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Recent Events Summary:

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 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 Pocketed both of the generators, and the city went dark. You confronted 002 in the core of the city; after a lengthy battle in which you dismantled his automated defenses and fought with him directly, you were forced to chase him down into the depths of the earth.

The tunnel he flew into proved nearly endless, but it did end - at the very core of the world. Fearful of the consequences of further combat near something so vital and sensitive, you used one of your most dangerous powers and Erased 002.

>con't

In exploring the underside of the world, you discovered that the barrier of Order which keeps Chaos contained has been damaged. Chaos leaks from the Nether within in bubbles of energy, which then become demons upon reaching the surface. The crack in the barrier mirriors the great gulf known as the Lady's Finger. Vampiria and Archon both work from their respective cities to keep anything from escaping the Finger, but this process may be directly related to the greater problem of ever-increasing Chaos that threatens Venia's future.

For now, you must face the threat that faces you.

With Va'ad restored to the control of 001 and the other intelligences, you now have another powerful ally on your side: and they gathered together for a meeting. While skeptical of Yi Fang and the Black Lady, your allies have agreed to present a united front...though they'll be watching Fang, especially, for any sign of scheming. Abigail plans to keep him in check herself, while Auriel hopes to get him locked in a room with the Black Lady. Either way, you need him there to help cure Flint's parasite for good.

It's the night before your departure. After catching up with Abigail, and calming her nerves, you've decided to speak with Flint, who might be most nervous of all, and then Ila.

SHADOW TIME IS NOW

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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/m9Qj5ayw

Books the Main Character has read:

http://pastebin.com/dAXR00gP

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/63LdjPMz

>>28908055
shadowod mASTUREE

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Current Statistics:

HP: 81/81
Mana: 58/58
EXP: 25

Shards of Order and Chaos:

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

--Summoned--

Wisp - 1 mana to order

--Automatons--

Vita (Shade)

--Equipment--

Utility belt with purse

--Inventory--

Aurora Water Gem (pocket)

--Teleport Anchor--

Haven - Inner Fortress

--Current Location--

Haven

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

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

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You take her hand up in yours. It's nice to feel her. To know she's there. Something solid. Something warm. Tying you down...but not in a way that feels restricting. It comforts you. She's so...real.

<What were your parents like?>

Abigail smiles. She closes her eyes. "My mother...she was beautiful. She was the prettiest woman in Jacob's Field." She opens them again. "There were a one time - heh - she was approached by drunks. My father chased them off, though. I remember not really getting it at the time, but now I know. Besides that, though...she was warm. She always smiled. That's what I remember most. Always a smile, no matter who it was." Abigail frowns a bit. "She smiled at those men, too, but it was a smile like a viper would give a rat. I think...it was good that my dad intervened. But I never saw her get angry, not once."

<What about your father?>

"My dad," Abigail says. "He was similar. Very...intent on things. He could get so involved in just tinkering around that you could come up right behind him and he wouldn't notice. But he was kind...always kind to me."

She sighs. "It's nice to talk about it. It was so long ago...I feel like the memories I have are fading."

<Tell me about them,> you say. <That will keep them new.>

Abigail smiles. "Well, there was this one time...mother was baking a pie, see, and there were a few boys in the village that..."

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

After a few goodbye kisses, you leave Abigail's room, feeling as though your relationship with her is stronger than ever.

You decide to go speak with Flint. He's probably more than a little nervous about the whole thing.

You walk to his room on the Cirrus, slipping along the steep halls without a sound. You knock on his door.

He answers swiftly. "Shadow. You know...I thought you might come to see me."

>con't

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<Is that so?>

"You tend to come when you worry. Pretty obvious you'd be worried about me."

<...forgive my presumption.>

"No, it's fine. I'm fine."

<You're fine.>

Flint draws a deep breath. He runs a hand up through his hair. "Yeah, I'm, I'm good. I mean, you know. I'm..." He rubs his forehead. "Shit. I feel like I could puke I'm so fucking nervous. I mean...I haven't seen my family in 5, no, 6 years now. I haven't seen Megan. Or Gerald, or Matthel, or Harvan. My father. My damn father."

<...I suppose we'll just have to get through it.>

"Yeah. I mean..." Flint shakes his head, his eyes staring into the hallway past your side. "What the hell am I supposed to say when I see her? 'Oh, hey Megan, how are things? This is Shadow, my amorphous friend who's actually a reincarnated Erebus, probably. And this is Auriel Lightchoosen. You know, 5th Highest. We're together now.' I mean, fuck me. I...I still..." He grits his teeth, takes another breath. The air hisses back out his clenched jaw. "I mean, I...I still have feelings for her. There's..." He puts a fist over his heart. "There's still something here. And it hurts."

<...does Auriel know this?>

"...she knows. We've spoken of it many times. She just said...well..."

<Yes?>

A grim smile breaks through the pained look on Flint's face. "She said, and I paraphrase...'It's only natural that you feel that way. Settle up with her and be done with it - she's your brother's wife now. So put it to rest, the way you should have 6 years ago. More importantly, you're mine, so even if she's changed her mind she'll just have to back the fuck off'."

<It sounds like what I'd expect.>

"Yeah."

What do you say to Flint?

>ask more about the members of his family
>give him some advice concerning Megan
>ask him what the chances of Fang's acceptance will be
>ask him what he thinks of the overall situation
>write-in

>>28908287
>>ask more about the members of his family

Whats the family like?

>>28908287
>ask him what he thinks of the overall situation
Might do him some good if we take his mind off his family.

>>28908287
>ask him what he thinks of the overall situation

>>28908287
>ask more about the members of his family

>>28908287
>>ask more about the members of his family

Getting his mind off his family for a moment or two will probably help. <What do you think about the situation?> you ask him.

He blinks for a moment, thrown by the change of topic. Eventually, he shrugs. "Hey, if you told me we'd have all these people working together in an alliance to help Arland last year...I'd be laughing at you. But here we are." He muses on it for a moment. "I guess it depends on your definition of 'working'. We'll be more like a...highly dysfunctional family." His face darkens. "I know all about that."

<You just have to take things as they come,> you say. <The words will be there when you need them. Don't force them out.>

"...yeah. Just wish I had them now, I guess."

Do you have anything else to say?

>>28908594
>>28908585
>>28908384

Ok.

>>28908639
Hahaha holy shit

We gonna give Flint mood whiplash.

>>28908287
>>ask him what he thinks of the overall situation
A little from column A, a little from column B.

Maybe a little more background on the history behind the split with Archon, and what kind of attitude they tend to have toward the parties we intend to bring to the table.

Historically, Arland would likely have fought against Orcs and Werewolves, as they were Archon-made soldiers, but we don't know how the defectors from the Forest will be viewed. Do they have a generally favorable outlook (sympathetic toward them due to the abuses Archon had put them through), or negative (on account of probably having fought against them during the rebellions?)

He grew up there in a prestigious family, so he probably knows the history, but might not have the entire man-on-the-street perspective. But that doesn't really matter so much. Even if, in an ideal world, we'd want to go with the whole "hearts and minds" approach, we're practical enough to know that winning over the bigshots is probably enough in the short-term.

>>28908611
I wonder.
Would we - or perhaps Fang or Melody (or Abigail?) be able to see the other end of the Shel'kath when it shows up? I know Fang seemed to be able to see it as easily as if it were corporeal.

>>28908639
Could we also take a moment to look back at and re-examine the Shel'Kath?

>>28908611
>>28908639
wait i'm lost?

>>28909029
>>28908695

What's there to be confused about? You can talk about more than one thing.

>>28908611

This was said.

Now you're going to talk about other things.

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>>28908611
>>28909130
How about ask if he even wants to tell us about his family?


*laugh followed by shoulder punch*<Flint let me be blunt, you CAN do this. Think of all you've done since we met, fighting impossible odds, slaying Demon Lords, even gathering those fractured by the Elementomancy. Sounds exactly like the great things you promised to do when you first left. Sure you stumbled along the way but so what, use this to make up for lost time. We'll be here to pick you back up no matter how many times it takes you. You believed in me and gave me a chance to become better than I was, what kind of friend would I be to not do the same for you>>

<You've spoken a lot about your family...but I feel like I don't know that much about them.>

Flint nods. "Well...three brothers. Gerald, the oldest. Uh...Megan's...husband." He clears his throat for a moment. "He's kind of an arrogant son of a bitch, if I'm perfectly honest with you. He...always hated me. And I hate him."

<...why does he hate you?>

"My gross incompetence," Flint said. His eyes narrow. "The constant bad luck that I now know was because of this damn demon parasite. He felt I shamed our family. But I always worked hard. I trained three times as much as the rest of them. I studied until my candles burned through. I even practiced dancing so I wouldn't trip up over myself in the balls. But it never mattered."

<How did you stay motivated? If nothing you did made a difference?>

Flint looks at you with a half-smile. "...it...let me be alone, for one. When people weren't around...everything clicked. With no one to observe, I could swing a sword with the skill built by my efforts. I knew all the classic poems by heart. I could dance the fastest and hardest movements. It was always when someone was watching...it afflicted me. And so...I thought that was it. That's what everyone concluded, too. Stage fright. Bad in public. Terrible with people. But my training...alone, with my training. That was my comfort, my only solace. It wasn't so much as being motivated to work so hard as it was I made hard work my escape from the castle."

<...Flint.> You put a hand on his shoulder. <I'm sorry.>

>con't

He waves a hand. "It happened. It's done. The problem is, that horse's ass Gerald wouldn't ever let me live anything down. Say I spilled food on my shirt. I mean, I could go change my shirt. Gerald would be there to point it out to everyone before I could get out of the room. He's that kind of person. He...he enjoyed it." He shakes his head. "I don't like thinking such things about him, but by the elements, he thrived on my misfortune. So I hated him. And when I tried to get back at him, I inevitably...screwed up."

You're quiet. You don't really have anything you could say; nothing Flint could relate to. But he seems content to continue. So you let him vent.

"And then, Harvan," Flint says. "My third oldest brother, three years my senior. He wanted to be a knight, like me. For a while...we were closer. But over time, he grew distant. He started standing next to Gerald more often. He didn't berate me, but...he couldn't respect me. I was an embarassment. He looked at me like a man looks at a starving dog."

<...that's terrible.>

"Matthel, though," Flint says. He smiles brightly. "Older than Harvan, younger than Gerald. He...he was always there for me. He was the only one I considered a real brother. He defended me. He stood with me. He gave me the courage to pursue my dreams, when I was ready to...to do other things. He told me that if I hated home, I should leave and make of myself what I would. And Hemmelus - my teacher - agreed.

"I think I've mentioned Hemmelus to you before. He's an incredible sage - capable of wielding all four greater elements, so a certain extent. He taught me what magic I know, as well as a great many other things. I learned many things from him, alongside Megan.

<What about your father and mother?>

>con't

"...my mother died when I was very little," he says. "I never knew her well...though, Gerald and Matthel did. They say she was a beautiful, kind woman. As for my father..."

Flint's face grows still.

<...yes?>

"...my father. Lord Arcturis Flint. He can die in the Nether for all I care."

<That's quite something to say about your own father.>

"Gerald bullied me," Flint said. "And he would beat me. But eventually, he'd let me stand back up. My father didn't do that. Anything less than perfection was total humilation for the family bloodline. A toe out of place was a toe that should have been cut off yesterday. He threatened to disown me more than once. Usually it was Matthel and Hemmelus that talked him out of his rages. A brutal, impatient, and terrible person. I..." Flint holds his head in his hands. At this point, he's sat down on his bed, knees on his thighs. "...I remember wanting litle more than to run him through more than once. I'd imagine striking back at him, breaking his jaw when..." Flint pushes both hands back up through his hair and sighs. "Fuck, Shadow. I'm going to see these people tomorrow. I've got to keep it together."

You feel terrible for Flint. Your alliance has never seemed as fragile as it does now.

<...do you think he'll ally with us?>

"It's a coinflip," Flint says firmly. "He's ugly, but he's infinitely pragmatic. Arland always came first, the Flint family a close second. If he feels like he has no choice...then yes. Otherwise...I honestly don't know. It's been six years. Maybe he's changed. But I'm not holding my breath."

You absorb the information for a moment. And then, something you haven't done in a bit - you focus your senses.

The Shel'kath is still there, as tightly woven about Flint's soul as ever. It sits there, still and silent. Fang's token is holding it in place.

The long, ethereal tail of spirit leads off and through the wall of the airship...to somewhere else.

>con't

<No matter what,> you say, <to me, you Sir Donovan Flint, the man who has begun Aeolus's order once again. You've even got the cape to prove it.>

Flint glances across the room. His enchanted cape, imprinted with Aeolus's sigil, rests across the back of a chair. "So I do, Shadow. Right from Xile, huh."

<Damn fucking straight.>

Flint flinches away from you. "...elements, Shadow."

<I picked those up from Auriel,> you say. <Too much?>

"Uh, well...just odd from your mouth, I suppose. Speak as you would."

<I'll stand with you, no matter what,> you say. <Though thick and thin. Through whatever comes our way - angels or demons. Until the parasite is gone, and the safety of your people is restored, and for as long as you want me after that. I'm at your back.>

"...rather, in my shadow."

You chuckle. <I guess so.>

Flint smiles. He stands, and clasps your shoulder. "...I am glad, Shadow. And I'm glad to speak of this to you. I've...rarely told anyone these things. But my heart eases to share the burden."

<Share it freely, my friend.>

"Same to you." He sits again. "Well. Tomorrow's the day. I suppose I had better get some sleep. Have you spoken with Abby?"

<Just came from her room.>

"Bet you did, you sly dog."

You're a bit taken aback. <Well...I mean, I wanted to check in. Make sure she was alright. These things are - >

"And steal a few kisses!" Flint says. "Ha! Now the shoe is on the other foot!" He rubs his hands together wickedly. "Oh, Shadow. All the teasing, all the torture...expect it to return tenfold!"

You swallow.

Do you have anything else to say to Flint?

>>28909460
<Flint, did you know important side characters have an increased mortality rate after revealing the details of their emotional backstories?>

>>28909460
>Matthel, though
This fucker has the parasite doesn't he SM.
You will make flint kill the only person in his family that he loves.

>>28909622
It goes to all of them

Flint is going to have to kill every Arland royal family member.

>>28909622
Well it's gotta be somebody that is getting power/competence from everything that is being taken away from Flint, so... >very likely.

>>28909526
>ask him what the chances of Fang's acceptance will be

>>28909667
Whaaaaa
But.. there's only one trail! It couldn't totally just split as soon as we get into Arland to lead to... ahh shit.

>>28909526
Has he put any though to what he's going to do about founding the Order again?

I know it was an excuse for the most part but does he still want to go through with it?

>>28909526
<I am immune to torture, you realize.>

So.. what do we do when we find the guy holding flints light? I'm almost inclined to just kill them on the spot if it wouldn't jeopardize flint. There is no fucking way I would want them to take part in the meeting.

>>28909766
If they were poltically important they'd kind of have to.

>>28909526
>we better get a bro hug outta this guy

>>28909766
It wouldn't make sense for the parasite to be connected to anyone unimportant to Arland, so I don't have a clue really. It's something only high level spirit mages and ourselves can see, so I doubt it would hole up in any kind of court they have.
It's gonna come down to Flints' resolve, most likely.
Of course with what Flint said of his father...
>Arland always came first, the Flint family a close second. If he feels like he has no choice...then yes.
Makes me feel all kinds of paranoidterrible.

>>28909868
>>28909928

We will have to speak with Fang about the matter, the in game shadowrunner.

I don't think Shadow would trust anyone who would be so underhanded, especially to their own family.

>>28909681
>>ask him what the chances of Fang's acceptance will be

He said: coin flip.

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

<Well...fine,> you say rather lamely.

"Cat got your tongue?" Flint says. Suddenly, he embraces you. You're surprised, but you cheerily hug him back as he pats your back a few times. He lets you go with a smile. "Thanks, Shadow. I mean it."

<I owe you more than I can ever repay, Sir Flint.>

"...I feel likewise."

<Until tomorrow.>

"Until then."

You leave Flint to catch some shut-eye.

What do you do now?

>go talk to Ila
>something else
>skip to tomorrow morning

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Shadow Master, how are we even getting to Dobshire? Boat through the river? Nemesis? Teleport? and who all is coming, just the named important people with like an honor guard? and will we be picking up Duke Velik on the way?

>>28909995
>go talk to Ila

>>28909981
it could have been ordered by his father to save one of his brother or something like that.
You can't rule out the possibility that the person with the worm is as clueless about the worm as flint was.

>>28909995
>>go talk to Ila

>>28909995

Do we still have time to meditate one last time? Otherwise skip to tomorrow. I think we should give Ila some time. I trust her enough to be a proper representative of Haven without our input.

>>28909995
>go talk to Ila
more like
>unraise that suicide flag through any means necessary

>>28909995
>>go talk to Ila
Also buy Hearthstone Titan.

>>28909995
>go talk to Ila
have we chosen'd her yet

>>28910067
>Also buy Magic Power V.
FTFY

>>28910039

If that was the case I don't think the father would be so unforgiving. Or he would have simply exiled him asap and be rid of the problem all together.

But, we shall see... We should ask Fang if the parasite could be put on the receiving person without them knowing.

I'm beginning to wonder if the father selectively demanded perfection from Flint to power up someone else...

>>28910116
>We should ask Fang if the parasite could be put on the receiving person without them knowing.
I'm surprised we didn't ask this sooner now that i think about it.

>>28910047

Yes.

>>28910001

It's all arranged by the narrative, don't worry. You will be picking up the duke.

Short version: meeting in Vischon, then sailing downriver.

>going to talk to Ila

>>28910075
We havne't chosen anyone. We keep on getting distracted by the shinies.

Though getting Tree Gift and Choosing Abby and Ila would help the war effort.

Sadly that would cost 45 XP.

>>28910174
I think Abby agreed to the articicial hand artifact plan so I think we might need 10 exp for that too.

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You find Ila outside the Cirrus, in the grounds between Haven's outter wall and the fortress. The mages have set up a sort of practice field near the north wall. The tall trees of the wood loom over the stone, swaying a bit in the frosty winter air. Most are bare of leaves.

Ila's focus is set on a training post. It's a twisted bit of metal, steel-adamantium, salavaged from the Noiralev. She steps in front of it, slashing with one of her daggers. She would have come up short, but a shadowy aura lengthens her blow and snaps across the metal target. She steps back and ducks, as if dodging an imaginary blow. She vanishes and reappears behind the target in a blink, thrusting with both knives. Shadow power juts forward, and then explodes over the target in a controlled, close-range Shadow bomb.

She sighs, straightens. Wipes her forhead. And then, she notices you. She pauses for a moment, meeting your gaze, and then sheaths her knives. "...Shadow. How are things?"

<Things...are chaotic. But we'll manage.>

"Yeah. We will."

<Indeed.>

"I sensed that Sir Flint was...nervous."

<I've spoken with him,> you say. <I think he'll be alright. He has Auriel.>

"...so he does."

There's a brief silence. Ila studies her feet closely. You scratch your temple.

>write-in

>>28910212
She agreed to it, but it's still a gamble on our part.

>>28910229
<This feel awkward.>

>>28910229
Well, fuck.

We're going to have to breach this subject but I have no idea how to. Blunt is how Shadow usually does things but this kind of needs delicacy.

>>28910229
Lovely weather we've been having.

WHERE ARE YOU SORRY

>>28910229

<Are you prepared to openly represent all free shadow mages?>

>>28910282
>does things but this kind of needs delicacy.
screw that.
>>28910229
<I fear that you might throw your life away in battle, in an attempt to make me happy>

>>28910229
"Thank you for the help in the Deep, Ila. It was of great assistance."

>>28910229

<did you want a sparing partner? someone you can really test yourself against?>

let us try a conversation through training... the emotions from the practice let thoughts flow more freely from the tongue...

>>28910282
Well, it's done in over with. I guess just tell her she's still a good friend and like family and that we still care about her and all that other shit.

As long as we don't say "I'm sorry" for this. That's the lamest thing ever.

>>28910373
>she trips and falls on our form to bait us into catching her

>>28910373
Now that I can agree with

>>28910229

>>28910335
This isn't entirely accurate, since the Black Lady is also going to be attending, but she IS going to be one of the primary representatives of Haven, in its first real exposure to the 'real world', no less.

A different set of implied responsibilities and pressures, but still one worth talking about.

>>28910373

Ohh, I like this idea. If we agree to avoid all offensive and illusion magic. It might get out of hand otherwise. Blink is still free game.

>"Lovely weather we've been having."
>"Thank you for the help in the Deep, Ila. It was of great assistance."
>"I fear that you might throw your life away in battle, in an attempt to make me happy."
>"Are you prepared to represent all free Shadow mages?"
>"Would you like a sparring partner?"

>>28910491
>"Would you like a sparring partner?"

>>28910491
all of those sound horrible and out of place.
>>28910491
>>"I fear that you might throw your life away in battle, in an attempt to make me happy."

>>28910491

I vote for option 5

>>28910491
We're all over the fucking place.

I guess the last two.

>>28910491
The list is good, but do the sparring partner to the top.

>>28910491
Is this a kind of voting prompt, or just an enumeration of the things we're going to be talking about?

>>28910491
>>28910491
Sparring partner and just see where that takes us

>>28910544

This is a voting prompt.

So far I feel that sparring partner is winning.

>>28910491
>>28910491
Yeah, sparring sounds like the best

>>28910491
>"Would you like a sparring partner?"
>"Are you prepared to represent all free Shadow mages?"

Lets not spill spaghetti all over the place and keep it formal.

>>28910665
I can agree to that.

>>28910491
Option 1

If you can't make a conversation about weather exciting you have no hope.

>>28910571
Ok then.

>>28910491
>"Would you like a sparring partner?"
Because a moving target is always better practice than a stationary adamantium post, and the rest of our chosen discussion topics can happen while sparring.

>>"Thank you for the help in the Deep, Ila. It was of great assistance."
Which is probably going to lead to a candid discussion of her abilities and how we choose to delegate manpower if she mentions being dissatisfied with our choice of when to ask her to stay behind. An awkward topic of conversation, but one that I think we could benefit from having with her.

>"Are you prepared to represent all free Shadow mages?"
A bit of an exaggeration, as I mentioned in >>28910462 but still.

>>28910745

All is lost.

>>28910766
>>28910665
I can accept this combo

>>28910766
>A bit of an exaggeration, as I mentioned in >>28910462 but still.

Agreed, change it to "represent Haven." Or something like that. It also removes our need to bluntly ask her if she is going to throw her life away for us. Since she can't represent Haven if she is dead.

>writing

A thought comes to mind - maybe a way to break the strange ice that sits between you. <Would you like a sparring partner?>

She looks up from her toes. "...I...yes, of course."

<Then by all means.> You ready yourself. <The worst you can do is stab me.>

She charges. And then, she's gone.

You spin, and your forearms sweep up. You knock the thrust of her dagger wide.

Her second dagger plunges toward your abdomen. Another arm grows out of your stomach and catches her wrist. You lift her, then throw her over the grass - not too hard.

She easily deals with the fall by rolling over her shoulder - but before she gets to her feet, she's gone again.

You sidestep. Ila plunges down into the spot you'd stood just a moment before. She crouches to absorb her momentum, the springs back toward you, lunging with the daggers again. You move to block.

The daggers suddenly lengthen, doubling, tripling in size from a shadowy aura that wraps about them. You attempt to compensate - but she doesn't even hit you. Each dagger stops to either side of your chest.

You open your arms to knock them away, and then a close-range Shadow Bomb blows up in your face.

>you've taken 1 damage
>80/81

Clouds of dust and dirt clear. You back up, trying to find her. That one stung a bit.

>con't

A flicker on your right.

But turn left.

Her double-feint broken, Ila is caught with her attack half finished. You grab her wrists with lengthened, shadowy arms. Two more arms split off your wrists and wrench the daggers out of her grasp. You toss them to the side.

"Your win."

You let her go, and she collects her daggers. <Impressive.>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68EsL0MsvQE

"I...I want to be your strength," Ila says.

<You represent Haven,> you say. <You represent the shadow mages. You're vital to what I'm trying to achieve. You always have been.>

Ila shoves her weapons into their sheaths. "I thought...when you spoke to me of the world...I felt...this is a person who understands. This is a person that knows what it means to be a Shadow mage. This is someone I can stand behind." She blinks rapidly. "And then I felt myself wishing...to stand next to you, not behind you. But that spot's already been taken." She turns back to the target. "...but so it ever was."

In one moment, she stands, balanced on her toes. In an instant, she's sprinting for her target, her arm extended, and she sweeps across it. The blade of shadow curved about her hand slices neatly through the adamantium. The top half tips over and thumps to the dirt.

She clenches her fist. "I'm getting used to your powers. My daggers...are starting to become irrelevant, really." She looks up at you. "If not for you, we would all be slaves. My life would still have no meaning. But thanks to you, I can choose my own fate. I have already choosen it. I will always be your shadow."

<...good. Because we'll need your strength. I will need it.>

She nods.

Do you have anything else you'd like to say?

>>28911265
There's a lot a wanna say to Ila right now. But I don't know HOW!

great we made the suicide flag worse and raised up the loyal protector flag.(they get easily manipulated into killing allies if they think they are in the way of their master or if it would make their masters life better)

>>28911324
Just be blunt, and say
>"Thank you for the help in the Deep, Ila. It was of great assistance."
>"I fear that you might throw your life away in battle, in an attempt to make me happy."
>>28911265

>>28911265
She may stand to my left, but you can stand on my right.

>>28911265
<Social Link GO!>
"What?"
<Nothing.>

>>28911265
"I have a left, and a right."

>>28911265
I really don't want her to just take that kind of fatalistic approach for the rest of her life. That's some serious fucking martyrdom right there and it's like the exact opposite of moving on.

<Don't think just because you've chosen to be my shadow you can't ever be something else for someone too.>

>>28911384

Ila, Legion 2.0

Holy shit is that the effect we have on people? No fucking wonder Erebus was a loner.

>>28911392
>>28911421
These

>>28911392
>>28911421
this and fluff

>>28911407
>>28911418
Harem fags pls.

>>28911411
Time to assign every character in SQ arcana.

>>28911418
and a front, back, and several more directions. what are you implying anon?
>Shadow's Harem Quest?

>>28911432
Well if you have godly powers or nigh-godly powers that you share with others after freeing them from a life of servitude... They can sometimes choose to devote the rest of their life to serving their savior.

Reminds me of an ancient Greek theatre play, SM.

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>>28911455
>>28911411
Oh Elements, Shadow IS the Fool

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>>28911432
>>28911384
I have a feeling she would act like this character.
I know there are better examples, but i can't think of any right now.

>>28911418
>>28911407
I like it! I don't want to be always be in our "shadow" so to speak. We need to make it so she can stand at our side and avoid the whole suicide flag.

>>28911265
>"And then I felt myself wishing...to stand next to you, not behind you. But that spot's already been taken." She turns back to the target. "...but so it ever was."
I WANT to say that there are certainly others that we would say stand at our side as well. Sir Flint, Auriel, etc. And it's true that she can count herself among them.

But I also know that that's not what she meant by it, so it's really not going to change anything.

>>28911421
I kind of like this way of doing things, though.

>>28911455
>Joey is Teddy

>>28911533
Dude, what she meant by that was that she wanted to fuck us.

You're supporting hareming.

>>28911421
I think this is best.

>>28911560
>Teddy
>Shadow that became human
Come on now, really?

>>28911407
>>28911418
Who says we can't have a mistress?
I don't remember SM ever saying we can't.

>>28911421
I think this is probably the best way to go about it. She can't just go "Oh I didn't get the shadowy appendage, guess I'll just devote my whole life to being this guys servant and never actually move on."

>>28911265

<But,> you say, <there's more to life than that. I'm glad to have you. I'm glad for you strength. But if that's all you live for...what happens when the conflicts end? When the battle is over? That's what I'm concerned about.>

"...I don't understand."

<Ila, the last thing I want you to do is become a martyr for me,> you say. <If helping me makes you happy - well, I'm happy to have you. But it's healthy to be a little selfish. What makes you happy?>

"...I'm not sure," she says. "I was...captive for so long. I don't really..."

You approach her, and give her a gentle pat on the shoulder. <I think the answer to that question is more important than anything else. It's why I'm doing all this,> you say. <Yes...I want good things for the world. I want there to be peace. But that's only so I can live as I see fit. Winning the battle is just a step on the road.>

Ila is quiet for a long moment. Eventually, she looks up at you. "...I will look for that thing, then. But where do I start?"

<I don't know,> you say honestly. <That's the problem with being free. You've got a lot of choices.>

"Heh. Yeah." She begins to walk toward the Cirrus. "I'll...see you later. I want to think about this."

<Until tomorrow.>

She waves at you, then Blinks over to the entrance of the ship.

What do you do now?

>meditate one last time
>some other strategy

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>>28911589
It's been a while since I used these.

>>28911589
He said before there would be no harem.

>>28911584
more the awkward why the fuck is this dude still alive character

>>28911606
>meditate one last time

>>28911606
>meditate one last time
Maker pls.

>>28911606
>>meditate one last time
Also buy HT.

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>>28911589
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRKSLnfayx0&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL2E5F4D8CC665D8FB
>Shadow's first date
not sure if Abby or Ila is funnier

>>28911606
>meditate one last time
Also buy MPV.

>>28911606
Meditate one last time.

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>>28911595
>shadowy appendage
For some reason i think in the later years of shadows relationship him and his lover would be doing some freaky shit like him fucking her in public.

>>28911700
I don't think so but I can't say I disrespect your opinion in totality.

>>28911455

How are we going to max out The Sun archana? Sandalphon is going to be quite the nut to crack.

Could shadow ever spit some dope as rhymes?

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>>28911642

>that video

I haven't even seen Avatar.

>>28911642
>>28911727
>Zuko
>awkward as hell
>dense as fuck
>still gets the ladies
yeah, that's shadow...

>>28911700
Freaky shit? Most likely. Abby fell in love with him back before seeing his human form so she finds that attractive. Public sex? Not only is that not freaky but it really doesn't have much to do with what Shadow is capable of. Anyone could fuck in public.

Alright, you're going to meditate. What two shards?

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

----
----

Then we'll buy shit with EXP and keep moving.

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I-I d-don't know if you have this .gif SM, b-but I thought you might like it!

>>28911727
>I haven't even seen Avatar.
Shadow Master... one of the most elemental based martial cartoon/animes and you haven't seen it?
That's where the Fire Lord Nesteral joke came from. ;_;

>>28911784
Maker and Peace.

>>28911784
Maker
then either Hammer or Ardor

>>28911784

Maker. Dice be with us!

>>28911774
i meant under her clothes while she goes buying something or visits family.

>>28911784
Maker and Peace

What happens if we meditate on a shard that is already Empowered?

>>28911784
Maker and Hammer.

>>28911828
Nothing. Only plot related choices can elevate shards from Empowered to Resonant.

>>28911784
>(Maker) - Normal
>(Peace) - Strong

>>28911828

Nothing. That's as strong as they can become via meditation.

>>28911800

I did not, and I appreciate your contributions to my folder.

Roll 1d100 for Maker and Peace.

>>28911784
>Then we'll buy shit with EXP and keep moving.
all aboard the Grave Silence train
>but seriously, i foresee a lot of stealth once we get to Dobshire. focusing on moves like conceal and disguise is my suggestion

Rolled 75

>>28911885
woo!

Rolled 13

>>28911885

Rolled 45

>>28911885

Rolled 37

>>28911885

>>28911893
I think so as well.

Rolled 61

>>28911885

>>28911893
two bad people want to get MPV or HT.

Rolled 20

>>28911885


>>28911929
Neither of which are all that helpful right now. HT can't even be used without burning 10 exp.

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>>28911898
>>28911901
>>28911902
>>28911906
>>28911915
>>28911947
Pretty fucking meh.

>>28911947
Well MPV would help with shadowmelding, blinking, shading, and other stealth related ventures.

>>28911898
>>28911901
>>28911902
>>28911906
>>28911915
>>28911947
Meh.
>>28911893
>Grave silence
>using ghost summon for invisible spy work in Dobshire
all my yes

>>28911947
I just want HT to see what is after that.
Then either ask for rushing grave silence or try to get Enslave/Mind read.

>>28911989
Can we get Mind Read now instead? We're going into a very delicate poltical situation and will have to uncover stuff about Flint's parasite. Reading minds would be pretty damn useful.

>>28911989
>I just want HT to see what is after that.
And like the person you're responding to I'd like grave silence for how practical it will be for us shortly.

>>28911885

>Maker - Strong

>Peace is unchanged

Shards of Order and Chaos:

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

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

Vote 1:
>buy Heartstone Titan

Vote 2:
>buy Magic Power V

Vote 3:
>neither; hold second vote for stealth/disguise powers

>>28912070
1

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
2

>>28912070
2

>>28912070
3

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>>28912070
1

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
2

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
2

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
1

>>28912070
1

>>28912070
1

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
2

>>28912070
2

>>28912070

cutting votes

>>28912070
3

>>28912070
2

>>28912070
3

>>28912231
>>28912223
>>28912218
>>28912216
Do these 3 count?
>>28912238

>>28912070
1

>>28912265
This one >>28912216 is one second before 5 minutes exactly. So it might.

>>28912302
true it, but it just seems like SM was a bit slow, and they mirror the exact votes that came 5 minutes before(looks like a guy trying to vote for 1 again messed up and deleted the 3).

>>28912070

HT - 5

MPV - 6

Neither - 8

Didn't expect that, but ok!

>>28912265

Everything above my cutoff post counts. If I need a tiebreaker, sometimes I allow posts below my cutoff but that are technically within the 5-minute period, such as >>28912242

But that would just add to choice #3's victory, so no need.

On the occasion I get distracted by something else I'm doing and forget a cutoff, then we just go with all posts within 5 minutes.

Vote #2!

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

Vote 1:
>buy Conceal - Target gains all your current stealth bonuses (aside from replicate) until they are spotted or enter battle (costs 2 mana)

Vote 2:
>buy Disguise - Allows you to apply Replicate to a target. Visually, allies are undetectable, but avoiding magical detection depends on their own stealth abilities. Costs 10 mana. Lasts until canceled, or until target contacts something the illusion can't compensate for (spell casting, heavy combat, etc).

Vote 3L
>buy Ghost - summon a ghost, a weak spirit condensed from the nether (2 spirit attack). Costs 2 mana to summon, 1 per action. [level 1, Ethereal]

>>28912391
4

>>28912391
3

>>28912391
3

>>28912391
3

>>28912391
3

>>28912391
3

>>28912391
2

>>28912391
3

>>28912391
3

Anyone want to get enslaved or mind read?(reveals what they hide and also perfect for the political situation coming up)

>>28912471
I think Adavan would have that covered

>>28912471
Mind read is kind of a risk unless we knock the guy unconscious first. Besides, we have an expert mind mage already.

>>28912391
1

>>28912391

Seems ghost wins by a mile. Purchasing.

>>28912484
>Trusting Adavan
I like the guy, but i doubt he tells us everything and also he can't be every where.
>>28912500
Its mostly only a risk against mages if i remember correctly and we already have a mind attack ability that we can use to weaken them first.

>>28912471
Honestly? Not really. I have a feeling that the success of that skill will depend on how well we roll versus the magic power of the major political figures there, and a failure would instantly net us into "untrustworthy shadowmage" range.
Though there are other reasons I want it, taking that king of risk isn't one of them.

>>28912522
>might as well go full grave silence

>>28912534
true, but is it really a good idea to have mages and nobles being mysteriously attacked just when our party shows up?

>>28912513
Grave Silence first. Conceal with that bonus is better.

>>28912534
First, Mind Read is about being subtle so using a mind attack first is dumb. Second. all the people who we'd want to read the minds of are fucking OP mages.

>>28912568
>are fucking OP mages.
I'm talking about Flints family and they only have 1 mage.

>>28912541
>>28912541
Maybe Grave silence and Disguise seem to be good to get.

>>28912607
Disguise and conceal like the best choices together like erode and corrode(why haven't we bought the fucking defense lowering spell yet?)

>>28912605
Well now I disagree with you even more.

>>28912605
They're descended from Aeolus's Order and the only reason why Flint is not a mage is because he has a soul-siphoning parasite that would cripple or kill a normal human being.

>>28912568

Well, if we have them restrained and are about to interrogate them with Mind Read, then stealth doesn't matter.

>Dopshire prisons
>"Are you sure you want him back?"
>"...Yes."
>"Ok, we found him in the courtyard saying <sneak sneak sneak.> while trampling the rosebushes."

>>28912631

How many people want Army of Darkness? Ray of Darkness? Earth's Gift? Corrode? Shadowrage?

>>28912638
If we're in that situation the whole political situation is fucked.

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>>28912641
not funny
I laughed

>>28912666
yes, but not yet. those are battle and we need stealth for now

>>28912605

In-character, you would be aware that the member's of Flint's family are capable of much more competent magic than he is, though they aren't dedicated practitioners of the theory like a real scholar. Mostly just battle-trained.

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

Revealed:

>Spirit - Summon an ethereal spirit from the nether. Stronger and more stealthy than a ghost, but weak to magic. (3 spirit attack. 1 mana per action)

----

Vote 1:
>buy Spirit and Grave Silence

Vote 2:
>save the experience for other things

>>28912675

Point taken. For the future, then, when we capture a Kan-Abar mage.

>>28912717
1

>>28912717
1

>>28912717
1

>>28912717

SM, you forgot the new skill tree.

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>>28912717

>>28912717
1

>>28912717
1

>and now if people want to use spirit/ghost reliably we'll have to get summoning 1

YOU FOOLS HAVE FALLEN FOR MY TRAP!
BUUUWHWHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

>>28912717
1

>>28912717
1

>>28912793
Yes brother we have weakened them.

>>28912757
>25
Ghost-22
Spirit+GS-12
Summoning+Disguise

>>28912834
We might need summoning level 2.

>>28912861
Maybe, if spirit is a level 3 summoning.

SM is Spirit a level 3 or level 2 summong?

>>28912861
Summoning 1 works for level 1 and 2 summons, which should be enough for now.

>>28912896
Ghost is level 1 in the pastebin, so logically Spirit is level 2.

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Purchased:

Spirit (which is [level 2], by the way)

Grave Silence

Revealed:

>Dream-eater - A powerful spirit that can eat the dreams of foes. This and all stronger ethereal summons can follow you on a Dream Walk. In the world of dreams, it is twice as powerful for no additional cost. (4 spirit attack. 1 mana per action) [level 3]

EXP Remaining: 12

>>28912945
Summoning 1
>its been a long time coming

>>28912945
Summoning I and Disguise.

>>28912945
Huuuh, that's pretty fuckin' terrifying.
Summoning 1 please.

>>28912945
Summoning 1!

>>28912945
Summoning level 1 and cORRODE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WE HAVE TO GET THAT.

>>28912970
Let's get it

>>28912945
Summoning 1

>>28912996
Well i should look up more, when i type.

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>>28912945
Summoning and Dream Eater
>pull everyone in castle Dobshire into dream walk
<Hello there, I'd like to play a game. It's called The Bed Method>

>>28912996
Why corrode?

>>28912978
Seconding.

>>28912945
We should save some mana so that we can do things like Titan if we have to.

>>28912945

Summoning 1, Disguise, Corrode. Kindle if we have enough left over, just because.

>>28913023
>>28913016
>>28912996
>>28912993
>>28912986
>>28912978
>>28912970

Roger, Roger.

Summoning I

>>28912945
SM have we been ignoring the dream world a whole lot?

Because IIRC it's how that elf queen communicated with us in the Archonium... which means you've probably got a significant amount of shit to do with dreams in the settings.

>>28913030
>Erode - Reduce the target's physical attack for 3-5 turns. (4, 8, or 17 mana. Higher tiers increase effectiveness)
Makes thier puncges feel like marshmallows.
>Corrode - Reduce the target's physical defense for 3-5 turns. (4, 8, or 17 mana. Higher tiers increase effectiveness)
Makes their defenses as strong as a soggy piece of toilet paper.

>>28913030
Because we're mostly physical attackan and weakening defense really works well with that.

>>28913102

It's only 3 EXP, too.

>>28913138
AND it leads towards Gravity.

>>28913138

And it unlocks more Earth Tree.

>>28913138
I have been asking for that power for the longest and people kept making up excuses about not buying it, even though Erode was shown to be so good against wrath.

~I'm sensing an impending consensus on a certain ability but I'm not entirely sure which it is.~

>leave for a few hours
>come back
>we are investing in summoning tree

how did I arrive in bizarre /tg/?

>>28913220
I know, right?
Never thought I'd see the day.

>>28913220

Well, Summoning Tree leads to Grave Silence, and we'll need stealth more than beating power for this arc.

Damn, I wanted army of darkness.

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>>28913052
>SM have we been ignoring the dream world a whole lot?

Yes. I've been forced to scrap it repeatedly.

Originally, your meditations were supposed to lead you into the dream world naturally. That was how you were to discover the overarching plot - that is, the problem of chaos and rampant magic. The queen would have contacted you there.

It instead became a method for strengthening your shards.

It was also going to be a sort of link into the nether. In fact, I've changed the fundamental structure of the world behind the scenes because the dream world just never came up in an important manner.

The Archonium is a physical portal into the dream world, given specific structure by the powerful enchantment. (I will grant you this because in-character you may have read a book in Archon or something discussing the major theories) However, by the time you got there, I had made it a Spirit ability to be purchased in the tree, and decided to shelve most of the plot-related things leading to it.

It may yet play an important role, who knows.Player creativity killed it; player creativity could revive it. At the very least some anons think it could be a useful tool of long-distance communication, and I'd agree.

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

Purchased: Summoning I

>Summoning II - Level 3 and 4 summons will not break from your control.

EXP: 10

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

Vote 1:
>Corrode

Vote 2:
>Dream-eater

Vote 3:
>neither

>>28913238
its because the summoning guys and middle tree guys formed an impromptu alliance while the robot and magic guys were weak.

>>28913257
I want all the abilities Redaeth. I think most people do.

>>28913220
It's funny because I'm tempting to get dream eater and another level os summoning since we might be going on a investigation.

>>28913265
3

>>28913265
1

>>28913265
1

>>28913265
1

>>28913265
1

I think we should at least aim for one combat ability. Shadowrage maybe?

>>28913294
yeah, having access to dreams while the humans are asleep, we could learn so many secrets

>>28913265
I still believe that the white magic tree exist.

>>28913265
1

>>28913265
2

did everyone else die off?

>>28913265
Guys, we have enough to get corrode, dream eater and summoning2

>>28913265
So, can we modify the wisp yet?

>>28913265
1

>>28913336
I was thinking shadow bomb.

>>28913265
3

>>28913336

we don't need one.

if we want combat abilities, buy it in combat when we're consuming things.

I want Mind Read, honestly.

>>28913265
1

2

>>28913389

We can't buy shit in combat like that. Or was that resistances?

Guys, important decision:

Do we want to Chosen anyone at the moment?

if so, vote 3.

>>28913374
we need 14 exp.(we could get the extra 4 exp easily.)
>>28913389
Same, but i lost hope of getting it after people found out about a chance of getting hurt, even though we have gone through worse.

>>28913265
2

>>28913411
It's resistances that can't be purchased in combat.

We'll never get Earth+Wind...