shadow-dominated individual to speak anything you'd like. May trigger a control break.

Roll 1d100 for your plan

Rolled 87

>>25988188
here
we
go

Rolled 63

>>25988188

Rolled 69

>>25988188

Rolled 1

>>25988188

Rolled 24

>>25988188

Rolled 5

>>25988188

>>25988188
>Sock Puppet - Force a shadow-dominated individual to speak anything you'd like. May trigger a control break.
pretty good.

>>25988203
Clearly the dice want us to enact plan "Shard up the Shute", with a roll like that.

>>25988204
>1d1
Get out

Rolled 93

>>25988188
Oh god roll a 100

>>25988204
>i see that 1d1

Rolled 46

>>25988188

Rolled 53

>>25988188

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>>25988204
And thank you for fucking it up!

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>>25988204

Rolled 78

>>25988188

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Rolled 32

>>25988188

>>25988204
>mfw
And right when we got decent rolls too.

Rolled 79

>>25988204
Why

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>>25988227
>>25988234

Ha. Ahaha.

>>25988227
>>25988234
What? That's a shitty roll, but it's a d100.

>>25988197
>>25988199
>>25988203
So we succeed in our plan...

>>25988204
...But the Penguin is slipperier than we think, and has something up his sleeve.

Welp. We're definitely getting hit by some magic we're really weak too. Wonder what else is in store.

>>25988271
It was a multi-step plan. Something fucked up somewhere and we may not have succeeded.

You don't hesitate. You grab Freja by the back of her armor and chuck her under the balcony. She hits the ground hard, but she recovered quickly, rolling into a crouch behind one of the pillars.

You Blink up behind Vonnegut and attempt to seize his shadow - but his top hat glows with purple light, and your shadow slips off of his!

"Shadow mage tricks?" A spear of ice forms over his hand. "Aim everything at Shadow!!"

The icy spear plummets for you at point-blank range, followed by a barrage of magic from Vonnegut's men.

Roll 1d100 REFLEX

Rolled 39

>>25988300

Rolled 63

>>25988300
CONSUME
MAXIMUM HUNGER SHARD
GAPING MAW

Rolled 88

>>25988300
Go Go GO