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You're about to return to your reading when a construct unlike anything you've ever seen burst onto the screen. It seems to be at least partially organic, exposed red muscle tissue running along its limbs. At its core is a vaguely feminine body reminiscent in many ways of Fulvia's current body, and surrounding it is a shell of metal and wires. It seems like at some point it was rent in half, or otherwise severely damaged. Its arms end in jagged stumps of metal, which it's currently using to pin the dog construct down and grind it into pieces. After several minutes of bashing the dog construct in the head the head simple falls off, and you think you see a panel open in its head.

After that the construct seems to turn its attention to the Camera, staring at it for only a moment before the screen flickers out. It comes back on only a moment later, except all you can see is that same black and white snow that you saw on the other screen.

>Well, at least you know what you're up against now. Calmly return to reading the reports Darzi found.
>You should probably pack anything interesting in this room and get moving, you don't like the way it looked at the camera.
>Nah mate, fuck this. You're leaving. This ain't worth just a little bit of knowledge.
>Write-in

>>32150215
>Well, at least you know what you're up against now. Calmly return to reading the reports Darzi found.

Knowledge is power

>>32150215
>Nah mate, fuck this. You're leaving. This ain't worth just a little bit of knowledge.
That is a horrifying construct that will 100% fuck us up.

>>32150215
>Write-in

"Fulvia, what the hell was that?"
Then
>Well, at least you know what you're up against now. Calmly return to reading the reports Darzi found.

We'll probably find a way to stop it

>>32150215
>>You should probably pack anything interesting in this room and get moving, you don't like the way it looked at the camera.

>>32150215
>>Well, at least you know what you're up against now. Calmly return to reading the reports Darzi found.
>>You should probably pack anything interesting in this room and get moving, you don't like the way it looked at the camera.

read and have everyone else clear the room for loot.
the knowledge might not be worth it, but i don't think the fire spirit will take to kindly to us leaving him high and dry.

Sorry about before guys.

>>32150215
>You should probably pack anything interesting in this room and get moving, you don't like the way it looked at the camera.

>>32150321
He can deal, and if he can't we're a master water vatis. We can make him deal.

Did you look at the pic for that golem? We can't make it deal. It will viciously rape us and our party.

>>32150320
>>32150321
>>32150406
>Pack up and get out of this room.

>>32150310
>>32150277
>>32150321
>You still have reading to do.

>>32150295
>Screw this guy, you're goin' home.

I'll just have y'all read while your companions pack anything interesting, then you'll get back to exploring the facility.

>>32150409
A what I assume is atleast a grand master of fire vs a water vatis.
Is a joke.
DO you remember our master test? That is exactly how it would go down. Except the spirit has been a grand master for eons.

I'd rather take my chances with fulvia does her metal and earth manipulation trap him. while prof and chy blast at him. And we work on destroying limps.

We know what it looks like. We know some facts and seems like we should hear it before it hears us.

>>32150490
* water master
still not going to make a chance

>>32150490
sure making a lotta assumptions about that fire spirit there

>>32150520
This, it's a spirit not a vatis. It's probably a lot stronger than a grandmaster.

>>32150215
>>Well, at least you know what you're up against now. Calmly return to reading the reports Darzi found.

>>32150586
>>32150520
>>32150490
Considering it could teleport with no effort, something we're not even sure is possible for a vatis, was worshiped as a god, and can grant wishes? It's probably not really comparable to a vatis.

>>32150586
shit guys, it's just some fire spirit we found in an abandoned mine and you're treating it like the god of fire or something. Where do you get off believing it's so strong?

>>32150620
Well the fact the any idiot knows you don't fuck with spirits. Especially the ones you make deals with.
Also>>32150613

>>32150613
teleportation could be something spirits can do because they're spirits, kind of like how Fulvia can record entire books perfectly because she's an AI.

People have worshipped cats and snakes as gods, so that really means nothing.

Do we have proof it can grant wishes? This is a spirit of fire, not a spirit of truth.

>>32150620
>He bows low to you, allowing you a glimpse at the top of his head. Staring down into the flames, you see them stretch on into what seems like eternity. A pit of fire with no end.
He can at will force him self in to our mind.
>You see the carvings on its head that represent its mouth flare, but instead of speaking normally the words seem to force their way into your head.
>Status Gained: Spirit Geis
link minds together at a moment notice.


+
>{These symbols the contract bind
Make haste in your task, lest I be forced to remind.}

Binding contract. I'd rather he not have to remind us.

>>32150679
Rather fuck with a spirit than that golem dude

>>32150734
rather he remind us than that golem kill us

>>32150734
>link minds together at a moment notice.
Does this mean we can ask the spirit for advice on how to kill this thing?

>>32150795
he can. we have no idea how to do that other than our artifact.

we may be able to if we pray to him? We only know him as Atma. And that his is a Yaratma, a fire spirit.

>>32150795
I'd rather not waste a post trying to contact him.
if we wanted to do the dirty work and get the soul he could have done it him self.
Seems like there may be either restrictions or he may just not want to exert any time doing this.

You calmly go back to reading the report. {Alright guys, start clearing this place out a little quicker. I'd like to be gone before that thing comes rampaging in here. If we're going to fight it, lets fight it on our terms.} Chryssa responds with. {What did the spirit say we were supposed to look out for?} You think for a moment, and then reply. {Beware her brood and buried food, or something like that.} She shoots back quickly with. {I thought so. If we can find this buried food it mentioned, we could probably lure it into a trap.}

Profectus responds with. {You're actually okay with fighting that thing? This is crazy! That thing tore apart one of those dog constructs effortlessly, and the first time we fought those we nearly died!} You respond with. {I don't know, that wasn't really that hard of a fight. We took on two of them, and two other constructs and I came out fine.} You can feel the irritability in Profectus' thoughts. {Yeah, but I passed out! You know how much using this arm hurts?} Chryssa says something about him lacking stamina, and then the two start bickering. You sort of tune it out and focus on reading.

Darzi doesn't really seem to understand what's going on, since she lacks a brooch and is thus out of the loop, but she shrugs and returns to sifting through drawers. Fulvia is doing the same over by the other monitor. Chryssa and Prof are working their ways through either half of the room desk by desk, very methodically.

(1/2 or 3)

After the employee review section, you find that the report delves into discussing the reactor itself. The element they use to produce energy was dubbed 'Delirium', which as far as you know means either madness or frenzy. Apparently it was discovered deep within this very mine in vast quantities, and that it earned its name because it quickly drove the miners who discovered it mad. They began to vomit and complain of migraines, and then they eventually either keeled over, killed themselves, or went mad and started attacking people.

When vatis investigated the material, they noted that it threw massive amounts of vys into the world, and that this vys seemed to take root in people and begin self-propagating. Eventually it would become too much for their untrained bodies to cope with, and the corrupted vys would begin to infect their natural vys. The imbalance eventually reached such an extent that they went mad.

Initially they wanted to use it as a weapon against the Hiacian Empire to their south, since they believed it would accelerate the Samja's natural insanity. Unfortunately they proved particularly resistant to the effects of Delirium. The leading theory at the time this report was written was that the more magically powerful someone is, the less prone they are to become infected with corrupted vys.

The reactor worked, in theory, by absorbing the vys produced by Delirium and channeling it through a series of filters designed to absorb and release vys while ideally trapping the corruption within. Unfortunately these filters would often become so saturated with corruption that they would begin to melt and give off heat, and so the slagged filters were stored in barrels and placed in temporary storage. Apparently they were supposed to be moved into unused parts of the mine and that section then caved in.
(2/3)

>>32150928
>Chryssa says something about him lacking stamina
They're secretly fucking

You're torn away from your readings by Chryssa's thoughts. {We've collected everything of interest. A few pages of notes, a purse full of silver, and a map of the region marking a few other facilities. Apparently places they pulled resources and manpower from.}

>Great, lets go hunting for that construct.
>Great, lets start setting a trap for that construct.
>Great, lets wander around for a while. If we find the construct, so be it.
>Write-in

>>32150962
They have been spending an awful lot of time together lately...

>>32150962
>>32150985
That's not true, unless we see Prof suddenly bedridden and unable to move his hips one morning,

>>32150967
>Great, lets start setting a trap for that construct.
Traps work best when the enemy is unprepared. Also I doubt we could take that thing in a fair fight. Furthermore I'd like to go over those notes, they may be key to killing the AI.

>>32151002
this sounds right.
and considering she is a virgin. I doubt it.

>Great, lets go hunting for that construct.

her buried food. we were told it was a bad idea.

>>32150945
>All that shit about Delirium
So it's... magical uranium from the depths of the earth that either kills you or turns you into a magic-zombie?

>>32150945
Even if the report says we might not be easily affected and knowing you insane fucks I'd rather stay the hell away from that shit we dont know jack about metal

>>32150967
>Great, lets go hunting for that construct.
Initiate Australian accent

>>32151053
No, it causes magic-cancer that either kills you or turns you into a magic-zombie.

>>32150967
>Great, lets start setting a trap for that construct.

>>32151056
We REALLY need to study metal. That way we can satisfy any concerns about our sanity.

>>32150967
>>Great, lets start setting a trap for that construct.

>>32151059
>Awright kiddies, now today we're huntin' this 'ere canstruct.
>She's a biggun awright, now lets go shove our fingers in 'er arse

>>32151117
>Prof, Chrys, hold her down
>Why
>I'm gonna shove my fingers in her ass
And then mik was drug out of the mine kicking and screaming

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>>32151081
Wrong! goddammit you idiots need to go back to magic med school, Its obviously causes magic diabetes that either kills you or turns you imto a magic zombie

>>32151112
>>32151104
>>32151035
>Set a trap

>>32151059
>>32151043
>Hunt it down.
Writin'

>>32151169
Whoops, dropped my trip.

>>32151168
>>32151081
>>32151053
Just tossin' this out there. If anything, it's magical AIDS.
MAIDS, if you will.

>>32151053
>>32151081
>>32151168
>>32151196
You plebs wouldn't know magic Lupus if it was beating you to death with a bat

The summary for the archived thread will be funny.
>We argue over the medical terms to call Delirium and it's effects.

You push yourself up off the desk, tucking the sheaf of papers into your cloak. {Alright, lets get out of here. I have an idea about where we can find this things 'food'. I bet it's those barrels we saw on our way in.} Profectus ask. {The ones giving off enough heat to slag the hallway?} You nod in his direction, which seems somehow odd when communicating through thoughts. {Yup, those barrels. We snag one of those, slap it down somewhere, and I bet it comes running.}

You begin to walk out of the room, your companions following you. While you walk, Chryssa poses a good question. {Where should we set the trap? The construct looked too large to climb the stairwell, so we'd need to find some place in the basement to set it up.} You pause at the bottom of the stairs, looking down the stairwell into the basement level below. It looks empty, a bit of debris scattered about but nothing major. It might be wise to scout out a position to set the ambush before you actually secure one of those barrels. Then again, going into the basement runs the risk of meeting the thing before you're prepared.

>Head down into the basements to look for a spot.
>No, get the barrel waste first. You can find a spot later.
>Write-in

>>32151412
>Let Chryysa take command she was a huntee

>>32151435
This seems smart.

>>32151435
Fuck I suck
Should be
>Let Chryssa take command she was a hunter

>>32151435
im down for this. follow her lead on this.

>>32151456
The real question is: why is hunter Chryssa not fucking and sucking.

Seriously I want a smutquest.

>Let Chrys take the lead.
Writin'

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>>32151488
Bitch what?

>>32151412
>>32151435
>No, get the barrel waste first. You can find a spot later.
>Let Chryysa take command she was a huntress

For some reason, this quest really makes me want to play Civilization.

>>32151555
That's weird. This quest has little to do with civilizations. It's all about small-scale party conflict. Makes me want to play Baldur's Gate or DA:O personally.

How does our party rank in terms of competence, you think? Personally, I'd say it goes.

>Us
>Chrys
>Fulvia
>Profectus

>>32151621
sounds about right.

I like that this whole section has been a sidequest on our JOURNEY TO WATER TEMPLE agenda.

And that's not even our "main job" of crystal on the island mission or the elaudian steel mission (I assume we'll need to be super powerful for that).

>>32151700
Well, we did get one of the insights necessary for grandmaster, so it hasn't been unproductive. And adventure!

>>32151621
Define "Competent"

>>32151621
Guess it would depends on what you call competence.
Chryssa might actually be more competent than us, but she'd have the subtlery of a howitzer.
Fulvia is cramped because the body she's stored within doesn't have enough output power for all the stuff she might be able to do, being also out of the loop for a few century might have gotten her rusty.

You think about it for a moment, and realize that you're really not the best suited to lead in this situation. You were never a hunter, you were a scholar. You spent the vast majority of your time in the city. Having come to a decision, you step aside and motion for Chryssa to take the lead. {You're the expert hunter her Chrys. I'll let you take the lead on this one.} She nods her head. {Very well, I thank you. Your trust is not misplaced.}

She sets off down the stairs, and you fall in behind her. The first basement level is in fairly good condition. There is broken glass, a few brown splotches here and there that are probably dried blood, some pieces of paper strewn about, but no major wreckage like you saw on the third floor. The ceiling was in good shape, the walls weren't falling apart, the floor wasn't torn to hell. This probably wasn't a place the AI typically wandered.

Chrys led you silently through the halls, occasionally stopping to peak in on a room. After wandering for several minutes without seeing a single creature or construct of any sort. When you finally do see some sort of sign of habitation it proves to be a harmless servant construct, which Chrys nails in the eye anyway with an arrow. Seems she's a little tense. It sparks and shivers for a short while before going still. Chrys retrieves her arrow when she passes it.
(1/2)

>>32151621

I just realize we are the Wild Card and the Leader at the same time! How the fuck we made it!?

She peeks into a room and then freezes stock still, for a moment you think something might have gone wrong, but then she vanishes inside. You follow her, curious to see what it is that interest her so greatly. Inside you see a massive, gaping hole in the floor of the room. It seems like it collapsed into the floor below. There is a make-shift ramp, likely simply the result of how the floor collapsed, leading from this floor to the one below. Chrys stalks down into the floor below, looking around for a moment, taking in every minute detail. {This is it, this is the spot. We'll place the bait in the room below and then collapse the ramp. When the AI burst through, we'll attack it from above.}

She looks up to you from the floor below and nods her head. {Who will fetch the barrel? I believe that at least two of us should stay down here to watch the site, while two more proceed above to retrieve the barrel.}

>Chryssa should retrieve the barrel, she's the strongest.
>Darzi should retrieve the barrel, her armor is the most protective and it also enhances her strength.
>You will retrieve the barrel. You're the leader and so the risk should fall on your shoulders.
>Profectus should retrieve the barrel, to make up for nearly killing everyone earlier.
>Write-in

>>32151966
>Darzi should retrieve the barrel, her armor is the most protective and it also enhances her strength.

>>32151966
>Darzi should retrieve the barrel, her armor is the most protective and it also enhances her strength.

>>32151966
>>Darzi should retrieve the barrel, her armor is the most protective and it also enhances her strength.

Go with her
and we need to give her a brooch so we can communicate with her

>>32151966
>>Darzi should retrieve the barrel, her armor is the most protective and it also enhances her strength.
>>You will retrieve the barrel. Mainly to oversee Darzi's sweet andro armored behind. Mmm, dat gender ambiguity.

>Darzi should retrieve the barrel, her armor is the most protective and it also enhances her strength.

And

>You will retrieve the barrel. You're the leader and so the risk should fall on your shoulders.

>>32151966


>>32152005
Yeah I'll change my vote:
>>32151985

To having us go to make sure she dosen't screw up.

>Darzi retrieves the barrel.
>You tag along to make sure everything goes well.

Writin'

>>32152106
darzi could prolly take a few hits.
being the strongest material we have heard of and all.
She better have her shit in check. to tank while we nuke it. If the AI pops up.

>>32152106
Now would be a good time to give her a brooch(for the time being), so she doesn't flip a shit if the AI construct decide to pay us a visit.
Need to make sure she understand these stuff aren't hers to keep.

You think about it for a moment, and them decide that Darzi is best suited for the job. She's wearing the heaviest armor after all and is thus the most protected against the corruption radiated from it. Plus, she's a Samja like you, and naturally resistant according to the report you read. {I'll take Darzi with me to grab the barrel. She can carry, I'll supervise.} Your companions nod in the affirmative, and you clap Darzi on the shoulder before motioning she follow you. It's going to be a little diffcult getting your point across solely through nonverbal communication, but you should be able to manage. You may want to consider just giving her a brooch though.

You set off through the halls, following the route Chryssa led you through and taking a few shortcuts when you feel confident you won't get lost doing so. You make good time back to the stairwell with Darzi in tow. At the top of the stairs she taps you on the shoulder and shrugs. You're not sure if she's confused or if she doesn't know why she tapped you on the shoulder, or maybe if she wants to know where you're going. She's just kind of been going with the flow until now, but it would probably annoy the hell out of you if people were making decisions that affect you without your knowledge.

>Just give her a brooch, this is a delicate operation and you need to make sure all your team members are on board.
>Give her a brooch, once she's attuned make sure she understands that this is purely a loaner, as is the armor.
>Don't give her the brooch. You don't want a guard captain for a country that wants your blood knowing your primary method of communication.
>Write-in

>>32152141

It could be better if we kite the AI back to the ambush room and give everyone a heads up before getting there so we can all spike her the moment he enters.

>>32152250
>Give her a brooch, once she's attuned make sure she understands that this is purely a loaner, as is the armor.
As long as we can unattune it from her.

>>32152250
>Just give her a brooch, this is a delicate operation and you need to make sure all your team members are on board.

You guys still holding that petty grudge

>>32152250
>>Just give her a brooch, this is a delicate operation and you need to make sure all your team members are on board.

>>32152250
>Give her a brooch, once she's attuned make sure she understands that this is purely a loaner, as is the armor.

>>32152280
You can't really unattune a brooch, but if you take it away it doesn't really matter if she's attuned or not. You can only use it if you wear it.

>>32152250
>>Give her a brooch, once she's attuned make sure she understands that this is purely a loaner, as is the armor.

>>32152250
i'll go with >>32152271
i enjoy the idea of using Darzi as a decoy.
as much fun as it has been. if she dies she dies.

lure that fucker using her.
I think it wouldn't be the best idea to take the delerium around others who aren't samja

>>32152304
Orite, forgot how they worked for a bit
you can attune a ton of people but only 6 can be on at a time.

>>32152214
Agreed

>>32152250
>Just give her a brooch, this is a delicate operation and you need to make sure all your team members are on board.

>>32152250
>>32152250
>>>Just give her a brooch, this is a delicate operation and you need to make sure all your team members are on board.


I like her...not as much as chysa but I still do

>>32152304
We'll if we're really gonna kill the shah I'm not sure her having it for long is a great idea. Though I hope she accompanies us to the water temple.

>>32152339
She isn't nearly as bad as some people are making her out to be. I would be fine with her as a permanent addition, as long as she is cool with us killing the shah and what not.

>>32152339
>>32152326
>>32152293
>>32152288
>Give her a brooch, don't drag it out with conditions.

>>32152280
>>32152299
>>32152310
>Give her a brooch, make sure she doesn't run off with it later.

Writin'

So guys, I am wondering, what do you think our plans going forward should be? Right now its looking like:

1. Kill AI
2. Returnt to 'atma
3. Head to vault, kill the bandit leader, loot
4. Water Temple
5. Kill Shah

Do you think we will have enough time for 3&4 before we need to off the guy?

>>32152529
maybe switch 4 for 5
get the shah in the fuckin cloak and leg it to the temple and wait there till the heat lower.

>>32152557
Cloak Assassinations why didn't I think of that

>>32152529
>>32152557
why do we need to kill the Shah again?

>>32152529
>'atma

What?

>>32152583

Because a creepy angel herald thingy told us in a dream.

Rolled 9

>>32152529
More importantly do you guys really want to be in debt to the void? This Cloak ain't free and Mik doesn't seem like the assassin type. I doubt we get a choice in our marks. How longbefore we have to kill somebody we like? And what's the price for saying no? We should really consider this

>>32152529
Or nix the third one altogether. And tell Darzi she should instead come with us and we'll heal her scars.

>>32152599
Which thread was that in? I thought we just hated him for banishing us.

>>32152599
Yeah that's a reason I don't want to do it. Fuck you angel. Fuck you fate. You can't boss me around.

You reach into your cloak and withdraw a brooch, unfolding the pin at the back and looking for a spot of bare skin to jab it into yourself. In the end you just end up moving the mask which covers your nose and mouth aside slightly and jabbing yourself, before correcting the mask and healing the wound. With the brooch attuned to you, you face the task of trying to find a gap in Darzi's armor. In the end you just try moving the brooch closer to the armor, and much to your surprise it begins to flow away from the artifact like water. On a hunch, you just let it fall into the armor and it's sucked in, vanishing inside. She jolts a moment later, and you hear her mental voice.

{Oh that rat bastard! What did he do? That hurt! How did he even do that? Damned vat-oh, wait. I learned some water magic from his memories. I'll simply use that to heal myse-} You interrupt he line of thought. {Yes, you're welcome for my memories. Are your thoughts always so anxious?} Silence, while Darzi stands stock still staring at you. The lone eye that you can see practically appears to be bugging out of its socket. {Yes, this is how I communicate with my party. It's called a communication brooch. I bought it from a merchant. It's perfectly safe... I think. Now don't panic, we have a job to do.}

She takes several deep breaths, and then you hear her thoughts. {Yes, of course. This is all perfectly normal I'm sure. Nothing odd about this. Not at all.} You nod your head. {Exactly. Now then, we need to fetch one of those barrels from the slagged entrance we used to lure that massive, horribly monstrous construct into a fight with us. You're going to be carrying it while I supervise.} A brief pause. {Gods, I feel like this must be some sort of perverse nightmare, but okay. Okay, I can do that. Lead the way.}
(1/2)

>>32152611
The cloak eats us. Maybe.

I imagine Mik would find some kinda way to justify his actions seeing as Death himself is ordering the hits. If it wants us to kill a friend, well, we can cross that bridge when we come to it.

You're a little hesitant, you're not sure if she'll keep it together or not, but hopefully you have nothing to worry about. You lead her through the halls to the door you entered through, taking several steps back. {Tear the door open, your suit should make you capable of such feats.} She looks at you for a moment, and then approaches. She wedges her fingers into a gap created by Fulvia's hasty work tearing it open and then closing it. Then, with only a few brief moments of strain, she pushes the door open enough that she can squeeze herself through. Immediately warning signs appear in the corner of your vision, but you ignore them. This is important.

She returns a moment later with a barrel in fairly good shape, slightly rusted, with a hole eaten into the top, but otherwise in good shape. She sets it down and shuts the door behind her, then hefts it up again. It doesn't appear all that heavy, to her at least. You get a good head start and then begin to lead her back through the facility. You notice that something is different. Something's off about the return journey. You feel like eyes are on you the entire way, and those warning signs are starting to make you a little paranoid. Not to mention your armor is draining a lot more vys than it was.
>Vys Pool: (18/26)
>2/3, I lied.

>>32152635

Last time we actually sleep instead of meditating. So maybe we should try it again one of these days.


>>32152642
We believe its an actual request from death, like we got job of being his hit-man thanks to our cloak.

>>32152672
Oh crap. This shit is potent.

>>32152583
You permit it entrance, and for a brief moment the veil of reality is torn asunder. You are offered a glimpse into the world beyond yours, into that twisted realm of magic where only ones own power determines the methods and processes by which the world works. Stepping through the tear is a figure from a nightmare. A four armed, winged skeleton with the skull of a stag. The image of death itself.

It descends towards you from on high, or perhaps ascends. Up and down are irrelevant within this realm of nothing. This in-between place. You do not hear it speak so much as you feel its words worming their way into your mind, permeating through you rather than carrying to you.

{In fourteen days.
Six hours.
Forty seven minutes.
Twelve seconds.
You will kill the shah.}

Thread 29

>>32152682
>I believe its an actual request from death, like we got job of being his hit-man thanks to our cloak.
Fixed that for you.

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As you reach the bottom of the stairwell, you're greeted by a crowd of constructs. You count five dog constructs, two of those ape-like constructs with the whips for arms, and one you've never seen before. It's tall. Taller than you are, at least nine feet. It has one arm that appears to be able to grasp and manipulate things, while the other is some sort of long... it almost appears to be some sort of crossbow or something, and reminds you vaguely of your pistol. However, rather than attack you they wait expectantly, seemingly every muscle tensed.

>Call it off, tell Darzi to drop the bait at the top of the stairs and come down. Try to walk out of this.
>No, dropping the bait might just provoke them. They're not attacking after all. Just walk by like they're not even there.
>Write-in

>>32152611
Yeah, the cloak's nice, but if it's holding us accountable to do some god's dirty work, I'm all for giving it back to the academy and carrying shit the old fashioned way. No thanks

>>32152629
I think that'd be a fairly tempting offer, on top of whatever we've already done for her. "Come with us, and I can at least try to heal your physical scar.s"

>>32152700
Alright I believe it. Lets go kill a Shah

>>32152703

It wasn't my idea, I read it on the thread and Soma responded to that post with "Ding ding ding!"

How bad would it be if we just decided to shove a bunch o' the barrels into the cloak?

>>32152716
Well then, I think we found the 'Brood".

Think we can call our friends in for a sneak attack?

>>32152743
Yeah, but he's done that sort of stuff before with ideas for how artifacts can screw us over.

>>32152753
Ricky gets mutated into Godzilla.

But actually that might be a solution to the current predicament we find ourselves in.

>>32152716
>Call it off, tell Darzi to drop the bait at the top of the stairs and come down. Try to walk out of this.
Call Fulvia and see if she can give us some pointers in AI negociation.

>>32152762
No, he's said 'good idea, I should use that', he's never said a phrase that outright implies confirmation

>>32152716
How about we disintegrate a path around them with our armor? Or we can use what little eart magic we know to do the same

>>32152716
We'll they stand between us and our party members. Let's drop the barrel, engage then and have chrys and prof flank them. Let's try to immediately sever that mini gun or whatever that construct has on him.

>>32152716
>No, dropping the bait might just provoke them. They're not attacking after all. Just walk by like they're not even there.

>>32152716
>No, dropping the bait might just provoke them. They're not attacking after all. Just walk by like they're not even there.

>>32152716
What if we just walled off an area on either side of us with ice, making a safe pathway to walk through?

>>32152810
Man I don't know about attacking period. These guys seem pretty damn likely to fuck us up if we provoke them.
If we do anything I think we need the rest of our party to back us. Possible as per:

>>32152837

>>32152716
>>No, dropping the bait might just provoke them. They're not attacking after all. Just walk by like they're not even there.

Remember that the Ai was aggressive to these guys as well. They might be useful against it.

>>32152716
>>No, dropping the bait might just provoke them. They're not attacking after all. Just walk by like they're not even there.

>>32152854
Oh shit I forgot about that!

In that case I will tentatively say:

>>32152716
>No, dropping the bait might just provoke them. They're not attacking after all. Just walk by like they're not even there.

We were warned about her brood.

What if this is her brood? There could be uncorrupted and corrupted constructs.

>>32152866
>>32152854
>>32152846
>>32152838
>>32152873
>Just continue on, pray they don't attack.

>>32152851
>Build a wall

>>32152837
>>32152810
>>32152756
>Call friends to sneak attack

>>32152781
>Drop the the barrel

Writin'

>>32152886
Well they aren't attacking, which makes them better than like 95% of the constructs we have met thus far, so I am hoping they are not aligned with her. She is no longer attached to the facility's system, so maybe they have standing orders from before to purge her?

>>32152666
If he orders us to kill one of our friends we could try putting our silver tongue to use. I mean if anyone could bargain with Death its Mik.

>>32153004
There wasn't really much discussion to be had. It just walked in, told us what's up, and then we woke up.

>>32153004
And it'll be the day we score 3 nat30.
>DEATH YOU PIECE OF SHIT GET IN THE CLOAK! GET IN THE FUCKING CLOAK!

I'm still laughing at Mik's reaction during the whole thing.

>This horrifying eerie otherworldly being of death incarnate summons us into his realm
>"You must kill the Shah, the most powerful man of your desert Kingdom in X time"
>"...."
>"Sure."

>>32153004

I imagine Death wants the Shah dead because he has live too long thanks to water vatis on his service.

>>32153016

It wasn't even phrase as a request or an order but as an statement even more than a as prediction.

>>32153004
I don't know man, I mean, it's Death. He's like the epitome of neutrality. If he ask us to kill someone, we should probably just do it.

Damn, what if we pull off some crazy ridiculous shit and Death tells us to kill ourself?

>>32153072
Do it. Maybe we will rise in a few days as an awesome Lich.

>>32153111
Or maybe, having proved our loyalty to death, we would replace him. Death End to the quest.

>>32153125
Hmm got me thinking. What alignment would you place Mik as? Yes D&D dose alignments badly but for the sake of argument.

I kinda think lawful neutral. Pretty good for Death, right?

>>32153179
I've been thinking Neutral Good, myself.

{Listen, don't panic-} You begin to transmit to Darzi, but she so rudely interrupts you. {Telling me not to panic clearly means there is reason to panic. What's going on down there?} If you could mentally sigh, you would. {I was getting to that. Listen, there are eight constructs down here waiting for us, I think the waste attracted them, but I'm not sure. They're just staring at me, so they might not be aggressive. I think we should just waltz on past. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?} There is a brief pause before she responds. {We all die horribly, but fine. I'm trusting you here. You're the supposed expert.}

She descends the stairs, and the constructs remain stock still. Hesitantly you proceed, your armors warnings blaring more urgently at the corner of your vision this close to the barrel. You can't really afford them any attention though, you have important task to focus on here. The constructs part as you walk past, and begin to follow you through the halls. Darzi keeps her wits about her admirably, she doesn't panic, merely follows along after you. Even when one of those ape-constructs reaches out and scrapes its lash across the floor next to her.
>Vys Pool: 17/26

Eventually you reach the ambush site, and Darzi rushes ahead to set down the barrel on the floor below. You can already hear something slamming its way through the halls below, the noise echoing loudly through the facility. The AI is approaching. When she sets the barrel down and moves away, the other constructs attack the barrel. They rend it open and, depending upon what type of construct, begin to rub it on themselves. The dog-constructs bury their heads in it, while the ape-constructs rub it on their chest. It's a very... odd, definitely odd, sight. You think some of them are actually melting due to the heat it gives off, so it can't be good for them.
>1/2

>>32153212
Hahaha, holy shit! They love the goo! We might not even have to lift a finger to take out the AI!

Chryssa hefts the collapsed ledge that was serving as a ramp up and into the collapsed room, it lands with a loud crash, breaking into several pieces. You're surprised that your companions haven't even asked about the mob of constructs that followed you into the room and began to roll around in highly toxic materials.

Everyone is just getting settled in to wait, when the AI burst into the room. It throws the doors below off their hinges and charges in, the group of constructs turns on it, or at least the ones that are still functional enough to fight do. Most of them seem to have gone into some sort of standby, or simple deactivated. You don't really know. The construct with the odd, crossbow-esque arm turns and fires, a flash of light that reminds you vaguely of Prof's arm illuminating the room briefly and putting a hole in the AI, but it's smashed to bits by one of its arms.

>Aaand I'll end it here, pick up with the fight next time.
>Next thread is probably Sunday. Probably. Don't quote me on that.

>>32153072
We have no official confirmation that it is literally the avatar of Death, it could be a rep for a dark god or who the fuck ever. Seriously, the cloak is bad juju if that's the kind of shit it attracts

Oh, I'll archive this thread and stick around for Q&A.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Banished%20Quest
Archive here.

>>32153284
Thanks Soma

>>32153258

How are psychopomps usually portrait in this world? Does Mik know of any deities that are suppose to be in charge of death?

>We argue over the medical terms to call Delirium and it's effects. Also, robot drugs.
HAHAHAHA

>>32153246
Thanks for the run Soma. That scene with them going hog wild in the radioactive goo had me giggling like mad.

>>32153246
Thanks soma! Great thread. Can't wait to do battle and claim our reward :)

File: Pani's River.jpg (3.22 MB, 3154x1056)

3.22 MB JPG

>>32153317
In your culture, Pani is both the god of death and the god of birth. Souls, after death, are washed by the goddess in her river, which is said to run across the sky like normal rivers run across the earth. Once a soul has been washed and rejuvenated, it is returned to life in the form of a newborn, its memories erased. There is no true afterlife, there is no end goal. This is it according to your people.

Rhynian depictions of guides of the dead are often capricious spirits, who must be begged and pleaded with lest they lead your loved ones to an unhappy afterlife. They might rend them asunder and return them to the world as vys, or they might trap them within the sun where they will burn for all eternity. However, if they are placated with gold and recently written poetry, poetry that they haven't seen before, they may lead you to eternal peace and contentment within the Moon Goddess' palace.

They're often depicted more in line with what you saw in your dream. Horrible skeletal beings.

>>32153433
Out of curiosity, what can you tell us about what you intended to do with Captain Darzi's character? It seems like most of our disagreements center around her. Can you, as the QM, weigh in on that?

>>32153518
Well, I have a few plans for Captain Darzi. The way I see it going, as things are right now, is that she'll probably want to return to El-Amin after y'all finish diving this ruin and live a quiet life. She'll probably qualify for honorable discharge or maybe, if she's lucky, get promoted to a desk job. Either way she'll have powerful connections for you to take advantage of, and she'd feel obligated to help out since you saved her life.

However, that's not to say she couldn't be convinced to tag along. She's a bit directionless in her life at the moment. Doesn't feel nearly as confident in her abilities as she used to. Plus this whole dungeon dive has really expanded her horizons, she's learned a lot about the world in a short while. Mainly that it's a weird place full of weird things. She could become a valuable party member, since she would already be a pretty good back-up medic and she's a capable fire vatis. Plus she's damn good with a spear or a sword, though she hasn't had much opportunity to show it.

Mainly I'm trying to get across that she's damaged. She's had some pieces knocked loose, and though she's still fully capable of being a productive member of society or of your party she's not going to be entirely the way she used to be ever again. Some downtime would do her some wonders though, even if she probably wouldn't willingly take downtime.

>>32153612
I like her even more now.
I dont understand the people who want to kill her just for the armor we gave her.
I love the way she reacts to the insane shit we do. Instead of just going along with it like the others she will actually question it and we weirded out. I badly want her to stay, and to learn more about her.
especially during downtime. Also having another Samjan in the party would be pretty cool

>>32153433

OK, I think we are dealing with the second kind considering the cloak ("woven from the void itself") was given/created to/for us by a Rhynian altar with the three otherworldly beings. Might get some poetry ready to placated some nasty spirit.

>>32153612
Wait she is a fire Vatis? Hmmm. I suppose I forgot that, though I think it sounds familiar. Well, I think that I will support her joining in the future. Provided she doesn't die in the next couple of threads of course.

>>32153246
I feel like this fight could be where we lose some members of the party. This AI is fucking strong and the armor depleted our vys quite a bit already.
RIP Prof

>>32154571
Nah, they're already fighting among themselves.

>>32154810
What? Who is fighting who now? There is this huge AI flesh thing and we need to kill it. And she is fucking strong.

>>32154902
Were you even reading?

The regular constructs are fighting the fleshy A.I. one.

>>32154932
Were you even reading? The big bad giant gun arm one got ripped apart effortlessly.
>but it's smashed to bits by one of its arms.

>>32155022
That's one of a bunch.

They'll do some damage

>>32155022
I hope the gun survived. Shit might be useful.

Yay!!

More Constructs to sell!!!

>>32153670
I don't want to kill her. I don't mind her permanently joining our party.
I just don't want her to have the armor if it turns out she doesn't want to join us. That armor is probably worth entire fortune.
If she joins, then okay, she can have AN armor. We'll have to thoroughly examine all of them and see how we will distribute them among our party. Kinda wish we had full stats on each of them, would make choosing much easier. The artificer at Vatis university could probably help us out.

>>32153612
And some entity wants us to kill the leader of her country which is she sworn to serve and protect. Doubt she will stay friendly with us when she learns of that. Funny how things play out.
Also, I am almost 100% sure that the only reason you added this vague assassin mission is because people would just not SHUT UP about how great the cloak is, how we'll have to pay for it, yada yada, etc etc, like we hadn't already paid for it. So QM felt justified doing this. I doubt any other options from the pool had such strings attached to them.

>>32155409
Why would we sell them?

>>32160051
Because that's what we do with loot

>>32162843
>selling loot

>>32163600

We done that several times already, stop trying to be funny.

>>32163600
We may keep one of two of the more intact/usefull ones for packmules/fodder but that's it.