First!

woo

File: 1375218611869.jpg-(533 KB, 1600x1165, Venia.jpg)

533 KB JPG

Recent Events Summary:

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 Blackwater'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.

Abigail's entrance into the Archonium was sudden, and not what you expected. She lost herself 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.

You met with the elf queen, Ellendra Kalladar, your Humanity, and your Temerity. Queen Kalladar split you before you could fully recover in order to give you what she termed a "choice", after informing you that the elements were an illusion and that fundamentally, there is only Order, and Chaos.

Your Humanity is something new that has coalesced inside you over time, thanks to the opportunity she granted you. Ultimately, you joined forces with it to defeat and reign in your Temerity, who has grudgingly accepted your dominance.

You managed to escape your own visions, and Humanity directed you to Abigail's location within the vast dark of the Archonium that lies between the gateways. Within her vision, 11 long years have passed. In a strange world in which she was the only source of magic, she united warring clans of monsters and beasts and ruled over them as empress. However, after forming that empire, her personality split in three, and have since been locked in an uneasy stalemate.

>con't

HAHA
TIME FOR FEELS

>>26333854
Welcome back SM.

File: 1375218645820.jpg-(29 KB, 443x254, 1368249504975.jpg)

29 KB JPG

>mfw preparing for the feels of this thread

File: 1375218650333.png-(1.22 MB, 1162x850, 1331251115491.png)

1.22 MB PNG

>Just caught up on the archives
>Finally here for the start of a thread
I'm hype as fuck

Repeating plan to smash the 3 Abbys into eachother until the Archonium Wild Ride stops.

File: 1375218684941.jpg-(76 KB, 500x386, stillthebest.jpg)

76 KB JPG

>>26333854
You're still the best waifu, SM

File: 1375218691136.jpg-(423 KB, 1600x1136, Palace of the Empress.jpg)

423 KB JPG

>>26333892
I'm home, anon.

>>26333888
>>26333896
i mean
whats the worst that could happen

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

You've met the Abigail that still sits on the throne of the Empire. She is ambitious, effective, ruthless, and disturbingly in awe of you. She sees you as the long-awaited anchor to help her defeat the other two sides of herself and escape back to the real world.

You tried to introduce the topics of your concern, but she avoided the subject, asking you to stay the night so that you could take in more depth the next day. You decided that a night of rest and meditation was a good idea, and that in the morning you would attempt to gently confront her.

I have my piss jug ready so I don't have to miss a single second.

File: 1375218733066.gif-(147 KB, 400x221, 1370231167853.gif)

147 KB GIF

>>26333910

You know, technically I'm the best husbando.

File: 1375218786492.jpg-(957 KB, 1949x759, ability tree (89).jpg)

957 KB JPG

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

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

Current Statistics:

HP: 54/81
Mana: 24/48
EXP: 17

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

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

We gotta choose a side to support, and help that side to win.

Personally I think helping Humanity win the support of the Banshee and Temerity is the way to go about this. We don't want Fang the Second - Coming wearing Abigails skin.

Though knowing the Fangs she would probably turn to Lich-hood.

Did somebody say Shadow Quest?

>Last time...

"So," Abigail says, "the plan is thus: you find this other me, earn her trust - which will be easy enough - and then lure her back here. I'll be well-prepared."

<...prepared for what?>

"She needs to be removed," Abigail says simply. She smiles, and stands from the table. "But let's talk about the details later. Shadow...I've missed you. Tonight, I want you to rest, and tomorrow, we'll spend the day together. A feast in your honor! I'll even cook for you. Does that sound good?"

<...ah...I didn't realize you knew how.>

"I learned - had some free time, after all. I could just think it all up from thin air, but that wouldn't be fun." She claps her hands. Immediately, servant monsters bustle in from a dozen entrances you didn't notice. "They'll escort you to your room. We'll talk more tomorrow, alright?"

<Abigail, there's...Abby, this isn't - >

"Don't worry about it! Tomorrow!" She waves a hand at you and vanishes through a side door.

The servants bow and scrape at you. You don't bother telling them off. You hardly notice them.

It's like another person is wearing Abigail's personality. Sometimes it rings true...and other times, it sounds like the ugly string of a broken violin.

But you're tired from your journey through the Archonium - exhausted, in every sense of the word. You've argued with and battled against yourself, investigated crevices of your mind you'd prefer were left alone, and the effort of it all seems to have hit you all at once.

A safe room, for one night, might not be such a bad idea. And that will give you time to compose words that might get through to...this Abigail.

You're not sure what bothers you more - the sense that she's like a mirror of Fang, or the creeping awareness that she might regard you as something more than a...father-figure?

You don't even know what to call your relationship with her. And if you don't define it, she almost certainly will.

You have a lot to sort through.

>con't

File: 1375218890977.jpg-(286 KB, 648x832, Abigail the Spirit Empress.jpg)

286 KB JPG

>>26333954

File: 1375218908367.png-(46 KB, 645x773, 1373603520144.png)

46 KB PNG

Is it time?

You let the monsters around you hustle you through the maze-like palace and into a luxurious sweet. Apparently it's reserved for only the most honored clan elders. You don't really pay attention to the details.

You sit in the bedroom, on the bed. It's down-soft. Comforting.

>HP: 54/81 from regeneration

<Humanity. What do you think?>

<She's been waiting on us 11 years,> Humanity says. <You got us this far. I trust your judgement. What you say, goes.>

<...understood.>

What you understand is that you get to do everything. Great.

You have time before the sun rises again. You decide to meditate on Temerity. It is still barely recovered from your battle. You reach within yourself and grasp the shard, pushing power into it.

>{Temerity} - Weak

You can hear its voice. <You know you need me, Judgement. That is good.>

<Like I said...we should work together.>

<I will not work with the corruption,> it says. <It seems to have left you to your own devices on the matter of the girl. But perhaps you'd like my opinion?>

What do you do?

>actually, I wouldn't
>I'll at least hear you out

>I'll at least hear you out

>>26333976
To dismiss him is to weaken our already fragile mutual trust.

Hear him out

>>26333976
>>I'll at least hear you out

>>26333976
>I'll at least hear you out
I don't trust this fucker at all but hey.

>>26333976
>I'll at least hear you out
>ITS TIME

>>26333976
Let's hear him. We value everyone's opinion equally, or something like that, right?

>>26333976
>>I'll at least hear you out

But personally she seems to almost have this world of order thing figured out.

>>26333976
We already know exactly what he's going to say, but let him speak up anyway.

>Work with temerity abby so that we can leave

File: 1375219103708.png-(48 KB, 800x1200, Resist the Urge.png)

48 KB PNG

>>26333976
>>I'll at least hear you out
I know exactly what he's going to say already, but I think it needs saying.

File: 1375219228946.jpg-(132 KB, 1120x814, image.jpg)

132 KB JPG

>>26333931

But I thought you had no defined gender?

File: 1375219312519.jpg-(170 KB, 711x986, dark_mage_by_forge_t-d4wl9c3.jpg)

170 KB JPG

Ohboy ohboy it's Shadow Quest time

I really hope this isn't going to turn into a constant battle with our other shards. I think that's what killed gargoyle quest.

I'm afraid we will have to destroy all magic in this world to stop humans from accidentally destroying it, or watch it happen. How will we be able to handle that decision?

>>26334091
Nah, we're in control. If things go bad, we just ignore/break them. Unless we for some reason have to go into the Archonium again.

>>26333976
>I'll at least hear you out

Hey guys, maybe we should pick up Spirit Lash to see if there's a third Spirit Resistance behind it? And if there isn't we can still get Spirit Siphon. This is encase one of the Abby's go hostile on us because she's a Spirit rape train.

I think we should try to get the ambitious Abby and hiding Abby to combine, somehow.

>>26334110
We can't destroy magic without destroying, well, everything.

It's an all or nothing deal. Magic is chaos, and everything (Including humans) is just a sort of ordered chaos. Removing chaos means reducing reality to absolute nothingness.

What we need to do is take the idea of ordered chaos one step farther - Create chaos that consumes itself, forcing it to stay in a circle of expansion and contraction, like reality is breathing.

>>26333976
>I'll at least hear you out
At least, up until the point where you say we should kill her, leave her, or eat her.

>>26334168
Agreed. Begin plan: Abby Smasher

<...I'll hear you out, at the least.>

Temerity is silent for a moment. You can feel it turning over the words in its head. <...this...Abigail Fang. Once, we had a servant - if we can believe the words of Adavan, that general of Hecate.>

You remember Adavan telling you about Legion - or, David, when he was a man. <You think we can't trust Adavan?>

<Spirit is a more orderly shade of Chaos,> Temerity says, <as are Earth, and Water. But no, Judgement. We can't trust anyone. He is Hecate's man, not ours, which brings me to my point. Allies are indeed valuable; doing everything alone is difficult.>

<What are you saying?>

<Abigail could be that ally.>

<She already is.>

<More than that,> Temerity says. <This is a chance. Here, within her very soul, is an opportunity to mold her.>

<I won't - >

<You said you'd hear me out.>

<Fine. Speak.>

Temerity waits a moment, then starts again. <I know what that flame is thinking - he wants the so-called "human" side of her to win out, as if humanity is somehow intrinsically good. And I know what you want - some sort of idealistic balance that doesn't actually exist.>

<Get to the point.>

<This is our chance to make her like us - /orderly/. She respects - no, she reveres us. It's the best of both worlds, Judgement. You get your companionship...and we return to the mission. If we make her of order, order will accept her as a soldier, as it does us.>

<...let's say...for sake of argument, I go along with it. How would we even do that?>

<I remember when Humanity tried to seep between the cracks of Isolation,> Temerity says. <I felt it. I would do the same, but between the cracks of Abigail's soul. She is very much like a broken shard, wouldn't you say?>

>con't

>>26334175
Lore implies magic hasn't always been here, which would mean it's not a natural part of the world. A tumour that can be removed.

>>26334175
I like this thought. And we could add in the dynamo angle as a confirmation that ordered chaos can work.

The idea is bold.

But you're not comfortable with it. At all.

<When the time comes,> Temerity says, <we will be forced to seek our true power, for survival, and to protect those you say you care about - regardless of our original goals. Will you let her stay where she is, a soul of chaos...or bring her into the fold?>

<It didn't work out very well for David, did it?>

<We left him to his own devices. He went insane attempting to please us. We shall not make that mistake again.> Temerity's presence begins to fade back into your core. <Think about it, Judgement. When the time comes...I'll answer your call.>

He vanishes.

>con't

>>26334168
That's the conclusion we reached at the end of the last thread. I'd tentatively extend it to the Banshee as well, depending on what she's actually like. (Ambitious Abby isn't exactly an unbiased source of info)

we are Judgement, a shard just as much as Humanity and Temerity and Isolation... could we use ourselves as that glue?

>>26334247
I say yes.

>>26334231
...I guess he want's us to bang her...

Probably should have added that as a no condition...

>>26334231
>>26334247
I'm of the opinion that we should give a big fat "no" when that time comes. I believe there's a middle-ground, and I think it's reachable.
There are ways to end war that don't involve killing the other side, ya know.

>>26334276
If you mean for the Abby binding thing, I say this is good too.

Fuck, Temerity. I have no idea what to say to that.

>>26334276
I like this thought though.

>>26334231
>>26334247
Nope nope nope.

Absolutely not.

Turning people into machines is no better than killing them.

>>26334276
An interesting idea, but I'd say hold off on it until we see what the other Abigails are like. And how would this factor in to the vision anyway? We still need to get out.

>>26334247
God no. Another Legion is a bad, bad idea.

>>26334247
I just want things to go back to the way they were before ;_;

>>26334294
So terminator wants to waifu Abigail-destroyer of cunts?

>>26334248
The banshee abby is of chaos, the cowardly one is childishness and all it holds.

>>26334322
I'm sorry, John. But you jumped in a waterfall and killed yourself. There is no going back.

When you withdraw from within yourself, the sun is already up. Bright light streams in through your bedside window. You wait expectantly.

After a few minutes, there's a knock at the door. "My great lord Shadow," comes a hesitant voice, "the Empress requests your esteemed presence at breakfast, should it please you."

You open the door, shocking the small Imp dressed in a butler's suit. <Lead on.>

You're brought down through the castle and into a large courtyard that extends through the middle of a retaining wall. A round table is set at the intersection of two gravel paths emerging from clusters of precisely clipped bushes and flowerbeds. Songbirds flit and flutter around a small fountain nearby. Abigail is seated at the table; she wears a bright blue dress.

It touches a memory. The same shade of blue you complimented her on. Going by time in the Archonium...it's been a month and a half for you, if you include all your visions. It feels like a lifetime ago.

She gives you a smile like a sunbeam. "Shadow. Good morning."

What do you say?

>compliment her dress
>get right to business
>write-in

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

We'll be talking for a bit, now. Time to pull out the big guns, /tg/

A thought.

What if we take all the Abbies and use the opposite shard on all of them?

Fang Abby gets ??? (Judgement?)
Banshee Abby gets Humanity
Scared Abby gets Temeritu

>>26334358
Oh god I don't know what to do

help

>get right to business
nope, no romancing the unstable Fang!Abby

>>26334337
That's the probable assumption, but SM fucks with assumptions. Black-and-white isn't often a thing here.
If what we know/currently assume is true, then I'd say kill the Banshee. But I'm open to reevaluating that after we get more info.

>>26334358
>Compliment her dress WHILE getting right to busniess.

>>26334358
>compliment her dress
Get her in a good mood first. Then:

<Do you remember when Fang took us all out on his boat, Abby? How he said he used to be a racer? When he entered the Archonium, that was the side of him that he crushed, just like you want to do to this other side of you. But Fang doesn't want you to be like him, Abigail. He wanted you to be better. Maybe he should have done better to practice what he preaches. Maybe he forced you into this behavior with some of his methods. But this isn't what he wanted for you. It isn't what I want for you. And it isn't what you wanted for you uncle, either. Remember? You told me that you thought he was wrong, and that he knew that and did it anyway like a bad habit. I think you may have picked up some bad habits yourself these past 8 years, Abigail.
You said that you didn't think you were alright. That you know something is wrong. Don't ignore that in favor of bad habits. In three years, as just a child, you united an entire Empire at war with itself and in eight years as just a single part of that person you haven't been able to defeat this one enemy. This part of you that you want me to find isn't a weakness that needs to be destroyed, Abigail. It's a strength you need to reunite with.>

>>26334381
Or we could supercharge the fuck out of them by using Hunger on the Banshee, Temerity on Fang Abby, and Humanity on Scared Abby.

>>26334358
>>write-in
I'm leaning towards a stoic greeting, let her open up the discussion and see where she takes it.

Though, we could shoot straight to the point, hit her with a flat "no" right now and get her off-balance.

>>26334381
Then we have three "whole" Abbies and the Archonium explodes.

Or it gives each of the three a new identical vision and we get some Inception going.

If the banshee is mostly chaos, maybe we could, if we find a way to recombine the abbys make the banshee into order before recombining ? this way it might give her some advantages without making her a machine like making her 100% order would ?

>>26334422
<Don't lock yourself away in a drawer.>

>>26334358
Straight to business. We need to hit home that she has to trust is fully. Remind her that the hiding Abby is not her weakness. Is a part of her, important as any other.

>>26334464
>Archonium gate opens
>Abby walks out
>Two more Abbys
>Four, eight, sixteen, thirty two, sixty four, one hundred twenty eight abbys.

>>26334477
u wot

>>26334479
I like this line right here. Assuming she knows about it, of course.

>>26334495
>Abby takes over the world.

>>26334512
>We take over the world
>Army of Abbys

>>26334358
I have lots of stuff to say, but it doesn't necessarily fit right in to the opening discussion. So I'm going to post my wall-of-text, and you lot can decide what parts of it need keeping and if any, where to stick it in.

300+ characters, gonna be two-posts

----
----
Time for magic friendship weepy drama speeches
<Abigail, the goal is to master these aspects of yourself, so that when you leave you might move with assuredness and certainty - to be in full possession of yourself, confident in your abilities.
But there are more ways than one to overcome dissent.

So many other before you have settled it as you intend - they kill the pieces of themselves which are weaker.
(Send an impression of Yi Fang, holding up his boating medal, looking forlorn)
But in truth, they are the lesser for it. Conflict is the cowards route to power, taken all too often by humanity, because it is the easiest road. Killing off part of yourself makes you less - not more.
But there is another way to master yourself. You can reconcile those disparate pieces, bring them into understanding.
(Send an impression of Shadow, flanked by Humanity, Temerity, Isolation, Silence, and Hunger)
This path is more difficult. It is frightening, because change is frightening. You will not be who you were when you entered, but you will be more. Someone greater, someone who understands that there is a time and place when some methods are better than others.
>cont

>>26334547

Once upon a time, you understood that these alternatives existed.
(Send an impression of Shadow arguing with Yi Fang about the Vanishing Death and of Abigail's interjection, and a feeling of resolve to limit the killing as much as possible)
You understood that monsters can be made -
(an impression of Adavan, at the head of an undead army, prepared to sweep across Jacob's Field)
- or unmade.
(an impression of Adavan, standing guard over Abigail, protecting her)
You were the better for that. Better than the world that saw a Shadow, and cried, "It is different, and therfor it must be killed!"
That piece of you - the indecision which you seek slay - She is your temperance, your compass. She nevers stops looking for a better way forward, a way that's better for everyone, not just herself.
(juxtapose an impression of the Soul vault, crowded with the enslaved souls of Shadow and Spirit mages, with that of Haven, where Light and Shadow and Spirit work side by side)
Is that a part of you that you wish to give up? For what - expedience, an end to self-doubt?

I knew you once, Abigail. I knew your kindness, your campassion. I knew your innocence. And through you, I knew hope. I did not love you because I saw your potential to rule or the power you held inside. I loved you because you were already everything I hoped to be.
(Send her an image of a little girl crying over her parents grave, alongside a feeling of restless hunger dying out in the face of compassion)

You asked me when I came here if I was the real Shadow. Now I ask you - are you the real Abigail? Are you my Abby-Sabby, or are you a shadow?>

>(optional) invoke Humanity
>(optional) invoke ourself (are we even a shard? I don't even know anymore)

File: 1375220683296.gif-(1.66 MB, 252x193, feb5f07cb24e5041c79eb5786(...).gif)

1.66 MB GIF

>>26334358
pic

Writing.

I'll avoid hitting her with the Mack-Truck of righteous logic from 0 to 60...let it lead in naturally.

>>26334358
>>compliment her dress
<A familiar color, I see. Even after all this time, some things really do stay the same. I'm glad.>

>>26334422
I liked this way of putting things from last time, and past-me would probably want me to re-mention what I wanted us to say last time as well even if I kind of like the other guy's way of wording it better.

><The way you are now, had you been in charge, you would have had yourself executed back in Jacob's Field... you must be able to see that, right? The fact that you are able to stand here now—able to think, to laugh, to love—should stand testament to my feelings on the matter.>
><Somewhere, deep down inside, you know that this is not the way things should be. After all, at tea yesterday, you told me that you thought...no, KNEW that something was wrong.>
><I promise you that I will help you make things right again.>

Someone also brought up something during last thread that we told Abby in the past which still rings true in this situation:

><That you feel that way for people who hate you is admirable. Never lose that, Abby-Sabby. I'm proud of you for it. Always look for a better way. Sometimes...it's hard. But if we don't do it, no one will. If we don't do it, how can we expect it from others?>

>>26334547
>>26334562
notbad.jpg

File: 1375220797481.jpg-(247 KB, 524x468, 1374405328266.jpg)

247 KB JPG

I don't think I'm ready

File: 1375220835235.jpg-(80 KB, 433x378, image.jpg)

80 KB JPG

>>26334616
>eternally
You got me

It occurs to me that there's a possibility, due to her pseudo-demon heritage, that if she leaves here without her other aspects she may actually be weakened. Given the way this fake world bows to her will she wouldn't actually know if she was weaker without them right now.

File: 1375220937412.jpg-(56 KB, 900x636, 754255266.jpg)

56 KB JPG

>>26334358
>>write-in
Consume?

>>26334672
go pls darkxis

>>26334585
Thank you

I look forward to the minor interactions most of all.

<Good morning, Abigail.> You take in her dress. <You look lovely.>

She blushes. "...thanks. I actually picked this one..." She pinches the cloth of her dress. "Well, I don't know if you remember, but - "

<It's your color,> you say.

Her smile blossoms again. She just nods at you.

Things are quiet for a moment. She nibbles at a biscuit, then sets it down. She stands, and you stand with her. "...walk with me?"

<Certainly.>

You walk down one of the gravel paths that weave between the bushes. She glances at the birds lingering amongst the flowers. "...no Skysever, here. Birds...I really like them, Shadow. Maybe we can do something about that."

<The Skysever?>

She nods. "Mmm."

<Maybe.> You stop. <We need to talk, Abigail. About this place...and about what to do.>

"Yeah." She twines her fingers behind her back and looks at you. "Can I ask you something, first?"

<...of course.>

"...do you...look like a person, ever? I know you can change shape like water, almost. But I was wondering..."

<...when I needed to blend in.>

"Can I see?"

What do you do?

>Replicate John, the humble farmer
>Replicate your old traveling form
>somewhere in between
>remain an amorphous shadow

>>26334672
Hey, I just thought of something.


Doesn't Darkxis seem out of place in the entity that Temerity claims Erebus was?

Why would a being of perfect order existing in a universe of nothingness ever be hungry? What would it consume is a place where nothing existed but itself?

>Replicate your old traveling form
We aren't John. We will never be him.

>>26334728
[x] Something new, based upon our recent experiences.

>>26334728
>somewhere in between
We aren't John, but we embraced the aspect that was him and I don't like our old traveling form.

>>26334728

Replicate Fang. It will help with the conversation. Maybe.

>>26334728
>Replicate your old traveling form
I really really hopes that dissuades her from trying to screw.

>>26334728
>Replicate your old traveling form

>>26334735
Shards were made afterwards to deal with the chaos

>>26334728

>somewhere in between

Like when we were crying? I liked that part, it was sad.

>>26334728
>>somewhere in between

>>26334728
Crazy bitch pls, we are a blob
Remain a blob.

>Replicate your old traveling form

>>26334728
>somewhere in between

>>26334728
>somewhere in between

>>26334728
>>somewhere in between
SYMBOLISM

>>26334728
>>somewhere in between
I never liked the old travelling form, but that John/travel form moment was great.

>>26334728
>Replicate your old traveling form

This is what we use when we need to blend in and technically what she's asking to see.

Seriously, we don't wan to encourage her whiles she's just an aspect.

>>26334728
>somewhere in between

>Replicate your old traveling form
this, making ourselves more male is just going to make ourselves attractive to her.

>>26334728
>>somewhere in between
Our old traveling form was pretty terrible, but going full John seems disingenuous given that we made it through that dream intact.

>all these fags picking in between
No

>>26334792
Why would he need a shard embodying hunger if that wasn't something he experienced?

>>26334728
>Replicate your old traveling form

We're absolutely not John. That was the entire point of the visions: We're never going to be John.

>>26334830
It's less encouraging her and more that I feel it's a significant choice for Shadow as a character.

>>26334728
>>somewhere in between

Fuck the old travelling form, that was terrible.

>>26334728
>Old traveling form

>>26334728
>Replicate your old traveling form

The old travelling form was perfect. We have no gender and I don't want to establish that we have one by becoming John even slightly.

>>26334728
>>somewhere in between

Never liked the old one anyway.

>>26334728
>somewhere in between
John is bad move. Traveling form sucks.

>>26334759
me neither

But I defer to the questers, not to me!

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

Vote 1:
>old traveling form, don't feed this Abigail more rope

Vote 2:
>a new replication that honestly reflects current experiences

>>26334928
>We have no gender

That is precisely what creeps me out about that in the first place.

Not saying I want to screw Abby, but I really don't like it.

>>26334944
1

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
1

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
1

>>26334944
2.

>>26334944
>2

File: 1375221809979.jpg-(192 KB, 1024x768, 1364610583976.jpg)

192 KB JPG

>>26334944

>a new replication that honestly reflects current experiences

pic related

>>26334998
>2.
> .
nice going brah

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

>>26334944
2

2 wins overwhelmingly. Writing.

>>26334944
1

File: 1375222059667.jpg-(37 KB, 500x364, 1350341797622.jpg)

37 KB JPG

>mfw SM makes us John from picking 2
Dem implications.

>>26334953
It isn't really a problem for me personally, but I think it'd be easier for other people if we aren't androgynous. Especially Abby, who already referred to us as "Mr. Shadow."

>>26335098
Wings of a shadow that boned an adolescent?

I'm finally able to make a thread! Anyways, I just wanted to point out how ironic it was the Temerity called Humanity a corruption because the Temerity stat was originally the Corruption stat.

>>26335094
I like this one pretty well, maybe ditch the spiky vampire collar.

>>26334944
1

>inb4 SM makes us a hideous hydra of our shards with political-cartoon level themes for each head inter-arguing with each other

Rolled 14

>>26335078
i hope we keep the cloak and hat. i really liked those

>>26335132
Not that it wasn't uncanny as fuck, but she wasn't that young in that vision.

You think carefully about how to appear, and begin to shift. You feel split, between what you made yourself...and between John. Between a life as a Shadow, and life as a man.

What emerges is a blend between the two. You are definitively masculine, and appear physically strong, but you don't have the tanned skin and hard features of John. You have the paler skin of a mage, a man that spends most of his time with his studies and his magic.

Abigail tilts her head at you.

<...that bad?>

"...it's not at all what I imagined," she says. "But it's just so -you-." She smiles. "Handsome, too."

You continue to walk forward. <...getting back to the matter at hand.>

"Yes."

<About earlier...when you killed your servant.>

"...I didn't kill him, Shadow," Abigail says. "I removed him. There's a difference."

<Is there?>

She shrugs, waves a hand around her. "This is all a figment of my imagination. I try not to dwell on that...but I don't want to lose sight of it, either. None of these people - the clans - they're all just unreality. When I was younger, it seemed real, but as time went on it all turned...odd. Fake. As if I was peering into a world through tinted glass, and it was just slightly off."

>con't

>>26335174
SM wankery no doubt.

>>26335199

The cloak and the hat can stay. Because why the hell not

>>26335200
Its a play on the song from Gundam wing.
Wings of a boy who killed adolescence.

>>26335183
>a giant shadowy Hecatonchire with Judgement as the head and all of the shards as arms constantly slap-fighting each other while we keep asking them to please just stop for one minute.

>>26335204
Aww SM I though you'd provide a pic of us at last. Ahh well.

Rolled 94

>>26335224
awsome. those were badass. at least in the original picture they were.

>>26335204
ohh abby. did this new point of view happen to coincide with your splitting?

>>26335204
This is what I was thinking. She isn't a heartless killing machine, she just realizes that this is a vision. What's important is that she doesn't become like this outside the Archonium too.

>>26335241
Ah. Carry on, then.

Anyone else think that our Humanity shard at resonant is giving us some major passive bonuses to non-shadow magic? It did that whole aura thing a while ago and it IS magic/chaos according to Temerity.

>>26335204
Just because it isn't really doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

You make me sadface, Abby :(

>>26335290
I'm willing to bet internets on it that you've either got it or are quite close anon, so yes very much.

File: 1375222534031.jpg-(1017 KB, 697x1000, sketchbook__shadow_mage_b(...).jpg)

1017 KB JPG

>>26335204
>Shadow Jesus

>>26335308
*it isn't real

<But removing someone like that - even if this is just your imagination. It's the principle of the thing."

"Are you saying I should feel hesitant? Or guilty?" Abigail seems bewildered. "Should I feel guilty about erasing a drawing?"

<This place is a test of character, Abigail. There's - >

"Don't call me that."

<What?>

She stops, and steps closer to you. "...Abby. Just Abby, Shadow."

<Abby,> you say gently. She gives you a small smile, and nods. <Defeating your other selves is not the answer.>

"What?" She draws back. "What do you mean?"

<At tea, yesterday, you told me something was wrong,> you say. <And this is it. You cannot beat down the other sides of yourself and relegate them to servitude. You have to do your best to reconcile them.>

"...you speak as if you know. What it's like." Her lips quiver. "I can feel it pulling on me. I can feel hole where they should be. I...the only way forward is to force them back. But I don't want to lose me in the process. I - you can't possibly understand what this feels - "

<I do,> you say. <I fought through my own visions to get here.>

"...you did?"

<Abby,> you say, <the moment you did not return from the Archonium was one of the most horrifying moments of my life. I went into it with the intention to find you, and pull you out...but I received much more than I bargained for. I am split into shards of power, shards that each have their own mind, their own power. I embraced my Humanity...and I, at least, reigned in my Temerity - among others. Pieces of myself I had to fuse back together.>

"...oh." She doesn't seem to know how to respond.

<I believe that the point isn't to dominate with one or the other,> you continue. <It is to master yourself - it is to gain control. This form I take now...it's because I faced things that scared me, and disturbed me. But I emerged out the other side in one piece. So when I speak to you on these matters...I, perhaps more than anyone, know exactly how you feel at this moment.>

>cont

>>26335290
>Anyone else think that our Humanity shard at resonant is giving us some major passive bonuses to non-shadow magic? It did that whole aura thing a while ago and it IS magic/chaos according to Temerity.

Speaking of humanity and magic, we need to point out to temerity that our very presence in the real world is having an affect much like 'the corruption' is having on us.
Sure, we got some chaos in us, but we infected this entire world's ley lines with Order.

We have human Order mages that the world thinks are Shadow mages.

This alone is proof enough that humanity can CHOOSE

>>26335340
>telling her that we aren't the shadow she once knew
MIIIGHT b cool but IDK mahn.

>>26335340

Hey can our shards talk to people? Maybe we could introduce them to her!

>>26335426
Wanting to introduce Temerity, Silence, Hunger, or Isolation to someone else?
U wot m8

>>26335426
I don't think that would really be the best idea. Isolation, Temerity, and Hunger being the majority of our shards...

>>26335340
CAUSE I FEEEEEL!

File: 1375222951628.gif-(42 KB, 174x371, 1373080023361.gif)

42 KB GIF

>>26335426
DARKXIS HUNGERS

>>26335463
Isolation is a pretty cool dude.

Silence is a dick, though.

>>26335450

Isolation is pretty cool. He just stares at you and if he's upset he yawns a chalkboard-y screech.

>>26335426
>silence is a super jerk
>temerity desires to manipulate her for his own selfish reasons
>isolation would just stare, just stare.
>hunger- yeah fuck no, he'd just say that he wants to eat her up

>judgement: dats us
>humanity: pleeeeease listeeeen to meeeee I'm beeeeeing eeeempaaaatheeeetic

>>26335340
Shadow Quest: Feels on tap, all night long

>>26335486
Silence is just completely pragmatic and doesn't care about humans.

I'm wondering if we should really be calling the silence shard Silence.
He's more of a... trickster. Duplicitous. Deceitful, devious shard.

>>26335542
He's so pragmatic that there isn't a difference between being that and just selfish/lazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUcgri4loE

Abigail's eyes have watered up. She's blinking rapidly. "...what...what am I supposed to do?"

<Your uncle wanted you to be different,> you say. <You see, I think he's rather like you.> You send her an impression of Yi Fang - leaning over his desk, rubbing an old, broken medal between his fingertips. <The part of him that was like you shoved the part of him he thought was weaker away. And he's regretted it ever since. He doesn't want you to feel compelled to >

You send her another impression, that of yourself surrounded by your shards. A raving Hunger, a crossed Silence, and a silent Isolation. A looming Temerity, and an always-burning Humanity. And between them, pulled each way, you stand, quietly mediating. <You see, Abby. This is the true path. The more difficult path. Not domination. Union. That is why you are here.>

Abigail's fists clench. "...but...that weaker part of me...she couldn't ever rule our home. She couldn't protect Uncle Yi, or Sir Flint, or Adavan." She looks up at you. "She...she couldn't - "

<Abby. Though you, I knew hope. I did not come to love you because I saw your potential to rule or the power you held inside. I believe it was because you were all the best things I hoped to embody myself. Because when I was alone, you accepted me.>

"But - "

>con't

>>26335542
He kinda wants to be in control. And apparently enjoys riddles.

<You said you didn't think that you were alright. You said you know something is wrong. You're right. Remember what you told me about your uncle? You thought he knew he was wrong - but he did it anyway, like a bad habit. But from the looks of things...you might have picked up some bad habits yourself.>

She shakes her head. Her tears flick to the ground. "...no. I haven't. Please, Shadow, don't - "

<Abby!> you shout. You grab her shoulders. She stops, and looks up at you. <I didn't come here to tell you I was disappointed in you and leave. I'm telling you these things because I'm not leaving until I help you get out of here.>

"Do you really...love me?"

What do you say?

>yes
>no
>write-in

>>26335519
Here's how I think it would go. Should be obvious which is which.
>Judgement doesn't really like you, you know. He's a dick. Like, the biggest of dicks.
>Join me and reduce the world to nothing
>I'm hungry. You look delicious.
>STAAAAARE
>Waif- I mean, Abigal! Marry me!

Our shards are like a dysfunctional party of adventurers.

>>26335588
>yes

>>26335588
...Didn't we already answer this question before?
Bah! Women!

>>26335258
She "removed" the guy rather than send him to use his powers on the front lines even though she's fighting a war? It was a bad decision. This place has taught her bad habits, and she can't even see that on her own because she's missing the parts of herself that could recognize it.

>>26335588
<What? Bitch please, I'm a shadow god. I can do better.>

>>26335588
FUCK

>write-in
<I love you Abby-Sabby. But I'm not human. I will never be human.>

>>26335588
<You're the one that showed me what Love is, how couldn't I?>

>>26335588
yes

>>26335619
>Shadow god
>Not Order god
>erepls

Rolled 51

>>26335588
alright, so more elequent anon. how do we daughter zone her?

File: 1375223452305.jpg-(62 KB, 567x636, 1373955295565.jpg)

62 KB JPG

>>26335588
<As much as something like me could love a person.>

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

>>26335632
Something like this seems more in character considering our previous choices with the John vision.

>>26335611
For real.

>>26335632
This

>>26335588
>yes

>>26335632
This is... okay.

I mean, let's look at Shadow as we know him. He looks at her as one he wants to protect above all else, yet the human ideas of love such as marriage and lust are still foreign to him, both in knowledge and body.

>>26335588

"When I awoke, I knew nothing. No affection, no love. No anger or compassion. I just was."
<You're the one who gave me my first experience of ... family? Affection? Love? how could I not? I've only just accepted my humanity, but.... I care for you deeply, more than anyone else I've encountered. Is that love?>

>>26335632
This.

>>26335632
This

>>26335588
>yes
>>26335632
I doubt she cares.

Damn it. While yes is true. She's going to think it means a different kind of love.

>>26335687
>>26335688
So, Yes, but with expression of the imprecision of the term love.

We waifu quest now.

I'm sorry.

>>26335588
Is daughter-zoning a thing?
I mean, we love Abby. But it's not romantic love.
I don't know how to say that, though. Any Japanese in the audience that can help us out?

>>26335588
Just say sum thing like <In my own way> or whatever.

>>26335632

You could go back to what you said and call her "your little angel" again, too. Evokes less "lovers" and more "family" I think

>>26335688

This is good, going back to the fact that you've had a struggle defining love.

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

So, yes...but with attempted daughter-zoning.

Checkmarks?

If this ends in waifu, it'll be so annoying. Not in a "Waifu is always bad!" kinda way, but it's just not in our character for it to happen.

We are not human, we love and care for her. Anything more would just not happen.

>>26335710
It technically is. We accepted our Humanity vision, just not so fully as to be stuck in it forever.

>>26335731
We love her like Kyousuke loves Kirino

File: 1375223790768.jpg-(78 KB, 400x300, brace.jpg)

78 KB JPG

>mfw

>>26335747
No, we love her.

>>26335747
Pretty much. Though I don't feel like there is a daughter to zone anymore.

>>26335753
No idea what that is but it sounds gay.

>>26335748
>Anything more would just not happen.
Actually SM has specifically stated that we can fall in love, and we already know that elementals and constructs can be turned into humans.

>>26335726
That's kinda what I want to avoid. Seeing John bang abby was... upsetting. Awful, really quite terrible actually. I don't think we want that kind of relationship and I'm not sure how to explain that to someone who has essentially been alone for eight years without another truly sentient person to interact with that has been obsessed with us since childhood.

Fuck'n SM.

Rolled 7

>>26335747
there we go. we love her like a daughter. we will burn the world to ashes for her, but not lovers

>>26335747
I think you've basically got the point

>>26335747
YEs, Daughteru-zonu

>>26335769
Incest

This is going to be INCREDIBLY awkward once we get out of the Archonium.

Shut up with all the waifu/anti-waifu bullshit. Either discuss it after the thread or somewhere else. You're shitting the place up

>>26335747
I like >>26335688

>>26335747
No daughter zoning, could go bad.

>>26335747
[X] Daughter zone
[_] Fuck zone

Go with my blessing.

>>26335747
Daughter-zoning is a GEW.

>>26335747
>So, yes...but with attempted daughter-zoning.

Don't force the daughter-zoning either way, just let the characters play themselves out.

From out vision of john, we know what's possible and what's going in the back of shadow's mind, but we also don't have to accept it. We do have a choice of what is right and not.

Either way, 1) taking advantage of her in this place would be wrong and 2) most of our feelings were for Little Abigail - of course we're confused! She's grown up and split up!

>>26335731
I recall four kinds of love in Greek.
Storge-Family love
Phileo-Friendship
Eros-Romantic love
Agape-Love of God or something?

So, a combination of Storge and Phileo.

>>26335588

>yes

"Of course! You're my bestest friend!"

And then we get spirited to death.

>>26335798
People want their fix man.

>>26335747
I actually see Shadow falling in love with her eventually.

>>26335747
Yes, all this.

>>26335747
Not... "daughter"-zoning, but the core idea is good.

>>26335816
Pretty much this.

>>26335825

I could see Silence doing it just to dick with fang

>>26335747
No daughter zoning, I can feel it leading to a freak out.
>>26335816
Agape is unconditional

>>26335825
Keyword eventually.
This guy: >>26335815 knows what's up.

File: 1375224030457.gif-(960 KB, 488x275, 1369892932624.gif)

960 KB GIF

Well, now that we've reached no consensus whatsoever, time to write!

I'll just let the characters play it as comes naturally.

Daughter-zoning will not be forced.

>>26335774
I'm okay with Abigail and Shadow as a couple. Scratch that; I want them to be a couple. At first I didn't, and I found this whole thing to be uncomfortable, but now I've taken a step back to analyze and I've realized that this whole thing has just been so interesting and emotionally intense that I can't imagine Shadow in a relationship with anyone else being anywhere near as meaningful as the one he has with Abby. She's who gave birth to his Humanity. She's who allowed him to feel Love. She's who he risked his life, confronted his true nature, and embraced Humanity for. Abigail has played a pivotal role in Shadow's life and her relationship with him has contributed so much to the person he is today and I honestly can't see her as anything but the most important person in the world to him. And I don't want that to change because Shadow got too uncomfortable to accept her feelings and admit to his own. I really don't. SM said Shadow was capable of romantic feelings and this is the only girl I can see him having them for. I think he needs time to get used to her as an adult though.

>>26335798
It looks like you're inflating a balloon with a hole in it anon, there's exceptionally little of the inflamed discussion you're attempting to draw attention to...

>>26335798
>all the waifu/anti-waifu bullshit.
You mean the only person who said anything about it outside of what's relevant to the choice, and who said it pretty obviously as a joke?

>>26335816
>Agape
Our love will be agape when the tentacles are done with her

>>26335869
Oedipus as fuck.

>>26335869
That still feels a bit too wrong for me anon, but it's just how I feel.

File: 1375224170991.png-(72 KB, 698x658, 1368325038871.png)

72 KB PNG

>>26335896
Fuck, you got me.

>>26335869

Poor anon, you fell for the pedo-bait :p

>>26335815
This seems about right.

We already know that Shadow WASN'T terribly disturbed by the John vision, just confused.

>When the sky becomes purple, they retreat into the cave. After building a fire, they make love again.
>It's a vision. A figment of yourself. Just magic.
>And yet...something is special about them, and their love.
>But then...if it comes from you...you would find it so, wouldn't you?

Pretty sure Shadow is still all mixed up in the brain at the moment, but either way, I'm sure his first priority is getting them both out of the Archonium. Everything else can wait until we know things are going to be alright. Whether postponing things is a SMART choice or not is another thing entirely.

>>26335869
>Implying she's going to walk out of the Archonium as an adult.
>Implying this isn't going to be a billion times more weird if she gets the shadowy appendage and then walks out of here as a 9 year old again instead of a 20 year old.

>>26335896

Our love will be agape when her tentacles are done with us

>>26335926
This. We have to figure things out later, getting out of the Archonium in one literal piece is our priority.

File: 1375224317890.gif-(1.05 MB, 300x219, f52.gif)

1.05 MB GIF

>>26335935
>Shadow's face when

>>26335869
>9 year old walks into Hell School, doesn't come out
>Uncle freaking out
>Her creepy bodyguard goes in after her
>Two days later, creepy bodyguard and niece come out - they're married and have a small family
>Uncle freaking out more

>>26335916
I mean, I guess but it's basic Psychology. When a person is in a state of conflicting emotions they experience a more potent emotional experience and develop a more potent emotional connection to the cause. This is why people take dates to horror movies, why druggies mix uppers with downers, and why Forbidden Love is so popular. The whole emotional whirlwind that led up to this gave me a stronger emotional investment to Abby and her relationship with Shadow. Now I want more of this wild ride. If Abby and Shadow get together they will certainly be happy, but there will also be this subtle feeling of guilt and discomfort between the two and there will likely be other people to disagree and even be disgusted with the two's relationship. It'll be a great continuation of what we already got here.

Basically I'm a druggie, SM's my dealer, and I want both uppers and downers from him.

>>26335968
Adavan's her creepy bodyguard.

We're her shattered cosmic deity best friend.

>>26335995
Together we fight crime!

>>26335986
Listen. We need to talk about this. You're tearing the family apart. Your addiction is ruining all of our lives!

>>26335986
Waifu quest.

>>26335986
>Basically I'm a druggie, SM's my dealer, and I want both uppers and downers from him.

In that case, I would urge you to sample the other things on his menu before committing to the first choice.
After all, he'll mix those other uppers and downers with the same skill.

I want to make a cocktail pun here, but I'm not feeling up for it.

>>26336027
Later. This decision was the best to make for right now and I want to see where it goes.

>>26336055
There's plenty of shadow named cocktails but I can't quite recall anything Abigail related. Gimmie a minute to google.

>>26336078
I bet shadow could have tons of cock-tails, if he wanted to.

>>26336050
Another addict, jonesing for his fix. This one's cut with pedo tonic too.

>>26336094
please
don't

it hurtssss us

>>26336012
This needs to happen.

>>26336055
Oh I'm not committing just yet. Just voicing my opinion. I've got 50ish threads worth of SM's usal menu already, after all.

>>26335986
Even if we did get together with Abby, I'd rather not carry on a "disgust" angle afterwards. I enjoy the emotional rides, but if it goes on too long the readers get burned out.

File: 1375224758455.jpg-(155 KB, 1024x768, 13698383490127.jpg)

155 KB JPG

Welp

>>26336130
Yeah, like with Twilight. You know another ride is coming but you get used to these things and eventually want more of other things.

File: 1375224869980.png-(1.3 MB, 1920x1080, asddsa.png)

1.3 MB PNG

>>26336156
>my fucking face when reading this fucking post

<When I awoke, I knew nothing. No affection, no love. No anger or compassion. I just was. I only knew I wasn't natural. The zombies in Jacob's Field were more similar to me, than actual people. You're the one who gave me my first experience of...I don't know. I've only just accepted so many things...I feel like I've been trying to hold together something that can't even be held for a month.>

The words stream out from you a bit incoherently. Abigail blinks a bit, trying to interpret the emotion suddenly let off your chest. "...I...um..."

<Abby,> you say, <how could I not love you?>

She throws herself at you. You gingerly catch her in your arms...arms that are very human. You hold her close.

And then you set her away from yourself. <...our first priority is getting out of here. And that means...helping you find yourself.>

"...I love you, too," she says. "I love you." She stares up at you. "I...I'll think about everything you said. It sounds...right. True. Do you know what I mean?"

<I think so.>

She smiles. "...I have a lot of things planned. Maybe...we can just spend the day together?" She holds out her hand expectantly.

What do you do?

>well...alright (don't take her hand)
>of course (take her hand)
>no, we need to focus on leaving this place
>something else

>>26336130
I get you man. But if there is no other angle besides just the two being happy relationships quickly get boring to read.

>>26336173
WAIFU QUEST
NOT EVEN SPOILERING NOW
HOLY JIMMIES

>>26336173
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit this isn't <But I'm not human.> at all!

...But I suppose it's more accurate, since Shadow isn't sure why that would be an issue and procreation is still confusing to him.

Fuck.

>>26336216

we can work "I'm not Human" in there

>>26336173
No. There is no time. We end this.

>>26336173
No, we need to focus on leaving this place

>>26336173
>no, we need to focus on leaving this place
<We will have time enough when this is over. Time passes strangely here, and it's easy to lose yourself.>

>>26336173
Lol

Shadow is acting like a fucking prepubescent bi-curious male, uncertain and inexperienced.

>>26336173
>no, we need to focus on leaving this place
Still take her hand though.

WHAT

WHAT THE FUCK YOU GUYS

WHAT
THE
FUCK

>>26336173
YOU'RE CHEWING THE KNOBS.

>>26336173
>of course (take her hand)

I'll just be over here, screaming inside my head.

>>26336227
I don't know if this exactly is necessary, but the point is to make it clear that whatever happened with John is not what we want with her.

>>26336239
That's the point!

>>26336239
Forbidden love.

>>26336173
To bad I don't have that picture of "We've crossed the line but let's keep going to see what happens".
We can take a short break, but let's say tonight we can start planning.

>>26336213
Evidently the Shadow's naturally a pedo.

>>26336216
<Wait, Abby. Isn't it customary to imbibe five to ten ignorance potions first? I've been quite curious about copulation, but Auriel and Flint have been reticent about demonstrating. This will be a great moment for science.>

And just like that all the fucks I gave for Shadow Quest are draining away.

>>26336173
Jesus christ this is painful. I've... gotta go SM, I've got plans that don't involve... stuff like this.

>>26336173
>of course (take her hand)

My feels, there's too much.

>>26336173

"No, focus time."
Then grab her hand and Supersonic to the Forest of Indecision.

>no, we need to focus on leaving this place
this, time passes strangely and we don't want to emerge ten years later.