As it happens, he is. You find the serpent-man slithering around a copse of young saplings, humming quietly to himself as he tends the newly blooming trees. His black sclera eyes rise to meet you as you approach, and though he initially appears wary, a small smile breaks through when he recognizes you. He gives you a small wave, then returns to packing the earth down around the young trees.

"Good evening, Totemist," he says without looking up from his work. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you this evening. Isn't it a little late to be roaming the brush?"

You shrug. "The night is as much my time as the day, Siperco. No better time to train my fellow Totemist than the dead of the evening."

He nods, straightening on his powerful black-scaled tail. Golden irises catch the faint light from your torch. "Well, welcome to my abode. Anything I can do for you, or are you simply passing through?

> I thought I'd check in on you. How are you adjusting?
> I wondered if you had any recommendations. We've been looking for a new beast to bind.
> No, nothing. Just thought I'd say hello.
> Other.
----

You are Osyki, journeyman Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. After successfully negotiating a truce between the Iron General and the Stone Emperor, you have returned to your village with Saeri to find a number of tasks awaiting you. A day of experimentation and relaxation has left you feeling much refreshed. Now, with a week's time before your next journey, you have decided to train your Cotemist further.

[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem

Plot Summary (Current up to thread XLVII): http://pastebin.com/eFqsD03K

The Cast Thus Far / Binder's Log: http://pastebin.com/yhhRcnsS

Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest]]

>>35324252
>I wondered if you had any recommendations. We've been looking for a new beast to bind.
Awww yeah son! Time for totemist quest.
Disappointed you guys didn't get a wyrm but what can you do? We really should devote a day or two to binding all our foci into everything once we get a chance.

>>35324252
> Other.
"Just being neighborly. We were in the area anyway for hunting when I realized that I never actually welcomed you to the woods. Though seeing what you're doing here it occurs to me that you might be able to help me with something. Sylvia asked that we plant and nurture a tree for each beast we bound. Can you recommend a species that would be easy for a first timer to care for?"

>>35324252
>I wondered if you had any recommendations. We've been looking for a new beast to bind.

>>35324252
> I thought I'd check in on you. How are you adjusting?
> I wondered if you had any recommendations. We've been looking for a new beast to bind.

>>35324252
Hey, Diarca, what other quests do you follow if you do?

You gesture to Siperco with a sort of friendly shrug. "Well, first are foremost I wanted to see how you're adjusting to your new home. Being neighborly, and all that. Seems like you and Sylvia are getting along just fine."

He nods, gesturing to the freshly planted saplings. "She's been a most generous hostess to me, despite the quirks that my residence requires. I've been doing my best to make myself useful to her, and she's rewarded my with a nice parcel of land and freedom to roam as I please."

You nod, putting a hand on your hip. "Excellent. I had a pair of questions for you actually, if you're willing to entertain them." You take his raised eyebrow as a cue to continue. "First, I made a pact with Sylvia to plant a few trees in the village. What would a good, hardy species be to plant? I'm a first-timer when it comes to botany, so something easy to raise would be good."

He flicks the end of his tail in what you assume is a thoughtful gesture. "One of the apricot trees closer to your village would be a good choice. Just check it for parasites every so often. Perhaps you could fashion a charm to keep it healthy as well. I'm not privy to the intricacies of your arts, but they seem to range wide from what Sylvia has told me."

Quinn is already writing this advice down in a small notebook.

"Do you have any recommendations for a beast to hunt in the area? Quinn and I need some practice."

At this, Siperco leans forward. "I do. There's a beast nearby that has caused me no small amount of nuisance. A large glitterwing, oversized even for its species, has been devouring the young trees in the area. If you could rid the land of it, I would be most grateful."

Glitterwings are a species of moth, usually growing to be the size of a small dog on average. They're herbivorous but very aggressive, and their wings shed a toxic powder when they fly.

> I'll see what I can do.
> I'm not really interested in insects.
> How large are we talking?
> Other

>>35324918

[[Dropped my trip.]]

>>35324734
[[I don't have time to follow a lot of quests, unfortunately, but I have been enjoying reading through the archives of Dead Gods and Banished quest. Old favorites of mine are Bloodquest and Frost Giantess. Also Origins quest, which apparently resumed running today. ]]

>>35324918
> I'll see what I can do.
> How large are we talking?
I am very interested in insects. How big is it? Are we going to bind Mothra?

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>>35324918
> I'll see what I can do.

holy balls I remember following this way back in the day and then losing track after it apparently stopped, can't believe it's still up and running

>>35324918

> I'll see what I can do.
> How large are we talking?

>>35324918
>> How large are we talking?
>> I'll see what I can do.

H'okay, we'll be needing some sort of impromptu gasmask, from the sounds of it.

>>35325006
We used to be able to do that with Cordia by making us breatheless, but now she gives earth manipulation instead of undead properties. Maybe we could rig up something with the Skyscythe Drake to blow the dust away?

>>35324918
Where does the glitterwing lair, and what dangers would we encounter in the lair?

Also, would Siperco like us to make him some totems for his own place (e.g. a Beast-ward to prevent predators from harming him and his trees)?

>>35325105
That second one is a good question to ask. It would be nice, give him some additional protection. Did we do something like that with Boa, too? I can't remember if we extended the village's wards down to her pond now that the stream leads there.

>>35325054
The edge of dawn could probably just straight up blow the dust away. Maybe try putting the drake in our gloves? That generally leads to element projection.

>>35325006
Or something that can blow away the dust, if Quinn's new Verdis Wyrm focus can't be used to ward him from the toxins. The Skyscythe Drake is possibly too powerful, but some sort of fan (made of twigs bound together by string and covered with rags) would likely blow away the dust (and maybe also the glitterwing, too).

If not, then armor + Skyscythe Drake wing might produce some sort of whirling air shield.

You shoulder your spear, nodding to Siperco. "I'll see what I can do," you confirm. "How big are we talking? I know they get big enough to dwarf some puppies when they're mature, but you make it sound like..."

Siperco shakes his head. "I haven't seen it myself. It only comes round when I'm asleep. But from its appetite, I would say that it's likely the size of a large wolf. The scratch marks left in the trees seems to suggest something around the size."

That... that is a very large insect.

"Got it," you say. "Did you want me to see if I could whip up a totem or two for you? Something to keep the pests and beasts away from your home."

He shrugs. "I wouldn't turn you down, but I believe being in Sylvia's good graces extends a number of those benefits to me personally already. Being a spirit has its benefits in this domain. Not like the old home." He shudders, casting his gaze distastefully toward the south.

> Set off for the lair.
> Take a moment to change bindings.
> Ask something else of Siperco / Quinn.
> Other

>>35324918
>How large are we talking?
>I'll see what I can do.

>>35325217
> Ask something else of Siperco
> Anything else if we can't find the moth or want to keep hunting afterwards?
> Set off for the lair.

>>35325217
>Take a moment to change bindings.
I say we try binding the skyscythe drake into a few things, preferably gloves and armour. If they dont produce something to our liking then I would suggest the edge of dawn, if its strong enough to let us fly it can probably blow away some dust.

>>35325217

> Set off for the lair.

>>35325217
>>35325274
This sounds good.

>>35325217
> Take a moment to change bindings.
Wrap a square cloth around our mouth and nose and bind Cordia to it.
> Set off for the lair.

Could we somehow bind the moth's spirit to a throwable weapon I wonder. Not our bow, because that requires our both hands on it. Something like throwing knives would be great, but we could only bind it to a single knife and we would have to retrieve it every time.

What if we filled a ouch with salt (or something) and bound the spirit to pouch and dipped our throwing knives on the poison powder? Well, that is hoping binding the spirit to pouch gives us poison powder of course.

>>35325387
The stuff we bind the moth to will probably be able to project poison. Like the drake+swords windblades.

>>35325387
We could attach the knife to a string or something.
Or attach knives to a boomerang, I assume a boomerang with a spirit bound to it will always come back.
Also, voting for:
>>35325381 and >>35325274

>>35325419
That doesn't really help as I've said, since we could only bind to a single knife.

>>35325441
Boomerang was my first thought when I wanted retrievable throwable weapons buy I hate boomerang honestly, so that's why I was trying to find an alternative.

>>35325484
What I mean is that when you swing it it will shoot poison as a projectile.

>>35325484
What's wrong with a boomerang? And I also suggested a knife on a string, which would probably work honestly.

>>35325484
A rope knife, maybe? Throw it out, pull it back, we can pretend to be Scorpion.

>>35325484
>>35325519
We could commission a gauntlet that shoots out knives.

>>35325604
How would you produce such a thing?

>>35325616
I'm sure someone in Pointsmar makes them. If they have scissor-swords I'm sure they have wrist-mounted dart shooters.

>>35325645
Why not a hand crossbow or something? I dont see why we wouldn't just use a bow in the first place. Osyki has never had a problem switching between his many weapons in a fight before.

>>35325680
The only real reason is to be cool. Being able to project a blast with just a wave of your hand is neat. Though personally, I'd prefer some sort of rapidly-reloading hand crossbow. Something like Corvo's from Dishonored. Binding some of our more powerful foci to that would make a repeating rocket launcher, basically.

>>35325746
>Being able to project a blast with just a wave of your hand is neat.
We have at least four things that can do that. Maybe putting it in the amulet would let us shoot poison balls like the turtle lets us shoot lightning balls? We should at least experiment and get a feel for it first before we commission anything.

>>35325784
Oh, I agree. I'm not the guy who proposed the gauntlet, I'm just arguing for the fact that we could have one if we wanted to. I personally don't, though. I'd like to take Corvo's crossbow, bind the Elder Turtle to it, then rapid fire a half-dozen lightning bolts at one target.

>>35325821
>implying we will ever take the turtle out of the boots
We need to hunt another turtle. Another bone warden would be swell too.

>>35325855
We take the turtle put of the boots when we need heavy artillery. Though I suppose now that we have the Song of the Deep we don't have to choose anymore.

>>35325680
Hand crossbow is fine too. The idea was to have something that can be used in any situation, even while in close range combat.

Can someone link to that html table with bindings please. You should put that up on you OP Diarca.

>>35325938
Maybe the mask would lets us breath poison?
>>35325876
The only time I can remember taking the turtle out of the boots is when we want to try something else in the boots. Then we switch back to turtle. Pity too, I like its bindings.
>>35325982
Ask and ye shall receive.

You ask Siperco about the usual nesting grounds of Glitterwings. Though he isn't sure if such a large specimen will hold true to pattern, he tells you that the mths usually nest in dense foliage. Such a large one, he reasons, would likely need to nest in an equally large tree. He suggests you head due west, to where some of the eldest Redwood trees grow. Reasonably, only they will be large enough to support it.

You take a moment to swap a few bindings around. The heavy stone-plate skirt vanishes from your waist as you pull the Razor Wing from it. With a flash of light, you unify the Wing with your gloves, setting Cordia's Sealed Earth spere aside.

>[Binding Discovered: Grasp of Glory.]

The gloves are a metallic gold in color, shimmering softly in the torchlight. Plates of rock similar to those on the Bulwark adorn your knuckles, and similar panels tessellate together on the back of your hand to form reasonably strong bracers. As you flex your fingers, you can feel the breeze around you rush in, then out.

Deciding that leaving Cordia unbound would be a waste, you bind her to your mirror. Gnome Guard floats upward, hovering a foot from your shoulder.

You turn to Quinn. "Ready?"

He nods.

> 1d100 for tracking and perception.

>>35325982
http://zamubafoo.github.io/
Lets try this again.

>>35326024
We used the lightning bow to kill a pack of Basilisk Spawn. Blasted them all away since they were in brackish, conductive water. Good times.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>35326044

>>35326067
Man I remember literally nothing from that swamp other than it was a pretty rough time.

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>35326044
What about >>35325381 ?
If we were unbinding Cordia anyway we might as well have gone with it.

>>35326089
It was, which was why killing an entire pack of the creatures that killed our master (well, their mom did, and he killed her in return, but the point stands) was so satisfying. I just wish it hadn't been too much of a risk to try to bind one. A Basilisk Fang would make for a great focus.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>35326044

>>35326111
Earth cloth?

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>35326044
If we make some light will the moth come to us you reckon?

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>35326124
She is all about protection and stuff, I figured if we used it as a face wrap she could serve as a filter.

>>35326179
Pretty sure thats because she is made of rocks now. Rocks, while durable, probably wouldn't stop dust much.

> 67

Siperco's directions were less than precise, but "west" is about as easy as it gets, directions-wise. You and Quinn ride deeper still into the woods on the back of his Raptor. You note that some of the color has returned to his cheeks after his previous binding, and he looks somewhat refreshed. He glances at you, toying with the Stinger Focus in his hand. The edge of the blade glows with a dull green light.

"Do you think I'm up to trying two bindings at once?" he asks. "I've been working on my stamina, far as binding goes. I still feel pretty bushed, but I'm not winded anymore. And having another tool to rely on in this might be useful. What do you think?"

> Don't push yourself. Save it for another time.
> Give it a try. No way to learn but by experimentation.
> I would unbind your current binding first, but give it a try.
> Other

>>35326247
>Give it a try. No way to learn but by experimentation.
For SCIENCE!

>>35326247
>> Don't push yourself. Save it for another time.

>>35326247
> Give it a try. No way to learn but by experimentation.
He's not the one fighting anyway.

>>35326247
> Don't push yourself. Save it for another time.
But if he wants to try
> I would unbind your current binding first, but give it a try.

>>35326247
> Give it a try. No way to learn but by experimentation.
> Other
"If it doesn't work, I'll have you do some of the exercises Master Ayren worked me through. It'll be fun to see someone else suffer through them for once."

>>35326247
> Don't push yourself. Save it for another time.
INB4 he loses conciousness during the fight, gets poisoned.

>>35326247
>Give it a try. No way to learn but by experimentation.

>>35326247
> I would unbind your current binding first, but give it a try.

You chew the inside of your lip as you consider his question. Ayren would have encouraged you to push yourself at every available opportunity, discovering and reforging your limits. Still, you're about to go into battle with an unpredictable foe. You wouldn't want Quinn to fall prone or prey to the poison at an inopportune moment.

You're about to reject the idea outright when you remember that, had you not decided to push your limits, you would never have obtained your first focus. Or your second.

"Give it a try," you say with a nod. "No way to learn without pushing yourself, right? Just let me know if you start to feel lightheaded or anything, and hang back in this fight."

Quinn nods, giving you a half-smile over his shoulder. Seems like he was working up the courage to do it. Your words seem to have reinforced his resolve.

The raptor slows to a walk as you reach the edge of the redwood grove. Trees tower overhead, each trunk as thick around as a house. The leaves above sparkle in the moonlight.

> 1d100

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>35326482
Come on, Quinn, you can do it.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>35326482

>>35326500
>>35326517
Well, that was odd.

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>35326482

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>35326482

>>35326541
Thanks man. My shitty internet and your quick typing have gotten us a sweet roll instead of a mediocre one..

>>35326541
Yes

>>35326541
based anon

>>35326482
What about Quinn's binding?

Quinn dismounts from the raptor, crouching in its shadow to bind the Verdis Wyrm Stinger to his... vest? Interesting. You keep your eyes pointed skyward as he does. The dust on the leaves above is proof enough that if the Glitterwing isn't here, it's close. You hold your spear in a level grip, keeping your head on a swivel. The faintest sound might be your tip-off. The gossamer wings of a moth are unlikely to make any sound at all.

> 97

As if to illustrate your point, Gnome Guard swings to life, positioning itself in an expanding position directly above your head. There is a dull resonating -thump- above you as a weighty shape is reflected off of the surface of the animated mirror. You and Quinn both dive away from one another as a cloud of glittering dust plumes in the air around you.

You didn't even hear the thing approach. There, hovering in the air, is the barely illuminated shape of a massive beast. Siperco underestimated its size--the moth hovering in the air before you is at least the size of a small bear. It lets out a chittering noise as toxic, glimmering dust rains from its wings into the air around. Sharp mandibles meant for stripping tree bark flex in the dim light, and multifaceted eyes regard you with cold calculation. It flits upward, moving toward the treeline once more.

> Pursue with Cloudwalker's Stride.
> Clear the air with Grasp of Glory.
> Fire Cacaphoni Eminus.
> Other

>>35326779
> Clear the air with Grasp of Glory.
Important to get this out of the way early.

>>35326779
>Clear the air with Grasp of Glory.
Fuck you moth.

>>35326779
> Clear the air with Grasp of Glory.
>Other
Have Quinn set up the binding runes.

>>35326779
>> Clear the air with Grasp of Glory.
then
> Pursue with Cloudwalker's Stride.

>>35326779
Gather the dust into a small pile, where it can be buried or otherwise prevented from being kicked up into the air again. We'll probably be moving and manipulating the air again, and so create lots of wind that could scatter the dust back into the air. Also, I'm sure that the dust would be useful for some sort of totem, to enhance the Beast-ward totems on the village's walls and/or create some anti-toxin totems.

>>35326779
This: >>35326857
Plus > Fire Cacaphoni Eminus.

>>35326779
> Fire Cacaphoni Eminus.

Hopefully the shockwave fucks up its wings even if we don't get a direct hit.

>>35326877
How exactly do you suggest we would gather the dust in the middle of a fight?
We can't just crouch under the moth and start gathering it in a pile.

>>35326877
That's a good point, we could do some neat stuff with toxic scale powder. But we can't really do that right now, at least not effectively. After the fight when we're stripping the carcass of anything useful.

>>35326940
>>35326877
I'd rather not deal with hazardous toxic material we could easily inhale by accident.

You press your palms together, feeling the sparking energy of the Skyscythe Drake hum in your grasp. With a forceful exhalation you thrust both hands forward, sending a gale of solid winds whipping from your grasp. The shining powder scatters away from you and Quinn, hand-shaped imprints spinning in the receding powder. You draw your bow from your back, feeling the air around you flex and sing as your gloves and the bow seem to... interact? There is a pulsing link between the Foci of sound and wind, a palpable node of power between them waiting to be tapped.

Quinn, rising clad in a scaled jerkin, looks a little pale in the face. You hope it's the strains of binding and not the toxic air. "Get a few binding circles arranged," you mutter to him as you draw the longbow's string to its maximum draw. Your feet are planted firmly in the dirt, the edge of the bow's arm wedged for added support in the soft dirt. Quinn darts away as you prepare to fire, hands over his ears.

> Tap the node of power (1d100)
> Fire. (1d100)
> Go with your gut (Use Bonus [1])

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>35327022
> Tap the node of power (1d100)
I want to see what this does.

Rolled 63, 65 = 128 (2d100)

>>35327022
> Tap the node of power (1d100)
> Fire. (1d100)

Rolled 64 (1d100)

Tap that node! Use that bonus on it!


Now we see the real reason Totemists get so many creatures, the freaking synergy.

Also, either get the wing, or it's antennae. Wings for the dust, which could be useful as hell. Or the antennae for mor sensory shit, since we don't have nearly enough omniscience.

>>35326779
>> Clear the air with Grasp of Glory.

>>35327167
There's never enough omniscience. But yeah, sensory enhancements would be nice to get.

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>35327022
>> Tap the node of power (1d100)

It's a similar mental exercise, you find, to fishing Thane out of his focus, or seeking a path to your inner world. A mental game of pin-point accuracy, a practice of forcing yourself to focus on a particularly slippery thought, or of forcing yourself -not- to think of a conceptual block. You extend your spiritual energy into your bow, feeling the point where the auras of wind and sound collide, sensing the growing orb of spiritual confluence there. You force your psyche therein, sensing a melding point between the two powers. There's something lacking, like a key that fits a lock but can't quite turn it. With the correct tool, you reason, you could remove the block and allow the two powers to flow coterminously. Perhaps even unite the bindings.

But for now, there's a buildup of energy begging to be funneled into assault.

>67

You force the marble of energy into the point of your arrow, take careful aim, and fire. The sound is, as before, tremendous. There is a different tone to the eruption of noise this time, however, a screaming roar that makes the line on your stomach twinge with familiar agony. An egg of sound emerges from the point of your bow, flipping through the air after the Glitterwing. Though it falls short of the flitting creature, it doesn't miss its mark.

Because, of course, it detonates.

Instantly the air is awash in a swarm of screaming wyrmlings, their cries resounding across the forest. Projections of wind and sound drive the Glitterwing in a hopping, diving dance through the air as it tries desperately to avoid the brood of spiritual teeth you have unleashed upon it.

> Press your advantage. Pursue with Magni's Spear.
> Fire again. You'll drive it to ground.
> Use your Grasp to force it downward.
> Other

>>35327469
>> Fire again. You'll drive it to ground.

>>35327469
Where did that 67 come from?

>>35327469
> Use your Grasp to force it downward.

>>35327469
> Use your Grasp to force it downward.
When Osyki says sit down, YOU SIT YOUR ASS DOWN.

Rolled 60 (1d100)

> Use your Grasp to force it downward

>>35327469
> Fire again. You'll drive it to ground.
I'm tempted to use the Grasp to pull it down, but I'm worried that a vacuum effect would draw the scale powder to us. Better to knock it out of the air.

Also, damn that's a nice attack. We'll need to find more resonance combos like that in the future. Maybe Elder Turtle with Deep Siren, since they're both about radiant energy?

>>35327469
> Use your Grasp to force it downward.

>>35327469
> Press your advantage. Pursue with Magni's Spear.

And the lightning boots, never forget to use them.

>>35327469
>> Fire again. You'll drive it to ground.
>> Use your Grasp to force it downward.
both?

>>35327469
> Fire again. You'll drive it to ground.

>>35327469
> Use your Grasp to force it downward.
> Press your advantage. Pursue with Magni's Spear.
Push it into our spear.

>>35327469
> Use your Grasp to force it downward.
Two side notes:
1: We should bind the wing of this thing. Besides being connected to its poison powers, it's also connected to flight, and by association, both wind and stealth (it did sneak up on us)
2: We should see if we can take a cutting of that massive redwood that was mentioned, get that to grow in the village, along with the apricot trees.

>>35327709
I'm fine with the redwood cutting, maybe see if we can set it up within a ward or combined into one that protects our town? See if we can set it up so the protections grow stronger as the tree grows?

>>35327791
I'm the one who, way back when, suggested scattering more of those blood-powered-mask-totems around the forest, swamp, and mountain, rendering the entire region invisible to the Magus. Maybe we could set up a sympathetic link from the village wards to the trees we take cuttings from? spread them that way?

>>35327829
Oh, I like that idea. Blur the signal even further.

>>35327829
Hmm, maybe? Not sure how the Apricot trees would fit in with that as they bring to mind good health and plentiful harvest more than protection or obscurment . Now a redwood on the other hand. They bring to mind strength, stability, and longevity. It would fit really well with any kind of protection, obscurement by being in its shade or something to tie it with the blood totems.

>>35327709
Redwood root systems are way too shallow to be planted inside the village. Their roots spread out too far and at a depth that the foundations of the buildings probably will be compromised. They also require multiple other redwoods around them to intermingle their root system to stabilize them and allow them to reach their massive heights.

>>35327829
Perhaps.

I sort of worry that the Magus will be able to find us eventually just by looking for the metaphorical black spot on his radar. He'll see a village-shaped hole in his perception and think to himself 'Gee whiz I wonder what could be there'.

Then again, from what we know of him, he doesn't seem particularly coherent, or he would have just remembered where we were first time around. Maybe he actually needs to see the village to exist there, and while he cannot perceive it, he is literally unable to think about it?

Hard to tell at this point. Suffice to say that the dude is sketchy as fuck.

>>35328031
I don't think it turns the spot the village is settled into a "nothing to see here, move along" but into a "the village you're looking for isn't here" with jedi hand waving and all.

Can we make a totem/totems using seeds and grow them into guardians of the village?

>>35328031
I'm wondering how we'd fare against the Magus a second time around. We're a lot more powerful than we were when we kicked him to death. Would it be enough that we wouldn't need help this time? Or would he send a stronger splinter to deal with us after what happened last time?

You know, I kind of think Ayren planned for this when training us. We know that his training regimen has given us an enormous reserve of raw power. And he seemed to focus more on practical skills than the more abstract totemism disciplines. I think he raised us with the intent of making us a warrior who could protect the Magus' apprentice from him if Ayren himself died. Someone who once let free of the limits placed by being a mere apprentice could rapidly forge themselves into a spiritual powerhouse.

You leave the quavering shaft of crystal spiked where it is in the forest floor, turning your attention more fully to the floundering Glimmerwing. Your hands reach out, grasping projections of air mirroring your reaching hands as you wrap the bug in howling winds. With a sharp downward tug, it spirals toward the ground. The sonic wyrmlings disperse as they near the forest floor, the magic animating them apparently expended. The Glimmerwing turns to hit the ground legs-first, landing on a cushion of segmented limbs. Its wings flare wide, and the scintillating powder on the filmy appendages seems to sparkle menacingly.

The forest around you seems to grow brighter for a moment.

> Hurl yourself aside.
> Counter with a wind wall.
> Throw your spear.
> Duck!
> Other`

>>35328259
> Counter with a wind wall.
Turning its powder back on it would be an appropriate enough way of fighting it to make for an easier binding.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>35328259
>> Counter with a wind wall.

Duh.

>>35328259
>> Counter with a wind wall.

>>35328259
> Counter with a wind wall.
>>35328280
NO ONE ELSE ROLL

>>35328280
Welp.

>Counter with a wind wall

>>35328280
wat
does this count?

>>35328319
It does if Diarca'll go by rule of cool this time.

File: Wind.jpg (196 KB, 1024x1056)

196 KB JPG

It's a curious thing.

Your gloves almost seem more responsive since you explored the link between them and the bow, The channels of spiritual energy flowing between you and the golden gauntlets are wider, the gates easier to pass through each time you wish to access their power.

The moth flaps its wings, expelling a great gale of shimmering powder toward you. As it does, a third eye opens on its forehead, letting loose a blinding flash of light that bounces from shining mote to mote, filling your vision with a burst of searing light.

Instinctually, you throw your hands out. One covers your eyes, the other thrusts outward toward the moth in a desperate, wild defense.

When the spots clear from your vision, you can't help but stare.

The Glimmerwing lies stunned, upside-down, slumped against the foot of a redwood tree. It is positively -caked- in shining powder. Long streaks suggest that your panicked wind wall turned into something of a twister--a path of destruction can be seen carved into the forest floor in a straight line leading up to the tree. Quinn has busied himself carving a ring of binding around the tree, and the insect by proxy. He flashes you a thumbs-up, his shirt pulled up over his mouth and nose.

> Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
> Hit it one more time, just to be sure. (1d100)
> Let Quinn take the binding.
> Kill the damn thing.
> Other.

>>35328664
>Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
Get dat wing

>>35328664
Bind. Maybe we get poison resist, it's what did our master in.

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>35328664
>Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
Third eye

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>35328664
> Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
The third eye.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>35328664

>Bind the beast.

Third Eye

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>35328722
No wait, scratch this, i want the wings.

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>35328664

>Bind the beast.

Third Eye

>>35328722
>
>>35328746
>>35328748
>>35328750
Guys remember this is for quinn

>>35328664
> Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
Wing.
That eye is just a glorified flashlight.

>>35328772
Who struggles with 2 bindings at once.
He doesn't need third yet.
And we need poison resist ring

Rolled 25 (1d100)

Well, that shit is bound.

> Bind the Beast
Third Eye

All the synergy with the Deep Siren.

>>35328772
It's for us.
>>35328664
> Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
The wings.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>35328746
>>35328748
We already have plenty of flashy things. I would go for the wings or something to do with the spores.

>>35328772
Wasn't the other thing we got earlier for Quinn?.

>>35328664
> Bind the beast. (1d100, choose a part.)
I'd rather not deal with poison shit. Also, we already have a wing.

>>35328788
>You're about to reject the idea outright when you remember that, had you not decided to push your limits, you would never have obtained your first focus. Or your second.
>"Give it a try," you say with a nod. "No way to learn without pushing yourself, right? Just let me know if you start to feel lightheaded or anything, and hang back in this fight."
>Quinn nods, giving you a half-smile over his shoulder. Seems like he was working up the courage to do it. Your words seem to have reinforced his resolve.
>The raptor slows to a walk as you reach the edge of the redwood grove. Trees tower overhead, each trunk as thick around as a house. The leaves above sparkle in the moonlight.
>>35328799

>>35328823
Meant to add bind the third eye.
Also meant to add changing from

>>35328842
Meant to add changing from >>35328797
fuck

>>35328664
Third eye for US
bind to the mask when we get it

>>35328831
Yes, and?
What are you trying to get at by copying that here.
Clarify it for me.

Also, if we get the eye? We need to see about combining it with the deep sirens heart. Imagine it would make ALL THE LAZORS.

>>35328831
Uuuuuh what are you getting at?

>>35328831
That was asking if he should try binding his Verdis Wyrm focus, not to bind the glitterwing.

>>35328872
Bind everything into the mask when we get it.

>>35328664
A scale from the wing or the an antennas

>>35329200
Maybe scalp the entire upper part of it's face? Get the antennas and third eye together in other piece. Grab all its sensory organs.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

[[Rolling for tiebreaker.

1 - Wings

2 - Third Eye]]

You waste no time. As Quinn finishes the final rune of binding you leap forward, muttering the Totemist's Pact under your breath. The Glimmerwing seems totally stunned-- you note that one of its feathery antennae has snapped off in the ferocious gale you unwittingly unleashed. With a sweep of your hand you clear the area around it of poisonous powder. As the world goes monochrome around you, you draw your ritual knife and jab it deep into the chitin of the beast's head.

A few deft cuts remove the eye, multi-faceted and glowing with inner light. It's about the size of a plum, and weightier than you might expect. As the glow of your ritual knife touches its surface, the soft consistency of the organ hardens until each shining facet feels like smooth glass under your fingers.

You turn to Quinn, who is slowly removing his impromptu breathing filter from his face. "You just never stop being ludicrously overpowering, do you?" He asks. His tone is joking, but there's something else in his eyes as he regards your new prize. "Well done, in any case. Siperco will be happy to know that it's dead."

> Return to Siperco.
> Return to the village.
> Return to Boand's pond.
> Explore further.
> Other

>>35329504
> Other
Do we have any spare pouches or vials? As I recall we usually have at least a few on us. I'd like to take samples of the wing scale powder. But after that, or if we just don't have the containers, let's head to Siperco to tell him it's dead and then head back to the village.

>>35329504
>Return to Siperco.
To let him know we got rid of his pest problem then
>Return to the village.
To open that fucken drawer.

>>35329504
> Return to Siperco.
> Return to Boand's pond.

>>35329504
>> Return to Siperco.
>> Return to the village.
ask Sirperco about his job as messenger to the Swamp mother

>>35329555
We're actually still a binding short. We've got nine spirits now.

Also, sounds like Quinn is starting to get jealous of us being the super totemist. He's been making a lot of comments like this lately. I think we should put him on a double-tough training course to boost his energy levels, then send him to go bind something on his own. Maybe an accomplishment like that will make him feel better.

>>35329598
Lots of comments like what? I see one that might even hint a jealousy and that could be lots of other things.

>>35329544
This. Definitely this. There's no telling what the village healer could do with it.

Then >>35329504
>> Return to Siperco.
to thank him.

Then >>35329504
>> Other
go get some cuttings from those apricot trees.

>>35329632
In any case, his plan is not bad. Quinn needs more spiritual reserve.

>>35329598
>We've got nine spirits now.
God damn it guys, why didn't you get a bloody wyrm. It was almost the exact same situation as when we got the raptor.

>>35329632
The "Do you even get tired of being overpowered" line, said only half-jokingly. He's been commenting a lot on our comparative levels of power and remarking that he feels left behind. That, and he seemed envious of how much attention the pretty foreign girl (i.e, Saeri) was paying to us. Quinn's come to the realization that he's not the main character of the story, and I'm worried how that's going to affect him.

>>35329735
Could be a lot of other things then jealously. Could be respect. Could be awe. Could be him realizing the gap between them despite their similar age. Either way he will be fine, hard to think of himself as a main character when he was swinging a mace while we were doing lightning jumps.

>>35329735
We trained under Ayren for years. He's been at this a month. He wants to 'bulk up' to our level? Fine, we can put him through the same things Ayren put us through. Remind him that we didn't get our first 'feral bind' until after Ayren died.

>>35329799
>Remind him that we didn't get our first 'feral bind' until after Ayren died.
Better not remind him that, as it was the rock turtle.

>>35329832
Yeah but we already had a bound weapon

>>35329779
Then we ask him to train without binds. Compare our un-augmented skill with a mace to his. He practiced one thing, we practiced another. Now he's playing catch-up. If he'd transfered over to the healer's hut instead of to us, he'd be in the same boat. So would we. Yes, it'll be a hard road, but that doesn't mean he can't get there.

>>35329852
That was gifted to us by Ayren, we didn't earn it.

>>35329852
Which was a gift, *after* his master died he got that as well.

>>35329866
>That was gifted to us by Ayren, we didn't earn it.
Thats the point.
Also he has trained without binds. That was his job before he became our apprentice.

>>35329890
No, I mean have him train us without binds. Just combat skill. He'll make us look like an idiot, because we never trained to fight without our powers.

Should point out that a freshly appointed totemist having 2 spirits in his 1st month is nothing to scoff at.

>>35329927
Im pretty sure we were suppose to train with the other guard until shit started hitting the fan

>>35329504
Respond to the effect that we certainly seem to be growing a lot faster then we did during training. maybe it's like a muscle, and we're working it out. Just hope we dont pull something.

Also, YOU LIED TO ME DIARCA!

>>35329946
We were. We should go talk with the guards again sometime soon. It's been ages since we've interacted with Pierce, and we're supposed to be good friends with him.

You nod, crouching down next to the desecrated corpse of the Glimmerwing. Carefully, you take a pair of glass phials from your belt and scrape a sample of wing-dust from the beast into each. Should you ever require more, you'll need to hunt down a smaller specimen.

"I owe it to Ayren's training," you mutter. "There's a reason you didn't see much of me before he died. Every waking moment, I was working under his instructions. Didn't even understand the point of half of the exercises at the time." Straightening to your feet, you nod to Quinn. "We'll start you on a more serious regimen this week. You'll be up to speed before you know it."

He seems somewhat placated by that, nodding. You take a moment to examine his new jerkin. The scales are woven tightly into one another, and you can see bladed protrusions at the end of each sleeve extending over his fists. He looks... solid. Durable. It's been an issue for you, you realize, that a single solid hit is liable to take you out of any given fight. Quinn's bindings tend toward the defensively minded. You suppose growing up as a Slayer would teach him the importance of self-defense.

The two of you ride for Siperco's nest, making conversation about possibilities for upgrading your village's defenses. He likes the idea of making cuttings taken from the forest trees into guardian totems for the village. He suggests that, with a little work, you could integrate those trees into the structure of the walls.

Siperco is surprised that you found and slew the beast so quickly when you arrive. "Thank you, Totemist," he says emphatically, shaking your hand whilst being careful to avoid spearing you on his long nails. "I appreciate your prompt aid. If there's anything I can ever do for you, please let me know."

> Gather cuttings.
> Ask for a favor. (What?)
> Head home.
> Other

>>35330000
> Head home.
We can gather the cuttings in the morning. Right now, it's late and we really should sleep at some point.

>>35330000
Tell him to not be a stranger and to come visit.
> Gather cuttings.
Also tell him about Pointsmar, and the possible disturbance it might create, should anything happens he would call us so we can deal with it in a peaceful manner or maybe not so peaceful

>>35330000
> Gather cuttings.

>>35330000
>Gather cuttings
Couldn't take that long. Better to do it now then have to make another trip.

>>35330000
Ask him if he's heard anythign about the Basilisk hatchlings.
Seriously, we have to stop forgetting about our masters dead body lying in some monster lair guys

>>35330000
>Quinn's bindings tend toward the defensively minded.
He's also seen us come out of a fight looking like bipedal hamburger and spend a week bedridden in the healing house. He's being conservative and playing it safe. We should PROBABLY do that, but we probably won't.

> Head home.
Maybe get those apricot cuttings on the way.

>>35330072
Our masters dead body is buried in our village.
He managed to return before he died.

>>35330000
>> Head home.
It's been to long since we last slept. Cuttings in the morning.

>>35330000
>Gather cuttings.

>>35330000
>> Gather cuttings.

>>35330000
>> Gather cuttings on the way back.

>>35330093
>We should PROBABLY do that, but we probably won't.
We're just made of sterner stuff. Yay plot armor!
>>35330072
he made it back before he died, but yeah, we should go to the cave. I dunno how much more prepared we could be.

Also, I'm hoping the mask is ready in the morning. So mamy binding possibilities!

>>35330100
Oh, my mistake.
Still want to make sure none of those things live to full maturity though.

One of the better binds for the mask will probably be the bat guy. Mask of Anonymity anyone?

>>35330093
The sad thing is, we've got plenty of defensive totems of our own. We just keep fighting things so powerful they don't matter. It's probably giving him all sorts of paranoia.

>>35330239
Think he was more of a saber tooth tiger thing. Still think we should try everything, who would have thought the turtle in the boots would work out so well?

>>35330270
yeah...
>turtle+boots=fast?

>>35330239
We technically already have that with the Stalker in the shirt. I wonder if it might allow the bound spirit to communicate through the mask to some extent?
>sentient spirit + mask = talking mask?

>>35330482
Nah, maybe if it was a wooden head or something.

You think back to the last trip you took through the swamp. On your way out, you ask Siperco to keep an eye on the southern border, and an ear to the ground concerning the Basilisk Wyrmlings. He looks unhappy at the prospect of returning, but he tells you he'll keep a line of communication open. You bid him farewell.

As you travel with Quinn, you inform him of how impressed you are with his progress. Two bindings, a familiar, and the ability to maintain all of them at once within a month of picking up the discipline. It is, one might say, an indication of the potential to become ludicrously overpowering. He cracks a smile at that, and some of the tension built up between you bleeds away into the night air.

You settle back at your workshop with a fistful of apricot cuttings and a healthy sense of exhaustion. Quinn has promised to bring Pierce to your workshop tomorrow to work on your un-augmented combat discipline, so you'll need a good night's rest. Visions of totems and experimental foci dance behind your eyelids as your head hits the pillow. Two good nights of sleep in a row. It feels a novel concept to you, something heretofore unexperienced in your lifetime. The drawer is still sealed--only one orb of binding energy remains until the lock is cracked. Perhaps tomorrow, you can round out your panoply. So many things to do, and so little time. The life of a Totemist marches onward.

[[Going to take a short break here for dinner. Feel free to suggest binding possibilities and Totem ideas for the dust you gathered while I am away. We'll wake up and continue after I eat.]]

>>35330668
Let's see how about a Totem that heals or alteast slow the effects of toxin it should help the healers in case somoene get's poisoned

See about a way to incorporate the dust with the infirmary totems? Ward off toxins or reduce their effectiveness or keep pests away through the danger of poison or something.

The eye needs to be combined with the Sirens Heart.

>>35330668
I'm thinking we use the dust for a totem of scattering. The glimmerwing used it as chaff, sort of, to help spread the light emitted by its eye. We may be able to use it in the construction of a totem that disperses energy attacks. The walls themselves are strong, but we have flying foes that could attack from above. Something to block overhead attacks would be nice. So, my proposed Totem of Diffusion:

Take a piece of mirror, crack it so that it has many facets each pointing in different directions. Place this behind a clear, fisheyed lens. Make a mixture of glimmerwing scale powder and clove oil (used in smudging, has symbolism of casting out harmful influences) and use it to paint appropriate runic symbols on the lens. Place the mirror and lens in a mounting made of magnolia wood, possibly cupped in the petals of its flowers (magnolia is a symbol of persistence and strength, and is additionally often used as a shade tree, which could help it cover a wider area). Infuse the whole assembly with spiritual energy and place at the top of poles throughout the village to produce a protective canopy.

Well, the glitterwing is probably air, poison, and light, right? Siren's Heart is fire, maybe light. The...been a while, but I want to say yithkrak, is water and poison. Things to consider.

>>35330668
Binding the eye into a prism would be interesting. Lots of light scattering and distracting properties. Also try it with a mirror. Do our usual glove and armor binds as well.

>>35330668
Let's see guys, crazy, creative, dangerous foci ideas?
We tested the bone warden to the fruit, but nothing food-like has been tried since.
lantern, a single seed, hat, slingshot, & musical instrument are some ideas I came up.

Assuming the mask will be ready, try some of our less used foci on it first, then work from there.

Also, let's look into binding a different foci into each glove. They seem to be our single most useful binding & the combo possibles are endless.

>>35331210
Put that worm in the harp.

>>35331210
Oh, a lantern. I like that. We should try binding the Glimmering Eye and the Siren's Heart into that. Those have the most logical synergy with it. But if we want to do something really weird, we should try binding Cordia to it. What does an earth spirit do with a lantern? Shine light that passes through stone and lets us see the other side of it?

>>35331235
Yeah, we need to finally do that. Plate Wurm in harp is a must-have.

>>35331246
Wrong worm, probably meant the deep siren.

Though that would be interesting.

>>35331246
Other things in the harp might be cool as well. I can see the drake interacting well with it.

>>35331312
Actually I meant the plate worm since all of its ability's have dealt with sound.

>>35331312
No, we were talking about this a few threads back. Our harp is made of stone, the Plate Wurm is a crystalline creature with power over sound. It should have some neat interactions.

>>35330977
This sounds pretty fucking neat.

>>35331312
>>35331336
>>35331344
both

>>35330977
Sounds good, you've clearly put some thought into this. What is the idea behind it in terms of defense? Visual bafflement? Audio? Attack?

>>35331488
The idea is that the totem would produce a field that refracts and reflects any energy-based attack that passes through it. This would provide some visual bafflement, while also diminishing the power of the attack. It see it as looking like a floating cloud of reflective motes over the village. It wouldn't protect against physical projectiles, but it would block fire or lightning or lasers. I can see it being potentially very helpful if the Magus shows up again.

>>35331533
Like I fields in gundam.

>>35331533
Ah, I see. Only possible problem with it is that it might block the sun over it's area of effect, at least to an extent.

>>35331591
Yeah, that's the idea. There's one Gundam fan-universe where upward-facing I-Fields are a standard part of base defenses, I drew inspiration from that.

>>35330954
You realize combing two Foci results in a catastrophic failure that explodes and obliterates both spirits right?

>>35331611
I was thinking that it would have a minimum energy density needed for it to activate. Otherwise it could get annoying to have the cloud of glitter floating overhead at all times.

>>35331647
Events in this thread hinted that it may be possible. I personally wouldn't want to risk it, but it would make for interesting experimentation.

>>35331647
Wasn't there something about 'feeding' one spirit to another to increase it's power? If it is possible, it may be a challenge on the drawers.

Another foci idea: an hourglass or other timekeeper. Don't expect it to control time, but it might have interesting properties. Also, a backpack/satchel/whatever.

You wonder, as you awaken, if you might be traumatized by the events of your first week of work. You wake up several times during the night, half-expecting the smell of smoke and the faint sounds of screaming, but the village is quiet. When you finally manage to awaken when the sun is in the sky, it is only barely peeking over the horizon. Admitting defeat, you rise from bed and prepare for the day.

The soft snoring in the library informs you that Terra spent the night again. A quick check-in finds her with her face buried in a book, muffled snoozing sounds coming from beneath the voluminous pages. At least she's eager about the learning process, you suppose.

You have a few hours before Quinn and Pierce arrive to train you. Right now, they're likely out on their morning rounds to inspect the perimeter. Since you installed the warding totems it's mostly a formality, but it's a ritual that Walther insists on. Likely, rightfully so.

Gathering your gear, you set out to the marred practice field behind the workshop. A short minute of work with the Terra Disruptor sees the pockmarked plain reduced to its former flat status, though the wild grass that once grew has been replaced by featureless dirt and rock shards.

With your field leveled, you set to work.

(cont.)

The stone harp Sylvia crafted from the wall of her cave has rested silent on your desk since she gifted it to you. You reason that it's probably about time you put the thing to use. You unbind your panoply, then press the plate-sized crystal scale to the arm of the harp. With a short chant and a flash of light, you're left holding--

Holding...

Well.

> [Binding Discovered: The Lord's Lyre. A crystalline green harp. Its strings shed a soft rainbow luminesence, and each note plucked seems to fill the player with peace and calm.]

The notes are pitch-perfect. You note the gem-studded tuning pegs turning on their own at every rest, as if coordinating themselves for your mind's next movement. Your fingers seem to flow naturally across the strings, and the pleasant (if simple) melody resonates across the field, filling you with a sense of calm. You find yourself aware of every movement around you--the minute tremors in the ground beneath, the subtle shift of the wind across your cheek, even the minute twitching of beetles walking across the boulder across the field.

It's disconcerting. Peaceful, and yet overwhelming.

> Bind the Eye to the Mirror
> Bind the Sealed Earth Sphere to a Lantern
> Bind the Eye to a piece of equipment (armor, bow, etc.)
> Other

>>35332240
> Bind the Eye to the Mirror
It's going to be SO SHINY, you guys.

>>35332240
Magic sonar?

>>35332240
>> Bind the Eye to the Mirror
>> Bind the Sealed Earth Sphere to a Lantern
both
>other
Swamp Ykree + pants
Raptor Bone + Fruit(or food)
Fanged Stalker + mirror

>>35332240
The perfect sentry.
btw, here's the link to Anon's spreadsheet: http://zamubafoo.github.io/

>>35332240
> Bind the Eye to a piece of equipment (armor, bow, etc.)

Cloak.

You lay the harp aside, noting that even when laid to rest horizontally, it slowly comes to float vertically, perhaps an inch off of the ground. Allowing it to hover where it is, you take your newest acquisition in hand. The Glimmering Eye is still warm to the touch--not overwhelmingly so, like the Siren's Heart, but the gentle, constant heat of a living thing. You balance it atop the surface of your handmirror, chanting the litany of unification. The flash of light that erupts from the union seems to bend as you watch, turning from its assault on your eyes to wrap the twin objects, pressing them together into a seamless whole. As the radiance fades from the mirror, you find yourself holding an ornately styled handle. Green and purple moth's wings frame the mirror's surface on either side.

Staring into the mirror's surface, your features seem strangely... pliable. When you blink, your eyes take a second longer than they should to open again. You reach forward and, to your momentary horror, you can reach -through- the mirror's surface. Your own reflection is, indeed, pliable on the far side.

You tug experimentally on your reflection's nose, lengthening it. As you do, you feel a tingle around your own face, and in your field of vision you can see your facial features shift to match the newly distended schnoz in the Focus.

> [Binding Discovered: Moth's Half-Truth. Render's the holder's superficial appearance malleable.]

> Suggest a binding.

>>35333048
>> Bind the Sealed Earth Sphere to a Lantern
Let's see how earth and light mix.
>Raptor Bone+Food
I'd like to see some of the food-foci combos

>>35333048
Freaky.

Try putting the Fanged Stalker into a knife, and the Siren's Heart into our shirt.

>>35333048
Oh my, yes. I like this one. We should remember to put our face back before we unbind it, though, just in case it turns out to be permanent.

Okay, so it looks like the Glimmerwing Moth might have some influence over images and appearances, not just light. Let's try binding it to our cloak, see what that gives us. Maybe the ability to disguise our self as objects? I'm thinking like a Mirage Tank from C&C, or something like that.

>>35333048
...... Wow. That's... Wow.

Let's try the eye in a book. I want to see what that yields. Our last Book-Bind was pretty amazing.

>>35333184
I'll back Eye+cloak

>>35333048
>>35333195
The eye in the book should be good--or we could go see if we have that mask ready and put the eye in that too.

I support the Eye+Book binding. After seeing Quinn's puppet I want to explore some of the more peculiar bindings we can come up with. They may end up being useless but who knows?

A thought occurs to you. You carefully reshape your nose to (what you're fairly certain is) its original proportions in the mirror before unbinding it. To your surprise and relief, the magic holding the minor alterations to your features in place comes undone with the mirror's binding. It's good to know that you have the capability to reverse any mistakes made with that particular item.

You fish a journal from your bag, opening it to a blank page and placing the eye atop the paper. You can feel the leather of its binding shifting even as you chant the ritual words, and as the light wraps it again, you feel its weight lift from your hands.

The book's pages have warped, molded into stylized wings. A body of black leather binding forms the tiny moth's central body, while its wings are paper and ink. You note whole letters, black and shiny, falling from its wings like dust as it flutters in front of you. Where the words touch the ground, they seethe and spit acidly. As the words fall near one another you note that they seem to be landing in almost coherent paragraphs, with only one or two words unaligned.

Not what you expected, but it could be an interesting way to send a message. The moth alights on your outstretched arm, stilling its wings.

>[Binding Discovered: Moth's Winged Word: A small moth crafted from leather and paper. Sheds slightly acidic words from its wings that etch themselves into whatever surface they land on.]

>>35334150
That's pretty cool. Not very useful, but cool. Let's try Cordia in the lantern now.

[[Seems like everyone's gone to bed for the evening, which is fine because I just got called into a late shift at work. I'll be back in two-ish hours to see if participation has picked up. If not, I'll run a short thread tomorrow or the next day for further experimentation with bindings. Thanks for playing today, everyone, and I'll see you in a bit.]]

>>35334150
Cordia to Lantern.

>>35333183
Last time we bound Siren's Heart into something we were wearing, we nearly suffocated ourselves. Just a thought.

>>35334150
Cordia to Lantern.

>>35334150
Moth+cloak

Moth+amulet

Cordia+lantern

>>35334866
We don't necessarily require an item to be worn at the time of binding for the binding to work, mind. And shirt bindings seem to be milder than armor bindings, judging from the samples of the crystal worm and the night stalker. Though you are right that the Deep Siren should be experimented heavily with. We need some strong fire-resistance totem or something for such a hazardous creature.

>>35334855
If this is a free write in, could we see about getting more apprentices?

>>35335001
Just saying, we may want to specify after last time, as default tends to be what we have on if we say shirt. Things to consider, is all. So, agreed that Siren's Heart is one to experiment with carefully then?

Also, I kinda want to see what happens on three things:
1) What happens between the harp as is and the wind drake gloves, could it be like what we did with the bow and the gloves?
2) see if ykree bind near moth bind does anything nifty. Poison and poison, after all.
3) For the hell of it, Siren's Heart in the harp.

>>35335031
We have two as is, let some of the others have them too. At least until we have educating them down.

>>35335117
Two more apprentices won't make much of a difference, and the village is gonna need all the help it can get.

>>35335117
let's get Quinn up to 5-6 binds before we try for more, I'd rather think about getting 1-2 more apprentices once we have a solid cototemist

>>35335088
Yeah, the Deep Siren bindings are more indiscriminately damaging all round than all our other binds: we need to be careful.

The moth foci seems to deal with light and appearances, though. We would want the wing focus for the poison resonance.

>>35334855
Moth+Lantern.

Play the harp while wearing the wind gloves

Eye+amulet

Eye+vest

>>35335385
Just saying, could still do something. I mean, it made a book spit acidic words everywhere, might have enough poison to make it interesting. For all we know, the wings would've went with the wind drake more, or our stalker.

Say...both the eye and the pelt are about messing with and obfuscating ourselves, right? At least to some extent? Just saying, it may be worth it to mess with the two of them in conjunction, objects that compliment each other, as well. Same with trying to get the Rock Turtle with the Drake and the Crystal Worm-Thunder before lightning, wind tied to both. May be a way the whole thing's connected.

>>35335584
Thane gives powers based around the concept of shadows, concealing us by removing sensory information. The Glimmerwing Moth, on the other hand, seems to be more about illusion and camouflage, concealing by giving false sensory information. Combining them might not give a resonance boost like the Drake and Wurm did, but it should at least be very effective.

An idea that occurred to me just now: If binding the moth to a book makes a paper moth that etches out the words of the book, what happens if we bind it to a pencil? Could we send "ink rays" that let us write on things from a distance? Imagine if we could just project the binding glyphs at a target from range so we didn't have to trap them first. That would be so useful to have.

>>35335031
Why? We have more than enough apprentices for now.

I want to call our two spirits (wind and sound) in their spirit form at the same time and see if they react to each other.

>>35336377
Well, one's a serpentine dragon and the other is a giant worm. I think the drake would likely be offended by this mockery of its form.

>>35336377
Speaking of talking to spirits, we should head to talk to the Stone Emperor after we're done with Quinn and Pierce. If we wait any longer before meeting with him it would seem insulting.

>>35336436
They just reacted strangely when they interacted while they were in our bow and gloves. I want to see what happens when we have them out together.

>>35336377
Having two more apprentices would cut down the mundane things we have on our to do list considerably.
Also we will need all the totemists we can get when shit goes down.

>>35336564
On the contrary, having two more apprentices would take too much of our time away from other duties. You cant just leave apprentices to themselves, you need to spend a whole lot of time teaching them.
The brats we take as apprentices will need a decade to be anywhere near fit to fight the battles of a totemist. Do you intend to send an eight year-old kid up against opponents that would be too much for us to handle alone that we need help?

[[ I return. Anyone still alive in here?]]

>>35336665
>You cant just leave apprentices to themselves, you need to spend a whole lot of time teaching them.
We have been doing this with Terra for the last 20 threads, and it's been working out great. Having two more apprentices around making mundane totems, planting trees for us etc will be helpful.

>>35336757
Some of us, though not many. It would probably be best to continue this later.

>>35336757
Here

>>35336757
Yes, there are enough people around.

[[Perfect. Good enough to continue for a little while, at least. Let's get some more experimentation done. Reading the votes and writing shortly.]]

>>35336757
we live

>>35336795
Oh, okay, then. I guess I can miss an hour or two of sleep for the sake of Totemism.

>>35336809

[[Gotta make up for all of those threads where I fell asleep halfway through some time, anon.]]

>>35336757
yo

>>35336764
She doesn't live with us full time, though. Also, it isn't like we can just pick as we like-there is power and finesse required as well. Besides, we are in a small village, where each trade will need new help. Getting greedy for new totemist apprentices messes up our relations with other members of the town. At least, right now it does. So please, relax a bit. Right now it is two people teaching one kid, all three learning the trade as we hit full totemist because we were what was left. Be patient, a kid and an adult are likely our pace right now. And before you say we have been doing well, that is with the weakest tools of the trade, so imagine what happens when we mess with avatars and the like.

>>35336827
here

>>35336866
>Also, it isn't like we can just pick as we like-there is power and finesse required as well.
There are two other apprentices around, we scouted them out along side Terra.
Also, totemism is the most important profession in the entire town, we're basically a demigod sworn to the towns protection. Having more than just Terra in training will have long term rewards.

You almost feel bad, pulling the animation from the little book-moth, but experimentation is a siren song you are hard pressed to resist. You're left with your journal perched pages-down on your arm, looking for all the world like the world's most ineffective falconer. You stow the book in your bag, tossing the eye to yourself absentmindedly as you consider what to bind next.

The Sealed Earth Sphere draws your attention. Cordia's been exceedingly useful to you in her new form, but you usually keep her in your gloves for utility's sake. Gnome Guard proved to be instrumental in saving your life yesterday, though, and you think a few more experiments with her focus are in order.

A brief (but quiet) rummage in Ayren's workshop turns up an old hooded lantern. You can't seem to find any lamp oil, but you doubt it will effect the binding process too much.

Stepping outside once more, you place the Sealed Earth where the oil would normally go in the lantern before performing the Rite of Unity. The flash, as is Cordia's signature, comes out a deep malachite green.

The lantern you're left holding is essentially an oversized version of the Sealed Earth Sphere. Runic etchings line it length, with a small aperture of metal twisted closed at the front. A handle extends from the top of the sphere, and at orb's side is a small operable lever.

(cont.)

'Oooh," you hear. A smooth female voice inside your mind. You've forgotten Cordia's penchant for speaking now. "This is different. Mind that you point me away from you when you pull that lever, Osyki."

You oblige, turning to a small shrub at the outskirts of your training ground. When you pull back the lever a deep green glow bathes the shrub from within the depths of the lantern, and a sharp crack fills the air. Peering through the verdant light, it seems as though the plant has been turned to stone. When you close the aperture your theory is confirmed--the plant is solid granite, exquisitely crafted. After a few moments, the green of the leaves begins creeping through the rock, and thirty seconds or so later the shrub is green again all over.

> [Binding Discovered: Gorgon Lantern. Temporarily petrifies any living material its light shines on.]

>>35336920
Yes, we scouted them. And then rejected them because we recognized that we didn't have the time to train three apprentices, even with Quinn's help. Maybe we can give them totemist training later, but right now we're just covering the bare minimum.

>>35336954
Dang.
That's pretty sweet.

>>35336954
damn, sounds like the perfect tool to keep big prey still while we make Bind Runes

>>35336975
Sure is. That could be a really powerful weapon, if used right. It's almost certain death against any flying enemy, for one thing.

>>35336954
Damn, that's very useful.

Could we have our two spirit that reacted weirdly out? Maybe it will help us understand how to fuse(?) them.

>>35336966
We didn't reject them, there was no vote.
In what way have we been taking an overly active role in Terra's training? We have been mostly leaving her to read our books by herself, having two other apprentices around wouldn't be much different.
We are never going to have a lot of time to spare, and when we do there will be a time skip untill more important events are occurring.

>>35337048
We taught her how to make totems. We introduced her to several weaker spirits. We supervised while she bound her first familiar. We've been involved in her training. And we did vote on Terra. Not formally, but we pretty much all agreed she seemed like the best candidate. Unless...are you the guy who was really angry that we didn't take Scales as an apprentice for some reason? I remember there was one guy who kept arguing for Scales, because he was clever, and maybe his lack of spiritual energy was really just due to some hidden power or something. You're not that guy, are you?

>>35337048
You seem to have some failure in comprehension. She is fine just reading right now because she is trying to learn absolute basics and theories behind them. You could have a hundred kids reading totemist books and it still wouldn't accomplish anything. If you want them to anything remotely helpful, you first need to spend a lot of time teaching them. Did you miss the thousand times Ösyki has mentioned how hard totemist's training is?

You pull Cordia from the lantern shortly thereafter, turning the Sealed Earth over in your hand. A spark of spiritual energy and a moment's thought frees her to manifest her jade-cloud body in the air beside you, a chance that she takes to with gusto. Stretching her arms above her head, she gives you a short bow.

"Clever idea, Osyki. A lantern's not what I'd have imagined you putting me to use for."

You replace the Glimmering Eye in the lantern in the Sealed Earth's place. "My so-called apprentice Totemist has taught me that creativity and experimentation is often rewarded with new and fantastic opportunities," you tell her. "The very least I can do is put that lesson into practice."

She nods appreciatively as the light of unification wraps the lantern once more. When the last mote of spiritual light drips from the lantern in your hand, you take a moment to inspect it.

As before, the aperture of light for the lantern is tightly shut. This time, however, the steel receptacle is far differently styled. A metal moth's head is gripped in your hand, your fingers laced through metal antennae braided into a handle. The aperture is in the center of the moth's forehead, recessed slightly into the skull, and the lever to open it appears to be atop the stylized head.

Cordia floats serenly beside you, watching with reserved interest as you point the lantern toward that same shrub and pull the switch.

(cont.)

You wince as a blast of searing light erupts forth, flashing in an all too familiar burst of dazzling motes. You jam the lantern's lever closed, cursing as you rub the spots from your eyes with your free hand.

When your vision returns to you, you see that the land before you is coated in sparkling silvery powder. Kneeling down, you quickly ascertain that it is -not- the toxic powder you feared, but a lightweight collection of metal flakes of some sort. It smells faintly of rust and iron.

>[Binding Discovered: Moth's Instant Flare. Emits blinding bursts of light and coats the illuminated area in a strange metallic powder.]

>>35337166
Let's scoop up a sample of the flakes to examine later. If we have the ability to create metal, even in small quantity, that's kind of badass.

>>35337166
>but a lightweight collection of metal flakes of some sort. It smells faintly of rust and iron.
That's weird and sounds useless.

>>35337166
collect samples to test later, if we can figure a way to use the metal powder or if another binding produces the same material then we can work with that

>>35337091
I'm not the scales guy, I wasn't part of the threads at that point.
>>35337125
Only there wouldn't be hundreds, there would be three. As for the training Ösyki has mentioned, he's talked about day in day out grinds that will probably be taken care of in a time skip.

Having more apprentices are a bonus, not a detriment.

>>35337195
Na, it'd be great for ambushes and the like.

Collect samples for later

>>35337228
>I'm not the scales guy, I wasn't part of the threads at that point.
Thank god. That guy was insufferable.

File: what am i even doing.gif (2.06 MB, 320x240)

2.06 MB GIF

Look up what a Celestial Pact/Binding or whatever that thing we need to do to unlock the next secret in the chest

[[Sorry, didn't realize the auto-post on this one hadn't gone through. Thanks, captcha.]]

You bottle up a few vials of the flakes for further examination, then pull the Eye from the lantern. You have time for one, maybe two more bindings before Quinn and Pierce arrive. Or, you could head inside to do some work.

> Try another bind (Suggest)
> Do some research (On what?)
> Make a totem (Write-in)
> Relax until they arrive
> Other

>>35337385
> Do some research (On what?)
Read over the notes on dowsing rituals that Saeri left for us. Those could be useful.

>>35337385
>> Do some research (On what?)
How to open the desk draws

>>35337385
>Try another bind
Fanged Stalker on Lantern

>>35337385
> Try another bind (Suggest)
Ykee on Lantern

>>35337385
>> Do some research (On what?)
What made those two bindings react to each other and how to open the next drawer.

>>35337482
>>35337385
I'll support this 'un.

Deciding to pack it in before you utterly exhaust yourself, you gather your gear and head back into the workshop. Terra is awake when you return, blearily sipping on a cup of herbal tea.

"The Matrons are going to tan my hide if you keep staying here, you know," you say to her over your shoulder as you replace your equipment in its proper place. She makes a sleepy grunt by way of reply, combing her fingers through her short hair.

"Fell 'sleep doin' reading," she mutters into her mug. "Salamander species. Fire spirits. Rituals."

You gesture for her to follow you into the library.

"Tell me what you learned," you say as you pull Ayren's book of symbols and codes from atop the chest of drawers. "I want to hear what's got you so interested.

As you prepare to listen, you close your eyes and slip into second sight.

> 1d100

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>35337571
puzzle time

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>35337571

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>35337571
Learning stuff.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>35337571

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>35337571

>>35337793
Fuck yeah, my first 100 in Totemist, We're gonna see all the things

Splitting your attention between the seals, the books, and Terra's impromptu lecture is difficult, to say the least. Still, you feel as though it was an efficient use of your time. You learn a little more about the composition of the seals your master put in place, discover what a Celestial Binding is, and even manage to learn a few new things about the lower orders of fire spirits. In order:

> Ayren's seals don't have any way to actively monitor your progress--instead, they look for minute differences in the signature of your spiritual fingerprint, growths that can only be caused by the goals unique to each individual drawer. When you approach the chest with the correct growth in your aura, the seal senses it and the magic holding the container shut unravels.

> A Celestial Binding, as you suspected, is a ritual brokered peacefully and willingly between a Totemist and a higher-thinking spirit. While there are seals of binding, they are arranged into a contract between the Totemist and the intelligent entity in question. From the signing of the contract forward, the Totemist can call upon the spirit's might from any place within that spirit's domain, funneling a portion or the entirety of their power into a designated receptacle, depending on the terms of the Binding. This allows a spirit to exist free of the crude bindings of the Feral whilst continuing to aid the Totemist, within a limited range.

(cont.)

>>35337809
Sorry to break it to you anon...

>Advanced variations of the bind allow a Totemist to carry an artifact crafted by the spirit of the Binding that artificially extends the range, theoretically across the continent given a powerful enough spirit and linking artifact.

> There exist five orders of elemental spirits across all elements, arranged into various Courts. Salamanders and their ilk occupy the lowest Court of the Eternal Flame, the classification reserved for unthinking beastial spirits such as Hellhounds and mindless elemental personifications like Magma Wyrds.

> Investigate the Drawers more.
> Research further into Celestial Bindings
> Question Terra further on the Elemental Courts.
> Other.

[[ The next option will use the 100, since I saw it late.]]

>>35337932
>>35337809

[[Ordinarily I only take the best of the first three rolls. In the case of criticals, however, I take from the first five as a rule. This applies to critical successes and failures. For future reference.]]

>>35337943

Maybe >>35337482

>>35337943
> Research further into Celestial Bindings
Seems like the best one to learn more about. I'll have to find out the answer in the morning, though. It's getting pretty late where I am and I really can't justify losing any more sleep. Good night, everyone. And thanks for running, Diarca.

>>35337943
>> Investigate the Drawers more.
>> Research further into Celestial Bindings

>>35337943
I am really curious about our two spirits acting strange back in that fight. Research that.

>>35337943
>> Research further into Celestial Bindings

>>35337943
Research homunculi.

>>35337482
This.

As Terra elaborates further on the subject of the Salamander's place in the Hierarchy of Lower Spirits, you focus intently on the text in your lap. Opening your eyes, you skim the paragraphs and quickly develop a deeper understanding of the process of a Celestial Binding.

The runes aren't so different from those for a Feral Binding, but where the Feral requires a set sixteen without variation or question, the Celestial has an entire alphabet. It is, you learn, as much an art of writing the correct contract in runes of binding for the spirit in question as it is a science. Fortunately, you know all but two runes of this arcane alphabet already. Having this book of runes and symbols on hand will help you to accurately pen any future contracts you may decide to partake in, and so you make a mental note to keep it in your travel pack from now on.

In the background Terra tells you about the base elemental energies that form the Salmander: a core of pure spiritual will, birthed by the interaction between the ambient spiritual energy of the world itself and the intense elemental energy of phenomena such as forest fires and magma pools.

You pull Ayren's Grimoire of Binding Threads from the topmost shelf of the library with the aid of a stepladder. This, you reason, will hold the first step toward understanding the strange interaction between your twin foci in the last battle. Everything Ayren had taught you up to this point suggests that two spirits cannot occupy the same vessel without disastrous results, but evidence points to the contrary.

> 100
(cont.)

>>35337943
research the connection between bindings.

As you open the book, a small envelope falls from the inside jacket. A letter, addressed to you.

Penned in your master's handwriting.

Terra falls silent as you go rigid, carefully breaking the waxen seal holding the letter shut. Within are two items.

First, a folded pair of pages, unmistakably covered in Ayren's handwriting.

Second, a small golden chain. At either end of the finely wrought links, a pair of empty clasps seem to grasp for something to fill them. Incomplete.

"Osyki," the letter begins. "I congratulate you on your inquisitive nature. This book, and the understanding of its contents, marks the first step toward the ability to truly understand the depth of the Totemist's ability and responsibility. The chain within is one of a pair of artifacts that, used properly, will allow you to temporarily surpass the limitations of any single spirit's ability. The key ingredient of this artifact is locked away. When I feel you're ready to receive it, you'll be prepared to deal with spirits intelligent and bestial, malignant and benign."

"The true treasure, however, is this tome. Within are my findings on the nature of the link between the Totemist and his spirits, and between those spirits and the World Without. The data of my master before me is the foundation of this research. In your hands, you hold the collective knowledge of over one hundred years of Totemistry."

"So for gods' sakes, boy, don't try to read this tome with your dinner like you do the Almanac."

(cont.)

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You chuckle under your breath. Your throat feels constricted, and you have to blink a few times to dispel the mist gathering at the corners of your vision. The old badger. The Grimoire had been tucked away in the topmost corner of the library, where you'd never have found it if you weren't looking for just this question. Sometimes you wonder if Ayren wasn't gifted with a little precognition. His plans always seem to fall into place.

Almost always.

Terra's small hand on your back pulls you to the here and now. You stow the golden chain in your shirt pocket, smiling at her.

"Are you alright, Osyki?" she asks, her brow drawn together, pinched with worry. You nod, mustering a small smile for her benefit.

"Just fine, little one," you say with as much resolve as you can. "I'm happy. Every time I think I've seen it all, I find I have a world's worth to learn yet."

And, you think, what an excellent tutor to guide you.

"I can't think of anything more exciting."

[[We'll call things to a close here for the evening. Thank you for your participation and patience, anon. I look forward to our next session. Have a good night.]]

>>35338545
BEST QUEST

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>>35338383
>>35338520
>>35338545
Thanks for running.

>>35338520
>"So for gods' sakes, boy, don't try to read this tome with your dinner like you do the Almanac."
Got me giggling.

Just got here, the metal powder that the moth lantern made makes me think of magnesium, because of how brightly it burns

>>35338545
It was a great session Diarca. Good night.

>>35338545
Thanks for running. This is one of my favorite quests.

>>35338545
Thank you for running outside of schedule, really brightened my day.

Definitely the number one quest on the board. With the sheer amount of back story being delivered so well. Still great to have you back diarca.