GIT HYPE

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Recent Events Summary:

You flew to Evinbrook to collect a key to Hecate's prison, but found the castle city locked in a battle for survival. Kan-Abar's armies returned, with two demon lords in tow. Duke Vellik made a plan to stall the demons with patched-up dwarven technology. You brought him to safety in exchange for the key, and 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 followed him as far as Port Vanta, where he was looking for an old ally, a pirate captain named Vidar Blackwater. Blackwater, however, made an enemy in a particular crime lord - Damian Vonnegut. You learned that after asking around too much, Obis vanished, and you suspected Vonnegut was the culprit.

You were able to locate Vonnegut's base of operations under the city, and as you snuck in, you encountered Freja Blackwater, the infamous pirate's daughter. After a brief confrontation, you figured out that your goals were the same, and joined forces. You were able to find Obis, and after forcing Vonnegut into a corner by consuming nearly his entire crew, he struck a deal with you for the king's release.

Auriel sees great opportunities ahead. She wants to try to bring together Felnoir, Kelvere, Arland, and Archon into an alliance to turn and face the Kan-Abar army and the demon lords currently consolidating their position from Evinbrook.

To that end, you met with Felnoir's de-facto leader, the mayor of Maven Lake - and Freja's father, Vidar Blackwater himself. He's promised to get in touch with Auriel. Meanwhile, you flew back to Archon to explain the situation to Yi Fang, Sir Flint, and Adavan.

>con't

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We are the Shadow who made himself human.

>>26243119
HAHA TIME TO SAVE THE PRINCESS

woo

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Abigail's entrance into the Archonium was sudden, and not what you expected. She is lost somewhere within the enchanted gateway, stuck between bits of her personality given life and pitted against one another. With no other recourse, you dived in after her. The archonium transported you to the deep recesses of your own mind.

Within your visions of self, you discovered a new shard that had never existed before - your Humanity - and were able to fully embrace it. Your Temerity did not approve of this decision, and you had to subjugate it by force. For the moment, your internal workings have fallen into line.

You made it out of another strange vision, a desert seared by a burning sun. You found yourself back in the void between the Archonium's many gates, but before you could move on, Humanity stopped you and directed you further into the void, claiming that it could feel Abigail's presence...

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>>26243119
Two threads in a row!

You're the best waifu, SM.

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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/c3g2q9X7

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/6C1xSt58

>>26243134
No, we are The Nameless One, who woke up in another universe but was actually a terminator sent from the past

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>>26243175

I-it's n-not like I like you or anything...

Current Statistics:

HP: 38/81
Mana: 32/48
EXP: 11

Shards of Erebus:
(Isolation) - Normal
{Hunger} - Strong
(Silence) - Empowered
{Temerity} - Fragile

New Shards:
{Humanity} - Resonant

--Summoned--

-none-

--Automatons--

Earthen Construct (currently in Haven)

--Equipment--

Utility belt with purse

--Inventory--

Moonsong Shards x 3
Sun-Moon Key
Lightning Key
Succubus Reagents x 1

--Current Location--

Within the Archonium

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Oh man we had so much awesome in-character writing from last thread.

You guys are all awesome and I can't wait to rescue Abby and bust this joint.

... we have those succubus reagents, I wonder what would happen if we summonned a demon in here hah.

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>Last time...

It's just a giant ball of light, right? Like any light. Just big.

You try to Snuff out the sun.

The sun vanishes.

FUURRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

WHOOMPH

You reflexively put your hands to your ears to cover the sound...but then, you don't really have ears.

You glance down at yourself. In your panic, you assumed that human form between John and the human you created. You allow yourself to melt back to indistinct shadow.

You're floating in a void. The darkness is complete. Another gateway, another endless blackness between visions.

You can't believe that worked. You suppose not every puzzle has a complicated solution.

There's a door far ahead of you - an Archonium gateway. It twinkles with light. You head for it, flapping to propel yourself through the dark nothing.

<Wait!>

You bring yourself to a halt. <Humanity?>

<...turn to your right. Keep turning. Aaaand....stop!>

You're facing only more blackness. <What is it?>

<Abigail is that way.>

<...are you sure? There's nothing there.>

<...I sense them,> Humanity says. <...other people. Other doors. Hidden. Locked away. Hers...it's there. Go. Go!>

You fly forward as fast as you can.

You're about to ask Humanity if you're going the right way when the world flips around you. The bottom drops out of the world. You feel a sense of vertigo, as if you just passed through an archway. But then...maybe you did.

The world settles back around you.

>>26243227
>implying we won't be here for 5 more threads

I want to get off Uncle Yi's wild ride

ok so with the creation of humanity we have proven ourselves capable of creating shards

would it be possible for Judgement to defuse like Erebus did? I'm curious as to what Humanity would look like when released into the world.

>>26243215
>reading through last thread
>we snuff out Sun of Chaotic energy
>dat foreshadowing

>>26243200
I-I was trying to make a joke...

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You land in a bright green field. A river runs through a shallow valley. A small farmhouse lies in the middle of the pastures; you can see several cattle idly grazing.

Mountains rise on either side of the valley, tall and proud. A strange-looking fortress peaks out from the shelf of the cliffs ahead, all spindly supports and thin towers. You gaze at the scene, taking it all in.

<Which way?> you ask Humanity.

<...hmm...I'm not sure, now. It's...the same in every direction. But this is definitely the place.>

<Some sort of ideal? Like our vision?>

<Maybe so.>

You hear a tremendous roar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJDyv-YVPgw

A heavy flap of wings - a wind like death - you remember that. It's a more physical memory than anything, but you still remember the image of the giant dragon that attacked you, and the elf queen, back when all this started.

A huge dragon flies over your head at high speed. It reaches the fortress in short order. A heavy bell tolls out over the valley in warning.

The dragon shoots its fiery breath down onto the fortress. A globe of spirit magic deflects most of the blast, but many flames linger, hopping on the stone, searching for wood to burn. A barrage of arrows leaps out from the towers, but falls short of the dragon.

What do you do?

>fly up and attack the dragon directly
>run on the ground, fire magic at the dragon
>hang back and observe
>some other strategy

>some other strategy
lets go talk to it.

>>26243272
Honestly, at this point I'm thinking the whole thing was more of a meta-test to tell us to stop worrying about wasting xp and just use it so we can make some fucking progress.

>>26243275
Oh.

Sweet rip brah, get rekt

>>26243272
I figure we had three viable options.

Break the Shell
Snuff the Sun
CONSUME the Sun

Who knows what each would have done.

>>26243302
...Except that it was solved with one of the least expensive methods possible, just flying up and using a 2 exp move.

>>26243281
Can we use deep focus to try an find Abigail or did we already try that I can't remember because I missed most of the thread last night and reread it this moring...

>>26243281

Supersonic to the fortress, get a quick grasp on the situation, then bolster their defenses if needed, or assist the dragon if the occupants are of the unsavory variation...

>>26243281

I'm betting the spirit magic shield is Abby, or whatever represents Abby in this place. Go investigate while trying to avoid the dragon.

>>26243334
we haven't used deep focus here yet, we did use it in the desert though.

>>26243330
Correction, a 1 exp power.

>>26243281
Lets try and get closer, see what's happening.

>>26243281
Why not stealthily approach and observe? I'm not keen on instantly interfering in a vision that doesn't take us in to account, but we need to be close by if we decide we want to take action.

>>26243281
>implying we don't want to talk to everything we encounter

>>26243348
>>26243352
>>26243361
>>26243370

Building consensus...

Do you try to talk to the dragon, or just stay on the periphery and investigate the situation?

>>26243352
I'm betting both the spirit mage in the castle and the dragon are Abby.

>>26243399
Can we use deep focus?

>>26243399

Get the dragon's attention. If it attacks mindlessly then we should proceed to kill it.

>>26243399
Periphery first, to get a better grasp of what is happening.
Intervene if it looks like the dragon is about to break the shields.

>>26243399
Let's just investigate for now.

>>26243402
>>26243427

Eh, actually, I retract my statement. This anon has a point, we don't know what's what yet.

Let's fly to the castle and investigate a little more carefully first.

>>26243399
Investigate, if the dragon doesn't respond or seems feral then we should deal with it. Deep focus and keep an eye out for possible Abby

>>26243420

Sure, who wants to use Deep Focus?

>>26243334

You haven't used Deep Focus here yet. Humanity, your resident Abigail-detection device, says he can't make out anything specific now that you're in this vision, though he is confident this is indeed Abigail's vision.

>>26243455
Lets use Deep Focus.

>>26243455
I vote we use it

>>26243455
couldn't hurt i guess

>>26243455
can't we just use normal focus as we investigate

Roll 1d100 for Deep Focus

First three for focus effectiveness
second three for sneaky investigation

>>26243455

Worst case, everyone notices us and we learn nothing.

Do it.

>inb4 shitty rolls leave us completely clueless again and we just have to guess our way through like always.

>>26243455
Sure, what's the worst that could happen?
Archonium notices the foreign contaminate in the vision and eliminates it.
But yeah no, we're good, go for it.

Rolled 43

>>26243514
nah, Abigail, the real Abigail could be miles away, deep focus is a better choice in this situation.

>>26243520

Rolled 54

>>26243520

Rolled 53

>>26243520
here we gooooo

Rolled 70

>>26243520

Focusing.

Rolled 57

>>26243520

well then

Rolled 7

>>26243520

Rolled 14

>>26243520

Rolled 35

>>26243520

We find a Dragon, a Fortress and a Spirit Mage...

>>26243540
>>26243545
>>26243547
not bad
>>26243552
>>26243553
>>26243554
still pretty sneaky

we actually got above 50 for most rolls, a big change from last time.

>>26243573
I expect horrible things from the dice gods this thread.

>>26243573

I know, right? Jesus the rolls were horrible in the last thread, if it wasn't for that crit on the test for Humanity, things would've gone far differently.

Rolled 51

>>26243568
We're a shadow of average prowess.

Sweet merciful Jebus its time for shadow quest

>>26243624

Ah, but also crazy high bonuses. Average prowess, but insanely, insanely high bonuses.

>>26243624

at least we have improved from the BEST SPY EVER!

<SNEAK SNEAK SNEAK>

Rolled 1

>>26243653
Your hope won't keep you sane you for too long.

>>26243215
>EXP: 11
So what are we saving for next?
Note the total cost for all the abilities in the Water tree is 57 Exp...

>>26243692
>whose sane anymore?

>>26243710
>fine saving for pocket or darkness within, would like to finish poison tree or Automaton as well

>>26243710
i kinda want to get fast blink next,

and of course robust immunity

>>26243749
main reason for fast blink is we've been flubbing dodge rolls quite a bit.

>>26243710
Now that we have Magic Regeneration, getting Darkness within + Tao seems a popular option.

A lot of people can't stand the idea of even having it without Tao, so we are going to need 40 exp to get that.

Rolled 97

>>26243710
i am contractually obligated to say tao.

but after that, all aboard the eclipse train

You sprint across the fields toward the clifftop spires. You wings bring you from hilltop to hilltop, then over the river. You land while churning your legs, maintaining top speed and staying low.

The dragon unleashes another blast of fire, but this time, better prepared, the defending mage manages to meet it with the force of his own magic. The fireball splits, and globs of flame plummet into the valley. The structure of the fortress is spared, but the grass is quick to catch fire. The dragon breaks off and dodges a second blast of Spirit from the magician.

You reach the base of the cliffs and use Deep Focus.

You feel presences scurrying about inside the fortress. There's several thousand people, many inside the mountain - what feels like mines stretch into the mountain range.

But they don't feel like people. You can tell that immediately. Souls, presences...but not human.

There's no mages but the one powerful force of Spirit. The dragon itself is probably stronger than the magician.

A fleet of griffins launches from a parapet. They fly out in formation to intercept the Dragon before it makes another pass. A third of them are incinerated before they get close, but the rest make it, and begin to scrape and claw the giant winged beast from every angle. The harassed lizard loses altitude rapidly, though you don't think it's taking all that much damage. The griffins, on the other hand are losing people fast.

You've been half-flying, half climbing up the cliffs, and you've reached the outer walls of the town. You snake and claw and slither up around the edge of a tower and peer out into the town.

The residents didn't feel like people because they aren't people.

>con't

They're monsters.

Every kind of monster. You see snakes with human heads, one-eyed, muscle-bound behemoths, winged creatures with bird-like features mixed and matched with those of other animals; you see skinny, horned devils, and floating, tentacled orbs; a fat worm-like monster wriggles through a tight alley. Even what appears to be a walking frog with a large bowl of water for a head. It's a city of monsters, rushing about in panic because of the dragon attack.

More Spirit magic is being prepared - the magician is in the town's center, in the top floor of a castle. The dragon has landed on the valley floor. The griffon fleet's tight discipline keeps it distracted, but it's only a matter of time.

What do you do?

>sneak over and check out the mage
>continue to observe the battle from your current vantage point
>blend in with the crowd,
>some other strategy

>>26243797
>sneak over and check out the mage

>>26243797
>sneak over and check out the mage

>>26243710
I think now would be a good time to start going into summoning but I lost that bet with that ponce so I will be voteing for tao for now

>>26243797
Hmm, interesting.

>check the mage
hello representation of Abigail.

Just a reminder: the Archonium makes you face yourself and all that. The Abigail we encounter may not be the one we knew.

>>26243797
>sneak over and check out the mage

>>26243797

check the mage.

the denizens of this fort may be the representation of Abby's mothers peoples...

>>26243797
>disguise self as some ridiculous creature
How about a owlbearataur

>>26243797
A city of demons when Abigail is half demon hmmmmm
>sneak over and check out the mage

>>26243797
Sneak to mage

So the mage wanted to create some sort of society out of summons? And dragon is doing somethingsomething evil/good?
Actually, basing upon what I wrote before. Are we even in Abigails fantasy? Or is it someone elses?

looks like Abigail found the perfect place for her. A city that accepts everyone... and needs her help against a dragon.

>>26243797
>>sneak over and check out the mage

>>26243746
to finish poison tree we would also need spirit abilities such as spirit siphon and spirit lash so estimated cost is above 21 exp soooo if I had to guess the max exp to finish the poison tree I'd say high 40's to low 50's

Since Abigail is supposed to be some kind of super summoner. This whole thing may just be her powers completely out of control. The dragon may even be from her.

>>26243894

We've reunited with all our pieces and faced down those aspects of ourselves. I think we're in Abby's mind now.

>>26243894
Well, we know it is abagails trial, but we don't know what the particular parameters of it are, or how to solve it.

It might be as simple as fighting the dragon, but it could just as easily be more complicated.

>>26243894
The only thing we know for sure is that it's Abby-Sabby's vision. Assuming Humanity isn't just insane/stupid.

>>26243955
>>26243957
Now I've got a second thought.
She's half-human, right? What if she herself split into two aspects, just as we did. Human one- the summoner, and demon one- the dragon.
Food for thought

>>26243957

Judging from the first conversation we had, we THINK this is an idealized fantasy world she's created. She may have gotten stuck here, like what would've happened to us if we chose to remain as John.

You decide you need to investigate the mage. You eye the chaos below, the many townsfolk fleeing into the mines. You take wing, mimicking the vague shape of a griffon. There's so many monsters gliding about, shouting, pushing, that no one pays any attention to you.

You land on the balcony of the castle's top floor. A few steps over, and there's a door leading back inside. You Ink a tendril under the door and peer into the room.

The mage marches about the room - it's an odd creature, a lion with a bear's head. A large sigil is rapidly expanding on the floor as it mutters to itself - it looks like complicated magic. It must be trying to put something together while the griffins hold it off.

You're not sure what to do - you don't know who's in the right here. The dragon appears to be the aggressor, and it seems the griffins are sacrificing themselves to give the mage time to protect the civilians. But then, perhaps this country provoked the attack themselves? You don't have very much information.

What do you do?

>stay hidden; remain neutral
>speak to the mage
>fly out and slow the dragon so the mage has time to cast his spell
>try to take out the mage, then go speak with the dragon
>some other strategy

I wonder if we should try freeing all those others trapped here... or just CONSUME the Arconicum once we get out so this never happens again,

Rolled 19

>>26243957
the thing is, this is abigail's fantasy. and not only that, this is one where she failed. this is the one that we good enough for her that she didnt want to leave, or could not figure out how to.

i picture something like she cant leave, or the dragon will kill all of these nice monsters. of she leaves, they will die. so we kill the dragon to death and then she has no reason to stay. and make sure to eat it

>>26244013
>this is Abby confronting herself like we did

U a smert guy

>>26244013
I think your on to something Anon

>>26244020
>stay hidden; remain neutral

This isn't our vision, we need to figure out what this represents first before we make a move.

>>26244020
>Speak to the mage

only way to learn

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>>26244023
>and make sure to eat it

>>26244020
speak to the mage

then

speak to the dragon.

>>26244020
>speak to the mage
Got to get some info somewhere.

>>26244044
I think it's best to start talking seeing as she evidently already failed

>>26244020
speak to the mage whilst staying outside of the room. a single tendril and our telepathic communication ability should suffice...

>>26244049
Got to keep Darkxis happy.

>>26244020
Talk to the Mage telepathically, something along the lines of "The fuck is goin down here"

>>26243930
So out of everything that people want ( I only included the things more than one person said they were interested in)
Water tree total: 57 exp
Darkness Within + Tao: 40 exp (cheapest)(most support)
Poison tree estimate: high 40's to low 50's

Looks like Darkness Within+Tao have the most support out of all the popular options so the question is what order do we get them in?

>>26244020
Wouldn't speaking to the mage break his focus, more or less?

>>26244110
I'd rather not eat anything that may very well be an aspect of Abby's mind.

>>26244049
...I wonder if we could use Darkxis to track tasty and powerful things...

Rolled 31

>>26244123
tao first. we sure as hell arnt going to use darkness withen without it. we are to nice for that. and i hope we get enough xp for it before we leave. because achieving enlightenment in this thing seems thematicaly right.

>>26244151
><Go get it Darkxis, go get it boy!>

>>26244123
A lot of people want to get tao first so that Darkness Within is "safe" from the get-go.

I personally feel like we should get Darkness Within first, then work towards Tao, that way we have a super move that we can use, just not around allies until we get Tao

>>26244165
>>26244172
Additionally, if we are going to buy Tao, it would be worthwhile to add shadowrage to our shopping list, seeing as then we would have all the powers that benefit from it.

>>26244172
Oh man, thanks, I'm not the only one.

>>26244123
Im only going for tao and then attempting to kick up some support for summoning

>>26244172
We don't even really use berzerk and that's less dangerous and we've had it forever.

<Hail, mage!>

The lion-bear turns about, facing the door. A spirit mage /would/ know where a telepathic thought came from.

"...what are you doing here? Everyone needs to get to the mines, now!"

<I want to know a few things,> you say. <Why is the dragon attacking?>

"...why? Are you some kind of idiot? We've been at war with the Wastes for 8 years!"

<Who do you serve?>

"...who the hell are you?" The mage turns to face you fully. "In the name of the Empress, I demand you show yourself!"

What do you do?

>show yourself...slowly
>slip away
>some other strategy

>>26244272
>show yourself... slowly

>>26244172
I've thought we should've bought this a long time ago as well the ability can't hurt our friends if we warn them to stay away/run away or not use it around them

>>26244225
true, but we don't really use it because we either have companions around or it would dull our battle options, tao would help that is all

>>26244272
>show yourself...slowly

>>26244272
>>show yourself...slowly
assume Human/John form with some "demon" parts to blend in i guess

Rolled 27

>>26244272
blast a feeling of intese focus. not anger, or any other emotion, just the feeling that something ungodly large has suddenly given you its full attention.
<you will tell me of the empress. now.>

>>26244272
>show yourself...slowly
>Abigail is the Empress isn't she?

>>26244272
Reveal self
<I am not 'of' this place, so forgive my ignorance.>

>>26244225
It's paranoia mostly. The defense reduction isn't too big a problem as long as we cut off the power when we start to get low on HP.

And the rampaging part really only means that it has the effective condition of "unusable around allies", which isn't too bad considering we do spend a good bit of time exploring on our own.

>>26244290
That was my response to wanting DW first over Tao. Our next course of action after this is a war against Kan-Abar/Demons. We're obviously going to be surrounded by allies. I believe that if we get DW first, we'd probably never even use it before we get Tao because of this.

>>26244272
I was going to say bind and try to get more inforemation, but that might not work as well on a spirit mage?

>>26244272
So 8 years have passed in her dream. Or in real world. Oh my, what if she's grown to hate us in her fantasy? Showing ourselves'd be a huge mistake as we'd be hated. But what if we're idolized because we've been a paternal figure for her. I don't knooooow.

>>26244313
Why wouldnt we blend in as we are?

>>26244272
>In the name of the Empress
Calling it now, this is Abigail.

>>26244272
>>show yourself...slowly

>>26244371
I'm just not sure how well shadow blob would blend in with city of monster people who arent shadow blobs is all

>>26244272
>show yourself...slowly
Yes, made it in time for SQ!

>>26244319
>>26244373
Not saying you're wrong, but see these:
>>26243863
>>26244013

>>26244373

That's what I'm betting too.

>>26244394
The whole place is full of different types of monsters, I dont think anyone really cares

>>26244272
>Hah, they think the world's real
>Imagine their surprise when we tell them its not
>And then we'll end this world
...

Wait a second

Oh shit, is the world outside the Archonium fake too?

>>26244442

Welcome to CHIM.

>>26244442
>Cue inseption theme

>>26244442
To us, why not? Erebus of old clearly disliked its appearance and tried quite hard to be rid of it.

>>26244442
>The Legend of Shadow: Erebus's Awakening

>>26244471
And then Shadow was the Chaos and the Order lifted her skirt.

>>26244508

Its not rape. Its divine interactions between the true gods and greater demons.

>8 years
Has this war been going before Abby showed up? Because otherwise she's been here a pretty damn long time. That make her 17 in this vision, I think.

>>26244442
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXLDv-fUINM

>>26244561
look at:
>>26244363

You slowly Ink under the door and mny magic. You notice something different about morph up into your full height. You aura wraps you, reacting to your caution, on-guard against magic. It's different, though...tinged with flecks of purple fire. Humanity's influence?

No matter. Time enough for it later.

"...what...what are you?!"

<I am not of this place,> you say. <I've come...from a long way away, seeking an old friend>

"...you're him," the lion says. "Changer of Forms! The Foretold Savior! The Great Shadow!"

<...what?>

"Mighty Shadow," the lion says. It prostrates itself before you, burying its bear head to the rug. "Please. The Empress has told of your coming for many years. Help to save our humble city with your power. Please slay the dragon!"

<Back up,> you say, raising your arms. <Who is this Empress?>

"The Empress is the Empress, may She live forever! The Great Lady of Spirit! Ruler and Guardian of the Empire!"

<What's her name?>

"...one as lowly as myself is not privileged to such familiarity with the Empress Herself," the lion says.

<Pretend I don't know a thing, and give me the short version of why this dragon is attacking you. Quickly.>

"...ah...well, the Empire was established to guard and maintain the borders of our peace-loving lands against incursions from the Blasted Wastes. That is a desolate place, ruled by a mad witch we call the Banshee. She often sends her summoned beasts on incursions into our territory. She is a wild and unpredictable force. Were it not for the Empress's efforts, we would have been wiped out long ago. It is the Empress, may She live forever, from whom I draw my own powers."

There's a very sudden roar from just above you. A huge hunk of the roof is ripped away. The dragon's head leers into the hole it made.

What do you do?

>run
>grab the mage and run
>attack the dragon
>try to talk to the dragon
>some other strategy

File: 1374811761429.png-(25 KB, 521x462, 1313380821941.png)

25 KB PNG

>>26244442
>The entire world is just an illusion and isn't real
>We've just said that staying in an illusion isn't the right thing to do
OH GOD IT WAS FORESHADOWING

>>26244607
>ruled by a mad witch we call the Banshee.
That other parent that was part of the humanization project?
Ahhhh daaaaaamn. How the fuck we handle that?!

>>26244629

TEMERITY WAS RIGHT

>>26244607
>try to talk to the dragon
Well if this guy reacted so well to us I'd imagine that the Banshee's servants would react in a similar way.

Either that or we get an excuse to rip the dragon a new one without feeling guilty.

>>26244607

>You slowly Ink under the door. You notice something different about your aura as you morph up into your full height. It wraps you, reacting to your caution, on-guard against magic, but it's different...tinged with flecks of purple fire. Humanity's influence?

That first bit was really fucked up. Lost in the editing. ^Here's how it should read.

>>26244607

Pull the Dragon away from the fortress. we can engage in conversation then. Even if this side is the 'bad' one, little will change in the short while we will be talking.


also, Empress and Banshee confirmed as opposing sides to Abby?

>>26244607
City of summons kind of confirmed?
Knowing how summons work in the first place NOPE just stopping now I'm hurting my brain.
>>26244629
And now SM is just trying to make us paranoid. Or does he even need to try at this point? We do a pretty damn good job of it ourselves.

>>26244607
Yep. It's proven now.
Abigail split into two forms, just as we did with shards.
Empress and Banshee.
Time to help them combine.

>>26244607

Grab dragon, Talk to Dragon while dragging it away from mountain. If dragon doesn't respond peacefully or tries to eat us attack dragon.

>>26244607
Supersonic tackle that fucker and talk to him as well.

>>26244607

Take the mage, jump on the dragon, and hijack it.

More intelligently, try to talk to it.

>>26244607

>grab the mage and run

Yep, Abby is the Empress.

Now we need to figure out what the Blasted Wastes and the Banshee represent and get Abby to realize that this is an illusion.

We Persona 4 now

>>26244607
grab dragon, attepy diplomance, pile drive

>>26244607
>attack the dragon
Less kill kill and more pushing it away.

>>26244607
Wait....so....Half of Abby (The human half)....might be fighting the other Half of Abby (Her banshee heritage)...well...that's interesting.

>>26244666
Or kill one, or subjugate one, etc.

>>26244692
OH SHIT
What do we dooooooo

>>26244683
Banshee is her demon heritage.

File: 1374811995996.jpg-(144 KB, 775x500, The Joker.jpg)

144 KB JPG

>>26244665

Madness, as you know, is a lot like gravity...all it takes is a little push

>>26244692
>inb4 we fuck up and kill the wrong side or something

>>26244705
Yes, just as we did with ourselves.
No, seriously, it's better off if she's not half-dead.

>>26244660
Seconding, lets get the dragon away from everyone here and -then- start talking.

>>26244607
>>try to talk to the dragon
>>some other strategy
Send the mage to send word to the Empress while we confront the dragon.

This gives us the opportunity to draw the dragon away and get the bigger picture. If their side of the conflict is anything like Temerity, we might have to do a little bit of shadow boxing to get the dragon to talk, but that's fine.

>>26244666
Empress is clearly dependent on Shadow to save her since
>"Please. The Empress has told of your coming for many years. Help to save our humble city with your power. Please slay the dragon!"
she has been waiting for us for YEARS
I think we need a more independent Abigail
we should see what the other half of Abigail is like as well though

>>26244607
Sounds like we've got some peacemaking to do.

>>26244607
Try to talk to the dragon

Confirmed for non-intentionally lethal dragging of dragon away from city so you can try to talk?

>>26244742
I am the guy you're quoting. I personally think we should talk to both of them and help them recombine. She needs both of her parts if she is to succeed in ruling archon.

>>26244734

We shouldn't be killing anything. This is still Abby's test. We may need to jolt her a little to wake her up and focus, but ultimately what happens needs to be her decision.

>>26244766
Confirmed.

>>26244766
CONFIRM

>>26244766
confirmed.

>>26244766
confirm

>>26244766
Go for it.

>>26244766
grabit and supersonic it away screaming
<Im sure this is all a big misunderstanding, lets talk over here>

With all this talk of the years she's been waiting, keep in mind that it's possible her vision started for her some time in already.

Possibly.

>>26244766
Yeah, let's do that.

>>26244771
You. I like you. Me and this guy, we think alike.

>>26244767
I agree we shouldn't kill anything we just need to tell Abigail to quit waiting for us and finish the damned vision tests

Roll 1d100

Rolled 14

>>26244826

Rolled 59

>>26244826

Rolled 48

>>26244799
I have the horrible feeling that we just spent eight years dealing with shard bullshit.

>>26244826

Rolled 87

>>26244826

Rolled 21

>>26244826

Rolled 44

>>26244826

Rolled 31

>>26244826

Yi told her we would help her as part of his ruse to get her to go in, so naturally she set up shop and waited for us, right? It's unlikely she knows the banshee is herself, we likely need to broker their peace

>>26244836
>she was in here a full day before we were, and i sure time moves differently every vision

Rolled 78

>>26244826

Rolled 61

>>26244826
Rollin'

Rolled 60

>>26244826
Nat 1 incoming

Rolled 25

>>26244826

Rolled 16

>>26244849
nah, we need to get both parts of her to decide which one will lead. The one who attacks or the one who defends?

Or better yet, get them to see they need BOTH to succeed in life.

>>26244767
The recombining part i think was unique to us. For abby to "win" i think she needs to lead her nation to victory against the armies of the banshee. Her power is summoning, so of course the conflict would be played out as a conflict between controlled units.

Symbolically, it means making her power and nature subservient to her mind, rather than becoming slave to her heritage.

>>26244880
you aren't getting it Anon, the banshee IS abigail too.

>>26244849
Very much possible, she arrived at a very young age and was most likely confused, I wouldn't be surprised if both of them thought the other one as the big bad. But it's also very much possible that one is good, other is evil, and both are required.

>>26244880
That's a good thought too.
Maybe we should all just stop thinking about it until we deal with the dragon, this is all too confusing.

>>26244891
This is something I've thought too, but we don't know ANY of this for sure.

>>26244911
>Abigail's mum was a banshee
>She's half-banshee
>The main opposition to the empress is the Banshee
HMM

I WONDER WHAT IT COULD ALL MEAN

>>26244911
Which is why we're going to take the dragon for a talk.
To figure it out for sure.

She nods, but only picks at her food. "Um...Shadow?"

<Yes?>

"...um...if something happens...will you come help me?"

You smile. <I'll always come to help you, Abigail.>

She smiles, and nods. "I'm glad."

She really took this to heart. And apparently her faith was well placed. Might also be why she didn't conquer this herself, though. Too dependent. But that could just be because she's too young for this shit

>>26244891
I know that it is Abagail, and Temerity was us too.

I'm mostly saying that they probably won't literally fuse, and that the "Win Condition" is probably Abby's armies beating Banshee's and abby checkmating, rather than us just swooping in as forcing Banshee to surrender.

>>26244932
YA KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ASSUMING.
It can sometimes lead to bad outcomes if we just think the most obvious explanation is right!
But only if it isn't actually right.
The obvious is wrong only rarely.
Except for when it isn't.

The dragon's head looms back. Fire builds in its mouth.

You explode off the floor, leaving the carpet vaporized in a neat circle and the stone cracked where you jumped. You slam into the dragon's neck, wrapping it about with your shadow.

You know it didn't expect so much mass or momentum from a small shadow like you. You drag it down through the sky, then begin to slap with your wings, dragging it downward. Massive claws scratch for you, but you Ink out of the way while maintaining your grip, and it isn't long before you're back on the valley floor.

You attempt to slow somewhat, but not that much. You let go of the dragon, and it slams into the ground on its back, letting out a long groan. You alight a good few yards away and let it climb to its feet. It shakes its head.

<I don't want a fight,> you say. <But now that you know I'm stronger than I look...I do want to talk.>

A low rumble escapes the dragon's throat. "...talk...with monster-folk? Hmm...why don't I just burn you instead?"

<I want a peaceful resolution,> you say. <It has to start somewhere.>

"Peace? Bah." The dragon rears up on its hind legs. It towers over you. "We need nor want no peace with the /Empress/. My lady will have no peace!"

<It has to start somewhere. Why not between you and me?>

A fireball explodes out the dragon's mouth!

Roll 1d100 to dodge

>>26244981
look at:
>>26244937

Rolled 62

>>26245003

Rolled 76

>>26245003

Rolled 55

>>26245003

Rolled 11

>>26245003
TO DOGE

Rolled 14

>>26245017
>>26245028
>>26245019
not bad

>>26245003
we might actually make a dodge check for once. Its about time.

Rolled 85

>>26245003
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODGE

Rolled 21

>>26245008
And if you go back to my original post...
>Maybe we should all just stop thinking about it until we deal with the dragon.

>>26245003

>>26245017
>>26245019
>>26245028

STOP ROLLING

I don't trust this spate of good luck to last.

Rolled 54

>>26245003

Rolled 2

>>26245003
>natural 1

Rolled 56

>>26245003
Let the good times roll.

>>26245003
>pacify it
><You remind me of a friend I met recently, lot like you actually. Always killing first and never talking things out.>

File: 1374812961451.jpg-(8 KB, 263x192, I am a mother fucker.jpg)

8 KB JPG

Time to slap the shit ouf of this dragon, should make him more reasonable!

Rolled 6

>>26245072
hah, so close

>>26245003
That's it, let's CONSUME it.

This time, you were on guard. You flicker to the side faster than the fire can reach you. It explodes into the grass behind you, setting it alight, but you're far and away.

The dragon's head swivels, but you keep on your toes, circling it rapidly so that it can't get an easy bead on you.

You're on a flat plain leading down to the river. The river itself is about 100 yards (91 meters) behind you. The dragon's fire is rapidly spreading...if you're going to make a ground strike, it would have to be quickly.

What do you do?

>physical attack
>berserk
>point-blank Schattenkrieg
>use magic (specify)
>some other strategy

>berserk

File: 1374813091139.gif-(1.86 MB, 300x170, nat20animalcheck.gif)

1.86 MB GIF

>>26245102
>roll for animal tame

>>26245102
>point-blank Schattenkrieg
Lets knock it into the river

>>26245102
>berserk
We haven't used this enough.

>>26245102
>berserk
<Why you gotta make me beat you!>

>>26245102
Tidal Force. Get that fire out and hit this fucker hard.

>>26245102
>physical attack

PUNCH SNOUT TO ESTABLISH SUPERIORITY

Rolled 62

>>26245102
Drag it into the river and apply head-into-river treatment until satisfied.

>>26245102
>>physical attack

Smack him hard on the nose <NO! Bad dragon!>

>>26245102
berserk/schattenkrieng it into the river
>use surge/tidal force

>>26245102
Shadow control his bitch ass

>>26245102

cripple the dragon with Hit and Run style tactics.
Then we can make it give us a rundown of the views and policies of it's Mistress...

>>26245102
>tidal force and physical/berserk

>>26245102
>physical attack

>>26245155
Wait no minus one berserk let's do this first.

How about

Hit and Run tactics
followed by
Tidal Force

?

>>26245224
>i can dig it

>>26245224
Sounds good.

>>26245224
Sounds good.

>>26245224

sounds good, keeping our mobility up will help with a big target like this.

>>26245239
he can dig it

>>26245224
Sounds unbad.

>>26245224
Yes, gogogo.
Wanna do the fighting fast, need moar exposition/plot. Get the mook outta the way, killkillkill.
And then eateateat.

>>26245252
We can dig it

>>26245224
why not

... also this is a summon, you can't reason with summons since they follow their programming.

We might have to go directly to the Banshee to see if she is a true Banshee or an amalgam.

with this kind of positive consensus we're going to be rolling 6 nat 1s in a row

Roll 1d100

Rolled 70

>>26245282

>>26245269
YOU SKIPPED THE SHE CAN DIG IT!

Rolled 30

>>26245282

Rolled 3

>>26245282

Rolled 98

>>26245282

Rolled 58

>>26245292
>>26245293
why

>>26245282

well, we slightly flubbed the hit n run, lets see how we do on tidal force.

Rolled 67

>>26245282

Rolled 99

>>26245282

>>26245297
>>26245303
>>26245314
not bad, we are the master of water it seems.

>>26245322
DAMMIT SO CLOSE

Rolled 51

>>26245286
>>26245292
>>26245293
so kinda flubbed hit n run
>>26245297
>>26245303
>>26245314
with a pretty boss tidal wave

Rolled 41

>>26245322
FUCK

>>26245282

>>26245297
>>26245322
>so close why?

99s that don't even count have been taunting us for a while.

Rolled 58

>>26245282
Rollin'

You flicker into and out of the reach of the dragon, constantly on the move. You never give it enough time to spew fire, but it's faster than it looks. You gash it under the arm, but it manages to swipe you back, hard. You barely avoid landing in the middle of the growing fire.

The exchange of blows continues for a few moments. You keep focusing on the right arm, and soon it's covered in slices and claw marks from your attacks.

>you've taken 4 damage (34/81)

swings its tail in an attempt to catch you, but you saw that coming. You grab the end of the tail and tug hard, pulling its legs out from under it. The dragon thumps to the ground, wind knocked from its lungs.

You use the opportunity to cast Tidal Force, drawing upon the river.

A wall of water answers your call. You fly up just as it arrives. It slams into the dragon, sending him sprawling and spluttering. The fire that threatened to cut off your movements is completely doused.

The dragon struggles to recover. You have the initiative.

What do you do?

>physical attack
>berserk
>schattenkrieg
>go for a CONSUME (Gaping Maw, Hunger shard?)
>some other strategy

>>26245426
Either BERSERK or CONSUME

>go for a CONSUME (Gaping Maw, Hunger shard?)
Gaping Maw.

>>26245426

>physical attack

Rolled 9

>>26245426
Shadow control

>>26245426
>>physical attack

>>26245426
CONSUME

>>26245426
Shadow control for interrogate attempt, then either finish it off or CONSUME

>>26245426

Guys I don't think we're making out point that we want to end this peacefully if we keep beating the shit out the dragon.

Try talking to it again, if it still won't listen, punch it some more though.

>>26245426
Consume.

It's a summon. It is confirmed not capable of listening to us.

>>26245468
we're gonna have to approach the Banshee to get a reasonable conversation, Summons only follow their programming.

>>26245426
Gaping Maw.
I'm not very interested in berserk, TBH. I'm perpetually afraid of hurting someone we don't want to hurt.

>>26245468
This.

>>26245426
>berserk
Beat the shit out of it until it's actually willing to talk.

>>26245426
definatly Shadow dominate, could help with interrogate and boost our CONSUME

>>26245426
voting CONSUME, use the Maw

Rolled 64

>>26245426
Shouldn't we regenerate? Or is that only in darkened areas, I forget.

>>26245426
>physical attack

Punch him until he is willing to talk.

>>26245516
only in darkness.

>>26245467
>>26245468
It's a summon, it's not going to listen.

Also, peace really isn't going to work here, this is like us vs Temerity, we have to help the part of abby that we know become the dominant part.

>>26245468
Not everything needs/wants to be talked down, and we've learned from experience with Xylla that summons literally cannot fight their nature.