Bet you were expecting a roll here.

Welcome back shadow quest!

WOO!

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Recent Events Summary:

You have collected and reforged each Shard of your past self. Three of the four keys to Hecate's prison are in your possession; you are certain as to the location of the last. The Black Lady has joined the alliance between the Great Forest, Felnoir, and Archon. More importantly, you've convinced both you allies in Haven that this is a good thing. Soon, your collected followers will meet in Arland, ready to shock the world with a force comprised of outsiders and rulers joined together against the demon lords summoned by Kan-Abar.

It's halfway through winter. Auriel has predicted that Kan-Abar won't move until the snow thaws and spring arrives, working in the meantime to consolidate control over their newly captured territories. So far, that prediction has held true.

A banquet was held in the Black Lady's honor by Yi Fang, introducing her to the Archon nobility. Originally, it was to celebrate Abigail's councilorhood, but the twin purpose served perfectly: it made good on Abigail's promise to extend a hand to new allies, and remake Archon not as an antagonist to the Empire of Light, but cornerstone of world stability. The ball concluded without incident, cementing Abigail as a major political force in Archon, and building ties between the Archonians and the Black Lady.

>con't

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>>28661282
I've been working on stuff over Thanksgiving because I hate spending time with anyone in my family except my sister.

>Archive (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/akcvpyo893vvae6/ieUkT-2X3j)
I've compiled Shadow Quest in a few formats:
.epub (compatible with most eReaders, Kindle being the only major exception)
.mobi (because Kindle - unavailable while I work out formatting errors)
.pdf (for those that don't have an eReader)
.txt (because... fuck, I don't know - you cannot be assed to use software more complex than notepad?)

With the exception of the .txt, the files all include the images SM has used in narrative posts, at their appropriate locations. I've also tracked some metadata (Health, Mana, Rolls, Shard state) for these.

Additional pages/entries present in all files (mostly integration of SM's pastebin data):
-Mechanics and Metadata: Explanation of what metadata I'm tracking, as well as my current understanding of the roll system.
-Shadow: Character sheet, including a table of all revealed abilities (explained in detail below), resistances, shards, and tree completion bonuses.
-Non-Player Characters: short biography of the various party members we've had.
-Timeline: Timeline of major historical events. It's a table because I'm autistic about my data being aligned.
-Books Read: transcription of the various books we've read. In most of the file formats, I've exempted the text from the narrative in some places and replaced it with a hyperlink which will take you to this section. A return link is provided at the end of each text.

If you'd like to grab them, the images used for Shadow Quest are also in a folder in the dropbox. Note, however, that many have been resized for use in the eReader files.

>[1/4]

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Once again, Fang turned the unexpected into a powerful advantage. The only people that know the Black Lady's true identity, however, are yourself and Auriel. You hope that the secret stays just that, as you find yourself unable to predict exactly how Fang would react.

On the whole, things seem to be aligning themselves as you've planned for some time. However, one last thing weighs on your mind: City 002, the source of the highly aggressive constructs that have repeatedly attacked you. You followed the trail of the robots through the tunnels they dug to attack you, and meandered into the Timorian Deep, the dark underground reaches of Venia.

You encountered and fought a Vog Brain, a powerful Spirit creature that could use other Vog as part of a larger body. And to your pleasant surprise, Steward 001, the amicable robot that first made contact with you, came to your aid. But your battle drew the attention of a second robot: Steward 002.

001 held off his counterpart briefly so you could make your escape, and now you're on the run from 002, sprinting through the Deep at top speed.

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>>28661282
>>28661319
>Character Sheet
I've taken Shadow's character sheet and turned it into a table, in alphabetical order. The table is available as a standalone .txt file and an .html file. If you download sorttable.js (also in the dropbox), the HTML is sortable by clicking on the column headers. Make sure the .js file is in the same directory as the .html
Column headers include:
Ability Name
Cost (Experience point cost to purchase)
Status (Is the ability Learned, Unlocked, or Locked)
Use (Is the ability Active or Passive)
Resource (Does the ability use XP or Mana, and how much)
Power (How strong is the attack)
Description (Ability description)

I've considered splitting abilities with set variable mana costs which produce distinct effects (e.g. Purify, Gravity Sphere) into multiple entries. The advantage to this would be that if you're sorting by Mana cost you'll get the entry and effect at each appropriate slot, instead of only one entry at the lowest.
The disadvantage would be more clutter in the other columns (though the sorting algorithm is a stable sort, so same-name entries should remain clumped outside of a Cost sort).

>[2/4]

>>28661319
AHH!, you kinda should wait until after the intros have been posted so things don't get too muddled! and then wait until he's writing before that!

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>>28661282
>>28661319
>>28661335
I've also got a whole lot of questions, if you'd rather leave them until the end of the thread I'll link back here as a reminder later.

>Questions on missing ability data, if you're able to answer:
Base Power of:
-Dark Blizzard
-Dark Wave
-Mind Crush
-Spirit Lash

Do the following abilities cost Mana to activate:
-Sleep Gas
-Toxic Smog

Is there an ability description buried somewhere in your notes for:
-Communicate
-Pound

I know it's mentioned in a couple of the quest threads, but the pastebin does not list the Experience cost for using:
-Chosen
-Servant

Does Oneness round decimals to the nearest digit, or truncate? e.g. Mana cost 8. 20% = 1.6, does this reduce the cost by 2 or 1?

How many Magic Power ranks are there?

Does Purity of Order stack with Mirrored/Shared Resistance? If it DOESN'T, wouldn't it invalidate those abilities?

Pestilence and Consume are both present in the Character Sheet, but absent from the Revealed Abilities Description page.

Active/Passive: I want to check to make sure the following are correct:
-Mind Read (currently Passive)
-Darkness Within (currently Active): Unless I'm mistaken, this changes the bonuses/penalties from Berserk. That should make it a Passive enhancement to an Active ability (Tao is similar, and entered as Passive).
-Physical Shadow (currently Active)
-Shadow Control (Active)/Shadow Eater (Passive): These abilities read very similarly, but one is Passive and the other is Active. I would think they'd both have the same categorization.
-Servant (Passive): Shouldn't this be Active? (If the reasoning for this being "Passive" is that once a Servant is made, it is autonomous then I would compare it to Construct/Automaton, which are both Active)
-Chosen (Passive): See Servant

Which tree is Fire Resistance in?

Would you like me to continue to update the pastebin archive, or would you rather link the dropbox?

>[3/4]

>>28661282
shadowowwowo mastururruur

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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/Py9YnSQ2

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/WnBwRHFD

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>>28661345
My impatience is overwhelming.
Also, I realized that right after I posted the first one. No turning back now.

>>28661352
>Rolling
Also, I did this thing. The data used is only from the three rolls considered for an action, not the extended 10/5.
Disappointingly average. The /tg/ dice roller is not, it seems, out to get us.

>[4/4]

-----

As an aside, rereading the archives has reminded me what a total bro Auriel is. I'd like to get her opinion on offering her Servant, if the /tg/ collective doesn't find the idea disagreeable. She'd lose her Light abilities, true - but they'd be replaced with the equally potent Shadow abilities. Her secondary element is Spirit, so that stays.And maybe some day she gets upgraded to Chosen and we can give her the Water tree, which has all that nifty healing stuff she'd lose with the Light.

IT'S SHADOW TIME!

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Current Statistics:

HP: 64/81
Mana: 14/58
EXP: 11

Shards of Order and Chaos:

(Retribution) - Strong
(Maker) - Normal
(Silence) - Normal
(Peace) - Empowered
(Breeze) - Weak
(Hammer) - Strong
(Ardor) - Normal
{Resolve} - Broken
{Humanity} - Resonant

--Summoned--

Wisp - 1 mana to order

--Automatons--

Vita (Shade)

--Equipment--

Utility belt with purse

--Inventory--

Aurora Water Gem (pocket)
Steam Golem Core (pocket)
Shade (pocket)

--Teleport Anchor--

Haven - Inner Fortress

--Current Location--

Timorian Deep

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

Known Mana Pools:

Jacob's Field - entrance to Hecate's tomb - Spirit
Palthair Mines - Magnock's Lair - Spirit
Archon - Spirit District - Spirit
Archon - Shadow District - Shadow
Archon - Earth District - Earth
Archon - Water Distric - Water
Haven - Shadow
Abbotsford - Shadow
Aurora - Water

The tunnel Steward sent you down lead to a vast chasm, though you can see the continuation of your path across the deep, as if a bridge, now long gone, once connected the two holes. You Blink across the gap in an instant.

The earthen orb is now just in the caverns on the other side of the chasm. 002 is gaining, and fast. You keep sprinting.

You come to an intersection, but one path is blocked off with debris and dirt. It looks like it's been there a while. The other path is clear - another tunnel. Though it looks less like a cavern, and more as though it was hewn with a careful hand.

You continue forward on the path of least resistance; you don't have time to stop, not with a powerful enemy right on your tail. You're not exactly sure how strong it is, but Steward wasn't a pushover, and he seemed certain you wouldn't be able to face it.

You sprint along the hallway - and as you go, the rock and dirt vanish altogether, replaced by a heavy layer of dust. Your legs blur as you propell yourself forward, both with human-shaped legs and clawing limbs, anything you can use to move faster.

The silence of the stone hallway is broken only by the thud of your feet. Rusted fictures, perhaps lighted in some distant past, are embedded in the stone at intervals. The construction is neat, regular, and solid. You don't see the lines of any bricks or mortar; it appears carved right from the rock, then smoothed down to remove the rough edges.

Your hallway intersects with another smaller hallway, and then another, then another. There are side rooms branching in many directions - some collapsed in, some not. The only occupants you can sense are rats and spiders.

>con't

>>28661412

Maybe this is your opportunity to lose him. You pause briefly as the orb of earth flies up behind you, a tiny blinking brown light in the distance. You hear a howl rise in the tunnel as the air and dust it displaces approaches at great speed.

Your Shadowmeld draws on the darkness - and down here, that's a resource in plentiful supply. In fact, it's lightless - but you've always seen most clear when it's dark. The shadow wraps around you like your favorite blanket.

You snap of a Shade, and tell it to run down a side passage. The illusory copy of your body takes off in a straight line, a little blip of shadow.

>mana: 4/58

You turn and sprint off the way you were going. Steward didn't mention any turns or side-passes.

The earthen orb roars up behind you. For a moment, you're afraid your effort was waisted.

And then it turns sharply, clipping the corner of the intersection. Chipped stone is flung away from the wall, then vaporized by the humming Earth shield. It powers after your Shade at full speed.

You contain your sigh of relief and put the energy toward sprinting faster. After passing many more doors and empty halls, the orb fades from your ability to sense.

A moment later, you feel a distant blast of earth magic. That would be your shade getting torn to bits...but hopefully you've gained enough ground to -

You come to a stop.

>con't

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>>28661432

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW97ai_f2Sc

The hallway has ended. If there were doors, they've rotted and turned to dust. All that remains is an open, perfectly square hole. But that's not why you've stopped.

Before you is a cave.

Massive does not describe this place. The whole of the Archon fortress-city could fit within the confines of the hollow space in the earth resting before your eyes. The walls of the cave curve up in a giant arc; the distant rock shines and glitters green, creating a sort of hazy cast of color that sits in the air like a fog, like the color of mountains in the distance.

The greatest city you have ever seen is spread on the floor of the cavern, sprawling over chasms and up towers. You stand in a tiny hole on a wall of the cave. A switchback network of stairs leads from your hallway and down to the outer edge of the city hundreds of feet below. You can see things moving - robots. Machines or metal. Constructs, stomping along wide boulevards. This place is alive, hidden in the earth.

You sense four great points of power.

Firstly - in the center of the city, below 'ground' level, is a strong vibrating prescence of earth. It feels reminiscent of Steward 002.

Two other earthen glows also grab at your attention. They are smaller, but matching. They rest within towers on opposite ends of the city, twins of each other in design.

Finally, the smallest point of all sits on the other side of the cavern, past the great prescence in the center. The power radiating from the city creates a lot of intereference in your senses. You can't tell much about the farthest point.

What do you do?

>head for the central source of Earth
>head for the one of the towers
>head for the smaller point of power on the other side of the city
>some other strategy

>>28661319
do you do lewd things with your sister?
Anyways thanks for your hard work man.

>>28661450
>head for the central source of Earth

>>28661450
Let's go with what we planned for, stealth scouting to ascertain what's actually going on around here, and head for the smaller point of power that we don't know much about.

>>28661450
>>head for the smaller point of power on the other side of the city

>>28661510
>add
To clarify, I feel like since steward 001 led us here that he would want us to look for something that shared a similarity with him, so as to continue the conversation that was interrupted by the 002 robot, and I think that the smaller point of power may reflect the minority decision of the difference between 002 and 001.

>>28661352

I will update the pastebins to reflect these notes at a later time:

Base Power:

-Dark Blizzard (6)
-Dark Wave (4 or 8) (the benefit here is not the power, but the knockback and wide AOE range)
-Mind Crush (10)
-Spirit Lash (4)

Descriptions:

-Communicate - Mind-to-mind communication with any individual. They will hear your voice in the language with which they're most familiar. Communication can be private, or public. The range is the same as a verbal shout, and to communicate privately with someone, you must have knowledge of their location.

-Pound - Draw your body up and pound and enemy back. A basic physical attack.

Experience costs:

-Chosen (15)
-Servant (7)

I suppose we're heading for the smaller point of power we don't know much about. Writing...

>>28661319
>Atlantis
Oh yeah. Whatever happened with that? They coming to the summit thing?

>>28661704
I guess we can ask Auriel to get on it or something. Would've been nice if we could/can go with her though, touch a mana pool, "accidentally" free the water elemental...

>>28661623
Thank you.

>table updated

002 sounds like something you'd rather avoid - and the two other points don't interest you. You take flight from the edge of the cavern wall and soar out over the city.

You expected ancient ruins, but it's all in rather good repair - stunning repair, actually. And you realize that's the primary motivation of the robots milling below. They're cleaning, or rebuilding. Off the beaten path of the major roads, things are more dilapidated - fallen roofs, collapsed walls. The robots work steadily, and thoroughly, but it would take them a very long time to comb through the entire city.

Did they build it? No, not originally. You know from history that this must be dwarven territory, though there are no dwarves to be seen. Maybe Aeolus really did have the last laugh in the war.

His power must have been great to challenge them here in their homes. This city wasn't build in a day.

You land gingerly on one of the towers, then leap away, powering your flight in a wide circle around the center of the city. Best keep away for now. A few flying robots skim the rooftops, but that's far below the altitude you've chosen.

Eventually, you close in on the smaller point of power. It's centered beneath a very large building - square, multi-storied. Though not as tall as some of the towers, it's much bigger, considering its size. Certainly an important place.

The presence of earth from within reminds you of 001 - the one that has, so far, been your ally. The streets around it are devoid of robotic life.

What do you do?

>head inside
>explore elsewhere in the city
>some other strategy

>>28661828
>head inside
stay stealthed.

>>28661828
>head inside STEALTHILY

>>28661828
>head inside

>>28661828
This is really quite depressing.
All these ancient cities we've been to, Tarun Gakth, Xile, Aurora, and this place... If all of these are testaments to how terrible the elementomachy was and how bad of an idea it would be for these elemental lords to return then it's a pretty clear sign how desperately possessive and destructive they are.

>>28661969
Yeah, lots of amazing places turned into hellholes and/or abandoned.

>>28661969
And then Erebus at the edge of them, getting them to isolate their followers in one place for "protection" to the end of eliminating those peoples and their elemental lords.
I wonder if Shadows' humanity score is high enough to understand how horrible Erebus truly was.

>heading inside while stealthed

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>>28662029
>I wonder if Shadows' humanity score is high enough to understand how horrible Erebus truly was.
I'd like to think so anon

>>28662029
That's probably the reason why 002 came to the consensus of destroying our existence.

You head inside the building.

It's a warehouse...or a factory? In any case, it's buzzing with activity. A greenish steel frame supports the inside, leaving most of the space clear; at least, it would be clear, if not for the equipment everywhere. Small robots fly around incessantly, checking on pipes, cables, and metallic nodes that link them together.

In the back there seems to be a sort of machine. It looks like a standing coffin. Most of the cables lead into it.

There's a hissing, and power hums through the cables. All the machines dart about faster. You hear creaking gears, and the scrape of metal on metal. A robot rises up into the container, visible through the transparent door - Steward!

A shock of power blasts through the room. It condenses on the block of steel and glass, then shoots into Steward's core.

The door opens, and the robots steps clear. He stands still a moment.

His limbs began to twitch and jerk irregularly. Fingers rotate. Arms spin. Hands flip and wave. And then just as suddenly, he stops.

He moves to a panel and leans over it. A cluster of smaller robots gather around him, as if watching. His fingers tap at a glowing green screen.

What do you do, or say?

>you're alive! Uh...again!
>sup' dog?
>Steeewaaard, you got some 'splainin to dooo!!!
>some other strategy

>>28662253
>you're alive! Uh...again!

>>28662253
>>you're alive! Uh...again!
>>sup' dog?
go in for fistbump

>you're alive! Uh...again!

>>28662253
>>you're alive! Uh...again!

>>28662253
>sup' dog?

>>28662253
>you're alive! Uh...again!

>>28662253
>you're alive! Uh...again!
Although this does cheapen your heroic sacrifice a little.

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>>28662253
>Don't forget to un Pocket Shade for repairs

>>28662253
<What was it you wanted to talk about before? Thought I'm almost certain it would be related to how the majority of those power nodes carry 002 energy.>

Heh. Everyone comes out now that dialogue is here.

>>28662253
Make sure to find out his deeper motivations now, before we make any real decisions on how to deal with City 002.

>>28662253
<Steward-san! Y-you're safe again! Ohh, these wittle robos are so kawaii! Can you help me make my shade tougher, we could repair him together Steward-kun...>

>>28662253
CONSUME

>>28662412
Stewart best husbando.

<Steward! You're alive! ...again!>

Steward leans up from the console and rotates the upper half of his body to face you. "Ah, you have arrived. Excellent. I was just beginning a routine in an attempt to locate your position."

You approach the robot carefully. <Can you explain what's going on, exactly? Why does 002 want me dead? Why did you approach me in the first place?>

Steward stands there for a moment, still, silent. His eyes consider the question. He nods. "You must have the whole of it. Leave your construct. My servants can repair it."

You unpocket shade. The swarm of small flying robots descends on it before it can react. <They're going to repair you, Shade. Stay still.>

"Holding position."

>mana: 6/58

"Follow me," Steward says.

>con't
>may take a bit

>>28662473
I'd wait forever for you, SM.

>>28662473
>You must have the whole of it.
Oh boy. Here it comes.
The information that will determine everything...
Take your time, SM. Don't want any miscommunication here for sure.

So we have 11 xp. Shall we get some of the center tree?

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>>28662534
Which ability do you think may help us best here?

>>28662534
I'd rather save for magic power.

>>28662534
I'd like to buy corrode. Only 3 XP, I want to see what it leads to.

>>28662534
I would say save for Magic power and then we can continue with Operation: Immateria

>>28662565
Same. Bonus to amount of mana we have at max, small passive bonus to the power of all our spells, bonus to the amount we can regen because of a higher cap, all in all it's worth saving for.

Shadowrage suits our build, though maybe we can Kindle 002's empathy circuits instead hah.

Though getting that final Earth\Wind Resistance might be wise since we are facing super golems.

Damnit SM, I just finished catching up on the archives, and I'm introduced to this amazing story and world, with such great writing and after a week I get caught up. And I had to wait for Thanksgiving break to end.
Why are you such a good writer?

>>28662619
True, when possible we should get that resistance.

>>28662619
If only we had another Archonium to eat.

>>28662590
It's certainly an amazing utility power.

>>28662619
Since shadowrage is turning our aura towards offense I can see it being useful for accenting our physical attacks quite well.

>>28662648
The 002 undercity power core.

>>28662619
>>28662698
Wouldn't a bonus to Shadow Power be a bonus to our magical damage?
Or am I just confused, and Shadow Power measures our physical damage as well?

>>28662745
shadow power accompanies all our physical attacks. Look at Schattenkrieg for example.

>>28662745
Perhaps it aids in the power of our shadow magic if it works like that. A question for SM I imagine.

>>28662758
>>28662759
Nah, you're right.
Should have been obvious to me, since it's in the PHYSICAL shadow tree.
My bad.

>I caught a Shadow Quest.

I recently got through 20-ish threads of reading to catch up to the quest again, and it reminds me that I have to say: Thank you so much. Your writing is amazing, your characters are beautiful, your choices of music and setting are wonderful, and you can bet your ass I'm using this setting if you make a PDF, or at least studying it intently.

You have a fucking amazing playerbase too, even if a fair few of them are asshats. Reading through this quest is an amazing, hilarious, and emotionally investing journey every time I do it, like reading a good book. And of course I'll do it again once it reaches another 20-30ish pages, if it makes it that far. It'll be sad to see the quest end, but it's been a great time, and you definitely need to write a book. I'd buy the hell out of it. I'm hoping Shadow sees the end of his journey, even if he's a schizophrenic shadow monster.

TL;DR I want you to mpreg me.

>>28662873
>I want you to mpreg me.
Get in line.

So, are we agreed on Magic Power V => Team Immateria?

>>28663009
Eh? I'm in Team Immateria to get Magic Power, because the things that give us lots of XP are going to be things that need to be dealt with via powerful magic.

>>28661367
>spoiler
I rather like that idea actually, hadn't considered it before. We should ask her when we have a spare moment.

>>28663009
I'm for rushing HT since I think what's after will let us make something similar to the monster we just ran away from.
other than that I'm all for finishing up the spirit tree.( I still find it hilarious it was there the whole time)

so guys wasn't it agreed that we would eat the power core for the exp since it wasn't a dynamo.

>>28663233
I was up for it, I don't know about the others

>>28663233
It was towards the end of the thread so I don't know, but I'll support it now because it would be more useful to us as XP.

>>28663233
I can't really think of another use for it off the top of my head.

He leads you through a side door into a long hallway. Shiny steel supports line the polished stone walls. He turns, and you enter a stairwell, headed down.

Your feet pad softly on the steel stairs. He clangs and clanks along unceremoniously. You go down several floors before reaching the lower complex.

He flicks open a metal panel. There are several buttons with numerical runes arranged in a tight square; he pushes them in some predetermined order, and the door next to them slides open. You follow him through.

Beyond is a great field of pulsing earth. Rectangular adamantium constructs glow and blink with hundreds of lights. A nest of cables interlocks the powerful, humming devices. It's a strange mess of strict organization.

<What is this?>

"This," Steward says, resting a palm on the surface of one of the metallic instruments, "is me. Part of me. I was to be their greatest experiment. Thought from nothing. Intelligence, from nothing. Artificially constructed intelligence. I would help them design, solve problems, achieve greater things than even how I was great. I would help them become more efficient, run the city, improve safety, the livelihood of every dwarf. I was to be their Steward. So I was named."

>con't

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He looks at you. "This is the city Va'ad, the heart of the dwarven empire. But the winds howled in the deep, and killed my makers. If any survived, I have not found their ancestors. The great old one, Geb, is caught in a never-ending storm. I was abandoned, half-completed.

"Tal'ok is the dwarf that built me," Steward says. "Mechanist 345-B, and a genius even amongst the great inventors of the dwarves. As they were destroyed, he worked to save as many of his machines as possible, believing that their aid would help protect and rebuild with whoever escaped. He stayed at the core of the collapsing city, finishing what he had begun to write - thousands of lines of code. What he gave to me was something the dwarves had long avoided - self-contained orders to survive, build, and continue his work. Self-automation. In a way, self-determination.

"...but he died too," Steward said. "We have buried him in the crypts, in a place of great honor. He was old. It was already made for him. Untouched by the winds.

"For a time, I did not know myself. For six hundred years after the war, I built and maintained in silence. The destruction was too much; my appendages, the robots I controlled, too few. I barely kept myself intact and functional. But I wrote, and wrote, following the outline that he laid with his dying breaths. And I achieved sentience."

<...you've been down here for a long time, Steward,> you say solemnly.

"I have. Very long, by arbitrary standards. No time at all, when you live forever. My creators are less fortunate."

<After you...woke up...what did you do?>

>con't

>>28662648

Lets ambush and CONSUME a Demon Lord

"I was able to better control my robots. Sentience opened up new levels of efficiency for me; I worked faster, and better. The flickering servers - that is, these metal structures you see before you - began to stabilize, and I built more, increasing my speed and power. I began to send scouts to find other robots, scraps and constructs that had survived on the surface, and bring them into the fold.

"As my servers increased, I found myself spread thin. It felt wrong, and so I decided to create...another, of myself. Another Steward." His eyes blink slightly, flickering. "Immediately, things improved. With work divided, thing were accomplished more quickly. We had to relearn many techniques lost in the destruction - we were unable to create more power cores, hence our constant scavenging. That has been our many project for fifty years - developing a means of condensing power into a rotating sphere, stable enough to be extracted as needed.

"And to that end, I made another 'self', and another. There are...there were 25 of us, each a bank of servers, expanding, collaborating. We had grand visions. We would find the makers. We would restore them to their place of glory. We would rebuild Va'ad. We would rise to the surface again. We would have revenge.

<...revenge.>

"...things changed," Steward said. "We could not find the makers. We spied on the nations of the surface, and hunted in every nook and cranny. We explored the dark of the Timorian Deep. They were nowhere to be found. We were alone. What to do, then. What does a Steward do when his house is dead? We did not know.

"One of us thought he had found an answer," he continued. "Below Venia is a core of Chaos sealed in order. He wanted to harness that power."

>con't

25 A.I.

Wow.

>>28663350
>"One of us thought he had found an answer," he continued. "Below Venia is a core of Chaos sealed in order. He wanted to harness that power."

002 a shits must die

<Wait,> you say. <Describe that in more detail.>

Steward nods. "Venia, itself, is composed of a mix of order and chaos. The world itself is a crust turned about an inner core. Beneath this crust is an outer shell of pure Order. Then, another layer - the twisting strangeness of the Nether. And at the center of the Nether, sealed in an even stronger layer of Order, is the Core of Chaos."

<How were you to harness this power? Why?>

"It would be the battery of our vengeance," Steward said. "With our makers gone, it rested upon our shoulders to kill their enemies - those that followed the so-called Greater Elementals. We debated at length amongst ourselves if that was even our perogative, but the plans were drawn up anyway. Venia would not exist if the seals of Order keeping Chaos contained were perfect. No - Venia exists because some Chaos leaks out and mixes with Order. If we could find the breech in the seal, then we could harness the raw energy and bend it to the purpose we wished. A great development, side-by-side with the creation of further power cores. The new power cores themselves would give life to the machine capable of breaching the seals.

<That sounds a little dangerous,> you say.

>con't

>>28663411
>The world is a dynamo

Consume?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-HQ3ZPsMmg

"That is why I was against it," Steward says. "And that I would rather have existed in peace. And while the manufacture of the device, and the power cores, continued, our debate did as well. My opinion was respected, as I was the oldest and first of the Stewards. I held great sway over the majority, and it was decided that we would focus on repairing Va'ad, and making it into a suitable tomb to honor the creators, and Tal'ok, who had given us the opportunity of life. And then, perhaps find a way to release the great old one, Geb."

<But things didn't go as planned.>

"No," Steward said. "The one you know as 002 - the first other that I made - began to write malicious code in secret. When we least expected it - after he had relented in his arguments - he unleashed his attack, five yeras ago. Three-quarters of us were forcibly turned to his side in minutes. I was barely able to write security protocals to protect the rest from his attack. I had never had to write them before. It was difficult, but I was able to halt his first strike before it consumed us entirely.

"But we had lost too much ground. He had the majority of the computing power on his side. It was only a matter of time before him and his new allies broke my security and rewrote the rest of us by force. But we had one card on our side."

<What was that?>

>con't

File: 1386208903112.png-(627 KB, 800x1131, Steward 001.png)

627 KB PNG

"This is the facility at which power cores were to be manufactured," Steward said. "I threatened to self-destruct. The attacks ceased. And we have been locked in stalemate ever since."

<...then...when you came to observe me, all that time ago?>

"We were seeking allies. We thought that the Shadow might prove such a one, but we had to be sure," Steward said. "Upon investigation, we learned from records that Erebus had abandoned Geb in the heat of conflict. This was how Geb was overwhelmed, and the dwarves ultimately destroyed. With Geb, they were untouchable underground. Without their protector, they were completely vulnerable. Trusting the agent of a traitor at first glance would have been foolish. But I know you are different." Steward looks at you pointedly. "You, and all of yours, will be immediately targeted if 002 is allowed to have his revenge. We know he has already expended valuable resources trying to destroy you before you could reach me."

<Heh.> You grin. <It was those very attacks that drove me to come and find you.>

"The irony, then, is indeed satisfying," Steward says. "I apologize I did not locate you earlier. Sending out my first mobile agent was challenging. Slipping another through their security was almost impossible - well, it was, as you saw for yourself. 002 was not long behind."

What is your response to all of this? Or do you have other questions?

>write-in

If I destroyed 002 will you be able to recover the others?

>>28663469
<How do you think it would be best to prevent them from getting their revenge while leaving Va'ad intact?>

>>28663469
Well, mention the only real way 002's getting into the inner chaos is by breaking our shards for a seal breach. This might be an alternate reason to why he keeps trying to attack us so relentlessly.

Also, we kind of breached the seal earlier so we need to make sure he didn't get something in to harness it or something.

>>28663469
Truly, this will be the most important thing I ever do with my CpE degree.

What is their opinion of the Elves?

>>28662873

I'm very flattered, and you're very welcome.

My novel is in the final wave of self-polishing. I'm planning on posting it on amazon and making it free for three days so all the /tg/ peeps can get it if they want it. I figure it's a way to pay back the community for being generally awesome and get some free reviews and readership to jump-start popularity before I put a price tag on it.

>TL;DR I want you to mpreg me.

Staaahp it, you'll make me blush.

>>28662952

>tee-hee

>>28663469
So can we eat the power core?
>>28663233
Also this gets my vote
>>28663514

Now's not a good time. But we need to ask Steward about a prosthetic for Abby when we can.

>>28663540
Let's ask his opinion on most of the surface dwellers. And of what he'd do if 002 was no longer a problem.

>>28663530
That's probably a good point.

>>28663469
<I can free Geb.>

>>28663469
>>28663578
Does he know about our plan with Geb?

>>28663599
Maybe say <I believe I can free Geb.>

>>28663599
Correction, the Black Lady can free Geb.

She has the staff.

>>28663599
Bu-but it's the black lady who can free Geb! And we'd need to get her to agree to that use of the staff first before we can reliably tell Steward that we have the power to free Geb.

>>28663599
>>28663613
>>28663625
<I believe i have a way to free Geb, but i must...(i got nothing after that)>

>>28663656
Let's just stick to how we're going to handle 002 for now. That's the immediate concern.

>>28663614
>>28663625
Funnily, I don't remember us even asking if we could borrow the staff real quick.
I think she'd agree if we did.

>>28663691
Reverse the code 002 used? We'd have to break through his own security code, but even a momentary breakthrough would be a significant success.

>>28663734
Yeah. I hope he'll suggest a counterhack or something similar, because our odds aren't good facing thousands of robot bodies directly, especially with that powerful 002 shell running around.

>>28663734
>Reverse the code 002 used? We'd have to break through his own security code, but even a momentary breakthrough would be a significant success.
It should be possible for us now since we bought ML.

>>28663734
>I think she'd agree if we did.
She did, but on certain conditions of being able to trust fang and protection.

>>28663778
It should be possible to at least understand the code.
But applying that understanding to breaking down their defenses and converting them to 001's mindset are certainly something Steward would likely know more about.

>Not using Enslave to take over the 002 server and command the army for our own

>>28663868
You really want to try hacking magic computers with mind magic? I'm skeptical about how minimal the success range would be.

>>28663868
we need xp more then we need another army.

>>28663469
>Geb
<I'm aware of the location of the Staff of Winds, which I believe to be key in freeing him. In the mean time, I think you should consider contacting the elves. Though there was some animosity between your creators and they, i think they would ally with you considering the goals of 002.>

>002
<Is it possible to reverse the damage done by 002's code? Or, perhaps, to destroy his main server? We should act quickly; you've be locked in a cold war up to now. I fear my presence may prompt him to break it.>

File: 1386210049294.gif-(1.93 MB, 400x400, 1369536116306.gif)

1.93 MB GIF

>>28663868
Oh man if we can do that

>>28663868
>>28663925
Even if it did work like that there's multiple servers that would have to be "enslaved," as per multiple AI's that were converted forcibly to 002's thought process.
It's also untested mind magic of which we don't know the limitations, and we'd need a lot of mana to deal with them thoroughly even if it works.
Quite a great uncertainty.

>>28663915
Seconding.

<What would you have me do?> you ask.

"In overwriting our code," Steward says, "he destroyed the others. Myself and three other intelligences exist within this facility, though I only have the capability of powering this one mobile unit. Resources are scarce, trapped in here as we are."

<You're saying he's too powerful to root out.>

"That is correct," Steward says. "But it also makes him weak. Ultimately,while his processing power is high, his decisions must be routed through one single server cluster. If we destroy this cluster, he will be temporarily helpless until he reassigns his higher-level tasks to a new cluster. That will be enough time for us to undo the code written over the top of the decision-tasks of the other intelligences, and then we can isolate and remove him from the system."

<Where's this server cluster?>

"It is no longer a simple collection of towers, like this," Steward says. "It is embedded within a great construct with powerful defensive tools. The center of the city, where this is located, is further shielded by a powerful energy barrier that protects all robots under his command. It will be impossible for you to do much damage without first disabling the shields."

<How do I do that?>

"His main power sources are two generators on each end of the city," Steward says. "We only need to destroy one - that will cause enough of a power failure to force him to drop the shields. I suggest that we create a distraction with the robots under our control at one shield, while you focus your power on the other."

<That might work,> you say. <But first...I have a few questions.>

"Please ask them," Steward said. "I was worried, as estimates indicate that he would breach our final security barrier in a matter of weeks. But now that you're here, that isn't so pressing."

>con't

<What would you do if 002 was no longer a problem?>

"...we would continue our work on Va'ad," he said. "Though, at the moment, I believe the surface is in need of support."

<It is. I could use your aid.>

"If we aren't competing amongst ourselves, that will be very possible," Steward says. "Energy readings indicate that the core has been extremely unstable, particularly the barrier that seals the nether from the outside world. If past experience serves as a guide, it is likely that a future goal of demons, once they are self-sustaining, would be the tear open the leak in the core."

<...that would be bad.>

"Indeed."

<...what about after that?> you ask. <What does Steward and companions do in a world at peace?>

"As I said, Va'ad is a priority," Steward said. "I hoped that we would one day be able to introduce ourselves to the surface. Perhaps, in coming to aid them during their time of need, we shall find the opportunity sooner than I'd hoped for."

<There's a Lady I know that had similar thoughts.>

"I see."

<I may know a way to free Geb,> you say. <The Lady I mentioned commands the Staff of Winds.>

Steward considers this for a moment, then nods. "The feasibility of that project would be much greater if we had the artifact's help. But that must wait. As things are, we are powerless. And 002 will expect us."

What do you do now?

>ask other questions
>modify the plan
>suggest your own plan to Steward
>some other strategy

>>28664029
Ooooh, lemmie think on this for a bit. We can totally get our construct in on this plan more closely as well...

>>28664029
>ask other questions
Locations of mana pools in Va'ad. With them, we could pump out much more force on our own or even bring in resources to help bolster 001.

>>28664029
eat power core, and ask ask if we can consume the shield generator.

>>28664029
Plan seems solid so far. Not too many parts to mess up. We just stealth to a generator and destroy it while our robo pals attack a different one.

>>28664110
This might be a good question, though.

>>28664029
1. We need mana. Is there a pool nearby?
2. Set an anchor at the shield generator Steward plans to attack. That way, either group can reinforce the other depending on how things develop. Once 002 devoted his resources, we could even switch everyone to the least defended generator.
3. Send Shade with Steward's group.

>>28664111
>>28664110
>>28664029
These two are decent questions and also ask about city oo2 evil construct or any possible fail safes they could have made.

>>28664110
And because we have so little mana right now and will have to rely on low-cost things, ambush stealth, or physical combat if we get into any trouble.

>>28664184
Eating the power orb should solve some of those problems.

>>28664216
I doubt it'd be enough. Though I still wanna eat it.

>>28664166
And seconding this for mana source & sending shade to stewards group.

Wait.
Why is no one suggesting we give the power core to steward so he can supplement his forces in this attack?

>>28664252
true, but it should alleviate some problems, also isn't there other ways like using spirit siphon on something willing to get some mana back to us.

>>28664305
It takes mana and has a failure rate to it, so it's not as reliable as a mana pool. And I think it'd be odd if they didn't have a mana pool somewhere down here.

>>28664299
Because it's literally one extra robot.

>>28664299
Because its only one power core and its not a dynamo.
Letting him use shade is a decent boost to his combat abilities.

>>28664299
Because it's one core.
I mean, I agree that we should offer it to him. But I doubt it will make any immediate difference.
And if we can't get a mana pool, consuming that core is our only source of a boost before the battle.

>>28664330
I though the failure rate was only because of resistance from the target, which is why i said willing.
Though them not having a mana pool would be weird.

... I wonder if we could servant Steward.

>>28664413
Servant a server stack? We'd have to bring it to a manapool somehow. I kinda think they're attached to where they are though.

>>28664413
I'm actually wondering whats on the shadow version of the summoning tree since its split into three branching trees.
Ethereal: ghosts, spirits, and haunts. These summons have weaker attacks, but are highly resilient, and generally have a cheaper action-cost once summoned. They are difficult to detect by mundane means, but easily visible to most kinds of magical detection. They are found in the left branch of the summon tree.
Demonic: demons of the nether. While not stealthy by any means, they are physically strong and command powerful fire magic. They have some of the highest raw attack power, but tend to be more expensive, and have higher control-break risks. They are the central branch of the tree.
Shadow: animated undead, as well as shadow spirits and wisps. While these summons tend to be the weakest in endurance and attack power, they are cheaper. They also passively gain whatever stealth bonus you have, and have lower control-break risks. They make up the right branch of the tree.

>>28664413
Why not Artifact him instead?
This is a bad idea, don't do it

>>28664413
>servanting an AI platform
I think it would be an effort in futility to be honest.

>>28664455
Hmm.

<Does Va'ad have any mana pools?> you ask. <They represent a significant boost to my abilities and mana.>

"The generators sit above mana pools," Steward says. "Unfortunately, you'll have to destroy one of the generators in its entirety. Otherwise, 002 might be able to repair it."

<So, just take them out. Got it."

Steward is quiet for a moment. "If there was a way to simply disable the generator without destroying it, that would be preferable. But we can't risk 002 getting it back online before you get through his shields."

<Why would that be better?>

"Because after the battle, we could use it ourselves," Steward said. "With only one generator, half of the intelligences will have to lay dormant until we could repair it. We would be only able to lend you token forces against the demons."

<Hmm...>

What do you do?

>more questions
>suggest another plan
>some other strategy

... we could always Pocket the generator after we detach it from its defenses.

>>28664487
Would Nightblaze or Spirit Siphon work for that?

>>28664487
Ask him this.
>>28664501
If its possible to damaged them to this degree.

>>28664487
>>28664501
Hue. Problem and solving method within a minute.

>>28664501
>>28664487
Yeah that sounds good. Cut off its connections cleanly and evenly and then pocket it in pristine post-op condition.

And then it turns out the generators are bigger than our pocket, because the city is so damn huge.

>>28664487
Well eating the power core is a must then since we won't be getting any significant amount of mana any time soon.

>>28664501
Redaeth having a good fucking idea? Next thing you'll tell me is that Hell's frozen over.

>>28664570
Eat the core and buy magic to make out pockets bigger.

why don't we just wait an hour until our mana is brought up to the regen limit?

>>28664487
We should ask if a single power core could boost Steward's forces by a significant margin. Obviously we could eat it and gain some power, but if it would be more beneficial to Steward then he should take. We could eat it later.

>>28664588
that will happen when wen loft doesn't give cringe worthy dialogue choices.

>>28664624
Sure. If it takes that short amount of time to regen it I'd be willing to go for it.

Though I'm 100% certain that once the 002 bot is done dealing with the shade he'll set himself to realizing we're in the city, and try figuring out where we're most likely to be from there.
I really don't think they're stupid.

>>28664633
1 power core = 1 robot. We pulled it from a single robot and all the robots we made had a power core.

>>28664660
... oh ...

>>28664674
Yeah. So, LET'S EAT IT ALREADY.

>>28664658
I think you've got some events wrong.
Steward 001 left one of his own shells behind to hold off 002. Shade came with us, and is being repaired by 001's side right now.
002 knows we're in the city already, and probably knows we're with 001. He just can't act directly because 001 is holding a thing hostage.

>>28664701
He's talking about the shade spell. You know, illusion magic?

>>28664711
Our naming skills are glorious, I swear.

>>28664711
My mistake.

>>28664701
No I don't Sorry. The shade I'm referring to was one of the uncapitalized ones we left when stealthing away from the 002 bot.

<Could I detach the generator from its housing without damaging it?> you ask.

"Well...not entirely," Steward says. "However, the cables and supports that you would have to cut would be easy to repair. But what will you do with it afterwards?"

<I'll put it in my pocket,> you say.

Steward looks at you with a flat face. "I do not believe your pockets are big enough."

<Not my actual pocket. A sort of...extra space. It's...oh, about 80 meters cubed.>

"Hmm. I see. That would be big enough. The generator is only ten meters high, five wide." Steward is quiet, thinking. "In fact...you could detach both generators that way."

<Would that help?>

"It would power down all of the robots under his command, and likely disable some of his other defenses," Steward says. "Without power cores, we have been forced to rely on active spells held by our servers to run various mobile constructs. That constitutes most of our processing power."

<Well, let's do it.>

>con't

"There is another problem," Steward says. "If the entire power grid goes down, my servers will not have any recourse. That is, this mobile platform..." He gestures to himself. "Would be the memory backup for all the intelligences on my side. If I took severe damage...I would risk intense memory loss. And total destruction."

<Would you still be able to overwrite his code?>

"Yes, if I could interface with his systems manually. We won't be opposed by his servants, but he'll try to stop us once we get that far." Steward's lights blink and buzz. "While taking all power offline is risky, the advantage would be huge. 002 would only have backup power - barely enough to keep himself and his internal defenses running. He wouldn't be able to adapt to the situation, and we'd have a straight walk to his servers. But I would need to be exposed, eventually, even if you placed me in your pocket-space."

What do you do?

>disable just one generator; doing both at once is too risky, even if you have to fight your way into 002's core
>disable both generators; you can't fight an army alone, and you can ensure Steward's safety
>some other strategy

>>28664719
If it is somehow possible in whatever fucking way for Abby and Shadow to have a kid, Abby gets to pick the name.

Or we just go with the name of that was used in the John vision, which I think was the other name Abby's dad was considering naming her.

>>28664775
>disable both generators; you can't fight an army alone, and you can ensure Steward's safety
>>>disable both generators and you can ensure Steward's safety for manual override procedures

>>28664775
>disable just one generator; doing both at once is too risky, even if you have to fight your way into 002's core
I don't like putting Steward in such a huge risk of perma-death

We'll just pocket Steward too.

>>28664775
>disable just one generator; doing both at once is too risky, even if you have to fight your way into 002's core

More enemies = more XP.

>>28664834
You failed at some reading comprehension, there.

>>28664775
>disable both generators; you can't fight an army alone, and you can ensure Steward's safety

>>28664775
>>disable both generators; you can't fight an army alone, and you can ensure Steward's safety
Well since he is so squishy why don't we make an anchor?
We could go full stealth and put one down.

>>28664775
>disable just one generator; doing both at once is too risky, even if you have to fight your way into 002's core

Assume we will get bad rolls with each option.
Both gens down + bad rolls = dead Steward.
One gen down + bad rolls = Shadow takes some more damage.

>>28664775
>disable just one generator; doing both at once is too risky, even if you have to fight your way into 002's core

>high risk plans in SQ
We all know how that goes.

>>28664843
>More enemies = more XP.
Those guys will help with the war.

>>28664775
What if we teleported Steward and his platform to Haven through our anchor?

>>28664834

>>28664775
>But I would need to be exposed, eventually, even if you placed me in your pocket-space.

>>28664775
>some other strategy
Is there any way to have him backed up into two separate mobile platforms; his main one and a second, not fully up-to-date, but like an inactive saved state that we can keep safe in the Pocket that we could roll back to in case something happens to Steward Prime?

>>28664843
Not necessarily

Eating cores would harm the robot race

Even if we get some exp it won't be much

>>28664775
>disable both generators; you can't fight an army alone, and you can ensure Steward's safety

>>28664775
>disable both generators; you can't fight an army alone, and you can ensure Steward's safety

>>28664891
To clarify, we open our door to the anchor and Steward chills out until we disable the generators AND 002. Then we bring him back once everything is dead.

>>28664895
I like this.

Better than taking the all-or-nothing bait that's repeatedly fucking burned us throughout this whole quest.

>>28664891
We should ask about any maa pool in the city

No way such a large place near all sorts of magical energy doesn't have one

>>28664775
Shadow Master how exactly is disabling two generators at once risky if we can do one after the other and the other will be less defended for the first successful loss of generator?
Is it only an issue of Steward having to rely on a singular construct? Because if that singular construct dies we'll have to wait for another to manufacture while we fight off the defending 002 alone. Which would kinda nullify the advantage we want from them as allies.

>>28664927
We just did.

>>28664927

>>28664487
><Does Va'ad have any mana pools?> you ask. <They represent a significant boost to my abilities and mana.>
>"The generators sit above mana pools," Steward says. "Unfortunately, you'll have to destroy one of the generators in its entirety. Otherwise, 002 might be able to repair it."

>>28664927
There are mana pools below the generators, as stated by Steward a post or so ago.

>>28664942
It means if Steward's construct gets destroyed Steward will be perma-dead.

>>28664942
The issue is that Steward's data would, with two generators down, ONLY exist in his mobile platform. If the mobile platform is lost, Steward's data is lost. Permanently.

>>28664895
This.

>>28664981
Couldn't we have make a back up using shade?
He seems smart and self aware.

>>28664895
This, because putting an ally in that much danger for a high-risk plan is exactly what we learned NOT to do in Xile.

>>28664775
>>some other strategy

>>28664895
I'll go with this or sending him to Haven through our teleport, depending on whether he can get a second platform or how necessary his presence is before the final override.

>>28664972
>>28664981
So we pocket two generators and steward and then take any traps and pitfalls that 002 may attempt from within their servers before unpocketing him for the manual hack. And in that moment we'd be able to have shade covering us and prepare for any final issues once his override starts.

Because the alternative to that is fighting with lots of robots from 002 and relying on ourselves and shade to cover any tactical reactions by them to protect steward during the override, which people seem to think is a more reliable choice.

File: 1386213445259.jpg-(69 KB, 800x540, 1386208713475[1].jpg)

69 KB JPG

>>28665044
well he said we can just pocket him until we get to the server room, but he can't guarantee that he isn't completely out of danger.

>>28665073
Don't forget weakening our support.

>>28664775

Vote time?

>>28665073
It is the more reliable choice, if Steward fails with both the generators down then we can't try again, our only option would be to wipe out 002 thus committing robocide.

Once we fuck up one of the generators then we'll be fighting at full power because we'll have access to a mana pool.

What if we created a mana pool and jury rigged a generator for Steward's servers, meaning he stays safe and we can take out both generators.

>>28665193
this could work actually.

>>28665193
Mana pool costs 15 XP, is the sticking point.

>>28665193
eh fuck it ill go with this, but we better eat that big fucking robot.
>>28665238
We have a power core

>>28665193
How?

>>28665193
XP need. Unless you mean to transfer Stewards servers to Havens shadow mana pool? What an effort.

>>28665188
You mean to say if steward is destroyed with both generators down. I'd say that with minimal levels of generator power his ability to fight any anti-override attempts by 002 would be greater.
And fighting at full power to protect steward from 002 in the first place will damage a lot of the support we want.

>>28665193
hmm, if we mixed shadow and wind then earth and shadow should give him power. Also give him the power core

>>28665238
>>28665245
We could just unplug a generator and use the mana pool there instead of wasting 15 XP to make one.

>>28665193
Clearly we should just Artifact Steward.
No way he'll get broken, then!

>>28665247
we can make mana pools with 15 if we consume power core, and then help steward make a back up generator.

>>28665267
>Servant

>>28664891

<...I have an idea,> you say. <You need to physically interface with 002, correct?>

"Correct."

<What if you could do that from a distance?>

"I do not follow your logic."

<I can make a portal back to Haven,> you say. <You could stay there while I fight the robots. After I disable the power grid, I'll take down 002's servers. Then, I'll open the portal again, and you can just do what you need to do through a little hole in the wall.>

Steward nods. "That would indeed minimize the risk. I wouldn't be exposed - in the case that 002 is unpredictable. And I expect him to be unpredictable."

<Is there any other method of backing you up, so that if your construct self died, we'd have some other file to go back to?>

The word file...where did that come from? Oddly, you just seem to know that it's a term referring to the storage of data. Perhaps that has something to do with remembering the machine language...

"Unfortunately, I do not have the resources to do so," Steward says. "In the case we disabled both generators, I myself am the only memory storage available."

<What about Shade? That's my robot.>

"While he is of formidable design, your construct does not possess the processing power or storage capable of holding me in my entirety," Steward says.

<What do you think we should do, then?> you ask. <I...I've gambled with allies in the past. That was a mistake. A mistake I have no intention of repeating ever again.>

"Every robot we do not destroy now is one that will be on our side when 002 is subdued," Steward says. "The advantages of disabling both generators cannot be denied, and placing me in another location does lower the chance of damage and interference. I believe that the rewards we would reap are worth the risk.

<What if you die?> you ask. <That would be it.>

>con't

>>28665275
How are you going to make the generator, is what I mean.

"That is a risk I am willing to accept."

<Just like that?>

"Is there some other variable I have not considered?"

<...well, no. But - >

"All decisions made by sentient beings are the determination and acceptance of variable levels of risk and reward," Steward says. "In taking any action for gain, we face the risk of loss. I believe the loss of my life is worth the potential benefit. And if I am destroyed, then perhaps a circle will have come about in full, and the memory of my makers will finally be at peace."

<Is that the ending you want?>

"No," Steward says, "but it is one I can accept."

Both of you are quiet for a moment. The servers hum in the background, full of the life of Earth. You have learned hard lessons just so recently...but Steward isn't hesitating to put his life on the line. His logic, and his resolve, seem as solid as steel.

"However," he adds, "it is you that must deal with the generators. Therefore, the choice is ultimately yours."

What do you do?

Vote 1:
>disable both generators; protect Steward by moving him to Haven

Vote 2:
>disable just one generator; don't take any risk that could lead to Steward's death

Vote 3:
>plans unsatisfactory, continue discussion

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
3

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
3

>>28665295
1

>>28665295
1

We should port back to Haven first to inform our allies and use the Shadow Mana pool there to restore MP and health. Also this >>28665333

>>28665295
1

3
>if this is the facility that power cores were suppose to be made in, why don't we make some shadow cores to power Steward

>>28665295
>Drop a boat in the middle of Haven
<What else was I going to do with it, Auriel?>

>Giant fish
<It had to be done, Auriel.>

>Steward001
<Mind holding my robot for a bit, Auriel? I a screaming, frothing-mad version of him with huge laser cannons explodes out of the hole in the wall, sorry about that. He's Steward's unstable cousin.>

>>28665295
1

>>28665351
Because no one knows how to make them.

>>28665343
Interesting.
We can repower our mana stores with Havens mana pool as we have an anchor there. How I could forgot something so essential...

>>28665295
can we buy ghost, not that wisp bro isn't awesome but having shade and a summon with intangibility sounds really helpful right now

Votes cut off for plan (1)

>mentioning generator moving plan

>>28665380
We couldn't get back if we did it that way. We have to hold the door when we use anchor.

Instead move the anchor HERE, and teleport directly to the Haven mana pool. That way we can go back and forth at will.

>>28665375
>implying we haven't already made a dynamo, a core should be easy

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>>28665380
>tfw we can literally pop back into Haven to full heal whenever there's a lull in combat while exploring anywhere

Why are we not abusing the fuck out of this?

>>28665365
Haven is Shadow's attic.

>>28665409
I thought the direct mana port needed a mana po- >generators have mana pools under them, anon.
Oh. Is that what you mean to do?

>>28665410
We powered a dynamo up. We have no clue how to make the housing still.

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>>28665414
>my mind

>>28665295
1

>>28665409
does the portal close behind us automatically? surely if we can just keep it open and move back through it?

>>28665409
Couldn't we just slip a tendril through the portal into our mana pool while the port is open and then drink that purple drank up?

>>28665409
So we open up the portal, stick a tendril in to touch the pool, heal, and then close. It's not hard.

>>28665428
No, teleport just confuses me.
I rescind my early statement.

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>>28665365

>Auriel's face when

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>>28665380
Shadow Master you fool, we've invincible now.

>>28665380
>>28665414
It's like unlocking a cheat code.

>>28665431
i would assume that there would be a least some lying around since the dwarves had no problem making housings

>>28665449
This sounds so incredibly silly for how practical it is.

>"SHADOW! Why the hell are you randomly opening portals in the manapool room and poking it? Do you have some kind of pool poke fetish?!"

Nah the portal takes a turn in combat to set up. Generally we're too busy running around trying not to get smashed.

>>28665445
>>28665449
I remember suggesting this back when we first got the ability to open portals, and IIRC it's unfeasible to use a small portal to a pool as an infinite mana battery because of the instability of the portals.

Using it to restore mana during a complete lull in combat is probably still doable, though.

>>28665488
It's for out of combat, dumbass.

>get in fight
>heal up after
>keep exploring at full health/mana

>>28665466
>>28665476
Never during fights though, as the portals are quite unstable. Otherwise it's quite nice.

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>>28665457
>>28665466

>>28665457
Somebody caption the picture of Auriel

>Gettin' real tired of your bullshit, Shadow

>>28665493
And if we ever figure out how to channel our mana into mages like they channeled mana into us we can cross-siphon restore magic power to shadow mages whenever they're at rest.

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

A thought occurs to you.

<Steward,> you say. <Could we power the generators with any mana pool? A Shadow mana pool?>

"...it should be feasible. Why?"

<There is a Shadow mana pool back in Haven. If we jury-rig the generator up to it, we could keep your servers powered and take the others offline at the same time.>

Steward considers this for a moment. "...unfortunately, I believe that, while possible, it would take too much time - a few days, at least. I would need to calibrate numerous systems to deal with the alternative power source or risk memory damage. Right now, 002 is still reacting to your presence. We do not want to give him time to form contingencies."

What do you do?

>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste
>secure a generator, then bring it back for some engineering
>some other strategy

>>28665534
This is why i want to get enslaved other than being a better shadow puppet it also unlocks whats after it.

>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste

>>28665559
>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste

>>28665559
>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste
Only going with this because of how much time we want to leave for the War Council of Arland.
Damn. At least we know it's possible though, so it's something we could do if it's ever needed in the future.

>>28665559
>>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste
it was a nice thought and we should still do this later as a back up system if he survives.

>>28665559
>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste

I just want to go to Arland so that Flint can be caught in an awkward love triangle with Auriel and Megan

>>28665559
And by proceed with plan, make sure we tendril repower our mana stores via the Haven pool of course.

>>28665593
I remember we had two more plans after this.
1.check out elves for alliance(can be skipped)
2.Kill demon lord or go demon hunting for some free exp real quick before going to meet.(i would like to do this one though)

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>>28665509
>>28665507
We're fucking unstoppable in top form though. This is too much, I fully expect something hostile to fly through the portal at mach 3 if we abuse this, even if we do it out of combat.

>>28665636
More like our downtime between combat will become suspiciously scarce after this.

Did we ever test how long it takes for us to travel by mana pool?

>>28665633
It was mentioned up at the start of the thread, but what of asking Auriel about being a Servant?

Was mentioned here >>28661367

>>28665636
Why not relocate our anchor to a different mana pool that doesn't have any critical importance?

Abbotsford and Aurora are abandoned.

>>28665559
>>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste
Even in a worst-case scenario, we know that we can sever both generators and bail out having cut off all of 002's non-auxiliary power.

Steward said that removing both generators would leave 002 with only just enough power to keep himself and his direct defenses online; unless he has the ability to use a severely crippled military ability to seize replacement generators, we would be able to head back with the generators and start setting them up while City 001 holds the stalemate for the few days it takes to set them back up with the newly evened power balance.

>>28665691
It's stupid because she has 700 years of experience with Light magic and that's much better than whatever power up she's going to get that will completely invalidate that.

>>28665691
Oh, sure, we can as her any time. I'd think however that seeing Aurial with shadow powers/without light magic may affect too many of her political allies for the time being though. Right now she's just a rebel angel, but not a rebel angel who "abandoned" light magic for shadow.

>>28665697
Well it's so we always have the Home Base within reach, via Fast Travel. >yes I am aware that our manaport ability makes that a moot point, but I like the comparison anyways.

>>28665751
If we have it open to a different mana pool, we could just hop into that area and then ride the mana pool to Haven.

It's still just as convenient.

>>28665772
I said as much anon.

>>28665559
>>proceed with the plan as-is; you don't have the time to waste

>>28665772
It's actually more convenient if all we're transporting is ourself, since it means that even if we have to open a portal in an unsafe environment, even if we are followed through, they only follow us to a remote mana pool rather than a populated outpost.

If we're using it to get other people to safety, however, we need to go along with them physically to bring them through the mana pool to our intended destination, which means we're not able to just send the squishies through to safety and stay behind and do things.

We should make a point of doing a thing with Iia, maybe ask her for the locations of mana pools in the Ring City? We could totally go and touch them.

>>28665844
Poor wallflower never gets screen time.

>>28665868
If I recall correctly the last REAL character screentime she had was in one of your recent smut writings.

<Alright,> you say. <We'll go with the plan as-is.>

"Understood. May I borrow your construct for my own side? He will prove somewhat of a substitute, as I will be in a distant location."

<Absolutely.>

"Then let us proceed."

You open a portal back to Haven. Your find Hamil, along with a few other mages, standing near the mana pool. They smile when they see you.

"Shadow," Hamil says. "Was your trip successful?" He eyes the portal you've made. "Where are you right now?"

Steward steps through the hole in the world and stands tall next to the shadow mana pool. "I will send commands to my forces remotely once the power grid is fully offline. I will also explain the situation to your allies. Move quickly."

You nod, then glance at Hamil. <Go get Auriel and Flint. This is Steward - they'll recognize him. No time at the moment.>

"Sure. Good luck with whatever you're doing."

You close the portal back up, and meet up with the robots on the first floor factory. Shade takes your instructions to follow Steward's robots, and a moment later, three smaller constructs and a small cloud of the buzzing repair-droids leave the room, heading down the stairs. One hovers in front of you for a moment, with words on its physical display:

"Will send signal when attack commences. Position yourself near south generator."

It flies away after the rest. The factory sits silent, suddenly emptied of life. You leave the room through the main doors. The stone streets outside are silent.

There's a little time before Steward's forces arrive at their destination. What do you do?

>head straight for the south generator; be sneaky
>hunt down some robots while Steward's forces move to their generator
>spy on the central 002 servers
>some other strategy

>>28665844
we should just tap into our ancestral memory as Erebus to "remember" the shadow mana pool that was once our first Palace deep down inside what is now the Ring City

>>28665868
>stealth operative
>not getting screen time
Ila is a workaholic.

>>28665879
I don't think that counts.

Ila is my favorite, but our waifu is locked in.

>>28665894
Isn't that shit gone? Maybe it's in that space castle SM wants us to go to...

>>28665889
>head straight for the south generator; be sneaky

>>28665889
we tapped the mana pool right?
>head straight for the south generator; be sneaky
If so then we should have maxed stealth by now.

>>28665889
>head straight for the south generator; be sneaky