>>34515414
Morning Dran, How are we today?

'' Sleep is fitful, you toss and turn plagued by the distorted memories of the flashbacks you'd so recently gone through. A mother worth nothing, an older sister that tried to keep the house together and a father that couldn't be around. The former two dead for sure, the face of your sister disapproving of what you did at Choice hills Baptist.

Then there's your father lording over you with what he taught you as a kid, the house you burned down and the stink of the man's burning flesh that you doused in more gasoline from your panic. It's a wonder you didn't get sent to juvy, they blamed the bad influence on your old man.

You wake up intermittently through the night, shivers and a cold sweat as the drugs Saphira gave you are still slowly working their way out of your system. There's a knock on the door and barely a presence beyond the threshold, Emilia, one of the last people you need pissing in your cheerios.

“Can I come in?” You hear her ask.

For a moment you want to tell her to fuck off but... Nah, better not. “Door's open.”

When she gets in, you scratch at your head, “I get that the doors are unlocked but-”

“We're sharing apartments.” She crosses her arms, giving you a sidelong stare, “That alright with you?”

“So long as it's not the same bed-”

“Why.” She says, seeming a bit hurt.

“Why what?” The hell did you do to her now?

“Why have you been such an asshole? I mean, I know you are are but...” A hand comforts her face and she slowly shakes her head into her palm, “I don't know what I was expecting.” exasperation paints her breath, the flutter of an eyelash passes off a tear, and her eyes catch a strand of moonlight.

>>34515469


“Not sure. What were you expecting?” You sit up and snap a heat-less flame out to hit the lights, incandescent light filling the room from a ceiling fan. She's wearing jean shorts and a tank-top. Looks pretty good on her considering her proportions. She's pretty lithe actually, body like a dancer, maybe that's where Fara got that weird style from?
“I'm not a good guy. I hurt people. Emotionally and physically whether I mean to or not, I just don't give a shit.”

“Why?”

“Why did you join the followers in the first place?” You snap back at her. “I went with them because I figured that I wouldn't pick the losing side.”

“I did it... Because I was scared...” She lowers her gaze to the wood floor, thoughts flickering across her eyes. “But we're not with them anymore and Saph-”

“Is just another Friend. She's just finding other ways to manipulate us, I bet she's fully capable of lying too.” Your bitter jade gleans through, your one eyed stare locking onto her.

“Then why-”

“Because I had no choice. It was either that or deal with never being able to hate anything ever again.” You missed your hate. Makes you strong, keeps things in perspective. Like this.

She shuts up for a good few seconds, “You're not thinking about betraying them, are you?”

>>34515414
Itäs time

>>34515484


v“Hell no. Situation is that if I fuck with them, Marcus fucks me hard. If I go off on my own, Overwatch fucks me hard. If I go to the Followers, they fuck me hard. I stay here I get fucked, but gentle.” You shake your head, a sardonic grin on your face, “And I'm not responsible for that ice bitch fucking with your head anymore, so if you don't want to fuck shit up with Mister Marcus then you can go ahead and kiss Saphira's twat instead.”

She takes a step back, her eyes locked on yours... “To think I thought about you every day in that cell... What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I don't like women that don't listen.” You lay back down in the bed.

“What? What is this-”

“I didn't want that thing touching me, I was going to kill it.”

“Your fucking head cracked open you stupid asshole. You're not like me, you can't go through what I've gone through and what I've done to keep you safe.” She reaches down and pulls up the edge of her shirt to reveal her stomach, severe scar tissue, bullet holes, and a big one up by her tits, right at her heart. A body that's been littered with damage.
“You think you can handle this?!” She's raising her voice, “You think you can handle even one of these?!” She's getting louder as she throws her shirt back down, “And do you think anyone's going to love the body that did all of this for you!” She screams, her face turning red.
“Go to hell asshole.” She turns around and slams the door.”

>[] Follow her out into the hall, "Emilia, wait."
>[] "Better she hates me than keep getting hurt for my sake."
>[] Good riddance bitch.
>[] (Other)

>>34515531
>[] "Better she hates me than keep getting hurt for my sake."

>>34515531
>[] Good riddance bitch.
Finaly.

>>34515531
>[] Good riddance bitch.
Seems like Saphira's brainwashing worked rather well on her.
Replace her with Tony

>>34515531

Oh man she is going to be salty as fuck when we get our eye all healed.

>>34515531
>[] (Other)
What the fuck is wrong with you?

>>34515633
Wait didn't Morgan said a sacrifice would make it much easier?
Do we know what qualifies as sacrifice?

>>34515531
>[] Follow her out into the hall, "Emilia, wait."
>[] (Other) Look I know of a way to pay you back or at least make us even. I can't guarantee I can do this right away but I have a way to at least fix your scars if you want. I might be an asshole but I ain't some punk ass bitch who can't repay people back.

>>34515640
Asher or Emilia?

>>34515531
Oh, this is hilarious. How did I ever doubt you, Dranzy.

>>34515673
Emilia.
And man we should pick followers who are more resistant to brainwashing

Ok. Looking at the summoning paste, Donneth is rank 3, but down lower on the thing it says
> 3.Do not act against uninvolved mundanes without my approval. Do not create Wendigo without my approval.{Rank 2}

Does this mean that the wendigos he can create are restricted to rank 2 or what?


Also, both of our main summons have a weakness to cold iron. This could be a problem later on. A big problem.

Next summon we get, let's go for something that doesn't have a weakness to iron.

>>34515671
Seconding

>>34515531
>"I'll just get that bitch some enchantment. Bitches love enchantments."

>>34515531
>>[] (Other)
>Whatever.
No way in hell would he apologize so fast, but goddamn is this laying it on thick for something that was pretty much the right thing at the time.

>>34515531
>you can't go through what I've gone through and what I've done to keep you safe.
>You think you can handle this?!” She's raising her voice, “You think you can handle even one of these?!
Once we start getting into the crazy Alchemy body mods, probably.

>>34515803
She will surely react well as soon as we have 2 eyes again

>>34515827
It will be great

>>34515671
I wouldn't mind having Morgan heal her instead.

We were planning to get a magic eye with summoning+alchemy anyway. Having Morgan heal our eye will just mean we have to remove it again later.

>>34515855
We might be able to enchant/modify the eye itself.

>>34515735
Well Cold Iron isn't that common.

>>34515531
I almost want to say all three if that makes any sense?

I can't fucking stand dealing with her, and the constant meatshielding, while convenient in the moments where it prevents us getting hit, is a pain in the ass to deal with afterwards. I don't want to follow her out into the hallway and be all "I was so wrong I'm so sorry babe I wuv you", that's fucking awful, but I wouldn't have a problem with Asher thinking to himself about how maybe he should have Morgan work on her later on.

>>34515877
Yeah, it would be possible to do that, but if the eye's already there then with our powerset it would be easier to use the eye as a sacrifice to summon an eye-summon and then alchemy it into our head.

>>34515880
It applies to steel as well. It's ind of ironic because most of the mechs specifically -do not- use iron in their composition.

>>34515414
>(Morgana The Fae)
>Morgana
Is that accurate? I thought it was just "Morgan", not "Morgana"

>>34516036
What, too magnetic?

Side note, we need to start working on some kinda magnetism. Magneto these fuckin mechs

>>34516036
Wait do you mean tempered Iron or Steel?

>>34516069
>I want to branch out even more!
No, we don't. Focusing on our main set will be more beneficial than branching into magnets.

>>34516036
Morgana's contract conditions are gone.

Is this a mistake or a result of giving her sovereignty?

>>34516049
Should be change to Morgan le Fey/Fae

>>34516049
>>34516155
Who knows what names should be. Dran does weird shit with names.

>>34515531
>>[] Good riddance bitch.
About time. Good evening, Dran.

>>34516098
NO

MOAR BRANCHES

In all seriousness, I miss being ice lord. But, I suppose it's for the best...

>>34516202
We have Ice knight now

/tg/ doesn't like dealing with couple fights.

top kek.

>>34516253
No shit. I come on here so that I don't have to deal with the bullshit in my life.

>>34516253
We're not really a couple.

>>34516253
We never had a romantic relationship. The closest we got was telling people we did so they didn't realize we are terrorists.

>>34516253
No shit. I play quests to get away from that shit. Also, I just don't like Helia. Or "Emilia" I guess she's know as now.

>>34516372
She was better when she was possessed by Fara.

>>34516402
I guess in the way that a golden shit is better than a regular brown colored shit, sure.

>>34515531
You get out of the bed, and hit the lights with another lick of flame as you chase her out at a fast walk. “Emilia, wait.” You call out down the hallway, but she's already out of the apartment. Putting your feet to work, you head out and chase her down the stairs.

There's only to such an extent that you're willing to be a shithead, “I said wait!”

She keeps on down the stairs, “Why should I?”

“Because I'm sorry, okay? I'm a fucking asshole, you're right.”

“Took you long enough to figure that out. Any other revelations?” She snipes back up the stairwell.

“I've got a way to heal you if you'd just stop!” That gets her to pause, looking up at you through the railing. Her glare is strong, stronger than the woman that you first met. She doesn't say anything, so you keep talking, “Nora changed. She can heal you. If you're pissed at me for that shit, then I have a way to fix it.”

“You think that's all this is about?” Her voice is suddenly soft, she shakes her head, tears building at the edge of her eyes. “You think that's all this is about?” She repeats, a disbelieving smile on her face.
“You're pissed at me for saving your life and you think the scars are all I care about?”

Words lock in the back of your throat. You want to say something like “Isn't that all it is?” Or “What else would it be about?”

“I care about you. And you walk over me like every other man in my life. I thought you cared when you took her away from me, I thought you wanted me to be strong, but you're just shitting on me again.” She shudders, a hand cradling her face as tears cascade in pale light.

“What am I to you Asher?”

>[] “A tool.”
>[] “I... Don't know.”
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”
>[] (Other)

>>34516551
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”

>>34516551
>[] “A tool.”
Yes perfect.
But say
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”

>A Piece of Fine ass

>>34516551
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”

>>34516551
She's probably the only human being on the planet that gives a shit about Asher beyond what he can do for their cause.

Should we actually say that? I have no idea. Would Asher actually say that? Maybe, but probably not.

Would Emilia give a shit if he actually did say it? I have no fuckin clue. Probably not.

>>34516551
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”
We shouldn't say to her face that we think of her as a tool

>>34516551
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”
I wouldn't mind being even more self deprecating, not for her benefit, just that Asher knows he's a scumbag, but yeah, sure.

>>34516551
Did that option even win?
Also
[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”

>>34516551
>>[] “A tool.”
I tell the truth.

>>34516551
>[] “A tool.”
This choice is so magnificently retarded I just want to know what would happen if it ever did win.

Would she just attack us right here and now? Would she bide her time and take real revenge? Would she snap the fuck out of it and just have no more to do with Asher than is required?

>>34516551
>"Of course I care about you. I just believe everyone should be able to help themselves. You shouldn't need me."

>>34516551
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”
Every other choice is sure to fuck us in the ass

>>34516685
That's actually pretty damn real.

>>34516824
Well it's not like Asher's any different in his way of thinking about people

>>34516551
>[] (Other) Man she needs to just help herself just once and DO Something good for herself. Just be selfish. She probably never even considered just being by herself would be good for her and not be dependent on some relationship. Doesn't matter if she get help from someone else just as long as it just help herself just for once in her life.

I feel like there's some writein that would make things work, but everybody's either too incompetent or sick of Emilia's shit to write in.

>>34516881
Fits in fairly well with >>34516786

>>34516824
If you want to work it into the update, I could see it fitting if the >[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.” wins.

It is angst as fuck tho, but not like that doesn't fit with Asher already.

ITT lack of Luci love

>Came into thread looking forward to training session, maybe some Tony stuff, getting smacked around by Saph and finally seeing what she can do
>Get Emilia relationship bullshit instead
Yay.

>>34517070
I don't know about these other Anons, but I'm voting for
>[] “A woman in love with someone bad for her.”
in hopes that she gets over us completely and we can focus on our fallen goddess.

>>34516685
We would probably kill her if this wasn't true

>>34517113
we can't have to much nice things.
It's a Dran quest after al

>>34517126
>>34517113
Obviously we cannot care for impure mortals

>>34516551
"When I was a kid, I'd get my ass kicked constantly. By other kids, by the school or judicial system, even by my dad. Especially my dad. He beat on everyone. He beat on my drunk ass mom, he beat my sister, and he beat me. When I'd get beat at school, I'd have to tell him who beat me and then he'd go kick their asses, or he'd beat me instead.

I never told him, of course. If I did, he'd get hauled off and I'd be stuck with my mom. So, he'd always tell me, 'If you won't let me help you, you need to learn to help yourself.' So I burned one of the other kids' house down. He still took the heat for it, and he was mad at me...but god damn if he didn't look proud. I'd helped myself."

>>34517148
OOC

>>34517148
Why do you want to tell her our lifestory?

>>34517148
>>34516551
Second just to see the look on her face.

>>34517148
I see no reason to say this.

>>34517148
How about no.

>>34517170
Says three things. A) we care enough to open up, just a little bit, B) we believe quite firmly in tough love, and C) we're an evil shit who burned down some other kid's house when we were young.

>>34517148
I like the idea of saying it, but No. its just not in character, saying this would require some amount of trust or caring from asher

Dran. This drama is too much for me. Please. I love you, but PLEASE

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>>34517211
>just a little bit

>>34517241
Eh, fine. Full package. I'm basically saying, "Give the bitch what she's askin for."

>>34516551


“You're... A woman in love with someone bad for her.” You shrug out those words, a vacancy in your eye as you squat at the railing looking down at her.
There's a numbness in you as the next words come out. It's not the time to be angry. It's the time to accept the truth. “And you're probably the only person in the world that gives a shit about me outside of what I can do for them... I don't know how to deal with that, ya know?”

Your lips quivers and something inside you comes undone as she looks up at you, “My drunk ass mom's dead, and my sister's with the fishes. Anyone I knew back in San Diego's either one of the followers or killed by them and there's still some shit from them stuck in my fucking mind. Something that still thinks that shit's justified.

Then it comes down to you: The one that's always looked at me with those goddamned eyes. I thought you'd be pissed at me for that shit with Fara but you're still doing all this shit. Why? Because you care about me? How the fuck am I supposed to know what that's like?” You slam the railings, a small flare flashing out.

You get up, staring down at her silent form, “So yeah, you know. I care. Sure I do. And I know you don't deserve a son of a bitch like me as much as I don't deserve to have you care about me.” Turning, you head back up to your room, hands in pocket.
You don't hear her follow, and after you're partway up the stairs she starts walking down to wherever she was going.

You've both got a lot to think about... You stop at your door, still can't sleep.

>[] Go outside for a walk through Chicago's streets past midnight.
>[] Go talk to Saphira.
>[] Knock on Tony's door.
>[] Lay in bed until you pass out.

>>34517309
>[] Lay in bed until you pass out.
Luci Plz

>>34517309
>[x] Go outside for a walk through Chicago's streets past midnight.
A very enthusiastic walk.

>>34517309
>[x] Other
Go to the mirror thing and speak "Asher" and see what's inside our own soul.

"Faust" is a bigass alchemic library of pain. Let's see what Asher can dredge up from within himself.

>>34517309
>[] Go outside for a walk through Chicago's streets past midnight.
I want someone to try and mug us.

>>34517309
>[] Lay in bed until you pass out.
New quests await us.

>>34517309
>Something that still thinks that shit's justified
Are we still being a moral fag? AND bitching about our past? REALLY?

>>34517309
Can we try and alchemy some booze? Everclear or some shit?

>>34517436
Can't until Adept rank. We're still Apprentice.

>>34517386
Go to bed Alucard

>>34517473
No

>>34517452
This must be rectified.

Can we spend a LIMIT point on it?

>>34517390
I really would like to see too.
So much of Asher's power is him piggybacking off of Luci. That's all fine and good, but I want to know what exactly he's got underneath all that.
He's the only person here who didn't manage to do that mirror exercise thing Saph had everyone do. Yeah, him having Lucifer as a patron to the degree he does is probably more than most of these people here got from their own mirror realm, but can you imagine if we had both?

>>34517309
>[] Lay in bed until you pass out.
I remember something about new connections because we chose a prefered mythology

>>34517550
No we didn't.

The Celtic/Aurthurian book in the drug trip only influenced the origin of the next mythos summon to approach us. It didn't set the preferred mythology.

>>34517390
>>34517309
Can we just do this instead? If we can I second this.

>>34517576
It didn't?
Well we still get something from passing out

>>34517576
We should go for something fire.

>>34517309
Does Donneth have antlers or not? I thought he lost them when we hunterized him, but pastebin says he still has em.

>>34517653
Morgan changed him again

>>34517653
His Wyld change returned them.

>>34517612
I was thinking that a dragon would be cool myself.

If a nilbog is a valid summon, that would also be cool to have.

>>34517612
I think an electric thing would be better.

Nora and Donneth have an iron/steel weakness, so if an enemy is using an iron/steel weapon, they turn themselves into a lightning rod.

>>34517746
TFW no raijin, eh?

>>34517746
Good point...what about Storm/Weather spirits?

>>34517789
zappy cat pls

>>34517797
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ala_(demon)

Ala cause thunderstorms and hail. They also seem fairly similar to Morgan in that their thing is that to have them treat you well, you're supposed to trust and respect them and if you don't then they'll fuck you up.

>>34517789
How long until full moon?

>>34517838
Seems good enough. Strict contract, and say, "Just because there's some things that can't be done, don't worry. It's nothing personal."

>>34517797
We could also do a Thunderbird. They're native to the US, so it might be easier.

>>34517895
Thunderbirds are fucking insane, though...but they do bring plenty of raw power. I still say Ala for now...I'll google some more.

>>34517895
Would a thunderbird even come for us? We sorta fucked up Donner something good with fae stuff.

>>34517945
They like fighting and acts of greatness, which is ideal because we're a terrorist and plan to bust out stupidly elaborate shit magical transhumanism and anti-matter. They can also apparently shapeshift into humans and are the weirdest god damn birds I have ever seen.

>>34517982
Eh...I kinda want something we can have join the Wyld hunt. Or convince to do so.

I want to be the Fiend of the Wyld Hunt by the end of it, leading a squad of Hunstmen summons.

>>34517972
Yeah but then again no one likes wendigos except maybe other wendigos.

>>34518058
I like wendigos

>>34518043
What about Harpies? They're actually a kind of storm spirit themselves, seperate from actual Furies.

>>34517309
>[] Lay in bed until you pass out.
I got to say I really did like this post.. While on one hand I do like Faust being the asshole that we've come to know but I was hoping that we would start treating Emelia better so this sits well with me.
we can still be the bastard if we want to be but if we start treating our closest allies, so just Emelia right now, with at least a little respect I think it will go a long way to help us with stuff.

Allies are more helpful after all if they think you're worth helping.

>>34518243
I think part of the disparity's come from the fact that she's no longer influenced by Fara. She's willing to challenge for respect and a thank you now and then.

File: Mothman.png (382 KB, 550x793)

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>>34517309
>>[] Lay in bed until you pass out.
Lucy. Also I want to summon a Mothman

>>34518293
Did you voice some of your planned Shademan lines again?

>>34518335
Not yet. Still trying to get rid of that humming.

>>34518356
The humming droning sound helps make it creepier.

Maybe just find some music or ambient weather noises or something and layer that with your dialog in audacity or something

>>34518293
And with all the literal bullets she's taken for us she deserves a thank you. Idk if I would vote for the Emilia route, love the Lucyroute, but we could at least be her friend. And maybe if Lucy's ok with it we could return Emilia's feelings, if she decides she still has any for us that is.

>>34518293
Its because she is argumentative for no reason half the time, so when she is in the right to question us we still tell her to fuck off because fuck her.

>>34517309


You lay in bed for a while staring up at the ceiling. Part of you wonders at what Emilia might be doing right now but... She can take care of herself.

You close your eye and try that mirror meditation again. It's weird without Saph guiding, but you eventually get the frame and the surface back. You speak your name aloud and the mirror shifts, showing you Lucia.

You're taken aback, having not expected to see her... here. With a wag of her finger, she steps through, laying her arms over your shoulders, “What have we here, looking inside to find something beside me?”

Your arms twitch and you slowly bring them to her waist, “Just... Surprised is all.”

She chuckles, touching her nose to yours for a moment. You move to kiss her and she denies you, “I've guided you for some time now...”

“Really?” You press on, finding her neck instead, nipping at it to her shivering satisfaction.

“Yes. You don't truly think that this world is new? We've had a hand in mortal affairs for quite a time. Some might say you should've gone to church more.”

You rest your chin upon her shoulder, dimly aware of your own feelings with your love right before you, “Never liked it. So you existed before the 21st?”

A stroke of your hair as she pulls away, “Yes, and always did I walk beside you waiting for the day you'd come to me and my cause. Asher...”

In her arms, you found sleep again. You accepted that she must be the focus of your power. You need no other.

>faggots voting to lead the annoying cunt on
For what purpose?

>>34518401
I have a feeling that Luci wouldn't care about Asher being with Emilia because she knows she's better. She didn't care that Asher fucked Jackie.

The problem is Emilia. It always comes back to her.

>>34518401
Please stop. Lucy 4 lyfe. Human scum lover pls go.

>>34518440
So she'll continue to be useful to us, instead of planing to kill us.

>>34518437
Based.

>>34518440
Too be fair all we stated was that shes retarded for caring for us, and the reason we even bother with her at all is that she does. If she still chooses to put up with us, shes retarded and thats her fault

>>34518471
Luci is a human scum lover. That's, like, her whole thing.

>>34518437
Lucy u da bess

>>34518437
It still hurts knowing shes gonna throw us away once we summon her

I just realized something.

>Hot Rod was the member of our little group that we got on best with. Not perfectly, but the least problems anyway.
>Hot Rod was the Great Hunter (even his non-retard name was Hunter.)
>Hot Rod betrays us
>So we turn Donner into a hunter
It's almost kinda sad.

>>34518605
I'll miss Hot Rod.

>>34518568
Luci waste a valuable loyal peace

>>34518605
Hot Rod was the only one I liked. Eshe a shit, Helia a fucking batshit, Hot Rod a best goy

>>34518639
Please use English

>>34518649
Wasn't there another one at some point that kept getting pissy until Eshe had to execute her?

>>34518649
I liked Eshe

>>34518667
Even Eshe thought she was a shit. Bears no mentioning.

>>34518667
Yeah, I think, she might have been a bone

>>34518437
This doesn't necessarily mean that she's actually Asher's original soul thing.

Luci's already shown herself capable of busting down the door to other astral being's realms and fucking their shit up. Remember when she stomped on Asherah?

She could easily bust into Asher's mirror place and evict the original inhabitant, especially with how much of a foothold he's given her.

Also, the fact that Asher's glow started out as cyan and changed to ember red makes me think her claim of original soul thing is bullshit. The blue got a red outline when she gave him Pyromancy and it then it overtook nearly the entirety of the color when he got Alchemy.

>>34518728
>>34518667
Xandra Winters. Follower name: Arin. Bone. Described as a "titless amazon". Muscular, nice ass and legs. Her magic mostly had her punching shit really hard and she did martial arts.

>>34518785
>titless amazon
What a terrible existence,

>>34518659
Why, would Luci waste a valuable piece.

Sorry it is late and much alcohol has been consumed

>Emilia Armand
>Follower Name: Helia
>Age Early 20's
Height: 5'5"
>Build: Slender
>Race: Caucasian
>Mark: Glasgow Grin(faint scars.)
>Over-Type:[Vein(Silver-White)]
>-Frozen Aura(Freezes the environment and body with the power of her soul. )
>-Armor Terra(Gathers earthen material to act as armor giving the user an appearance akin to that of a golem. Increases strength.)
>-Bulletproof(Capable of resisting the impact from light arms. Heavier calibers may penetrate this.)
>-Hybrid Soul(Infected deeply by an outside source, thuis has warped her mind and behavior greatly.)

Ok, looks like the other characters encyclopedia is unupdated. Does Emilia still have the ice stuff? I'd imagine she doesn't.

>>34518746
Yeah probably but the question is does it even matter at this point? We are WAY past the point of no return.

>>34518822
Because anyone can do just as well as us?

>>34518887
Nope.

>>34518868
No, it doesn't matter. I don't really give a fuck if she did evict Asher's inner bookworm.

I'm just saying it's a possibility.

>>34518605
>Hot Rod betrays us
He didn't even betray US, he just pulled an Asher before we did and we didn't go with him for some reason.

>>34518667
Aerin, I her death was weird for me. I kind of liked her, but it was telegraphed she wasn't really down with the church thing, but it still felt kind of sudden when Eshe killed her.

>>34518912
>we didn't go with him for some reason
Fuck da gubmint das why

>>34518887
Divine rank in Summoning and Alchemy is hard to come by.

>>34518912
She had been speaking out against the followers, it took large amounts of time to convince her to do anything, and I think she was about to attack us if went through with the church thing

>>34518959
I didn't reread S1 or anything, I just remember it didn't feel right to me. I guess just the weird feeling of someone else doing the killing even though I felt the responsibility for pushing her or not bringing her around or something.

Dran is sleep

>>34518437


The midday light passes through the curtains, rousing you from slumber. No one's in the apartment with you. There's a change of clothes hung out for you just outside your door.

Might as well, no clothes to your name as it is. A black turtleneck and jeans. At least it'll keep Autumn's chill at bay. The smell of food wafts from one of the apartments, a knock and you're let in for a little communal breakfast.

Pancakes, eggs and bacon, a goddamn godsend as you sit down to eat. John gives you a wave and sits beside you. Emilia's here in another room.
“That little lady's a blessed angel, aint she?”

You raise an eyebrow, “What, Emilia?”

“What?” John gives you a furrowed stare, “ I'm talking about the little lady that cooked this all up for us.” He points over at the kitchen, “ Lil' Saph cooked us up all this.”

“Oh,” You look down at the food and take a bite of some crispy bacon. It melts in your mouth. The next bite is a fluffy buttermilk pancake. It doesn't have the texture of something that came from a box, no, she must've whipped this up herself.

There's a stack of flapjacks still hot and ready for a bit of syrup, lightly salted butter already melting between them. You nearly cry along with a few of the others that'd suffered through Overwatch's imprisonment.

“You okay there, mate?” John dips down a bit, a smudge of concern on his face for you.

You nod, assuring him as you swallow down a cup of orange juice, “Just been a while since a good meal, you know?”

“Think everyone else has that feeling...”

As you go down for another bite of bacon, you find that your strips are gone, your heart nearly explodes at the sense of loss. “No, I didn't eat it all ye-” You hear a crunch. Looking up, you see Echo sliding another piece of bacon inbetween her teeth.

“Don't you dare.”

Her teeth slowly come down.

“I'm warning you.”

>>34519448
Unleash Nora. I'm still calling her Nora, by the way.

>>34519448
>That Echo
You know you're a good person Dran, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this shit.

>>34519448
Kill.

>>34519448
They touch the strip, grinding down the width.

“Stop.” She finally crunches and you reach for her, only to catch nothing but air as she slides away giggling.

“Fox likes bacon!”

You start to get up but John holds you back. “Easy now mate, there's plenty more.”

“It was so good.”

“And the rest is too.”

“It was mine.”

“Plenty more to be had.”

You sit back down, abusing your power to carry over a few more bacon strips on a tongue of flame.

“Impressive,” John comments as you satisfy yourself with a death stare at the fox, er, Echo.
“So, you got to thinking about who you're gonna shack up with?”

“What?”

“The pillars they were on about. Thinking of joining the fruity bugger.”

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Seems like it'd be easier for me and my magic." John admits with a shrug.

"Yeah, and what's that?"

"Something like luck, I think. Little love said I should think about fixing it to a coin toss for trouble. And that a guy like Eloc could use a man that breeds good luck." He looks over to you, meeting your one eyed stare. John gives you a pat on the shoulder, “Just wanted to say I might not see ya in a bit mate, going separate ways from here.”

You swallow a mouthful of food and stare at the plate for a moment. “Hey, thanks for getting Emilia out of there. Was a good thing you did back there.”

“No worries.” He puts some space between the two of you, “Been good knowin' ya Faust.”

You take his hand in yours, he gives a strong handshake, “Yeah...” You say, feeling a small sense of loss.

>[] Go find Tony... What's he up to anyway?
>[] Go bother Saphira in the kitchen.
>[] Talk to Emilia about last night.
>[] Finish eating. (Skip ahead to evening training.)

>>34519685
>Go bother Saphira in the kitchen.

>>34519685
>[] Finish eating. (Skip ahead to evening training.)

>>34519685
>[] Go find Tony... What's he up to anyway?
I want to talk to someone that understands how good murder is

>>34519685
>[x] Go find Tony... What's he up to anyway?

>>34519685
>>[] Finish eating. (Skip ahead to evening training.)

>>34519752
this

>>34519685
>[] Finish eating. (Skip ahead to evening training.)
Lets get this show on the road.

>>34519685
>>[] Finish eating. (Skip ahead to evening training.)

>>34519685
>[X] Finish eating. (Skip ahead to evening training.) damn, John was a cool dude. Didn't have any outwardly noticeable problems that made me worry.

>>34519685
>Something like luck, I think.
Neat. I wonder how him and Nora would get along if they clashed.

>>34519685
>[] Go find Tony... What's he up to anyway?

>>34519685
>[] Go find Tony... What's he up to anyway?

>>34519685


You finish up the meal, chatting with John and keeping an eye on Echo. Saphira talks to some people alone about what the faced yesterday as well as hearing out which branch they'd like to join. It's no doubt that most people here avoid Malevolence. When you finally give her your answer she's rather unsurprised.

After everyone separates it's no small wonder that Tony's with you in Malevolence, but to your surprise Gertrude, Roseanne, a guy named Henry, Echo, and Demon Edge Soul or whatever the hell he's calling himself, stand by you. Emilia's beside you to. You sense her looking at you, but when you turn to look, she's averted her gaze.

Saph explains that each pillar supports the others. Zeitgeist works with Benevolence providing Malevolence intelligence and providing them with the necessary data to secure their targets and take them out. Other duties will become clearer in time.
Pragmatism's duty is to secure resources and exploit their abilities for climbing politics and profiting from magic. Their funding allows Zeitgeist necessary safe houses such as this as well as advanced equipment and communications to make it all possible.
Malevolence, the hand of Zeitgeist that would destroy those that oppose change and the takeover of Zeitgeist to guide humanity to a new era.

With that, she declares that those of other pillars would be meditating again on their powers while Malevolence would be training back in the woods.

Marcus's return shows that he's found a new secure location on the other side of that threshold for training. No more Overwatch drones in the area.
He passed a sneer over Hydra as she stood present, “You'll be tending to those who suffer injury.”

>>34520479


Marcus and Saphira put their masks back on and lead the others through the door.

Saphira explicitly lifts the condition that you may not harm another Zeitgeist member for the duration of the training. Hierarchy of the contract she says.

You give it a shrug, however it needs to be.

Henry, Echo, Roseanne, and Gertrude are told of a monster in the woods that they'll be facing. It's a tip off to you that Donneth's to be employed.

>You're free to give an order to Donneth for how he pursues them...

>[] Target nigh exclusively...(Pick 2)
-Echo the Fox(Vein) Fox Tulpa
-Roseanne (Vein) Floramancy?
-Gertrude(Bone) Unknown
-Henry(Vein) Unknown
>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.
>[] Low lethality. Rough them up but never maim them. Rather keep allies alive.

>>34520506
Did they say anything about the lethality of the training? Did Saph or Marcus ever give any "you might get hurt bad" speeches?

>>34520506
>-Gertrude(Bone) Unknown
>-Henry(Vein) Unknown
>[] Low lethality. Rough them up but never maim them. Rather keep allies alive.

>>34520567
Part of "there's a monster in these woods" speech.

>>34520506
>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.
A couple of them might die, but the ones that don't die will be stronger. Might also make them dislike us more, but oh well.
>[] Low lethality. Rough them up but never maim them. Rather keep allies alive.
They dislike us less and people don't die, but they don't git as gud.

>>34520506
>>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.
Gotta bring 'em up to task. They gave us free reign to do so.

>>34520506
-Echo the Fox(Vein) Fox Tulpa
-Henry(Vein) Unknown

>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.

Let's hope they are good

>>34520506
>-Gertrude(Bone) Unknown
>-Henry(Vein) Unknown
>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.

>>34520686
>>34520574
Guessing that Henry is mystery box?

>>34520506
-Echo the Fox(Vein) Fox Tulpa
-Roseanne (Vein) Floramancy?
>[] Low lethality. Rough them up but never maim them. Rather keep allies alive.

>>34520506
-Gertrude(Bone) Unknown
-Henry(Vein) Unknown
>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.

>>34520506
>>[] Low lethality. Rough them up but never maim them. Rather keep allies alive.
Shouldn't go right for the heart, neck or headshots, don't want to kill them right off, but you know, piercing the shoulders or limbs is fine, want them to at least THINK they could die. Does that count as low lethality?

Also, could we start circulating the air while condensing the moisture and cooling it to make some nice chilly fog? Should make Donneth more at home and make it more tense for the trainees. Can we see via disturbance in mist via hydromancy?

>>34520506
>[X] Target nigh exclusively...(Pick 2)
-Gertrude(Bone) Unknown
-Henry(Vein) Unknown
>[] High lethality. Its to bring out their power and Marcus is watching anyway.

>>34520506
Does lethality levels factor in that these are all bones and veins and thus way more durable than normal people or is it scaled like they're mundanes?

>>34520712
No, just voting him and Gertrude because we know nothing specific about them.

>>34520780
As though they were mundanes. So even High lethality would be something like >>34520757

>>34520506
>Gertrude
>Henry
>High Lethality

>>34520812
Can we just tell him "Killing is bad, permanent injury is bad, and I will be thinking less of your performance with each instance. Anything and everything else is fair game, and keep in mind we have magical healing."

>>34520812
Well, that makes me feel better about it.

>>34520879
We could stand to be a touch less patronizing to our summons, you know. Just a touch. Besides, if they aren't in serious danger, they won't learn as well.

>>34520935
>>34520879
How about "If they receive a bad injury, switch targets."

>>34520975
Good enough. I don't want to kill them, but I don't really give much of a fuck if he lops off their arm.

>>34520975
That or, "Don't go for the kill."

>>34520975
Yeah that's cool it will probably backfire on him but this isn't a life and death situation for us... maybe never know with this quest.

>>34520975
I can settle for that. It doesn't absolve them of the threat, but it does make it more likely they won't die uselessly before we can benefit from them.

Didn't Luci mention that she had potential summons for us that she wasn't going to bother introducing us to until we got better at summoning?

I'm pretty sure Adept brought us up enough for some of them.

>>34520506


(Hunt them Donneth, focus on the old woman and the guy. Do not go for the kill.)

{As... You wisssh...} The demon hisses slowly in the ether, the woods begin to take on winter's chill as a thick fog rolls through.

Marcus heads off to watch them, and you're left with Tony, Emilia, and Saphira in an open area by the river.

Saphira stretches her body out while explaining what she's going to be looking for.

Out of you and Tony she's looking for skill at clogging a vein's chakras to restrict the use of their powers. She'll be starting at a distance and across the river, you smile dangerously at that fact.
Further, it won't end when she reaches you. Normally if either a bone or vein made direct contact with a nerve that'd be it, but a nerve can also defend themselves by using movement based abilities. And close contact shields.

She makes it clear that she'll be hurting each of you, Hydra's on standby, sitting on a log watching.

Saphira selects you as the first, and directs you where to stand for the start, and at the first flash of her powers it'll be on. “You may surrender after I reach you by showing two fingers, this will be different for you Emilia.”

Because of Emilia's own identity as a vein, she can take the close combat... An affirming nod and everyone understands what's going on.

You stand across the rive rather far from the edge, the light of a waxing moon peeling light down upon the terrain. Saphira stands across the river as the water gently flows past.

Her body's alight and it's you against her. She charges dead ahead, her bright sapphire magic flashing like a strobe light.

She's still across the river and astral sight reveals that she's... It's strange, like before, her aura is almost clear. It's actually harder to see her in the astral... She's not let her soul outside of her body yet...

>[] Pit to bury her.
>[] Wall to blind her.
>[] Fiend to halt her advance.
>[] (Other)

>>34521516
>[] (Other)
Aren't we supposed to be blocking her chakras or something?

>>34515414
Hey Dran what's the status on your other quest? Haven't seen them in a while. Hiatus? Dead?

>>34521624
Hiatus. Did you ignore the numerous twitter and in-thread "I'm going to be doing one quest at a time in rotation" messages?

>>34521604
It requires her to use her power externally. She's only using internal right now.

>>34521644
I've been dead to the internet for atleast 4 months so no.

Oh, and if you guys wanted to use any combo strategies that works too.

>>34521516
>[] (Other)
Pit Dust Hound
Open the pit under her, then dust the earth we removed to form the pit, then do the earth jaws with it to try to hold her in there.

Also, does Asher have water around him? He's going to need water around him to do Knight(hydro) when she gets to him.

>>34521795
Well there is that river between us and her.

>>34521828
Yes, but he needs water -at his location-.

Not a few meters away in the river. By the time we need it, if it's in the river then it's too late.

>>34521516
Pure visual obfuscation isn't helpful right, because our own awareness of our self is reflected in the astral?
I don't mean the wall, since that's a physical obstacle as well, more like fog, but basically, can we assume she will always know where we are unless we pull out a new trick, like thoughtforms of ourself or something?

>>34521795
>>34521516
As good as any plan. Can't counteract anything till we know what she can do.
>Second

>>34521863
I have a feeling that she's going to run at us and then proceed to beat the everloving fuck out of Asher.

>>34521888
But of course

>>34521888
Yeah odds are that's one hundred percent correct. Just gotta try our best and then just hope for the best. Dran already warn us that's she gonna smear us across the ground so I'm not expecting much.

>>34521516
Expanding on >>34521795

I fully expect her to break out of that. When she does, and she has to cross the river, try to use the water there to contain her. Ice and water with MF to lock her down and force her to use her soul thing so we can attempt chakra block.

Also, are we barred from using summons during this?

>>34521997
Yes, summons are barred for this match.

>>34521516


With one hand you divert the river to your location, with the other you explode the earth in her path into dust, “Pit, Dust-” and then reform the dust into earthen fangs to pull her down “Fiend.”

She nearly seems surprised for a moment, but it's just that, for a moment as she uses her forward momentum as she falls to grab the side of the pit and slide between the fangs as they close down back into the earth.

You grimace at that, in theory that should have been a burial, but the rate at which she slipped through was unnatural, she passed through the fangs like running water...

Still no presence beyond her body, is she waiting to close in before she uses her power externally?

She's closing in on the river, if she knows how to walk on it, that's not going to slow her path, though that could be your chance to secure her.

With an exhale, you bid the river to quickly swell at her feet, though she sidesteps it at once just before the water moves to your will. She saw the spell. A quick reaction and the second attempt snares her, sticking to her feet freezing and pulling it down to hold her still. It might not be good if you stick to nonlethals like this...

She sets her hands down into the water and you react by doing the same there , however a kick with one of her feet sends an aura-filled shard of ice aimed right for your stomach. Seems she's got some power over water... You have range over her.

With a wave you melt the shard away and sweep it aside, adding it to your defensive moat. It's harder than you anticipated but you managed to purge her spirit from the mass.

>Burn: Low(Light)

>[] Apply Materia Firma to her aura.
>[] Focus on buring her with earth and water.
>[] Start using Fiends to stagger her path.
>[] (other)

>>34522376
If she has power over water, abandon the defensive moat idea. Get rid of the water around us, or at least move it further out so it's not the last line of defense. She'll just overpower our Apprentice hydrokinesis and wreck us if we try to use water/ice for armor here. Stick to geo and pyro knight for defense if she looks like she's going to get in close.

>[] Apply Materia Firma to her aura.

>>34522376
>We've spent months just working on forcing her spirit down. Focus it down over her body, perhaps? Try and push her down so she can't even use her abilities?

>>34522376
>[] Start using Fiends to stagger her path.


Does Knight count as a summon here with the summons barred rule?

>>34522464
working on mana, try forcing her spirit down*

fuck, what?

>>34522376
>[] Apply Materia Firma to her aura.
This sounds retarded. But hey lets give it a shot

>>34522526
No.

>>34522376
>>[] Apply Materia Firma to her aura.
Let's do this shit

>>34522376
Try to cover her in some more water, then turn it to rock. While she's dealing with that we can start trying to do shit to her aura.

>>34522586
and it it maintains consistency or something, freeze the water before alchemizing.

>>34522663
It won't be mud or something if that's what you mean by "maintain's consistency". It will turn into solid rock if we want it to, though bigger changes take more mana to do. So ice->solid rock is a cheaper transmutation than water->solid rock, but ice->rock has the cost of making the water into ice tacked on. It probably works out to about the same cost or a little cheaper since hydro has that ice oath.

>>34522376


You push away your moat to give yourself a wider radius so that you're not trapped should she commandeer it, with the other you send the river up to reach for her, ready to turn it to stone once it's made contact.

Without looking, she spins to the side and grabs the flow, her hands brimming with power. Looking to the astral you see her flood her spirit into the sudden tide and you immediately apply firmness to her as you send it through alchemical change, suddenly restricting the flow of her power and sending her onto the riverbank with stone cuffing her.

You nerves burn like hell from transitioning the water to earth, but it finally halted her for a goddamn moment. This has actually a lot harder than you'd originally anticipated. It kind of makes you wonder if it'd be easier if you tried to use fiend against her... Yet as you contemplate that, she stands up and breaks the stone cuffs.

“That was good.” Her harmonic voice rings clear as the rock crumbles to the ground. It wasn't even by force. The water returns to stone, the alchemical change resetting to the world's internal logic. She assumes a combat stance not more than ten meters from you, “It begins now. Bear with the pain, as I'll bear it with you.”

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

You chopped up her flow there, but she's been careful so far. It's likely that she knows you haven't intended to hurt her, but she's not panicking at all. What upsets you though is the way that she broke those cuffs. It wasn't even as though she used force. Magic then. Troublesome.

She advances for you, your moat at the five meter mark.

>[] Use water to restrict and fiend to send her back.
>[] Raise up an earth wall and force it out, fiend if she vaults.
>[] Prepare orbs of earth for Orb-Fiend.
>[] Default to Fiend Knight to prepare your defenses.
>[] Use a ward.
>[] (Other)

>>34522942
Burn levels?

>>34523013
>Burn: Low(High)

>>34522942
>The water returns to stone
Did you mean to say that the stone returned to water? Also, the heck? I thought the changes weren't supposed to require constant input to maintain? Isn't that the entire point of alchemy?

>>34522942
>Wait until the water's close, then have it flare up as ice walls. Make it in layers, so she'll have to take hold of each individual layer, giving us time for an Orb-Fiend.

No more Mr. Nice Guy

>>34523047
Yeah, stone returned to water.
And the fact that it did is part of Asher's confusion.

File: image.jpg (65 KB, 475x267)

65 KB JPG

>>34523047
>>34523047
You're right!

Know what this means?

>>34522942
We could go for a ridiculous number of directional Fiends all around her in a dome configuration aimed inwards.

>>34523131
Well fuck me.

Saph has some kind of freaky Vein-equivalent of alchemy and Marcus is a homonculus.

>>34523165
Oh sweet jesus, I do not want to find out what kind of pain this woman can cause us

>>34523043
>tfw can't remember the burn grades

>>34522942
>>[] Raise up an earth wall and force it out, fiend if she vaults.
>>[] Prepare orbs of earth for Orb-Fiend.
>>[] (Other)
Raise an ice wall, if she trys to disolve or vault it quick flash it to steam/fire

>>34523255
Low>Medium> High>Critical
(Light/Moderate/Severe)

>>34522942
>[] Use water to restrict and fiend to send her back.

>>34522942
How about just bathing her in fire. A constant application of mana. Having a nerve's mana around them is what messes them up right? She won't be able to reach out and do anything with the fire without taking in corruption.

>>34522942
Did Asher ever figure out whether that magic carpet made of fire thing works for him? I know he did it with the bacon, but we might need to get the fuck out fast.

>>34522942
>>[] (Other)
Ok. She's dodging stuff like crazy, but what if we make something that's damn near impossible to dodge? We can use Aero to make a hard wind against her, and also mix in Dust and water droplets to make it like a nasty little mini hurricane that only blows in one direction.

And then when that doesn't work start spamming Fiend.

>>34522942


Tapping deep into your magic, you raise a series of thin ice walls reinforced by magic to bar her path and a final one of earth to protect you as you chant out the full fiend incantation.

“With fingers red from blood and flame,” You hear more than one ice wall break.
“I kneel to none,
I bear no blame.” You can see her spirit suffuse a spot on the earth wall.
“This choice is mine-” There's no time for the whole thing! You direct it at the wall and snap, “Fiend!” A powerful blast of flames roars out, the light blinds you for a moment as it runs forth in a straight line.

Without thinking, you'd focuses the blast in one direction, an entire line of powerful flames. For a moment you make the mistake of relaxing, when you feel her descending from above.

“Fiend!” you hear her shout as she comes in from above. With a snap of her fingers, fire explodes from her spirit not unlike your own.

In your confusion, and as more of a reaction, you take handle of the flames, parting them as your nerves scream at you.

She lands and you snap wordlessly in turn, just as she moves, a hand out on the origin point of the next fiend. No. You think. No, what the hell is this. In the astral you don't see a clear aura anymore, instead you see yourself just as you'd recognize in the mundane. And it's taking hold of the flames yet to be, twisting them around and throwing them back in a flourish.

Another hand out and you extinguish the flames.

What the hell kind of magic is this?!

>Burn Medium(Light)

>[] Bury her in fiends.
>[] Time for Fiend Knight.
>[] Use orbs to push her back and away.
>[] (other)

>>34523668
I think I know why she uses someone so strong like marcus, she isn't magically strong, shes the opposite, shes a void isn't she? She is anti-mage

>>34523668
Ok, she's not an Alchemist, she's a copycat.

Bloody hell.

>>34523733
Shes not a void, shes a vacuum, she absorbs it and spits it back out
fuck
>>34523668
Go grab a branch or something man, throw rocks, something

>>34523668
>Other
Fuck it just throw up defenses and wards then prepare for a bent over a barrel fucking. If she copying us then I guess we can just use magic that harm her and Faust but that's a stupid idea.

>>34523668
>[] Use orbs to push her back and away.

I don't know if Knight will even work at all here. I fear that she'll just turn it against us and that would be a nightmare and a half.

>>34523668
She's copying us. Mirroring.

Make a flash on the astral plane. A blinding, single point of light painful to look at.

>>34523668
I feel like Ignorance could somehow be used here.

How far away from us can we form it? Only right on top of us?

>>34523668
>spam the shit that uses the least burn
she cant absorb everything

>>34523668
Ignorance

>>34523905
I sorta like this idea, if it is at all possible. It also explains the 'no summons' condition

>>34523668
>[] (other)
Can we make false flag spells that signal in the astral but don't follow through? Like, make it look like we're about to volley the shit out of her with Fiends, but they're fake?

If so, throw Fiends at her while mixing in the fakes, then do a ton of fakes all at once and also do a fake Pit under her. She'll think the pit is the real one but really it's one of the Fiends that's the real one.

>>34524016
I like this idea.

File: cage of yes.gif (1.99 MB, 380x169)

1.99 MB GIF

>>34524016
that's my kind of crazy anon

What if we use Pyro+Aero to remove/burn all the oxygen out of an area? She still needs to breathe.

>>34524129
There's another option. Mind that she's within five meters though.

>>34524157
no thank you, already blew ourselves up once

>>34524157
Flaming magic carpet to get further away? Rocket boots?

>>34523668
Catch her in ice/rock then start the Ignorance. I'm guessing she only could manipulate the elements because she was copying the ability from us, which Ignorance should shut down.

>>34523905
>>34523908
could work
>>34524199
or we can bail and regroup

If we get knocked out and don't get to watch Tony and Emilia try to handle this bullshit...

>>34524351
I bet emilia is gonna be full of herself when she breezes through this shit because she can actually do physical attacks

>>34523668


Pausing a moment, you try to thing of something to deal with this. Both of you have astral sight, only in this case it's an absolute clear advantage for her. In fact- she should be relying on it the entire time.

Before her next move, you simulate a dozen fake fiends from above and begin detonating a few of them.

She takes an evasive spin away from the explosion, strafing closer to you in the same motion. At this point she's within two meters and sends out another snap, “Fiend” a whisper that singes your shirt and scorches your flesh.

You can see her flinch as you scream from the pain, reflexively throwing out a sudden pit to send her down into the ground for a moment's respite. You clutch the burning wound, ending the fire with a quick spell.

You see her hands at the edge and a sudden gush of adrenaline takes you, bidding you to flight over fight.

With a quick snap, you create a fabric of warm flame and whisk yourself up and zip away for some distance as she comes up, dusting herself off.

“Not surrendering yet?” The harmonic voice of her mask just tinted with some weary exhaustion, she clutches her side as much as you clutch yours. Stings like a motherfucker.

>Having her push you further could help you improve...
>Burn: High(Light) Burning Carpet's generating a lot of burn... Not used to this spell.
>[] “Yeah, I'm good.”
>[] “Let's continue.”

>>34524423
>[] “Let's continue.”
We Learnt wards by getting shot. This is just how we train

>>34524423
I want to take it further, but I have no idea what to do here. She's just reflecting everything back at us and we've thrown everything we have that's worth a damn at her, and even ended up using a couple things we've never actually used before.

I just can't think of anything to try on her at this point. There's Ignorance, but even if that locks down her copycatting, it doesn't lock down her superior physical capabilities and she'll just kick our ass with her own two hands instead of our magic.

>>34524423
>she clutches her side as much as you clutch yours
Did we actually hit her? Did we see her ever get burned by a flame?

If not, there's some empath shenanigans afoot and she's hurting because we're burned and not because she's burned.

>>34524423
>[] “Let's continue.”

>>34524423
Wait... Why'd her side get injured when we were the one that got burnt?

Sumpahetic damage?

>>34524541
she said she'd bear the pain with us. Don't know if that's a rule of three thing, an oath of hers, or what though. Don't see how we can use that against her either, since we really don't want to get hurt in the first place. I wouldn't be surprised if it's something like the rule of three that let's her throw our attacks back at us though.

>>34524541
Well she did say “It begins now. Bear with the pain, as I'll bear it with you"

>>34524423
>>[] “Yeah, I'm good.”
Carpet into Knight, if we're going out might as well go out fighting

>>34524446
>>34524573
The fact that the continue option doesn't say to suggest actions makes me think it's going to auto fail if we do it and we'll just end up knocked out.

>>34524423
did we ever pick up that speed spell? if pure magic is just getting twisted then go for a physical rush

>>34524654
>go for a physical rush
That's retarded. She has augmented physical abilities because Vein.

>>34524423
>[] “Yeah, I'm good
No idea what to do so might as well quit. No point in just getting knock around ain't a masochist

>>34524618
Are you saying you want to stop or continue? Because >>[] “Yeah, I'm good.” is to stop, but the rest of your post looks like continue.

>>34524423
>>[] “Let's continue.”

>>34524423
>[] “Let's continue.”

>>34524423
Ask Morgana if she knows what the fuck is going on. No reason why we can't ask our summons for advice I guess

>>34524423
>[] “Yeah, I'm good.”

>>34524423


You settle down some distance from her, letting the carpet dissipate to save yourself the strain. “I'd like to continue.” You say, though you give her a hard look, “Why are you hurting though? I don't think I ever hit you.”

She straightens herself, hiding away the pain, “The truth is that I'm an empath. I'll need to meditate a moment after we're done to remove the hurt from myself.”

“Is that how you're using my own magic against me? As a vein?”

She nods, and assumes a fighting stance. “It begins again on your move this time.”

With a snap, you summon up a burning armor around yourself, more than a meter in radius as you ready yourself for her next onslaught. You've got little clue of how to deal with something like this, but you might as well go all in for the benefit of pushing your limits.

She comes at you and you churn out flame in her path. Saphira twists away as she anticipates the attack. Wrestling the flames, she meets another stream of flame to break against, slipping underneath the two paths like flowing water.

Another pit to lose her footing and then a fiend as the Knight brings fiery arms in to entrap her again. To your surprise she doesn't crawl out of that hole. You're met with an uppercut in the middle of your defenses that rocks your jaw, sending you sprawling back and your head ringing.

>>34524935
>To your surprise she doesn't crawl out of that hole. You're met with an uppercut in the middle of your defenses that rocks your jaw, sending you sprawling back and your head ringing.
Asher might be surprised, but I'm not

>>34524935
She rubs sorely at her own jaw as she advances upon your prone form, “You may surrender at any time.” She grabs you by the shirt and slams a foot into the ground, sending a blunt pillar of earth into your stomach before she sends a knee up just above, rocking you twice in succession before throwing you back to the ground, another block of earth smashing up into your body.

You look back to snap out a fiend, but Saph's hand bringing with magic holds the latent mana, suspending the explosion. Holding it just before your back, she looks away before letting it slip through her fingers.

You both shudder in pain at the force combined with the burn.

“Please... tell me you... surrender.” She pants, clearly wanting to stop here.

You offer her two fingers and she relents, taking you over to Hydra while she washes herself off with water. Astral sight reveals that she'd been storing all the pain and your own mana to use that strange copycat ability.

From what you can tell, water must be her original magic. That or that strange empathic shit she pulled out. In any case, the way she moves like a flowing river definitely shows the former.

You're glad at least that you managed to maintain consciousness...

Tony's up next.

>[] Check in on Donneth. (This will switch perspectives temporarily.)
>[] Watch Tony's bout.
>[] Talk to Emilia.
>[] (Other)

>2 LIMIT gained.
>Reached over 30 LIMIT. Rewards will see diminishing returns for previously threatening situations.

>>34524978
>>[] Watch Tony's bout.
Let's distribute those FUCKING LIMIT POINTS. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

>>34524978
Meditate

>>34524978
Throw the 3 LIMIT we have into Alchemy. We need to reduce the burn costs of its use anyway and it'll bring it closer to Adept.

>[x] Watch Tony's bout.

>>34525028
This

>>34525028
Second

If summoning is barred, I wonder what exactly the Shade Man is going to do.

Just stand there doing nothing and hold up 2 fingers when she reaches him?

>>34525091
I doubt he's limited himself to one trick only. Even if it is a hell of a trick.

>>34525091
He might know how to fight, I mean he is a murderer, someone has probably fought back

>>34525091
Maybe he has actual shadows to go with it. Y'know, umbrakinesis

>>34524978
Was the winning move to start burning ourself?

>>34524978
>>Reached over 30 LIMIT. Rewards will see diminishing returns for previously threatening situations.
I wondered why 30 at first, but then I realized that that's where people hit Master rank if they're only put points into their starting spell from the start.

>>34525219
If that's true then the real winning move was just to surrender. No point getting burn scars just to "win" a training exercise.

>>34524978


You sit and watch the bout between Saphira and Tony, refining your power over alchemical change as you watch. You're getting close to something, you know it...

Tony stands there, black turtleneck and all. He gives you a little smile and a modest nod. With a pull at the chest of his shirt, he tells Saphira that he's ready. Like before, she heads to the other side of the river. There's something stiffer about her this time as she makes to face him.

Turning, she begins to rush just as before.

With a wave of his hand, Tony's nerves flash a ghastly lavender as shadows move, contort, and swarm at Saphira's legs, briefly restraining her. In his next movement, he holds out his finger in a gun shape and says “Bang.” As the sound of an invisible explosion rips through the air.

Saphira's head's moved to the side a sudden evasive maneuver to dodge that attack.

This guy's got a spell a lot like Jackie's... Only it's less precise and wider. If her magic was like a hornet's hive his is like a slug.

Saphira's body is overcome by shadows and for a moment you think that Tony's sealed the deal, but no. More shadows snake out, attempting to stab her as she dodges the efforts in advance, her dark form all the harder to see. Jumping on high, she clears the river entirely as opposed to sprinting across it as you did, she throws out something and clearly misses Tony as he doesn't bother to dodge.

It's in the next moment that something strange happens. Saphira lands and starts walking over to Tony, he stands there unmoving.

“Clever girl... Where did you pick up a trick like that?” Tony quips with the slightest bit of amused frustration.

Saphira walks past him, pulling up the things that missed the man, auric darkness suffused from them. “Did you know that Japan has ninjas?”

>>34525488
I didn't even notice the typo in the first post until you'd deleted it and reposted it fixed.

>>34525517

“Really now?”

“Yes... Marcus was... amused. As far as he's ever at such things.” When she pulls up the last one, movement returns to Tony's body. It's only then that you realize exactly what happened...
She used his umbrakinesis against him by throwing a pair of knives at his shadow. She managed to pin him through his shadow.
“You need to learn more tricks.” She says as she puts the weapons away. “And Faust needs to refine his.

Tony stretches about a bit. “Afraid I'm more of a summoner myself, and Overwatch happened to take away very valuable... gifts of mine.”

Saphira stares at the man for a moment, you can already tell that she doesn't want to draw this out any further with him. “Will you yield?”

Tony replies with the signal, showing two fingers, “Yes.” There's that creepy smile again. He walks off.

You're kind of sore that Saph decided to beat the shit out of you... But if her ability is as she says. She doesn't even want to touch this man.

There's a scream from somewhere out in the woods.

>Emilia's next.
>[] Check up on Donneth.
>[] Watch Emilia's bout.
>[] (Other)

>>34525521
Yeah neither did I till I reread it. Typing on a phone sucks

>>34525540
>[] Watch Emilia's bout.
Make definite notes on how her technique has changed in since losing Fara.

>>34525540
>>[] Check up on Donneth.
About time we reign him in.

>>34525540
>[] Watch Emilia's bout.

>>34525540
>>[] Watch Emilia's bout.

Well, we did tell Donneth to not go for the kill...

>>34525540
Between Mark and Hydra I'm not too worried about Donny causing trouble.
>Watch Emilia's bout

>>34525540
>[] Check up on Donneth.
>There's a scream from somewhere out in the woods.

Yeah I want to know what's going on

>>34525540
>>[] Watch Emilia's bout.

>>34525672
>implying Donneth is loyal like Donner was
>implying Morgan didn't fuck us over when she modified him

>>34525540
I like Tony

Don't watch Emilia's fight, miss out on cool fight and potentially have her get even pissier. And I just cba to deal with that anymore.

Don't check on Donneth and we catch shit for letting him brutalize the other newbies.

Pick yer poison

>>34525961
They asked for our help. We even told him not to finish anybody off.

>>34525540


Trusting in Donneth, you commit yourself to observe Emilia's go at Saphira. Once more, there's a short period where she cleanses herself beforhand, though this time they start around ten meters apart.
Emilia glances over to you, looking back when you meet her eyes.
Seems she's still thinking about what happened earlier.

Saphira assumes a fighting stance in a steady breath.

At the first move, Emilia sends her foot into the earth, forcing Saphira to parry a sudden jutting spike, instantly reflecting her foe in the astral.
As she pulls her foot up, she encases it in solid earth. Saph closes the distance as Emilia unleashes a second strike, rooting herself to the ground as Saphira spins to evade the second attack, coming within striking distance.

Emilia moves, digging in and the earth follows, sending Saphira stumbling suddenly as an earthen hoof spins around from the back, missing, it lands her in a wide stance. It served the purpose of forcing Saphira away however.
Earth continues to crawl up Emilia's legs. As she readjusts herself, Saph comes in stomping the ground twice for two jutting out blunt columns intercepted by rugged armguards.

>>34526066
Suddenly, Emilia seems a bit uncomfortable, and sheds the earth, unrooting herself and stepping back for some distance. Like that Saphira and her circle each other at what you'd call mid-range. It seems to be the sweet spot for Veins using ranged power or something as they start hurtling hunks of land at each other, breaking it clear away before blasting it forward, yet still Emilia seems a bit uncomfortable.

Saphira seems to sense this and draws it out longer than either you or Tony. As it goes on, Emilia eventually finds more dance-like steps, and kicks up stones before sending them flying. Saphira starts to prove to her just how futile such an attack is, smashing them away with her reflected power.

In the end, Emilia defaults to direct attacks, resulting in melee that Saphira checks and slips past. At first you don't really reaklize what's going on. Both of them even start going pure internal, nothing emitted.

It's when one of Emilia's strikes lands on the ground that you get it. She leaves a small crater and goes on to throw out another kick, and spin, only by the ground being gouged out by the force of her feet able to stop certain spins. It's like she's been making herself heavier and stronger as opposed to just armoring herself.

Emilia finally surrenders due to fatigue, but she walks away seeming to have actually learned something.

>counting down the seconds until we see what exactly blew up in our face here.

>>34526140
Have a little faith. I do.

>>34526166
I have faith that he will beat me