>>35762376
You sigh to yourself - worried - looking back at the road ahead. A vine-made bridge, looking more as if it was grown than built, stands a few yards away - curved into a high arc as it stretches over not only the steep edges of Haius's domed shell but over the wide river that circles it. It ends at the beginning of a path atop the hill - carved through the towering grass that covers the shell-top plains. Surging water rumbles through the area - liquid rushing down from inside the shell and back up again; the spirits of the water hide in the kicked up mist. The mutilated bellow of some large animal comes from the far distance and Haius's head raises up from the ground to the left - the turtle's stone-moss head dyed a light blue from the thick, rippling moisture in the air. The muffled crunch of snapping bones echoes as Haius chews on the furred mammal in it's jaws - a giant bear who came to the river looking for fish.

Not exactly the place to jump into with your breath still ragged, you muse.

"Tuulikki." You flick at the underside of your hat's brim, jostling the tiny girl laying atop of it.

"Mmmm-s'wa-" the girl snorts, suspiciously like a person who just woke up. You feel a light weight scramble across the top of the brim until Tuulikki's upside-down head peeks out from the edge - the twirl of her hair swishing in a slow, curious arc. "Wassup, Nila?"

You jerk your head behind you, pointing in Amy's directions. "I believe there's something you should be doing."

Tuulikki nods her head. "Ah, Alright, I gotcha. Hey Amy! Sit right down there a sec, alright? I'll fix ya right up."

>con't

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1.6 MB JPG

>>35762403
Amy sits down on the trodden path of the road - her hands on her knees. You join her as Tuulikki floats in the air just at eye-level in front of you. The fairy takes a deep breath - arms stretched out to her side - and closes her eyes. She spins her body around with a flick of her hips - a gentle breeze twirling off of her and washing over you and Amy. You feel your muscles relax as the air flows over your body like a feathery massage - the smells of spices, cocoa, and morning dew awakening your senses. A soft song of strings and flutes sings through the wind as Tuulikki continues her dance; skipping; twirling; and leaping across the air. Amy bobs her head with a smile - humming along with the tune.

"Alright!" Tuulikki stops mid-twirl and so does the wind. "That should do it. You too feelin' better? This spell ain't good for wounds so don't go whinin' about some scratches ya mighta got ta me, ya hear?"

Amy jumps to her feet, clapping - her eyes shining at the fairy. "That was soooooo neat, Tuuli! I feel like I just woke up! Hey, what was that song? Where'd you learn to dance like that? You're really good at it...Oh yeah- and thanks! I feel super better now! I don't hurt at all, like, anywhere!"

Tuulikki averts her eyes, rubbing at the back of her neck. "Ahhh, yeah, yer welcome then? Th' songs just the wind's words and the dancin's just somethin' I always knew how ta do. You-" she looks back towards Amy. "Ya didn't think it looked silly or nothin'?"

Amy shakes her head, smiling. Tuulikki grins sheepishly back.

You smile to yourself, hefting your staff over your shoulder as you rise from the ground. "Now then. Since we're all back in top shape, shall we? I doubt we'll make it across the whole plains before nightfall at this rate but the more ground covered the better."

>con't

>>35762429
Tuulikki snorts - hands on her hips. "Ain't that your fault there Nila? If ya didn't take forever back at the bathhouse we'd've been halfway through the place already."

"Hmph!" You turn up your chin at the fairy. "It's not like I can enjoy a proper bath out on the road, now can I? If I have to go a few days without then of course I'm going take my time. Besides-" You glide your fingers through your hair, making a short happy hum as you relish in it's silkyness - the scent of fresh berries brushing your nose. "The Haius plains are insufferably humid. My hair needed the proper treatment."

Amy frowns - her nose scrunching as she pats at the top of her head, inspecting the wavy locks for any sign of friz.

"Pfft." Tuulikki's cheeks puff up in derision. "Don't see why ya gotta go through all that fuss fer it." She twirls her finger in the air. "S'not like yer gonna impress anyone~."

You scoff. "At least I actually put some effort into my appearance."

"Hey!" Tuulikki's fist clench at her sides, leaning her pouty face in your direction. "I'm freakin' adorable! And it's -effortless-. I ain't no granny lookin' out fer wrinkles like you!"

Amy throws up her arms as you two continue to bicker, mumbling to herself. "Maybe we would have been there if you guys weren't arguing the whole way..."

"And what was that, Amy?" You turn to the girl - you palm held up to push aside the tiny fuming red-head.

"I said!" Amy puffs, crossing her arms. "If you two weren't always being jerks to each other we coulda been to the other side already! I thought you were friends!" She stomps down the path and up to the top of the bridge; she whirls back around at the two of you - her hands on her hips. "Now come on! This place looks super cool and I want to explore it!"

CRACK.

>con't

>>35762453
Splintered pieces of vine scatter through the air - a pillar of water stabbing straight through the thick bridge. Amy fails her arms and screams as she skyrockets up into the air. The water pillar follows her, twisting and snaking around her body as if to grab her.

You and Tuulikki blink - wide-eyed.

>Fly up and grab Amy; have Tuulikki take care of the attacker
>Have Tuulikki get Amy and you'll fight off that thing
>Write-in

Sorry for being super long with the OP. Tuuli and Nila wouldn't shut up.

>>35762376
>You set out
Blugh. Ignore that. Missed it when I was moving the sentences around.

>>35762475
>Have Tuulikki get Amy and you'll fight off that thing

File: 1367014627933.gif (227 KB, 500x500)

227 KB GIF

Hmmm. Did my scheduling problems finally kill things or is it just all the words this OP?

I'll give it a few more minutes.

>>35762784
Lurker here, I'm keeping quiet since I'm fine with either choice but I'll vote.
>>35762475
>>Have Tuulikki get Amy and you'll fight off that thing

Alright. Going to grab something to snack on real quick and then I'll write.

Roll 8d10 while you're at it.

>>35762475
>Have Tuulikki get Amy and you'll fight off that thing

Rolled 3, 6, 3, 9, 2, 3, 4, 9 = 39 (8d10)

>>35762840

dice+8d10

Rolled 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 9, 3 = 29 (8d10)

>>35762840

>>35762870
Goes in the option field.

Rolled 4, 3, 7, 2, 10, 5, 6, 1 = 38 (8d10)

Messed up, sorry.

Okay. And writing!

And I just realized I need to work on my scenes and decisions. That was a pretty pointless choice I only threw up because the OP was getting too long.

Oh well, something to consider as I go forward

>>35763014
Eh, sometimes a long scene can't be helped. As long as you aren't limiting player agency, you're good.

>>35763014
I-i want to read and participate but the wallls are moving and my eyes are falling and I can't stop feeling something is underneath my bed.....good night...

>>35763326
Yes well, that happens.

Good night.

"Tuulikki! Get Amy away from that thing!" You swing your staff forward - a black glow emanating from it as your cloak snaps into leathery wings.

"I gotcha!" Tuulikki flies backwards - wind twisting and wrapping around her body. The air thickens behind her back - almost solidifying - the thick moisture in the air forming into large globs of water. She kicks he foot against the wall of air behind her - water scattering with the crashing burst of wind; her small body flings forward at an impossible speed. You fly right along with her - a roaring black wind leaving a trail of blue flame behind her.

Tuulikki reaches the bridge first, swinging her body in a spinning kick - a gurgling screech from the river below as a scythe of wind cuts the twisting pillar in half. The fairy kicks off the compressed air in front of her and into a soaring backflip - arcing herself up to just beneath Amy.

You shift your boot into a black-scaled claw and sink the nails into the watery appendage before it can slink back into the river. Slitted eyes from the depths below widen in shock and pain as it's tongue begins to bleed a pinkish-blue - the swirling insides of it's mouth gurgling and bubbling. A frog spirit.

Your wings kick up a howling screech of wind, lifting the entire thing right out of the water as your soar upwards - it's webbed feet cling to the broken vines of the bridge.

"Nila!" Tuulikki's strained voice calls out from above you - her body and twisting wind pressing against Amy to cushion her fall. My wind's gonna snap both of us back inta the sky if ya don't grab Amy quick!"

The large frog pulls back against your grip - it's tongue whirling like a twister as it tries to escape. It's eyes narrow - the sac under it's mouth expanding in a taunting croak.

>Take Amy to safety and let Tuuli finish off the frog
>Have Amy and the frog swap places; see how it likes being flung around
>Finish off the frog first. Tuuli can handle it.
>Write-in

>>35763326
:_:7

>>35763626
>Take Amy to safety and let Tuuli finish off the frog

>>35763626
>Take Amy to safety and let Tuuli finish off the frog

And writing!

Roll 8d10, please.

Rolled 1, 4, 9, 9, 6, 2, 10, 6 = 47 (8d10)

Rolled 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 3, 8, 8 = 44 (8d10)

>>35763826
I fail

Damnit Callow, what time-zone do you live in. There's got to be a 1-10 poster to archive-crawler ratio in here.

>>35763854
PST. I'm just an insane hikki with really bad insomnia.

Rolled 5, 3, 2, 6, 6, 3, 9, 5 = 39 (8d10)

And I guess I'll roll the last one.

Rolled 7, 3, 8, 5, 7, 8, 1, 9 = 48 (8d10)

Do we want high or low?

Rolled 2, 2, 6, 7, 2, 8, 7, 7 = 41 (8d10)

>>35763914
It's Wulin/Velocity's system. One 4 = 14. Two 8s = 28. Three 10s = 30. Etc. Second sets get saved to add to other rolls.

I haven't fully explained the system because I haven't entirely worked out the kinks. Wulin's system matches with the setting the best to me but it's annoyingly hard to understand and has way too much to keep track of for the more automatic mechanics quest should have so I'm just keeping things in the background until I feel like I've got something that fits better for the players to mess with.

>>35763999
So what we want are multiples then. Cool.

Also dat 999.

>>35763872
Sorry man, if this was the summer or a long holiday I would be riding this into the sunrise, but I have no clue how long I for one will be able to stay awake. I am going to try and stay with it as long as I can though since it feels like forever since I got to stay up past my bed time drinking and questing. Also, this is my 1st live thread since reading the archives and I really think this is a nifty quest you are running.

You tug on the severed tongue one last time before letting go, smirking as it smacks into the frog's face. Your fly over to Amy - her face stiffened into blank shock as she curls her arms and legs into a ball. You pluck her off the fairy's wind spell - hands under he neck and the back of her knees; Tuulikki's body flings upwards into the sky - the wind kicking up your hat and hair. You smirk. "The frog's all yours, Tuuli."

"Ahahahaha! Ya got it, Nila!" Tuulikki calls from up in the sky. "I'll smack the thing straight through the riverbed!"

She soars higher upward until you can't even see her anymore - just the odd rippling of the wind as the air compresses behind her. A creaking, snapping sound soon follows and your eyes widen as the air above seems to be cracking under some great pressure. "Tuulikki! Isn't that a little too-"

BOOOM!

Walls of water fly into the air as if the river was split in half by spear from the sky - droplets spraying across your body like a downpour; the crashing of the waves drowns out the croaking screams of the frog spirit at the bottom of the river bed - it's face smashed into the splintering riverbed. Impaled on the heel of a 6-inch girl's foot.

Tuulikki disappears with another blast of wind - the frog's twitching body sinking into the ground - and a gust of wind streaks past you, kicking up your and Amy's hair. Another gust goes by, then another, each slower than the last until finally Tuulikki stops in front of you - eyes spinning, a leg sticking up into the air, and her arm dangling behind her as she stumbles backwards. "See what ah mean!" she points a shaky finger up. "Right through the riverbed!"

Amy blinks - her hands pressed together against her chest where she sits curled up in your arms. "What just happened?"

>con't

>>35764863
You sigh - a groaning rumble. Water drips down from your dishevelled hair and soggy clothes. "Tuu-li-kki!"

"Gah, not the hat! Not the hat!"

"Oh ho ho ho~" A raspy, sing-song voice of a man suddenly cuts through Tuulikki's protest. "I was wonderin' what all this commotion was about. 'Lo and behold I see some young girls trekkin' through my plains. You pack quite the punch for a young lass there, little fairy."

The three of you stare up, noticing an old robed man sitting atop what appears to a cloud-like disc of water. He strokes at his long beard, a mossy green like the grass on Haius's back - a large turtle shell growing out of his back.

>What are you supposed to be, a Kappa?
>What do you want, old man?
>That frog better not have had anything to do with you
>Write-in

>>35764882
>What do you want, old man?

Anyone else here?

>>35764882
>What do you want, old man?

>>35764950
I'm thinking I should poll my twitter followers on when they're usually good for questing or something.

>>35764950

Me, at least. >>35764958
Was doing stuff for a minute.

>>35764966
Might be smart. Running late on the weekends is usually fine from what I've seen but starting late is less so. At least until you build up a pretty substantial player base.

>>35764882
>That frog better not have had anything to do with you

>>35764966
Unfortunately my own schedule is terribly random.

>>35764994
Well, I'm hoping to run for pretty long today since I want to get through all of Haius's stuff this thread. I'll throw up some tweets as I go to get anyone who couldn't make it at the start's attention every few hours or somethin.

>>35765046
Also writing.

>>35765046
Go for it. And I hope you don't get discouraged by spotty/low player turnout, especially during these early threads.

>>35765109
It's not really all that discouraging. I enjoy writing the updates themselves so it's fine if there's only a few voting. Just worried I'm making it difficult for the people who like my quest to actually play in it since participation fluctuates as my scheduling does.

>>35764882
>>What are you supposed to be, a Kappa?

Oh dear, low player turnout on a day where I couldn't be around.
Well, I'm here now OP.

>>35765109
I kinda feel bad for lurking, but I'm a selfish fucker and this quest is one of the ones that's more fun to read than it is to play.

You scowl at the old man, wiping away at the river water slapped all across your face. "And just what is you want, old man?"

The man bursts into laughter - his gapped-tooth mouth showing. "I'm the old geezer here, eh?" He slaps his knees. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Missy, but aren'tya an immortal there? A Divine Magus of Asra? That's what the Seikie whisperin' around here's telling me. Knocked me right off my feet too! Didn't think Lady Asra could even get Magi at that level."

You roll your eyes, flapping your wings over to the top of Haius's shell to set Amy down. Tuulikki and the old man follow. "That didn't answer my question, you know."

"Ahhh, so it didn't," the man laughs as you set Amy down - her perplexed eyes staring up at the turtle-like person. "Well, missy, I just wanted to see what all the hub-bub down here was about. But now that I've gotten a look I'm a bit curious. You in a hurry at all?"

You raise your eyebrow, opening your mouth to speak; Amy shoves you aside and walks up to the man. "Nope! We're on an adventure! That means we can take as long we want getting there! Riiiight?" She turns to Tuulikki and the fairy shrugs.

"Oooooh? Adventurers, eh?" The old man strokes his fingers through his beard. "And what be your noble quest there, little one?"

She puts her fist on her hips. "Nila and Tuuli are gonna beat up my parents so they stop being jerks."

Tuulikki glances at you - hair twirl curving into a question mark. "We are?" You raise your hands up with a shrug.

"Oh, and stop some guys trying to kidnap me too. I guess."

>con't

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>>35765146
You start your thread around when I go to bed man
On that note I like the quest so far, and good night

>>35765763
The man chuckles. "Sounds like a bit of a story you got there! How about telling me it, lass? You're quite the ray of sunshine compared to the gloomy girl over there."

A low, manic cackling mutters through the winds as the air and ground around you dyes itself in the colors of a haunted night. "Well, excuse me -sir-, but I don't think you'd be in a good mood either after being drenched in an up-heaved river."

Tuulikki plays with her fingers, averting her eyes.

"Ha ha! Suppose your right, missy. Here let me take care a' that for ye." He twirls his fingers and you hear his soul push against the moisture on your body - a thundering rumble of waterfalls and shifting earth. The droplets on the three of you begin to move and coalesce, lifting off your bodies.

"I've got nothing on your lifespan or power, missy," the man says - the water merging with the cloudy disk he's sitting on. "But a trick like this is nothing for a regular old water Magus. There! All dry an' crisp! The name's Goro, by the way. Magus of Haius and the watcher of the plains. If'n yer up for it, I can guide you around the area."

"Oh! Can we, Nila?" Amy tugs at your arm. "He's fun!"

You groan, leaning your head away from her shining eyes.

>Fiiiiine
>No.

>>35765764
Loli Magician is a miracle of the universe. New chapters fucking when goddamnit.
>>35765783
>Fiiiiine

>>35765783
>Fiiiiine

>>35765783
>Fiiiiine

Since we're all old and wise we should know what the Magus of Haius and the watcher of the plains does right? If not ask.

>>35765841
He's just the giant turtle god you're walking on's Magus. No one actually lives in the Haius plains so this old guy just hangs out on his own and makes sure travelers don't die on their journey through the place.

Writing!

Stop lurking, faggots.

>>35765783
>Fiiiiine

"Ugh." You stare up into the sky, praying to Asra to give you patience. "Fiiine. He can come!" You pull your arm out of Amy's grips and march up to the old man, narrowing your eyes in scrutiny - cheeks puffing out just a smidgen in a cross glare. He smiles - amused.

You huff. "The name is Nila, Goro. Don't call me 'missy' anymore."

"Ye got it, missy!"

Your glare bores into his beady eyes as he throws his hands up in surrender. "Ha! Sorry there, Lady Nila. Tongue just went and slipped!"

"Hi there Master Goro! I'm Amala Lusseel!" Amy curtsies as she always does when making introductions.

Goro chuckles, bowing as far as his slouched turtle-back allows from his cross-legged position. "Well met there, young'n. And the fairy wit the mean punch. What be yer name there?"

"Huh?" Tuulikki says - probably trying to keep scarce in case you were still mad. "Ah, name's Tuulikki. What's up?"

The man blinks - a curious frown. He stares up into the sky.

You sigh. "Can we move on?"

"Ahhh, but I thought you said you weren't in a hurry, Lady Nila!" The old man chimes, his disk carrying him along so he can stare at you as you walk down the path.

"Amy said that. I made no comment."

"Well, that's too bad then!" The man says, rubbing at his beard. "I've been itchin to make a little request, ye see. Somethin' a Magus of Asra would be real suited for and all. Ah! We take the left branch on the path from her by the way."

You nod, turning left - the tall grass towering above your head turning just a slightly darker as the path goes. It's bushy texture reminds you more of moss or fur than actual blades of grass. "And what kind of request would that be?"

>con't

>>35766481
"Well, ya see. There's a boy hidin' out around this here plains." He hmmms. "Well, to be more precise n' all he's underneath the plains. Hangin' out with this group of water Fae down there last I checked. I was hopin' ye could go and get him for me. Those girls down there are watching out for him but that place still isn't no place for a kid to be, ye hear me? Ah, we can stop here for a bit."

You stop walking, allowing Tuulikki and Amy to catch up. The grass seems the darkest in this area - a dark blue-green; almost black.

"If there's a child in need then of course I'm willing to help, Goro, but why exactly can't you go and get him yourself?"

The man nods his head, humming in though. "Several reason there, Lady Nila. That area is full of all these water spirits just tryin' to do in my old pal Haius here so they aren't at all friendly ta me. Them Fae are good folks if a bit-" his eyes glaze over, chuckling to himself with a blush "Ah, but anyways- biggest reason is 'cause that little boy there hates the dickens out of me. Won't let me near him even to save his life. Almost literally."

Amy frowns - staring up at the old man. "But your so nice! Why wouldn't he like you."

The man sags forward with a tired sigh - his eyes hardened into a distant stare. "Because it's my job to protect the travellers goin' through these here plains, little lass. And I went and mucked it up when him and his dad came passin' through."

Amy stares at her feet; Tuulikki rubs at her shoulders. The old man breathes in a deep breath and lets it out - a slow gradual exhale.

"SO! That's how it be there, Lady Nila. Can I count on ye to go and get the boy for me? I'll look out fer yer little one while you go spelunking, even."

>Agree, but take the whole group
>Agree, leave Amy with Goro
>Agree, leave Amy and Tuulikki
>Disagree, you have to get Amy through here as soon as possible. Make him do it himself
>Write-in

>>35766490
>Agree, leave Amy and Tuulikki with Goro
>discretely ask how that boy's father died

>>35766490
>>Agree, but take the whole group
Well, if they're already dealing with one child they can probably reign themselves in for two or three more.
And side-quests are an important part of any adventure!

>>35766490
>Agree, leave Amy and Tuulikki

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I've got to put the quest on pause for a bit while I do some stuff.

I'll get to writing again in 1-2 hours or so. Keep the thread bumped for me and ask any questions if you got them.

>>35766632
I'll be waiting, OP. I've got nowhere else to be.

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>>35766632
eager anticipation bump here have a tiny mage

>>35766886
bipitity bamp

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Alright! Let's get this show back on the road! Well, you still gotta wait like another hour because of my update speed but, hey! at least I'm here!

>>35767189
YES our prodigal QM has returned!

Is it too late to vote
>Agree, but take the whole group
? Yes? Nevermind. Tuuliki probably wouldn't get along with these fae anyway.

I wonder what kind of Fae these water ones are? They're the intersection of humanity and nature, and I don't see what kind of intersection you could find out here... Fae of baths? Sounds lewd.

>>35767379
Lewd is not allowed. Let's make it cute.
>Fae of BUBBLEBATHS
Right, done, next?

>>35767407
>bubblebaths
>not lewd
Bubbles have the same appeal as clothing only you can remove them with a little water.

You sigh, kicking at the ground below your feet. Odd. Doesn't it feel a bit softer than it did before? Well, no matter. It's likely the humidity in the place making the ground muddier. Honestly, you're surprised you don't drown when you breathe in the air here.

"So I just have to trek through dirty water of some underground marsh until I find this boy, then?" You finally say.

The man nods. "That's about the jist of it there."

"Well, that sounds perfectly fine. I didn't want to wear these clothes ever again, anyway. You keep an eye Amy for me, Goro. You too Tuulikki."

"Hey!" The two girls' voices whine in unison.

"Ah, c'mon Nila. I ain't gotta enough fightan' in at all yet. That frog thingy was a wuss!"

"And I didn't get to do anything but get flung around through the air a bunch! Which was kinda fun, buut stiill!"

You sigh, tilting your body back as far as possible as Amy pulls on your arm and Tuulikki pinches and tugs at your round cheek.

"Amy, all you know how to do is make a fake fire to scare things away. Water spirits aren't all that afraid of flames for obvious reasons. As for you Tuulikki. Well. I just don't want you bouncing around in an enclosed space like you were doing earlier."

"Ah, c'mon. I smack ya in the nose one time and now I can't be trusted to use my own magic!?"

"But I wanna see the maaaarsh."

Goro laughs. "Well aren't ya the popular one there, Lady Nila?"

You glare at the old man before turning back to the two whiners hanging off of you. "Now listen, you two," you start, wriggling out of their grasp and placing your hands on your hips. "I'll be back in a moment. Just wait here with Goro."

They turn away from you, heading over to the old man - grumbles under their breath.

You huff, tutting at them like a disappointed mother.

"Now then. That's settled." You turn to the old man again, brushing one of your twintails aside. "So how do I get down to this marsh?"

>con't

>>35767747
"Ah, about that." The old man strokes his beard with a sagely nod. "It's about time for old Osstuss there to pull that nasty little trick of his, I reckon. Why don't you climb up on this here cloud with me Amy? You don't want to be on the ground fer much longer."

Amy scrunches her nose in confusion but does as she's told - the man floating up high above the top off the grass.

"Hey!" Tuulikki yells after them, flying up to their level. "The heck's goin' on?"

You frown, placing your hands on your hips. "Just what is going on here?"

The man holds his arm up in a shrug. The ground beneath you begins to swirl and soften like muddy quicksand. The blades of the grass rustle and swerve, suddenly snapping to life and slicing through the air at you. They wrap their way around you legs and push you through the softened shell. "Sorry there, Lady Nila. Only reliable way I know ta get to the place!"

You squirm as the mud sinks up to chest-level. You're -definitely- never wearing these clothes again. "You rotten old geezer!"

The mud covers your face at the same time as your feet pop out of the bottom, the hard fur-like blades of grass pulling you through the breach in Haius's shell at a much faster speed. Your head pops out the other side, gasping for breath. You shake the mud from your eyes and stare past the thicket of large grass roots - glowing softly with absorbed sunlight - and down to the black waters below.

A gibbering howl shatters the still air of the underground cavern - a gargantuan slit-eyed dog with rubber-like fur leaping out of the water. The spines jutting out of it's back tighten their grip around you and it howls again - it's muzzle opening impossibly wide like a alligator's jaw. You see several lines of teeth.

>con't

>>35767752
You snort, mixing your power with your cat's eye and staff. Your hat stirs, opening it's mouth wide with a low screeching hiss before exploding into deafening roar - the pitiful yelps of the beast below completely muffled. The glow of the roots nearby snuff out as cackling shadows swarm across them.

Your cloak shifts into scaled claws, squeezing down on the spines wrapping around your lower body. "I am -not- in the mood you arrogant little puppy!"

>Snuff out the rest of the lights, you'll blind it first
>Blast the damn thing
>Swing it around by it's own spines
>Write-in

>>35767760
>>Snuff out the rest of the lights, you'll blind it first

Night Child gonna night.

>>35767760
>Swing it around by it's own spines

>>35767760
>>Swing it around by it's own spines

>>35767760
>Swing it around by it's own spines

>>35767760
>>Swing it around by it's own spines

Swingin' it is! Roll me 8d10.

Rolled 2, 2, 6, 3, 7, 2, 10, 5 = 37 (8d10)

>>35767824
Aren't we inside turtle-god right now? I hope we don't hurt it too much.

Rolled 2, 1, 3, 8, 5, 4, 3, 6 = 32 (8d10)

>>35767824
WOOOOO

Rolled 7, 1, 2, 5, 2, 5, 2, 9 = 33 (8d10)

Writing!

Rolled 9, 7, 6, 8, 9, 3, 1, 8 = 51 (8d10)

>>35767824

So. Anyone got any idea how to calculate roll odds on anydice with this system?

Rolled 5, 9, 3, 10, 2, 8, 1, 8 = 46 (8d10)

>>35767824

>>35767919
I don't even know what's going on with the dice in this quest. Barely have half a clue about the magic stuff either. I just sit with the threads open in another tab and occasionally I'll vote or post like one time if I click over right when I see an update.

>>35767967
Yeah. Everything's a bit too narrative and open-ended as far as how the magic works. I might need to concoct some kind of mechanics for it so people can try out more spell creation.

You throw your staff up into the branches above and grab onto the roots at your sides - shadows wrapping around your wrists. You channel the dragon's energy into your body, gritting fanged teeth as your belly burns with a greedy heat; the nails on your scaled hands sink deep into the roots, holding you steady.

The dog yelps, murky water spraying into the air, as it's flung to the side - rock shrapnel snapping off a cracked boulder. You lurch upwards - splintered roots splashing into the marsh below; the dog hacks out teeth and muddy blood - several sets of eyes across the top off it's head spinning. It hugs the branches of the glowing roots and scratches it's hind paws on a large branch below, pulling you towards him.

You arch your back, groaning under the strain - determined to win this tug-of-war. Suddenly, the resistance completely slackens as it's furred spines snap off - your eyes widening as the beast leaps towards you. You poor out black energy and shape it with the soft cloth of your robe to cushion your self as the beast's giant paws pin you by your cloak - the large root behind you cracking under it's weight.

It leans forward and stretches it's mouth open wider than your whole body - lines of jagged mis-matched teeth almost pressing against your skin. A throaty chuckle echoes in your ears.

>Fire a blast down its throat
>Sync with your staff and swap places with it.
>Grab its tongue
>Write-in

>>35768027
>Fire a blast down its throat

>>35768027
>>Fire a blast down its throat
Draaagoon Niiilaa Breath!

>Fire a blast down its throat

>>35767980
I'm too uncreative for this system. Most people can't do good write-ins, from what I can tell.

>>35768027
>>Grab its tongue
What's the matter, cat got your... wait, you're a dog, the joke doesn't work. Damn.

>>35768054
The cat's the one doing the grabbing.

We do have a cat eye focus.

>>35768027
>Fire a blast down its throat

>>35768051
It's fine. I knew I'd have to carry most of the weight as QM anyway. I'd love to see anons make up crazy broken spells and see how they work out but I'm fine finding my own ways to make Nila look cool.

One thing to keep in mind though - and something that I need to start including in default choices - is that the stuff in the environment is also something you can use for spells. The water, the roots, the roots light, etc.

Anyway, writing!

>>35768082
But it's not a joke if the cat's LITERALLY got his tongue. It's not funny!

>>35768027
>Fire a blast down its throat
Time to burn

>>35768095
It's a groan-worthy joke that way. The best kind of joke.

>>35768092
I'd say we might not have too good of a handle on what exactly we are capable of.

>>35768104
Is it cool? Does it involve our hat, cloak, or staff in some way?
If the answer to both of those is 'yes', we can do it.

>>35768104
Yeah. That's true. I was kind of hoping people would pick up on how flashy Nila likes to be and just try every last over-the-top thing they can think of.

As far as how Nila herself sees the situation, she's already won. She's just trying to reel in Style Points.

>>35768138
Well, I just caught up from the archives. Cute quest, dude.

>>35768138
>Style Points
But nobody is watching!

or maybe.. Asra is watching?

>>35768163
That makes so much sense. The god of little kids likes it when you act just like an OP as fuck little kid in your battles.

>>35768163
I bet all the gods get together with a grading system and a leaderboard, cheering on who is kicking ass the best.

>>35768186
Bingo.

Let's all shoot for Triple S Rank!

>>35768186
It's not just that. Nila is immortal because she embodies Asra to the point that she has effectively become Asra.

Which makes Goro's comment that Asra couldn't get Divine Magi weird. Wouldn't a very human god like Asra be much easier to become a divine magus of than an animal one? It's much easier to embody a mischievious child than a giant turtle or cat.

>>35768230
It's probably because divine magi of Asra have to pull that shit off when they're still little kids.

>>35768244
That does make sense. Nila really won the lottery.

I wonder if the fairy that did her pact is still around.

>>35768230
That's true but >>35768244
embodying Asra takes being, well, a kid. You grow up and you lose her power, so you've got to really bust your butt in those few years you've got.

There's also...idealogical reasons why Asra wouldn't have a Divine Magus. Your goddess is actually kind of upset about the fact that you became one.

>>35768259
>There's also...idealogical reasons why Asra wouldn't have a Divine Magus. Your goddess is actually kind of upset about the fact that you became one.
I guess it's because part of being a kid is growing up, and Nila spits right in the face of that?

>>35768259
>Your goddess is actually kind of upset about the fact that you became one.
Interesting...

>>35768259
Mostly because you have to take on more responsibility than children usually do so you're actually kind of abandoning your childhood.

>>35768259
A Paladin of a God that doesn't want paladins? Awkward.

>>35768264
Partially, but it's more that Asra isn't the goddess of the entirety of childhood but rather a very specific type of childhood. I'd give a full answer but I need to get back to writing. Send a question to my ask.fm if ya want a full answer later. Or just RAFO.

You smirk - cheeks puffing out as they fill with thick flames. A blue flare roars out of your open mouth in a compressed beam, fanning out into a cone as it singes through the beast's tonsils and down it's throat - a scorched, whimpering screech that scrapes across your ears and rattles your bones. The dog jumps backwards - water splashing against your face as it dives beneath the dark surface.

You dive after - wings on your cloak spreading out as you trail after the bubbles beneath the water. It's spines stab out at you as snakes further away, sinking deeper under the water.

The bubbles and waves disappear - the surface completely calm. You can hear the light croaks of frogs and the buzzing of insects in the air - a low, flickering hum emanating from the glowing roots.

>Make sure that thing - Osstuss, was it? - doesn't get away
>It's retreated, go and find the boy
>Write-in

I really got too chatty. This short of an update doesn't need to take that long.

>>35768373
>>It's retreated, go and find the boy

>>35768373
>It's retreated, go and find the boy
Business before bloodlust.

>>35768373
>>It's retreated, go and find the boy

>>35768373
Freeze the water and slide on it instead of trudging through it.

>>35768442
I don't think we really do ice.
Hmm. Maybe turn our staff into a fish, our hat into a leash, and our cloak into a pair of water skis?

Writing!

>>35768454
You can't do ice but you can solidify the water with other things.

Also:
http://ask.fm/CallowQM/answer/119157502683

>>35768461
>http://ask.fm/CallowQM/answer/119157502683
And it's like the end of the first thread all over again. That really punched my not-sads right in the face.

>>35768373
Can we crate giant wave and ride on top of it?

http://strawpoll.me/2862784

>>35768466
Well, she's basically Child Neglect: the goddess so there you go.

That's a big reason for all the mischief and stuff too. Because that's exactly what a neglected kid does: act out.

File: 1410660248629.gif (92 KB, 224x237)

92 KB GIF

>>35768461
well shit man

File: ow.png (91 KB, 600x600)

91 KB PNG

>>35768461
>>35768485
This is not kawaii.
This is not kawaii at all.

>>35768550
The best part? Nila had a sister. She had to watch a sister that she was most likely a surrogate mother for grow old and die.

Finally awake, surprised that you're still running!
Of course, now the next update will probably be the last. Oh well.

>>35768550
ELQ: Come for the adorable loli shenanigans, stay for the kidney punches to your happiness that happen the second anyone dares to scratch at the surface at all.

>>35768564
And her sister's kids. And her sister's kid's kids.

>>35768566
It shouldn't be but I might have to take another break for a while after it.

>>35768591
;_;

>>35768591
>And her sister's kid's kids.
I think by that point she would have gotten used to it. And that makes it even worse.

>>35768601
Hurray!

>>35768606
It was mentioned that that was the point she left them.

>>35768606
She didn't leave her family until after her sister's kid's kids died. She still felt that one.

>>35768485
Damn man don't think I'll make it through another break. Fuck it good night everybody.

>>35768668
Night anon.

You retrieve your staff from the tangle of root's up above, gliding down to the water's surface. You tap into Asra's - the shadows easily mixing into the dark waters. You coat the water in the cloth of your cloak - the thick texture jiggling like a water-bed as your butt smacks on top of the surface with a bounce. You pull out your cat's eye and convene with the distant spirit of Issoi - the water rising in a loud gurgling yawn. It shakes itself up, ears twitching, and pounces forward through the cavernous marshes with a sloshing rumble, carrying you on it's back.

"Ahhh, now this is much better than trudging neck deep in some dirty water." You say to yourself, smacking some small imp-like water spirit with your staff as it jumps at you. "Now where did that boy get to?" You close your eyes - the shadows of your soul creeping out into the air around you, vibrating and singing throughout the area - the silent words of Seikie.

>Roll 8d10

And see you in an hour or so. Need to recoup a bit and get my head thinking straight.

Rolled 5, 10, 10, 4, 5, 3, 10, 3 = 50 (8d10)

>>35768707
Weee

Rolled 8, 9, 1, 8, 10, 2, 4, 7 = 49 (8d10)

>>35768707
I'll be asleep by then OP. I like your stuff, keep writing it.

Rolled 1, 3, 10, 4, 8, 7, 7, 3 = 43 (8d10)

>>35768707
Now that's stylish.

>>35768710
>triple 10
By my understanding of this needlessly complicated system, this is Very Good.

>>35768757
Let's hope.

>>35768757
Only 2 points better than double 8.

>>35768757
I'm not sure, but I think it counts as zero rather than ten.

>>35768771
From my understanding, double eight results in sixteen. This would be thirty.

>>35768757
Yeah. I'm thinking I might change to, like, OVA dice or something. Velo City/Wulin inspired would work for a PnP game of this setting but not so much for a quest.

>>35768777
It's three 0s, yes. So 30.

>>35768784
Double 8 is 28 I thought.

>>35768777
That... hmm. Damn.

>>35768784
No, however many times a number shows up is X, and the number is Y. So two (X) eights (Y) is 28, and three (3) tens (0) is 30.

>>35768784
28. Two eights.

>>35768786
>three 0
But it's clearly 10s
Petition to make our result 310.

>>35768793
>>35768796
Alright alright, I'm clear on it now.

>>35768793
Oh. So we actually want 9s, 10s are really bad.

>>35769037
It's not that they're bad so much as the worst.

>>35769037
But three of them, not too shabby

Aaaand back. Thoughts are still feelin' way scrambled and foggy but whatever, time to push my limits a bit.

Don't think I'll make it through all of Haius plains tonight so maybe I'll just make as many posts as I can before I go to sleep and continue the thread when I wake up.

So how hard would be for us to change into mist or shadow?

>>35769652
There's a few issues with that regarding maintaining consciousness/sensory abilities and it would be power intensive(and thus exhausting). Otherwise, it's not a spell that Nila can't cast I'd say; just one that might wear her out.

Bleeeeeeeeh. Okay, yeah. Having some trouble here.

I'll still try and chip away at it but consider the thread's official runtime over. Now we're in sporadic mode until tomorrow.

I'll answer questions in the meantime if you have any.

>>35769990
Ah, alright. Thanks for running!

Is the thread archived?

>>35769990
I kinda feel bad that I don't have any questions, but even if I did I'd just go to the ask.fm because I like being able to find answers about stuff all in one place without archive diving.

>>35770249
I'll get right on that.

>>35770256
Completely fine with that anon and I agree. It's why I made it.

>>35769990
So we summoned giant water cat yes?
Is summoning rare?

>>35770368
Yeah. Any type of Conjuration is rare.

Illusion - the minor level stuff at least - is just as easy as copying what you see/hear and projecting it on to excess energy your spewing out(some non-Magi can even do it) and you can also just as easily copy over the trait's something's essence and project an illusion of that. But actually taking that essence and conjuring it into a real physical thing is pretty high power-level and often kind of unstable.

Resources are always a problem in this setting so some high-level Magi make a living just creating stuff from their energy, though these objects degrade quicker than the real deal.

>>35770479
Would it be possible to create seed of plant that would bear fruits giving more energy than one used to create the seed?

>>35770479
>trait's something's
trait of somethings*

>>35770515
You mean make a "fake" seed and have it produce more seeds that wouldn't degrade the way the original seed/tree did? I'll have to think on that a bit. I think it might stay but you'll see some weird defects as time went by. Kinda like epigenetic degradation.

Might be a treatable thing, though.

>>35770577
Of course if you allow that, we could conceivably make any plant grow sustainably. Even ones that never existed.

>>35770577
So how many species are result of bored magi?

>>35770680
Yeah, I'm aware of that. And I'm also aware of how much my setting laughs in the face of biology and genetics already.

>>35770688
Not many. Creating a sustainable living creature and not just a facsmilic conjuration is a bit out of their level unless they make something super simple.

Some dickass Fae out there have found a loophole around all that complex work though, but it involves using infants of existing animals as a "base".

This sometimes results in a Changeling, where the original soul tries to rearrange it's new monster body back into it's original configuration with odd results.

There's also a huge number of supernatural creatures made by Conceptual deities. These work a lot differently than "real" animals though. The dragon Nila got her staff from was one of these.

>>35770785
> Conceptual deities
Is that another name for a god, a subclass of god, or something else entirely?

>>35770992
Our god is conceptual
Deity of time is conceptual
God of fire is not conceptual unless he has control over fire of will or something like this

>>35770992
Haius, the giant turtle, is a nature deity; he embodies a physical region. Asra is a conceptual deity; she embodies a conceptual ideal.

>>35771068
>Deity of time is conceptual
Asha is more...metaphysical than conceptual. When I say conceptual I'm more talking emotions, ideals, beliefs, stories.

Stuff that's more sciencey are their own thing - the primal forces that power reality.

Fae fill in that last example. They're spirits of what natural things symbolize. That's why Tuulikki cast a sort of healing spell on you with the Wind. Wind symbolizes life force and vigor so she incited that quality and invigorated Amy as she breathed in the air.

>>35771157
So are we getting more powerful the more hard decisions we have to make when helping children?

>>35771887
Kind of. You could argue that as a Divine Magus you've hit a sort of plateau but there's still a little bit more room to go up the more work you do for Asra.

But part of the reason I gave you such an OP MC right at the start is because growing in power has never been the point of the story, you know?

It's like reading Superman. It's not about whether he's gonna lose or not, it's about if he can save everyone. He's almost always powerful enough to win, but it's very possible to fall short on the other goal. More the demands and responsibilities of the powerful and immortal and how that weighs on their emotional state.

Well, got some of the update done, sorta, but I'm about ready to pass out. I'll continue in like 10-12 hours after I get some sleep and do some stuff.

Keep the thread bumped and thanks for the fun thread!

I think I learned quite a bit on what I need to work on as a QM this time around. Going to take a closer look at mechanics and magic later and try harder to make more interesting decisions. I'm glad there seems to be a lot who think my writing's good enough just to sit back and read but this is an interactive thing too.

>>35772776
Have good night OP~

>>35772776
12 hours is a tall order. We'll try, but be prepared to make a new thread.

I'm off to bed as well.

>>35772776
Can't wait!

>>35773096
Bump!

>>35772776
Grump

I hate when threads die

>>35776793
Dude, it wasn't in danger yet.

Bump

One last bump

And another bump.

Still got some stuff to do but I'm up and working on the update.

>>35783457
Excellent

pmuB

>>35784913
bamp

Your soul stretches, twisting and gliding through the roots and waters - to all corners of Haius's shell. Water sloshes against your words wherever you go - boiling pools, scorching mists, surging waves - torrents of anger aimed at the insides of Haius. Some turn their attention briefly to you as your shadows crawl past, pressing flat against the sides of the roots by the glare of light ahead - a shining, sultry spring and meadow: bubbling giggles and the sashay of petals. It's here that you feel it - unshed tears and a lonely ache: the hardened heart of a mourning boy.

"North then." You open your eyes, tapping the top of your conjuration's head with the tip of your staff. The wave bounds forward - it's paws and legs booming as they crash against roots and stone, flowing over them. A spray of water bursts - a webbed-foot monstrosity covered in boils charging from the depths; it's smothered in a flash by the feline jaws of your wave. You tap into the dragon's spirit in the staff, focusing on the furnace-like belly - a boiling screech gurgles from deep within your conjuration's stomach.

"Kehahahahahaha."

Roots snap at your left and an identical creature darts at you - black teeth glinting. You leap over it, grabbing onto it's head as you cloak shifts into claws - a loud smack shakes the air as a third creature smacks into the other scaled palm.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

You twirl in the air - wind bursting. The two creatures go flying in opposite directions - stone and water spraying into the air.

"Haaaaa~" You sit back down, smirking. "Weaklings."

The absorbed sunlight in the roots brighten the deeper you go, looking less like a moonlit glow and more like captured rays of the sun - red and purple petals flowing through the much clearer waters. A heady floral scent mixed with warm dew gushes out from the meadow ahead; you almost gag at the flushing warmth of the air.

>con't

>>35786295
You stand up, tapping your staff against your feline wave. It meowls, lifting it's head up in a great vertical leap. The wave dives headfirst into the ground just outside the meadow, splashing apart as you undo your enchantments. Your cloak billows out behind you as your feet touch the ground - a black wind splitting the rushing water to the side, preventing it from flooding the field of flowers ahead. You place your hands on your hips - proud of your entrance.

"Ooh~" A steamy voice says; placing a finger on plump, purple lips. A young woman stands before you - body wrapped in thick silky water that spills off of swelling hips in a cascade of red and blue violet. "What's a cutie like you doing here?" The woman says - her watery dress bouncing as she bends down to your level. "We don't get visitors very often."

You scramble as far back as you can - wide-eyed. You notice several other similar woman in the distance crowded around a shining root-carved fountain bubbling with thick sparkling water. Several crowd around the back of a small slouching boy - his arms crossed. His short brown-black hair flickers as he spins around at them, yelling some biting remark you can't hear. The girls just tut and giggle.

You suppress a throaty groan. Great. Water Nymphs. You hate these types of Fae.

"Sooo~" The nymph from before starts. "What's your name? Or do I just call you cutie?"

>Aaaahh! Get away from me you floozy!
>Save this boy from these harlots immediately.
>Move aside, tramp. I'm here to talk to the boy.
>Write-in

>>35786311
>>Move aside, tramp. I'm here to talk to the boy.

I'll give it 10 more minutes to see if anyone else shows up.

Seems most of my players are up at around mid-morning/early-afternoon my time on weekends.

>>35786494
I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to head out in just a moment too. I guess we'll just have to come back at some other time.

Alright, forging ahead. I'll into proper runtimes someday, I swear!

>>35786311
>>Aaaahh! Get away from me you floozy!

>>35786311
>Save this boy from these harlots immediately.
Delays lead to more shenanigans.

>>35786311
>Move aside, I'm here to talk to the boy.

Remove tramp because unneeded provocation with the boy present is not a smart move.

>>35787225
That's a bad thing?

>>35786311
>Move aside, tramp. I'm here to talk to the boy.

Sunday nights suck. Hopefully this thread will still be up in the morning before I go to class. Godspeed, OP. I really like your story.

>>35787285
Is actually Mondey morning for me. Glorious vacation!

>>35786311
>Move aside, tramp. I'm here to talk to the boy.

>>35787285
>>35787414
Wait, that's what day it is? My sleep schedule is worse than I thought. Anyway, still writing. Bit distracted right now.

You frown, letting out a 'hmph!' as you push the large hips aside, marching over to the boy and his unwelcome entourage. "Move aside. I don't have any business with you."

You hear the nymph giggle - a flowing, bubbling sound - as she walks up behind you. "Cutie it is, I guess! I'm Terenei, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you." She leans over - hands on your shoulders - and smiles at you; her eyes scrunching up with a way-too-flirtatious shine.

You stiffen - shadows and dark flares writhing and snapping at the girl as you shake her off, stomping a bit faster ahead. "Don't touch me, you got that? Now. You better not have done anything even -remotely- like that to that boy there, understand? You'll regret it if you have."

"Hmmmm~? You mean little Eiji?" The nymph sways in front of you, pointing over to the angry boy. "Of course not, silly. What do you take us Naiads for? We wouldn't take advantage of someone's emotions like that. Especially not a kid. The boy needs love not ~love~."

She pauses - her eyes scrunching up in that playful way again; her lips spread into a dreamy smirk. "Buuut~ you don't seem like much of a 'real' kid yourself now that I take a look at you~"

You scowl, weaving out away from her again.

"Aww, come on, cutie. How about the two of us go and-"

"NO!"

"Okay, okay. Fiiine~" The nymph backs away.

"I -said-," a boy yells from ahead - voice cracking at the last syllable. "Leave me the heck alone! You can take your stupid pity and your stupid bambi eyes and shove it up your fat bimbo butts! I don't need you dopes hanging all over me!"

Ha! You think you'll like this kid.

>con't

>>35787653
Terenei covers her mouth and laughs - her watery clothes jiggling. "Now, now; Eiji. That's no way to treat a lady." The boy snaps his head over in your direction with a scowl - dark eyes suddenly lighting up as they rest on the bubbly nymph. "Why don't you come on over here, okay? I think this cutie here came to meet you."

The boy stumbles to his feet, rushing over with his arm's spread - crashing his cheek against the nymphs stomach. "Teri! You can't just go and leave me with all these dopes, alright."

The nymph laughs, brushing her fingers through the boy's hair. "That's not nice, Eiji. Those 'dopes' are all my friends and sisters. Now say hi to the little cutie there, okay?"

The boy turns his head over - eyes narrowing as they land on you. "Who's this twerp?"

You grimace. So much for your predictions.

>Hmph! I'm Nila Waelind, brat.
>Doesn't matter. I'm dragging you out of here.
>Show some respect for your elders, boy.
>Write-in

>>35787665
>>Hmph! I'm Nila Waelind, brat.

Never not namedropping.

>>35787665
>Hmph! I'm Nila Waelind, brat.
Power Pout?

>>35787665
>Hmph! I'm Nila Waelind, brat.
Emphasis on the Hmph!

must not ship boy with amy
must not ship boy with amy
must not ship boy with amy

>>35787665
>Hmph! I'm Nila Waelind, brat.

>>35787720
>Not shipping no one because Nila never went through puberty

And writing!

>>35787739
You could argue she's too "young" for a menarche because of her condition, but not for puberty itself. She's physically about 10-11 and that's where it starts.

Nila still isn't the romantic type, though.

You suck in a deep breath, puffing out your chest. "HMPH!" You shoot the breath out all at once - cheeks puffing as you glare at the boy; he pushes himself off Terenei - almost a whole head taller than you. "I'm Nila Waelind, brat."

He crosses his arms. "So?"

"SO," you say, tapping your staff against your shoulder. "You should show me a little more respect! I'm a Divine Magus of Asra here to help kids like you."

"Pfft!" The boy brushes his nose with his thumb, holding in a chuckle. "Yeah, so what? I don't remember asking you. Now get the heck away from me. I don't need some little girl trying to take care of me!"

You glare - the shadows beneath you warping and twisting into a claw. It grabs the boy by the ankle - his arms flailing as you swing him around upside-down in the air.

"I don't care if you asked me, boy." You tut. "This is my sworn duty to my goddess. I've dealt with far more unreasonable children than you in the past, so don't think you can weasel your way out of getting help just because you want to pretend your tough." You bring the boys face up close to yours - eyes narrowing. "Understand?"

The boy stares, crossing his arms again - his red tunic slipping down. "Fine. You want to help me? Then kill this dumb turtle we're in. Your strong enough to do that, right?"

Terenei gasps. "Eiji! Don't say that!"

"Shut up, Teri!" The boy snaps. "You don't want to really help me either!"

>con't

>>35788205
He scrambles out of your claw's grasp, hitting the ground with a grunt. He jumps up immediately - brushing off the dirt. "I keep telling you to make a Pact for me and Osstuss so I can go kill that crappy old man and his crappy old turtle but all you do is coo over me like your my damn mom!" He swings his body around, snuffing the girl. "Well, you're not! Got that? I never had a mom! I just had a dad and now he's-"

"..."

A tear drops on the flowered grass below.

"He's..."

The boy sniffs, rubbing his forearm across his eyes He whips back to glare at the two of you. "It doesn't matter! If you aren't going to help me then I'll just find some other Fae in this place to make a pact with! That goes to you too, you stupid brat! I don't need you!"

The boy sprints back into the fountain - a group of nymphs stopping him from leaving. He spits and curses as they drag him back towards the fountain.

Terenei reaches her hand out helplessly - gaped shock on her face. She drops arm down - limp - rubbing at her shoulder.

"Ha ha...That's Eiji for you, I'm afraid. He isn't a bad kid at all, cutie! He's just..." She averts her gaze.

>Ask Terenei why Eiji wants to kill Haius
>Go and try to talk to Eiji again
>Write-in

>>35788211
>>Ask Terenei why Eiji wants to kill Haius
>>Go and try to talk to Eiji again

>>35788211
>Ask Terenei why Eiji wants to kill Haius

Seriously? I am fairly sure killing a Physical Region = BAD Idea.

>>35788211
>your/you're
Minor thing, but you're using them kind of inconsistently.

>Ask Terenei why Eiji wants to kill Haius
Find out more about the story from someone who wants to talk with us before going to the one who doesn't at the moment.

>>35788211
>Ask Eiji what happened to his dad
Because bringing up trauma is fun!

>>35788267
Yeah. I always do when I don't pay attention. My brain kind of has this problem where it associates words that rhyme/sound the same with each other so it's the kind of mistake I make a lot.

>>35788211
>Kill Haius

>>35788290
Ha!

Anyway, writing.

>>35788211
>Ask Terenei why Eiji wants to kill Haius

>>35788211
>Ask Terenei why Eiji wants to kill Haius
...
>>35788316
Why Am I always so late?

Finally, awake! Time for lolis.

You frown, watching the boy get dragged away - kicking and screaming. "He's just alone and afraid, I know," you say, turning back around.

"So, Terenei was it? Would you mind telling me why the brat's contemplating deicide?" You stop her just as she opens her mouth. "And while I'm making requests: stop calling me 'cutie'."

"Yeah, okay. Nila, right? Well..." She stares up at the domed shell ceiling, collecting her thoughts. "I guess he's just angry about how his dad died, is all..."

"And that means?"

She makes a tired smile, rubbing at her arm again. "Well, you see. The water spirits down here don't really like Haius," she continues. "Fae like us don't care who's in charge as long as we aren't being forced to do stuff but all these animals down here can think about is getting more territory. They crawl right up into here from the river and try to kill the poor guy from the inside..."

She turns to you. "And getting hit by things inside you obviously hurts and all that, so he thrashes around and causes problems for the people walking on top of him. That's what old Goro is there to stop. All these nature gods aren't smart enough for complex spells. It's all earthquakes and thunderstorms and blizzards. Got to get a Magus if you want to work with precision..."

You scrunch your nose. "So what? That's it? Goro screwed up on his job and now the boy wants to kill the big turtle because it thrashed around after getting hurt? Why ally himself with the spirit's down here instead of getting revenge against them, then? Have you tried explaining this to him at -all?-"

>con't

>>35788924
"Of course I have, Nila!" She scoffs. "Do you think he listened? He's a kid who just lost his only family! He thinks it's Haius's fault to begin with for even pushing these other gods out of the territory! It's Haius he saw basically kill his dad. It's Haius's Magus who didn't save him like he was supposed to. So it's Haius he's after! I know it's dumb but I can't talk him out of it. I can just try keeping him safe here until he comes to terms with the whole thing."

>Wasn't Osstuss that dumb puppy you fought earlier? Why not take the boy to see how pathetic the thing actually is. Maybe that'll snap him out of it.
>The boy still shouldn't be stuck down here. Try to get Terenei to come with you and take the boy somewhere else.
>Drag the boy to talk to Goro. Maybe the old man can talk some sense into him
>Write-in

>>35788929
>Wasn't Osstuss that dumb puppy you fought earlier? Why not take the boy to see how pathetic the thing actually is. Maybe that'll snap him out of it.

>>35788929
>Talk to Eiji
Find out what sort of man his dad was. Maybe we can convince him to try and prevent something like this happening in the future.

>>35788929
>Wasn't Osstuss that dumb puppy you fought earlier? Why not take the boy to see how pathetic the thing actually is. Maybe that'll snap him out of it.
Sounds reasonable, but I'll also support talking to Eiji.

Alright. Guess we'll talk to Eiji and try to show him how dumb his idea is at the same time.

I apologize in advance if this update takes way too long. I'm really out of it.

>>35789044
The long update times will never be as detrimental as this weird-ass timeslot.

>>35789044
Don't worry about it!

>>35788929
>Wasn't Osstuss that dumb puppy you fought earlier? Why not take the boy to see how pathetic the thing actually is. Maybe that'll snap him out of it.

I really don't want to bring him to Osstuss if pacts are easy to make we would just be giving him a way to act on his grief.

>>35789138
He needs a Fae willing to do it for him and none of the Nymphs obviously are?

It's more of a "you see this, this is the thing you're putting all your hopes of revenge on?" thing.

>>35789138
This thing has sound enough mind to make a pact?

>>35789152
>?
Didn't mean to put that question mark there.

>>35789152
Then I'm okay with it.

>>35788929
>Drag the boy to talk to Goro. Maybe the old man can talk some sense into him
Worst option possible and I think it'd be funny.

Ugh. Still working on it. Just having trouble focusing.

>>35790389
You can do it~

>>35790389
Your health is important, just saying.

>>35790566
Yeah. I think I might need to wrap up this thread after this next update.

Bump?

File: 1364415307203.png (128 KB, 316x365)

128 KB PNG

Okay, yeah. I don't think an update is going to happen anytime soon. My mood's starting to become a casualty in this effort and that's likely to cause Things to happen so I'm going to have to take a break. If the thread's still up when I finish writing the update, I'll post it. If not, it'll be the OP of the next thread.

Sorry guys. But that's just how it is.

>>35791357
Thanks for running! Try not to worry about it.

>>35791357
It always seems like you get worse as the day progresses.

>>35791357
It's okay, we can wait! Thanks for the thread.

>>35791357
Have a good rest, thanks for running.

>>35791427
I just don't have stamina for really anything. Part of that's the mental disorder. But another big part of that's just habit from basically hiding away for 8 years doing nothing because paranoid delusion and anti-psychotics turning me into practically a vegetable.

I've still got a long way to go to hit that "member of society" thing other people do. You can say this quest is helping with that process.

>>35791481
Good luck Callow, we're all counting on you.

Bibbitty bomp

Bampity bompity bump

Bermpo

Pmub

Blimp

bump

Okay. Finally starting to see progress. I think this will be the last update of this thread. Sorry for the reeeaally long wait.

bump

>>35809408
>>35809418
Wow, nice timing.

And don't worry about the wait Callow, we're a patient and relaxed sort, quality takes time.

"No he won't."

Terenei blinks, brushing her long shimmering hair out of her face. "He won't what?"

You flick your hair - the other tail twirling as you spin around back at the direction the boy went. "He won't come to terms with anything like this. His dad's death, no one being able to stop it, you keeping him here and not letting him do what he wants to do - the boy feels powerless, Terenei. So he's looking for power to feel better. You're just making him feel even less in control of things."

Terenei stares at the ground. "Then what are we supposed to do?"

You narrow your eyes - mouth set into a determined frown. "We make him realize precisely how worthless that power really is."

==============

"Aaaoooow, let go of my damn ear, you stupid twerp!" Eiji grits his teeth, digging his feet deeper into the ground. You tug harder - Terenei pushing Eiji from behind with a look of uneasy worry on her face. "Now, Eiji? Come on," the nymph coos. "If you'd just listen to Miss Nila a bit she wouldn't have to do this."

"Shut up, Teri! Why are you even here? If you aren't going to make a pact for me then why are you dragging me to see Osstuss?"

"That's because..." She trails off as you reach your destination. You let go of Eiji's ear - the boy falling over into Terenei's arm at the lack of resistance.

You raise up a finger - dark pools bubbling and rumbling just ahead of you. A great howl warbles from underneath the water - small waves crashing against your feet as Osstuss flicks his head out from beneath the surface. He roars again - thick drool and rank air splattering against your face. Eight sets of eyes - some slitted like amphibians or cat and a pair just like a humans - open and scan the area. Eiji trembles in Terenei's arms, scrambling back against her - mouth agape.

"Hmph!" You flick the slobber of your face, crinkling your nose up at the large dog. "Dumb mutt."

>con't

>>35809689
It's eyes swivel and land on you - pupils quivering with tremors of fear and rage. It snarls - a hacking, rumbling gibber. Small animals in the area scatter in a hurried shuffle.

"Well then?" You glare up at the beast. "Just going to stand there with you're tail between your legs? I don't have time to play with you, mutt, so let's get this over with." You pat at your knees, holding out your hands mockingly. "Now who's a good boy~"

Osstuss stomps forward - water rippling with a shattering roar; the spines on his back scraping and slashing against the shell above. It leaps at you - gnarled nails bigger than your head glistening on it's paws.

You tighten your grip on your staff - the shadows in front of you swirling with a flickering growl.

CRACK.

Jagged, broken teeth scatter in the air - a wispy-black claw scraping through the air. The giant dog whimpers, levitating in the air. A great splash follows - the beast sinking out of sight.

You turn to the boy - hand steadying your hat as it flickers in the aftershock; he gulps. "You think that puppy's a threat to Haius at all? It's an annoying ulcer in it's stomach at best."

>con't

>>35809699
Eiji's eyes harden, lifting himself up out the nymphs arms. "Then I'll just find a stronger god." He crosses his arms.

You sigh. "There's not a god out there that will grant the power to bring back the dead, boy."

He scowls. "Shut up! You don't get it at all! You're a damn Divine Magus, you wouldn't understand what it's like to-"

You yank him towards you by his collar, pressing your nose against his face - eyes narrowed. "I understand -perfectly-, got that? I've been alive for over three-hundred years. I've lost plenty of people dear to me! And none of this-" The shadows flicker and snap around you. "Fixed a single thing about how I felt when they died! It didn't change anything at all!"

You relax your glare - eyes softening with distant painful memories; Eiji stares. "Please, Eiji. Stop thinking like this. It isn't going to make you happy. It's not going to make your father happy either. I'm sorry this had to happen - I wish I or Goro or anyone could have been there to stop it - but there's nothing to be done now."

"..."

The boy sniffles - his palms pressed against his face; tears pour down from his cheeks and stain his clothes. "Then what the hell am I supposed to do now...?"

"Oh, Eiji..." Terenei wraps her arms around the boy from behind - her own tears trickling down her face. She brushes her fingers through his hair - his head pressed into her chest - humming a somber "ssshhhh" to him as he cries.

You let go of him, taking a step back. "We can try talking about it, for a start."

>THREAD 5 END

And there's thread 5's end. Not entirely satisfied with the last update but, hey, I needed to just get it out there and done.

Bit of a spotty performance by me this time, but that's how it goes.

We'll pick up hopefully on Friday. Thanks for sticking with me!

>>35809725
I liked it. Shame about how the scheduling and the delays happen, but such is life.

>>35809725
Thanks for the thread and for running the quest Callow, cya next time.

>>35809725
Thanks for running!

>>35809725
It's fine, exactly how I hoped it would go even.
>You don't know what it's like!
>I have buried more people that you can count on your hands!
It is also really sad.

>>35809910
Glad you liked it.

Mostly I just feel like it was a tad melodramatic(as in, I couldn't deliver it better so I resorted to captial D DRAMA) and Nila might've came off a bit too much like a tactless jerk; she's supposed to be more delicate with kids in this kind of situation.

I guess that's just the difference between dealing with a hard-headed boy and a more sensitive girl, though.

>>35809953
Being direct is best, Nila really shut his anger down. Now the healing can begin.
I wonder if he would have been easier to deal with if we had brought Amala along.

>>35810039
To be honest, it probably would have been harder. Amala's kind of in a rebellious phase right now so seeing another kid stricken with grief and anger of his parents death would really throw her for a serious loop and made her reconsider some things. She would've become another problem to deal with on top of reasoning with Eiji.

Not that that STILL isn't going to happen to her, i guess, but it'll be less of a complication and more something you can deal with without being pulled every which way.

>>35810146
What about if we only brought Tuuli?

>>35811182
She'd probably would have picked a fight with Eiji on accident because of her typical attitude, but that might have been just what he needed: something to vent his anger. Could also have made it the whole thing worse though, since losing to a fairy would have made Eiji feel even more powerless.

She'd also probably "get" Eiji the best, though. She's a real awkward person and tends to channel her more uncomfortable emotions into frustration. She'd understand his mindset better.

>>35809953
I also liked it, thanks for running