The darkest time of the night is finally here.

SHADOW MASTER! Welcome!

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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.

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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.

You reached the ancient dwarven city of Va'ad, and found Steward once more. He explained the nature of the situation, including 002's quest for vengeance against the surface by harnessing the power of the Core of Chaos at the heart of Venia.

He also suggested a plan: by deactivating the power generators feeding mana to the city, it would be possible to weaken 002 so that the code holding the other artificial intelligences under his command could be eliminated. You've managed to Pocket both of the generators, and the city has gone dark.

>>28685264
shaaaadowwwwow masturrrrr

Don't forget to update Twitter while you wait for the post cool-down.

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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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Current Statistics:

HP: 81/81
Mana: 58/58
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)

--Teleport Anchor--

Haven - Inner Fortress

--Current Location--

Va'ad

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

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
Va'ad - South Generator - Earth
Va'ad - North Generator - Earth

Time to murder robots!

>Shadow Quest now
>PGQ in 45 minutes
I'm going to mix up the pastes and get SQ in my PGQ files and PQ in my SQ files.

I wish I could stay up, but I must leave.
You guys better not roll 1s. Again.
Please.

>>28685373
That's like getting peanut butter in your chocolate, man.

Earth shudders underneath you. And then, it's gone. The dome goes pitch black.

You duck left as the robot comes down - and it keeps cruising directly toward the spot you moved from. Its head impacts the metal floor straight on, and it crumples into a pile - relatively intact, but tangled and motionless. You stare at it for a moment, before realizing that 002's control over it has been cut off.

You spread your senses outside the dome. The only thing you can feel is Shade, though his power seems to have dropped significantly.

>HP: 81/81
>mana: 58/58

You climb back up to through the top of the dome, and stand there, examining the surroundings. It's a strange scene. The streets are filled with silent robots, some toppled over, some frozen mid-stride as if they'd turned to stone. Where once light and power hummed under the streets and glimmered from the towers, the blackness is complete. Even the hazy green of the cavern is gone - and you realize that was just adamantium reflecting the light of Va'ad.

All is dark and still.

But that just makes the remaining bit of earth in the center of the city stand out even more.

You glance over to Shade, and wince. One of his legs his gone, and both his arms. He's half-buried under a pile of hostile robots.

What do you do?

>repair Shade
>check in with Steward
>head straight for the city center
>some others strategy

>>28685426
>repair Shade
>check in with Steward
In that order. Since we want shades help for anything in the city center.

>>28685426
Eat the power cores and dynamos on the ground

>>28685452
Anti-ing.

>>28685426
>repair Shade
>check in with Steward
These.

>>28685426
>>repair Shade
>>check in with Steward
>>some others strategy
Send wisp to scout a bit.

>>28685426
>repair Shade
>check in with Steward

>>28685441

This.

>>28685452
Get out.

>>28685426
>>repair Shade
>>check in with Steward
>>some others strategy
Use deep focus, the fucker already know where we are anyway, also use wisp.
>>28685452
no

>>28685480
Yes, let's also send/summon wisp to scout the power core while we repair shade and contact steward.

>>28685511
Scout the city center I mean, >where the fuck did I get power core from?

>>28685508
>>28685480
These two, and also eat the pocket power core we have.(not the ones on the ground though.)

>>28685480
>>28685508
These.

>>28685540
Probably thinking about the one we have pocketed.(wonder why we haven't eaten it yet since there seemed to be several consensuses in the archive last thread.)

Roll 1d100 for Deep Focus

Rolled 10

>>28685570

I hope this roll goes well...

Rolled 17

>>28685570

Rolled 85

>>28685570

Rolled 67

>>28685570

Rolled 82

>>28685570

Rolled 14

>>28685570

Rolled 90

>>28685570

Rolled 26

>>28685584
>>28685590
>>28685595
85 and 82, sweet.

Rolled 14

>>28685570
I hate ROLLS

>>28685584
>>28685588
Typical.

>>28685613
A roaring start.

Rolled 13

>>28685570
one more roll?

Rolled 25

>>28685570
rollan'

These rolls scare me. A bunch of low rolls and a bunch of high rolls.

It's going to be one of those threads isn't it?

>>28685693
Its ALWAYS one of those threads

>>28685702

That's true.

You send out your Wisp to scout. It flies off and combs through the streets around your location.

You bring your Focus to bear, but you cannot sense anything in particular you didn't already know. The only source of power left is 002's housing in the city center. The rest of the city is devoid of any hint of life.

You repair Shade quickly - an easy enough task with scrap metal lying everywhere. You also use the mana pool to ensure that your supply of magic is at its peak. You've got a feeling that you're going to need it.

You open a portal to Haven.

Steward is there - and so is Hamil, Cain, Ila, Flint, Auriel, and dozens of other mages, all armed to the teeth and bristling with magic. They flinch when the doorway opens, and then a chorus of sighs fills the room as they realize that it's just you, and only you.

"Shadow," Steward says. "What is the situation?"

<I've managed to take the generators off line. 002 should be vulnerable.>

"Understood," Steward says. "But there's something that we didn't consider."

<What's that?>

>con't

>>28685693

The low rolls scare me less than the fact that they always seem to come first.

"When I initially suggested the plan, it was with the assumption that only one generator would be offline," Steward says. "But now that all but auxiliary power is cut, 002 will find himself in the same situation I'm in. If you destroy his servers, he will be destroyed in totality."

"And this is a problem?" Auriel asks. "One less psycho construct is a good thing in my book. Damn midget tinkerers fooling around, and now we've got genocidal robots trying to destroy the entire world."

"I would prefer if you referred to my creators in terms other than 'damn midget tinkerers'," Steward says flatly.

"Does the truth hurt?" Auriel snaps. "You wouldn't know, robot boy, but their machines were terrifying beyond anything you can comprehend. Dwarves didn't care about collateral damage. They were safe and sound under their rocks, after all. Who cared if the surface was burned and blackened?"

"The past is that," Steward says. "While I disagree with 002's conclusions, and methods, killing it - "

"Steward," Flint says gently, "you said he's controlling the other...uh, intelligences. I mean...is there such a difference between killing someone, and enslaving them so that they can never be free? He needs to be put down."

Steward is silent with consideration.

Do you have anything to say?

>we've got to finish off 002, here and now; otherwise he'll always be a potential threat
>no; we have to cripple him, but destroying him is going too far
>write-in

>>28685782
oh shit WHAT IF HAVEN GOT ATTACKED?!

>>28685799

"Is there any way to rewrite him back to the way he was before?"

>>28685799
>we've got to finish off 002, here and now; otherwise he'll always be a potential threat

Rolled 56

>>28685813
>>28685799
This

>>28685799
We can't destroy him, we need the robots in our alliance, and to be as strong as possible.

>>28685813
>>28685799
Yes, this.

I honestly don't see how this is a problem for the original override plan in the first place.
What we tell our allies who are well concerned about it is that the robots will have additional processing power for >>28685827 our alliance and that's enough of a reason to continue on our enslave option.

Which is kind of silly Flint, since it's more of a matter concerning resources than morality.

>>28685799
>we've got to finish off 002, here and now; otherwise he'll always be a potential threat

>>28685813
If you just revert back, he can still come to the same conclusion and do the exact same thing over again, either you enslave him like he did with the other robots, which seems kind of OOC for shadow, or we destroy him and never let him become a threat again. The robots will just lose 1/25 of their processing power, its not that big of a deal, the rest of the robots that followed him will still be under our control.

>>28685813

I feel this might as well be the same as killing him. Rewriting his beliefs is to undermine what it means to have beliefs and make choices. It's essentially mind controll or brain washing. If we are to say Steward is more than a robot, we need to extend that same standard to 002.

We can't afford to have him revert or make more malicious code. I don't think we can reason with him without rewriting him.

I think we should take a few mages with us. Ila and Cain is my vote. Maybe a few other shadow mages. We need to be stealthy and strike with a perfect ambush. If we need more firepower during the fight, they can come through the portal when we open it.

I can understand why Steward wants 002 to live, he is his firstborn child in a sense. AND Stewards oldest companion.

>>28685813
>>28685861

I think you're misunderstanding something. There is no 'before' to rewrite to. 002 used code that overlaps the top of the decision functions of the other intelligences in order to control them. You can destroy that code and allow the other intelligences to return to their normal selves.

But 002 isn't itself different. It came to its conclusions and took action on its own, without any corruption or change. Events are a result of the decisions it has made.

You could write code over the top of him so that he agrees with you and gives up his plans, but that would essentially be doing to him what he's doing to the other intelligences.

Even if you rewrote him, or reverted him to an earlier state of himself,
>>28685916
becomes immediately relevant.

>>28685952

Hard choices, then. We have to kill 002. If we can't convince him that we're no longer a threat to the robots, then we have to make sure he won't be a threat to us or our comrades.

>>28685952
Just kill him then. Not like Shadow ever gave much of a shit about letting villains live.

>>28685952

could we just limit his processing? imprison him in a body incapable of really doing anything?

>>28685799
>we've got to finish off 002, here and now; otherwise he'll always be a potential threat

Though I am slightly concerned about losing information he collected and did not share. Is that a possibility, SM?

>>28685952
Get rid of him then.

Rolled 47

>>28685952
Can we devour him then?

>>28685997
Wahaha, that's worse than killing him.

>>28685997

What's the difference from just killing him? Imprisonment won't change his conclusions about us.

>>28686009

Only with 001's consent.

>>28686004
Of course that's a possibility.

>>28685916
But we want them to be able to have as much processing power as is available to them.
And we haven't seen the inner city servers yet to properly confirm just how much we'd be losing in information.
Since 002 was the second AI, and promptly took control, the largest processing center could be the last space he occupies in the center of the city, and we wouldn't want to lose that.
>>28685952
Which all means enslaving him is a better option for our future resources than killing him.

>>28686041

The angels tore out the shadow and spirit mages' souls and enslaved them. We don't do slavery, ever.

>>28686009

I don't think so. His 'self' is housed inside some servers. The main body he controls is too valuable to just eat.

We technically win if we destroy/disconnect the servers right?

>>28686041
Not it doesn't. We're taking out a dissenting leader, not his army. We just delete him from the harddrive and keep the processing power.

Rolled 21

>>28686093
yeah, but i'm just fishing for some exp since we are gonna kill him anyway.
>>28686028
Lets ask him then.

Rolled 6

>>28686082
>>28686093
>>28686096

Can we put Shade in temporary control of 002's processing power after we kill 002?

Would solve both problems. No slavery, and Shade can probably do a somewhat-adequate job of managing resources until 001 is prepared to take over.

>>28686082
Not even for information that has the potential to help our allies?
Anything 002 may have gathered about the surface that will be lost?

>>28686096
That's not how steward works though, so why would 002 work differently? Since steward recalls all the knowledge of us while still in his one platform, that's something that would be lost in destroying 002.

>>28686145

Interrogation is one thing. Keeping him prisoner and forcing him to help us is no different from what Sandalphon did to the shadow mages.

>>28686145
His memory banks are in his construct because his processor is down from the power out. The processor still works.

>>28686179
And the information will still be lost if he's destroyed.

>>28686168
Sure it is. Sandolphin didn't have the ability to alter their consciousness directly.
And it was also Stewards first suggestion for dealing with 002.

>>28686141
Shade isn't suitable for a Steward platform, as 001 told us when we talked about using Shade as a proxy last thread.

>>28686168

We don't even really need to interrogate him, just disconnect the servers then read the hard drives.

Rolled 88

>>28686179
So we might still have to fight the thing though io don't know how strong it will be now with the generator down.

>>28686213
His info doesn't matter, we want the resources and processing power.

Note that the current goal is to disable 002. With all power cut, this can be done by physically destroying his mobile construct, or giving Steward a direct opening to overwrite his control codes manually at his servers.

Note: if 002's servers are preserved, his processing power, once freed, can be adapted by the other intelligences.

Vote 1:
>attempt to rewrite 002 and gain another powerful ally

Vote 2:
>destroy 002; if he cannot be reasoned with, better to kill him than force him into slavery

>>28686234
His information counts as part of his resources, since he doubtlessly gathered quite a bit when figuring out how to deal with the surface and the chaos beneath the world.

>>28686221

There's the possibility that he might delete his information to deny us access to it.

>>28686213

Then what do you call the mental compulsion Ila was under to obey Auriel's orders?

>>28686238
2

>>28686238
2

>>28686238
2

>>28686238
2

>>28686238
2

>>28686238
2

So wait are you saying that we have to destroy the monster construct from before?

>>28686238
Clarification requested: Does "destroy" mean destroy his platform, or his data? Or is it impossible to separate them?
Because if we can delete the data without destroying the platform, 001 can use the platform. I can't imagine that producing a body that powerful is easy, and I'd like to salvage if able.
I'll vote 2 once my cooldown is off.

>>28686254
He's part of a hivemind using other members of it to get that info, we'll still have it.

>>28686301
Obviously.

>>28686238
2

>>28686238
2

>>28686317
So whats stopping us from consuming it?

I think the question now is, do we destroy his frame and lose the super robot he has made. Or destroy his servers and lose the overall computing power. Do we even have a choice?

>>28686315

With the power cut, Steward 002 is now housed in his mobile platform. That would have to be physically destroyed in order to kill him.

>>28686346
Why are you asking me? I haven't seen anyone say we couldn't or shouldn't.

>>28686238
2

>>28686348
>>28686349
His mobile platform is the only option for destruction if we don't want to rewrite him, gotcha.

>>28686348
look
>>28686349
So destroy the robot and get exp.

>>28686349
A shame. At least we get to consume it for XP, then.

>>28686348

Well, since the Dynamo warriors shut down when the servers were cut; wouldn't the super robot stay?

>>28686349

Steward won't be pleased, but he will hopefully understand our taboo on slavery.

>>28686238
2

>>28686409

See >>28686349
002 does not have a small core inside of the super robot platform. The entire platform is a CPU. So to destroy him, ,we have to destroy the platform.

>>28686445
Oh boy. We've got quite a battle ahead of us.

Should we port some of our allies to help?

>>28686445

I assumed it did have some kind of core or dynamo. Otherwise, how would it be working?

>>28686349
>>28686417

We should explain our reasonings here, to steward.

And we should let illa save her say(kick his idealogical ass, even!) - we can't just save her entire people from slavery and then be a hypocrit when it comes to robots

Also, if we disable Steward 2's robot by ripping out the core, a la dynamo warrior I, we may still be able to save the frame for steward 1.

<...Steward,> you say, <I don't think we have a choice. No matter how I look at it, the only way to guarantee your safety, that of the other intelligences, and of Haven and the rest of Venia itself is to destroy 002.>

"..."
"..."
"...you are correct," Steward says. "When it is done, reopen the portal."

<I'm sorry.>

"He has made his conclusions," Steward says, "and I have made mine. I want to avoid it. But it is inevitable." Flint puts a hand on Steward's steel shoulder. Steward's head rotates to look at him for a moment, then straightens. "I appreciate your physical gesture of camaraderie."

"Uh...sure."

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

Do you take any of your allies with you to help? Or do you face your foe alone?

>>28686494
On a volunteer basis only

>>28686494
Alone

>>28686445
>The entire platform is a CPU. So to destroy him, ,we have to destroy the platform.


Aaaand that CPU is powered by what, exactly?

Even Mobile Steward 001 has a power core/dynamo inside him.

Servers aint shit without juice, bro. Has to come from SOMEwhere, even if it isn't being piped in wirelessly by generators.

The point disabling the power source still stands.

There's a difference between total destruction and targeted dissassembly.

>>28686476

He has been substantially reduced in power because he is disconnected from the servers and generators.

Speaking of, we should drop the generators off in haven for now. Might need the room for... something.

>>28686494

Alone. Let's not risk any of the meatbags on this one.

>>28686494
lets bring our servant and actually see what they can do.

>>28686494
Alone

>>28686494

Alone

>>28686494
>Do you take any of your allies with you to help? Or do you face your foe alone?

Before we go, mention to Steward the purpose of all the below-city mining in the tunnels and the like with ancient bots?

001 mentioned contingency plans - is it possible that 002's involved setting up offsite generators and such?

>>28686494
Huh. Now that I think about it when we told Steward to explain the situation to them he was probably fairly liberal with the details.
I wonder what Auriels reaction to the center of the world being chaos was.

And we're going ALONE of course.

>>28686510

This.

>>28686485
>>28686520
Dynamo is the power, but the entire body is used for processing.
You CAN just remove the dynamo, I guess. But 002's personality is still there. The moment you connect him to a power source, 002 is back.

Like, all that important shit that makes your computer run IS his body.
The dynamo is a wall outlet.

>>28686494
>Do you take any of your allies with you to help? Or do you face your foe alone?

Also, send Ila to comfort Steward on the subject of slavery and having to do the wrong/right thing.

Its like losing a son to him - he's going to need some company, and the people who traveled with him should be there to comfort him.

>>28686494
Alone

>>28686557
And ask steward this.

>>28686494

Ila, Cain, and some shadow mages. He is probably on high alert and waiting for us. We will go in first and be the distraction, everyone else will wait in ambush.

>>28686494
Just Lia.

>>28686494
I vote we bring Ila.
She has the best chance of slipping away if things go bad.
Dynamo is a precision target that would end the fight if removed/damaged, and Ila is a precision operator.
And I want to see Servant in action with an experienced combatant. Xile has us really gun shy about involving allies, but I think this is an appropriate situation for us to use one.

>>28686494
>>28686639
I wouldn't mind taking her.

<Before I go,> you say, <is it possible that 002 has contingencies? Perhaps another generator?>

"I made certain he did not before developing this plan," Steward said. "While he appears to have been trying to bait me into it, he underestimated your abilities. Rather...your abilities have grown alarmingly quickly, faster than any of us could predict."

Flint and Auriel exchange a pointed glance. Ila smirks.

"You should go," Steward says. "Each second is another that he has to prepare. Be ready for his defenses."

You then...

Vote 1:
>take Ila to provide support

Vote 2:
>go alone

>>28686494
Go it alone. We saw how powerful this guy is, it's too risky for the others.

>>28686679
1

>>28686679
1

>>28686679

2

>>28686679
2

>>28686679
1

>>28686679
1

>>28686679
1

>>28686679
1

Why in the world would we bring Ila? Not only does her skillset does not jive with this mission, her presence restricts our application of force.

>>28686679
1

I wonder if SM would use the pocket crit fail to kill Ila...

>>28686679
2

>>28686679
2

>>28686741
She focuses on shadow magic and is skilled with shadow magic, plus she is a servant.

>>28686747
Nah, he said he'll use it for something much worse than outright killing a character. Paraplegic Ila Quest.

>>28686741

She is essentially a glass cannon. If we distract, she will bring the pain.

>>28686679
1

>>28686764

But she's a glass cannon and now we have to protect her.

>>28686741
People want their waifus to have a chance to shine, even if it is stupid or dangerous.

>>28686780
We hit harder. We have no need to distract, as we can already bring the pain on our own.

>>28686788
how is she a glass cannon?

>>28686794
not my waifu, its that we know she is skilled.

>>28686747

no he is saving that crit fail for the core of chaos or the alliance

>>28686812
>not my waifu, its that I know she will be kill.

>>28686799

She is a squishy meat bag going against a killer robot that blatantly trumps us when it is at full power. In this case, any human is a glass cannon unless we were to make her a chosen and buy a few more skills.

>>28686799

She's an assassin, not a frontline soldier? This has been pretty well established that she's not that great in sustained combat.

>>28686679
2

>>28686850
We've seen her dive straight into the midst of an enemy formation mid battle before.

>>28686679
2

>>28686679
2

>>28686679
2

>>28686892
>>28686907
>>28686912
Too late. Now she will be kill. BWHAHAHAHAHA!

>>28686679
>15 minutes to vote
SM plz

>>28686900

That was before we made her a servant too. Nightflare is fucking broken against robots, we could just have her spam that and he will be fucked.

>>28686679
1

>>28686892
>>28686907
>>28686912
>>28686923
>>28686980
Too late.

>>28686968
precisely, remember how much ass she was kicking back then?
And now she's fucking stronger

>>28687006
But anon, he hasn't called the vote yet. That means I can vote again.
And again
And again

But no, Let's wrap this up qucik and go talk to elves/talk to Arland/talk to Atlantis

>>28687078
Well from what i remember we only have the elves and maybe kill a demon lord after this and then its its straight to the meeting.

<Ila, I'd like for you to come with me.>

Ila seems surprised. She steps out in front of the gathered mages. "...Shadow?"

<I'll need someone to watch my back and give me support. If things take a turn for the worse, you'll best be able to escape.>

She pounds a fist to her chest. "Your Servant is ready to fight."

<Let's go.>

You and Ila heda back through the portal. You spend a moment closing it, then turn to face her. She's staring out over the city.

"...by the Light and the Shadow and the Moon and the Sun."

<Va'ad is an impressive place.>

She points out to the center of the city. "I assume we're heading there."

<That's correct,> you say. <Stay close, but stay hidden. Use your abilities when the time is right. Fighting this enemy directly might be too much for you.>

"Understood," she says. "I'm just glad to be here."

Your wisp flies up to face you just as Shade clambers up to the top of the tower dome. Your shadowy friend gives you a series of Impressions. The city is as dead as it seems; black streets and frozen constructs are all you can see. The city center itself is a huge dome. Though the wisp didn't venture inside, it seems as though an outer layer of mana is gone, some sort of protective barrier 002 was using - probably powered by the generators.

Your wisp returns to its spot on your shoulder, and you move into the streets with Ila and Shade. Ila flies in the air, hidden in Shadow, while you lope along the ground next to a skating Shade.

After a few minutes, you take to the air and match Ila's flight. <I'm surprised you're glad to be here. This is going to be dangerous.>

>con't

>>28687110
Auriel knows the fucking king of Atlantis, we could use all the allies we can get.

>>28687078
>>28687110
We already talked to the Elves through proxy.

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>>28687123
"...I'm glad you want to include me," she says. "I have...felt distant from you, lately. You've been spending a lot of time away from Haven. Though..."

<Yes?>

"It isn't my place to say anything," she says. "Forget I mentioned it. Your business is your own."

<Your opinion is important to me. Speak your mind.>

"...I want to be of use to you," she says. "You're constantly away these days, flying between Archon and Haven and who knows where else. I almost miss the time when we first landed in Tarun Gakth. Slow days...boiling water from the sea. Fishing with the angels. Perhaps...I'm just tired of fighting."

<...I am also tired,> you say. <But if we do nothing, then we will never have the peace we wish for.>

"I want to stand by your side, Shadow," she says. "Maybe this is dangerous. Maybe just standing next to you is dangerous. But when you gave me back my life, you told me - told all of us - that we could do as we would. I choose to help you, and if that gets me killed, it will have been a life well spent."

<...I am afraid of loosing my friends, Ila. After what happened on Xile...I'm sorry if it seems like I've been...I just don't want to lose you.>

Ila's face, which has been stony and expressionless, twists up at your words. Her lips quiver.

"Do you love her?" she asks you.

What is your response?

>>28687131
That was to get information, not an alliance.

>>28687146

Oh, shit.

"I think I do."

>>28687146
Yes

>>28687146
<I don't know, how could I possibly?>

Ila best waifu

>>28687160
It's ridiculous to expect the xenophobic elves of the islands to help us without a length process, the ones in the forest have already agreed to help us in the Alliance.

>>28687146
Y-yes?

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>>28687146
Why you gotta do that SM

>>28687146
<I think id, but i have never experienced this feeling before.>

>>28687220
It's because you guys neglected her. Our sister of shadow.

>>28687146
"I think so"

HAHA TIME FOR FRIENDZONE

>>28687146
Well, yes. We already told Abby that.

>>28687146
>Her lips quiver.
>"Do you love her?" she asks you.
SM why.
I - I guess "yes." We already said as much to Abigail.

I wish I knew what tone she was asking in, I don't know if I should be reading into this or not.

>>28687215
They are not stupid and one of their leaders helped us.

>>28687146
Why SM i just wanted to skirt around this man.

<Yes. When she looks at me she does not see a monster. Or a spirit. Or Erebus reborn. She sees me. Even through the shadows, even when I was naught more then a formless thing. To her I am Mr. Shadow, nothing more. Nothing less. And that is worth everything. >

>>28687146
<Yes.>

We already told Abigail as much.

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>>28687256
>Her lips quiver.
Here is how she looks right now.

>>28687146
Oh god why. Now I regret asking her to come with us.
"If I were to describe my feelings it would love, but what that means and of what nature remains unclear"

>>28687146
Yes.

>>28687264

I like it, but it seems too wordy for Shadow.

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>>28687220

FEEEEELLL

I COMMAND THEE TO

FEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLL

>>28687264
In contrast to my usual suggestions, I feel like this is a time to be succinct.

>>28687146
Yes.

We already told Abby as much. This isn't really a topic we'd feel indecisive on anymore.

>>28687258
>They are not stupid and one of their leaders helped us.
...And? Doesn't help the fact that we're on a deadline and spring is coming and they're a bit distant from supporting us realistically.

Strategically there is also the issue of supply lines and resources that the island elves would have to expend to fight a war against kan-abar from Arland/Kelvere, or from shores, and how we'd get them and the central Venia peoples to get along during the conflict, not something that's easy to deal with unless you wanted to be personally responsible for magically teleporting their needs and being present for their own personal issues.

tl;dr not enough time to "collect them all."

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>>28687284
Friendzoning Ila is harder than it should be

<Yes.>

Ila looks away from you. You both glide in silence for a time. Eventually, her words come, somewhat muffled from her speaking away from you. "I see. That's good to know."

Instinctively, you know she's hurt. But you're not sure how to make it better.

Ila faces front. Her expression has returned to its stony self. "We have something to do in this place. Let's go do it."

You land in front of the dome in the city-center. Shade slides up next to you.

Wide double doors make up the entrance. The whole thing is a windowless half-sphere of stone and adamantium. Then again, robots don't really need windows. What do you do?

>go inside
>sneak inside
>send wisp/Shade/Ila to scout
>some other strategy

>>28687146
<Yes>

It's over. Ila has now officially been informed of her loss of the waifu wars.

>>28687375
We have our portal that is basically a gate.

>>28687381

Send in Wisp first. Scout the perimeter with Ila for any traps.

>>28687406
Way to not read.

>>28687381
>send wisp

>>28687146
<'Love' is proving to be far more complicated then I originally thought. I can see why Flint and Auriel were so hesitant back then. I do care for her, a great deal, but I do not know if it is love as others would define it.>

Wow, trying to think like Shadow made me realize just how confusing everything must be.

>>28687381
>send wisp

That post hurt my heart

>>28687447
If only we'd daughterzoned everyone and just run off with wispbro.

>>28687381

Shade and Shadow go in first, Ila will wait in the wings with a Nightflare ready.

>>28687452
>>28687399
>>28687381
The pain is only beginning.

>>28687381
>send wisp
Why did you have to make us hurt Best Girl, SM? Couldn't she have fallen in love with someone that wasn't a shadow elemental instead?

>>28687381
I feel like this was a scene out of dragon age or something and we are trying too hard to balance our relationship points with all the women that want our shadow D

>>28687381
>some other strategy

Have Ila, Shade, and Shadow see if they can find some other way in. Any conceivable entrance that we might be able to ink into.

>>28687431
>Way to not read.
What do you mean i read that.
You basically siad that they would need to transport a somewhat large army.
1.We have a decently large ship
2.Fang has shown to know teleportation spells
3.We can use our pocket and our anchor as well.

>>28687447
A little late, but I feel like that should be saved for when we talk later

>>28687504

We need to drop the human form and go with the spindly shade like in the OP pic full time. I think that would help.

>>28687528
Note: I have not been following your conversation, and am not disputing whatever your overall point is.
I just want to point out that our anchor door is small and not practical at all for army movement, considering all of the supplies they need to bring.

>>28687568
But anon, amorphous sex is difficult to think about. Where do you even stick all of your appendages?

>>28687528
Which means you want to be personally responsible for their transportation issues, assuming they agree to them in the first place.
There's also food, water, and shelter to take into account, unless you want to support them all on Nyxystix Abby-Sabbatical Ship #6, or have a constant line from their island to the front they're fighting on, still assuming they'd agree to them.
You're treating it very simply when armies can't be supported easily at all. And now I'll be looking back at the thread where it was discussed with the elves of why the island elves weren't getting involved in the alliance in the first place, something about not wanting to go to war, I'll go recheck that.

>>28687504
She fell in love with the one person who showed her that she wasn't worthless for what she was, and that it was more important who she chose to be, who freed her from a life of enslavement. B-but we were honest, right? That's good, right?

>>28687626

That's the thing, if we were amorphous most of the time and human only when we needed to be, we would have less women fall for us and not have this problem.

>>28687381
Poor Ila. She lost the waifu wars before she even realized they had started.

I hope she finds someone in the end and doesn't do something stupid like sacrifice herself for us.

>>28687645

Did Ila have a monstergirl reaction to us? Or monsterguy, in our case.

Your circle the dome in an attempt to find another way in.

It's sealed tight. The only entrance is the front entrance. Shade finds a nearby stairwell into the halls below the ground level of the city, but a solid cylinder of stone and adamantium seals 002's core up as tight as a drum. He's well prepared to defend against unwanted intrusions.

You could theoretically blast a hole in somewhere, but it would probably hurt...

The easiest way seems to be to simply go in the front, but 002 will be expecting that.

What do you do?

>in the front. Have Ila and Shade come in after you draw attention or activate whatever traps lay in wait
>blast your own entrance in the dome
>some other strategy

>>28687637
Maybe we can shape our construct to look like us. That way, Ila can have a Shadowy sex doll to sate herself with.

Or maybe we'll critfail a relationship check some time and Ila will kill/attempt to kill Abigail and turn on us or try to drag us back to the directive in the vain hope that Erebus would have chosen her instead of Abby.

>>28687645
Abby never saw our human form before she told us she loved us back as a kid and fell into the Archonium.

>>28687667
>Make your own entrance

>>28687667
>in the front. Have Ila and Shade come in after you draw attention or activate whatever traps lay in wait

We can take it. I don't think there is any way to enter without him triggering some kind of attack.

>>28687667
>in the front. Have Ila and Shade come in after you draw attention or activate whatever traps lay in wait

He obviously has traps, since he had traps on the generators.

Additionally we could deep focus/analyze everything in our path to try to sense any threats to avoid them ourselves while we move ahead.

>>28687667
blast!

>>28687667

>Send in a shade first.

Gets them every time.

>>28687778
>>28687726
These. Low mana shade illusions and analyze for traps. We can avoid damage if we try.

>>28687657
> doesn't do something stupid like sacrifice herself for us.

> She fell in love with the one person who showed her that she wasn't worthless for what she was, and that it was more important who she chose to be, who freed her from a life of enslavement.
> And then he rejected her
> "...I want to be of use to you,"
> "But when you gave me back my life, you told me - told all of us - that we could do as we would. I choose to help you, and if that gets me killed, it will have been a life well spent."

Oh god SM is going to do this now isn't he.
She wants to give her life to us, but we turned down the romantic way. So she's going to give it to us by dying in some manner that is useful to us.

You killed her anon.

>>28687824
nuuuuuuuuooooooooh!

>>28687792

Your shade can't pass through a closed door. Are you going to open the front and then just send a Shade?

Vote 1:
>blast your own entrance

Vote 2:
>in the front

Vote 3:
>send an illusion in

>>28687824
When you play the game of waifus, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.

>>28687874
3

>>28687874
3

>>28687874
3

>>28687874
Why not analyze the door?
Isn't that the obvious method of detecting any traps connected to the door? Or would that be deep focus to look at it magically?

>>28687874
3

Doubt he will fall for the same trick twice though. Send in an explosive one.

>>28687936
>thinly veiled attempt to buy the abilities that let us get explosive illusions

>>28687983

How is that not awesome, though?

>>28687983
well our chosen can get it.i winder if SM uses the nat 1 on abby, would we fall back on lla?

>>28687874
1

>>28687983

I thought we already had explosive illusions. Via multishade, just send in one though. If we have to buy it, just use multishade instead.

>>28687936
I don't see any abilities that include making stuff explode available.

Huh. I was rereading the earlier threads and it seems to me that Duke Vellik probably thinks we got the idea of an Alliance against Kan-Abar from him when he told us of his plans.
...I wonder how it looks that we abandoned him for our other allies when the Kanians were bearing down on him.

>>28688028
>Army of Darkness - Create a screeching illusory cacophony of projections, spirits, and monsters. Shades can now follow slightly more complex commands (follow enemy, follow me, etc) (dodge buff. Costs 5 mana)- 12 exp

Roll 1d100

Rolled 96

>>28688071

Rolled 100

>>28688071

Rolled 56

>>28688071

Rolled 99

>>28688071

>>28688082
>>28688079
I broke out laughing.

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>>28688082

>>28688082
Ladies and Gentlemen, my first roll ever.

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>>28688082

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>>28688079
>>28688082
Ohhh myyyy god.

>>28688082
>>28688079
>>28688086

Holy shit.

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>>28688082
>>28688105
You deserve bearded hugs, anon.

Man, we should have just blasted a hole in the wall. Sending an illusion to scout traps with a critical success is nothing, we could have blown him away.

>>28688185
Pffftffft, get a load of dis guy!

>>28687824
Yeah, she tripped like a half dozen dead end flags with that one conversation.

Honestly, I really think we might have broken the record for the most flags raised in a single exchange.

>>28688218
What if

What if we Artifact Ila while she is bleeding out on the floor trying to give a tearful farewell.

>"Shadow, I..."

"NOPE"

>>28688246

Why hello there, Miss Dave!

Rolled 63

>>28688262
>>28688246
is this before or after we make her a chosen as well?

>>28688262
What's the worst that could happen?

>>28688289
She becomes a sentient statue which cannot move.
Also,
>implying you can use artifact on a person

>>28688082
We sneaked the SHIT out of that door!

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>>28688286

Abby is currently our Chosen.

WELP.

There's another reason for Ila to go full yandere.

>>28688216

Just think, if we had further modified it with hammer or maker, we could have just crimped his entire structure on him like a ball of paper.

>>28688301
>Implying you can't

We just don't know, and if it saves the life of a friend I would risk finding out.

>>28688286
Auriel gets our first Chosening.
She's the only one I trust to not jump on our shadowy appendage.
That includes Flint.

>>28688310

We're trying to take the servers intact.

Rolled 62

>>28688304
We haven't made her into a chosen yet.

>>28688301
Shade best waifu.
Artifact Shade Party.

>>28688310
Which would take using our shards for, hmm.

>>28688322
>getting rid of their power innate light magic
>ishigidiggy

>>28688322
Negating 700 years worth of experience using Light magic is stupid though.

Besides, we've already basically given Abby permission to do just that eventually.

>>28688333

We haven't? Huh. Could've sworn...

Rolled 41

>>28688351
shit cost exp and we haven't even bought its upgrades.

Someone rolled a supercrit and there's this few reactions? It's pretty quiet tonight.

Let's Servant Melody
And Artifact the Staff of Winds

>>28688342

Hammer is strong and maker is normal. Wouldn't have been a problem. I'm just thinking how brilliant this could have been if we had blasted a hole in the wall.

You slip a tendril through the the door an unleash a shade, hoping to bait whatever trap lies in wait.

What happens next makes you very glad you sent in a duplicate of yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H5lH9-zPGU

The room inside the dome appears empty. But a moment later, you see something waver into existence in the center of the dome - a mighty earthen and steel construct, a tower of cables, projections, and lights. It reminds you of the magic Steward used to conceal himself when he was observing you.

Five metal spheres hover in the air around your shade, which walks forward, oblivious.

"You should have been more subtle."

Glowing brown lines connect the spheres together. The air contained in its boundaries fills with streaks of forest green light. The floor of the dome crushes downward in a cracked crater as the power of gravity in the radius of the device is multiplied. Your shade vaporizes under the force.

Without a word passed in communication, you, Ila, and Shade leap foward, each targeting a section of the gravity ring. Your Shadow pierces through three of the spheres, then tears them open.

Ila sends a tumbling Bomb toward another, and it blows into pieces. Flickers of Shadow wash over you and Shade harmlessly.

Shade destroys the last sphere, slamming it with a fist coated in Shadow power. It earns a fist-sized dent, then cracks in two when it hits the floor.

The tower of lights and steel flashes and glows. Three more spheres lift off its surface and begin to rotate around the construct. A heavy earthen shield forms around its center.

6 other spheres separate away. 4 form another ring and fly toward Shade. The other 2 begin gathering earth mana.

Lights higher up on the dome walls shine bright green - five in total.

>focus on the ring of drones headed for Shade
>counter the two drones gathering mana
>attack the spheres generating the shield for the construct
>attack the focal points of mana higher on the walls
>some other strategy

>>28688372
It's also not really an incredible thing to roll a 100 on.

>>28688372
I like it when the thread is quiet.
It's nice.

>>28688377

That does sound like a fun idea. How about we artifact the sky sever instead?

>>28688381
Focus on the ones gathering mana

>>28688381
>counter the two drones gathering mana
>attack focal points of mana higher on the walls

Rolled 29

>>28688381
>>attack the spheres generating the shield for the construct
>>attack the focal points of mana higher on the walls
420 nightblaze

>pocket shade
>420SUPERNIGHTBRAZU

>>28688381
>counter the two drones gathering mana

Tell Ila to attack the focal points of mana higher on the walls.

>>28688387

I beg to differ.

>>28688381

Target the mana drones with full power Nightblaze. That should fuck up the shield as well.

Then Cone of Destruction the drones heading for Shade.

>>28688444
>>28688438
Why not have lla help out on this one?
She knows nightblaze as well

>>28688446

This. Shadow Beam and Nightflare time.

I wish we had Army of Darkness. Oh well, Multishade should suffice. Create an army of shades to distract 002's drones.

>>28688381
>counter the two drones gathering mana
Have Ila take these two down so that we can nightblaze the focal points

>>28688490
I'll second a multishade to distract 002's drones.

Nightblaze as HARD AS WE FUCKING CAN. Have Ila help. send Shade to inspect the lights above.