>>31766767

Interlude: The Claw has Chosen

You tighten the coat and sit comfortably in the cafe. Here the wireless access is free, and you have finally gathered enough information to make your selection. Your new masters will need soldiers, and soldiers you will give them. There is great hope in regard to the young artist unleashing her music officially this evening, and in dashing those hopes you will foster fear and despair.

From this despair, you will harvest servants and soldiers for the new masters. The doctor who looks upon you in fear, the man in the black, and the ones to come.

“French Vanilla Cappuccino Tall for Gesen!” you rise and approach the pickup counter and take your hot beverage.

At present, you lack a mouth. The helmet of this form was not designed with a viable means of removal. You don’t need this coffee...but you want it. You tilt your hat low on your camera eyed helm, this drink will help you blend in a bit longer and gather your data.

Tonight, you have chosen.

The young idol, Venus Aino.

End Interludes

Quest, START!

>>31766794

You stand before the ruined gate, a twisted and wicked palace of Elysion before you. The regalia of Eclipse flaps in the wind born from your own overblown sense of the dramatic. Your elder sister strides up beside you, her gown lifted ahead of her in her quick jog.

“Fisheye is taking care of the others,” she explains as her long twin tails drift gently.

You are Mikage Chiba, formerly Sailor Moon and presently Eclipse. She is Sailor Crystal Moon, Usagi ‘Chibi-Usa’ Tsukino. Together, you have entered the realm of dreams with the intent of reaching the ancient shared memory of the mythical earth kingdom your father was to rule as Prince Endymion in a past life. It’s guardian and the keeper of the Golden Crystal, Helios, has been corrupted by the latest enemy to rear it’s terrible purposes against the earth and your family.

>>31766823

You suspect that this enemy is controlled by a bitter survivor of that old kingdom, trying to reap their revenge against...well everyone else. The nature of their plan still escapes you, but saving Helios and halting his dark reflection is certainly an important step.

However...there is a history that is relevant here. Your sister and Helios, the true Helios, are in love. Equally important, you are your sister. She is you, traveled back from an alternate future years before you were born. For years before you were born, their love was constrained to the pleasant dreams he would send her from his vigil in this fleeting place. After you were born, your mind began to catch fleeting glimpses of these dreams. Until you learned the truth about your sister and these dreams, you had thought Helios was yours.

Discovering this truth created a rift between the two of you by your own anger and will...that only now you are willing to entertain mending.

“I want to take this head on,” your sister looks upon the terrible castle and growls, “and purify Helios’s shadow with my own hand,”

A flock of black tendrils erupt from every opening in the structure and lance out into the world of dreams in every direction, a few come toward you and your sister, but they seem suddenly deterred by your presence, as though they recognize your hunger.

Your sister’s direct approach certainly plays to your old style, but you want to play this smart and sneaky. Misdirect. Or...deceive. You could provide a diversion and allow Usa a straight shot after, or the two of your could trick him outright, and perhaps get some closure over an old wound on your heart.

>Lets do this, head on.
>No, I’ll sneak in and give you a signal that its time.
>I have a better idea. I’ll pretend to be your shadow and he’ll let us get close, when I get close enough I’ll drink his dark power dry. I like this idea
>Write in

>>31766849
>No, I’ll sneak in and give you a signal that its time.

I assume this is the cause a distraction option, which sounds good.

>>31766849
>No, I’ll sneak in and give you a signal that its time.

>>31766849
>No, I’ll sneak in and give you a signal that its time.

IT BEGINS!!!

File: Aiha Rin and Koyomi.png (570 KB, 930x299)

570 KB PNG

I'm going to need a stealth test.

1d20+8 versus DC 15

Best of 3. 1s and 20s wild

Really thought you guys were sold on your own plan of get some payback for the so called NTR in your backstory from the end of thread discussion last time. On with the show.

>>31767887
This was me. Need those dice rolls

Rolled 10 + 8

>>31767887
'ere we go!

Rolled 20 + 8

>>31767887

Rolled 10 + 8

>>31767887
I guess I'll roll.

>>31768177
Please do, we need more participation!

28 v 15.

Two degrees of success.

Writing.

>>31768234
Oh Artemis where for art thou?

>>31768997
Because he wishes to be.

>>31768997
Here, distractions, still writing.

Never fear, for I am here now!

>>31766767
Well fudge..

>>31766794
>Crane Claw
>Power from Despair.
Good to know..

>after Venus
You motherfu-

>>31766849
Sneak in seems good.
Though If we have to opportunity, shadow-plan is go.

File: Black Lady.jpg (88 KB, 766x960)

88 KB JPG

“No,” you step back and pull her behind the wall with you, “I’ll sneak in and prepare a distraction; then I’ll send you a signal,”

She seems like she wants to protest, but nods.

“Helios is powerful, you’re right. We’re going to need an advantage. Be safe,”

You spin back around the wall quick and low, momentum carrying you around the side of the palace and through a large hall opening in the western side. You blend in well enough, and occasionally augmenting your movements with quick bursts of your invisibility powers. Creatures of shadow and flame slowly stalk the halls in patterns, you quickly discern they lack sentience...conjured dreams that crackle and smoke in the blackened castle.

In the dreams you had so long ago, these halls were white. He wore white. You were Happy.

This isn’t a happy place now. This palace is open, built more like a great pavillion. In the grand center, on a twisting and raised dais he waits. On a black throne, uncomfortable sneer across his features. He wears black, one of his eyes is bruised and a deep purple blue. Despite the size and hard surfaces, there are oddly no echoes.

He doesn’t see you, he speaks to a floating square, a hazy portal to another place. You cannot hear him, he is injured. Who is he talking to? Why is he sending out more shadows, more nightmares?

>Get in close, listen to gather information. He hasn’t seen you.
>Prepare for war (Cast Jump, Force Screen, and Conceal Thoughts) using your discrete powers to prevent him from noticing and then hit him with Fairy Fire to disable him and alert Usa.
>Prepare for closure (Cast Jump, Conceal Thoughts, Let your hair down and bare your fangs) Pretend to be Usa turned to his side and greet your lover, gleaming information and then hitting him when he least expects it.
>Prepare for war (Cast Jump, Force Screen, and Conceal Thoughts) and then charge him from behind as you draw your knife.
>Write in.

>>31769273
>Get in close, listen to gather information. He hasn’t seen you.
The mission is important, but this might be a lead on whoever is behind this.

>>31769273

>Get in close, listen to gather information. He hasn’t seen you.
>Prepare for closure (Cast Jump, Conceal Thoughts, Let your hair down and bare your fangs) Pretend to be Usa turned to his side and greet your lover, gleaming information and then hitting him when he least expects it.

>>31769273
>Get in close, listen to gather information. He hasn’t seen you.

>>31769273
>Get in close, listen to gather information. He hasn’t seen you.
>(Cast Jump, Force Screen, and Conceal Thoughts)
Get a good listen. Then close in for 'Closure' plan.
Though I'm interested more for the intel we could get through the drain.
Also, How should we signal for Usa? Somehow I doubt we'd finish him off with that route, but that should weaken him a bit more before he gets loose. Run like hell for the outside with him giving chase?

Oh yeah, AND CAST HEAL ON OURSELVES BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING HOLY CRAP THAT KNIFE HURT.

>>31769764
Fair point on the healing. Probably should have done that before we even went in.
We seem to have a bad habit of forgetting that we are seriously injured.

>>31769819
As long as we have even one hit point left, everything is cool.

>>31769764
>Oh yeah, AND CAST HEAL ON OURSELVES BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING HOLY CRAP THAT KNIFE HURT.
What? We're only more than half death why would we remember little things like that?

Hell, Usa could have healed us really easily.

>>31769844
Not when one good hit from the powerful guy could possibly end us right now.

>>31769764
I'm not too sure about closing in. Half dead as we are we should let (the much more powerful) Usa hit him first. Why would we sneak in only to immediately blow our advantage?

>>31769969
>I'm not too sure about closing in.
Closing in so we can hear the important information?
Then probably play at being the Black Lady for a bit and try to drain him.. then run for Usa if/when he gets loose from that.

>>31770016
Sorry, I was referring more to the prepare for closure option. It seems a tad impractical for the risk it presents.

>>31770165
Well, in theory we can lie perfectly and look the part, then try to drain him A) weakening him and B) hopefully gaining some useful information.

>>31770285
and C) because we thought he was our first love so this will have to do.
Though those are good reasons.

>>31770165
Well hopefully we can find out through the Shadow's memories where Helio is, or maybe something more about the baddies in general.

>>31770285
Well it doesn't seem like I'll be convincing anyone tonight. I'll drop this in the hopes that an update will come through.

>>31770313
Except for this. We NTR'd ourselves and we only have ourselves to blame.

With six silent steps you scale the tower platform from behind and press flat against the back of the throne. You can hear him. Reactivating your invisibility at every opportunity, you delve into the seal upon your identity. Nothing will be left to chance, even if you can hear his heavy breathing dredges up old memories that shouldn’t have been yours. Both the dreams and the memories you absorbed from your sister earlier.

His lips against hers.

The trepidation she felt, the worry the first time.

No, you need to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Channeling your magic, you mend your wounds quickly. Listen.

Cure Light Wounds Cast: 5 wounds restored.

“My efforts to recover the Golden Crystal have been met with difficulty. Its power opposes me, the girl has no talent for it...but the bear seems like a secondary channel. It’s true hiding place is hidden from me,” he groans.

Your skull reverberates as his patron responds. These aren’t words as you can perceive them...or their communique has some form of magical protection.

“The list is already brought to Doctor Borealis’s dream. When he awakens from his afternoon nap, he’ll know everyone I’ve seeded with his Shadows.”

The world twists as unwords sound.

“No, we lost one of the waves. I will double efforts tomorrow night once I have recovered,”

The portal begins to shatter.

“Yes my lord. To the rebirth of the line, The Shadow will fall,”

It breaks, and there is only the sound of his breathing. You can feel his anger in it, you imagine on the other side of the chair that his right hand is tensing around the shoulder of his throne. so delicious

>Fairie Fire him in the face and bring the magical noise until Usa arrives.
>Attack him and run, leading him to Usa.
>Become the Dark Lady and draw more information out of him manually before drawing it out of him with your teeth.
>write in

>>31770695
>Fairie Fire him in the face and bring the magical noise until Usa arrives.

>>31770695
>Become the Dark Lady and draw more information out of him manually before drawing it out of him with your teeth.

>>31770695
>>Become the Dark Lady and draw more information out of him manually before drawing it out of him with your teeth.
What could go wrong?

>>31770695
>Become the Dark Lady and draw more information out of him manually before drawing it out of him with your teeth.

>>31770695
>>Become the Dark Lady and draw more information out of him manually before drawing it out of him with your teeth.
It is a dangerous game that we play.
But this could be our biggest break for information.
Most importantly, is finding out where Helios is and how they pulled him through to the waking world, though I'm not sure we know that last part, but at least Fisheye filled us in on him being kidnapped.

Do you want to cast Conceal Thoughts hidden with subtle magic?

>>31771236
Yes.

>>31771236
absolutely, yes

>>31770695
> Become the dark lady and draw more information out of him manually before drawing it out of him with your teeth.

Yes its dangerous and petty, but its also useful.
We have perfect lie, access to our actual darkness, and usas memories. He would need true seeing or a social equivalent tosee through this.

>>31771236
One hundred percent yes.

>>31771236
Yes. And Perfect Lie as well when the time comes.
Hide our thoughts from being read and present the unbeatable lie.

>>31771342
All True Seeing would do is show that our True Form really does look like that now.
Guess we'll need to subtle magic the disguising as well?

Rolled 11 + 8

Then Give me Deceive 1d20+20

Versus Dark Helios's Insight

>>31771425
Huh, I had a line in there about True Seeing noticing a different outfit, but it seems to have been misplaced.

Rolled 20 + 20

>>31771484

Rolled 2 + 20

>>31771484

>>31771539
Whelp. Looks like that one's in the bag.

Rolled 13 + 20

>>31771484
Even with that much bonus, it could be wise to Perfect Lie as well. Super good lie, plus additional defense.

Rolled 1 + 20

>>31771484

>>31771573
That was close, fortunately we got our three beforehand.

...40 versus 19.

4 degrees of success.

What 5 topics do you want to pull info out of Dark Helios on?

>>31771539
Well that settles it i need to roll more often

>>31771615
Location of the 'less interesting' Helios, so we can tease him, and/or find out how to find the Crystal.

Purpose of this 'new existence' of ours.

>>31771615
How he was attacked/turned, what he's been doing for the bad guys, what is he planning on doing, who are the bad guys anyway and what do they want.

>>31771615
Lessee, details on who he was talking to (and about Doctor Borealis as well), and >>31771725
seems to have some good ideas too.

>>31771615
Who is his master?
Whats the plan?
What did he do with his original self?
Where are the two halfs of the golden crystal?
Who was on the list?

Can we surge this to try for an extra degree of success? Or spend a success for him to be flat footed (or better still a surprise round?)

>>31771725
Do we even suspect that there is a 'less interesting' Helios?

Why wouldn't we assume he's just been corrupted like the Amazon Trio?

>>31771615
>>31771725
>>31771615
Who do we serve?

How do we leave this place to play with the awaking world?

>>31771791
Because we can sense that difference (like we did with the Trio), and the Trio told us he was beating and taken away, and that this one came back.

>>31771615
Also...
Our "little sister" just told us the funniest thing. Turns out she thought he was supposed to be hers. Stupid girl, but her admission provided the guilt needed for me to be free. There wasn't any truth to her foolish claims... was there?

>>31771615
>>31771725
>>31771821
'To the rebirth of the line, The Shadow will fall.'?Speaking as a Shadow, I hope we aren't planning on falling.. unless you mean the biblical sort of fall.
<evil grin>

>>31771742
These seem to be the most concise and relevant so I'll support it.

>>31770695
So, to cover what we've just learned so far:
There is a Mysterious Lord.
There is a Dr Borealis, to whom the shadows are ascribed as either belonging to or from.
The other Golden Crystal half might be related to the Bear (and the form we saw briefly within).
The enemy has a catch phrase: "To the rebirth of the line, The Shadow will fall,”

So how are we supposed to signal usa? Moonbeam through a window like the bat-signal?

>>31772184
Scream spell will probably do nicely. I'd say some faerie fire fore good measure to make it hard for him to sneak up/away.

Writing

>>31772327
If he is the source of all of those shadows we saw earlier, then i don't think he is going to need to sneak away.
That said we're off to a good start.

>>31772327
Point blank Scream. I like.

>>31772463
Distractions again Arty?

File: Faces of Grown Chibi Usa.gif (114 KB, 504x328)

114 KB GIF

Dismissing the Regalia of Eclipse, and let your dream clothes change into something black and slinky. You let your hair grow out long and relax your retraction upon your fangs. You let her memories flood you. You remember the dreams where you thought you were in love wash over you. Quashing all notice of it’s energy or aura, you invoke the mind magics you likely inherited from your father build a fortress behind your eyes. It’ll help you lie to him. It’ll help you lie to yourself.

It makes you a bit angry, what you’re about to do. A bit sad. This isn’t Helios, this is the worst of him, his wounds given bitter will all their own. You are going to destroy him once you’ve gotten what you want.

What do you want?

...that is a good question. One you’ll answer later.

Sidling around the side of the chair, you give yourself a leaping push and land across his lap, looping your arms around his neck and staring into his amber eyes. Old wounds, old wounds that aren’t important now.

~Bad dreams, lover?~ you coo as you lean forward and rest your head in the crook of his neck.

He is shocked of course, but as you break eye contact to rest your head, you feel the tension leave him and his arm snakes around your waist possessively.

“Practically a nightmare, but all the better now that you’re here,” he says with a gentle and sinister edge, “I’m surprised to see you here so soon. I thought it would take until seeing me as I am now to break you, Usako,”

You laugh, he believes you as you lie and say sweet and twisted things that please him. Really, the only thing more perfect than a good lie is something technically true.

>>31773671
~Oh, what sent me over the edge was guilt. You’ll love this; my -little sister- told me she used to dream our night time rendezvous, and thought they were her own dreams. That you were her’s,~ you grin and pull back from nuzzling his neck and begin working your nailed fingers beneath his sheer and billowing black tunicas you playfully scold him, ~You aren’t her’s? Right. It would be very naughty if you were intentionally fooling around being my back with a younger me. I might get jealous and do something drastic,”

“Drastic? You’re hardly being drastic. So. No questions of your new purpose? What we’re doing? Just straight to the -Ow- fun?”

~You keep me a girl waiting lonely in the waking world for so long and you don’t expect her to have some resentment for you. Darling, of course I’m going for the fun, and it’s going to be rough,~ you stare into his face and run your tongue across your upper teeth, taking care to test the tip of each elongated fang as you sell your characterization by looking back down at his chest,, ~Though I could stand to know what’s going on and who you’re kowtowing to,~

His soft hands fall upon either side of your face and cup, tilting you back up to look at him. He is not amused by your last comment.

“Oh my dear, it’s quite a bit more complicated now that you’re here. And all the better for us,” there is a mad glee in his eyes.

~Well, then you better catch me up. I know I’ve your machinations to thank for this cathartic experience, but how’d you get...recruited,~

“My demanding new master’s errand boy, Hiddenite, waltzed into the dream realm physically and dragged him to a lab on the other side. They pumped my other full of a compound to stabilize his ability to exist in the waking world and filled him with all manner of psychotropic catalysts and the first drops of shadow to allow my rebirth,”

>>31773692
~Hmmm, did they strap you down to the table,~ you walk your index and middle finger up his chest as he relaxes into his throne, ~what have your new master’s demands of you been?~

“Infecting sleeping humans with more of the darkness. Fostering nightmares. He wants to raise an army of severed shadows. I’ve been tasked with a rather annoyingly sizable quota...so he’s getting weakings without the special attention I could be paying these projects, besides my attention is split,”

~Pining for me?~ you teasingly nip at his shoulder as his palm slides up your thigh.

You bring a hand down to stop his advance. He seems confused and angry.

~No, you’ve caught my interest with this. Business before pleasure,~ you scold him.

He huffs.

“Turning you was part of my distraction list, but my problem has been finding the Golden Crystal. My other broke it before Hiddenite could get him earthside. My only leads are some human girl and a bear that dreams, and he’s protected by something. The girl has the crystal, and it was killing her, but the bear...Someone else is channeling it’s power for him.”

~You never did like it when I took charge. I can’t imagine you’re happy with being someone’s simpering servant. You’ve got your own angle in things,~

“I don’t simper. And yes. I have a plan. They don’t know I’ve turned you, they don’t know who you are or what you represent. We’re going to steal the show, become the real and primary spirits of our broken others, and then rule their new kingdom for all the trouble and opportunity they’ve given us,”

~And just who are they? What do they even want that they’ve gone through all this trouble?” you sit upright in his lap and cross your arms, ~though I appreciate you providing your princess a kingdom,~

“But it already is your kingdom,” he smiles knowingly.

~Oh?~

>>31773733
“They’re some survivors of Old Elysion. He’s trying to resurrect a few dead generals and even the old Queen to rule over a retaken earth. They don’t know you are Endymion’s daughter, so we’ll help them conquer the kingdom and rightfully take it when the world is subsumed in shadows. Sadly, your mother and sisters might have to die...unless we can turn them, though your mother and father’s will is certainly too strong for such conversion,”

That’s all you can stand to hear.

~Well, I have some ideas, but I’m not comfortable just saying them,~

He quirks an eyebrow.

~You have to get in real close,~ you draw your lips beside his ear, ~and whisper-~

>Cast Scream
>Attempt to stab him, he is flat footed.
>Grapple and Drink, he is flat footed.
>Write in.
>Get an actual kiss of your own with Helios, a memory all your own.

>>31773767
>Grapple and Drink, he is flat footed.
Let's do something Naughty~

>>31773835
>Cast Scream

It's the best chance we'll get. Also the timing is just perfect.

>>31773767
>Cast Scream
Is it a normal scream, or do we get a witty one liner?

>>31773767
>Get an actual kiss of your own with Helios, a memory all your own.

>>31773767
>>Grapple and Drink, he is flat footed.
>>Cast Scream
Grab on and drain, don't finish him though. Let Usa get the last shot in. Break out Scream when he wrestles loose or he seems well weakened.

Alternately, we can hit him with Scream first and hope to Stun him, then drain until Usa arrives.
This might be the smarter version.

>>31773767
Cast Scream & Grapple for Draining
Planet Surge on the Charisma Test.

>>31774036
Scream first is smarter, makes the rest easier:
>Stunned
>A stunned creature drops everything held, can't take actions, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any).
>Attackers receive a +4 bonus on attack rolls to perform combat maneuvers against a stunned opponent.

File: black_lady_by_a_ka_ka-d3f2pb2.jpg (94 KB, 900x733)

94 KB JPG

Scream is tied with Scream & Drink

Final Destination. Five Minutes on the clock. Reply only with the number of your vote to be counted. No comment, no dice rolls, images okay.

1 >Scream
2 >Scream and Drink his blood.

>>31774036
Is it worth risking the drain when he seems to have told us all he knows?

>>31774195

Foolish desire to feed the beast?

>>31774189
2

>>31774189
1

>>31774189
2

>>31774189
2

>>31774195
It will weaken him, and we might learn something more.
..and if things go wrong, well.. Usa is on hand to deal with us. It is comes to that.

>>31774189
1

>>31774212
This is clearly somethign we have to think about a bit

Think of all the sorrow and sadness we took in when we did it with Usa, and then think about what happened. We took in a gallon of power into our shotglass of a body

Think about what draining a god can do.

>>31774331
And when I say "Power", I mean sorrow. Usa's sorrow and sadness. Think of all the sorrow he had to put up with. Especially aforementioned torture.

And we're going to eat that.

>>31774331
>Think
You're expecting too much

Rolled 2, 1 = 3

Okay.

These two dice are first Helios's endurance test (which I will add a +2 to) and then his grapple test (+5)

From you guys I need 2d20.
Charisma Test (+3) and your grapple (+5)

Then I apply the Shintennou Penalties of -8 to Helios's rolls...good luck Helios, you'll need it.

>>31774356
Yum?

Rolled 18, 14 = 32

>>31774375

Rolled 9, 13 = 22

>>31774331
That was less about power, that was her being us and Silver/Gold Crystal combo charge.

>>31774356
I'm thinking it'll be more the crushing loneliness of being there for ages, resentment about that, and not being to hold the one he loves directly.
It will likely be unpleasant.

>>31774375
Still gonna say surge for the Charisma test, longer he's stunned the better.

Rolled 16, 4 = 20

>>31774375
dice are a go.

Rolled 7

Planet power on the charisma test?

>>31774453
Yeah, I'll second that. We need to make sure.

>>31774453
Yeah, gonna need him stunned for at least a couple rounds while Usa makes her way in.

Rolled 3

>>31774453

Okay then

Rolled 2

>>31774540

Wonder if Sneak Attack applies anywhere here, since he should be flat-footed.

>>31774626
I was about to ask if you would like to apply sneak attack to his vitality or sacrifice sneak attack dice to deal 1 wound per die.

>>31774670
The vitality I think.

>>31774670
Wounds, I think. Take the deep hits while we can.

Apply wounds, aqquire greatness.

>>31774670
He broke our heart. Wounds.

Well, it is only 3 wounds, so it should be much to him, but if it comes to serious fighting they might tip the scales.

Give me another 1d20+5 versus this role as he uses his turn after your's to try and break your pin.

...he isn't doing so hot.

I'm also going to put in a request that, if it seems he's close to being finished, that we pull loose.

Also, requesting that we use that summoned at will to put the Regalia of Eclipse back on.
Usa seeing us like this might be a bit much for her.

Rolled 6 - 7

>>31774903
forgot his opposed roll

Rolled 20 + 5

>>31774903
He's not going to get a chance to break this shit.
>>31774913
Agree with this.

Rolled 19 + 5

>>31774925
First roll of the night

Rolled 16 + 5

>>31774903
Man, only stunned him for a since round, I figured he had strong charisma, but that is impressive.

Rolled 16, 8 = 24

>>31774913
I'll third this.

File: 1396145631498.png (2.79 MB, 1442x1078)

2.79 MB PNG

>>31774925
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
>>31774932
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
>>31774943
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

>>31774932
No he damn well is not. Does subtle cast remove somatic and verbal components? Because if so we can cast at him while draining...

Rolled 16 + 5

>>31774975
I'm just glad I got a 16 instead of a 1 after those.

Wait, nevermind, he can't struggle or take actions for 5 rounds.

Silly me.

But that 20 won't go to waste.

Just how many rounds would you like to maintain the drain? Stop when he starts struggling again (which that roll will represent if he lasts that long)

>>31775007
Drain until he's not dead.

>>31775007
Drain him until hes almost gone, let usa cleanse whats left. It might take longer than six rounds. If she shows up before round six, she can cast while we grapple.

>>31775007
Well, we want to stop before he is too far along.
If we hear Usa coming, switch to pinning.
If he starts to struggle, pin him.

>>31775007
Lets say 4. Seems like a good round number.

>>31775048
I'd say go for 6-7 rounds.

Rolled 3, 3, 4, 4 = 14

Rolling your drain for the remainder of the stun.

>>31775111
Ooh, that's pretty sweet for d4s.

>>31775057
4 seems good.

>>31775093
If we start doing a serious pin before the stun is up, we'll have an extra +4 on it. I'd say we get him locked down as hard as we can.

>>31775055
Seems good.
Also stop if WE start to feel strange.

>>31775111
>>31775122
Actually, can we move to pin while draining? Instead of putting it off.

>>31775160
Yeah that seems like a legitimate idea.

>>31774913
>Usa seeing us like this might be a bit much for her.

I don't really give a shit right now about what might be too much for Usa.

We're betraying our one true love here, to save him so he can be with her instead of us. She can fucking deal with it.

>>31775179
Um, no we aren't.
On all counts.

>>31775189
Gotta agree with this guy.
On all counts.

>>31775179
Maybe we can finally get some closure when we see the realization that WE lied to HIM this time dawn across his face.

>>31775189
Eh, we're focused more on protecting our baby sister and her friends so they don't have to suffer like we suffered. And we will utterly annihilate anything that comes close to hurting them in a point where they can't handle it. Shadowlios falls under that category.

She's still a bit hung up on him, but he isn't Mikage's true love. She knows that. This is her Closure for that whole thing.

Also, make no presumptions for how much shadow you can deal with. That number is totally unimportant. Totally

.>>31775160

You rolled so well on the grapple, he is pinned already

>>31775223
That is totally correct, I'm disagreeing the the guy that wants us to NTR our sister blatantly.
And is calling Helios our one true love.

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>>31775251
We can totally handle it. Totally.

>>31775251
Ah. Going to vote that grapple success from there go into popping joints out of place while we wait for Usa.

>>31775266
And I'm agreeing with you. That guy has it all wrong.

>>31775251
>That number is totally unimportant. Totally
That, sir, is a blatant lie and everyone here knows it!
But I'll pretend to fall for it because I wanna see what happens.

>>31775347
Man, this line of thinking is stuff I just don't like.
It's not that i don't like fun things, but I don't like making questionable decisions just for their own sake.

But I'm always outvoted, C'est la vie.

>>31775403
Bro, bro, bro.
Bro.
It's the unlabeled shiny red flashing button.
Why the fuck would you not press that.

>>31775266
I'm just trying to say that I think we're a little bit too busy and emotionally invested to care about what Usa thinks right now.

>>31775403
To be honest grapple and drain isn't a bad option. It could net us more information. Sure we could cast up and prepare during those rounds, or deal more damage via spells, but thats not why we snuck in.
Plus the QM told me to disregard that stat, so disregard it I will.

>>31775403
Sorry, bro. I'll grant that you have a very important role as the voice of reason, but I gotta follow my nature. And my nature tells me that peaches are delicious.

>>31775403
I went with it as more of a gamble.
The unimportant number is worrying, but we had something to gain here.

Beyond that, I'm in favor of hitting ourself with a Restoration when this is over, see if that cleans up anything. Despair doesn't seem like a powersource we want to collect too much of.

>>31775451
Because there's plenty of opportunities to find out what the button does without pressing it. It could be a long term goal of Mikage learning about the changes going on in her life. It could be an interesting story arc with implications for her powers and her character. Just hitting the button seems like a waste.

But that would be treading on the writers territory, so I'll stop now.

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>>31775509
But...but...mah witch-out.

Scream
7 points of sonic damage taken to Vitality.
24 vs -4. 5 Degrees of success. Opponent stunned for 5 rounds & takes 5 wounds.

Grapple
19 vs -6. 5 Degrees of success, Opponent Pinned

Shadow Drain
2 Wounds accumulated

Sneak Attack while biting Sacrificed Dice for 3 Wounds

Total Wounds Dealt: 10

Your lips are very close to his ear, and they part for you to softly say-

~She can have you~ your shadows extend around either side of him and above before the magic wells in your gut and pulls explodes from your diaphragm in a cacophony that slams Helios into the side of his throne and makes his ears and nose bleed.

Where as his conversation with his yet named masters did not echo in the hall the blast that erupted from your throat sounded for perhaps miles around by being amplified by these great empty halls., His eyes are unfocused as your arms and legs wrap around him and you roughly pull his head to the side to expose his tender neck. You plunge upon it with hungry gusto, and are rewarded with the viscous sensation of pain, loneliness, and sorrow sliding down your tongue.

Thousands of years of himself stagnant, only fleeting mortal dreams and the empty Elysion to keep him. The long sleep of his own. The fear of duty.

Its good, it’s pure, it is rife with the dark power you drew from Kairi this morning, and you want more. Letting your crest burn brightly, you reclaim the regalia of Eclipse, its billowing folds wrap around you, and obscure Helios’s struggling form beneath you. He is unfocused and gasping, not even making weak attempts to break free of your iron clad grip fueled by an old grudge that soon you’ll finally be free of.

>>31775460
By the way, if we're worried about people seeing us like this, shouldn't we activate No One of Consequence?

>>31775509
I suspect, given that it makes us hungry, that we'll also metabolize the stuff and drive the number down after a while. But we've had these powers for what, 18 hours, tops? Not nearly enough time to learn all we'll eventually need to know, and meta-gaming too much just invites QM wrath.

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>>31775575
That first taste isn’t enough. You want more. Ignoring the world as the lumbering creatures of shadow and flame enter the hall and begin slowly advancing upon the raised throne. They are unimportant, you’re only listening for your sister anyway. You feast and you realize it isn’t the emotion that is so important to your need, the emotion is just the flavor. This infecting darkness...whatever it is...that is the true draw of the hunger. And the more you take in, perhaps the less will exist in the world.

>4 rounds of Drain brings additional 14 shadow drained.

Not *her*...not anymore. Your sister. She loves you. You’ll help save the man she loves, the man you could never have. You’ll drink deeply and glut yourself on his pains. The distant sound of combat doesn’t draw you out, she isn’t here yet, but she’s closing as more of that delicious black pours into you.

The Torture within the Dead Moon Circus. His flight from danger. Worrying about Usa. Fearing for those harmed by those who sought him and the crystal. The pain of the doctor’s needle. Fear of Hiddenite. The long loneliness after parting from your sister and only able to see her in fleeting dreams, even with the Trio beside him.

He remains conscious through all of it, he seems capable of remaining aware though he can no longer move by the time you’ve been glutted on his pain. Much more and you would take him in entirely. You remove your fangs and appreciate your handiwork as his emaciated face stares at you in abject fear and horror. You feel warm, flush, and satisfied.

More importantly, there are several flashes of the the facility, the lab, and the face of the doctor you assume to be Borealis. The information is a bit scattered, but it is something to go on. Along with a glimpse of the girl you already saved and a tuxedo wearing bear.

“Eclipse! Are you alright!” Sailor Crystal Moon calls out as one of Helios’s shadow servitors crumbles to ash by her sparkling power.

>>31775602
Returning your mask to it’s upright position, you step down and wide from the throne to reveal your handiwork, hauling it up with arms pinned behind it’s back. You could have finished this, but your sister needed to do that by her own hand.

~He’s all gift wrapped for you,~ you smile as the black on your lips stains your gray mask.

She stares at the withered thing in fear, but resolves herself and raises her scepter.

“Moon”

The castle walls begin to turn back to white marble.

“Healing”

The servitors entering the the room are blinded by the light.

“ESCALATION”

-
You become whole again in the dark, restrained and alone. Agency returns to you, and you prepare to struggle against your bonds...before you pause. Memories of how your dark reflection fell flood your mind and the guilt sets in. More importantly, the knowledge that you’ve got to buy the girls time. Usa and Mikage together are clever, they’ll find you and the other prisoners soon enough.

You will not abandon them just yet.

When you see Usa again, she will understand.
-

>>31775642
You awaken with a start, the shirt you’d thrown on to nap in is torn off entirely along with your bra and there are bandages on the wound that you’d mostly healed with your magic. Your sheets feel slick with blood, and three figures loom over you.

Luna, in her human form. Your mother, wide eyed and worried. Naru Osaka, applying pressure to your bandaged shoulder.

“Easy, she could be going into shock,”

You mother is crying as she fall on you with arms wide.

“IWANTEDTOHEALYOUBUTLUNASAIDIFIDIDTHATWHILEYOUWEREINDREAMCOMBATTHATITCOULDRISKYOURMENTALSTABILITY” she blubbers before snapping back up to look you in the eye as her expression narrows while pulling on a lock of your now much longer hair and looking at the odd crest on your forehead, “You haven’t gone all Dark Lady like your big sister did, have you?”

Opening your mouth to offer some kind of sensible response, you couch. The half of the golden crystal falls from your mouth, covered with the black ichor that stains your lips. Naru Osaka and Luna stare at this with a mix of worry, horror, and revulsion.

Your mother keeps her current discerning look, unphased by the flickering glint of the crystal in your lap.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 23 END

>>31775662
*you cough

>>31775662
Glorious. Now I can go to bed satisfied. Very satisfied.

>>31775662
Glorious.....Arty, are we almost back to regularly scheduled quest times yet?

>>31775662
Well then.
This is awkward.

Good night friends. I hope you enjoyed tonight's thread and that those of you in the mid west stay safe along with your loved ones.

I must now get sleep. If you wish to continue discussion and pose questions for me to answers in four hours or on twitter if the thread dies before I wake, go right ahead.

also. INTERLUDE VOTE

>Mirror Mirror in my chest
>Travel Arrangements
>Tsukino Mama & the Charms against Mental Tampering.
>Omake: Eating Disorder

>>31775807
>Tsukino Mama & the Charms against Mental Tampering

>>31775662
>on the wound that you’d mostly healed with your magic.
Actually, with all the Draining, shouldn't that be good now?

Either way, thank for the ride once again!

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>>31775728
Nope. But this week I'll be running a slow thread series for the Eclipsed Moon Quest Prequel Movie featuring THE WEDDING. In which you will play a simplified rules system as Mamoru Chiba.

Enjoy such ill defined powers as Rose attack, Rose Parry, Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber, and Tuxedo Reverse

>>31775807
>>Omake: Eating Disorder

>>31775807
>Tsukino Mama & the Charms against Mental Tampering.

>>31775807
>Tsukino Mama & the Charms against Mental Tampering.

>>31775807
>Mirror Mirror in my chest

Tsukino Mama is a close choice, but this one calls to me.

>>31775642
>>31775662
Beside waking us up, did getting caught in the Healing Escalation do anything else?

>>31775891
As the throne room clears, you see your sister fade back to the waking world and the Shadow of your beloved has faded leaving the unspoiled palace of Elysion around you. Taking a deep breath, you drop from your transformation and summon your Dream Mirror.

Four blurs erupt from it's surface, change direction mid flight, and strike daunting poses alongside you. After a second they look around confused.

"Did, did we miss the action?" Sailor Juno inquires.

"Yeah, by the time I got here Mikage had everything in hand. Sorry for dragging you guys out here for nothing," you pout, "But my boyfriend is still missing...so we could always just search around for clues until we wake up,"

"Man...I wanted to fight," Sailor Veras crosses her arms in frustration, "You said we could perform Sailor Meteor Sword. I've been looking for an excuse to pull that off for ages!"

>>31775971
Not as far as you know at this time.

>>31775807
So Artemis, how bad a dude was Evil Helios before we sucker-fanged him? I am cognizant that we lucked out and stun locked him, but if the battle had been straight forward how tough would it have been?

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>>31776018

>>31776032
5th level spells with the highest MP value. Low Vitality. 11 Hit Dice. Fear powers, intimidation powers. Flaming Nightmare Pegasus form. Environmental Hazards and flight. Social Combat head trip powers.

>>31776084
Ah. I am glad things went down the way they did then.

>>31776084
So we lucked out by me being a lucky bastard.

>>31776533
Yes

>>31776533
Mistyped trip, I think

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>>31776018
>Sailor Meteor Sword
Aw yesh.

Kinda disappointed we didn't see them in action.

>>31776084
Yeah, that looked like it we going to be an insanely crazy fight. Even with the Quartet as backup.
The false-shadow fake-out really was best plan.

>>31776533
Certainly helped. I think being a sneaky bastard a lot as well, though I admit I only expected the Scream to give us couple rounds at the most.
Figured we'd be running like hell after a moment.

>>31776026
I would have been less concerned with that answer before the freebie showing everyone else sticking around.
Though we are napping the the middle of the day and Usa's has been up for like 36 hours, so it could easily been that she is a sounder sleeper when causing the dreamscape to be cleansed.
Either way, still plan on calling her when we get a moment. Though out of character I guess I don't expect her to answer now. Maybe Diana will pick up.

>our face when realizing we solo'd the super boss fight.
Holy cow.

>>31779343
Planning the fight part: Well, even if he doesn't know it's Mikage, he has a reason for not obliterating her outright. Now too set his round to round tacti-rolls dice-well fuck you too /tg/ dice. (Throws notes in the air)

>>31779425
Still, it went gloriously and about as good as it could have gone. Kudos.

By effectively soloing him, you are far closer to level 6 and busting through the tier 3 to tier 4 level plateau than I would have expected.

So, anymore Questions?

So, Minor Update.

The writ out spell paths only really matter for the NPCs. If you think a spell or power fits into one of your paths, suggest it here and I'll give a yay, nay, or a hmmmm.

Also, I will still throw a few specific options on the list.

>>31781290
Invisibility
Greater Invisibility
Possibly an empowered Shadow Evocation.

>>31781290
Possibly Shadow Walk too.

>>31781290
Also the Inflict series falls pretty well under Shadow.

>>31782703
Ah, an especially devastating spell effect in the wounds system as an inversion of the cure spells.

>>31782118
Heh, shadow walk. I could tell you stories about Colossal Bullete in a Spell Jammer Campaign and it's defeat by means of Shadow Walk after it ate all but one member of the party.

Almost a total party snack, that encounter.

>>31781937
>>31782118
Pretty much the Shadow domain would fit under the Shadow path.

>>31782703
Eah, not sure I'd say that. Inflict goes into a more Negative area,

>>31783254
Shadow domain: http://eberronunlimited.wikidot.com/domain:shadow

I recall there had been a few other suggestions like a spell that made a weapon out of shadow, Shadow Magic (ToM), and perhaps some Shadow themed things from Tome of Battle.

>>31781290
I'd support shadow walk. That spell looks cool.

>>31785574
We must have the Inflict series. It's the only option.

>>31783352
Perhaps even some of the Shadow Dancer stuff could be used as a spell.

>>31787590
Those could be character features of higher level. Flat out saying here and now that I'm not adapting class features into Spells.

Re flavoring & Adapting existing spells, easily done.


Good news, my 3.5 books are all unpacked and I am reading tome of magic.

>>31787773
What would that even be? Stealth 10 ranks +Arcane Lore 5 ranks?

>>31775662
The real question is: How do we diffuse this mess without exposing too much information, AND without causing Naru to freak out about her daughter hanging out with us.

I think, beyond basic assurances that we are fine and not evil, we should largely credit Usa with dealing with the shadow threat in the dreamworld and Dark Helios.

>>31779717
Sounds like the crunch players are raping the levelling curve. I claim no credit because I generally abstain from crunchy discussions, but I'm amused nonetheless.

>>31788825
Activate No One of Consequence and run away?

>>31789027
Nope, just the way the dice fell. Dark Helios wasn't spec'ed for perception and insight.