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/tg/ - Traditional Games


File: Maka Character Sheet 1.jpg (297 KB, 1119x982)
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You resist the temptation of headbutting your Manse's walls until you pass out.

Feeling lightheaded from the shock, you sit down on the ground, trying to parse what is happening around you.

Other than the noise of your soldiers working to restore the fortifications, it's eerily quiet considering the chaos and din of combat that ruled the area up to a few minutes ago. It might not be over yet, but for now, the manse-fortress of Pearl, your new home, has survived the assault of the Silver Prince - or rather, to use his true title, the Bohdisattva Anointed by Dark Water.

He came to drag back in chains to the Underworld, or to kill, the Tyrant of the Doomsday Machine, rebellious deathlord... and the soul of the Incarnation that held your same Exaltation in the First Age.

By all accounts, a horrible person. By her own admission, an utter sociopath with all feelings of love, kindness and compassion surgically removed from her ghost. Corrupted by the Neverborn's touch.

And you gambled on her not having been corrupted beyond salvation. You gambled on the idea that no human soul can be utterly beyond salvation.

You believe that. Tyrant herself didn't.

The battle ended. Here, at least. You sent her a message.

Like you, she believes the Silver Prince to be currently attacking Tianna City, on the other side of the island. Undermanned and underdefended, and, a secret known to few... the entrance to the Flame That Marched Against The Sea. A Titan. An ancient magical flying fortress of near-indescribable power, buried deep underground.

(cont.)
>>
File: Maka Character Sheet 2.jpg (457 KB, 1469x1134)
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And she wants it for herself. She wants to destroy the Neverborn, the monsters that chained her soul, with it.

...As for the Prince, you're not 100% sure what he intends to do with the Titan, but whatever it is, it can't be good.

You look around yourself, at the worried faces of your servants, friends and circlemates as they slowly gather around you. Some already know what's going on, having been within earshot of your magical message exchange with the Deathlord. Other just guess, staring at your troubled face, that something must be monumentally wrong.

You need to act fast.

Tianna is probably under attack. Amata is there, together with Valeriana, Mikahil and Talon. All of them can handle themselves in a fight, esepcially Talon, but they're not exactly specialized combat monsters...

"Lady Maka!" You hear the voice of- you turn and see three soldiers from Steelshard's company, clad in plate mail and red tabards, carefully carrying towards you... is that Flow? The shore spirit?

As people around you let them through and they carefully drop her on the beach sand, next to you, you're horrified by her wounds. Half of her body seems burned off, three broken-off arrows jut out of her chest at awkward angles, and she is covered in green-reddish blood spilling out of a hideously deep wound on her chest, nearly cutting her in two. A grisly reminder of how physical, how flesh-and-blood elementals are compared to gods.

"...Flow, are you-" So... is this why the spirits of the shore never reported to you?
>>
File: Flow.jpg (183 KB, 643x1227)
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She coughs blood, which is clearly filling her lungs as you speak, and weakly grabs your hand. "No... time. Maka... The Prince, he..."

"He landed in Tianna City?" You try and take some words out of her.

She makes a horrifying noise trying to breathe, blood spilling out of her nose, mouth and gills, and nods. "Five ships... they have... war ghosts, five warstriders, troops..."

"The Prince in person?" That's the question burning at the front of your mind.

She nods. "He's with... I think at least... three other Exalted... And... a horrible ghost whose... voice... burns people..."

Everyone falls silent around you.

"...Is Amata alright?" You ask.

She gurgles. "...In... the castle... barricaded..."

The water elemental melts in your arms, leaking onto the beach sand.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, you stand back up. Everyone's eyes are on you.

>I'm sure Amata doesn't need my help. Let's just wait this one out.
>This is obviously a trap. We're not going.
>I have to stay here. But I'll send her reinforcements. Let's see...
>We need to go. I'll bring with me...

(for now, just pick one of these four. If you decide to go or send someone, I'll make a separate vote for picking your party.)
>>
File: sun-ex.png (17 KB, 150x144)
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>Who are we?
Maka, an exiled noble Exalted as a Zenith-caste Solar. Queen of Gem, now ruling the western island of Tianna. You have gathered a lot of allies and friends, and have a powerful Manse under construction.
But Tianna is actually an artificial island, built around a First Age Titan: an almighty flying fortress built in an ancient, forgotten age, and although this is kept secret, two Deathlords are seeking to obtain it.
The Tyrant of the Doomsday Machine, ghost of your past incarnation, seeked it as a weapon to cut her ties to the Neverborn. But you have persuaded her to try and seek redemption in the eyes of the Sun in other ways, and count her as an unlikely ally.
But now the Silver Prince is coming, to punish her and claim the Titan for himself in the name of Oblivion. And this looks like a battle you won't be able to talk your way out of...

>Solar? Zenith? I don't know Exalted...
This quest is as newbie-friendly as possible, and I want it to work as a newbie's intro to Exalted. If you have ANY question, ask in thread. For the setting, google "1d4chan exalted".

>Archive?
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Solar%20Quest

>System?
Dicepool-like system. When performing an action, everyone rolls 1d10 when posting. the first X rolls are considered, where X is equal to attribute + ability. Yes, this means that the more people are posting, the stronger Maka is, up to a limit of her attribute + ability.

>XP?
Attributes cost [current score x5] xp. Abilities cost [current score x3] xp, except Zenith costing [(current score x3) -1]. Charms cost 10 xp, except for Zenith-based charms (related to charisma and physical/mental fortitude) which cost 8 xp. At the end of every "session" (thread) you will be presented with a list of possible acquisitions.

>Twitter?
@exaltedfag

>Any questions?
http://ask.fm/Exaltedfag

New System Info: http://pastebin.com/pvAZpsJ6
Characters info (player-made): http://pastebin.com/5WnD47jp
>>
>>41428136
>>We need to go. I'll bring with me...
Maka at least needs to go, especially if Tyrant if is going to be heading there too.
>>
File: Clothes.jpg (758 KB, 890x1500)
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Current costume: #08.

Reminder: you have 1 XP discount for the eventual acquisition of Ghost-Eating Technique (Twilight 4).
>>
>>41428136
>>We need to go. I'll bring with me...

good to have you back EF, and now I need to collapse asleep
>>
>>41428136
>The water elemental melts in your arms, leaking onto the beach sand.
Damnit I hope she comes back somehow, like maybe after her parts or whatever reform in Father Ocean's care or something, I dunno how Elementals work, Flow was cute.
>>
>>41428103
Good to have you back EF

>>41428202
If she died then there's no coming back, death is pretty permanent for everything in Exalted, even Elementals
>>
>>41428202
>Damnit I hope she comes back somehow
That's not how elementals work, anon. I'm so sorry.

>>41428136
>We need to go. I'll bring with me...
I don't think that Pearl is at serious risk of future attack now that both deathlords are focusing in on Tianna. Leave some exalts and most of the mortals behind just in case.
>>
>>41428136
>>We need to go. I'll bring with me...
>>
>>41428223
>>41428227
Fuck, we should name Pearl's harbor after her.

Now I'm going to have sad dreams.
>>
>>41428202
Death is permanent in exalted and elementals, unlike gods, are physical beings which, by default, don't have Sanctums. When you discorporate, say, Yara-on, he'll eventually reform back in his cabin, unless killed by a god-slaying strike, or killed in the cabin itself. But when you stab a mermaid, or a fire-breathing drake, or whatever other sort of elemental to death?

They're dead.
>>
>>41428240
We can name the water manse after her
>>
>>41428240
>Fuck, we should name Pearl's harbor after her.
Or double down on the dedication of that water manse-temple.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41428240
>name Pearl's harbor

Tora Tora Tora
>>
>>41428136
>We need to go. I'll bring with me...
>>
>>41428136
At the end of the last thread, didn't we vote for Maka to be so incredibly pissed she spent xp to rip open a portal in space right to the heart of the Titan?
>>
>>41428279
That wasn't what it would be for, it was for her to be "where she needs to be"

But no, enough people were against it that we didn't do it.
>>
>>41428136
>We need to go. I'll bring with me...
>>
>>41428279
I vaguely recall that.

>>41428292
I could have sworn it got voted through.
>>
>>41428373
EF mentioned on his his twitter that it didn't go through
>>
>>41428373
From EF's twitter
>No, because some voted specifically against, and generally I consider that a higher form of opposition than staying silent.
>>
>>41428262
You. I like you.
>>
>>41428136
>We need to go. I'll bring with me...
>>
>>41428136
>"He's with... I think at least... three other Exalted... And... a horrible ghost whose... voice... burns people..."
>Knight of Ghosts and Shadows
>Herald of the Threshold
>Marvelous Maker of Mayhem
>Daughter of Cloudy Skies
>Secret Sorrowful Bearer of Destiny
>Unfolding Corpse-White Lotus
These are the Exalted he has left, not counting any DBs he might have. Secret probably isn't there and Lynne said Maker is most likely still on Island 5.

That leaves Herald, Cloudy Skies, White Lotus, and Knight, they could all technically be there, the Day caste could be hidden or Flow might not have recognized Lotus as an Exalted
>>
File: Lynne (adult).png (375 KB, 600x725)
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It doesn't take long before anger takes the place of surprise in everyone's faces.

Before anyone can scream something like "I'm going!" or, worse even, storm off without a word, you call out, loudly, breaking the silence and even startling some people: "Alright, everyone. We need to get to Tianna City, and it needs to be really, really fast. Who can help?

Tia just gives you a look. No gestures, no words. Her unblinking, armored, insect-like transformation makes her body language stand out even more than usual.

Samiel and Irene both raise their hands at the same time. "The Dragonkaiser can sort of fly." The fire-aspect says

"It can't SORT OF fly. It can FLY." Irene points out.

"We never tested it. We just grabbed some parts from that old wreck of a dragon-shaped automata we found, bolted them on, added some firedust rockets and called it a day."

"It will fly." Irene guarantees. "I can't promise you a landing, but it WILL fly."

That's not really what you'd call reassuring, but beggars can't be choosers you guess. Then you spot...

"Who the heck are you anyway?" You ask to the white-haired lunar who's been around for a while now.

"Me?" He points at himself, surprised. "Uh. I'm Lynne." He looks at himself. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. Been a while since I fought alongside other people. You see, it's pretty hard to fight when you're that short." He explains. "I mean, I know some people who can do that just fine, but I've found that it's more comfortable to me to have slightly longer limbs."

Karas rolls his eyes. "Why don't you just stay in your non-midget form, then?"

He grins and shakes his head like the answer is painfully obvious. "First of all, with you're small, you need less food, hide better, people tend to underestimate you. And, ain't I bloody cute like that? You can't even imagine how many chicks I get."

Starfall groans. "I don't know about that. I like manly men more. You know... thick. Muscular. Tall. Abs you can play checkers on-"

(cont.)
>>
File: Five Tails.jpg (108 KB, 505x630)
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"Let's not get distracted now." You snap your fingers.

Finishing your count, you recap the situation internally.

Dragonkaiser can (allegedly) get you to Tianna fast, and being big, can carry a few extra passengers strapped to the outside.

Tia can fly fast, and is stupidly strong, enough to carry comfortably at least three or four people without spending Essence or losing speed. (it's actually less a matter of her sheer strength and more about air resistance, the way she tried to explain it.)

The other Lunars (Five Tails, Zaan and Lynne) can both fly, but can carry one extra passenger, tops.

And Radiant Starfall says she can get there on her own, very fast.

...Also Five Tails didn't say anything, but it's pretty clear to anyone looking at her face that she desperately wants to be picked. She's worried sick for Mikahil.

As for here... you stare at the battlefield on the beach. Several enemy soldiers have fled the fighting and, presumably, hid themselves in the countryside. You're not sure if they could rally and try another attack, or if the Prince's fleet has other plans for you. To top that, the King of Uncloaked Steel is still passed out in a crater in the sand, with a warstrider wreck hammered on top of him, and he could still be alive. Likewise, Ebon Siaka was knocked back into the ocean, but not confirmed dead. Either of them could still cause a lot of trouble and damage here in Pearl, and it seems the Dark Omen up north was hit so hard that you won't be able to count on their reinforcements anytime soon.

So... who will come with you to Tianna City, to relieve Amata and the others... and hopefully to put an end to the Silver Prince's schemes once and for all?

>Karas
>Tia
>The Dragonkaiser
>Radiant Starfall
>Five Tails
>Zaan White-Teeth
>Lynne
>Regis
>Erman Steelshard
>Pyre Spark
>Iscariah
>Silk
>(Other?)

(You can vote both FOR someone (i.e. you want them to come to Tianna City with you) and AGAINST someone (i.e. you want them to stay in Pearl).)
>>
>>41428700
>Tia
>Five Tails
>The Dragonkaiser
>Silk
>>
>>41428700
>Tia
>The Dragonkaiser
>Radiant Starfall
>Five Tails
I want Karas to stay in Pearl at least, we really need a combat monster here to stay just in case the Dusks get back up and I want Radiant to be there to find any Day caste that try to hide.
>>
>>41428700
>Tia
>The Dragonkaiser
>Five Tails
Everyone else should stay here for now until they've finished fortifying, at which point people capable of rapid transit can go to reinforce Tianna more.
>>
>>41428700
Karas and Tia need to come along to fight the Deathlord, and if we don't take Five Tails I'm pretty sure in her current state she'd disobey orders to stay and follow us anyway.

>>41428733
I disagree about Silk, she already played her trump card, and without it she has no place in the level of combat we're gonna be getting into.
>>
>>41428767
>I disagree about Silk
Agreed.
>>
>>41428747
Damn, that's a good point. I want both combat monsters with us, but with those two still around...
>>
Looks like we're all agreed on Tia, the Dragonkaiser, and Five Tails, at least, though?
>>
>>41428700
>Tia
>The Dragonkaiser
>Radiant Starfall
>Regis
Regis can't handle the Exalted combat, but we still need back up for all the other mooks the Prince is bringing
>>
>>41428700
>>41428884
>Five Tails
I forgot about Five Tails, but I'm also on board with Karas staying behind, plus we're leaving some Lunars behind too so if stuff starts going down or everything clears up here they can fly over if they need to.
>>
>>41428700
>Karas
>Tia
>The Dragonkaiser
>Five Tails
>>
>>41428700
>Tia
>Dragonkaiser
>Five tails
>Regis
>Radiant Starfall
>>
>>41429061
>Karas
No, leave him behind to defend Pearl.
>>
>>41429087
Wr need him with us.
The only plan we came up with for fighting the Deathlord was "Maka and Karas spam Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement"
>>
>>41428700
Going:
>The Dragonkaiser
>Radiant Starfall
>Tia
>Five Tails
>Zaan White-Teeth
>Regis

Behind:
>Karas
>Erman Steelshard
>Lynne
>Iscariah
They clean up, with Karas backed up by Erman. Iscariah searches for stragglers in the wilderness with the remainder of troops. If the other Exalts are taken care of, Lynne carries Karas to Tianna
>>
>>41429105
A good point. Damn I am torn on Karas.
>>
>>41428700
I'd be up for asking our allies if they think they need Karas to stick around to take care of the remaining Abyssals.
>>
Hi, EF! Glad to see you back!

Guys, there is two things we need to remember:

1: The Prince is a master of deception who always has plans hidden withing schemes camouflaged under enigmas. But, he still dedicated a lot of troops and Exalts to keep us here and to anihilate the Tyrant's forces, so it's not a completly deception: he IS going all out here, and his forces are still getting hurt.


2) The Tyrant was overcome by the sight of everything she built getting its shit wrecked. She's probably in the equivalent of Limit Break, here, and is about to do something funademtaly stupid. Not only that, it's doomed to fail since we made sure firing the Titan's weapons wasn't possible.

The thing is, we need to fing the Tyrant and snap her out of her "all is lost, I'm evil, let's die in a blaze" mode, and quickly. If she even come close to do it, Flame is going to be so pissed off it'll be a disaster. Another one.


>>41428700

>>Tia
>>Radiant Starfall
>>Five Tails

We need to keep some heavy hitters here, just in case.
>>
>>41429067
I almost forgot Karas... take him too!
>>
>>41429143

*to find the Tyrant
>>
>>41429152
If he's going all out, shouldn't we do the same?
>>
File: Radiant Starfall.jpg (334 KB, 849x1200)
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You quickly make up your mind.

"Fine. Irene, Samiel. Prepare the Dragonkaiser. Five Tails, Tia? You're with me. Karas? You're in charge of the place while I'm gone. Keep it safe."

Karas nods, clearly eager to come with you, but at the same time understanding. "Will you be alright? Against a Deathlord?"

Even saying a simple "I'll be alright" feels like a lie now. You stay silent, and he shifts his gaze to Tia, who lifts her head to meet his.

"Bring my sister back, no matter what. Understood?"

The chitinous plates of her "helmet" part and merge back with the sides, to uncover her expressionless face. She doesn't answer, but just gives him a long, hard stare, and then nods.

Karas charges a punch. Tia immediately imitates him, and the two slam fists with a thunderous roar.

Turning her back, Tia grows her helmet back. You gesture for Fivetails to join you, and then, to Radiant Starfall.

"Your job will be staying on the lookout for sneak attacks. Their sneaky shit specialist might be with the Silver Prince, waiting for a chance to backstab us." You explain to the Night Caste.

"When are we going?" She asks back at you, impatiently, with an eager grin on her face.

You look at the Dragonkaiser. It took quite a beating, but it doesn't seem to have suffered any critical damage. Its dragon-blooded crew, assisted by several engineers of Tianna, is mounting an armored belt around its waist, the mounting point for a pair of foldable mechanical dragon-like wings.

"Drake Scrander set up!" Irene proclaims triumphantly, wiping sweat off her forehead and tossing her screwdriver aside. "We can go anytime." She then gestures for whoever's inside the Warstrider - Aexel, you guess, since you don't see him anywhere else - to lower a hand, until it's high enough for the three of you to comfortably walk onto.

"Is this thing safe?" Five Tails can't help but ask.

"So you want to get there fast, or not?" Irene asks her back, climbing into the cockpit.

(cont.)
>>
>>41429165

That's what we're doing
>>
We should try to enter Tiana by the interior of the Titan.
>>
>>41429181
>Karas charges a punch. Tia immediately imitates him, and the two slam fists with a thunderous roar.
Awesome.
>>
>>41429216
Leaving important people behind when we go meet the main forces?
>>
>>41429181
So since we stupidly left Karas behind, what's our new plan to deal with the Deathlord?
>>
>>41429228
That would take way too long and the Kaiser wouldn't fit
>>
>>41429241

Because there is equaly powerful opponents that could attack here.
>>
>>41429255
>So since we stupidly left Karas behind, what's our new plan to deal with the Deathlord?
Spam ECSJ at it, if we end up in a direct confrontation.

But our primary goal isn't/shouldn't be to confront the Deathlord. It's to make the Deathlords unable or unwilling to gain access to the Titan's critical systems.

That needs to be the beginning and end of our priorities. Don't play on the same battlefield as them.
>>
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The robot cups its hands together, enclosing you, Tia and Five Tails. Space only for three. Radiant Starfall will be moving on her own power.

You do envy her a bit. This feels like it's going to be a rough ride.

You hear the mechanical clank of the Drake Scrander expanding, and then the violent roar of the waist-mounted firedust rockets shaking the massive Warstrider from head to toe. Your teeth clatter as the terrifying vibration passes through your body, and before you can blink, you're airborne, the wind whistling through the robot's fingers, violently buffeting the three of you.

The dark ground beneath you blazes past your at a frightening speed, and Pearl and Golden Reach gets smaller and smaller by the second. You see a small golden dot moving in massive leaps, from treetop to hilltop, easily keeping up with you.

Dragonkaiser roars through the sky, leaving behind itself a thick trail of black, oily smoke, and you graze the very top of Dancing Smoke volcano. You catch a glimpse of its crater, nearly overflowing with lava glowing in the darkness of the night...

It all happens so fast. Dragonkaiser tries to righten itself, to land legs-first, and manages to do that... SOMEWHAT. The rockets slow him down a bit, the wings spread to act as a brake...

...And then come right off the Warstrider with a horrible scream of tortured metal, scattering across the countryside and pelting the walls of Tianna as you slam into Main Street with enough force to dig a craterous trench across a large avenue of the old city.

Dragonkaiser crumples, drops, rolls, tumbles, and finally plows through a bakery, only then losing enough momentum to finally come to a halt, legs-up.

(cont.)
>>
>>41429287
No one that could attack here is as powerful as what we're going to fight.

>>41429290
>Spam ECSJ at it, if we end up in a direct confrontation.
And that plan is sunk now that we don't have Karas with us to help.
>But our primary goal isn't/shouldn't be to confront the Deathlord. It's to make the Deathlords unable or unwilling to gain access to the Titan's critical systems.
>That needs to be the beginning and end of our priorities. Don't play on the same battlefield as them.

So tell me how we do that. I asked for a plan, not a goal.
>>
>>41429290

I say our three mains objectives should be:

>Give time to Tianna's defenders by acting as reinforcement

>Stop the Tyrant for doing even more stupid things

>Prevent the Prince from reaching his own objectives

The first two are necessary for the third one.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Prince deliberatly set things that way to make the Tyrant enter her desperate state. In any case, we need her functioning, or at least out of the way.
>>
>>41429315
>So tell me how we do that. I asked for a plan, not a goal.
We don't even know what the situation in Tianna actually is yet, you stupid nerd. 'Spam ECSJ with Karas' is just as directionless and empty until we actually know the situation on the field and what our options are.
>>
>>41429310
Farewell Dragonkaiser, you were really cool.
>>
>>41428103
Holy fuck! I didn't even know you were running today.
>>
>>41429315
>No one that could attack here is as powerful as what we're going to fight.

The hammer girl who went toe-to-toe with both Karas and Tia, who is known to level cities and who wasn't confirmed as defeated?
>>
>>41429338
>'Spam ECSJ with Karas' is just as directionless and empty until we actually know the situation on the field and what our options are.
No it isn't. It's a course of action we could've taken regardless of what the situation was, because regardless of the situation, The Prince being dead, or as close as Deathlords get to dead, would be a good thing.
>>
>>41429370
Not as powerful as the deathlord we're going to fight.
A Deathlords level of power is comparable to an Elder Solar or Abyssal.
>>
>>41429375

Aside from the fact that, for all we know, the Prince could not even be here?
>>
>>41429401

>>41428136
>"The Prince in person?" That's the question burning at the front of your mind.
>She nods. "He's with... I think at least... three other Exalted... And... a horrible ghost whose... voice... burns people..."
>>
>>41429401
Anon, don't. He's just going to rage that he didn't get his way until this entire arc is over now. He's already resorted to pedantry, and isn't going to listen to reason.
>>
>>41429394

She would still be able of destroying Pearl without a strong Exalt there.

Protecting your head is useless if you let your balls vulnerable.
>>
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As its hands open up and you, Tia and Five Tails shrug off bits of loose masonry from around you, you see an airborne Starfall fire three shots in quick succession with her essence-rifle, reloading cartridges with amazing speed, before landing right next to you. You didn't see where her shots landed exactly, but you don't doubt she put them to good use.

"Rough ride?" She grins as you try to keep your stomach straight.

"We couldn't see much." You ignore her smart-ass remark. "Situation?"

"Not much light around town. There's some materialized ghosts around. I put a few shots into the ones I could see. They were material, so I'm pretty sure I hit them. There was something eerie going on along Main Street, but I didn't see clearly."

"Eerie like what?" You hear the hollow, metallic echo of Samiel's worried voice from through the Warstrider's armored body.

"There was... this ghost whose heart glowed blue, walking slowly up Main Street. Followed by a few other ghosts, but he was huge. Three, four meters tall. No arms. Between us and the castle." She makes a short, but poignant pause. "I've seen a lot of corpses littered around the roads behind that ghost. Not many of them seemed soldiers."

"...The Prince?" You ask.

"Couldn't see him, but there's a lot of smoke around the castle. My bet's he's there."

"The warstriders?" Irene follows with the questioning.

"Around the castle as well. Taking it apart, I think."

>Let's hit the freaky ghost on Main Street first. All together.
>Let's avoid main street then, and focus on reaching the castle. All together.
>Starfall, you're the most mobile of us. Scout the castle for us.
>Starfall, you're the most mobile of us. Scout that freaky ghost for us.
>Dragonkaiser will take care of that ghost. The rest of us will charge through and reach the castle.
>We'll hit the ghost first. Dragonkaiser will charge through and reach the castle, try and buy some time.
>(Other?)
>>
>>41429412
>thinking it's not a second body-double
kek
>>
>>41429412

First, don't trust everything people says.

Second, the Prince already had a fake version of him here to distract us. He could pull the same trick multiple times

Third, the Prince doesn't need Tiana to enter the Titan, so it would make sense he'd search for the other openings.
>>
>>41429437
What to do...
>>
>>41429474
>so it would make sense he'd search for the other openings
Like the volcano.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41429437
>>Let's hit the freaky ghost on Main Street first. All together.

This thing sounds like it's killing the population of Tianna wholesale.

Fuck that.
>>
>>41429437
>We'll hit the ghost first. Dragonkaiser will charge through and reach the castle, try and buy some time.
Dragonkaiser's best use would be taking on the other Warstriders.
>>
>>41429437

>I'll take care of the ghost with Starfall. The rest will charge through and reach the castle

If the streets are full of corpses, the Solar should deal with the situation there
>>
>>41429437
>>Let's hit the freaky ghost on Main Street first.
>Starfall, you're the most mobile of us. Scout the castle for us.
The castle wasn't meant to really be super defensive all on it's own so I'm a bit worried about it, I want Starfall to get there and see if everyone is alright while we make some more noise down here
>>
>>41429437
>We'll hit the ghost first. Dragonkaiser will charge through and reach the castle, try and buy some time.
>>
>>41429488

Yup. I would have suggested for Maka to get inside the Titan by the volcano, and try to find the Tyrant.

We really, really need Flame on our side, right now, and the Tyrant would be an huge help, too, if she wasn't despair crazy.

Fuck, we really need to deal with her before she tries the weapons and it doesn't work. This would either make her go berserk or completly crush her
>>
>>41429437
Should we turn off IPS?

It seems like MRP would be more useful if were going to be hitting one person with it
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41429437
>We'll hit the ghost first. Dragonkaiser will charge through and reach the castle, try and buy some time.

Also, prepare ECSJ charm... we may need it!
>>
>>41429437

>>41429492
here also voting to Commit Spirit Cutting Attack
>>
>>41429571
>>41429437
I second this!
>>
>>41429571
>Commit Spirit Cutting Attack
Agreed. We're in the Ghost Zone now.
>>
>>41429437
>>41429571
Seconding
>>
>>41429437
>Starfall, you're the most mobile of us. Scout the castle for us.
>>
>>41429559
I don't think that's how Commit works, we still need to regain it after we stop using a charm, and it's much slower that regaining Burn essence

>>41429571
Good Call
>>
>>41429608
I'm aware it takes time, but we also don't get it back until we choose to decommit something
>>
>>41429608
>I don't think that's how Commit works, we still need to regain it after we stop using a charm, and it's much slower that regaining Burn essence

True, but you do regain 1 Commit every scene and you're about to change scene now, so it can work. Just for 1 point per scene, though.
>>
>>41429616

I think we need it, for the moment
>>
>>41429632
In that case i'd vote for switching off IPS and holding that in the tank for MRP in case we need to give the prince another social smackdown.
>>
>>41429632
I'll vote to take it off, we can put it back on if we need it later or we can put on MRP if it turns out we need that
>>
>>41429437
>We'll hit the ghost first. Dragonkaiser will charge through and reach the castle, try and buy some time.
>>
>>41429632
Alright, I'll second turning it off for now then
>>
>>41429653

We need impenetrable defence if we deal with the Prince. His mind-control sword is no joke
>>
>>41429712
Adamant Skin is a Burn ability, we can commit all we want and have that in reserve.
>>
>>41429712
How could we get that sword away from him? Could we keep it away from him?
>>
>>41429760
We can try and grapple it away with a good roll, but chances are he's going to have a Call the Blade like charm ability to help him get it back if we do
>>
>>41429733

I'm just saying we need to have it when we face the Deathlord

>>41429760

I suppose there is possibilities to disarm him, but he probably has some bullshit to retrieve it.
>>
>>41429712
But wouldn't he just need to tap us with that to make us his bitch?

Wasn't the sword-effect touch-based?
>>
File: troop - war ghosts.jpg (71 KB, 1024x477)
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[Effect ended: INSPIRED PERFORMANCE STYLE]

You crack your knuckles and rev up your Anima.

"Tia, Starfall, Five Tails. We're going to hit that ghost and clear the city."

"...Do you think what's happening is..." Samiel wonders from inside Dragonkaiser.

You nod. "Lynne told us that the Prince had a ghostly siege weapon. I think... I think that that thing is systematically exterminating the population of Tianna while the Prince is breaking into the castle."

You hear the dull thud of the dragon-blooded punching the Warstrder's armored plates from the inside in frustration.

...Either to make a Shadowland to properly drop the entire city and the Titan into the underworld, or to harvest bodies to raise later as a crew for it. Or both. Or he's doing it just for fun. You don't voice your opinion, but...

"You guys. While we fight the ghosts, bring the Dragonkaiser up to the castle. Your job is to take out the other warstriders and any troops the Silver Prince has there. Don't let him take the castle. Buy time. I don't care how."

"Alright." Irene replies, with a voice dripping anger. The massive metal monster ponderously stands back upright, though wrecked and battered, and then begins walking, running, sprinting towards Main Street, takes a hard turn, and then dashes up the hill, towards the castle.

You follow him closely.

Main Street is covered in charred, blackened corpses. Flames still flicker off some. About a hundred meters uphill of you, a phalanx of a good dozen war ghosts slowly marches in the same direction, but they stop and turn, in unison, towards you.

(cont.)
>>
>>41429784
>>41429786
So no way to bullshit his bullshit? As I expected.
>>
>>41429822
Call the Blade isn't exactly perfect, it can be countered if someone or something strong enough is holding it back
>>
>>41429799
>ghosts
Get ready to get fucking Banished, we're even at full Burn for it
>>
>>41429837
Dragonkaiser it is, let's do this.
>>
>>41429797
He has to cut us with it.

simple contact won't bend our mind over and give it a good rogering.
>>
>>41429885
Adamant skin sounds good then...
>>
>>41429799
>Main Street is covered in charred, blackened corpses. Flames still flicker off some.
I never thought I'd feel such grief for imaginary people, but that hurts to read.
>>
>>41429895
Yep, that's why we're keeping our Burn in reserve for AST and ECSJ.
>>
>>41429885
>>41429914
I wonder, I don't want to test it, but by RAW Prince has to do more damage than our MDV, which is four, to be able to mind magic us.
>>
In the center of their formation, an undead horror four meters tall stands, its shriveled-up arms folded across its glowing chest, leaking a radioactive pale blue glow in the night.

The skeleton is just humanoid enough to strike home as a utter mockery of the shape, with no neck, shoulders, or points of articulation other than its bone-thin legs. Its mouth is closed, locked shut by the lack of a jaw, but faint whispers issue from him nonetheless.

A song? Or rather, a prayer, if you can call something as hideous and blasphemous as that "prayer". You don't understand the words, thankfully, but your mind and soul feel like throwing up even more than they did during the rocket-powered ride across the island. That was NOTHING compared to this.

The blasphemous prayer to the monsters that died without ever being born lingers in the air, smashes through a window and sets a family of four, cowering in the cellar beneath their house up to now, on fire. Mother, father, a teenaged daughter and a slightly younger son, all run out of the house one after another, skin and hair on fire. Mouths open as if to scream, but the only noise coming out of their mouths is the echo to the black prayer.

One by one, they fall down on the street, just behind the monster. The song returns with them, leaving the house, and hangs around him once more, coiled like a snake ready to strike.

Only then the monster turns around to stare at you.

You never stopped your run uphill. By then, you're nearly within striking distance. Shivers run down your spine, but you're not going to let fear stop you...

>...or are you?
>Make a charging attack against the ghost phalanx.
>Don't stop. Deliver a flying kick to the monster.
>Run up to the monster, and counter-sing right at him.
>(Other?)
(remember to declare charms or powers you want to use)
>>
>>41429964
>>Make a charging attack against the ghost phalanx.
Hit'em with Banish the Darkness, we finally got some mooks to use it on
>>
>>41429964
>>Don't stop. Deliver a flying kick to the monster.

Commit Spirit Cutting Attack

And Banish the Darkness as we blow past the war ghosts.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41429964
I second >>41429980
>Make a charging attack against the ghost phalanx.

Spirit cutting attack!!
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41429964
>Make a charging attack against the ghost phalanx.
Use Banish the Darkness while the rest of the group blasts the big ghost and commit Spirit Cutting if we haven't already
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41429964
>>41429980
Seconding
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41429980
Forgot my dice
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41429964
>>Don't stop. Deliver a flying kick to the monster.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41429964
UNDEATH TO DEATH
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41429964

Dice dice dice
>>
>>41430041

Actually, we don't need dice yet. EF tells us when to roll, now.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41429964
>>Make a charging attack against the ghost phalanx.

Bumrush the darkness
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41430001
Seconding
>>
(These ghosts are clearly material right now. you could pop Spirit-Cutting Attack preemptively, if you want. Just pointing out)
>>
>>41430087
Yeah I think we want to.
>>
>>41430087
How much Commit are we at right now?
>>
Shouldn't we concentrate on the big midboss rather than the flunkies, right now?
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41430066
Ah, well it doesn't really hurt to roll at least
>>
>>41430087
Let's wait before we use the spirit cutting attack...
>>
>>41430140
The flunkies aren't just going to go away if we ignore them, if we can take them out fast we should so they don't get in the way when we do fight the big guy.

Plus it's not like we're alone here.
>>
>>41430087
I would say: don't use anything on the small fry, wait for the big guy. We don't know what he can do.
>>
>>41430165
We have Banish the Darkness, the flunkies will be totally destroyed regardless.

We can smash that big ghost and use BtD running past the war ghosts, thus letting us do both at once.
>>
>>41430195
Other than burn mortals with his voice...
>>
>>41429964
>Don't stop. Deliver a flying kick to the monster.
Is this the type of situation where Integrity-Protecting Prana would help?
>>
>>41430211
No
>>
>>41430209
Something tells me that the burning effect wont be limited to mortals only, they just can't tank it like we can.
>>
>>41430198
We can't just stand around and use Banish the Darkness and do a drive by like that, when we first used it we had to touch all the skellies to burn them
>>
>>41430267
Yeah but touch isn't specified in the charm description now. It just banishes all undead extras in a scene.

I assume that in the absence of specifically writting touch requirements that it has none, and we can do a drive by.
>>
File: Tia (warform).jpg (542 KB, 986x1324)
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[BANISH THE DARKNESS]

You run right in the middle of the ghostly formation. The damned creatures are lightning-fast, and immediately turn on you, even as Tia leaps to your side to deflect a blow from their razor-sharp talons, wreathed in pale fire.

You just need a second, and Five Tails gives you exactly that, plowing into their lines in cheetah form, just a blur to your eyes.

"HEAR ME!" As your Anima blazes to full-iconic, your voice and your light transfix the twelve ghosts. "You pitiful, twisted creatures, not of this world! By the Light of the Unconquered Sun that I possess... BEGONE!"

Light washes over Main Street, bright as noon, for just a few seconds. The ghosts scream and then, like so much smoke washed away by a stiff wind, are gone.

The monster stares at you, unharmed and unfazed, a magnitude of wickedness above your ability to banish. The dark prayer lunges at you, and the force of its words blasts through your very soul. Your clothes, armor, hair, ear and eyes instantly erupt into flames, lancing into your brain like searing needles of pain.

[HEALTH: 4/9]

You scream and your knees falter. You end up rolling on the ground before you realize what's going on, until you are given respite, for a moment, by the dull *THWACK* of Tia's roundhouse kick slamming square into the side of the monster's head.

Powerful enough to uproot a building, the blow cracks lightly the ghost's fused-together skull. He speaks a word in return, and one by one the Black Prayer begins to bring the dead by his feet to life.

You see a few lunging to grab and drag down Starfall, caught by surprise between two leaps, and every second that passes more and more stand up and join the soon-to-be horde. Already three are grabbing your feet and attempting to drag you down as well.
>>
File: Status.jpg (107 KB, 414x416)
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>Struggle to get free, leap on a rooftop. (p+n or [MONKEY LEAP TECHNIQUE] for automatic success)
>Ignore the undead, focus on fighting the ghost. (p+d)
>Focus on putting down the zombies one by one. (p+d)
>Try and break free, and make a run for it. (p+n)
>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
>[BANISH THE DARKNESS]
>(Other?)
>>
>>41430343
>>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41430343
>>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
No more undead
>>
>>41430343
>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
We should have done this first, then used Banish the Darkness
>>
>>41430343
He's bringing them back... we should finish him before anything else,right?
>>
>>41430343
>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>41430343
>Ignore the undead, focus on fighting the ghost. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41430343
>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
No more extras. Just us and you, monster.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41430343
>>Ignore the undead, focus on fighting the ghost. (p+d)
PUNCH
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41430392
We could, Touch of Gentle Repose prevent more from coming if we want to go that route.

>>41430343
Hey EF BtD isn't scenelong anymore?
As in we have to spend essence to use it again?
>>
>>41430326
>casting necromancy
That means this guy's a Nephwrack, or a similarly ancient/powerful ghost. Nephwracks are basically mini-Deathlords, ancient ghosts infused with Neverborn powers, who despite that just aren't quite on the level of Exalted Ghosts who got the same treatment.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41430343
>[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]
>>
Seeing the mother of the family you just saw burn alive before your eyes attempt to grapple with you like an empty, half-charred meat puppet just makes you angrier.

[TOUCH OF GENTLE REPOSE]

"They're not yours." You simply hiss in the ghost's face, and, just with that, light washes over the streets of Tianna, and every dead gently burns in a pale glow of golden fire. A gust of wind cleans the city of the white ashes.

Despite its utter lack of expression, the skeletal ghost seems hesitant.

"You thought you were the boss here, right? You had your war ghosts to guard you, and if things got troublesome you could just raise all the people you killed. You thought you could just indulge in yourself. Just enjoy the slaughter without worrying."

The corpses he reanimated stay alive, but without replenishing their number, they're too few to pose a serious threat. Tia just shatters the few grabbing her limbs by moving as if they weren't there.

Her "moving" is a straight punch into the skeleton's face. You hear a crack.

Five Tails struggles, wrestled to the ground by a much larger number of zombies, but you see her escape by turning into a buffalo to force them to grab a larger creature, then a hummingbird to escape from their grasp, then back to a human, stabbing at the undead under her feet and slashing off heads and limbs.

Starfall has... some trouble getting free of the zombie pile. As for you, you have five of them clambering about you. They cannot hurt you with blows, scratches or bites, but they're keeping you blocked.

>Let Tia and Five Tails take care of the ghost, focus on wrestling yourself free (p+d)
>Just wait for them to be finished and break you free.
>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
>[BANISH THE DARKNESS]
>(other?)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41430593
>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
Fuck you necromancer ghost
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41430593
>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
Fuck this particular guy, am I right? Fucking Nephwracks. You and the Deathlords give the Underworld a bad name.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41430593
>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41430593
>>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
Fuck you, you piece of shit.

You don't get to mess with our subjects
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41430593
>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41430593
>>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)

Eat like, all of the shit Nephwrack.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41430611
>>41430629
>>41430631
>>41430634
>>41430644
>>41430647
>These rolls
I blame Sidereals
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41430593
>>Even if you're swarmed, you still want to get in a clean punch on that bastard. (p+d)
>>
File: Status.jpg (108 KB, 414x416)
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[p+d=8 5 3 6 4 5 2 6 2 3 = 1 Success]

You struggle to reach the monster, but the remaining zombies he awakened in time pile on top of you one after another. You manage to stay standing, but wrapped so much in charred corpses you become basically unable to move, pinned down under their weight.

Before they block out your vision as well, you see Five Tails leap behind the skeleton and fill its back with knives before attempting to knock it to its feet with a low sweep, but the kick doesn't budge it one bit.

"This guy is tougher than-" Tia growls, switching to her Daiklave and slamming it point-first into its chest. However, the blade doesn't bite very deep, and, in response, the evil song lingering around the monster leaps and showers her in fire. You see her chitinous armor glow red and begin to melt as the force of the curse launches her back almost ten meters, into a wall along the side of the road.

"Damnit!" Five Tails backflips, avoiding the monster's gaze as it turns around to face her, and his eyes dig two trenches glowing with baleful blue fire into the street where she was standing one second before.

At the end of her dodge, she tosses a knife, but it passes through the ghost without harm as its shape becomes move vague and nebulous, like it dropped into a world made of fog all of sudden.

"Damnit!" The Lunar curses. "It went immaterial!"

>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)
>Wait for them to free you
>[BANISH THE DARKNESS]
>(other?)
>>
>>41430918
>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)

Commit Spirit-Cutting Attack already, sheesh.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41430989

Forgot my dice.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41430918
>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41430918
>[BANISH THE DARKNESS]
>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)
Okay now Commit SCA and ad BtD to clear up the remaining zombies on us and Starfall
>>
>>41430918
>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)
Commit SCA
>>
>>41431073
forgot my dice
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41431095
The hell? I definitely put them in that time
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41430918
>>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)
Call Tia over to help us out, she can't fight a dematerialized spirit anyway and send Five to help out Starfall
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41430593
>>41431163
I'll second sending the Lunars out to help us
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41430918
>Struggle and try to break free. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41430918
Dice dice dice
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

Who pissed off the dice gods today?
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41431278
Good question.

Maybe they're just waiting for a suitably cool moment, we always seem to roll well when we need to.
>>
>>41431317
The Dice Gods demand drama and that means last minute rallying when all seems lost.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41431398
Thanks Plentimon.
>>
[p+d=3 2 7 7 5 4 3 3 7 8 = 4 Successes]

Finally, you manage to wrestle free of the mass of squirming undead, with Five Tails helping you shrugging off the last few of them. Starfall is getting there, but she looks like she still need a bit of help, with several zombies still biting at her ankles. Tia is standing back up and reforming her melted armor, and the ghost...

"It's getting away." You hiss angrily. The ghost, evidently realizing he's in danger and without undead to raise in his defense, is gliding on the ground, at great speed, away from the castle (where you can see the Dragonkaiser has almost arrived).

"...If he gets out of sight, and we lose him, a lot more people are going to die tonight..." You curse under your breath. But he's running in the opposite direction from the castle, clearly trying to put you in front of a choice... either him, or the Prince...

That's damn smart, you have to admit.

>...The priority is denying the Titan to the Silver Prince. We'll take care of him another time.
>You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend.
>The prince will have to wait. We can't let that thing rampage throughout the city. After him!
>(Other?)
>>
>>41431476
>>You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend.
What a fucker, we'll try and catch up
>>
>You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend.

Commit Spirit Cutting Attack since we still haven't.
>>
>>41431476
>The prince will have to wait. We can't let that thing rampage throughout the city. After him!
>>
>>41431476
>You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend.
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>41431476

>...The priority is denying the Titan to the Silver Prince. We'll take care of him another time.

Reminder to everyone to always keep your dice on.
>>
>>41431476
>The prince will have to wait. We can't let that thing rampage throughout the city. After him!
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>41431476
>You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend.
>>
>>41431476
>>You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend.

Deceptions hidden behind deceptions. Let's not be fooled
>>
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You groan loudly as you gesture in the direction of the fog-clad castle on the top of the hill. "You head up to the castle and help Dragonkaiser. I'll take care of our friend."

"Are you sure?" Fivetails asks, looking concerned. "He's tougher than he looks."

Tia doesn't say anything, but you can tell, even through her armored, inexpressive faceplate, her concern.

"I'll be fine. It's just a ghost skeleton." You shrug. "How hard can it be?"

The three of them nod and make way towards the castle in unison, as you dash down the street to chase after the monster.

It's not a long chase. Realizing that you can detect it even when dematerialized, he stops in a narrow, dark, unassuming alley of dockside Tianna. Even at his top speed he's still slower than you: there was no way he was going to run away, and he knew that.

Its hate-filled, empty eyes linger on you, giving you a feeling of revulsion. You drop into a fighting stance.

No more running away, you realize. Softly, you hear the cursed song fill the air around him, ready to strike again at you with its searing pain

>Fight defensively. Try to keep your guard up and make it waste Essence. If it's a ghost, it can't recover Essence here in Creation. (p+d)
>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)
>You're not sure how much grappling and wrestling will be useful against this creature, but you could give it a try. (p+d)
>(Other?)
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41432018
>>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)
It's already hurt from the few hits Tia gave it, smash it's face with Fists of Iron
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41432018
>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41432018
>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)

Spirit Cutting Attack commit because he's still dematerialized.

And ECSJ.

Fuck this guy.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41432018
>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)

>>41432155
I secnd this.
>>
>>41432018
>You're not sure how much grappling and wrestling will be useful against this creature, but you could give it a try. (p+d)

Physically grab it's soul and rip it out of it's ghostly body.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41432018
>>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)
Commit SCA
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41432155
Thirding
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41432018
>>You don't have time to take it easy. Jump at the attack and strike. You have to disassemble this horror as fast as possible. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

DICE GODS WHY!
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41432155
Hold on, let's see how well we roll before we do, no point wasting 3 essence to turn 1 success into 2
>>
>>41432309
I don't think EF is going to let us get away with retroactively using ECSJ in case we get good rolls.

We have to straight up say we're gonna drop the hammer early on.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41432155
Let's not with these dice
>>
>>41432328
That's more or less how we've always done it.

It's pretty much impossible to do otherwise using a quest medium
>>
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"You know, well done. You're wasting my time. I'm sure the Bodhisattva will be thankful." You sarcastically hiss at the skeleton.

You put your dukes up, and deftly sidestep the first unholy scream the monster sends at you.

[SPIRIT CUTTING ATTACK]

[p+d= 9 6 6 2 4 1 3 3 8 7

You feel dissonant chaos and fire exploding behind you as you step closer and slam your fist, hard, into the creature's face.

The bone is hard as sin and cold as hell, and you almost feel your own hand breaking with the impact.

The blue glow imprisoned within his body escapes, just a bit, from its empty eyes, making the night brighter in all the wrong ways...

You swerve to the side just in time to avoid the two searing beams of blue fire that lance, from its skull, outwards, neatly cutting in three a wooden street sign and leaving deep scorch lines on the wall behind you.

Faint screams from inside. Someone still alive is hiding there. Someone too surprised or scared to stay silent at the wrong time.

The skeleton seems to pause for a second, picking up that weak noise, pondering on it...

>Like hell you're going to let you do that! Focus on shoving him away from the house. (p+d)
>You need to bring him down. Now. Use the walls around you as a trampoline to gain some extra momentum. (p+n)
>Even if he's tough, you just need to hit to hard enough. (p+d)
>Step aside, let him take care of the people in that house. You need to buy some time.
>(Other?)
>>
>>41432641
>>Even if he's tough, you just need to hit to hard enough. (p+d)

Enemy Castigating Solar Judgement time boys.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41432675
dice

Also adding Heaven Thunder Hammer to punch him away from the house.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41432641
>Like hell you're going to let you do that! Focus on shoving him away from the house. (p+d)
Heaven Thunder Hammer is a good idea, use that to get him away from the house
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41432641
>Even if he's tough, you just need to hit to hard enough. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41432641
>Even if he's tough, you just need to hit to hard enough. (p+d)
>(Other?)Let's try to use our momentum to shove him away, out of the danger zone!

>>41432703
I second using this charm
>>
>>41432641
>Like hell you're going to let you do that! Focus on shoving him away from the house. (p+d)
Heaven Thunder Hammer
Back the way we came if we can manage it, since everyone in the direction is probably either already dead or ran the fuck away after he left the first time.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41432776
That's a good idea
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41432776
Forgot my dice
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41432641
>Even if he's tough, you just need to hit to hard enough. (p+d)
>>41432776
Cool.
>>41432675
Yup.
>>
>>41432641
>Like hell you're going to let you do that! Focus on shoving him away from the house. (p+d)

Heaven Thunder Hammer!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

I'm a bit wary of HTH, I don't want to send this fucker completely out of sight or we might lose him, but we definitely want him away from the house
>>
Since we're full on Burn Essence, and we'll recover some of it on the way up to the castle afterwards, let's toss Fists of Iron into the combo.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

Can we use HTH to punch someone into the ground?
>>
>>41432847
if the two greyed out Commit boxes are available for us to use we can Commit Fists of Iron as well.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41432847
Plentimon sure does love drama or maybe Maka is just making damn sure no one else is hurt in front of her.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41432776
Since he was running away from the castle, punching him back that way will also mean a shorter walk when we're done with him.
two birds with one stone

>>41432847
sure

>>41432867
They are, I think those are the essence we can use without flaring our anima.
>>
>>41432867
They are, they just represent Personal Essence.
You actually don't gain a big advantage from committing Fists of Iron, since you already have smashfists equipped. For you, Fists of Iron are best used as a pure damage enhancer paid for with Burn Essence.
>>
>>41432867
FoI isn't that big of a gain, it's one more dice which isn't really worth spending a whole Commit, especially since that die won't get us another success this turn.
>>
>>41432893
Does committing fists of iron conflict with smashfists somehow? I thought it was applicable since the fists were brawling aids.

Is it because fists of iron requires us to be completely unarmed including brawling aids?

>>41432915
Well it's one extra die plus extra defense and damage. We don't really have anything else worth Committing for a fight and every little bit helps
>>
>>41432893
I feel like there should be a better way to visually represent personal essence than greyed out boxes, especially since this question keeps coming up, but nothing comes readily to mind.
>>
>>41432957
Fist of Iron's Commit ability counts as a weapon bonus and multiple weapons don't stack, since out current gloves already give us +1 Damage and Defense all Commiting FoI will do is add the 1 Die to attack rolls
>>
>>41433006
Ah okay then. I retract my Commit to FoI.
>>
>>41433018
We were never voting on committing it, but whether to burn it for 3 extra damage.
>>
>>41433039
Oh I think we're mostly agreed to burn for the dmg.

I just originally thought committing it would get the scenelong bonus in defense and damage as well, I didn't think that it conflicted with smashfists.
>>
Just as the monstrous skeleton shifts its attention from you to the faint cries within the house, you strike.

Putting all your weight and momentum behind your movements, you raise a leg up and bring it crashing down in an axe kick.

[ENEMY CASTIGATING SOLAR JUDGEMENT]
[FISTS OF IRON]

[p+d=5 5 7 8 9 7 1 9 8 4 = 12 successes]

This thing doesn't have shoulders to dislocate, but your leg smashes through the bones of his chest, lodging itself into his cracked ribcage.

The fused skeleton seems to stare at you in amazement for a second before you pull your foot free of him, pulling him towards you with the motion, and then one-two him with a rising knee to the pelvis and an open-hand strike to the forehead.

The carcass flies away, breaking up like bits of ice melting into fog. The ghost disappears into the mists of dematerialization, its Essence dispersed.

You take a few deep breathes. That was a close call.

Just for a moment, a black-haired, bearded man's head peeks from the house's window, eyes frozen in terror. Your gazes meet.

You're not sure you can tell him anything that would reassure him right now. In a blink of an eye, he's gone, and the window slams closed. You can't blame him.

The noise of steel clashing shakes you off your train of thought. There's fighting going on on top of the hill, at the castle.

You stare in the distance, but the damned fog won't let you see exactly what happens. One of the Skullstone Warstriders stumbles for a few seconds out of the bank, as if recoiling after being struck, but then rushes inside its cover immediately.

>Charge through the fog where you remember the main door to be.
>Head where you saw the warstrider emerge.
>Try and enter the fortress from a different angle. [MONKEY LEAPING TECHNIQUE]
>(Other?)
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41433084
>Try and enter the fortress from a different angle. [MONKEY LEAPING TECHNIQUE]
>>
>>41433084
>>Try and enter the fortress from a different angle. [MONKEY LEAPING TECHNIQUE]
>>
>>41433084
>Head where you saw the warstrider emerge.
Let's save essence for now
>>
>>41433084
>Charge through the fog where you remember the main door to be.
>>
>>41433084
>Try and enter the fortress from a different angle. [MONKEY LEAPING TECHNIQUE]
Ah, the best time of the week and sadly the last until the monday after the next.
>>
>>41433084
>>Charge through the fog where you remember the main door to be.
Let's save some essence, we just spent 5 points and we need to make sure we have at least 3 up for AST
>>
File: No fucks given.jpg (77 KB, 750x600)
77 KB
77 KB JPG
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41433084
>Try and enter the fortress from a different angle. [MONKEY LEAPING TECHNIQUE]
>(Other?)DYNAMIC ENTRY!!!
>>
>>41433134
>>41433163
MLP is a permanent passive, no essence needed.
>>
>>41433178
only if we chose to Burn to triple the distance instead of double.
>>
>>41433178
>MLP
MLT I meant, fucking Freudian Slips
>>
>>41433178
MLT has a burn effect too, if he's adding it to to the choices I assume he means spending that Burn
>>
>>41433196
>MLP
>freudian slip
I'm not aware of something... sadly
>>
>>41433220
>>>/mlp/
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41433084
>Try and enter the fortress from a different angle. [MONKEY LEAPING TECHNIQUE]
>>
>>41433235
I've seen hell...
>>
File: Status.jpg (113 KB, 414x416)
113 KB
113 KB JPG
[MONKEY LEAP TECHNIQUE]

You take a running start, and then let the power of your Essence carry you through a momentous leap over the bank of fog and on top of the castle's roof. This way you are-

...

For a moment, you were- you were absolutely sure that there was someone with you. next to you, in mid-jump.

...Pale skin, faint brownish hair in a ponytail, a blue, eastern-style dress, the sharpest green eyes you've ever seen in your life... the faint smell of lotus flowers...

You shake your head and clear your mind as you land, and a quick glance around reveals that... there isn't anyone near you.

Why are you feeling watched? Why are you feeling uneasy?

The din of battle continues. From the noise, you'd tell the rest of your party has made contact with a force of... probably a mix of zombies, undead, ghosts and those Vodak mortal troops. Plus the warstriders. You don't think anyone has noticed you.

Even from up here, the castle is a wreck. Parts of it have collapsed, leaving wide avenues of entry to anyone sufficiently mobile to negotiate them. The troops and warstriders might not have made it inside in force yet, but you have no doubt that any Exalted - and especially the Silver Prince - mist be already inside, wrecking the place to find the entrance to the Titan...

...Now... what do you do?

>Sneak inside while your friends keep the rest of the Prince's forces pinned and busy. (p+n)
>Leap down the walls in a surprise attack to help your friends in battle. (p+d)
>Try and draw your friends' attention and storm the castle together.
>No, you're not feeling safe. Look for that elusive individual you were sure you saw nearby... (m+n)
>(Other?)
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41433410
>No, you're not feeling safe. Look for that elusive individual you were sure you saw nearby... (m+n)
Time for our weakest roll. Must be stalking Maka to find the Titan's entrance.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41433410
>Sneak inside while your friends keep the rest of the Prince's forces pinned and busy. (p+n)
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41433410
>No, you're not feeling safe. Look for that elusive individual you were sure you saw nearby... (m+n)
SIDEREALS
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41433410
Oh shit... it's the Silver Prince's assassin, isn't it?
>Leap down the walls in a surprise attack to help your friends in battle. (p+d)
SURPRISE BITCHES!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41433410
>...Pale skin, faint brownish hair in a ponytail, a blue, eastern-style dress, the sharpest green eyes you've ever seen in your life... the faint smell of lotus flowers...
Fuck.

>No, you're not feeling safe. Look for that elusive individual you were sure you saw nearby... (m+n)
It's weak, but fucking Sidereals
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>41433410
>>Leap down the walls in a surprise attack to help your friends in battle. (p+d)

DYNAMIC ENTRY
>>
>>41433454
Can't be the assassin, he'd have killfucked us the instant the nephwrack was destroyed.

It's gotta be a Sidereal
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>41433410
>>No, you're not feeling safe. Look for that elusive individual you were sure you saw nearby... (m+n)
Fuckin Sidereals
>>
>>41433467
It's gonna end like this, wanna bet?
>>
>>41433410
>No, you're not feeling safe. Look for that elusive individual you were sure you saw nearby... (m+n)
On phone, can't dice.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41433545
I'll dice for you mate.
>>
>>41433410
>the faint smell of lotus flowers
>Unfolding Corpse-White Lotus
HMM
>>
>>41433574
Motha.
Fuckin'.
Sidereals.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41433410
>Try and draw your friends' attention and storm the castle together.
At half health, I do not want to charge into the Prince alone.
>>
>>41433410
This isn't going to go well, we need Radiant here to give us a better eye on things
>>
[m+n= 4 6 9 3 9 = 2 successes]

You search all around you, in the fog as far as you can see, on the roof, on nearby rooftops, in the rubble, everywhere, but you find no trace of that vision. You're starting to wonder if you imagined it.

Was it an assassin? If so, why didn't she attack you? A spy? If so, why did it reveal its presence to you, if only just for a moment? You're fairly sure she WANTED you to see her... unless you hallucinated.

If her aim was making you paranoid, she succeeded. You jump at shadows as you search, stumbling around on the wrecked castle rooftop while the battle goes on.

Did she want you to just waste time looking for her?

>...I don't have time for this. Time to go down there and stop the Silver Prince. (p+n)
>Call for (Five Tails / Radiant Starfall). They'll cover you. If this person you saw is real, they'll find her.
>You wasted enough time already. Rally your friends and march into the castle.
>You're not going to get anywhere if the Silver Prince can rely on his troops. Join the battle and try to make short work of them. (p+d)
>(Other?)
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41433801
>You're not going to get anywhere if the Silver Prince can rely on his troops. Join the battle and try to make short work of them. (p+d)

We're wasting time!!
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41433801
>>You wasted enough time already. Rally your friends and march into the castle.
I don't know, but we gotta go in together.

I fucking hate Sidereals.
>>
>>41433801
>Call for (Five Tails / Radiant Starfall). They'll cover you. If this person you saw is real, they'll find her.
Radiant Starfall
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41433801
>...I don't have time for this. Time to go down there and stop the Silver Prince. (p+n)
>>
>>41433801
>>You wasted enough time already. Rally your friends and march into the castle.
We gotta find Amata and the others
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41433801
>You wasted enough time already. Rally your friends and march into the castle.
>>
...You've wasted enough time already.

You approach the ruined battlements, breathe in, and whistle as loudly as you can. Barely audible above the chaos of battle, but you're sure enough that they'll hear you.

"BRIGHT THE FIGHT INSIDE! WE MUST STOP THE SILVER PRINCE, NOT HIS ARMY!" You call out to your allies, before dropping into a hole in the roof, leading you straight to...

...Is this really Tianna castle? It's so wrecked, it's almost unrecognizable. Signs of strife and combat litter the corridors. Walls are holed, pillars wrecked, furniture burned, and the bodies of castle guards and Vodak troopers alike are scattered everywhere.

You hear the noise of fighting approach. Tia flying kicks a Vodak through a nearby wall and ends up in your same corridor. She stands back up, giving you a confident glance. If she's still wounded from your fight in Pearl, she shows no sign of it.

The clash of warstriders is continuing outside. Of course, it would be a bit difficult for them to join you inside, unless the entire castle collapses. And you guess the stealthy but less direct Five Tails and Radiant Starfall are fighting and keeping the soldiers busy along the way.

There is no sign of Amata, Mikahil or anyone from their group anywhere you can see, unfortunately.

>Head for the room where you remember the Titan's secret passage to be.
>Start searching for the Silver Prince. (m+t)
>Start searching for Amata and the others. (m+t)
>Wait for Five Tails and Radiant Starfall to catch up with you and Tia. You want to move together, even if this means that no one is holding back the enemy troops.
>(Other?)
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41434225
>Start searching for the Silver Prince. (m+t)
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41434225
>Head for the room where you remember the Titan's secret passage to be.
We need to make sure the objective of the enemy is secure. We know where they want to go, why would they be going anywhere else? Maybe we'll also meet with Tyrant!
>>
I wonder what dancing smoke is up to. Oh sorry, the Flame that Marched against the sea.
>>
>>41434225
>Start searching for Amata and the others. (m+t)
Can Tia just sniff them out?
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41434225
>>Start searching for Amata and the others. (m+t)
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41434225
>Start searching for the Silver Prince. (m+t)
Stay the fuck away from the titan until we find this stalker.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41434225
start searching for the silver prince
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41434225
>Start searching for Amata and the others. (m+t)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41434304
Forgot my dice
>>
>>41434225
>>Head for the room where you remember the Titan's secret passage to be.
>>
>>41434295
What if SOMETHING OR SOMEONE FOLLOWS US THERE
>>
>>41434421
>What if SOMETHING OR SOMEONE FOLLOWS US THERE
This. Do anything other than go to that room right now.
>>
>>41434397
We are not leading the Sidereal to the secret passage.
>>
>>41434439
True. True...

>>41434225
I want to change my mind:
>Start searching for the Silver Prince. (m+t)
>>
>>41433567
Thanks, sorry for the delay but I had to drive for a bit.
>>
>>41434225
>Head for the room where you remember the Titan's secret passage to be.
If the prince had a chance to talk he probably knows about it.
>>
>>41434225
>Start searching for Amata and the others. (m+t)
>>
[m+t= 4 7 4 8 8 = 3 successes]

Following your senses, or perhaps your instincts, you head down a flight of ruined, half-crumbling stairs to ground level, then through the unrecognizable hallways, corridors and rooms until you reach the central point of the fortress... the large salon that you used as both a formal dinner room and a meeting room in the past.

You can hear noise that's not just the clamor of battle coming from here. And... you can feel the taste of Essence burning brightly, like a thick, stifling smoke rising from there...

You sneak up to the doors. Closed. Not just that... a faint line of eldritch characters have been burned into the wood. Even though you might be unschooled in sorcery, it doesn't take a genius to recognize a magical seal.

You and Tia silently exchange nods. It doesn't look like something very powerful of elaborate. Probably done in a hurry. Probably keeping the doors locked, but not magically strengthening them. It's still just wood.

You mentally go through the map of the castle, the way you remember it. This is the main entrance. There's a side entrance used by the maids, by the kitchen, and a secondary entrance via a passage connecting the dinner room to the throne room. If the roof is caved in, then you could drop down here from the second floor. And from below...

The dining room is pretty much above the unassuming storeroom where you remember Amata showed you the passage to the Titan. Is this coincidence?

>Try to undo the magical seal without triggering alarms. (m+t)
>Head for the kitchens
>Head for the throne room
>Break the door down. (p+d)
>Put your ear to the door, try and listen to what's going on inside. (m+n)
>(Other?)
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>41434656
>>Put your ear to the door, try and listen to what's going on inside. (m+n)

This seal might have been created by amata mikahil or valeriana to protect something or other. Let's not be too hasty
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41434656
>Put your ear to the door, try and listen to what's going on inside. (m+n)
We're going to want to bust those fucking doors down if we hear certain things coming from within. That seal might have been put in place to keep us out, not the invaders.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41434656
>Put your ear to the door, try and listen to what's going on inside. (m+n)
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41434656
>Put your ear to the door, try and listen to what's going on inside. (m+n)
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>41434656
>Try to undo the magical seal without triggering alarms. (m+t)
>>
Hole crap, Maka has a 100% success rate on a mental pool roll.
>>
>>41434735
Maka isn't dumb!

She's just a bit untrained in stuff.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41434656
>Put your ear to the door, try and listen to what's going on inside. (m+n)
>>
[m+n = 10 1 2 8 10 = 5 successes]

You put your ear to the door (thankfully the seal doesn't shock you or anything) and listen.

You hear...

...That's definitely Old Realm chanting. It's too fast and complicated to understand perfectly the words, and besides you don't recognize most of the terms.

But it's definitely sorcery in mid-cast.

...No, not sorcery, you realize. Those... those empty whispers you hear, behind the main voice... And it's a male voice, deep, powerful, with a bit of echo to it...

This is necromancy. You feel your blood freezing as you begin to pick up the few, simple words of Old Realm you know.

"Mouth". "Hunger". "Blood". "Scream". "Death".
And one complex, multi-syllable word you can't recognize, but it makes you want to stand up screaming, grab your head, and twist it until your own neck snaps, just so you don't have to hear it being pronounced ever again.

You try and calm down. Focus.
Steps. Breathing. At least four people inside, including the caster. One, with particularly slow and ponderous steps, is walking just by the door.

>Time for a surprise attack on this guy. Follow my lead, Tia. (p+d)
>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
>Tia, break down the door and deal with this guy next to it. I'll take care of the caster. (p+d)
>We're outnumbered. Let's wait.
>Let's go and grab the others. It's suicide to attack with just the two of us.
>(Other?)
>>
>>41434958
>Time for a surprise attack on this guy. Follow my lead, Tia. (p+d)
Phoneanon again.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41434958
>Tia, break down the door and deal with this guy next to it. I'll take care of the caster. (p+d)
Ohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuck are we too late? Amata please be alright.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>41434958
>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>41434958
>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41435016
Rollin for you
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41434958
>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>41434958
>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
Don't be afraid to use ECSJ on this fuck face.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>41435082
It's most likely that psychopath abyssal necromancer who's behind Island Five. I think the Prince will have gone into the titan already.

He might have some demonic servitors or fucknasty ghosts as guards in this ritual.

So yeah, if it's him ECSJ.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41434958
>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
Amata please be okay.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>41434958
>>I'll break down the door and deal with this guy next to it, Tia, you interrupt the casting, whatever it is. (p+d)
>>
>>41435058
Thanks.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

This thread kinda lasted a long time.
>>
>>41435269
These threads typically last most of the day unless something happens to cause everyone to freak out
>>
We should have taken the demon girl with us
>>
>>41435016
>>41435058
>>41435233
This is heart-warming
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41434958
>Tia, break down the door and deal with this guy next to it. I'll take care of the caster. (p+d)
>>
>>41435295
Also Karas, this place is a shitstorm of necromancy and ghosts and shit, another solar with ECSJ would be absolutely invaluable right now.
>>
>>41435295
Why?
>>
>>41434958
ECSJ the closest fucker we can.
>>
[ENEMY CASTIGATING SOLAR JUDGEMENT]

[p+d= 8 8 7 3 2 3 2 1 6 5 = 6 successes]

You nod at Tia, and at the count of three.. you break through the door, sending it flying in splinters, and rush inside the dinner room.

In one heartbeat, you take in the situation and your heart sinks.

The tables and chairs have been tossed aside with violence, smashed all over the place. The corpses of soldiers, officers, maids and servants litter the room, some thrown against the walls so hard they exploded, painting the white marble with their gore.

The centre of the room is dominated by a vast sorcerous circle pulsating with black Essence, Evil runes searing themselves into your eyes painfully as your gaze passes over them. In the center of that circle...

You see a hooded figure, more preserved corpse than living human, wielding a staff made by a bizarrely long and straight bone topped by a glowing green crystal. He couldn't look more like an Abyssal necromancer if he wore a giant glowing sign around his neck. He turns around slowly, surprised by your sudden and noisy appearance, but careful to not drop control of his spell.

The creature next to the door is much less human, a pack of bones assembled in the oddest shapes, yet still somehow humanoid. Definitely not a human skull, though you couldn't guess what creature it is. Covered in a patchwork armor of sewn-together steel plates on leather, you fear human.

You plow through it with a headbutt and it goes up in ashes and flames as the momentum carries you further inside the room. That gets a bit of a reaction from the necromancer, but you don't have time to be pleased about it.

There's two other people in the room.

(cont.)
>>
>>41435314
/tg/ is best bord and likes to cuddle.
>>
...You recognize the first. Sitting on top of a miraculously still-intact table, she looks nothing like the dead, shriveled-up abomination in the middle of the room, and doesn't have one bit of the air of an abyssal, despite the pale skin.

She feels too... alive. You're not sure if it's the shapely body, the plump thighs, her brilliant green eyes the color of her hair... or the oddly uninterested, vaguely bored glance she shoots at you, as if she were expecting you.

You lock eyes with her for a split-second, and almost lose yourself in the depth of her gaze. Do you know her? No, of course not. It's just that...

You land from your leap, on your feet, and turn your eyes to face the last occupant of the room, list as, with the lingering corner of your eye, you see Tia break out in a mad dash of all-fours to slam into the necromancer, with all the force, muscles, weight, and probably horns of a charging bull.

Yet, really just one split-second before her lunge connects, the essence glowing around him disappears and sinks undergound, Did he drop the spell to defend himself? Or did he just complete it?

...You have something more troubling to worry about.

(cont.)
>>
>>41435548
>Do you know her? No, of course not.

Fucking Sidereals.
>>
>>41435548

More like Unfolding Corpse-White Lily, I'd say
>>
>>41435582
>Fucking Sidereals.

I'm sure Maka will manage to do that
>>
>>41435548
Lyndis from Fire Emblem.
>>
>>41435601

Seriously, though, this butt is made to be worshiped by dark-skinned, gold-adorned priestesses
>>
>>41435611
>I'm sure Maka will manage to do that
Or already has. If we're getting this strong of a response, she might be one of our closest lovers, equal to Tia and Amata in our heart.
>>
>>41435611
>Implying we haven't already and have just been Arcane Fate'd into forgetting
>>
>>41435658

Is there any way to know?
>>
>>41435673
>Is there any way to know?
Yeah, through enough repeated exposure, the Arcane Fate eventually gets ignored. We might be at the end of that right now.
>>
>>41435611
Pass, I'd rather have our own not crazy triple crossing Sidereal
>>
File: The Silver Prince.jpg (142 KB, 680x1000)
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He's tall, taller even than you. Lanky and pale. "Ghostly" is an adjective you'd use, even if it would probably end up sounding a bit trite or unimaginative. Dressed in the finest silk and pelts, draped expertly around him.

A prince indeed, with an air of grade and refinement that would be the envy of Creation's finest dandies. A small necklace bearing a blood-red stone hangs from his neck. A black steel short-sword, its pommel adorned with a marvelously intricate carving of a silver human skull, is sheathed by his side, half-concealed by his cape.

He was leaning against a wall, casually, when you busted in. He turns to face you, his expression a mix of amused and surprised.

"...Why, hello." He makes a slight bow at you, while Tia wails on the necromancer in the background. "I'm sorry I let myself in, but after you opened fire on my messenger ship and started this war, I was left with very few options to complete my mission." His voice is clear like a crystal bell.

"...Bothisattva Anointed by Dark Water." You growl.

"Me?" He giggles. "I'm flattered, but no, no. I am the Silver Prince of Skullstone, at your service." He makes a foppish, grandiose bow now, his black cape sweeping the dusty ground. "Finally I'm able to meet you in person. Now we can solve this troubling issue like reasonable adults."

You don't reply, except maybe with a particularly hateful glare.

"I'm talking, of course, about your help in turning over the dangerous rebel, Tyrant of the Doomsday Machine, to the proper authorities of the Netherworld. In exchange for that, I'll overlook your violent aggression, and even issue reparations for the damage this war you caused has wrought." He continues, smirking.

"You..."

(cont.)
>>
>>41435454
Can I cuddle with you?
>>
The door to the throne room gets blown to nothingness, as the massive frame of the Tyrant of the Doomsday Machine storms in, barely passing through the narrow corridor. Your heart skips a beat.

"You really... you really think Maka will help you?" She roars, barging into the dinner room, panting, Essence still glowing about her. Weakened by the fight, the Essence expenditure she doubtlessly had to suffer to get here fast enough, who knows what else. Compared to her, the Silver Prince seems fresh and untouched.

"I expect miss Maka to make the reasonable choice." The Prince glances at you with smiling eyes.

"Which is...?"

"To get an army out of her island by simply refusing to continue to help and aid a dangerously insane Creature of Darkness who already betrayed her once." He snaps his fingers, clearly pleased with himself. "Also, I have hostages. Just in case, you know." He adds, almost as an afterthought.

That's when the Tyrant of the Doomsday Machine punches him in the face.

[SESSION END]
>>
>>41435865
Welp
>>
>>41435865
Tyrant is a super good girl.

Thanks for the thread EF.
>>
>>41435865
>That's when the Tyrant of the Doomsday Machine punches him in the face.
Good for her. She still is going to get a talking to when this i settled though.
>>
Base: 2 XP
BOSS FIGHT: 1 XP
Apology for an overly long hiatus: 1 XP
>>
>>41435865
Bitch we've been getting your army out of the island by beating it's ass.

Glad to have you back EF.
>>
>>41435921
>Apology for an overly long hiatus:
Aaaaawww
>>41435751
Same question EF
>>
>>41435865
>Also, I have hostages. Just in case, you know.
I hope Five Tails and/or Radiant Starfall were within hearing range and are going to take care of that.
>>
>>41435865
Since know it is a bit known there is a titan in the island, where should we expect Kimberley and all her minions and infernals come knocking ?
>>
File: miserable-then-happy.gif (999 KB, 500x268)
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>>41435751
I want to cuddle with everyone.

>>41435987
Me too
>>
>>41435921
Here's a thing I sorta stole and appropriated for my own use.

http://i.imgur.com/JsnH0NW.jpg
Imgur for lewds. It's grown up Regis and Maka.
>>
File: showmethebooty.jpg (137 KB, 910x1024)
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SHOCKWAVE FIST TECHNIQUE: (1B) An unarmed attack can be carried out at a range of [Phys+Dawn]x10 meters.
HEAVENLY GUARDIAN DEFENSE (2B): One parriable attack you are aware of is perfectly defended against.
SOLAR COUNTERATTACK (2B): Used right after succesfully parrying an attack. The enemy suffers -2 Defense Value against your next attack.

TRANSCENDENT HERO'S MEDITATION: (1C) +3d to your Social Defense pool for the scene.
INTEGRITY-PROTECTING PRANA: (1C) For one day, you are protected from reality-changing and shaping powers. (2B) Deny one minor Shaping attack that you can see.
OX-BODY TECHNIQUE: (Perm.) +2 Health Levels. Can be bought multiple times.
SUN-KING RADIANCE (Perm.) Anyone loyal to you uses your mental defense rather than their own, if your score is higher.
TERRIFYING GLORIOUS PRESENCE: (upgrades Majestic Radiant Presence: on top of its effect, all social attacks have 1 automatic success).

LORE-MASTER'S GAZE: (1C) +3d to knowledge rolls for the scene (2B): +3d to one knowledge roll.
STANCE OF THE MAGISTRATE: (1C) +3d to investigation rolls for the scene (2B): +3d to one investigation roll.

SHADOW ARTS: (1C) +3d to stealth rolls for the scene (2B): +3d to one stealth roll.
CLEAR SENSE LIGHT: (1C) +3d to awareness rolls for the scene (2B): +3d to one awareness roll.

SHINING RULER'S BENEVOLENCE: (1C) +3d to politics rolls for the scene (2B): +3d to one politics roll.
MASTER OF LETTERS: (1C) +3d to linguistics rolls for the scene (2B): +3d to one linguistics roll.
>>
>>41436017
>Since know it is a bit known there is a titan in the island, where should we expect Kimberley and all her minions and infernals come knocking ?
Kimbery.

And never, because Exaltedfag has a hateboner for Infernals. He's outright said they'll never appear in this quest - or, if they do, that they're be unrecognizable to their canon versions.
>>
>>41436051
>INTEGRITY-PROTECTING PRANA: (1C) For one day, you are protected from reality-changing and shaping powers. (2B) Deny one minor Shaping attack that you can see.
we hace that.
>>
>>41436051
>OX-BODY TECHNIQUE: (Perm.) +2 Health Levels. Can be bought multiple times.
>>
>>41436051
I'd say we should go for
OX-BODY TECHNIQUE: (Perm.) +2 Health Levels. Can be bought multiple times.

Can't go wrong with more health!
>>
>>41436040
>that tongue
My fucking sides. Holy shit.
>>
>>41436040
You want a XP or a request for that?

>>41436072
Damnit, you're right, i copypasted the wrong line. Substitute for this:


ESSENCE-GATHERING TEMPER: (Perm.) Every time you lose a health level, you regain two Burn Essence.
>>
>>41436051
>OX-BODY TECHNIQUE: (Perm.) +2 Health Levels. Can be bought multiple times.

we need the health.
>>
>>41436051
>HEAVENLY GUARDIAN DEFENSE (2B)
We need it for his Daiklave of mind control
>>41436056
>Hating Infernals
For what purpose ?
>>
>>41436051
We have IPP and is that the right burn amount for Heavenly Guardian Defense?
>>
>>41436051
>OX-BODY TECHNIQUE: (Perm.) +2 Health Levels. Can be bought multiple times.
Because I don't see anything else as a worthwhile purchase at the moment. Solar Counterattack would be appealing if our Parry was maxed or near-maxed, but it isn't. We survive most fights by tanking hits; an actual, fully successful parry is rare.
>>
>>41436113
>For what purpose ?
Never got elaborated on. EF hates Infernals and won't be including them in the quest.

>>HEAVENLY GUARDIAN DEFENSE (2B)
>We need it for his Daiklave of mind control
We already have a Perfect Soak. We absolutely do not need a second Perfect Defense.
>>
>>41436105
Just XP please.
>>
>>41435921
>Apology for an overly long hiatus: 1 XP
When's next game? I want to use
>If you had peaceful intent you would not have waited until night when I was at my weakest and you at your strongest. One does not send a messenger to a weak flank nor under the cover of darkness.
then play the Lawkeeper of US card when he trys to turn it around.
>>41435751
sure you can anon. we can all cuddle.
>>
>>41436051
Damn I read Sun-King Radiance as Sun-Kungfu Riddance.... time to go to sleep I guess
>TRANSCENDENT HERO'S MEDITATION
>>
>>41436113
>For what purpose ?
Mostly personal dislike of how the entire concept was handled.
If you like White Wolf infernals I don't have a problem with you. Just, you know, they're never going to show up in my games.

>>41436146
>Never got elaborated on. EF hates Infernals and won't be including them in the quest.
If you want details: http://ask.fm/Exaltedfag/answer/124901837654 from my Ask.fm.

>>41436155
Alright. Then you got 9 XP.

>>41436157
>When's next game?
Soon, I hope. It might even be tomorrow, but I don't know yet.
>>
>>41436127
I think it's good if we choose to upgrade our stuff to be not defensible, stuff like upgrading our gloves or getting a Hearthstone that increases DV.

But yeah, as of right now it's not great.
>>
Can a Deathlord "survive" being covered in molten metal?

I kind of want to get the guy trapped in silver, but destroying him in the process is not as great
>>
>>41435865
We should totally say that we dislike those who betray us. Then Deck the Prince in the face and say betraying the unconquered son and working for his enemies is far, far worse.
>>
File: 1429973787124.gif (339 KB, 500x281)
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>>41436157
>>41436022
/tg/ really is best
>>
>>41436235
Hey EF, HGD only costs two?

I thought PFs were three burn?
>>
>>41436051
>ESSENCE-GATHERING TEMPER: (Perm.) Every time you lose a health level, you regain two Burn Essence.

I'm pretty sure it's amazing
>>
>>41436248
Depends on the metal in question.
If it's soul steel ore and the deathlord is, just coincidentially, in a fluid state as well, yes they will survive, but they'd wish they wouldn't have
>>
>>41436051
How much XP do we have? Because adding the amount in the OP image to >>41435921 gives us 8, which means we should only be able to buy Zenith Charms.
>>
>>41436051
>OX-BODY TECHNIQUE: (Perm.) +2 Health Levels. Can be bought multiple times.
More health please, were almost dying.

Essence Gathering Temper is kinda really good now though.
>>
>>41436248
>Can a Deathlord "survive" being covered in molten metal?
Yes.
>>
>>41436273
...they are, I used an old version of the file for some reason. Sorry for the mess up. So that's why it was all messed up. I only realized now.

Man, I feel really dumb right now. And I shouldn't keep these old files around, actually. Sorry.
>>
>>41436309
I think Essence Gathering Temper should be our next purchase, that's quite good now.
>>
>>41436040
Oh ho~

That's super nice.
>>
>>41436051
Twilight 3
>>
>>41436305
You should, i just added the non.-zenith charms because i wondered "it's been a while, what if i get two pieces of art to convert to XP?"

And hey, we almost did!
>>
>>41436352
Doesn't the guy(s) who gets arts rarely changes it into exp. You should go talk to him/them about it.
>>
>>41436051
Whatever besides Ox-Body Technique has the most votes.
That charm just seems so underwhelming.
>>
>>41436316
>>41436293

I really want to half-drown him in molten silver, and then cool it off.

I wonder if the place where they mint coins has enough silver at the ready...
>>
>>41436444
>That charm just seems so underwhelming.
It will literally increase our current health by 50%.
>>
>>41436482
>I really want to half-drown him in molten silver, and then cool it off.
He's a ghost. A ghost with absurdo levels of super powers. It would not only not hurt him, he'd just phase back out like it ain't no thang.

It would not only do nothing, it would do nothing in a stupid and inefficient way at that.

Fuck off with your dumb murder-porn.
>>
>>41436444
>more health
>underwhelming
That's how you die anon.
>>
>>41436482
While usually an abhorrent thing...
We should ask Tyrant to soulforge him
>>
>>41436490
No it won't, FRoL gives us an entire second health bar
>>41436530
Compared to the other charms yes it is. As for us dying, see above re: Final Ray of Light.
>>
>>41436585
Fuck no. We will not stoop to his level. That's the EXACT way we prove ourselves unworthy of the Sun's blessings.
>>
>>41436490
Given how injured we are, that should tell you how bad it is.
Two health dots isn't worthy 8 XP
>>
>>41436610
>FRoL
We should try to play in a way that lets us NOT use it
Ecspecially as long as we're pregnant
>>
>>41436646
It's a cheaper increase in health than boosting Physical. We get more health than an increase in physical too.
>>
>>41436610
Final Ray of Light is a safety net, you don't rely on it, you hope you don't have to use it.
>>
>>41436610
Oh, fuck you. FRoL getting activated is a seriously bad fucking thing. That has a single charge, then we need to repurchase it. That costs 8 XP every time it's used.

>>41436646
It absolutely is. Not only does that bring us from 4 HP to 6 HP (which, with our armor, is actually a seriously large increase in total number of survivable hits), it gives us that increase permanently, instead of it being a one-time heal.
>>
>>41436585
I don't even know if you can soul forge a Deathlord.

That's interesting to think about.
>>
>>41436722
Either that or goad him to jump into the maw of the void and that thing is on the other side of creation
>>
I was beginging to wrtie smut about Lotus

Then i remembered why I should never write smut
>>
>>41436931
Which is...?
>>
>>41436040
>stockings
>eyeshadow
I can't unf hard enough
>>
>>41435865
>"You really... you really think Maka will help you?"
>Maka is love and sunshine and angel feathers, she would never listen to you.
Tyrant is super cute.
>>
>>41437036
Damn now you made me curious
>>
>>41437085
>tfw your character is so good it hurts you
>>
>>41435865
>I expect miss Maka to make the reasonable choice.
It's like he didn't do any research on us at all. Makes always does the good thing over the smart thing. We're like a shonen protagonist, but without the aversion to sex.
>>
>>41437567
>Makes
Maka, damnit. Fuck this phone and it's auto correct
>>
>>41437085
We should totally call our Artifacts Love and Sunshine.
>>
Guys, I just realized something.

The Silver Prince doesn't actually want to destroy Creation. He's as much of an heretic than the Tyrant, in that regard. Probably an even bigger one, since she at least caused untold destruction.

Think about it. The Prince spend centuries playing the long con, creating a society that fit his views, carefuly building a kingdom and sustaining it.

This is not the behavior of someone who wants the end of the world. Maybe he wants to control Creation and turns it in a necrodystopia, but destoy it? Never.
>>
Page 10 archive reminder. I'm on my phone or I'd have done it.
>>
>>41437709
I'll get it later tonight if no one has by then.
>>
>>41437672
He actually does in canon. He want's it so bad he's willing to spend centuries doing something antithetical to him, building a society from scratch, just to guarantee it happens and that he's the one pulling the trigger.
>>
>>41437756
And since deathlords always come bck after illing them...
How about we sooulforge thge silver prince into the most uncomfortable chair ever made?
>>
>>41438083
>How about we sooulforge thge silver prince into the most uncomfortable chair ever made?
No. That's evil as fuck. An act like that would tarnish Maka forever. We will not lower ourselves to the level of our enemies when we're trying to be a force of redemption.
>>
>>41438156
Aaaaww
>>
>>41438156
It probably wouldn't work anyway.
I think in the section of the Abyssal book where it talks about redeeming deathlords basically says that any method of permanently neutralizing a deathlord as a threat is a huge pain in the ass to do.
>>
>>41437756

Then he's a sad buffoon
>>
>>41438295
Well if things go according to his plan he will rule creation on less than 10 years from the traditional Exalted start point, and have it destroyed utterly annihilated in another 10.
Of course, those calculations were made before Solars started popping up everywhere.
>>
>>41438295
To be honest he that and very, very disillusioned about his live
>>
So, how long do you guys think Maka would last if she was thrown into a Monstrance of Celestial Portion?
>>
>>41438585
I don't remember how exactly they work, but it's based on willpower and virtues, right?
Maka's Willpower is pretty high, and all her virtues except Temperance are too.
>>
>>41438585
Honestly? Probably about as long as the Zenith caste the prince threw into a monstrance.

It's literally constant magical torture forever until you break or die.



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