File: newWorldMap14.08.17.png (802 KB, 3101x1551)

802 KB PNG

>>34820340
Current Date and Time: Mid-morning on January 10th, 1952PC

After everything went white due to those mages’ spell you slowly began to regain your senses. You can hear the dull murmur of female voices around you. Something very soft envelopes you – Arisa’s tails? You try to say something to let her know you’re alright but with your hearing still shot you’re not sure if it got through. All you know is that suddenly the presences around you started moving again and the fluffy tails covering you were pulled away.

Opening your eyes, things are kind of fuzzy. Everything appears monochrome for a few seconds, as though you were stuck in one of those false worlds you ran into in Farun. Strange flecks of white and black seem to run across your vision randomly. You blink them away and after a few seconds your vision mostly seems to go back to normal. Your hearing returns at the same rate.

“-you going to say something or just sit there, looking like an idiot?” you hear Gnome saying angrily. You only pick up the second half of what she’s saying but the intent is obvious.

“I’m fine,” you grind out, your body feeling like it’s been put through a grinder. “My senses were thrown for a bit.”

>continued

File: HarrowmontCurrent1.3.png (50 KB, 1194x609)

50 KB PNG

>>34820358
Looking around, you manage to gather your wits. You’re in the present now. You haven’t been in Blacktaffe for over three years now – Arisa, Lars, Adam, Maria… they’re all in the past. Even if you don’t remember those precise events being what happened you do remember that things definitely happened afterwards. Adam and Maria survived what you had all thought was a League assault – given they had agreed with your sequence of events back them, clearly their memories had been modified too. Lars was killed in the assault but you suspect he may have been involved in whatever woke those monsters.

Arisa… you remember spending several lovely days with her. You remember her wanting to marry you and then bolting to avoid it. You don’t remember the two of you nearly dying and then being rescued by God-knights. Hopefully she’s still alive and well – the Astral Adepts had a reputation for disliking non-humans but you are certain they were protecting her back then.

Now, though, you are surrounded by the women of the present. Plus one – a young looking noblewoman curled up on one of the plush couches nearby, wearing an elegant looking black dress. She seems to be giving you a sullen look from behind her black hair, letting an otherwise excellent hairstyle look terrible by forcing it in front of her face. Undine stands next to her and you suspect she’s under guard. Could she be Lady Aladria Serat?

On the other hand, the girls appear rather upset. You’re not sure what to do right now. You…

>1. Go all business. Work out what’s happened while you’ve been… unconscious?
>2. Make sure that they’re all healthy. If you got hit with a trap like that, how did they do?
>3. Try to assuage their fears about you and explain what happened to you.
>4. Custom

>>34820391
>1. Go all business. Work out what’s happened while you’ve been… unconscious?

Platitudes come after figuring out what the hell happened.

>>34820391
>1. Go all business. Work out what’s happened while you've been… unconscious?

>>34820391
>2. Make sure that they’re all healthy. If you got hit with a trap like that, how did they do?

>>34820391
>2. Make sure that they’re all healthy. If you got hit with a trap like that, how did they do?

>>34820391
>1. Go all business. Work out what’s happened while you’ve been… unconscious?

>>34820391
>1

>>34820391
Did we get hit by an actual trap?
Maybe we just passed through some sort of phenomenon which rekindled our memory and allowed us to break through whatever spell was on us and suppressing our true memories of that event?

>>34820391
>2. Make sure that they’re all healthy. If you got hit with a trap like that, how did they do?

Mmm that gnome jelly.

Hey guys, not to subvert the thread or anything, but I've been thinking we need more drawfags. So I've got a drawfriend buddy who owes me 20 bucks, that comes out to 4 unpolished headshot drawings at his commission rate.

Question is, which 4 characters should I have him draw?

>>34820391
>3. Try to assuage their fears about you and explain what happened to you.
DO NOT do this in front of a Aladria. We have no reason to trust her with such info. All we know about her is that she is a 50 year old vampire who is very powerful and talented for her age, and that we killed her lover and sire not too long ago.
(I am honestly not sure why we are even here, she already promised to be a good little vassal and the people of the nearby town don't even believe she exists)

>>34820940
The four elemental sisters are a big interest, but ide say:

Undine (we havent spent nearly enough time with her), our foxy lady, lynn and Gnome.

>>34820940
This reminds me of a very important question...
The foxes, how furry are they? I know they are humanoid and have tails...
Is their body smooth or covered in fur?
Is their face human, fox, or a mix?

>>34820940
Oh nice.

I think I'm good with >>34820987
But which foxy lady?

>>34821045
Full glorious 9 tails of course.

>>34820391
2

File: 002.jpg (494 KB, 980x572)

494 KB JPG

>>34820977
>I am honestly not sure why we are even here
You would have had to deal with her eventually (and judging from people's reactions towards Ren flouting your authority, sooner rather than later) so rather than doing an event that is extremely similar to the flashback one I just rolled them together.

>1.

You ignore the mixture of angry and concerned looks from Taira, Gnome and Undine and instead focus on your immediate problems.

“First things first, what happened while I was… whatever I was?” you ask, unable to sound as authoritative as you would like given how little you actually know.

Gnome glowers at you in response and Undine remains silent with a frown. It’s only Taira that responds, giving the two elementals an amused look before she starts to speak.

“You collapsed almost immediately upon entering the house. Our host,” she says, nodding her head towards the woman you suspected to be Aladria, “somehow tried to thrall you once you entered her demesne. She wasn’t able to do anything while she was trying to do so, so we disarmed her.”

“It’s more accurate to say that I wasn’t able to defend myself after completely exhausting myself in a failed attempt to thrall the Imperator,” Aladria says, her voice clear and imperious despite her sullen look. You suspect she’s gotten a lot of practice with her voice – it must be hard to sound like that given how young she sounds otherwise. “Thraldom is supposed to be instantaneous so it failed almost immediately, draining me completely.”

“Why was he unconscious for so long, then?” Gnome snaps at the vampire.

You cut in at that point, “I was having some form of flashback. Before I explain that, did anything else happen?”

The girls shakes their heads. Basically, you collapsed due to Aladria trying to thrall you and they took control of the manor house. Whatever tremendous power she had was wasted in her attempt to thrall you.

>continued

File: 003.jpg (247 KB, 1215x883)

247 KB JPG

>>34821112
“So, what’s this flashback and why do you think it matters?” Gnome says, pressing you angrily.

You hesitate, eying the vampire who simply gives you a smile.

“No need to hold back. I saw the entire memory thanks to our connection,” she says.

Your blood runs cold. “You said you failed to thrall me.”

“That’s right. Sadly, it seems that I awoke something else that turned it against me – much to my chagrin. My limited knowledge of magic makes me think this is something similar to the bond familiars can form when they’re not properly contracted – I can read your surface thoughts and I was able to monitor you while you were unconscious,” Aladria explains rather lengthily. You get the feeling this girl is very used to being unnecessarily verbose.

Taira giggles at that. “I do like the idea of the enthraller becoming the thralled.”

Pushing the fox over that, or more accurately your familiars do, you learn that she knew what happened almost immediately. In fact, she seems to be implying that she knew that Aladria was going to hit you with a thraldom attempt the second you stepped through the door.

“Any particular reason you didn’t warn me?” you ask coldly.

Taira shrugs, still smiling. “It was guaranteed to fail. I hadn’t expected you to collapse, however.”

You sigh. You’re not sure what to do about Aladria right now – she does seem aware of your astral power so there may not be too much reason to send her away. You…

>1. Send Aladria outside along with one of your partners.
>2. Leave her be and explain what happened.
>3. Custom

>>34821005
Foxes are basically humans with fox ears and tails.

>>34821141
did we just get a vampire familiar?

>>34821141
>Foxes are basically humans with fox ears and tails.
sweet, that is the best!

>>34821069
I'm ok with that, I'm ok with any of the foxy ladies.
>>34821141
>2. Leave her be and explain what happened.
>>34821173
A loli vampire familiar I think.

>>34821141
>2. Leave her be and explain what happened.

>>34821237
>A loli vampire familiar I think.
wait what?
oh wow, her sire was a naughty naughty man (he was her lover)

>>34821237
No, more teenage.

>>34821141
>2. Leave her be and explain what happened.

WELP. This thread is going to go weird places.

>>34821141
custom, ask her to prove her claim of having read your mind by providing some info on what you saw.
If she is lying to get info, we can send her out.
If she is telling the truth might as well leave her here

I came across something interesting while rereading the quest, it explains why lynn lied to us about her father:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/29005080/#p29005799
>“Understandable. Lairos… be careful of those in the west. You will have no small amount of difficulty in your life should they find you and you certainly wouldn’t be able to serve here.”
>you certainly wouldn’t be able to serve here.
So undine told caitlyn back in the day to hide from us who specifically her father is. Saying she won't be able to serve talon if its as found out who her father is (beyond merely knowledge that she is a dragon).
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/29133029/#p29138848
>Maloric seemed to think the Mage Guard might take a bad interest in me, and Undine believes the Lords would send out hunting parties if they learnt

>>34821141
aspir
undine summons and then consumes catalysts to do her healing. Is it possible for us to buy a bag full of those catalysts for her to expedite the rate of her healing at the cost of some money? we have a LOT of money...

File: 004.jpg (931 KB, 1000x3750)

931 KB JPG

>>34821237
>>34821259
>>34821260
Aladria looks more like Lynn in terms of build and age if Lynn was a waifish princess.

>>34821450
>we have a LOT of money...

This is the most comical thing I've heard in awhile.

>>34821173
Sort of. I think we might have to "fix" the bond between us with astral power (probably "Life") for her to become a real familiar though.

First time in these threads. Everything seems very well done and detailed even at a glance.

Anything I should know before I just devote my weekend to the archived threads?

Hey Aspirational, could I get "apparent" ages for Undine, Gnome, and Taira for my artist friend drawing them? As in, how old they appear to be?

>>34821682

Prepare yourself for the steady stream of 1s and the "vampire debate".

Otherwise it's a good read. Quality consistently rises as you go along as well.

>>34821682
Talon has a harem, the dicegods are fickle, and the Fade to Black scenes are in the pastebin.

>>34821682
Nat 1s cause the players to drink, and nat 20s on random events cause Aspie to drink. Most people are drunk in these threads.

File: 016.jpg (454 KB, 1920x1200)

454 KB JPG

>2.

“Can you prove your statement?” you ask Aladria pointedly.

“You spent some time with a mystic fox named Arisa in a shrine in Blacktaffe,” she answers matter-of-factly. “You were then attacked and tried to flee before being rescued.”

That settles that, you figure. You explain as much of the flashback as you can remember, being sure to emphasise the fact that this is different to you remember. At the end the girls look a little troubled.

“What exactly is Pandemonium?” you ask pointedly.

Taira and Undine shrug, obviously unsure. Gnome bites her lip. Oddly enough, Aladria gives you an answer of sorts.

“Classically, Pandemonium was the opposing force to Heaven,” she explains as she shifts into a slightly more dignified position on her couch. “Although the modern view is that Heaven and Hell – the angels and infernals – are opposing forces, you can go much further back in history in some libraries and find that there were once four divine powers that were worshipped. Heaven and Hell now represent the forces of good and evil, virtue and vice, etcetera. That didn’t appear to be the view in the past.”

Gnome nods at that. “It’s far history but when I was young I served a mage who had a love of divine research. Before the Cataclysm two millennia ago there were four great divine empires. The infernals were the largest on Gauron but Pandemonium was another. I don’t have the slightest clue what a shard of Pandemonium could be, however. I suspect the best place to go would be the Last Retreat to talk to the Archangel about it.”

“Why not just reach out to the Great Knight Garynth himself?” Aladria suggests.

Gnome shakes her head vigorously. “That would be too risky. I don’t know why he spared you then, Talon. Garynth is the oldest and most powerful God aside from the three Lords themselves, so he may have his own schemes. It’s best if you avoid him at all costs.”

>Any other parts of the flashback you want to ask about?

>>34821814
What about the creatures?

>>34821805
If you aren't drunk right now you're doing it wrong.

File: 019.jpg (266 KB, 793x1200)

266 KB JPG

>>34821694
Undine is early twenties. Gnome early thirties. Taira is probably a baby-faced late teenager.

>>34821682
I'm rather verbose so I think there's somewhere between 350k-400k words of content, which is potentially a lot for a quest. Plus I have a nasty habit of providing lots of additional lore in after-thread sessions so there'll usually be lots of setting information after the story posts stop.

>>34821874
Question, did we say the phrase "shard of Pandemonium" out loud at some point, or did Gnomey just give away the fact that she's been holding out on us?

>>34821814
well, Garynth will want to duel us when we next meet him...
the Archangel said that he could talk more about it once we knew about it...

ask about the creatures and their 'nothingness' which could only be affected by what now seems to be Astral Power...

>>34821923
nice catch...

>>34821814
Ask for clarification about if aladria is now your familiar as well

By the by as an aside: when you posted the fort schematics on twitter: You could cover the north west gate by having fortifications built into the cliff face overlooking it, thus strengthening against attack on the side were the fort is weaker.

Would also be a good thing to include in the east side cliff face as at a high enough altitude it would let the Arcane archers bombard anyone in that residential zone making it a venerable killing field.

File: 021.jpg (265 KB, 1024x512)

265 KB JPG

>>34821923
You repeated what Garynth told you verbatim. It's not like you can make sense of it otherwise.

>the creatures

Gnome shakes her head. “I’ve never heard of monsters like that. They don’t sound like any shadow beast I’ve ever encountered – they were called that because they were black monsters.”

“The Gold fox’s explanation seems to make a fair amount of sense,” Taira says. “There are similar monsters that are summoned by sorcerers in Pharos – though they are usually sorcerous creatures rather than astral. I don’t think they were really made of ‘nothing’, though.”

“Your thoughts seemed to indicate they were ‘antithetical’ to your existence so perhaps that’s why you interpreted that as ‘nothing’?” Aladria suggests. “It could just be a way of rationalising away an existence that you cannot comprehend. After all, if your astral power relies on your ability to be able to bend reality to your will you would need to have some understanding of something affect it – admitting something is beyond your power or understanding is the same as admitting defeat, no?”

Undine gives Aladria a cross look. “You seem awfully knowledgable about astral power.”

“I have spent a great deal of time in scholarly pursuits these last two centuries,” Aladria says imperiously.

>continued

File: 022.jpg (362 KB, 899x950)

362 KB JPG

>>34822159
>familiar question

“So, are you actually my familiar?” you ask Aladria.

“I seem to be drawing a trickle of power from you,” she says. “A torrent, really. It’s just very little of the capacity of the connection, I think, so it feels like less. Such is the difference between mere mortals and yourself.”

“The mind-reading isn’t part of being a familiar, though,” you say.

“That’s presumably because we haven’t actually contracted. It’s more accurate to say you just bound me through sheer force of will and that fact is showing,” she replies with a petulant pout. “I can also feel the personality bending influence of that power. You are what you eat, and by consuming your power it’s difficult to escape the fact that I’m yours.”

You frown at that but are unwilling to pursue the implications. Aladria’s general behaviour is slightly off-putting, like watching a child do decidedly unchildlike things.

>last round of questions before I propose the idea of gonig to the Last Retreat to see Archangel Raphael

>>34822257
So what are the pros and cons of a not properly contracted familiar, any part of it dangerous to one's health?

>>34822257
So
Is Aladria going to join the empire?
Does she have to follow our orders?
What kinda power does she have?
Whats her opinion of the other vampires?
Where's Blackwater and whats his weakness?
Is she going to be our vampire emissary/rep?

Think I got most of it.

>>34822257
>You are what you eat, and by consuming your power it’s difficult to escape the fact that I’m yours
does that mean she no longer need to eat blood then? after all, our research breakthrough is based on the notion that vampires cannot gather mana on their own, now she gets it from talon.

File: HarrowmontPresent1.2.png (46 KB, 1256x611)

46 KB PNG

>>34822366

>spoiler

As architectanon I greatly approve of the building of more fancy embassies.

Oh and for anyone that missed it on Aspirational's twitter. Here's the current map of Harrowmont.

>>34822366
I am unsure about asking her those questions in character...

>Does she have to follow our orders?
Not exactly, there is a long term effect on her personality (she explicitly mentioned it as personality bending and we saw it mentioned before in alyce's book about familiars), but she isn't outright forced to obey us.

>>34822438

Talon cannot into Mana. Astral doesn't mix well with sorcerous...
If anything, we now have an asteral fed Vampire pet...

>>34822442
see:
>>34822108

Extra fortifications to shoot people from never hurt.

>>34822481
Yeah as the person who asked, I was more asking Aspie and letting him decide how he wanted to answer them. I am iffy about asking in char on some of these.

Aspirational, could I get further physical descriptions of Undine, Gnome, Lynn and Taira? Their character sheets have some basic things like height, hair, and eye color, but maybe something like their facial features and hair styles?
At your own convenience of course.

File: 025.jpg (248 KB, 685x1024)

248 KB JPG

>>34822352
Because Aladria is a corporeal being with no issues maintaining her existence normally, she doesn't have the issue that Gnome had where she needs a large volume of power to keep her here. She's also a vampire so her magical power works differently.

The pros are that she doesn't need to drink blood so long as your providing her with power. She can still do so to replenish her strength faster after a tough battle, however.

There're no real cons. The mind-reading could be considered one. The effects of feeding a vampire astral power are completely unknown, too. She doesn't seem to be having any real problems.

That main difference is that by not using a contract she doesn't have the ability to refuse or rescind the familiar contract. She's your familiar by your will alone.

>>34822442
I actually posted the slightly updated version at >>34820391

>>34822366
I'll probably do the whole 'are you going to help me' bit more in-character.

>>34822552

I don't disagree. Though it isn't something I've personally thought of while doing all of this.

That said, hold the thought for a bit. Harrowmont expansions are on the list of things to do soon from what I understand. Thought likely not this week.

>>34822521
>Talon cannot into Mana. Astral doesn't mix well with sorcerous...
Aspir clarified before that the moment it leaves our body it becomes sorcerous mana
Talon is sending out astral power to gnome, gnome is receiving sorcerous power.
Aldaria should be the same... if she is NOT then this is significant

>>34822481
>Not exactly, there is a long term effect on her personality (she explicitly mentioned it as personality bending and we saw it mentioned before in alyce's book about familiars), but she isn't outright forced to obey us.
We really need to try dealing with that, Talon wants his followers to follow him because they want to, not because they're coerced into it.

File: TYEInsignia.png (22 KB, 730x600)

22 KB PNG

>>34822618

Huh for some reason I missed that. Too much bourbon already.

Oh and for anyone interested, here's a close up of the insignia. Because I have far too much time on my hands sometimes.

>>34822718
Wow... I really like that...
Freedom over oppression!

>>34822618
Well, i guess that at least solves any loyalty problems.

As of now we should probably talk shop about her position, what her intentions were, what she is imagining she would do now etc.

Frankly, were probably going to have to move her and her library back to harrow mount, or at least make sure there's always room for her there.

>>34822718
Nice!

File: 026.jpg (220 KB, 669x1024)

220 KB JPG

Okay, so you guys need to work out what approach you want to take with Aladria. I'll be shunting her to the side for the moment so that I can keep the quest moving right now and revisit it later when people have hopefully talked about it a bit.

She'll say a little bit in the next update on her situation but then it'll mostly be up to you guys. You've really got to consider whether you want her working for you, whether you want to try to contract with her properly and what she'll do.

>>34822618

well, that was one way to deal with the uncertainty...
We came to negotiate, we return with a Vampire bound to our will... She's going to pick up some flak from the other vampires about it...

>>34822841
Think she should be brought with us for further investigation IC and also so we can get to know her more as players.

>>34822668
>We really need to try dealing with that, Talon wants his followers to follow him because they want to, not because they're coerced into it.
we have no clue how.

>>34822841
well, i see options
1. kill her - she did try to enthrall us.
2. dismiss her as familiar and treat her the same as we would the rest of the vampires (aka, eventual integration into empire)
3. actually do contract - I am not even sure what that would change. but it seems significant
4. recruit her to work for us.

>>34822841
I certainly want her working for us and am willing to contract with her, but we're going to need to have a long conversation about whether she's down with some restrictions on her behavior and being held to a mortal moral standard.

>>34822902
Yeah, because having the only vampire civ in the last few hundred years worth a shit could do fuck all vs talon. Frankly, shes safer than they are, bound or not.

File: 028.jpg (104 KB, 550x825)

104 KB JPG

>moving right along

“You don’t seem too bothered by this turn of events,” you say slowly to Aladria.

She shrugs. “It’s frustrating but that describes my unlife in general. Given a choice between true death and being your loyal servant, I’d much prefer the option that lets me continue to enjoy existence.”

“Is that why you sequestered yourself in this castle?” you ask her.

“I did that because there’s not many safe places for vampires in the world currently and staying within these protections meant that other vampires would leave me alone,” she says. “I’m not one to cloister myself up to quite this extent.”

You sigh at her inability to actually tell you what she wants. All you’ve gotten out of her is that she thinks it’s a better alternative than you killing her, which doesn’t assure you of her loyalty. You decide to move on.

“If I’m going to get any answers about what I am, I think I’ll need to speak to the Archangel,” you say. “On the other hand, I’m not sure if I should wait for now.”

“I think it’s mostly a matter of what you want to do, Talon,” Gnome says.

You…

>1. Go visit the Archangel Raphael to talk to her about what you are.
>2. Head back to Harrowmont for now. The Archangel can wait.
>3. CUstom

>>34822970 cont

in regards to >>34822668
>We really need to try dealing with that, Talon wants his followers to follow him because they want to, not because they're coerced into it.
They aren't actually coerced to work for us, they are influenced by us in terms of personality. But that doesn't necessarily mean obedience. It sounds like it can make them LESS likely to obey orders if it makes them more talonlike in personality.
Also, the nature of the changes comes into question, initially they are literally reading our mind, it is possible that this falls into a subconscious reading of our subconscious which influences them, but not in a coercive manner.

>>34822985
>2. Head back to Harrowmont for now. The Archangel can wait.

We're at war, multiple fronts on the horizon. Talon needs to be home serving his Empire, not traveling halfway across the continent just to find out about himself.

>>34822841
I say we give her a choice.
Either she leaves our empire's borders for as long as it exists, or she remains our familiar in our service and we attempt a contract. If she needs blood, she gets it either from us or a volunteer.

>>34822985
>2. Head back to Harrowmont for now. The Archangel can wait.
we've got teritories to conquer and all

>>34822985
>Go visit the Archangel Raphael to talk to her about what you are.

>>34822985
>1. Go visit the Archangel Raphael to talk to her about what you are.

>>34822668

Gnome is the only one that is technically bound to Talon in the that sense. Mal and Sala, Undine, Taira etc. they all have their own freewill to do as they please.

>>34822985
>2. Head back to Harrowmont for now. The Archangel can wait.


Also uh.. Archangel Raphael to talk to her
HER.

>>34822985
>>1. Go visit the Archangel Raphael to talk to her about what you are.

>>34822985
>2.

Didn't Raphael tell us to bring him something useful if we decided to go visit him?

>>34822902
>We came to negotiate, we return with a Vampire bound to our will..
she isn't bound to our will, she is bound to us VIA our will. those two are not the same. the former suggests obedience
Also, the other vampires are the ones we spared and are being integrated into our society, if anything her being so close to talon would be assuring for them of talons intentions towards their race (well, he has one of us as a familiar, he can't be prejudiced against us)

>>34822970
option 5, ask her what she wants. and maybe ask our retinue what they think.

>>34822841

well, leaving her bound to our will makes for a poetic justice... Depending on how much control we can exert over her, she might make a good representative for the Vampires... then again, she can always be assigned to the Thrall research program... getting an account from the Vampire's perspective into the matter could yield some breakthroughs...

>>34822985
>2: Go Home
best not to turn up at the Last Retreat with a Vampire in tow; even if our Multi-race policy allows for it...

>>34823053
>or she remains our familiar in our service and we attempt a contract.
do we even know what that entails?

>>34820340
>>Now, with further ado
Aspir, before I forget it again: the correct phrase is "withOUT further ado". My grammar nazi autism has been tingling for dozens of opening posts.

File: 031.jpg (488 KB, 1024x498)

488 KB JPG

>>34823046
>>34823059
Well, I'm not actually going to be doing any empire management or conquering this session. Also, I'd probably just have Taira teleport you to the Last Retreat to save time.

Basically, this is mostly a choice about whether you want to spend time doing Harrowmont events (that aren't management or conflict) or investigating Talon.

>>34823149
>best not to turn up at the Last Retreat with a Vampire in tow; even if our Multi-race policy allows for it...
You can jsut send her back to Harrowmont first.

>>34823113
>Didn't Raphael tell us to bring him something useful if we decided to go visit him?
Hmm? I'm pretty sure that was more in regards to when you were going to offer troops next.

>>34823179
Huh, I know that but I've never actually looked at it after typing it once a long, long time ago (and clearly getting it wrong). Funny that.

>>34823094
Oops?

>>34823251
we might as well visit him then. he said to ask him once we know, well... now we know.

>>34823251
aspir

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/29312228/#p29334138
>Apparently they found traces of dhuzite in the mines last year – maybe you should send Gnome out to look. If you could find some of that supposedly unbreakable metal, the weapons you could make-
So, did anything come out of this one?

also can you answer >>34821450 too

>>34823251
Dat question mark.. So many mysteries to solve.

>>34822985

>>34823251
changing my vote from 2 to 1 then...

>>34822985
1
I am curious

File: 033.jpg (513 KB, 1280x904)

513 KB JPG

I'm probably just gonig to go with 1 to move the plot along as I think it's a tie. Most votes for 2 seemed to have missed my note in the OP about avoiding conflcit and management this thread.

>>34823379
Discovery of dhuzite will probably just get rolled into research.

The catalyst one won't have much impact on Undine's performance. She actually doesn't want to carry catalysts anyway.

possible conversation chain with Aladria;

Bring her up to speed with our plan for re-reintegrating Vampires into society, as equals, though we will need to work out alternative feeding options for them, though since Aladria no longer needs to feed on a regular basis, curtsey of the 'Bound to Talon' thing, she could theoretically start working from the get go...
I would suggest having her be the 'Voice of the Vampires' when each interest group is involved in a council meeting or such...
If she isn't interested in her Kin, then maybe have her work in R&D, specifically on subjects which she is already knowledgeable in at the moment...

File: 035.jpg (267 KB, 720x1100)

267 KB JPG

>1.

You decide that visiting Raphael is your highest priority right now. Taira can teleport you, Undine and Gnome to the Last Retreat without too much trouble. Not before she sends Aladria to Harrowmont so that she can be watched there until you work out what to do with her. You considered sending her to Vitria but she probably just read your thoughts and worked out your secret of the Source the second you considered it.

That’s kind of annoying.

You considered sending a message to Raphael to try to provide some warning but Gnome didn’t seem to think it would be necessary.

“If Raphael is there when you get there, then he’s there,” she explains. “If he’s not, then he wouldn’t have been there even if you sent a message. He’s not the type to change his priorities because of a message from a mortal.

With that, you let Taira do her thing and teleport all of you to the base of the mega-fortress that is known as the Last Retreat, the centre of the defensive line that runs along the Barrier of Marie and the home of the archangels.

>Long-ish scene incoming

>>34823514
Aspir, you mentioned that all but two of the remaining PoPs for our source are going to trivial with current power level of party. One is non trivial because its in angel territory, the other (we don't know which) because unknown
With Taira's teleporting it takes 1-3 days to reach each pop, plus a little extra time to find exactly where it is. We could dedicate one thread to taking the unclaimed ones for our source (except the angel one). One thread because for most we just need to choose who gets it and can gloss over it. its only the difficult one which needs to be made into a full dungeon crawl. We just time skipped a year and this is a 2 week project that gives us tremendous power. Not to mention significantly increases the canal project build time (since undine works on it and it will significantly empower her)

last time this came up it was shot down on the basis of people not wanting to dungeon delve for dozens of threads in a row. An understandable (but meta) justification. but in character there is no reason not to do it. The streamlining method for the trivial ones could take care of that.

>>34823716
>though we will need to work out alternative feeding options for them
already taken care of.
>though since Aladria no longer needs to feed on a regular basis,
she doesn't need to feed EVER. she can for a power boost.

>I would suggest having her be the 'Voice of the Vampires' when each interest group is involved in a council meeting or such...
Presenting it specifically in such a manner sounds like it will go down awfully, especially at current point in time. Also, she never had any interest in statesmenship and secluded herself away while immersing herself in her research

>as equals
I thought they were always going to be under supervision. regular citizens are not.

I am also not honestly thrilled about having her as a familiar, especially when acquired in such a manner. Its not like I want to kill her... but it just feels off

>>34823869
>already taken care of.

Yeah that particular research project seems to be going swimmingly with its Research Units of 10,000 and 500 days to completion without a start date.

>>34823949
its going to start as soon as the thrall cure is done.
and we already have a voluntary (for pay) blood bank system set up to feed them even without the substitute
also, last I checked it was much lower figures... lemme double check to see if it changed.

>>34824016
alright, it is indeed 500 days.
but like I said, blood bank is setup to feed them until its done.

she will be useful in that research, what with being one of the few older vampires left alive and being very well educated.

File: 036.jpg (182 KB, 1000x682)

182 KB JPG

>The Last Retreat

You had grown up relatively close to the Last Retreat and had heard a great deal about it as a result. Sadly, you’d never found the time to visit it. Looking at the inhumanly gigantic fortress you regret that you’d never seen a fortress of its majesty before.

Great walls of sandstone tower into the sky in this mountain pass, creating an impassable barrier between two peaks. They stand nearly twice as high as the walls of Harrowmont and you can see several layers of walls behind even these ones, towering even higher. An enormous spire seems to reach endlessly into the sky, vanishing into the clouds at some unknown point. Legend says that the Last Retreat is the last bridge to Heaven, the realm of the angels. Looking at the sheer height of that spire makes you almost believe it.

You’re hesitant to walk to last half mile to the city walls given the power you’re sensing from the city itself. You can’t see the barrier of the walls or any runes rippling along the unblemished stone but the air crackles with power even this far away. You understand at a very primitive level that you’re about to intrude on the domain of beings far, far more powerful than yourself. You wonder whether there’s a power on the continent that could punch through these barriers or whether they would be better off trying to destroy the ground beneath them first.

>continued

File: 037.jpg (289 KB, 1200x502)

289 KB JPG

>>34824180
Then again, Gnome had told you that the Last Retreat existed like this before the Magi Line mountains were created in the Golden Age. If the spontaneous creation of an entire continent-spanning mountain line directly underneath it couldn’t harm the fortress, what could?

Eventually you muster the courage to approach the fortress, your companions all on edge. As you approach the southern gate you try not to feel too claustrophobic. You’re in a mountain pass with plenty of space on either side. Why do you feel so boxed in?

A single guard stands near an enormous bronze gate that towers one hundred feet into the air and wide enough to fit a hundred soldiers. He raises his hand in greeting toward you, looking bored as he leans on his spear. With wards and defences like this, who needs guards except for greeting visitors?

“Hail,” he calls out softly as you approach and you note that he’s bearing a bronze sigil that looks similar to one you saw on the Archangel, though it had been gold on his armour. “What business do you have here?”

>Response?

>>34824202
pls gotta see archangle pls

>>34824202
Audience with Raphael. If he's here I've got nothing else to say, if not, say so that I may return to matter of my kingdom

>>34824202
"I've come to speak with the Archangel Raphael if he is available."

>>34824202
Pretty much this >>34824286

>>34824286
even if not, speaking to anyone here willing to speak to us can be very informative.
We know practically nothing about the last retreat, a bit of conversation here can go a long way to enlighten us as to what is going on in these here parts.

File: 039.jpg (194 KB, 1280x640)

194 KB JPG

>>34822599
I'm terrible at giving detailed physical descriptions so keep that in mind. I prefer to be minimalist.

>Undine
Short hair, probably to halfway down her neck. Not much in the way of bangs and probably has a relatively neat bob cut that frames a rather sharp face.

>Gnome
Medium to long hair. Probably a wavy look to just past her shoulders. Maybe a round face but sharp chin?

>Lynn
High ponytail that can be tied into a bun or tucked into the back of her head. Hair maybe goes to the top of her shoulders. She should have very clean and cherubic features.

>Taira
Medium golden blonde hair. Maybe with some white ribbons tied into them randomly but otherwise just a plain straight hairstyle. She should be a bit baby-faced and youthful looking.

>>34823949
Keep in mind that research may change shortly.

>>34823778
I'm considering it. You're being very optimistic in your time considerations, though, and missed the part where I mentioned the caveat of others intervening (e.g. what if Darvui stops you on the way to the pop in his territory?).

>>34824444
>missed the part where I mentioned the caveat of others intervening
oh, I did miss that part.

>>34824444
>Keep in mind that research may change shortly.
Also, that we're getting a crapton of mages and foxes soon. So our RU will probably go up significantly

File: 041.jpg (456 KB, 900x569)

456 KB JPG

>generic response

“I’m here to speak to the Archangel,” you say simply.

“About?”

“The sort of matters that rulers discuss with the Archangel Raphael,” you respond flatly.

He nods slowly, looking you over once. “Ah, you’re that new Imperator Talon fellow. I remember having to learn your insignias a couple of months ago. The Archangel is puttering about in the spire, I believe. Head on in and follow the tall white lights, not the other colours, and they’ll take you to his domain in the spire.”

You’re not really sure what he means by the white lights or Raphael’s domain but before you get a chance to ask the guard barks something at the doors in an odd language. When he does so, the gates begin to shudder and open inwards automatically. They don’t swing open completely, instead just making a gap big enough for several people to stand abreast. You give the guard a nod and thank him before stepping in.

At which point the meaning of ‘follow the tall white lights’ becomes clear. Within the walls stand a mass of sandstone buildings, each connected to one another and of varying heights. They all have flat rooves and stand three or four storeys in height as a minimum. The streets are enormous, with enormous paved highways wide enough for five or six carts abreast and huge strips of neatly maintained grass and trees along the sides and forming a median strip. The next layer of walls looks to be a few streets away and you notice that there is no direct path straight to the wall, instead requiring you to weave through the buildings.

>continued

File: 051.jpg (148 KB, 708x965)

148 KB JPG

>>34824772
Standing along the streets are enormous steel poles, bearing strange globes at different levels. Every pole has seven globes but some are lit by a mysterious magical light within them and others aren’t. You spot the white globe, second from the top, and notice that there are only four globes that are ever lit. White, light blue, dark blue and a strange black light that stands out due to the way it absorbs all light around it. Three of the globes appear never to be lit on any pole.

You follow the white globes along the streets, winding through at least three city blocks. The walls seem close when you feel a rumbling power all around you. It is as though the city itself is surging with power. You tense, and so do your companions at your sudden reaction, but the power suddenly subsides. Nothing appears to have happened.

[DC11 Perception]

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>34824791

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>34824791
woops

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>34824791
Oh this is going to go well...

>>34824791
>

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>34824791

>>34824841
Good job anon.

>>34824841
I am honestly shocked and disturbed that we passed the perception check.

File: Guts thumbsup.jpg (45 KB, 272x153)

45 KB JPG

>>34824869

>>34824841
I can't believe we actually made an idle roll.
Go Talon.

>>34824841

Talon is capable of sight for once. Oh joyous occasion.

File: 058.jpg (903 KB, 1024x766)

903 KB JPG

>Target met

You look around cautiously, ignoring the strange looks your companions are giving you. Something just happened, even if you can’t be sure. The buildings all appear the same, the walls are still there… yet something feels off.

“Talon, what is wrong with you? You’ve been acting strangely ever since we came here,” Gnome says. “The city is intimidating, I know, but you’re acting like it’s going to eat you.”

“There’s a lot of power in this city,” you grind out. “Can’t you feel it?”

Gnome opens her mouth to say something snappy before shutting it. “That can’t be right. There shouldn’t be any power here that you can sense but I can’t.”

“There’s some sort of ward covering the whole fortress,” Taira chirps. “I suspect it’s to hide the enchantments in the walls and buildings. Most likely Talon can see through it somehow, though I can’t.”

You frown at that. You’ve been able to sense that all the time so that’s not what is off. No, what is off is…

The lights have changed. The pattern of lights in the globes has changed. There used to be both light blue and dark blue globes in the intersection just ahead of you but now only the light blue one is lit. You immediately spin and stare back the way you came.

The white lights hadn’t been lit past the T-intersection you just came from. Now they are. You quickly dart back and look back at the intersection you just came through. The white globes aren’t lit when they just were.

>continued

File: 060.jpg (61 KB, 491x799)

61 KB JPG

>>34825126
This damned city just rearranged itself, you think. While you were literally standing in it. You were only one who noticed, you realise, noticing the way that Gnome and Taira are bickering without any concern. You’re almost uncertain of which way to go before you notice that the white globes look slightly different depending on the side you’re looking at them from. Compared to earlier… you see that the strange sigil that the Archangel Raphael wears is embossed on the side of the globe that somebody heading inwards would see. If you follow that then you should be able to make your way inside.

Now you just wish that the streets weren’t so eerily empty. There’s nobody in the houses – you even wandered into one to check, noticing that it was completely barren. It had been cleaned, though. Not a speck of dust lingered. The grass and trees looked to be perfectly maintained and were fantastically healthy despite the altitude. During your trip through the next two layers of the city, where you had to venture up a thirty metre high ramp to the next gate, you encountered nobody apart from a guard at each gate. Nobody walked the walls or the streets. When you asked a guard, he merely shrugged and ignored you.

For the greatest fortress on the continent, it certainly lacked in military presence.

You finally find yourself at the spire. Standing in a magnificent courtyard larger than Harrowmont’s, you notice the Archangel’s enormous sigil embossed in gold above a large doorway leading inside. You’re still rather curious as to what the view might be on the other side, though.

Do you wander around to the other side of the spire and peek onto the other side of the mountain range?

>1. Yes
>2. No

Also, let me know whether you're finding the description of the place interesting at all. I'm not sure whether people really read these details or not.

>>34825140
>yes
I find it interesting
pls continue

>>34825140
>1. Yes

Very interesting. Love the detail given.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>34825140
>Also, let me know whether you're finding the description of the place interesting at all. I'm not sure whether people really read these details or not.
I do read it, and it is interesting

>Do you wander around to the other side of the spire and peek onto the other side of the mountain range?
does that mean deviating from the path of white lights?

>>34825140
I love detail, and we are guests, lets not be rude. (Especially to the guy that can turn us into pulp)

>>34825209
Why did you waste that roll

>>34825213
unless he insults us

File: 066.jpg (111 KB, 970x547)

111 KB JPG

>>34825209
>does that mean deviating from the path of white lights? Most likely. There appears to be a second path of whtie lights which you suspect to be from the other entrance to the fortress but it might not lead all the way around to the other side of the spire.

>>34825245
then stick to the path. as curious as I am, we are here to ask for a favor (knowledge).

>>34825140
no

>>34825245
We might get lost if we deviate
>No

File: 067.jpg (239 KB, 1020x613)

239 KB JPG

>2.

You really want to peek at the other side of the Magi Line mountains but hold back for now. You don’t want to potentially intrude on Raphael’s hospitality. It’s clear that nobody lives here and the guards are here merely to open the gates. Maybe you can ask for a peek afterwards.

So you wander through the door with Raphael’s sigil into what appears to be a throne room of sorts. Viewing platforms line the sides and the walls are covered with various angelic sigils. You could fit a small army inside here. Not that there’s anybody inside. You’re about to stand around and wait when Gnome just strides ahead.

“I know where to go,” she says. “I wonder if Saareg is here…”

You don’t know who Saareg is but you hurry to follow your familiar as she wanders through the passageways and up stairwells. Raphael’s domain might have been built for when the angels were active and the city was full of people, you think.

Eventually, Gnome tries to open a door and finds it barred. She huffs and leans against a nearby wall. It’s not long before it opens, though, and you step inside. Standing on one side of the windowless room is the Archangel Raphael, his arms neatly crossed behind his back.

“I assume that your reason for coming here is that you know more about yourself, yes?” Raphael asks. “Tell me, what do you think you are and what do you want to know?”

>1. Completely truthful and open. Explain about your flashback and what happened then.
>2. Half-truth. Leave out most of the details of the flashback and simply talk about what you’ve learnt.
>3. Lie. Say that you believe yourself to be the next Lord.
>4. Custom

>>34825657
>1. Completely truthful and open. Explain about your flashback and what happened then.

He probably already knows anyways.

>>34825657
>1. Completely truthful and open. Explain about your flashback and what happened then.

I completely forgot Sareeg was here too.

>>34825657
>1. Completely truthful and open. Explain about your flashback and what happened then.

>>34825657
>1. Completely truthful and open. Explain about your flashback and what happened then.

>>34825657
1

>>34825657
>1. Completely truthful and open. Explain about your flashback and what happened then.
Personally, I want talon to learn the noncombat empire building skills. We seem able to deal with direct combat stuff, but have no idea how to deal with making better soldiers.

>>34825822
>but have no idea how to deal with making better soldiers.
sure we do, train them better, and get research done

also, its best to not be too branched out and become a master of none

>>34825822
Sure it's simple

you take Mook A throw him at Enemy Mook B
Observe
Correct mistakes
Take Mook A 2.0 throw him at enemies Mook C,D, and E
Observe
Etcetera

>>34825847
I meant with asteral power, and don't forget that Rapheal here can make angels, and is still a complete powerhouse in direct combat.

>>34825881
>How to Train Your Felix

>>34826078

>we will never get a Felix/Talon bro-venture for an Item of Power

File: 068.jpg (223 KB, 1023x976)

223 KB JPG

Yes, I’m fiddling with Ember’s real name. It’s kind of hard to achieve the intention without looking ridiculously stupid, though.

>1.

You explain your flashback in detail to Raphael, who listens silently. There wasn’t much point in hiding the truth from him – he might already know exactly what happened then, for all you know.

At the end, Raphael looks to one side, as if in thought. Somehow it looks like an artificial gesture – something to make him appear more human. Or perhaps it’s because such a human gesture looks bizarre from a godlike figure such as himself.

“It troubles me that the godlings are so aware of what is truly happening, particularly with the recent troubles of Breckenthurgh,” Raphael says after a short delay, using the real name of the Lord of Ember. “They are technically beyond my remit but they have no such difficulties.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘your remit’,” you say in frustration, remembering the way that Raphael left last time. “You said that you couldn’t intervene in the natural order of things but I gained my power from Pandemonium, which is decidedly unnatural.”

Raphael turns back to you, the full weight of his gaze boring down on you. “Pandemonium is our great foe, yes. And you gained your power through their intervention – more accurately, your freedom. Yet you are not a being of Pandemonium and so you still fall under the natural order of things. You may have gained your potential from divine intervention but your power is still local and natural. Still, I can tell you of what it means.

>continued

File: 072.jpg (451 KB, 2000x1250)

451 KB JPG

>>34826195
“Pandemonium is the angel’s oldest foe – we fought it even before the Emergence. They are defeated yet they still linger for… reasons I am not at liberty to state. They are not our greatest foe, however. The events since the Cataclysm are proof of that. The shard that Garynth spoke of was just a way for Pandemonium to reach into this world once more – your contact with it should have destroyed you as a boy yet you somehow survived it. Human tenacity and willpower, I suppose.”

“As a boy? So the shard that Garynth spoke of wasn’t the one I encounter in Blacktaffe?” you ask.

“No, that was a different shard,” Raphael answers. “You encountered another during your youth in the wars – that is how you gained your power. And, yes, I have known about you since then. It is part of my duty to ensure that Pandemonium is controlled and you were a potential threat.

“In any case, you are at a crossroads now. Your contact with the shard unnaturally modified your soul, enabling it to pull in astral power where it should not be able to. Your body, too, has changed to accommodate the additional power. The more you use your power, the less human you will be. Eventually, the thoughts, emotions and ideals that empower your magic will empower your mind as well and you will have no other path to follow. Just like myself. Just like the Lords. Just like the Fae.”

Raphael stops speaking, his booming voice echoing throughout the enclosed room for several seconds and the strange whispers behind it lingering even longer. You remain silent, unsure of what to say.

>Response? Questions?

>>34826224
>"Well... Shit."

>>34826224
So the more Astral power we use the less we are we, and besides stop using Astral power is there any other way to prevent us from dooming us?

>>34826224
>Neat

>>34826224
"If that happens, if I lose my mind to the power, what will that make me?"

>>34826301
I am not sure that this is how I would read it.

We are shaping our future. everyone changes as they grow up... basically we lose flexibility and malleability. eventually we become "set in our ways". Than again, most old people are.

Although I am wondering if it is possible for us to set ourselves on the path towards flexibility and malleability.

>>34826224
"I believe I've had...impressions of that already. Nothing I could not overcome, but it's as if they're impulses that aren't quite mine. Mostly they already align with my own desires and it isn't a problem, but when they don't, it becomes more apparent. It grates. Are you saying that should I continue to use astral energies as I have been, those will...take over?"

>>34826224

Can we ask him about feelings of The Other/Pandemonium? Particularly the Tssuchi incident. Is that normal, what does that mean?

>>34826224
What powers could I Potentially develop?
Are you currrently using the place of power in this location for anything important?

>>34826360
water is that to some degree

>>34826386
>but it's as if they're impulses that aren't quite mine
I think those come from the shard, not from talon becoming set in his ways

>>34826224
I bet this is what is gonna happen to our vampire familiar too over time with the astral power we are pumping into her.

>>34826224
"What if I keep my use of power balanced and measured? Will I become as set in my actions or will I be more malleable?"

Wondering what effect choosing balance has for us mentally.

>>34826420
>water is that to some degree
yea, but we are approaching it from the perspective of "balance" which isn't exactly flexible... can you imagine forever having to make everything balanced? balance isn't good, it could mean fermenting evil because good has become too dominant. it could mean destroying because there is too much order and not enough chaos.

>>34826224
Are the lords also men who controlled a shard of pandemonium? (since we don't know their origin)

So he's entirely aware of everything that has been happening over the past year then?

Rapheal is just fine with Talon holding this degree of power, finding a Source and using it, establishing an empire and etc.? I know he stays out of mortal affairs but is there a point where he'd have to intervene?

>>34826224
So we've run into at least two shards. One might be a coincidence, but there having been more than one brings up some questions.

Did we run into more than one because these 'shards' aren't terribly uncommon, or because having run into the first one coincidentally attracted us to the second one?

What are we expected to do if we encounter more of them in the future?

File: 073.jpg (160 KB, 800x1228)

160 KB JPG

>So the more Astral power we use the less we are we, and besides stop using Astral power is there any other way to prevent us from dooming us?

“You cannot cease using your power. It is like breathing. Perhaps a weak man may give in to his terror and allow himself to die but you… you are a human who defied chaos incarnate. That shard of Pandemonium was meant to reduce your origin to nothing, leave you but a destructive shell of an existence. Instead it gave you a freedom that none can enjoy, all driven by an ambition and will that has shaped everything you’ve touched in your life so far,” Raphael booms.

“As for doom… that is perhaps a tad melodramatic. You will merely find yourself as an unchanging man whose reality is set-in-stone,” he finishes.

>"If that happens, if I lose my mind to the power, what will that make me?"

“I would not say you would lose your mind,” Raphael says. “Merely that it will become set. It is said that actions speak louder than words, but I would say that it is the thoughts, emotions and ideals that drive those actions that define reality. So they will define you, in time. Eventually you will become that which you idealise and any incongruities between true reality, insofar as it exists, and your ideal reality will be a source of conflict henceforth.”

>Can we ask him about feelings of The Other/Pandemonium? Particularly the Tssuchi incident. Is that normal, what does that mean?

“That is merely the difference between your true self and the masks you project coming to the fore,” Raphael explains, sounding rather amused. “Your ‘true self’ is still forming so it perhaps rather immature in behaviour. Perhaps it was a sign as to your true desires, no? Or a sign that your actions do not reflect what you truly desire.”

>>34826224
when i ran into the second shard of pandemonium, all the sorcerers with me were drawn to the power, intoxicated by it..
While I instinctively felt that it is an old enemy of mine.
Does that mean those instincts of mine are not coming from the shard?

OOOH! Doh! What happens if I over draw on my power (FR into negatives)

>>34826545
and going from that... what happened to lord ember, I heard he went nuts and is burning everything he built. Isn't that going against the whole "set in his ways" thing?

>>34826545
>Does that mean those instincts of mine are not coming from the shard?
let me rephrase
>This seems to indicate that my flashes of instinctive knowledge do not come from pandemonium, as it would not view itself as an enemy. Then, where does it come from?

File: 074.jpg (112 KB, 610x900)

112 KB JPG

>>34826499
>Are the lords also men who controlled a shard of pandemonium? (since we don't know their origin)
"It is not my place to say."

>>34826436
>"What if I keep my use of power balanced and measured? Will I become as set in my actions or will I be more malleable?"
"There is no way to remain truly malleable as an astral being," Raphael says, instantly shooting down your idea. "Even a path of moderation and balance will eventually become set and there will be compromises. This is not a world where all can be kept in perfect balance. Even I would doubt your ability to ignore that which is truly unnatural - hence your reaction to the beasts of Pandemonium intruding on this world. You are a human and your perspective will never escape that fact. Just as I am an angel and my perspective can never match that of a human. Our paths may run parallel but they will always be different."

>>34826545
>Does that mean those instincts of mine are not coming from the shard?
Raphael is silent for some time after this question. "That is merely your human perspective showing itself. To control astral power in the way you do sets you apart from this world, even as it embraces your humanity in a new way. I cannot say anything more about the reactions of the sorceror to the shard, however."

>>34826505
"Right now, you are beyond my remit," Raphael explains, sounding amused. "Yet you are still potentially useful. There will be great threats in the future and an ally will be vital. If you can aid me in my cause then I shall overlook where you tread on my domain."

>>34826507
"The shards are not common but usually I can find the time to deal with them," Raphael says. "Sometimes I am busy elsewhere, as is my revenant and they slip past temporarily. Between the Barrier, the Fae, the shards and the shadow-beasts still lurking south of the Barrier I am rather stretched at times. If you find the time to remove them from this plane, it would be appreciated."

>>34826538
I heard that the sources were sealed, or alternatively capped to feed power into the wall of marie. Is it true? and if so, does that mean that I should not tamper with the other sources? Since I know roughly the location of 2 more.

Also, does raphel or those working for him lay claim to any specific pop.

Oh, how about mention the uses we know of for the pops and ask if he knows if any other use for them? and if it is true that tying the pop back to talon would grant him dominion over a small area around the source

>>34826714
What are the shadow beasts?

>If you can aid me in my cause then I shall overlook where you tread on my domain.
what have we done so far that treads on his domain?
it helps to know so we can minimize such incursions.

What happens if I over draw on my power (FR into negatives)

>>34826714
So, instinctive aversion to touching or handling the power of a fae directly... what would that do.

Also tempted to ask about the potential effects of astral power on a vampire.

>>34826714
>Raphael says, instantly shooting down your idea
this supports my earlier theory about astral being psychology

some rambling (not sure if should actually ask him)

I think the domains of change, chaos, growth and flexibility might... although in retrospect such aspects to astral power might backfire spectacularly. Especially because they would not be human anyways. Forced change for the sake of change, or chaos for the sake of chaos... those sound rather fayish
if anything, balance between change and non-change more closely simulates the human.

humanity as an aspect... probably results in a caricature of humanity rather then actual humanity.

>>34826714
Can we absorb other Pandemonium shards?

>>34826964
>probably results in a caricature of humanity
What is a caricature of humanity?

>>34826195
>particularly with the recent troubles of Breckenthurgh
I heard breckenthrugh went insane and is burning everything he ever built. That sounds... antithetical top the notion of following his set path.
Could such a thing happen to me.

File: 079.jpg (437 KB, 1280x720)

437 KB JPG

>>34826845
>What are the shadow beasts?
"I am not entirely certain. My theories as to their origins do not concern you, currently."

>what have we done so far that treads on his domain?
"Nothing yet, but as you gain in power and use your Worldstone more then you will become a potential threat to the order of this world. At that point, I have some discretion in how to react to you."

>What happens if I over draw on my power (FR into negatives)
"Most likely you will find yourself drawing on unprocessed astral power. If your soul does not have the time to harmonise such raw power before it comes into contact with your mind then you may be influenced by the essence of the power you've drawn on, warping your thoughts and emotions. I would strongly recommend against this."

>>34826864
>So, instinctive aversion to touching or handling the power of a fae directly... what would that do.
"You would be exposed to the thoughts and emotions of the Fae. They are beings of pure Pandemonium and you would be risking damage to your mind and soul once again. I strongly recommend only engaging Pandemonium on this plane, where you have the ability to rationalise their existence and fight them without exposing your mind to them."

>>34826747
"You will have no luck maknig use of the other Worldstone. Yours was left alone because it was too much trouble to unearth it from beneath the rock in the time we had.

"And no, you cannot make use of the Place of Power beneath this fortress. It is a sacred place and it is not my place to offer it. If you should encounter my compatriot, the Archangel Samael, then perhaps... I will contact you about Samael when I feel the time is right."

>>34827051
"You are not a Lord so I do not see the same happening to you."

>>34827036
>A caricature is a rendered image showing the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way.
An overly exaggerated and simplified representation of a human, as viewed via talon's eyes. Not true humanity, but overly focusing on certain aspects of it, and greatly exaggerating them.

>>34827065
Expected powers.

>>34827074
I get that, but I mean what would that wind up looking like? A space marine or something?

>>34827175
Those aren't very human though
I was thinking more in terms of emotions and behavioral attachments. overly exaggerated fake love and companionship.
Or the introducing of glaring weakness and flaws because humans are imperfect beings

Ultimately there are a million ways to do it, especially because it depends on what talon personally believes humans are like. So if he believes all humans are inherently selfish, he will become exaggeratedly selfish. etc

>>34827065
What powers can we be expected to develop, and how do we develop them?

>>34827065
>sacred place
so, some places are sacred then? this reminds me of the monestary. Are the monks his allies? or related to him?

File: 081.jpg (105 KB, 950x547)

105 KB JPG

Alright, I think that's enoguh Q&A for now. We'll be shifting back to the Aladria thing shortly.

>>34827174
Whatever you develop yourself towards. Raphael isn't going to know the ins and outs of how you're going to try to warp reality. As for paths...

Life will mostly grant you the ability to change things permanently. This might mean widespread destruction but it also means modification of existing things (like uplifting) and healing.

Power is about making yourself stupendously powerful. You're less about modifying things to fit your view (though you'll drag them along with you) then you are about destroying that which you don't like. Basically, everything will come to reflect your ideals because they won't have any choice.

Balance is mostly about being able to shift things back to a moderate point. You tend to favour more subtle manipulations of reality - instead of outright bending reality to destroy something, you'll instead shift the flow of magical to enable yourself to defeat them with your own power. Versatile but lacks depth.

>>34827356
No connection.

>>34827407
power best path

>>34827407
I was thinking how awesome power is before, now I think how its even more awesome
its basically pure I STRONK!
It might actually be best mentally too, its not that you believe a false reality, but you believe you are so powerful that you can make what you want real via sheer personal might, knowing full well it wasn't like it before you brought your might to bear

>>34827407
I was mainly hoping that he could give us some tips that would make uplifting or improving our followers less of a "check back in 40 threads" deal.

>>34827486
or flight anon. we gotta figure out them wings!

also, he just did give us tips about uplifting. it pretty much said "use life"

File: 083.jpg (734 KB, 1600x1600)

734 KB JPG

>Leaving

After a very long dialogue with Raphael, where he was surprisingly open about a lot more than you expected, you decide that it’s time to leave.

“Say, where is Saareg right now?” Gnome asks Raphael.

“He is currently in Pharos,” comes the reply.

Gnome clicks her tongue and looks rather unhappy. You don’t know why she wanted to see Saareg but you don’t like it. Before you leave, Raphael tells you one more thing.

“I would suggest you take a look out over the north before you go,” Raphael says. “It might give you a sense of perspective.”

You…

>1. Take his advice and wander around the north side of the spire.
>2. Ignore it and head back to Harrowmont.
>3. Custom

>>34827522
1

>>34827522
>1. Take his advice and wander around the north side of the spire.

>>34827407
Quick question, would Life include self modification (beyond massive regeneration capability back toward some idealized self image)?

>>34827522
>1. Take his advice and wander around the north side of the spire.

>>34827522
1

>>34827522
>1. Take his advice and wander around the north side of the spire.

File: 086.jpg (271 KB, 1024x576)

271 KB JPG

>>34827548
They'll all modify you to match your self-image but Power will be the one that makes you the strongest personally.

>>34827522
>1. Take his advice and wander around the north side of the spire.

Time to piss off the edge of the world.

>>34827585
more brownie points for power
although, it might lead to fanaticism (must destroy all who oppose me)

I am imagining balance doing mass debuff of enemies and mass buff of allies.

So what I'm seeing is if we had acess to a certain amount of Astral talent points people would want to throw some in Balance but primary Power or the opposite?

>>34827407
Feels like Power matches our personality, Balance is how we've been playing/roleplaying, and Life is what we want.

Decisions

>>34827585
Ok, I wasn't very clear...Could Life allow Talon to (and I'm trying very hard not to say either "shapeshift" or "enter a state of personal hyper-evolution") grow gills if he needed to stay under water for some extended period of time or tinker with his own physiology in other ways to adapt to some whim or circumstance? Or am I completely barking up the wrong tree?

>>34827720
Wait fuck change Power to Life I dun goofed

>>34827721

This is basically how I've been seeing it. Though I'm trying more towards Life then anything else, because uplifting.

File: 088.jpg (1022 KB, 1197x904)

1022 KB JPG

>>34827734
Completely wrong tree. You can't achieve that sort of thing with astral power - the whole point of it is that you're basically a super-stable representation of your own ideals. Your image might make it so that you don't need to breath underwater (because you're awesome) but actively changing your body to do so isn't really possible.

>>34827758
>wanting not as incredibly weak minions over max personal power

>>34827808

>having issues with how other people prefer to play

>>34827835
>having issues with debate over which path we're gonna take

>>34827788
Got it. Thanks boss.

>>34827808
>>34827835
>>34827853
>Having Opinions

>>34827788
I am rather intrigued about the (not known in character) fact that saareg is both life AND death.

>>34827721
>balance is how we've been playing/roleplaying

Is it though? I mean, for some stuff yeah, but we're bulldozed though plenty of things and we've been trying to make massive and lasting changes in the world. Like the canal project (and how it was financed), the attempt to cure vampirism instead of just managing their numbers...

Sorry if this isn't all that coherent, I need sleep and this is probably my last post before heading out. Just trying to say that yes I see some Balance in our actions, but mostly I see Talon trying to break the status quo of the world across the board in order to build the best empire this world has and will ever see. And I don't think that's how someone concerned with Balance would go about doing it.

>>34827975
Yea
I think we have been reliably doing power for combat, and balance for social. except when we didn't (sometimes we do power for social too)

File: 094.jpg (833 KB, 2560x1600)

833 KB JPG

>1.

As you enter the courtyard you decide to take Raphael’s advice and visit the north side of the spire. It takes some time, given the sheer size of the spire. You don’t think you’ll ever create something this absurdly huge. Harrowmont is large enough as is, it doesn’t need to become such a monstrosity.

As you step out onto the north side you see great plains before you. The Last Retreat stands at the end of a pass through the mountains and is supposed to be a bulkhead of sorts from attack on the other side. You’re a little shocked at the sheer… lifelessness of the plains, though. It’s mid-summer and yet all you can see is barren earth. As though all the plants that should be growing on the land were long ago exterminated and the land salted afterwards. As far as your eye can see there is no life.

You remember the memories of the false-revenant in Farun. You remember the grassy terrain, the sodden ground… the land had been full of life, even as it was soaked in blood. Now all that remains is barren, hardened earth. Nothing has grown on this land for centuries. You wonder if rain falls beyond the Barrier?

As you step up to the edge of an upraised viewing platform, you’re shocked into stillness. You grip the railing tightly as you stare down the steep decline towards the Barrier itself. Grass grows sparsely along the mountains and it’s clear that the ground near the Barrier has seen no small amount of destruction. You can see the life within the land, though. The ground isn’t a dull brown, filled with cracks and clearly bereft of all water and life for centuries. It is merely a battle-scarred wound in the land itself. Lining the walls of the pass on the way down are fortresses and walls, some built into the mountains to provide ranged support towards the barrier, others to slow a charge towards the Last Retreat. Right before the barrier lies an enormous black stone wall and your empowered vision can see figures patrolling the walls.

>cont

File: 095.jpg (1.91 MB, 2560x1600)

1.91 MB JPG

>>34828078
But it is the Barrier of Marie itself that catches your eye. It is invisible somewhat above ground level but as you gaze over the land you can see where it meets the earth. It crackles as a shimmering silver shield of light, veins of magical power running from the earth to the sky and vanishing from sight. A horrid black mass seems to beat at it at ground level, like an amorphous mass lining the entire length of the barrier. Countless runes light up where the barrier meets the black mass and you see that the power within them disintegrates the attacker, turning it into a black mist that floats into the air before being drawn back into the mass and rejoining the assault.

It is with great horror that you realise that this great black mass, which appears to endlessly stretch along all of the Barrier that you can see, is in fact a countless number of shadow-beasts, swarming and hammering at the Barrier. In return, the Barrier destroys them only for their brethren to draw on their power and… create more, you guess?

A sense of persective, you’d been told. Yes, you could see that. There were several miles of Barrier visible from where you stood and the entire thing was line with shadow-beasts piled atop each other for many metres high and who knows how deep. You can scarcely imagine the numbers of them within sight. If this is what it is like along the entire Barrier… how can any power stop such a threat?

You leave the Last Retreat, disquieted. You’ve learnt a lot today.

Mostly, you’ve learnt that you are an incredibly small fish right now in a very big pond.

>I’m going to do a short discussion where people propose their ideas for Aladria and ask questions on that, then I’ll call a vote. Afterwards, social stuff.

>>34828111
She helps with research, both for blood and for thralldom. Once she's at least somewhat accepted, we can put her in more important positions, if she wants. We should stress to her that we prefer to secure loyalty by helping our followers succeed in their own goals by following us. Which is hard to do is said followers won't tell us what they actually want.

>>34828111
its almost midnight, its getting rather late to have such a vote.

>>34828111
I'll just restate what I said earlier.

I think we should just talk to her more, we know very little about her and thus I can't really make any real judgements about her.

>>34828111
>Aladria ideas

-I'm fine with full familiar with some ground rules
•no thralling new people (does not apply to designated enemies?)
•no feeding on people unless she needs the blood to survive some emergency situation

I had one more, but there's no way I'm going to remember it before I pass out. 'Night all.

>>34828245
night, I am hitting the hey as well.

File: 114.jpg (215 KB, 1680x1050)

215 KB JPG

Well, if participation is at this level (and with many players leaving for the night) I might end the quest here for the night, even though it is hours earlier than normal. Given how few votes were put through earlier I wonder whether there'd be any participation in the social stuff at this point. Or the Sylvian stuff I still need to do, now that I think of it.

I may take the next two weeks off, instead of the week after next, to ensure I get the empire shit sorted after a couple of disastrous weeks. Clearly people are being turned off by the recent focus for some reason and I'll see if I can't timeskip to the Shropham stuff to rekindle interest.

Holy shit. Just had one of those impossible/random ideas as I was drifting off to sleep. What if we layered a vampiric layer onto Finn's tattoos so he could steal magical energies (or the tattoos could eat it) from opponents as he damages/kills them? As long as we don't link it with a physiological response (an endorphin rush for example) it probably wouldn't provoke an addiction to slaughter but it could seriously supplement the amount of Finn's magic his tattoos consume during combat.

Just a thought.

>>34828408
We still need to deal with Raza though.

>>34828408
I'm still here at least. I think that maybe your earlier message that you might not be able to run scare off people or something.

>>34828408
I'm still here if you decide to continue.

>>34828408

The Finn thread garnered a good bit of interest.

Don't skip out on the stuff you want to do or is necessary for the quest. Just give things a booster shot with some more action-y bits, then get back to the Empire.

>>34828408
lots of guys are running back and forth puting votes in quests that are up at the same time.

>>34828408
....ok, I'll make myself some coffee.

>>34828485
Action-y or social.
I like the empire building and diplomacy but some of it goes over my head and several other anons have said the same, we only seem to have a few people who can keep up with it.

>>34828408

I think a lot of the earlier lack of votes was because it was an obvious choice.

We're lack a sense of debate recently, nothing has really divided the player base and brought everyone out in awhile.

>>34828408
Nah, there are tons of people lurking. Watch
>You're favorite character a shit
>Death is clearly the best path, all others are shit.

>>34828408
I had to leave for a bit, but I'm back now.

File: 1409188478655.png (14 KB, 500x300)

14 KB PNG

>>34828540

>>34828408
still here I usually lurk though

>>34828537
Well, except for power choices. but that's one of those endless slapfests.
>>34828540
HOW DARE YOU BE WRONG ON THE INTERNET

>>34828527
>we only seem to have a few people who can keep up with it.

Then people should make an active effort to work towards figuring it out. Aspirational dedicates tons of time to Q&A, which barely ever gets results regarding that stuff, and an entire GDocs of 'dumbed down' economics. He's been doing a great job of providing all of the resources necessary to figure things out, players need to take a more active interest.

>>34828540
Your a fool, Character is a goddess and death=shit.

>>34828540
But Anon you're my favorite character

>>34828540

Should have said Sarah a shit. That's when the real defense force comes out.

File: 116.jpg (319 KB, 1920x1200)

319 KB JPG

Well, I'll probably do a social thing as I don't really know where to go otherwise. Vote options at the bottom.

>>34828537
It's kind of hard to tell when I only get four responses over fifteen minutes, during an already very slow thread, and half of them say they're leaving.

>>34828485
Part of the problem is that action/adventure can sometimes kill participation. Last week was pretty quiet, for instance. As was Farun. The empire stuff seems to alienate some players but get a bunch more fired up. Social is almost always pretty dead unless something weird happens. Participation feels a bit random at times and makes it very hard to judge what people enjoy and don't.

Army stuff is usually the only thing most of the playerbase is interested in and there hasn't been any of the for a while.

SOCIAL SCENE VOTE
>1. Exploring cuisine with Undine and Taira.
>2. Playing poker with Corrfax, Vad and Maloric.
>3. Strategising about how to deal with Sylvian with Gnome and Karise.
>4. Custom

>>34828725
>1. Exploring cuisine with Undine and Taira.

>>34828725
I personally want to deal with Rayza, but
3 works for me
>>34828705
But anon, I am the Sarah defense force

>>34828725
>2. Playing poker with Corrfax, Vad and Maloric.

Take the two weeks off man. You need to recharge. And it'll get everyone itching again like after that 3 week work break you took.

>>34828725
>2. Playing poker with Corrfax, Vad and Maloric.
get Finn and Felix/Fenix whatever

>>34828725
>2. Playing poker with Corrfax, Vad and Maloric.

Why does Corfaxx remind me of Tankred?

>>34828725
>2. Playing poker with Corrfax, Vad and Maloric.
Gotta go with bro time

>>34828725
>Part of the problem is that action/adventure can sometimes kill participation.

Force the players hands to get more creative. People have gotten pretty lazy, even when using Finn who has an entirely different skillset then Talon.

>Army stuff is usually the only thing most of the playerbase is interested in and there hasn't been any of the for a while.

Partial Lynn thread? Lyyph thread?

>>34828725
>1. Exploring cuisine with Undine and Taira.

>>34828725
Well you could always have an assassin drop by a particularly boring meeting. Seriously, have an assassin or three on standby and throw them at us when we are looking bored.

>>34828980

>blackwater sends an assassin
>specifies that they may only attack when Talon is in the bath
>after murdering an assassin in the nude Talon finds a note on their body
>See how you like it. Love, Blackwater

>>34828725
I've been quiet because like five threads I'm interested in lined up at the same times. I'm a bit burnt out harem stuff and only passingly interested in Talon's origin and figured those present had it handled.

>2. Playing poker with Corrfax, Vad and Maloric.

or on the off chance it gets some support:
>4. Go see if Felix has hatched a dastardly scheme to undermine the empire lately and or invite him to poker with the above.

>>34829027
He's truely the rival we need.

File: 122.jpg (1.72 MB, 1900x1150)

1.72 MB JPG

>>34828980
Alright, because I'm bored and this will be a bit of a change I'm going to actually go through a proper poker game (Texas Hold 'em because it's well known). I figure it'll be amusing and make an interesting backdrop to the conversation.

I'll be using actual cards that I've shuffled and drawn myself for the players and then interpreting character reactions to their hands and what's happening.

So yeah, this will either go well or horrible.

>>34829052
>So yeah, this will either go well or horrible.

I'm going to pour another glass this sounds hysterical.

>>34829052
Can we ignore the advice we just got and draw upon negative FR points to ensure we always get royal flushes?

>>34829052
Oh man this is going places

>>34829052
This will be memorable.
One way or another.

File: 123.jpg (315 KB, 758x1000)

315 KB JPG

here we go

>2. Poker time

Somehow you’ve found yourself in a game of poker with Corrfax, Maloric and Vadoric. Apparently the faux-pattern has a hell of a poker face (no shit, you think, he has no facial expressions) and has done horrible things to Mal’s and Vad’s pride. You routinely beat Mal in friendly games over the years so you’ve been brought in to recover their pride.

Or something. You’re a little distracted by the way Corrfax modifies the shape of his claws to deftly shuffle and deal the cards. It’s probably good thing you’re not playing for money as you get the feeling you’re playing with a card-shark. Card-chimera? Sounds pretty bad and you just hope his pride keeps him from cheating. Instead you’re playing for favours. Winner gets an unspecified personal favour from every loser.

And pride. Can’t forget your pride. No way in hell you’re losing to Vad and Mal. Corrfax… well, any favours you owe him will probably make your life easier anyway.

You’re big blind, with 10 out of your 2000 starting chips. Vad’s small blind, with 5 down.

You have a KING OF CLUBS and a QUEEN OF SPADES.

Vad tries to do a poker face but his tails shift about nervously. You’re pretty sure Mal’s got nothing. Hell if you know how Corrfax is doing.

Mal checks your Big Blind. Corrfax checks. Vad checks. You’ve already got 10 chips in.

You…

>1. Check. No extra chips.
>2. Raise by 10 chips.
>3. Fold.

>>34829247
2
GO BIG OR GO HOME

>>34829247
>2. Raise by 10 chips.

>>34829247
>2. Raise by 10 chips.
I don't know how to play poker... This were blackjack I'd have a better chance.

>>34829247
>2. Raise by 10 chips.

HELP I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY POKER

>>34829247
>1

If we lose next time we're bring Undine, she plays card games all the time.

File: 128.jpg (109 KB, 1000x700)

109 KB JPG

Note that if I miss a hand combination, let me know. Also, I’m limiting betting to keep things flowing.

>2.

You decide to raise, which you do so with a smug smile because you’re a dick in poker. Playing Mal like a goddamn flute.

As you expected, he folded. Corrfax and Vad both checked, the former without any hesitation and the latter after peeking at his cards again.

The flop happens, Corrfax deftly flicking the three centre cards over with shifting metal fingers.

Community Cards: ACE OF HEARTS, SIX OF SPADES, KING OF SPADES

You have a pair of kings (KING OF CLUBS and QUEEN OF SPADES. Vad looks a bit unhappy when he sees the flop. Corrfax doesn’t react.

When it comes to betting, Corrfax immediately raises by 10 chips. Vad checks after a moment’s hesitation. You…

>1. Check with 10 chips.
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.
>3. Fold.

>>34829429
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.

>>34829429
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.

>>34829429
>2

>>34829316
>>34829322
The goal of Texas Hold 'Em is to get the highest hand possible. You have two cards and a community pool of cards that everyone compares their cards with. You want to 2+ of a kind or even higher valued sets. For example if the cards on the table had two Kings we'd have 3 of a Kind (1 King in our Hand 2 on the Table) and we'd be in an okay spot. If we saw a Jack a Ten and an Ace we'd be in a good spot as well since we'd have a straight (5 cards that go in sequence). A pair is meh, a pair of face cards (jack, queen, king) is better but it'll lose to three of a kind, which loses to 4 of a kind, which loses to a Royal Flush (10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace all of the same suit such as club or diamond). I'm fuzzy on where straights and straight flushes fall compared to 4 of a kind but I belive they beat it as well. 4 of a Kind beats a full house as well which is a pair coupled with 3 of a kind.

The skill in poker is convincing everyone around you that once the cards all go face up, you'll win and if they keep putting in more money as you raise the ante (amount of chips needed to stay in the game) they'll be ruined/won't be able to stay in the game. So they fold and stop paying into the pot and forfeit their chance of winning. If you do this with a shit hand you have successfully bluffed the shit out of them. I'm not that great at poker and there's plenty other stuff.

>>34829429
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.

We'll probably be too rich for Vad and he'll back out. I doubt we'll outbluff Corrfax but he may only have a pair in his hand as well.

>>34829569
Thanks, that actually makes sense.

File: 129.jpg (251 KB, 1100x710)

251 KB JPG

>2.

You check and raise again, lifting your bet to 40 chips out of your 2000.

Corrfax checks and so does Vad. You get the feeling that Vad might fold if the turn doesn’t give him anything.

The turn happens, revealing an ACE OF SPADES.

Community Cards: ACE OF HEARTS, SIX OF SPADES, KING OF SPADES, ACE OF SPADES

Your Hand: KING OF CLUBS, QUEEN OF SPADES

You’ve got two pair (two kings, two aces). Damn, that’s a lot of spades though. Could get risky if somebody has two spades. Or an ace, that’s an easy three-of-a-kind.

Corrfax checks and Vad folds. You…

>1. Check. No change to chips.
>2. Raise by 10 chips.
>3. Fold

>>34829646
>2. Raise by 10 chips.

Corrfax doesn't have shit he's feeling us out.

>>34829646
>1. Check. No change to chips.

Both Corrfax and Talon are feeling each other out right now. Corrfax has no tells we can discern and bluffing him is probably a lost cause at this early stage. Lets see if he had a good hand or was bullshitting.

>>34829646
>2. Raise by 10 chips.

>>34829646
>1. Check. No change to chips.

>>34829646
>1. Check. No change to chips.

File: 130.jpg (225 KB, 1280x657)

225 KB JPG

Rules and goal were posted at >>34829569

POKER HANDS

Note that Ace acts as both 14 and 1.

Straight flush - all cards of same suit (clubs, spades etc) and in descending order (e.g. 10,9,8,7,6). Highest is Ace High (Royal Flush).

Four of a kind - four cards of one number (e.g. four aces)

Full House - three cards of one number, two of another (e.g. 3 kings, 2 queens)

Flush - five cards of the same suit

Straight - all cards in descending order (e.g. 10,9,8,7,6). Ace high is the best.

Three of a kind - three cards of the same number (e.g. 3 kings)

Two pair - two pairs of two cards of the same number each (e.g. 2 kings and 2 queens)

One pair - one pair of the same card number (e.g. 2 kings)

High card - the highest numbered card

File: 131.jpg (62 KB, 840x640)

62 KB JPG

>1.

You decide to check. You can’t pick out any tells from Corrfax and are reluctant to raise when he might have a decent hand.

The river happens, revealing a FIVE OF DIAMONDS.

Community Cards: ACE OF HEARTS, SIX OF SPADES, KING OF SPADES, ACE OF SPADES, FIVE OF DIAMONDS

Your Hand: KING OF CLUBS, QUEEN OF SPADES

You’ve got two pair (two kings, two aces). If Corrfax has an ace, you’ll lose. The same can be said if he has two spades or several other hands.

Corrfax hesitates, thinking for several long seconds as he stares at the river. Then he raises, moving the chips very slowly.

You…

>1. Check with 10 chips.
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.
>3. Fold

>>34829840
>1. Check with 10 chips.

Keep up the Talon Face(tm) and ask Corrfax where he first learned to play.

He needs to know we are testing him and observing him and are disinterested in the actual pot in front of us.

>>34829840
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.

>>34829840
>1. Check with 10 chips.

That anticlimactic as fuck River.

>>34829840
>2. Check and raise with 20 chips.
That's some river there.

File: 132.jpg (181 KB, 640x800)

181 KB JPG

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Tie-breaker roll. I'm keeping votes pretty short.

>>34829918
>>34829949
Just like real poker!

>>34829993
Just as I was about to change my vote to uping ante too.

>>34829993

Dicegods why!

File: 138.jpg (471 KB, 1920x1200)

471 KB JPG

>2.

You check and raise with 20 chips, raising your bet to 60 chips. Total pot is 160 chips. It will be 170 chips if Corrfax checks.

Before Corrfax can check or fold you fix him with your patented Talon Face.

“Where’d you learn to play, Corr?” you ask your Source guardian. “Poker’s a bit of an odd game to know how to play given you mostly played by yourself.”

“Lady Undine has been teaching me the latest rules in her spare time between meditation,” Corrfax answers, returning your gaze levelly with his red orbs. “I did play five card stud with my creator. He was terrible. This is considerably more enjoyable.”

With that, Corrfax checks and reveals his hand. A SIX OF HEARTS and SEVEN OF HEARTS. That means the best he can get is a pair of sixes and aces against your pair of kings and aces. You reveal your own hand, not losing your dickish look and claim the pot.

Mal shakes his head. “Damn good thing I folded. Now, can you do that again?”

“That’s what you brought me here for,” you say with a grin.

Blinds double and Vad deals. You’re small blind with 10 chips in out of your 2170.

Your Hand: ACE OF SPADES, NINE OF HEARTS

“You know, I think I’m at a disadvantage here,” Vad says as he catches everybody watching his tails.

“Don’t worry, Vad. We love you for it,” you say.

Corrfax checks with 20 chips, as does Vad. You already have 10 chips in. You…

>1. Check with 10 chips.
>2. Raise with 30 chips.
>3. Fold

>>34830041
>1. Check with 10 chips.

No need to be over aggressive just yet.

File: 141.jpg (513 KB, 1600x703)

513 KB JPG

>>34830041
Actually, I might retcon the starting chips to 500 to keep things moving quickly.

Talon: 680 chips.
Mal: 490 chips.
Vad: 460 chips.
Corrfax: 440 chips.

>>34830082
Good idea.

>>34830069
maybe even give vad some tips to smooth his twitchiness

>>34830100
We could also ask to call the Lt in and offer him tell rubs.

Should make a poker night once a month or something, gather all the males and have some bonding shit.

>>34830041
>1. Check with 10 chips.

File: 142.jpg (666 KB, 1700x1050)

666 KB JPG

>>34830082
Herp. Talon has 670. Me good at counting.

>1.

You check and so does Mal.

“You know, we could call in Nate to massage away the tells?” you offer.

Vad glares at you as he does the flop. “Not just no, god no. Or should be we bring in Taira to give you a handjob?”

“That might go poorly for more than me,” you say dryly. “Unless you want to watch?”

Vad scowls as he imagines Taira, well, giving you a handjob. You suspect he really doesn’t like the image as he peeks at his cards before scowling heavily.

Community Cards: NINE OF SPADES, FIVE OF HEARTS, EIGHT OF DIAMONDS

Your Hand: ACE OF SPADES, NINE OF HEARTS

Corrfax raises with 20 chips and Vad folds instantly. Mal’s not giving anything away other than the fact he has something – you don’t know if he’s got one or two pair, or even a three-of-a-kind.

You have a pair of nines. You…

>1. Check with 20 chips, bringing your bet to 40 chips.
>2. Raise with 40 chips, bringing your bet to 60 chips.
>3. Fold

Also, you…

>1. Try to fluster Mal to get an idea of how he’s doing.
>2. Probe at Corrfax about why he’s playing poker with Undine.
>3. Screw with Vad more.

>>34830191
>1. Check with 20 chips, bringing your bet to 40 chips.
Try some subtle grimaces to fool some into thinking that you have nothing.

We should really give him some pointer to keep 'em tails under control.
3 but keep it light if possible, ask around what they think of so and so.

>>34830191
>1. Check with 20 chips, bringing your bet to 40 chips.

>2. Probe at Corrfax about why he’s playing poker with Undine.

Both Mal and Vad have gotten plenty of our "affections" since we've known them, spread the love.

>>34830191
>1. Check with 20 chips, bringing your bet to 40 chips.
>2. Probe at Corrfax about why he’s playing poker with Undine.

>>34827407
So I Just fucking woke up and read this. I honestly like a power/Life combo. But Power/Balance works too. I'm honestly mostly worried everyone is going to place all their points into one or the other eventually forcing it to be harder for us to use raw power or subtle power.

File: 145.jpg (575 KB, 1024x600)

575 KB JPG

>1. & 2

You check with 20 chips and Mal does the same.

Your bet: 40 chips
Pot: 140 chips
Your total: 670 chips

As Vad does the turn, revealing a KING OF CLUBS, you probe at Corrfax.

“Why are you playing with Undine?” you ask, glancing at Mal with a frown as he looks pretty excited. “Is she keeping you company or the other way around?”

“I suspect she thinks she’s doing me a favour but is also interested in what I am,” he replies as he checks.

“Really? You don’t think she’s just nice?” you reply, looking over the cards.

“Perhaps. It is in her personality to do so. I don’t dislike the company, even if it does attract the less upstanding sort,” he says gruffly. “You really should do something about that fox of yours – she has been more indecent of lately. She came to speak with Undine wearing only a towel recently – surely that is unbecoming of a woman of her stature?”

“Taira has many things but stature is not one of them,” Vad says dryly.

Corrfax checked. Mal looks very excited by the turn so you worry that he’s got two pair. You doubt he’s got three-of-a-kind as you think he had something last hand.

Community Cards: NINE OF SPADES, FIVE OF HEARTS, EIGHT OF DIAMONDS, KING OF CLUBS

Your Hand: ACE OF SPADES, NINE OF HEARTS

You…

>1. Check. No extra chips.
>2. Raise with 20 chips.