Recent Events Summary:

You've spent the past two days on Xile, the kingdom of Aeolus. The floating island is surrounded by the massive skysever spell. You just might be able to make it alone - if you're lucky - but until you can find some form of protection for your allies, attempting to traverse the barrier is suicidal. Immediate confrontation has been avoided, but Lucifer and his handful of angels are still somewhere on the island.

In the short time you've been there, you were assaulted by a shadowy abomination that could vaporize water, attacked by the largest dragon you've ever seen, and spent the night sprinting away from terrible creatures lingering in a living black fog. After weathering through the night and allowing your party to recover to a safe strength, you journeyed toward Aeolus's palace. The gargantuan castle was silent, but suspicious of traps, you stuck to the main hallways, relying on Sir Flint's ancestry to open magical doors for you.

In the throne room, you met an intimidating construct holding the Staff of Winds, the reason you journeyed to Xile in the first place. It took Flint as a knight of Aeolus's Order, and communicated that it would relinquish the staff, but only after being defeated in battle. It claimed Flint could use any means nessecary to do so, but after hearing Adavan's negative prediction on the outcome of a battle, you decided to back down and search for a way to counter the staff before attacking the construct.

>con't

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>>27250224
i am ready

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Adavan theorized that the Moonsong, and ancient weapon created by Erebus, might be able to do just that. You've been collecting the shards of that sword along your journey, and, from a diary you viewed earlier, concluded that the shards were used by the Black Hand to catalyze the terrible magic that still lingers in Xile. Auriel balked at the prospect of repairing the Moonsong, but eventually gave in on the condition that, after using it to supress the Staff of Winds, you would destroy it. You agreed to do so, but privately decided that you'd cross the bridge when you got there.

You then found Aeolus's legendary treasure room in the bottom of the palace, completely unguarded. The party split up to investigate the golden horde. You briefly spoke with Abigail, but she had an unfortunate reaction to the succubus reagents you've been keeping on your person.

After spending the night, you found a scrap of paper in the palace library indicating that the key to creating new dynamos was their unique housing. It referenced a research center in the city located on the edge of the island. Anxious to investigate, and possibly find some form of functioning transport, you set out for the city.

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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/BCgtZZFe

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/aPNv4aM7

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Current Statistics:

HP: 55/81
Mana: 29/58
EXP: 14

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

New Shards:
(Ardor) - Strong
{Humanity} - Resonant

--Summoned--

Wisp - 1 mana to order

--Automatons--

Earthen Construct (currently in Haven)

--Equipment--

Utility belt with purse

--Inventory--

Moonsong Shards x 3
Sun-Moon Key
Lightning Key

--Current Location--

Xile

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It's time!

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You exit the palace. Flint shuts the doors behind you, and then you return to the forest, setting out in the direction of the city. A quick breakfast of rabbit meat gets them moving. Auriel spots a few berry bushes, and they have a nice little feast, saving quite a few for later.

It's midday when you reach the city. You stand before it on a small hill, observing the outside edge.

Rising towers form thin, winding alleys. Tiny stone bridges and tunnels soar over gaps, criss-crossing open air like the thin tendrils of a spiderweb. Some of the structure seems impossible, supported by unknown means - probably whatever magic is left in this place. Other areas are show the scars of battle; shredded roofs, rubble strewn in the street, walls pockmarked with cracks and holes.

The city itself is surrounded by a ten-foot wall. What you assume must have been a gatehouse is entirely destroyed, leaving an obvious entrance. The crumbled remains of the doors guarding the entrance have long since been grown over with high grasses and several trees.

"So," Auriel says. "Where do we start?"

>head for the docks; maybe you can find transport
>look for the research center
>scout the city out with Deep Focus
>attempt to find natives
>try to find a safe place to take shelter before exploring
>try to find an entrance to the underside of the island
>some other strategy

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SHADOW QUEST.
IT'S HAPPENING.

>>27250345
>attempt to find natives
I'd rather find them than they find us because there's just no way we'll avoid them forever. Do it stealthily, though.

>>27250345
>>scout the city out with Deep Focus
>>attempt to find natives
Natives probably live in the city.
I don't want to imagine what kind of powerful fucks they are if they live in the countryside here.

>>27250345
>look for the research center
It's what we're here for, isn't it?

>>27250405
And to find a way out, or a way to the underbelly. We've got a few reasons, really.

>>27250345
>look for the research center

>>27250345
>Scout the city with deep focus

>my dad just called, I'll be a few minutes

>2 votes for natives
>2 votes for deep focus
>2 votes for research center

Well, then.

>>27250405
I thought we were here to copulate with wenches and acquire currency.

I believe I've made a terrible mistake.

>>27250353
That is brilliant.
>>27250345
Research center. If there's stuff to consume, its there.

>>27250614
Info on dynamos too, which is going to be a major takeaway from this place for us.

If we survive of course

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>>27250353

That "sucks at torrenting" anon, just back on campus in time for Shadow Quest!

Unfortunately most of PIA's servers are blocked on 4chan, so I can't torrent and quest at the same time. ;_;

>>27250646
So far what we know we need for Dynamo's are:

>Mana crystals

Fang and Abby seem to know how to make them so we should get some info how

>Adamantium

Pelthair mines is the main supplier, I believe. We saved the mayor's daughter when we fucked over Magnok if I remember correctly so we might try and talk to her.

>An Elemental or Mana Pool
Covered unless we need to make something non-shadow for whatever reason

>some other alloy we don't know about
Got to figure this out still.

We should try Analyzing our Earth dynamo with this new info in mind. Might learn something.

>>27250803
>Covered unless we need to make something non-shadow for whatever reason
Earth and Spirit soon.

Hell, Geb and Hectate would remember how. They've made the damn things before and at least one of them shouldn't have amnesia. Getting Hectate to tell us would probably be faster than this business.

>>27250803
>We saved the mayor's daughter when we fucked over Magnok if I remember correctly so we might try and talk to her.
The population of Pelthair is mostly dead or undead, I believe.

>>27250863
They may not know how to make the housing, though, which is the real clincher. Ignis made the first Dynamo but it eventually fell apart because it lacked the housing the dwarves developed based on Xile's engine.


>>27250879
It was mind control.

Since the housing of the Dynamo is based on Xile's engine we should also look for notes and schematics related to the engine as well just in case we fall short of substantial dynamo info.

>>27250550
Is everything okay, SM?

>>27251485

just got off the phone. Jeeze, start my thread, all set up, tabs open 'n shit

OH WAIT 1 HOUR PHONE CALL

I actually really wanted to talk to him, though, so it was a bittersweet feeling.

Anyway, I'm back. What the hell are we doing?

>>27251656
I think research center barely won out over natives.

>>27251656
>research center

Rolled 35

Okay, research.

rolling for things

>>27251690
We're going to die.

>>27251690
Is that a roll for Abigail? It seems low enough.

<Let's look for the research center first, while it's still light out,> you say.

"Alright," Auriel says. "I remember a section that was off-limits to outsiders, from the time I visited."

<As good a place as any.>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qLO6hVI_wU

The party starts forward. You keep close to the walls of the buildings, low to the ground. Everyone does their best to keep their auras suppressed and their footsteps quiet.

The city is silent. The thread of a slight wind skips across the tops of the buildings. Despite the rage of the skysever, the air within Xile is almost completely still. It's old, stale with time and memory.

You work your way around a pile of rubble. Auriel leads the group right over it. You stay on their outside, on the edge of the street, keeping a sharp lookout.

Flint stumbles at the top of the pile. A rock flies forward.

Ila catches it with a burst of shadow, then gently lowers it to the ground. You avoided noise, but everyone goes still. You wait for a long time.

Nothing happens.

Everyone lets out the breath they were holding. Vonnegut mutters something quiet about incompetent fools. When Flint reaches the bottom of the pile, he bends over onto his knees, catching his breath from the sheer tension.

You continue through the rest of the streets without incident, and reach the compound Auriel described. Sealed stone doors stand guard at the end of a dome-shaped structure. They've long since been rendered useless, though, as the structure is dotted with holes. Round, perfectly smooth holes, bored in at several different locations.

<...this is reminiscent of the creature I told you about earlier,> you say. <It's attacks would cut the stone like this.>

Auriel folds her arms. "...I remember powerful magic protecting this place," she says. "It's faded, now...that thing must have taken it out. Maybe some of the Order tried to make a stand here."

What do you do?

>enter the compound
>go elsewhere; it's too risky

>>27251913
>enter the compound

>>27251913
You're stalling. Of course we enter, Shadow is living the dangerous life!

>>27251913
>enter the compound
We should have Wispbro keep floating at a distance ahead of us in case of surprises.

>>27251952
>>27251963
>>27251976

roll 1d100

>>27251913
do you even need to ask, once more into the breach SM

>>27251976
if we haven't already summoned him then we should anyway

Rolled 54

>>27251989

Rolled 94

>>27251989
OH SHIT TIME FOR SURPRISES!

Rolled 58

>>27251989

Rolled 61

>>27251989
Rollin'

>>27252001
>>27252010
>>27252014
acceptable

Rolled 54

>>27251989
§

Rolled 18

>>27251989

You enter the compound through one of the wide holes. It leads into a blank hallway.

Lighting inside the building has long since shut off. Auriel creates just a tiny sphere to illuminate the hall. You creep past bits of dirt and detritus that have been blown into the corners over 700 years.

The deeper part of the compound is untouched...but oddly more touched. You weave around several skeletons. Some sections of the wall are honeycombed with those small holes. The bones of the long-dead are pockmarked where the dark magic pierced them through.

"...shouldn't these have...I don't know..." Abigail waves a hand. "Be dust, or something?"

"...skysever," Adavan says. "Preserving the bones. Probably.."

"That doesn't explain anything," Abigail mutters.

"Hush, child," Auriel says. "Now is not the time."

You reach a pair of important looking doors. Xilan script is carved above them. Your allies wait as you make out a Translation.

<Dynamo Housing Analysis,> you read. <Sounds about right.> You insert a thin tendril into the crack between the doors, and tug gently. They don't give an inch.

What do you do?

>try to force the doors
>see if Flint can open them
>focus to sense beyond the doors first
>try to Ink through the doors, scout it out alone
>some other strategy

>>27252161
>focus to sense beyond the doors first
then:
>see if Flint can open them
if not:
>try to Ink through the doors, scout it out alone

>>27252161
>see if Flint can open them
Flint yer up.

>>27252161
>27252161
Let's ink a tendril through, and look through it. We just need to see the other side. After that let's test Flint's might door opening abilities.

>>27252227
>Flint, Demon Slayer, Prince of Arland, Paladin of Light, Master-class Door Opener

>>27252161


>>27252221

Ink tendril through first to try and view the room?

Or focus to sense out the room first?

>>27252264
Shadow could only ever hope to rival Flint's mighty door opening. In our deepest meditations, we dream of opening doors just like he does. In our heart of hearts we envy his door opening capabilities, and soon we shall come to hate him for possessing such a truly awe-inspiring power. The door-openings are laying the seeds for our descent into darkness!

>>27252161
>>see if Flint can open them

its worked before

Rolled 44

>>27252301
Tendril

>>27252301
>Ink tendril through first to try and view the room?
diss un'

>>27252301
Use our noodly appendage on those holes.

>>27252301
tendril

>>27252311
We'd be able to open the doors if we stopped chewing the knobs instead.

>>27252360
That's some fucking deep shit, man.

>>27252360
But how could we slip a tendril through if we didn't chew the knob out of the way?

>>27250255
true dedication

>>27252415
They were a bit late tonight.

>>27252450
By a minute?

>>27252458
It's been the first post after the header for some time now, If i remember correctly.

<I'm going to try and take a look inside.> You slide a tendril to the floor. It goes flat, impossibly so, and slips under the door. You raise it up on the other side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTao3B6aS34

The view...is disturbing.

The room is mostly empty. Long shelves line the back - or what were shelves. They're ripped apart, knocked to the floor. Equipment used for the past research is likewise destroyed. Where it isn't simply bashed in, it's pulverized by perfectly round holes. It reminds you vaguely of an airship's engine room - perhaps some sort of power testing station.

There are more skeletons - 14, in total. You think. Most of them are in pieces, thrown against or partially embedded in the walls. Three toward the center of the room grab your attention.

Two skeletons are on the ground. One lies on its stomach, head neck snapped at an angle it shouldn't go. The other is also on the ground, but an arm extends forward, fleshless fingers reaching out, clawing along the ground. Its index finger is extended, as if pointing. Your gaze follows it to the last skeleton.

The figure is sitting, back to a column. In its hands is the empty shell of a dynamo. Within the dynamo are fragments of darkness, spinning, sparkling with darkness. There is a soft hum hanging in the air.

What do you do?

>enter the room alone, attempt to retrieve the dynamo
>have Flint open the door
>some other strategy

>>27252529
>One lies on its stomach, head neck snapped
>fragments of darkness, spinning, sparkling with darkness

FUUUUUUUUUUUU

>>27252529
>>have Flint open the door
We can't ink back through carrying the dynamo.

Maybe scatter the skeleton bones first. Rooms full of skeletons give me the willies.

>>27252529
Is that an incomplete Shadow dynamo?

>have Flint open the door
Always better to have back-up.

>>27252562
Oh SM, won't you serenade me in the sparkling darkness~

>>27252529
>have Flint open the door

We should probably keep the housing as is for a while to properly research and analyze it before filling it up, just FYI.

>>27252529

<Something happened in there, judging by some the positioning of three of the remains, it has something to do with what looks like fragments of darkness contained within a dynamo shell... It is not a shadow dynamo... maybe they tried to seal the Moonsong fragments... If so, it may have something to do with the blood magic abomination crawling around outside...>

>>27252562
I assume the intended text is
>Within the dynamo are fragments, spinning and sparkling with darkness.
And that the neck is the snapped part?

Unless you meant that his head was snapped at an unnatural angle. But that would be redundant - all head-snapping is unnatural. It is a better mental image, though...

<Flint, open the door. I think we've found what we're looking for. Looks dangerous, though - something definitely went down here. I'd like someone at my back.>

You hear his muffled voice from the other side of the stone. "Uh, ok. Let's see..."

There's a moment as he shuffles forward.

"...I'm touching it, but it's not opening."

Hmm.

What do you do now?

>enter the room alone
>force the doors open; having backup is worth risking the sound
>some other strategy

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

>>27252661

Your interpretation is correct. They're just typos. Egregious typos.

This quest has so much delicious neck snapping. Is wonderful.

>>27252688
>enter the room alone
Fuckit. yolo

>>27252688

Do we see any other way in? If not force then open.

>>27252688
well if the door would set off security punch through a wall.

>>27252688
Anything from the other side that could open the door? Like is something barring it?

I say we slip in, try to open the door from that side first, and if not go solo. I'd rather not be discovered.

>>27252739

Nothing is barring the door from the other side. They are sealed via unknown means.

>>27252688
>>force the doors open; having backup is worth risking the sound
If it's a shadow monster in there, which it seems to be, it would be good to have our light mages available.

We will end up making noise if there is a fight anyways.

>>27252739
Might as well try opening from the inside first, but keep and eye on whatever is in the room, and get out if it starts to move.

>>27252688
>>enter the room alone
Let's look around on the inside for a mechanism. Tell the party to do the same on this side.

Try not to piss anything off, though.

Be ready to force the door open when the skeletons reanimated in front of us, though

>>27252688
enter the room silently

>>27252688
>enter the room alone
Let's keep it quiet, especially considering all the pains we went through to keep quiet in the first place.

>>27252688

Inform them to back away from the door incase we need to make a dynamic exit, then enter and try to open one of the doors.

Alternatively, we could attempt to restore power to the facility, which would in turn power the door so Flint can open it...

Personally I would go with the former as turning the power on will alert something to our presence...

>>27252758
Well, they're is still possibly a mechanism or such.

>>27252688
>enter the room alone

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

You analyze the door. There don't seem to be any mechanisms or devices keeping it shut, but the stone is probably well within your ability to break by force. A search on the other side by your allies doesn't yield anything else.

Vote 1:
>force door open

Vote 2:
>enter room alone, tell allies to back up just in case

>>27252832
2

>>27252832
2

>>27252832
2

>>27252832
2

>>27252832
2

>>27252832
2

>>27252832
SM I'm a recent reader and through my archive binge I've made it up to thread 63 just recently but WAAAY back when we were consuming that family in Archon and you wrote
>You consume the bed. It's tasteless.
I didn't get the joke but now I do.
So, in simpler terms, what I'm saying is
>lol

>>27252844
>>27252845
>>27252847
>>27252849
>>27252853

>instantaneous consensus

I think that was the fastest decision ever.

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

You tell your allies to keep their distance, and then Ink and morph up into the room.

The air is still. You don't sense any immediate magic aside from the darkness inside the dynamo shell. You take an experimental step forward.

The darkness resonates.

You feel it sharply, suddenly. The Moonsong. You peer closer. Yes - the bits of darkness inside the translucent sphere are shards of the sword.

You notice something familiar against the shelves in the back of the room. It's another one of the personal picture-diaries. It looks damaged, but maybe you could get it to work.

What do you do?

>approach the diary
>approach the dynamo
>some other strategy

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>>27252901

>>27252924
>approach the diary
Reveal to us answers of a historical nature picture device!

>>27252924
tell allies to stay back, rooms appearing empty

analyze the dynamo

>>27252924
>approach the diary
More info is always better.

>>27252924
Analyze everything

>>27252924
Why on heavenly earth does this feel like a minefield...

>approach the dynamo
As video diaries tend to make noise, which we just avoided doing.

>>27252924
>approach the dynamo

>>27252967
>As video diaries tend to make noise, which we just avoided doing.
Fucking this.

DO NOT TRIGGER DIARY

>>27252984
Then just grab it and play it later.

>>27252924
Diary, we've got one dynamo, though an intact shell would be great.

Also, with all the fragile and irreplaceable stuff we are running into, we should grab pocket sometime soon.

Maybe even when we leave this room, so we can cart important stuff out without making a ruckus breaking the door.

>>27252984
Second thoughts: Secure the diary but do not activate it.

>>27252924
>approach the diary
I played an eight hour session of AD&D today and I'm paranoid.

How much of the moonsong do we have, anyway? How far from completion?

Investigate everything, and check the ceiling for kobold murder-holes. I don't want more burning pitch poured on me.

>>27252924
>approach the dynamo
If we can get the moonsong back together, we can just erase the wall.

>>27252984
>>27253009
Make sure to scan it and see if it is primed to react to being grabbed.

>>27253020
We have the entire blade. Not sure how much of the hilt, but I think we have none of it.

Did we check if the door needed a pull and not push?

>>27253024
If we can get moonsong back together, our ex-husbando will use it as an anchor to waifu us once more!

>>27253024
We still don't have the piece powering all the monsters. These are just more shards.

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>>27253051

>>27253051
I think we did.
Didn't we? Wasn't the the reason for parascoping a shadowy tenta through the bottom of the door?
If not then yes.

You analyze the room.

The skeletons, while...unsettling, are lifeless. There are no other ways into the room, other than where you came from. You're now positive that the shards in the dynamo shell are bits of the moonsong - the remaining fragments of the blade, from what you can tell.

That's...strange. You thought you had the full blade completed.

The door reacts neither to pushing nor pulling. It doesn't budge.

There doesn't seem to be any magic around the dynamo. You can't feel any tricks or traps.

What do you do?

>approach diary
>collect diary, do not activate
>approach dynamo, pick it up
>approach dynamo, wait to see if there's any reaction
>some other strategy

>>27252984
I regret not fighting harder to eat the magic ring. I would not have advocated purchasing pocket at that time, but it would be very useful right now - both for the diary and (if the pieces of the hilt held in the dynamo case are enough) for hiding a complete Moonsong from Auriel.
Though I still think we can change her mind about it being a tool for indescribable evil.

>>27253128
collect everything!

>>27253128
>approach dynamo, wait to see if there's any reaction
>collect diary, do not activate
In that order

>>27253128
>collect diary, do not activate
>approach dynamo, wait to see if there's any reaction
These two.

>>27253164
Aww fuck. Reverse dat order.

>>27253137
I thought we took it with us?
that was the reason a lot of people voted for not eating it, at least it seemed that way.

Rolled 6

>>27253164

Better try the diary first.

>>27253128

This:
>>27253171

>>27253171
This in that order.

>>27253128
>collect diary, do not activate
then
>approach dynamo, wait to see if there's any reaction

MAXIMUM CAUTIOUS

>>27253128
>collect diary, do not activate
then
>approach dynamo, wait to see if there's any reaction
then if nothing
>some other strategy
Remove the lower leg bones of the skeleton holding the dynamo
then if nothing
>pick it up

>>27253180
People voted for not eating because they were afraid of activating dragon traps if anyone but Flint fucked with the magic stuff.

>inb4 nothing happens and we get the shards deactivate the sky sever and leave untouched
hes making fun of your paranoia isnt it obvious?
or is he?

>>27253184
see >>27253179

You pad silently across the room and lift the diary from the floor. You decide not to activate it for the time being.

You approach the dynamo. The shards within it hum, reacting to your presence, but nothing else happens.

What do you do?

>pick it up
>leave it there
>something else

>>27253243
>pick it up

>pick it up

>>27253243
>pick it up

>>27253243
P-p-p-p-p-pick up a dynamo

>>27253243
>pick it up

>>27253243
>pick it up

>>27253243
>something else
Take out our shards and do that thing where we make them all float together.

>>27253243
Slowly - very, very slowly - touch it.
Preferably with a stick.

Fuck it, grab the damn thing. We've been approaching a dynamo for an hour.

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>tfw we fail at actually achieving anything with our caution in the end and instead just built up a bunch of dramatic tension

>>27253336
Thats SM's cruel sick joke he likes to play with his questers

>>27253336
>ignoring suspense in high fantasy narrative

>>27253351
Yet we all know the day we actually DO just jump into something without looking first we'll fuck up so we never change.

You people realize that unless we force the door open we can't take the dynamo with us? Unless buy pocket...

>>27253336
Tension is a good thing.

>>27253293

the satchel couldn't follow you into the room, it's with your allies

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

You gingerly pick up the dynamo.

The skeleton's hands slide off it, then clatter into its lap. Relatively speaking, it sounds like an earthquake. You wince hard.

Nothing happens.

You sense something in the sphere - no. Through the sphere. A presence. Distant, but...

You shiver. Not from fear, but revulsion. It feels like screaming, tortured souls.

The presence begins to move. It's still far away, but it's closing in on your position at an alarming rate. You probably have half a minute.

What do you do?

>drop dynamo, run
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run
>hold ground, take on the presence alone, tell friends to get some distance
>some other strategy

>>27253361
>>27253370
Never said it wasn't or that we should ignore it. Just pointing out all we really did was add to the narrative and that's it.

>>27253364
Like hell we can't. What do you think we've been using the fannypack for? It's already got a dynamo and more sword shards in it.

Hey guys once we get a chance I picked up a few questions that we don't seem to have asked that anons suggested in the past.

Ask Flint about his magical heredity, why he's lightborn rather than windborn, preferably when we are alone with each other as it was apparently very personal.
and;
Ask Auriel about how Hyperion blessed people, how he acted/behaved, what he was like personally. It's kind of amazing how little we know about the fatherer of our antagonists.
also;
Ask Yi Fang (when we get to him) if there were any secret groups in Kan-Abar that furthered the research of demon summoning, as Obis suggested.
and finally;
Also ask Auriel who the fuck Kullia Nesteral is and why she has such a 10/10 villain sounding name, as apparently she is the origin of strife between Obis and his currently ruling brother Nulis. Whenever we get a chance.
The duke also suggested way back when that the attack on Kelvere was orchestrated by the Ring City, and Kullia was a noble from the Ring City that apparently quite easily captured the attentions of Obis and got his brother jealous right quick that led to Nulis throwing in with the traitors and taking power.
Veeeery interesting.

>>27253382
EAT IT
FUCK WIND MAGES

>>27253382
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run
NO DYNAMO LEFT BEHIND

>>27253382
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run
If one of those monsters is in the area, the it's likley that nothing else living is.

Grab our treasure and get out of here.

>>27253382
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run

>>27253382
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run

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>>27253382
It's the thing, isn't it?
The thing we ran away from.
I think we should kill it this time.

I want to eat it.

>>27253382
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run
<GUYS WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MISUNDERSTANDING ON OUR HANDS!>

>>27253395
Also a Kanian back at Jacob's Field outright said it was a woman's call that they were out there too.

>>27253382
>bust down those doors, grab friends, run
FUCK THIS PLACE

>>27253460
Missed that one, good catch.

>>27253437
>eating moonsong shards
No pls

Rolled 5

>>27253382

I think that's the living erasure spell that kick our ass last time. If he detected us by touching the sphere is a safe bet it is connected to it and will be able to follow us where ever we go with it.

>>27253437
I'd rather secure dynamo and friends first. I get the impression as long as we have the shards it'll find us, so might as well get prepared first.

>>27253484
Ahhhhhh
hahahah
YOU ARE CORRECT

BUT

I DON'T WANNA LEAVE IT BEHIND!


LET'S LURE IT INTO THE CASTLE TO FIGHT THE GOLEM!

>>27253505
BRILLIANT!

>>27253382
>the satchel couldn't follow you into the room, it's with your allies
So, what exactly is stopping Auriel from going "Hmmm. I wonder why this fannypack feels like that Moonsong? I'll just have a peek..."

>>27253505
What a terrible idea. Let's do it.

>>27253505
+1

>>27253483
Not the sword shards, but the monsters made of souls.

They are sustained by a focus built into the shards by the Black Hand, but I don't think they have pieces of the sword in them.

>>27253505
Even if that works, I'd like to save getting the staff, however we do it, for last, considering that after that it's going to be a mad dash to get off the island.

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>>27253513
>>27253505
>LET'S LURE IT INTO THE CASTLE TO FIGHT THE GOLEM!
>your fucking players SM

>>27253505
wahahahaha awwwwww shit

This is a shit idea. why the fuck not.

Hey, flint? stay still, im going for a run

>>27253505
Every internet in the world.
Every of them.

>>27253513

But what if it destroys the staffs? That thing erase everything!

>>27253505

GENIUS!!!

on a slight tangent, if we broke the casing and reforged Moonsong, would it grant the wielder control over the blood magic golem, or just make the wielder its target, or would it vent the magic and end the spell?

>>27253537
Fuck that. We'll have a super powerful staff of fuck the skysever. That'll make everything a shit ton easier.

>>27253505
>LET'S LURE IT INTO THE CASTLE TO FIGHT THE GOLEM!
I love you.

>>27253505

But I don't what to leave our friends alone...

You're almost certain that it's the creature you encountered before. There's no time for subtlety anymore. You ram through the door with all your strength. Incredibly, the hinges still don't move, but you blast a hole through their center. The material wasn't as strong as the magic keeping them shut.

"Shadow?!"

"What is that? A dynamo?"

You unleash a flurry of limbs, lift all of your allies off the ground, and take off back down the tunnel at top speed. You silence their yelps and shrieks of surprise with your voice. <No time, that thing is on its way! The dynamo is holding shards of the moonsong! They're probably connected!>

"Where are we going?!" Auriel's voice shouts.

<Away from here!>

You burst out of the hole from which you entered the compound and onto the city street. A network of buildings and alleys greets you. But you can feel the dark thing turning to follow your progress...shit.

What do you do?

>drop allies, lead it on a merry chase...back to the palace.
>keep allies, lead it back to the palace
>make your stand there
>break open dynamo, retrieve shards, run
>some other strategy

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>read through archives
>first time participating in thread
>everyone likes my sarcastic idea
>see pic

>>27253569
This is a good point. What if it doesn't follow us? They'll be alone with it.

>>27253590
>keep allies, lead it back to the palace
Even if we aren't going to do the cage match plan it's better to fight it where we won't have others interfere.

>>27253590
>keep allies, lead it back to the palace

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>>27253590
>keep allies, lead it back to the palace
RUN! FUCKING RUN!

>>27253619
We also might be able to just lock it out too.

>>27253590
>drop allies, lead it on a merry chase...back to the palace.

AWWW YEEEAAAAH
we'll have to climb through the window this time though, right? unless we bring Flint along

>>27253590
>some other strategy
DEEP FOCUS WHILE RUNNING
FIND LUCIFER'S GROUP
BENNY HILL SET TO MAXIMUM CHASE

>>27253590
>>keep allies, lead it back to the palace

>>27253590
>keep allies, lead it back to the palace
It may have been a joke, but let's see just how far we can take it!

>>27253590
drop allies, head a while off, see what happens.

I dont want to bring it to the palace. look at the triple dot he put in, it makes me uncomfortable

>>27253590
>break open dynamo, retrieve shards, run
We aren't going to get to keep the dynamo if it has shard in it.

And we could see if we could eat a bit of the power before it dissolves. We might end up with enough for pocket, and then we get to see what happens when the spell focus is in a different dimension

>>27253590
>>keep allies, lead it back to the palace

Explain as fast as you can, if it gets too near to the group go another way and tell them to go to the castle.

>drop allies, lead it on a merry chase...back to the palace.

>>27253651
If it was capable of breaking into the palace it would have done it already but the place is practically untouched outside of what the Xilians themselves did to it.. It would at least be a good place to lock ourselves in to avoid it.

>>27253676
The dynamo doesn't have any power, it's just the housing. And figuring out the housing was the entire reason we came here.

>>27253644
<LUCIFER! RUN! FUCKING RUN!>
"What, I thought we agreed to stay as far away from each other as possible you elemental pissa--WHAT IN THE HYPERION-BORNE FUCK IS THAT!?"

>>27253698
Ah. Nice pointing that out.
We don't actually want to break it just yet...

>>27253644
I prefer this to the palace solution

>>27253644
Thats... pretty smart. lucifers ability's are revealed, this thing is taken out, and we can mop up the victor

>>27253590
I think people are largely overexaggerating the powers of these monsters.

They're strong alright, but not strong enough to beat the golem with the staff.
Plus this >>27253686

>>27253698
>>27253714
We aren't going to be able to get the Sword Shards out without breaking the casing, and it's possible that we might be able to destabilize whatever is sustaining the monsters if we get the shards back.

>>27253686
I think the idea is that we let it into the palace.

>>27253746
Sorry but I can't not support cage match suggestion.
I mean, ethically speaking, it's just a personal obligation even if I do concede to your strange almost foreign logic.

>>27253590

Explain to them the plan of getting the Blood-Shadow monstrosity to fight the Staffs guardian. Whoever wins would probably be at the edge of it's ability, so finishing it off should be easier, but if one completely overpowers the other, then it is one less problem for us to deal with...

So, we drop them here and they make their own way back to the palace while we lead big black on a deadly game of tag... it also gives us free leeway to use deep focus to see if whats going on during the day...

Vote 1:
>deep focus and try to lead it toward Lucifer

Vote 2:
>lead it back to the palace

Vote 3:
>break dynamo immediately

Vote 4:
>make your stand there with your allies

(decision on whether to leave allies or bring them along for the ride upcoming)

>>27253771
2

>>27253746
>We aren't going to be able to get the Sword Shards out without breaking the casing

Why not? What evidence do you have of this at all?


>>27253765
And that idea is dumb.

>>27253771
1

>>27253771
2

>>27253771
2

>>27253771
1

>>27253771
2

>>27253771
2

>>27253786
>What evidence do you have of this at all?
...that there are shards of the sword inside the casing, probably because this pseudo-dynamo is the core of the monsters.

>>27253771
4

>>27253771
2

>>27253771
2

>>27253815
And what says they can't be removed without damaging the casing. Are you saying the casing was built around the shards?

>>27253771
3

>>27253771
1

>>27253835
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.

It's a solid casing, with the shards inside. the BH probably took and empty casing and sealed the shards in it.
It's a globe, we aren't going to "open it", it doesn't have hinges.

>>27253771

cutting off votes

back to the palace!

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

Vote 1:
>leave allies, it's too dangerous. That thing is powerful.

Vote 2:
>bring allies, you need all the help you can get

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
1

>>27253892
1

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
2

>>27253892
2

>>27253875
We don't know at all how the casing works, just saying there's no way to open it without even looking at is dumb, especially when there is obviously a way to put and draw power out of it.

A dozen threads from not the rage-cry is going to be "Remember the robots, rainbows, and baiting the xilemonster".

>>27253940
I say SM should put a vote to either lock ourselves in or get it to cage match. One last chance at reason.

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>>27253975
Shhh. Just let it happen.

>>27253975
Nah SM's silent on the matter, no doom paul, no direct responses to the suggestion itself.
Surely that means it's the greatest of principled suggestions.

>>27253994

I might consider it if things were very close, but both votes have been reasonably conclusive.

Bringing allies.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 49

>>27254023

Rolled 56

>>27254023
AH AHA

ATHEISM STRIKES!

>>27254017
Remember the vote from when people wanted to Erasure the Archonium door so they wouldn't have to deal with whatever was on the side? Remember how bad an idea it actually was?

Rolled 67

>>27254023
And once more, as usual.

Rolled 36

>>27254023
Failred

>>27254017
SM said he would stop using Doompaul before the point of no return, because it was changing minds

>>27254035
>>27254050
Well, not bad. But not very good.

>>27254063
>>27254048
I'll use sarcasm tildes next time then.

>>27254023
>Roll 1d100

Fuck it, 100's or 1's, or bust!

Rolled 81

>>27254023

Rolled 90

>>27254023
Rollan fer dicks.

Rolled 8

>>27254023

Rolled 8

>>27254023

c-c-combo breaker!

>>27254113
>>27254124
why couldn't you roll sooner?!

Rolled 71

>>27254023

Rolled 93

>>27254139
Because!

>>27254023

God why is this so tense.
At least argue about something people the silence is fucking nauseating.

>>27254139
Because you touch yourself at night.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oU2cXCVuUY

You sprint out of the city down the same route you came, still holding your allies aloft. You rapidly explain your plan to lure the creature to the palace.

"That's insane!" Flint shouts. "Now put me down!"

"Hell, it just might work!" Adavan calls. "Keep moving, I don't want to get hit by one of those -

A black sphere whistles by the group. It bores into the white stone of a nearby wall, leaving flickering flames of black ink eating away a smooth hole.

Another sphere soars straight at Abigail. You can't move the limb carrying her out of the way fast enough, so you form another, using your body to shield her. The orb slams into you, consumed by the task of boring into your skin, and then continues on - but it gives you enough time to get her out of the way.

The poison ink dances on your skin for a moment, eating at you, and then it fades. The pain is intense, but you focus on pounding your legs into the ground, ignoring it.

>you've taken 5 damage (50/81)

Another flurry of black spheres strikes the ground behind you, forming craters as you sprint forward.

A few moments later, you're clear of the city limits. It's going to be a very long run through the forest to get back to the palace. You spare a glance behind you. The creature is jumping from point to point, rock to rock. Like that, it's many times faster than you.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 56

>>27254238
I am playing the Benny Hill theme right now.

It is amazingly appropriate.

Rolled 88

>>27254238
Hrm.

Rolled 90

>>27254238

Rolled 8

>>27254238
GOTTA GO FAST! GOTTA GO SANIC FAST!

Rolled 64

>>27254238

Rolled 12

>>27254238

>>27254257
>>27254259
Fantastic.

>>27254256
>>27254257
>>27254259
bretty good!

>>27254257
>>27254259
Nice.

Rolled 64

>>27254257
>>27254259
We have become go fast.

>>27254238

>>27254238
Yeah, we aren't outrunning this, and getting it anywhere near the castle is a bad idea.

Full attack on the mask, hopefully we can break it without having to break the dynamo.
If it shows signs of just ignoring damage even to the mask, then we break the casing and fiddle with the ritual-shards.

>>27254238
Why aren't we Blinkan and Fast Blinkan like a mofo?

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>>27254259
>>27254257
Woohoo!

>>27254284
I disagree completely. We'll get to deal with two threats at the same time.

>>27254294
'cause we're carrying passengers now

>>27254294

You can only Blink with inanimate objects, not living souls.

>>27254294
Can't blink with allies I think.

>>27254284
Correction, we -are- outrunning this, maybe, if that is what the roll was for.

>>27254298
I'd still rather not have it go near the castle, it will either do to little damage or too much.
And I have no faith in this thing being stronger than the Staff Golem

>>27254238

OK this is going to be harder I thought we could pull more ground between us and it. We should try to drop our allies in a safe place and get that thing away from them.

>>27254309
>>27254310
We need Pocket, like now.

>>27254326
>We need Pocket, like now.

I've been telling you this for threads, but all you adventurers refuse to buy the bag of holding.

>>27254326
Well, there will hopefully be a lot to eat if we can actually pull this off.

>>27254326
Okay.

Putting forth the vote to consume Auriel for pocket XP. She trusts us so that will probably make the DC easier.

>>27254349
shit i forgot the sarcasm tildes

>>27254349

Fuck you.

We have 14, tho. Battle will be on shortly.

Could eat vonnegut's ring, tho.

>>27254349
Har Har Har.

More useful for the light magic anyways.

>>27254349
"Hey Auriel, can I like just quickly eat a hand or something? I could really use the extra juice to develop an extradimensional holding pocket to stick you guys in so I can run away faster."
"..."
"It'll grow back won't it? I mean mine do."

I say we use multishade illusions to pull off this plan a little better. We've got Silence at Empowered so we've got plenty of juice to make it work. Abby, Adavan, and possibly Ila can use it to.

The creature forms a huge barrage of black spheres - dozens of smaller orbs, poised to shower you.

And then it Blinks directly on your left side, and fires them.

But you've seen that trick before.

You contort your body wide, stretching as the balls close the short distance. You bend into a giant U, your allies held high in the air, creating an open space. The shots fly through harmlessly.

You slam a limb down, turning it into a scoop, and throw up a cloud of dust and dirt. It's enough of a distraction for you to close the gap to the tree line, but it's only a matter of time before it blinks again.

The trees.

Shit. How are you going to carry your allies through a forest and dodge those things at the same time? This could be a bit more than you can chew. If only you had some way of keeping them safe, just for a moment. Flint's new cape flaps against your arm, stinging your 'fingers', as if trying to mock you.

What do you do?

>>27254378
And then Abby makes a 'You can eat me at anytime if you know what I mean' comment and the whole thing just drops in the most awkward way possible.

>>27254386
Eat Vonnegut's hat.

>>27254386
Multishades everywhere

Guys I had another thought,
What if the curse-parasite that is on Flint WASN'T put there intentionally by the other party it is attached to, but simply put there so both would eventually be driven into conflict and disrupt the Flint royal family? And if that was the case, considering it takes Yi Fang to take the parasite off, what Empire might have those powerful enough to latch the parasite on...