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Recent Events Summary:

Erebus has returned.

Donovan, Auriel, Abigail, and the others barely escaped from the oncoming Vigil cruiser by slipping through the Skysever. The winds themselves seem hell-bent on holding back Erebus - but it's only a matter of time before he breaks through into Venia. At the same time, the core of the world has reached its breaking point. Without Shadow's help, Venia will be anihillated in the unleashed energies of Chaos.

Donovan worked with his allies to travel inside Geb and destroy the parasite of Light keeping him maddened. Two other goals remain: to restore Leviathan, and gain control of Xile, so that the Skysever might be used to attack Erebus more directly.

While the knight moves with the elementals toward the edge of the eastern wastes, Ila joins Tyrael, Yi Fang, and Arcturis and Gerald Flint in trying to gain control of the sky engine.

The elementals are safe, and Xile is secure - though Arcturis and Gerald both died in the effort. Yi Fang's involvement in that is questionable, but he's gained direct control of the Skysever.

Now, you confront Erebus.

As Vigil approached from outside Venia, Fang used the skysever to seal off the massive craft, effectively cutting off Erebus's main route of retreat, and any number of unknown contigencies. Forced to fight you directly, he's attacked the Nemesis head-on.

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Donovan - http://pastebin.com/HNXEzeXv

HP: 25/25
Mana: 190/400
Mana Barrier: 95/100

>>32889099
Welcome, Shadow Master

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>Last time...

Perched on the edge of the hovering fighter while you man the controls, Raphael casts his spell.

Gold lines form around Erebus. He's caught off-guard and runs headfirst into the wall of the cage. Leviathan's wave of water batters him against the magic railings before he can slip away.

Eight orbs of light appear around the cage. Raphael opens his palm. Light connects the orbs, creating four intersecting lines that pierce the cage through the center. Erebus contorts himself to avoid the attack.

Raphael clenches his fist. The very core, where the spears intersect, detonates in an explosion of Light - but it's matched by a roar of darkness. A pulsing wave of shadow overtakes the Light, negating it. The spell fizzles. "Light!" Raphael says. "How do we supposed to fight him if he can stop it that easily?!"

You barely hear what Ila mutters over the wind. "Very carefully."

The wave of darkness continues outward. The last one was smaller - this one is huge. You gun the throttle of the fighter, but you don't react quickly enough. The fighter's engine dies on contact with the sphere of shadow.

The craft plunges down for the hull of the Nemesis. Ila, Abigail, and Raphael take wing, escaping out the top of the fighter. Abigail grabs your arm, and Ila takes Lien, who didn't unfurl his own wings quite fast enough. They dump you off on the hull before skidding to a halt themselves.

>con't

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let us return to our man

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The fighter crashes onto the Nemesis, rolls, hits a tall fin, and then tumbles down into open air. It's not long until it crashes into the water.

A roar of shadow erupts next to you. You grab Lien and throw the both of you behind the nearby fin. Shadow like Purple fire roars around you, but the magic is deflected off the ship's armor.

You get to your knees in time to see Abigail soaring through the air on black-steel wings. Erebus is right behind her.

What do you do?

>get Lien to fly you after them
>stay grounded; run across the deck of the Nemesis and try to get a clear shot
>contact Fang; Erebus is outside, maybe he can use the Skysever more easily now
>try to coordinate something with your other allies while Abigail leads him on a chase
>some other strategy

>>32889149
>contact Fang; Erebus is outside, maybe he can use the Skysever more easily now

>>32889149
>try to coordinate something with your other allies while Abigail leads him on a chase

Also dayum SM, you're really suffering from this hiatus stuff.

>>32889149
Use Light magic on Erebus

and Fang/Skysever sounds good.

>>32889196
this. let's do both

>>32889149
>contact Fang; Erebus is outside, maybe he can use the Skysever more easily now

Shadow has basically been turned into a dynamo for Erebus to use. We were talking about how to destroy a dynamo casing last time. Did we ever get anywhere?

>>32889149
Say a little prayer to the Core, allow Flint to be possessed by AoC.

>>32889181
>Also dayum SM, you're really suffering from this hiatus stuff.

I know. We're really close, too. I want to close the book on Shadow Quest for everyone involved, complete the project, you know?

On a side note, I've finished editing my own book, so that'll be thrown on Amazon once I get the last bit of feedback from my guinea pigs.

>>32889209

Smash Erebus up then carve Shadow out with the skysever was basically the plan. I'd rate it high in both potential effectiveness and collateral damage.

>>32889196

Alright, to have Adavan (Lien) direct Fang's attack while you try to catch Erebus with light magic and blast him off Abigail's tail.

OK?

>>32889281
>I know. We're really close, too. I want to close the book on Shadow Quest for everyone involved, complete the project, you know?

Yeah I feel you. It's been a long ride, just for the love of god please don't let that rush the ending along. Nobody likes rushed endings, and I say that out of respect for the colossal story you've put together. It'd be a shame to fall shy at the very end.

And yeah that sounds good.

>>32889281
I was thinking maybe to just cover Erebus is Light mist, like gebs parasite. Then let Abby go reaper-mode while Erebus is in Light cloud (most chaosy element)

>>32889281
Can we prioritize not hitting Abby? Flint's aim probably isn't the greatest.

>>32889344
>>32889360

Donovan has a lot of power, but he isn't flexible.

If you're looking for something with a stunning effect, you could Cast Light.

A lot. A whoooole lot. Or just make one Cast Light spell fifty times more powerful.

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>>32889149
>try to coordinate something with your other allies while Abigail leads him on a chase
Better do it fast before he recognise her flying pattern.

>>32889382
Fuck, let's go for the magical flashbang.

Alright, roll 1d100

Rolled 63

>>32889460

Rolled 6

>>32889460
ERE WE GOOOOOO

Rolled 11

>>32889460

Rolled 44

>>32889460

>>32889464
>>32889466

Typical fucking shadow dice

Rolled 92

>>32889460

Rolled 2

>>32889382
>>32889464
>>32889466
wellp

>>32889462
>>32889464
>>32889466
I wouldn't have it any other way

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Rolled 35

>>32889460
Knobs deliver us from this evil!

Rolled 74

>>32889460
diiiiiiice 1

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Rolled 4

>>32889460
Haha, holy shit we're all going to die. These fucking rolls, man.

>>32889495
Im always too slow

Maybe, just maybe we should ask Hellborn quest if they want to trade our low 100s for their high 100s.
They get an amazing amount of 80+ dices sometimes.

>>32889585
Or make 1= success and 100= fail

"Lien, tell Fang to attack with the Skysever. We've got to get him before he catches her!"

You sprint across the flight deck at top speed. It's only a moment before you loose sight of Abigail and Erebus. She dives down between two of the long docking arms of the Nemesis, and he follows in a black blur of motion.

You reach the end of the ship, and you can see them down between the docking arms, the bridges, the walkways. Abigail is buzzing around like a fly, but every time she makes a turn, Erebus gains on her.

Suddenly, Abigail leaves the net of the Nemesis's structure and flies straight up. For a moment, you don't understand - Erebus can surely move faster. But a geyser of water answers your question. Erebus powers through Leviathan's attack, but he's slowed enough that a spear of adamanitum hurled from all the way on the other end of the ship blows a hole through his midsection.

Another spear whistles by, hurled by Geb's tremendous strength, but Erebus neatly morphs in midair, becoming a winged glob of Shadow. He pushes off the spear as it flies by, redirecting it into Leviathan. The Water elemental takes a hard but glancing blow.

Abigail is flying straight toward you. Erebus is right behind her. You need something to distract him, anything.

You only know a handful of spells. You prepare to cast light. The sigil forms at your raised hand. You pour power into it, way more mana than needed. Abigail flashes by.

Now!

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

>con't

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

You can see her.

Abigail. You're chasing her. He wants to kill her.

It hurts. He's ripping mana out of you like you're some kind of tool, stealing it as you generate it. You can feel him feeding off the chaotic parts of you, using you like a magical generator. You suppose that only makes sense. You've been consuming chaos for a long time. What better way to defeat an enemy than making it one source of your own strength?

You're getting distracted. Abigail's in danger. Focus. Your mind keeps wandering. The pain makes it hard to keep your thoughts straight.

At least, you hope it's the pain.

You're getting closer to Abigail. Your allies are trying to stop -you-, but they're only slowing you down. You can feel his intentions. Killing her - it's a blow against you. It's to make you stop fighting. It'll destroy their morale, as well. Erebus wants to do anything he can to distract Fang.

You can see Donovan in the distance. He's an ant on the end of the ship. It looks like he's trying to cast something. Abigail's picked up on that. You've got to act, now, in concert with him.

You gather yourself.

This really hurt, last time. But hell if that will stop you.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 4

>>32889654
AHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rolled 85

>>32889654
pls shadow

Rolled 50

>>32889654
Shadow stronk?

Rolled 93

>>32889654

Rolled 11

>>32889654
>>32889654

Rolled 71

>>32889654
no crackbitch

Rolled 57

>>32889654
You know how this guy sometimes rolls nat 20's or 100's right when you need it?

Rolled 51

>>32889654
come out mr. shadow I need you

>>32889702
Looks like that time is not this time, Mr. Wrenloft.

>>32889657
>>32889667
>>32889669
Maaaayybeeeee?
Please?

>>32889657
>>32889667
>>32889669
Anyone else getting déjà vu?

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

<Fang, Donovan needs the Skysever up top, now! Erebus is chasing Abigail!>

Shit. You grip the railing next to Auriel's control console. Did Erebus figure out you're the one controlling the winds? He's trying to distract you. Or hell, from what they told you of what happened, maybe he just wants to kill her for his own amusement.

It doesn't matter. You've got to act.

<Where is he?> you think back to Adavan.

<Hold on - shit, how did he dodge that second one? Alright, he's right behind her. Coming straight down toward the flight deck! Be careful, Donovan's standing there!>

You raise your hand. The orange light of the sigil you use to control the winds turns in front of you. "Angel, redirect the main Lightning cannon on the flight deck to point toward the front of the ship. Keep it low."

Auriel swivels. "What's going - "

"Now! No time!"

Auriel grabs her radio. "Hey, weapons room! Main ship-to-ship cannon, 0 degrees, -10 degrees!"

"Aye. Let's see what this thing can do!"

Roll 1d100

>>32889725
I'm not Wrenloft. I've just seen him roll too many Natural Crits at the right time to not think he has some sort of supernatural luck juking power. Maybe it only works when he rolls and says nothing else.

Rolled 88

>>32889787
BOOM SHAKA LAKA

>captcha: only iodice

Rolled 49

>>32889787
Please dice gods! Have mercy!

Rolled 1

>>32889787
do it

Rolled 81

>>32889787
>

Rolled 55

>>32889787

Rolled 54

>>32889810
you fucking gigantic faggot

>>32889810
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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>>32889810
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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>>32889810
Tell me this is fake.

Rolled 34

>>32889810
oops

sorry guys :s

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Rolled 60

>>32889810
FFFFFFFUUUUUUCCCCKKKKK YOOOUUUUU!!!!

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>>32889810

Nice roll.

>con't

Rolled 20

>>32889845
I burn with chaos

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>>32889845

It was nice knowing ya lads. Leave it to Shadow Dice (TM) to ruin any meaningful moments.

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>>32889845
FAAAAAAAAAAANNNNGGGGG

Tal'ok stands in the weapons room, still calmly calibrating the cannons of the airship.

The Lightning cannon has particularly grabbed his eye. He's been working on it for hours. It's not often he had a chance to work with the 'higher' elements when designing defenses for Va'ad. Or anything, for that matter.

A few tweaks here, a few there. It was so backwards to start with, it can only go up. That's what happens when you leave it to the humans. Damn morons try to screw in nails and nail in screws.

The angel's voice crackles over the loudspeaker. "Hey, weapons room! Main ship-to-ship cannon, 0 degrees, -10 degrees!"

What was her name again? Angrel? Arel? Whatever. "Aye. Let's see what this thing can do!" He makes the adjustments to the weapon. "What am I aiming at?"

"Isn't it obvious?! Thumb on the damn trigger, get ready!"

He gets ready.

Roll 1d20

>>32889845
Doom Paul is my favorite part about 1s

They make them so fun

Rolled 10

>>32889907
SURELY THE DORF KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING?

Rolled 6

>>32889907
redeem my 1

Rolled 14

>>32889907
PLEASE DON'T BE A ONE

Rolled 20

>>32889907

Rolled 17

>>32889907

Rolled 15

>>32889907

>>32889935
HOOOOOOOOOO! TALOK CONFIRMED NOT A SHIT!

>>32889935
Good, but too late.

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>>32889935

I'm going to enjoy writing this.

Rolled 13

>>32889935
I FUCKING TOLD YOU!!!!! THIS NAME IS BLESSED BY THE MOTHERFUCKING DICE GODS!!!!!! ONLY FOR D20's THOUGH!

Rolled 20

>>32889935
YEAH
>>32889947
still counts for something

>>32889947
It's within the first five.

>>32889947

It's not a supercrit, but it's a normal crit.

>>32889962
CAN IT BE SO

>>32889974
YES! see >>32889971

did everyone die or are we all just waiting for the next part?

>>32890266
Hush. We're basking in the afterglow of good dice.

>>32890266
Everyone in the world died except for you.

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

You Cast Light, and it's a hell of a light.

A tiny globe of orange-white fire erupts in front of Abigail.

That was not where you wanted it to go.

She slams into you, an arm up over her eyes. The air rushes out of your chest. Your arms wrap her up on reflex. Her shadow-iron clad wings strain to lift you. Your armor scrapes and slides across the adamanitum like a skipped stone as she rises, drops, rises, drops.

"Sir Flint?!"

"Ugh." It's about all you can manage with the wind knocked out of you. You hang on for dear life.

Emerging from the radiant beam over Abigail's shoulder is Erebus. He barely hesitated.

"I can't control us!"

You're not sure why Abigail is informing you of something so obvious, but then you realize that you're about to slam into the back of the main deck cannon.

And then you slam into the back of the main deck cannon. At this point, you're both hugging each other like its the last hug you'll ever receive. Your next thought is that it very well might be the last hug you'll ever receive, though, in your current state, you can't do too much about that.

The force of the blow throws you both apart. You and Abigail both roll leg over arm and come to a grinding halt at the edge of the deck cannon. You climb to your knees.

Erebus is standing on the tip of the cannon's barrel. His hand is raised. A violet sigil is forming in his hand. It's like nothing you've seen Shadow use - it feels like he's about to unleash hell. And then you remember. It's the same as that void magic the demon used, way back in Kelvere - the one that annihilated half the battlefield.

<This won't hurt,> Erebus says.

>con't

He does not see the screaming wall of Wind right behind him.

It slams into him, driving him backward. You cling to the deck as winds whip at your armor. You bury your face when you feel scrapes and scratches all over your skin.

Erebus is pushed back along the barrel of the cannon to the wide, square section from which it protrudes from the hull. He's caught in a cyclone shaped like a screaming green skull.

There's a flash of darkness. It radiates out over you. You feel as though you can see a negative image of the world for a moment, and then it's gone. The fracture of the Skysever that Fang summoned is gone. Erebus canceled the magic.

But he's in bad shape. He's a stripped-down shred of darkness. Even as you watch, his body molds itself, starts to recover. He drops to the deck and walks forward.

You force yourself to your feet and gather mana for a spell. If you're going down, then you're going down with a -

An arm like a steel bar catches you on the back of your neck. You're slapped down to the hull like a ragdoll. You can taste blood where you just smashed up your lip. The wind you managed to heave back is crushed from your lungs.

<Sir Donovan Flint. How shall I kill you? What method would make my latest power source silence itself? Hmm.>

>con't

The cannon behind the both of you begins to tremble with Lightning. It's going to fire - and it's aimed at Erebus.

In an instant, he Blinks to the side of the barrel. He forcibly bends the long cannon until it's pointed at you. The firing sequence is already activated. You know they can't undraw the power from the dynamo, even if it's clear you're now in the sights of the weapon.

<I am listening in on your communications,> Erebus says. <Did you know that your lover gave the order to fire? I wonder how she'll feel when it destroys you, instead.>

The lightning cannon crackles with energy. You close your eyes.

What a shitty way to go.

"Shadow," you croak. "Come on. Not like this! Fight back!"

<He can't hear you.> For a moment, Erebus's voice changes. It looses the dead monotone, the coldness. <In another lifetime, Sir Flint, we might have been friends. But ultimately, this entire world, yourself included...it is an illusion. May you find peace, wherever your spark of life ends up.>

The Lightning in the cannon changes. It's not firing. Something's wrong.

Erebus seems to sense the change. His shadowy face frowns. He bends his legs, as if to take flight away from the cannon -

- and then he freezes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9-8rAmsD1I

<...stop...your resistance will doom the universe!>

And then you hear Shadow.

<...see you...in...fucking Hell!>

The cannon explodes.

>con't

Golden lightning shoots through the air in a thunderstorm of energy. It feels like the entire dynamo was just drained and emptied through the cannon. Whatever ship the Nemesis ate that bit from what not designed for that kind of power. The black steel that Erebus is holding onto detonates in his arms. The light glows so bright he's washed out.

The explosion is big enough that you're pretty sure you're going to die. Well...at least Shadow got his hit in.

Something black is in front of you. Round. The lightning rolls around it. It's Abigail. She's holding up her shield.

That's good.

"Sir Flint!" Abigail shouts. "Are you alright?!"

"Think...got some ribs cracked." You groan. The lightning starts to die away. "What's...what's happening?"

"I don't know, I can't feel past the spell!"

You see a morphing black blob through the smoke...

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


You are the Shadow.

And you're ripping yourself out of the damaged Erebus.

It feels like peeling away a layer of your skin. You roar and rage and push through it. You push your arms - you've got control of your arms! - against the body of Erebus.

He latches back onto you. It's like you're a dye fighting to separate yourself from soup.

You grit your teeth and strain. This chaos he's using, it's not his. It's your power. You've got to separate!

Lines of white fire glow at the separation between your body and his. You can feel the chaos reacting. And it's choosing you, not him. This is where the line is drawn.

There is a third power, there. You can sense it. It wants Erebus to die, and it wants you to live. You have to take what you can get.

You push.

>con't

And then, you're separated. Standing opposite you, shrouded in the smoke from the wrecked cannon, is a damaged splotch of shadow that calls itself Erebus. You're probably worse off than he is.

But you've got your shards, and he doesn't.

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

All Revealed Ability Descriptions:

http://pastebin.com/LMq32gnV

Character Sheet including learned abilities and other important information:

http://pastebin.com/fparJYat


Current Statistics:

HP: 34/81
Mana: 15/90
EXP: 10

Shards of Order and Chaos:

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

--Summoned--

-none-

--Automatons--

-none-

--Equipment--

-none-

--Inventory--

-none-

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

What do you do?

>you're not in his false reality any longer. Consume him for good while he's unfocused
>he's on the ropes, and you're surrounded by allies. If he's at all able to see reason, now is the time.
>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies
>Donovan was toward the end of the cannon. You've got to get to him first
>some other strategy

>>32890539

>you're not in his false reality any longer. Consume him for good while he's unfocused

The YOLO option. Oh my sides.

>>32890539
DO NOT CONSUME HIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE

>>32890539
BURN THE FUCKER WITH HUMANITY

>>32890539
>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies
CHEESE IT

>>32890539
>you're not in his false reality any longer. Consume him for good while he's unfocused

>>32890539
>>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies

>>32890539
>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies

>>32890539
>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies
Let's not be stupid this time.

>>32890539
>Donovan was toward the end of the cannon. You've got to get to him first

Gotta find our best bro. Please, everyone, no more knobs.

>>32890539
use ALL the shards. beat this fucker out of existence

>>32890539
>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies

Also

>Impression RAINBOWS and SKIPPING THROUGH FIELDS to everyone in range

>>32890539
>>Donovan was toward the end of the cannon. You've got to get to him first

>>32890539
>>retreat behind the cannon, try to formulate a strategy or contact allies

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>>32890572

>>32890539
Did we manage to pull anything out with us? Like, say, a few spells we might have picked up or perhaps a certain image that would be completely revealed?

>>32890539
>Donovan was toward the end of the cannon. You've got to get to him first

>>32890641
No such luck, chummer.

>>32890539
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4&feature=kp

Vote 1:
>CONSUME!

Vote 2:
>Retreat out of sight, contact allies/formulate strategy.

Vote 3:
>Get to Donovan. He's too vulnerable to leave alone right now.

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
2

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
3

>>32890674
1

In b4 the super fail to save flint.

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>>32890731

>>32890674
3

Okey dokey.

>>32890674
3

>>32890758
No roll?

>>32890772

We probably avoided the instant death option and so we don't need a roll to back-up to Flint.

>>32890674
3

This is how we die.

Oh damn, what I time to hop on the thread

So i assume we have all of our old abilities back?

How much EXP do we have?

>>32891017
>How much EXP do we have?
Did you read >>32890539 at all?
>EXP: 10

>>3289103
oops

I just noticed something rather funny. Our resistance to Lightning is better than our resistance to both Earth and Spirit. Our resistance to Light is better than our resistance to Fire.

>>32890772

The situation didn't need one.

>>32891072
We haven't gotten the final Earth+Wind Resistance yet. Fire Resistance is in the Summoning Tree.

>>32891081
That's either very good or pants-shittingly bad.

You scramble to form legs, any legs, and run across the deck toward Donovan and Abigail. Abby might be able to take a few hits, but if Erebus really means to kill him, she might not be able to stop him.

You rush out of the smoke.

Abigail is there, scythe raised for a world-erasing blow.

<It's me, Abby! Shadow!>

Abigail hesitates. She lowers her weapon slightly. <Shadow?>

You nod vigorously. You glance at Flint, who is lying on the deck a few yards behind her. <Is Donovan alright?>

<Abby, don't listen to him!>

The echo of your voice resounds across the deck. Another figure emerges from the smoke of the wrecked cannon - Erebus. He approaches slowly, steadily. He's suppressing his mana, and his voice sounds eerily like yours.

Abigail's head swivels to and fro.

<Abby,> you say slowly. <It's me. Shadow. It's me.>

<Abby.> Erebus approaches one step at a time. <Keep your eyes on him. He'll try to get at Donovan.>

<You shut up!>

<Did you think that would really work on her? She'll see through you in a heartbeat.>

<Abigail, remember. We went into the Archonium. We fought David together.>

Erebus steps closer. <When this is over, Abby, we're going to make a turnip farm like the world's never seen. So don't lower your weapon.>

<Abby - >
<Abigail!>
<Abby,>
<Abby>

"SHUT UP!"

Erebus is almost level with you, now. You can't let him convince her. Abigail is still poised with her scythe.

<Move toward me,> Erebus says. <Slowly. I'll take him head on while you back me up.>

<Abigail, don't listen to him!>

<Abby-Sabby,> Erebus says. His hand extends forward. John Nyx's hand. <Please. You know I love you.>

<Don't you dare say that to her!>

<He's getting angry because he knows his act isn't fooling anyone.>

"I know." Abigail starts moving toward Erebus. "I can feel the difference, you know. Once you got closer, it was easier."

Erebus smiles. <I figured it would be like that.>

<Abby, no!>

Abigail walks up to him, lowering her scythe.

>con't

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There's Spirit, then. But not quite. It's a weird, contorted feeling, like Spirit, but Spirit BEYOND Spirit, true Spirit. Something closer to Chaos.

Her face contorts into the angled visage of a banshee.

The next things she says is screamed with an unearthly force so harsh the words themselves cut Erebus. "DON'T CALL ME ABBY-SABBY, YOU DISGUSTING SHIT!!"

Erebus is stunned by the blast. Abigail takes another breath.

"RAAAAAARRRRHHHHH!!"
<RAAAAAARRRRHHHHH!!>

You hear it twice. It's like double vision, only this is double sound, one cutting across the world, and the other cutting -over- it, reverberating with energy. Erebus's body is blown into pieces.

But the largest of the pieces is still moving, still reforming. You've got to destroy him while you can!

>>32891103
Erebus is fucked

>>32891132
Get 1shot fagget

What do you do?!

>Consume him...for good.
>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.
>some other strategy

>>32891154
>>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

>>32891154
>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.
BURN IN HELL

>>32891154

BURN HIM WITH HUMANITY

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>>32891154
>Consume him...for good.

>>32891154
>Consume him...for good.

>>32891154
>>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

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>>32891154
>>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

>>32891154
>Consume him...for good.

>>32891154
>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

>>32891174
>>32891178

>I have learned nothing from the last ten threads

Are you guys fucking serious?

>>32891154
>>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

>>32891154
>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

>>32891154
>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.
IT. IS. OVER.

>>32891187
It'll totally work this time.

>>32891154
>Burn him to ash with Humanity. Take no chances.

>>32891187
>Trolls

It's time for Erebus to burn.

>>32891154
>Have each of your shard give him a good hit and some pieces of their mind. I want to hear former Temerity renounce him.

>>32891219
Somehow I just know this is going to bite us in the ass.

>>32891187

I would do it if I thought consuming him would be more than just eating him for exp. I wanted to do to him what he did to us.

Would have been hilarious if we could say something like, "Eat me." before doing it.

>>32891235
It'll make Vigil self-destruct or something.

>>32891154
I feel like we have a bunch of options we haven't considered (or I'm really fucking stupid, let's never rule that out). We could use Eclipse seeing as it doesn't harm our allies and doesn't aid our enemies anymore, which would negate ALL of his shadow resistance. We could use Kindle on him which would be kind of symbolic although I doubt it would have any real effect. We could use HAMMER although if we're going to use any form of shard-based ability, it would be best if it was Humanity.

>>32891251
Vigil is the thing that's forming/controlling Shadow/Erebus' bodies. If Vigil blows up, Shadow dies.

>>32891271
And so it is.

>>32891265
POCKET

>>32891219
Welp, guess we gotta figure out how to pilot Vigil ourselves.

>>32891271
No, Shadow and Erebus have their own bodies.

>>32891225
>Darkxis
>You'd tastes like shit anyway.

Let's just hope he doesn't rip Dave out as a last resort.

>>32891301
I'm pretty sure it's got a user manual lying around somewhere.

>>32891297
FUCK WE FORGOT

>>32891321
Surely he doesn't have The Call...

>>32891321
Don't give the QM ideas.

>>32891328
Dave can't escape the Core that quickly anyways.

>>32891322
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE FORGOT ABOUT THE FUCKING

>>32891349
Why would we do that? Wouldn't he just regen back up in there anyway?

>>32891378
Yeah

>>32891378
Pocket is stasis, anon.

>>32891378
We could the shard process to make him into another shard.

>>32891404
No.

>>32891404
I think he deserves a clean death, anon. Burn him.

>>32891416
I highly doubt this will be enough.

>>32891438
Maybe he'll Pocket himself?

<Abigail, stand back! I won't be able to control this well!>

You can still feel that chaos, lingering. You grasp it. It's not much, but it's enough for this.

Abigail grabs Donovan and flies off. You stand above Erebus as he tries to creep back together. It's slow going. He's finally reached his limit.

It took a hell of a beating to get him to this point.

<Well...> His voice floats up to you, dead, empty. <Are you going to do it?>

<Yeah. I am.>

<Then get it over with.>

<We could have worked together.>

<Listen to me.> Erebus gathers himself. <Chaos...will find a way. Through the smallest crack, with the tiniest foothold, it will pry and prod and dig until it frees itself. You cannot hold it prisoner.>

<I just have to be a really vigilant jailer.>

<You cannot be convinced,> Erebus says. <But then, neither can I. Let us hope you are right, and I am wrong.>

<It doesn't have to be like this.>

<How many times, in the eons that have past, in the ages and ages I have sat alone, have I thought the words...'I should just die'?> Erebus's form settles back, as if it doesn't even have the energy to gather itself upright. <End it. If you don't, I won't stop. I'll kill them. So do it.>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMpRWuT6hk

Humanity ignites around you.

The world trembles, tears. The section of the deck you're standing on shrieks as the shadow-stained metal tears free and is consumed by the crushing weight of your magic. Erebus's body is stretched into the vortex and steadily shredded.

His last words are said with a half chuckle. <Watch out for David...>

And then he is gone.

A clap of thunder resounds, and Erebus is Erased.

>con't

>>32891461
Did we just spend 10xp on an erasure...

>>32891490
we just spent 10xp on killing fucking erebus

You stand on the edge of the hole that your magic warped straight into the Nemesis. The wind blows across the deck, whipping your clothes. You've already shifted back to being John Nyx.

Was Erebus wrong?

You don't know. You just don't have it in you to weigh and judge the experience of a thing that existed for that long. It's beyond your timescale to begin to compute, like comparing the life of a man to the life of a star.

You want to protect the people you care about. That means protecting this fragile world, the world Erebus believed he had to destroy. It was either you, or him.

But you do feel sorry for him.

>Wireless disconnect from Vigil system detected.
>Reconnecting...

>Connected.
>Refreshing Universal State...
>Universal State created. State refresh active each five seconds.

>Welcome, User Erebus.
>Warning - Foreign UUEG particulates rendering Vigil System 99.5% inactive
>Recommendation - Remove UUEG energy directional source

A map appears in your mind. A blinking dot soars through a cross-section of the Nemesis and centers on the bridge. An image of Yi Fang appears next to the map. You're indicated as well, standing on top of the ship. Dozens of other presences populate the image in moments.

<...Vigil?>

>Awaiting commands.

<How do I seal Chaos without destroying Venia?>

>Analyzing...

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

TO BE CONTINUED

Shadow Quest might have as few as two threads left. I'm going to try to get it all in at once.

On Saturday, Shadow Quest may very well have its finale.

>No, you did not spend 10 exp on this particular Erasure on account of plot

>>32891499
Worth it.

>>32891499

Don't forget, anon.

Erebus is within us, now.

>>32891461
>His last words are said with a half chuckle. <Watch out for David...>
Goodbye, Erebus. You were an asshole who tried to murder all of our friends, but you did have pure intentions. Sort of.

>>32891520

#erebuswasright

>>32891513
>TO BE CONTINUED
>Shadow Quest might have as few as two threads left. I'm going to try to get it all in at once.
>On Saturday, Shadow Quest may very well have its finale.
It's like the end of an age.

>>32891513
We don't tell you this enough SM.
I love you. Always will.

>>32891513

What are our stats like when we are linked to Vigil like this?

>>32891520

He did nothing wrong.

We really should have asked erebus a few more questions before annihilating him.

>>32891513
>>Warning - Foreign UUEG particulates rendering Vigil System 99.5% inactive
>>Recommendation - Remove UUEG energy directional source
>
>A map appears in your mind. A blinking dot soars through a cross-section of the Nemesis and centers on the bridge. An image of Yi Fang appears next to the map.
Just making sure I'm reading this right, but it is saying that the skysever was dropping Erebus' power down to 0.5%? Damn, Fang.

Also, why in the blueberry fuck did Erebus bring Vigil over Venia? Couldn't he have just left it in the void?

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>>32891513
Thanks for the thread, SM! I can't wait for Saturday!

>>32891559

Vigil has his memories. Just need to poor over them a few times. Hell, Vigil can probably DL those directly into us.

>>32891513

holy shit, did we just unlock Vigil early?

>>32891559
No point, he would have just told us to get on with it; we can get all of our answers from Vigil anyway

>>32891513
This quest has made me laugh and cry, and it will forever be burned into my mind as one of the greatest works of fantasy I have ever read. No matter how shit goes down, thank you SM.

>>32891586
>early

What?

>>32891513
Can you please finish it this weekend?

I ship out to basic training on Monday and i would really really hate it to have to wait for 3-7 months to read the last thread.

>>32891586
Vigil the upgrade and Vigil the ship are two different things I'm fairly certain

>>32891586
We connected to Vigil the ship.

We did not unlock Vigil the ability. At least I don't think we did.

>>32891566

It has dropped Vigils power to 0.5%, and it still has a perfect idea of what the battlefield is like.

>>32891593
Second

It just breaks my heart that we'll never get to finish that upgrade tree
>tfw we'll never make a heartstone titan

>>32891612

I will do my best to wrap up on Sunday if Saturday goes long.

>>32891593
>>32891636

I'm very flattered.

Hopefully you'll enjoy my book! I should be putting it online in a few weeks. I'm gonna throw it on there for free for the first day or two so you guys can all download it, then I'll probably price it at $3.99. Depends on how Amazon splits the cut based on the price, I have to look at that again.

It's not an investigation into the duality of man, but it's an entertaining action/adventure modern-day fantasy.

>>32891673
And Artifact it.

>On Saturday, Shadow Quest may very well have its finale.
Will be the end of an era.

It has been a pleasure serving with you gents for the past year+.

Thank you for the ride, SM.

>>32891635
It's technology from tens of thousands of years into the future.

>>32891685
>millions
FIFY

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>>32891676
>spoiler
EEEEEEEEE!

>>32891685

Technically it's technology from the past.

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>>32891676
Will buy to show support.

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>>32891676

>>32891676
I'll wait until you price it before buying it Shadow Master. The least that can be done for a promise long prolonged.

>>32891676
>It's not an investigation into the duality of man, but it's an entertaining action/adventure modern-day fantasy.

Wait, shadow quest the book, or publishing a novel?

Also, is the end of SQ actually here? This seems... abrupt. real life getting in the way?

WE NEVER GOT TO NELMAR

>>32891791
Ass.

Wonder if we could even survive?

>>32891803
Pretty sure we could. We couldn't take anyone else there except Abby, Ila, and Adavan, though.

>>32891756
Well, what else is there to do? We killed Sandals, stopped the Demon Lords, went to Voidland, KILLED EREBUS, and brought back the other elemental lords.
All that's left is to fix the core and we're done

>>32891742
>>32891723

You guys are awesome.

Hey, everyone, seriously. I just wanted to apologize for that shit I pulled back with the hole Donovan-captured thing. I just got caught up in what I had planned, and before I knew it, executing the plan the way I'd envisioned was more important than just having fun.

I'm glad everyone stuck through it, but I wish it hadn't happened. Oh well. Gotta learn some lessons the hard way.

>>32891756

It's a novel that has nothing to do with Shadow Quest. First book in a series.

As far as SQ ending abruptly, well, Vigil is basically gonna tell you what your options are. Then you gotta get shit done.

You've got an asteroid-sized hyper-future spaceship. It's going to facilitate your efforts to fix Venia quite nicely. Getting control of Vigil was always the end-of-game step to the final moment.

>>32891791

Yeah, I was going to dump you there if you didn't break out of the Ring City, ala maximum security prison of the empire, but things kinda spun the other way. I had vague plans to have you meet a few characters and organize a jailbreak after rising to the top of an ugly prison society. Maybe even meet Vonnegut early.

Just one of the many things that got tossed out the window.

>>32891860
>Yeah, I was going to dump you there if you didn't break out of the Ring City, ala maximum security prison of the empire, but things kinda spun the other way. I had vague plans to have you meet a few characters and organize a jailbreak after rising to the top of an ugly prison society. Maybe even meet Vonnegut early.
Awww, that would've sounded like fun. Oh well.

>>32891860
>It's a novel that has nothing to do with Shadow Quest. First book in a series.

Oh Oh sick.
Yeah i want this.

>>32891860
>Yeah, I was going to dump you there if you didn't break out of the Ring City, ala maximum security prison of the empire, but things kinda spun the other way. I had vague plans to have you meet a few characters and organize a jailbreak after rising to the top of an ugly prison society. Maybe even meet Vonnegut early.
>Just one of the many things that got tossed out the window.
Gawdamn. Can you go over more of these... missed opportunities, untaken branches?

I remember you complaining about one point in the distant past about SQ's background being impeccably placed down to the greek references, and then hastily boarded up around the players going on all the wierd courses.

I'd kind of like to hear about the would-have-beens

...did I really miss the entire thread?

>>32891906
Well, he's said before that the original plan was for us to team up with Adavan and wreck shit with a zombie army

>>32891986
I can give you a recap! TG dice fucked us over (as usual), Wrenloft saved the motherfucking day, Erebus got toasted, and now we have a god-damn Star Destroyer. Literally. It eats solar systems. Things are pretty sweet.

>>32892029

that i don't believe.

>>32891906
>I'd kind of like to hear about the would-have-beens

I'm thinking about doing a Shadow Quest Epilogue/Wrapup in which I answer questions like these. Just have a thread devoted to whatever, putz around a bit.

I dunno, maybe I should just invade the /qtg/ for a few hours and do it there. I like quests but I think the need to keep them unobtrusive is important. I take the attitude that quests are -guests- on /tg/, in a way, and should try to be accommodating when possible.

Obviously, I feel the biggest untaken branches were earlier on, and include things both large and seemingly unimportant:

1) siding with Do'Vak the Terrible (the dragon) right in the beginning; I always figured this was possible, but unlikely, because the elf woman was established as a friendly force

2) consuming Abigail in the graveyard

3) fighting and killing Adavan in his tomb

4) Donovan does not pull you up onto the raft after you fall into the water after the battle at Jacob's Field; you fall unconscious are swept downriver to Arland or even to Heavensgate. Maybe meet Ila early?

5) You do not return to Kelvere when Flint comes after you and instead continue on after Abigail

6) You escape with Abigail out of the Palthair mines without being captured

7) You realize or discover Fang's intentions and do not allow Abigail to enter the Arconium

That's all off the top of my head, I generally don't commit to written notes unless it's almost a sure thing

Looking back on the previous threads and seeing what could have been almost makes me want to replay the whole thing.

>>32892066
yup. Shadow Quest novel someday SM.

>>32892029

Oh yeah, there's a good one.

Remember when Adavan approached you in the woods, when you'd rescued young Abigail from Jacob's Field's jail? He offered to join forces and destroy the town with zombies, and basically take advantage of the battle itself to generate himself an undead army.

Totally different story right there. It was basically the last hope to do my original 'take over the world and wreck shit or something' route that I'd envisioned from the start. But you convinced him to back off, and returned to help Donovan save the day.

>>32892039
>>32892103
heh

>>32892051
7) You realize or discover Fang's intentions and do not allow Abigail to enter the Arconium
We should have done this. Daughteru is best Abby.

>>32892125
Abby is dead.

>>32892051
>I dunno, maybe I should just invade the /qtg/ for a few hours and do it there.

God no QTG is a cesspit and I'd rather have a 100+ thread party thread/wrapup/epilogue where, you know, the regular thread participants can show up. Or god forbid, the qtg irc.

There's no need to be all 'but i don't want to be unobtrusive!' You've been a goddamn staple here for over a year. You've earned it. Stake your soapbox and podium already, sir, seriously.

my question: where do you get the inspiration to write Yi Fang? God he's a dick.

>>32892051
I think doing a wrapup thread is a given. There's going to be a LOT of questions and comments when all is said and done.

>>32892051
>That's all off the top of my head, I generally don't commit to written notes unless it's almost a sure thing

holy shit. Do you keep most of this in your headspace?
How do you juggle that much shit at once?

>>32892103
>I'd envisioned from the start.
Ohyeah.
that whole 'oops its 700 years later' derail. How much did THAT throw you for a loop?

>>32892037
>TG dice fucked us over (as usual)

Oh, please.

There was just about no way SM was gonna let Erebus win regardless of the dice.

>>32892051
Don't do it in the /qtg/

>>32892251
so much this

>>32892251
Thirded.

>>32892251
No, do it in /qtg/.

When Program0 does lore talk there it gets vastly improved.

>>32892143
>You've been a goddamn staple here for over a year. You've earned it. Stake your soapbox and podium already, sir, seriously.

Well, a'ight.

>my question: where do you get the inspiration to write Yi Fang? God he's a dick.

The Count of Monte Cristo + Lord Vetinari from Discworld

Also, me, after removing any sense of morality and making me apathetic about offending people.

>>32892164

A good 85% of Shadow Quest is in my head. My notes are mostly character lists/descriptions and very specific fluff stuff, things where I want to remember the exact wording I used, etc.

>that whole 'oops its 700 years later' derail. How much did THAT throw you for a loop?

Honestly, not as much as you might think. Shadow Quest as a whole was still relatively unformed; I had a general idea of where I wanted things to go. So I was just, "Hey, what if that already happened, and history is sort of repeating itself?" It made sense, and gave the setting that strong sense of depth that I felt it was lacking, so I ran with it.

Generally, when I build a setting for my stuff, whether it's a novel or whatever, I focus on history. There has to be a legitimate answer to the questions of "why are these people here and doing what they are doing today?" That gives the setting authenticity.

>>32892327
>>32892251

Alright, no /qtg/ wrapup

>>32892349
No, i was voting for YES /qtg/, the no was to...the other anon.

>>32892327

That's because program0 owns, and qtg is such a shithole that anyone with two brains to rub together makes it a better place

Where has be been anyway?

>>24655489
>I am tired of being called monstrous because of what I am, least of all by someone that knowingly condones isolating the soul from a mage to turn them into a slave.

Reminder that "I didn't KNOW they had their souls sucked out of their bodies" claim reeks of bullshit.

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>>32892349
>Alright, no /qtg/ wrapup

yes!
This isn't it, though, is it? There's still a bit more to go wrapping the epilogue up?

>Generally, when I build a setting for my stuff, whether it's a novel or whatever, I focus on history. There has to be a legitimate answer to the questions of "why are these people here and doing what they are doing today?" That gives the setting authenticity.
That is awesome to hear, and you're a good writer. keep it up.

>Also, me, after removing any sense of morality and making me apathetic about offending people.
Given the hints you've given about pharmacy argh, and customer service issues, I get the feeling you can be a right bastard if you let loose.
Bwhahahaa.

Also, two steps from hell. Did you play that when you quit? Because damn, you've single-handedly made me a TsfH fanboy. Thanks for that.

An epilogue thread (whether it's interactive after a time-skip or a static post-script "this-is-what-happened-in-the-time-to-follow") is probably the right way to handle post-quest Q&A. Do a bit of a wrap-up, then dedicate the rest of the thread to hypotheticals and peeks behind the curtain.

You can post a link to it in the /qtg/ if you want to make sure that all interested parties are aware of it, but it's always going to be better to have dedicated discussion in a dedicated thread than it is to try and have it in and among other people trying to discuss other things.

>>32892442
>Did you play that when you quit?

Eh? Did I play it when I quit what?

I think my big sis had me listen to one of their songs once, and then I just discovered the rest of their stuff from there. She's big into orchestral metal, and that bled a bit into production music like TSFH, E.S. Posthumus, and Audiomachine.

Damn, I missed it! Ah, well, reading things and catching up was fun... especially with riding inside the minds of various alternative players in the scene.