“The guilds treaties are complex” you say “but they do establish some certainties. There are things that can never be traded away.”

“Like?” asks Nevyn, on Tisanias other side.

“A Masterwork Project” you say, “the work by which a Wizard is acknowledged as a Master by the Guild. It can't be sold off because it provides indisputable evidence proof of his skill”

“How does that help Sir?” asks Nataline.

“I never officially took the Masters tests” you say “according to Guild rolls I am still officially only an Adept. I could apply to take the Masters test and declare you all to be part of my project.”

“Will that work?” asks Nataline “I mean it seems sort of...sneaky.”

You nod “the senior wizards would examine any project that involved you very carefully and might start looking for an excuse to fail me, in which case my 'Masterwork' wouldn't qualify.”

“Any other protected cant-be-sold options?” asks Nevyn hopefully.

Well yes, for Guild Mages: Familiars, a Conjurers Chosen Summons, any object a mage has tied his soul to...

“None that help right now” you say moodily, before continuing “The guild also has treaties with a number of dragons, one of the things agreed upon was that the guild would support dragons in matters of inheritance, if they wished to gift their hoard to one of their line upon their death, the Guild would not sponsor any expedition to recovered the hoard, would not buy any object from the hoard and would not otherwise assist in the 'theft' of the hoard.”

“Wait isn't stealing dragons hoards y'know, kinda the point?” asks Tisania, coming out of her fugue a little.

“Well a dragon leaving their hoard to another is rare” you say “something that only very old dragons do. Until they've reached the end of a very long life, most dragons don't see the point, and telling your young they get treasure upon your death only gives them incentive to try and kill you. But if Umsharishta saying that only his line can get into his lair can be defined as a de facto inheritance, then helping anyone else get in is impossible.”

“I suppose” says Tisania with a slight shrug.

“Now another option is to find a way to convince them that you are unable to perform the function you want.” You continue “Nevyn gave me that idea.”

“Really Sir?” asks Nevyn

“Oh yes” you say “if you try to become an Empress Displacer-Beasts and fail” and don't die you add to yourself “then that should convince the Archmage Galvinius to leave you alone” unless the old lunatic thinks he can transform her into an Empress himself.

“And if I succeed?” asks Nevyn “and isn't failing kinda dangerous?”

“Then you'll be a lot stronger” you say “and more able to resist anyone who tries to control you. As for danger, yes I think it will be risky, but thanks to Nataline” you nod at her “maybe we have a chance, Calluna might be able to help” once you sort her dreams out, you need to talk to her and Phaysis both, but you've had so much to do...

“And me Sir?” asks Nataline “can I pretend to be useless?”

“We'll need to find another way out for you” you say “since the reason they wanted you was for a ritual where, um...”

“Where they kill me” says Nataline, a slightly trembling hand the only sign of the fear she must be feeling.

“It's ok” says Tisania to Nataline “surely they can be convinced that the ritual won't work if you don't go along with it willingly or something.”

You hope it doesn't come to that, the contracts had specific procedures in place for the Soulbound being uncooperative: if the Soulbound proved too stubborn, a Soulborn would do.

“Say what about other blue dragons?” asks Nevyn “if one of them wants the old hoard then can't we tell them and-”

“Have them come after Tisania as a rival claimant” says Nataline, one eyebrow raised.

“Oh, yeah, sorry” says Nevyn.

“Don't worry” you say “I had the same thought myself, still, they might know more about Umsharishta that could help us.”

“So Professor” asks Nataline, holding herself with the poise of a queen “what are we to do?”

“Tonight, nothing” you say “and please don't spread this around the school, we don't want a panic on our hands, thus far you three are the only ones the Tunvarin guild is after.”

“Of course Professor” says Nataline “and tomorrow?”

“Oh, I know” says Nevyn “you should both join the adventurers club!”

“Um, why?” asks Tisania

“Because its loads of fun and the Professor is always there” says Nevyn “and together we can protect you from 'anything'.” Nevyn is exaggerating, but having large groups of friends around them who know how to use combat magic and weapons might help dissuade any kidnappers Hoggle might hire.

“I think its a good idea” you say “but I won't force you.”

Nataline considers for a moment “well then, yes.”

They both look at Tisania, who wriggles a bit under their gaze and says “can I try a spear? I've always liked the way those looked.”

You chuckle “of course you can.”

“Oh good” says Tisania “then yes, I'd like to join.”

“Done” you say, clapping your hands “it's very late so now off to bed all of you, Nevyn please make sure these two get to bed without getting into mischief” You smile to show you're joking.

Nevyn winks at you, she got the message: guard them until they're in their dorms. Nataline gives you an arch look, huh, seems she caught that too.

The three girls leave, chatting to one another. You slouch down on your bed, the smell of perfume still in the air, hmmm, what to do?

You still need to train your club, make various items for them and work on the school wards. But other than that, what will be your next course of action once you have a few spare minutes tomorrow?

>Talk to Calluna and Phaysis about Callunas dreams, they might have a clue about Nevyn
>Talk to Taynathil about Displacer-Beasts
>Try to find the girls fathers
>Start work on a Masterwork that can involve the girls somehow
>Look for blue dragons to talk to, one might know something useful about Umsharishta
>Try to find out more about the cult that wants Nataline
>Other (what?)

>>41887364
>Try to find Tisanias father

>>41887364
>Talk to Calluna and Phaysis about Callunas dreams, they might have a clue about Nevyn
>Ask the headmaster to look for Tisanias father while we deal with the other stuff

>>41887364
>Try to find out more about the cult that wants Nataline

>>41887364
>>41887393
Seconding

>>41887364
>Talk to Calluna and Phaysis about Callunas dreams, they might have a clue about Nevyn

>>41887364
>>Try to find the girls fathers

The majority of the votes are about talking to Calluna or looking for the girls fathers

Are there any objections to me using this >>41887393 write-in?

>>41887506
>Are there any objections to me using this >>41887393 write-in?
Not from me.

>>41887506
No objection.

Despite the plots and plans whirling through your head you finally manage to get some sleep.

The next morning you are slow to wake, ugh, the nightmares were bad last night. You saw not only your dwarven friends, but some of the girls dying on the Walls. You don't need to be an Enchanter to understand what your mind is trying to tell you.

You force yourself to rise and go down for breakfast, after eating the first thing you do is go and see the Headmaster, explaining your plans, and enlisting his aid.

“Still, finding a Soulbound will be difficult” he says dubiously “many went into hiding after the angels came down.”

“I know” you say “but please try anyway, besides, I have a feeling that this guy is going to leave a lot of wreckage behind him, maybe that's how he can be found.”

“Very true” says the Headmaster.

You manage to catch Phaysis and Calluna both coming out of the same history lesson just after first period. You lead them away from the main corridors and into a quiet room.

“Um Professor Sir” says Phaysis “about your socks, it wasn't me it was Chame, and-”

“I need to talk to you about something else” you say. What has Chame done to your socks? The ones you're wearing feel fine.

“Actually I need to talk about Callunas dreams, have you been keeping up with your dream diary?”

“Oh yes!” says Calluna, nodding enthusiastically “I'm on my second book already.”

You bring Phaysis up to speed, sort of “I think Calluna can help me with something for Nevyn, but we both need to know more about her, and how Nevyn fits in. To do that, I think we both need to go into her dreams.”

“It'll be wonderful!” says Calluna enthusiastically “two more friends in my head.”

Phaysis looks less sure “Um, if you say so sir, but um, why do you need me?”

“Because I know the spell” you say “but its not really my area – your expertise could be invaluable.”

“Uhm, ok then sir” says Phaysis, still looking unsure “if you say so”

“You'll be fine” you reassure her, “I'll be there to protect you against any side-effects.”

“S'a creature not a bug” says Calluna, watching a large spider crawl up the wall.

“Are we doing this tonight Sir?” asks Phaysis “or later.”

“Ideally as soon as possible” you say, your mind racing “hmm, maybe the school nurse has something that could put Calluna to sleep for a short time.”

You wished you learned a magical way to put people to sleep, it would come in handy right now.

“I don't mind taking a sleeping draught” says Calluna innocently “but I'll be woozy all day, might have to skip lessons Sir.”

“Calluna don't be cheeky” admonishes Phaysis, rounding on her.

“Of course” you say, “we should really both read Callunas dream diary first.”

What's the plan?

>Go into Callunas dreams now (no diary)
>Go into Callunas dreams this evening (after reading the diary)
>Don't do this just yet
>Other (what?)

You can bring others with you if you want, write-in who you want to bring.

>>41887727
>Go into Callunas dreams this evening (after reading the diary)

>>41887727
>Go into Callunas dreams now (no diary)
The diary would just make it worse, all that san damage

>>41887727
>Go into Callunas dreams this evening (after reading the diary)

>>41887727
>Go into Callunas dreams this/Friday evening (after reading the diary)
What day is it? how long till the weekend?

>>41887727
>>Go into Callunas dreams this evening (after reading the diary)

>>41887769
>What day is it? how long till the weekend?
its Twoday, second day of the week

>>41887787
OK put me >>41887769 as tonight then.

Ok, tonight it is, writing up fun-times

>>41887727
>Go into Callunas dreams this evening (after reading the diary)

>>41887352
We don't even have to recruit. The girls are recruiting for us now.

>>41887862
That's because we are not recruiting. If we don't go to them, they come to us.

It's kinda sad, since the random encounters were fun ways to meet the girls. Much better than meeting them because they desperately need help with something.

File: RandomEncounters.jpg (104 KB, 750x600)

104 KB JPG

>>41887879
I'd say we've got enough on our hands without going out to recruit as well. I did like the random encounters, but we're kind of past that stage now.

>>41887891
I see no reason to be past random encounters, they were better than going out to recruit and allowed to pace the recruitment so we had time for the already recruited girls
Definitly better than get a bunch of them dumped on us at once.

And this is basically a random encounter, just a poorly paced one.

>>41887891
You kinda contradict yourself there, the random encounters was how we recruited girls without having to spend time to go out to do so on our own.

And this entire thing clearly eats up way more of our time than any recruitment would have otherwise.

“We can do this later tonight” you say “Callunas went to all the trouble of writing her diary, the least we can do is read it before we go inside her head.”

“Because one you go in” says Calluna “you might not want to come out.”

You and Phaysis share a look.

“I have a Mind Blank spell, don't worry” you reassure her. Now if only someone would reassure you...

XXX

The day passes quickly and without incident.

You and Phaysis spend your time studying Callunas diary, protected by your spell.

To say its confusing is an understatement, but after several hours it starts to make sense. The biggest breakthrough was when Phaysis tore all the pages out and started pinning them to the wall of the room you were using in an intricate spiral pattern, then the illustrations started to make sense and the writing all lined up and there were these lovely silver-blue plant things that sang the song of tomorrow...

The book is starting to get to both of you. If Calluna leaves her diary here when she graduates its getting its own box in the Seriously Restricted section of the Library.

Still, you and Phaysis are gleaning some useful insights into Callunas psyche, and the forces therein.

Going into her dreams is going to help both her and Nevyn, but you expect their to be resistance.

You've tried to name and define the opposition you will face.

First, and above all others, there is the Prime, The All, the Creator. She is a force that can accomplish anything, that can warp reality around her. She seems to care for Calluna and frequently protects her from the others. She is harsh teacher however and demands Callunas best efforts before she will help her.

Then there is the Brute. He is a force of strength, directness, destruction. He exhorts Calluna to fight, to struggle, to grow through pain and conflict.

The Demon. A leader, warrior and sorcerer. He wants Calluna to lead others, to commend respect by leading by example, but also to fiercely punish the slightest disobedience.

The Ocean. A figure of change and mutation she is trying to get Calluna to push her physical form past its limits, to shed her human appearance. You are also getting implications of an old fashioned fertility deity as well. From Callunas writings she doesn't really understand that part of the Ocean, and is instead spending a lot of time playing with her pet...thing, Mr Pogustus and keeping watch for any more pets she might collect.

The Darkness. Secrets and sneakiness and betrayal. The Darkness whispers to her and tries to get her to manipulate her friends, to gain their trust and betray them. Calluna likes hiding and listening and gathering secrets, but tends to not do anything with them, according to her diary at least.

There is also a sixth, but rarer figure that only shows up very occasionally. A person made of silver that is constantly fleeing the Prime, but occasionally encourages Calluna to try to learn from her foes, to be more like them.

So these are the figures in her dreams. They're troubling her and she wants to understand them. You'll need to find out about them, as well as find out if Calluna can help Nevyn become an Empress Displacer-Beast.

Eventually, after dinner, the three of you retreat to one of the secure infirmary rooms, just in case things get out of hand.

As Calluna and Phaysis get ready for bed, you ward the room from the outside.

“See you soon” says a drowsy Calluna, as she lays down and starts breathing slowly. Phaysis lies in the next bed and you take a seat in a comfy high-backed chair.

“Are you ready for this?” You ask Phaysis

“As ready as I'll ever be” she says with a gulp. You renew your mind blank spells and then you cast another spell, taking you and Phaysis down, down, down into Callunas dreams...

XXX

You and Phaysis are standing on a small island, the island is surrounded not by water but by mist.

The whole place is covered in lush greenery, just not any you're familiar with: tall plants that wave their leaves at one another to communicate. Others that uproot, run around and then dig back into the ground again, ones with limbs, blinking eyes and chuckling mouths.

Phaysis is in her human form but seems rough somehow, unfinished; beside her are shadows that resemble her centaur and horse forms.

She gasps “Sir are you ok?”

You look down to see blood staining your robes, you don't feel any pain, or weakness, but blood is seeping from wounds across your body.

“I'm fine” you say, is this how Calluna sees you?

“What is this place?” Phaysis asks, once you've convinced her you aren't in any pain.

“This is the crossroads” you remind her “remember the things in Callunas mind love having her make choices, see?”

You point to several rope bridges leading off from your tiny island. Each leads off in a different direction.

One has a sign saying 'secrets', another has a sign saying 'struggle', another has a sign saying 'friends'.

“Um, we're after secrets, but maybe we should look for friends first?” suggests Phaysis.

“Or maybe” you say “we ignore the pre-determined paths, and choose our own.” you fly up into the air by way of explanation.

As you do the mist around you does dark and a boom of thunder sounds, you sink back down and the mists lighten again. Oh joy, so stepping off the path is discouraged eh?

What do you do?

>Take the path of secrets
>Take the path of struggle
>Take the path of friends
>Don't take a path, fly to your destination
>Other (what?)

>>41888212
So, Secrets is the bad idea that might be fun. Struggle gets us to the guy we probably want to talk to, I'm not quite sure who friends would lead to.

>Don't take a path, fly to your destination

>>41888212
>Take the path of friends

>>41888212
>Take the path of friends

>>41888212
>Take the path of friends

>>41888212
>Take the path of secrets
Hell yeah, best bro is here.

>>41888212
>Take the path of friends

>First, and above all others, there is the Prime, The All, the Creator. She is a force that can accomplish anything, that can warp reality around her. She seems to care for Calluna and frequently protects her from the others. She is harsh teacher however and demands Callunas best efforts before she will help her.
>There is also a sixth, but rarer figure that only shows up very occasionally. A person made of silver that is constantly fleeing the Prime, but occasionally encourages Calluna to try to learn from her foes, to be more like them.
Bueno.

>>41888212
>Take the path of struggle

Friends it is

My Little Abomination: Friendship is San-loss

>>41888366
>Are our subs also invulnerable during the night, or are only the abyssal subs protected?
No one is safe from the abyssal doms.

“Lets start with friends” you say “we might learn something, or gain allies.”

“Um yes sir” says Phaysis, as the shadow of the centaur paws the ground beside her “but what sort of allies?”

“We'll find out” you say, as the two of you walk over the rickety rope bridge.

You're about half way across when Phaysis asks “isn't this bothering you sir?”

“I'm trying not to think about it” you reply through gritted teeth.

The two of you are keeping pace on the bridge, but you're walking along the top, and Phaysis is walking along the bottom, but sticking to it as if the force of gravity is reversed on the other side, wait, maybe she's on the top and you're the one on the bottom?

Either way, you were walking side-by-side, then suddenly everything changed without warning.

Eventually you reach a doorway, huh, looks just like the door to the adventurers club house...

With Phaysis once again at your side you open the door cautiously.

Inside you see a familiar scene of the club members training. Though some of them do look a little different.

Anlanesa is a deep blue colour, and is covered in ice, which is also blue rather than white. She is practising punching one of the dummies as around her flow razor-sharp bits of ice that slice into her target.

Chame is nowhere to be, no wait, what is that?

A figure covered in flowing black and red liquid fires off dozens of tentacles at a practise dummy, lashing it to bits, then the liquid flows away from the figures face, only to reveal one of Lucindas other parts, Celya. “Well done Chame” she says. A second head made of the liquid buds up, resolving into Chames head “I dunno” she says “I think we need more claws.”

Cleya is levitating and blasting at a small moving target with spells and eyebeams, though she has dozen of eyestalks out and the air around her ripples with arcane power. There are fanged maws in her open hands.

Evrumine is practising her axe work against, could that be Kittrane? Evrumine is fighting a 12ft-tall demon-monster that fights with two axes, and speaks with Kittranes voice, all covered in flames. Evrumine looks normal but...her strikes are pushing the gigantic demon back.

Janrael stands watching them, her six arms folded and her three faces showing various expressions of exasperation, amusement and happiness. Her six wings are a pair of silver, one of gold, and one of white. Atop her head is a halo of white flames.

Lucinda is practising creating those ectoplasmic things she can make, uh woah, she has a lot of them, an army in fact, despite the confines of this room you can see their numbers stretching off into the distance.

Nevyn is no where to be seen.

Syphoebeus and Safire are wrestling, despite their size differences. Both are wearing ahem, very little clothing. You try not to stare as Safire slams Syphoebeus to the ground as dozens of magical lights orbit her.

Syphoebeus quickly jumps up and throws a blast of lightning at Safire, the lights intercept it and absorb it.

None of them pay any attention to the two of you.

Then Groundskeeper Answick comes hobbling up “Ah yes sir” he says, tugging his forelock and trying to hide the bloody knives in his hands “We was expecting you you y'see, we knew there was a dungeon on today.” He gestures at three doors in the far wall.

One is labelled 'war'; another 'regret' and the third is labelled 'change'.

“Its your choice of course” he says, his skin appearing to be made of black scales for a second “your choice entirely, only four in a team of course, so which two girls do you want? And which dungeon?”

Which girls will you take? (choose 2)

>Anlanesa
>Calluna
>Chame (and Celya)
>Cleya
>Evrumine
>Janrael
>Kittrane
>Lucinda
>Safire
>Syphoebeus
>None
>Other (what?)

And which door?

>War
>Regret
>Change
>Other (what?)

>>41888699
>Janrael
>Kittrane
>Change

>>41888699
>Cleya
>Kittrane
>Regret

>>41888699
>Chame (and Celya)
>Evrumine
>War
What is Celya doing in Chame? Will the Mimic gain fusion powers?

>>41888699
>Ask where Nevyn is?

>>41888699
>Reprimand Chame for doing lewd things in practice with Cleya.

>>41888699
>Ask where Nevyn is?

>>41888699
>>Janrael
>>Kittrane
>change

>>41888788
Read again

>>41888699
>>41888737
ask
>Ask where Nevyn is?
first

Looks like
Janrael, Kittrane and Change are the winners.

Also asking about Nevyn

Writing

“Where's Nevyn?” you ask Groundskeeper Answick.

He gives you a puzzled look “why, on the other team Sir, along with Calluna, like you told them to.”

“Of course” you mutter “what else?”

You look around the room “Ok, Janrael, Kittrane, would you mind accompanying us?”

The massive demon stalks over, and then shrinks into the more familiar form of the Kittrane you're used to, though when she speaks you can see a fire burning in her mouth.

“Well, I guess I can help out” she says, folding her arms and looking away “Whatever, it's not like I want friends or anything, you idiot.”

Janrael walks up beside her, her three faces showing beatific patience “I am here to help whomever I can, that is why I exist” she says in an achingly beautiful, musical choral voice.

Kittrane garbs herself in heavy chain armour as Janrael does the same. Kittrane picks up two axes that burst into flame, then she extinguishes them and slings them on her back and picks up a backpack of adventuring supplies. Janrael rather curiously doesn't fetch herself a weapon other than a shortsword, but grabs a backpack as you and Phaysis likewise get ready.

“We're going through the change dungeon” you tell the Groundskeeper.

“An interesting choice sir” he says “given the ah, battlefield.”

“Why?” asks Phaysis, he ignores the question and offers you all ponchos and covers for your backpacks “its wet in there this time of year sir.”

When you're all ready, you head through the door and down a long flight of stairs, that leads into a cave complex, that's waist-high (to you anyway) in murky water. The whole place is wet, and cold, and water drips from the ceiling like rain.

“Lovely” you say sardonically “now what?” You've been wading through this for hours. Phaysis has changed to her centaur form.

“Now we need to find Calluna and Nevyn, Sir” responds Janrael

“Yeah but first....” says Kittrane, as you emerge into a large open cavern “look alive!”

The cavern has only two entrances, the one you came in through, and one at the far side.

In the midst of the cavern, partially submerged is a vast squid-like monster with a dozen lashing tentacles, large cruel eyes, and a huge fanged maw.

Fins slice through the water and you realise that there are sharks coming for you too. Phaysis gives a yell of surprise, jumping up until she's standing on the water, hmm, that seems like a good idea. You try to change the dream around you, only for nothing to happen.

Phaysis seems to be glowing somehow, what is happening to her?

Janrael opens her hands and six swords appear in her grip, two are sheathed in flame, two radiate cold, and two spark with lightning.

Kittrane stretches, and grows, and grows, until she is the vast demon-thing that was fighting Evrumine. She doesn't seem embarrassed by the fact that she's wearing only dancing flames.

Well, this could be a short fight after all.

Then one of the sharks surfaces and it has a face like a human, except with six eyes, and it starts chanting, you think its casting a spell, and then others surface, four in total.

Actions?

Sallazar
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis

>Attack (who?)
>Inquisitors Zeal (bonuses to Phaysis)
>Snipers Shot (Single target ranged attack that deals extra damage)
>Other (what?)

Janrael

>Attack (who?)
>Judgement (Damage and penalties to multiple targets)
>Healing Wave (Heal all allies)
>Herald of War (Bonuses to allies, extra bonuses to Janrael)
>Other (what?)

Kittrane

>Attack (who?)
>Inferno (Wide area spell)
>Demon Style (Gain strength over time)
>Burning Rush (Charge single target, deal fire damage to foes near her target)
>Other (what?)


Foes

Squid-like Thing (1)
Children of the Deep (30)
[Children of the Deep] Singers of Praise (4)

>>41889215
>Inquisitors Zeal (bonuses to Phaysis)
>Herald of War (Bonuses to allies, extra bonuses to Janrael)
>Burning Rush (Charge single target, deal fire damage to foes near her target)
Oho, is this some pathing options to the girls?

>>41889215
Sallazar
>Spell Mantle
>Missile Storm (Children of the Deep)

Phaysis
>Attack (Singer of Praise)
>Inquisitors Zeal (bonuses to Phaysis)

Janrael
>Judgement (Damage and penalties to multiple targets)

Kittrane
>Attack (Squid-thing)
>Demon Style (Gain strength over time)

>>41889244
>Oho, is this some pathing options to the girls?

I think Calluna is able to see there potential maximum, and that is what she see's them as.

>>41889215
Sallazar
>Spell Mantle
>Missile Storm (Children of the Deep)

Phaysis
>Attack (Singer of Praise)
>Inquisitors Zeal (bonuses to Phaysis)

Janrael
>Judgement (Damage and penalties to multiple targets)
>Focus on Singers of Praise

Kittrane
>Attack (Squid-like Thing)
>Burning Rush (Charge single target, deal fire damage to foes near her target)

ok so

Sallazar
Missile Storm + Spell Mantle

Phaysis
Attack + Zeal

Janrael
Judgement

Kittrane
Burning Rush

Please roll 4d20 and vote on extra arcane energy for Sallazar to use for Missile Storm

Best of 3 rolls, average of 3 votes, rolls in name order

Rolled 10, 10, 8, 18 = 46 (4d20)

>>41889313
0

Rolled 3, 16, 2, 19 = 40 (4d20)

>>41889313
5

Rolled 19, 4, 12, 15 = 50 (4d20)

>>41889313
10

Rolled 5, 9, 12, 14 = 40 (4d20)

>>41889313

>>41889317
>>41889322
>>41889329
>>41889332

19,16,12,18?

Bretty gud

“I'll get the sharks!” you yell, quickly raising your Spell Mantle and casting your other spell.

Bolts of mystical energy flash outwards, slamming into the shark-things, several float to the top of the water, their bodies exploded by the force of your magic, whilst others keep coming onwards.

[AE 47/56]

A pair try to bite your legs, but their teeth can't get purchase on you with your spells protecting you.

Another leaps out of the water towards you and you see that its some sort of mix of shark, squid and nightmare, with flailing tentacles, dozens of eyes and a pair of short stubby arms tipped with crab-like claws. It also has three mouths, each atop the other.

You brace for the impact, trusting in your spell spell to protect you. The shark thing disappears before it hits you, then small rocks start splashing into the water around you.

Looking up you see several of the shark-things crawling all over the ceiling using their tentacles to get purchase, and biting at the hanging rock formations, evidently trying to drop them on you.

You move out of the way quickly, if one of those things drops on you, that could hurt a lot. They swarm across the ceiling, staying above you, and commence gnawing on another stalactite.

You quickly give out the orders.

Phaysis targets the spellcaster sharks, glowing light surrounding her as she moves with more confidence and skill than normal, her spear thrusting into them, killing one.

Janrael casts some sort of spell unknown to you and the remaining spellcasters shriek in pain, thrashing around in the water.

Kittrane rushes towards the squid-thing, leaving a burning trail behind her, searing several of the shark monsters, when she reaches the squid monsters she swings both axes at it and there is an explosion of fire, hurting it and some more of the shark things.

You don't have it all your own way of course.

Rolled 9, 7, 5, 12 = 33 (4d20)

>>41889313

The enemy spellcasters manage to cast despite Janraels spell: A boiling cloud of twisting black smoke flows towards you, only to be absorbed by your mantle.

[AE full]

Another casts a glob of sickly green acid at Phaysis, it sticks to her like tar and she screams as her flesh starts to dissolve.

The third summons a grey fog-like haze around Janrael, who starts coughing and choking.

The swarm of sharks also attack all of you save Kittrane, tearing at your flesh, or in your case, trying to.

Kittrane battles against the squidmonster, which starts wrapping her up in its tentacles, horrible tiny mouths gnawing at her flesh as it tries to drag her closer to the main maw.

Actions?

Sallazar
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis (Zeal, HP 85/120)

>Attack (who?)
>Fitting Punishment (duplicates harmful spell effects on caster)
>Righteous Fury (divine rage, boosts combat abilities, bonus hit points)
>Snipers Shot
>Other (what?)

Janrael (Unholy Cloud, HP 242/250)

>Attack (who?)
>Judgement
>Healing Wave
>Exemplar (boosts physical abilities, magic resistance)
>Other (what?)

Kittrane (partially restrained, HP 367/380)

>Attack (who?)
>Inferno
>Jumping Flame (teleport, with fire damage effect at start and finish)
>Demon Style
>Other (what?)

Foes

Squid-like Thing (lightly wounded)
Children of the Deep (12)
Children of the Deep (wounded, 13)
[Children of the Deep] Singers of Praise (lightly wounded, Judgement, 3)

>>41889546
>Magic Missiles on the things on the ceiling
>Righteous Fury (divine rage, boosts combat abilities, bonus hit points)
>Attack Squid-like thing
>Demon Style

>>41889546
Sallazar
>Missile Storm on the Children that try to drop the stalagmites

Phaysis
>Judgement(Children of the Deep)

Janrael
>Fly out of the cloud
>Healing Wave

Kittrane
>Jumping Flame to the Singers of Praise

>>41889546

Sal
>Prismatic Spray - ceiling crawlers

Phaysis
>Righteous Fury

Janrael
>Healing Wave

Kittrane
>Demon Style

>>41889546
Sallazar
>Missile Storm on the Children that try to drop the stalagmites

Phaysis
>Judgement(Children of the Deep)

Janrael
>Fly out of the cloud
>Judgement (Children of the Deep)

Kittrane
>Jumping Flame to the Singers of Praise

>>41889614
>Phaysis
>>Judgement(Children of the Deep)
Wrong girl anon.

>>41889621
Thats what I get for copy-pasting, oh well.

So
Missile Storm
Righteous Fury
Fly + Healing Wave
Breaking tie for Demon Style

4d20 and vote on extra AE for Sallazar

Rolled 16, 19, 10, 14 = 59 (4d20)

>>41889674

10 AE

Rolled 6, 20, 4, 5 = 35 (4d20)

>>41889674
0

Rolled 19, 20, 3, 5 = 47 (4d20)

>>41889674
10

>>41889679
>>41889689
>>41889702

19,20,20? Was that on Phaysis?

Fuck girl, calm down.

>>41889689
>>41889702
Is that a crit I see for Phaysis?

>>41889725
Phaysis can be a real nightmare if you piss her off.

>>41889679
>>41889689
>>41889702
Confirmed for best girl.

File: cheel.jpg (10 KB, 251x222)

10 KB JPG

>>41889766

>>41889725

Well, interestingly she is actually here, who knows what that means though.

>>41889768
As if that needed confirmation.
>>41889766
What you did there...

You fire off another missile swarm, aiming for the things on the ceiling. Your spell hammers them and they fall down, well that's that done at least.

[AE 46/56]

Janrael flies away, trying to escape the cloud but it sticks with her, and her healing spell fails as she coughs and splutters.

Kittranes muscles bulge and swell as she lays around her with her axes, chopping and hacking at the limbs attacked to her, until the water is dark with the things blood.

The squid thing lunges forwards and catches Kittrane in its maw, biting down hard as she bellows in rage.

The other sharks continue to attack you all.

Its Phaysis who has the most dramatic effect however. A light seems to shine from her eyes and her hair bursts into flame, but a fire of white and gold rather than the usual orange.

She charges across the battle field, stabbing down with a spear wreathed in white fire, when she's done, all of the enemy spellcasters are dead.

Actions?

Sallazar
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis (Zeal, Righteous Fury+, HP 190/240)

>Attack (who?)
>Fitting Punishment
>Gaoler (restrains target in cage of magic, forces them to speak the truth)
>Fox in the Henhouse (Make a melee attack against all foes in an area)
>Other (what?)

Janrael (Unholy Cloud, HP 235/250)

>Attack (who?)
>Judgement
>Healing Wave
>Exemplar
>Other (what?)

Kittrane (partially restrained, HP 328/380)

>Attack (who?)
>Go to Hell (banishes foe to a plane of torment, high AE Cost)
>Jumping Flame
>Hellish Dismemberment (remove limbs from target creature)
>Other (what?)

Foes

Squid-like Thing (wounded, 8 limbs remaining)
Children of the Deep (9)
Children of the Deep (wounded, 10)

>>41889912
>>Spell (missile storm children
>Fox in the Henhouse (Make a melee attack against all foes in an area)
>Healing Wave
>Hellish Dismemberment (remove limbs from target creature) Squid

>>41889912
Sallazar
>Dispell Unholy Cloud

Phaysis
>Attack
>Fox in the Henhouse (Make a melee attack against all foes in an area)
Dat name

Janrael
>Healing Wave if Cloud dispelled
otherwise
>Attack (Squid Like Thing)

Kittrane
>Hellish Dismemberment (remove limbs from target creature)

>>41889912
>Dispell Magic: Unholy Cloud
>Fox in the Henhouse
>Healing Wave
>Hellish Dismemberment

>>41889912

Sal
>Arcane Missiles, rest of the Children

Phaysis
>Other, assist Kittrane with the squid

Janrael
>Exemplar

Kittrane
>Hellish Dismemberment

>>41889930
>>41889980
>its made obvious Cloud prevents spell casting
>keeps voting for spellcasting despite cloud
Seriously wat.

>>41889912
>>41889959
Seconding

Looks like

Dispel Magic: Unholy Cloud
Fox in the Henhouse
Healing Wave
Hellish Dismemberment

4d20 and vote on extra AE for Sallazar please

Rolled 19, 9, 5, 3 = 36 (4d20)

>>41890041
20

Rolled 4, 1, 3, 1 = 9 (4d20)

>>41890041
0

Rolled 4, 19, 2, 9 = 34 (4d20)

>>41890041
40

Rolled 6, 11, 6, 19 = 42 (4d20)

>>41890041
10

Rolled 17, 12, 1, 7 = 37 (4d20)

>>41890041

>>41890050
>>41890051
>>41890059
19,19,5,9;
Phaysis continues to impress, the other two not so much.

File: nig.jpg (46 KB, 400x380)

46 KB JPG

>>41890051

You shape the appropriate arcane energies and the grey haze around Janrael dissipates, she gives you a nod of thanks, before casting her own spell, or rather, trying to.

Janrael is still recovering from the rather evil spell cast upon her and her spell fails, to no effect.

Kittrane attempts to hack and rip more of the squids limbs off, but also fails.

Phaysis however continues to impress; continuing to charge around and impale her foes with her blazing white spear.

When she's done there are only a few sharks left, and they flee.

Noticing what's going on, the squid thing spits Kittrane out and glares at all of you, then says in a gurgling voice “I bargain for life.”

You pause, just as you're about to cast a spell to end it “what?” you say.

“I bargain” it repeats “you spare and I tell you of...defences ahead, or of treasure, you let go, yes?”

The water around the squid seems to boil as Kittrane surfaces and prepares to attack again.

“Don't listen to it!” demands Phaysis, her eyes still shining with golden fury, and that white-gold flame burning on her back “it's evil, it should be destroyed!” She raises her spear and gets ready to charge it.

“It's beaten” protests Janrael “besides, some idea of what's ahead is useful.”

“No the treasure” says Kittrane, as you walk up to her side she whispers “then kill it anyway.”

What do you ask for its life?

>Defences
>Treasure
>Both
>Neither
>Other (what?)

And do you let it live?

>Y/N

>>41890193
>Neither
>N

>>41890193
>Defences
>Yes

>>41890193
>>Defences
>Y

>>41890193
>Both
>Y

>>41890193
>>Defences
>Y

>>41890193
>Treasure
>N
Hold your horses, Phaysis. Let's see what we can get from it.

>>41890193
>Both
>Y

Defences and letting it live huh, ok...

“Tell us about the defences” you say “and we'll let you live.”

Phaysis wheels on you “Sir you can't!” she says in the voice of an angel of wrath.

“It's beaten” you point out

“It's evil!” she says, drawing out the word, and turning back to it, raising her spear.

“Hold your horses Phaysis” you say, you're about to continue when Kittrane starts snickering, then Janrael, even the squid monster gives a gurgling laugh.

“Professor!” Phaysis cries indignantly “must you use puns?” But the holy fire on her back starts to die down, and the glow leaves her eyes.

“Slip of the tongue, sorry” You say, holding up a placating hand, then you turn your attention to the monster “Ok, talk, what defences?”

“Tests!” it spits out “three tests, each time you must accept the oceans changing touch, if you do not, then the final battle will be much harder for you.”

“And if we do change?” you ask

It gurgles in an amused way “then you are changed, and face an easier time because of your...willingness.”

“No really” asks Phaysis “what happens?”

It just gives a gurgling laugh and refuses to elaborate. Well that wasn't much, but at least you know what your choices might mean.

You dismiss it and it sinks under the water, disappearing. Huh, there must be another underwater exit.

XXX

The four of you continue onwards for some time, and your spells eventually fade, Janrael heals all of you whilst you wade on.

Eventually you come to a vast sinkhole, going down into the depths, seems your next trip is going to be underwater.

You prepare to cast a spell to grant everyone the ability to breathe underwater. There doesn't seem to be any way to go but down.

“Weird” says Janrael, approaching the sinkhole she turn and shows you that her hands are now webbed, and rubbing at her neck, where you can see faint lines appearing, like fish gills. She takes another step closer and the gills become more pronounced.

“Ugh no” says Phaysis “Professor isn't there another way?”

“Well I was going to use magic” you say, staring at the black abyss “but I think we just found our first test.”

What do you do?
>Cast Water Breathing
>Accept the change
>Other (what?)

>>41890563
>>Cast Water Breathing

>>41890563
>Accept the change
I still can't confidently tell if this is Ocean or Prime.

>>41890563
>>Accept the change

>>41890593
You sure it's a good idea? It's probably not going to be reversible and will affect everyone here due to Calluna being a reality warper.

>>41890593
>Water
>Constant reference to change

If it's not the Ocean if be very surprised.

>>41890563
>Cast Water Breathing

what about mirror?

>>41890563
>Accept the change

>>41890614
>It's probably not going to be reversible
Seems unlikely, its a dream ultimately.

>>41890621
I understand that you would think that, Prime only makes sense if you played PRQ.

>>41890646
What *about* Mirror?

>>41890651
I think he's asking if it might not be Mirror, which is possible I suppose, he imitates his enemies afterall.
But this seems to be more about changing than Adapting per se.

>>41890650
Dream of a child of an Outer God equivalent.

>>41890651
Meant to link to >>41890593
Thanks for the catch anon!

>>41890666
True, but there is a limit to even these things and the Five don't hand out changes for free.
So its very unlikely.

>>41890563
>Cast Water Breathing

It appears to be a tie, checking count, but if that's the case, breaking in favour of casting spell

>>41890666
Thats needelssly paranoid, Pally isn't going to be permanently mutating people for IC trials.

The point of this choice isn't if we want mutations, its if we want to change.

>>41890713
If anything, that's worse.

>>41890750
Being open to change is bad?

Well, I guess everyone got his own opinion.

>>41890760
Willing to change yourself under the threat of force. That's bad.

>>41890713
>The point of this choice isn't if we want mutations, its if we want to change.
Says you.

>>41890766
>under the threat of force
There is no such threat.
Willing to change yourself to face challenges ahead, is perfectly fine.

>>41890774
Says the text, actually.

>>41890780
Except the threat the squid said. Due it the dungeon will be easier, don't and it'll be tougher.

I hate it when people mindlessly fearmonger about choices they don't like, its disingenious as fuck.
They don't even believe that shit themselves.

>Pally will totally permanently mutate us here
Seriously, the fuck.

>>41890795
>if you grow and change challenges are easier if you stay the same they stay hard
Thats not a threat, thats just logic.
If you leanr for a test the test will be easier than if you refuse to prepare yourself.

>>41890792
I'm not seeing anything that says there can't be permanent mental or physical changes.

>>41890821
But the XP rewards from harder shit are higher.

>>41890846
>But the XP rewards from harder shit are higher.
XP rewards are higher for shit according to its challange rating which is independent of your own strength.
You don't get more XP by being weaker, seriously have you literally never played a RPG?

>>41890865
Hence, if things are harder, we get more XP.

>>41890905
You know how in RPGs using the weakest weapon available with no armour gives you better rewards?
No?
It doesn't happen?
Why do you expect it here then?

>>41890905
But things won't be harder no matter what we do, the difference will just be how good we can deal with it, the actual challenge rating remains the same.
You don't get more XP by throwing away all your equipment and fighting opponents naked.


Unless you play exalted I guess.

>>41890865
I recall at least a few RPGs using XP modifiers for level disparity.

Also, in this particular system XP is based mostly off how impressive doing something is. Taking on a foe much stronger than yourself and winning is worth more XP than if you were as strong or stronger than them.

>>41890962
>Also, in this particular system XP is based mostly off how impressive doing something is.
Not really, Pally has always awarded XP for challenges solved and which secrets are found or unlocked.
So getting the mutations actually has more chance of giving additional XP than refusing to explore that option.

>>41890962
That is not how XP has ever been awarded in Pally quests, except for Battle forged, which we don't have.

>>41890936
But it won't weaken the enemies, so they give more XP.

>>41890996
Except for when we solo'd that red dragon and got bonus XP for it, you mean.

You don't know if your trip into Callunas mind will have side-effects or not, but you trust your own magic to protect you.

You cast your spell, allowing all of you to breathe water as if it were air, and you descend into the sinkhole, as you do the aquatic mutations on Janrael - on all of you - that were slowly appearing, all fade.

Down you all travel into the black abyss, until the only light you have to see is the magical light you conjure, and even that doesn't reach very far into the gloom ahead.

How long you all descend you don't know, then suddenly the sides of the shaft end and you drop down into some vast cavern, so big your light can't reach the sides.

And then everything gets weird. Space seems to ripple around you and all four of you are pulled in different directions and stone walls close around you.

Just as suddenly it ends. You are alone in a rough stone tunnel, just wide enough that your fingers can't touch the sides. You're still under water, and if not for the light on the tip of your staff, it would be pitch black in here.

And you're alone, wonderful, what happened to the others?

You swim along the passage until you see it splitting in six directions...including back the way you came, what? No that can't be right, two tunnels existing in the same space, but separate. And yet you can see it.

Experimentally you swim along the second passage, and you're in a similar rough stone passage way, with no sign that you're occupying the same space as the first one...weird...

You swim onwards, encountering more twists and turns and splitting passage ways, some of them cross over and got through one another, without touching...making a mockery of the physical dimensions you are used to.

This maze must be the next test. You always liked puzzles as a child, it was something you excelled at, ok so to find your way through a two-dimensional maze you touch a wall and follow it, so for a three-dimensional maze...no wait, the usual methods might not work in this place, you'll need to adjust your thinking and try to think more...like Calluna...would...

Ah, of course, that's the test. If you try and puzzle your way through the maze you'll end up thinking a little differently, what most people call bizarre, or even insane.

But as a skilled wizard, you could always try another method, teleporting, phase door, disintegrate, you have a number of ways through this maze.

Teleport would use the least of your energies, but blind teleports can be risky.

You wonder if Phaysis is facing the same test as you, or a different one.

What do you do?

>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle
>Use magic to escape (which spell?)
>Other (what?)

>>41891028
That was a challenge solved, and solo'ing that dragon wasn't particularly hard.

>>41891048
>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle

>>41891048
>Use magic to escape (Phase Door)

>>41891048
>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle

>>41891048
>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle

>>41891048
>Use magic to escape (which spell?)
Don't care, screw getting mental changes

>>41891048
>>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle

>>41891048
>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle
>>41891028
Lightning blasting people isn't exactly a huge challenge, and we would have gotten more XP for not killing him, most likely.

>>41891048
>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle

>>41891048
>>Use magic to escape (which spell?)

>>41891048
>Change your thinking and solve the puzzle

>>41891066
It's still bonus XP for doing things in a more difficult manner than it had to be.

>>41891104
If we had redeemed him, probably, yeah. But that also would've been more difficult than what we did, so I don't see how that's a counterpoint.

>>41891193
>It's still bonus XP for doing things in a more difficult manner than it had to be.
The opposite actually, not killing him was the more difficult route.

ok, writing

>>41891205
Yes, and bringing along allies to a killteam would've been easier. One option being the most difficult doesn't mean that all other options are equally low difficulty.

>>41891237
>Yes, and bringing along allies to a killteam would've been easier.
You have not actually played PoJ?
Otherwise I'm baffled by this nonsense.

>>41891237
>PoJ companions
>not being burdens
Haha

Body 1st then mind, then soul

>>41891312
Not sure if mind and soul are seperate in this setting.
They aren't in PRQ.

>>41891341
If its Ichor that can only mean one thing for the last change.

Sallazar needs to get a Harem.

You trust your magic, but you trust your own intellect more. You can solve this maze, you can solve any puzzle.

You swim back and forth and up and down, mapping this place in your head. Yes, that passage goes through that one, and that splits here and...

Once you let go of your reliance upon the regular three dimensions its actually quite fun. And now you have so many wonderful insights too...

Keeping track of time is rather inconsequential as you make your way through the maze, but it must have been an hour, maybe two?

You finally locate the entrance and see light up above you, you swim upwards and surface, ah, and air pocket excelle-, damn!

You are not alone, you sink back into the water, keeping close enough to the surface to see what's going on..

You're in a large lake and on the lake shore are hundreds of fish-like people. They remind you of sahaugin, but with far more variety in colour, the types of fish they resemble and so on. Some look like some sort of fusion between man and crab, some look almost entirely human, some appear to be walking squid.

They have Janrael, Kittrane and Phaysis in caged wagons, you can see various runes carved into the bars, hmm, some sort of magical cage.

None of the girls look harmed, but all are wearing just their clothes, no packs, and no weapons.

There's lot of fish people here, and some are carrying coral staffs and what look like component pouches.

A fight against all of them won't go well.

As you watch they are marching along, and in the way of armies everywhere, there is some sort of chant in a strange tongue, that sounds a little like a marching song.

Following them and waiting for the right moment to free your allies seems the best option. But how?

You have spells that can hide you from prying eyes but maybe...if you change your appearance just enough you could pretend to be one of them, and so get closer to the girls.

The crowd around the cages looks pretty thick, if you were just invisible you wouldn't get very close, but if they thought you were one of them, if you tried to fit in a little, maybe they'd accept you as one of their own? Some do look almost totally human, and there is plenty of wet moss and sea-weed near the shore that a little draped on you means you might pass, and if you mimic the marching song, you don't even need to pretend to know their language.

What do you do?

>Change your appearance to blend in
>Turn invisible (Mislead)
>Other (what?)

>>41891515
>Change your appearance to blend in

>>41891515
>Change your appearance to blend in

>>41891515
>>Turn invisible (Mislead)

>>41891515
>Turn invisible (Mislead)

>>41891515
>Change your appearance to blend in
Sticking some moss to ourselves is certainly better than hoping they somehow won't notive the invisible man opening cages.

>>41891515
>Change your appearance to blend in

>>41891515
>Change your appearance to blend in

getting a little fishy it is

>>41891515
>Turn invisible (Mislead)

>>41891662
You're such a dork Pally.

There's no telling if those fish-people mages could detect you casting a spell or not. A mundane disguise would be better.

You wait until most of the crowd has gone past and then you walk up the shore, gathering enough seaweed and moss to cover yourself in.

You start copying the chant as you get close, it's kind of soothing actually.

You move up through the crowd, chanting as you go, surrounded by those that are just like....you?

You mentally slap yourself as you keep chanting, of course, some sort of hypnosis thing. Well, you're far too mentally disciplined too...fall...victim too...

Damn it!

You focus all your willpower on keeping your head clear as you move closer and closer to the wagon-cages.

This close up you can see that all the girls are physically fine, and that their belongings are piled up in a hand cart being dragged behind the cages.

Just as you're about to get close enough to talk to them, the procession stops. You walk into the fish person in front of you, but he doesn't seem too upset.

Ahead you can see a pair of big double doors made from a metal unfamiliar to you. As you watch the cages are dragged forwards to the doors and then...the large crowd of fish folk start to walk the other way, abandoning the locked cages and the handcart beside them.

You keep chanting and walk on the spot, not really moving away, but sticking near the crowd, until most of them have left.

Then you rush to the cages, stripping off your slimy disguise.

“Girls are you ok?” you ask “they didn't hurt you did they?”

“No” says Phaysis “we've just been stuck in these cages for hours, ugh, Professor you stink.”

Well, some of that seaweed was the pungent type.

As you get them free and they retrieve their equipment they fill you in on what happened. All of them faced so,me sort of mental puzzle getting free after you were separated, though Kittrane solved hers via force rather than wits. And all swam to the surface only to be captured , and bought here, wherever here is.

“So what now?” asks Janrael, looking up at the doors.

“Maybe we should knock?” suggests Phaysis “what? It's the polite thing to do?”

You raise your Spell Mantle and cautiously approach the doors, they swing open as you touch them.

Inside you see a large throne room with an undersea décor: coral, plenty of pearls, giant seashells, in fact its not what you were expecting, its rather ordinary.

Well, other than the fact that you're looking down on the throne room from a hole in the ceiling, as if the who place had been twisted ninety degrees.

Sat on the throne is a small figure that is unmistakably Calluna, and swimming around her is her pet thing, Mr Pogustus. Sat at her feet is a large displacer-beast.

There's no guards, or defences, or traps that you can see. Well, isn't that enough to put you on your guard....

“Calluna?” you call out. She looks 'up' at you.

“Professor, Phaysis!” she says happily “I'm so glad you could make it, come on in.”

“Uh how?” you ask.

Calluna rolls her eyes “walk on the walls dummy, duh!” as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

You enter cautiously, until you're standing in front of Calluna “Honestly” says Janrael “we were expecting a fight or something.”

“Oh there will be one” Calluna assures her “it's how these things work, I just wanted to let you know how happy I am that you go this far.”

“Why do we have to fight?” asks Phaysis “can't you just tell us what we need to know?”

“Oh no” says Calluna, shaking her head “She won't let me”, and she gestures behind you.

Turning, you see the entire rear wall has been replaced by some horrific monster, some beast from the depths of the sea, all tentacles and open maws and suckers and all of the horrors of nature or mad wizards.

“Ah, the Ocean I presume” you say faintly. Phaysis is backing away, whimpering. Inside your head you can feel your mind wilting away from the horror you face, protected only by your spell.

“PERCEPTIVE” booms the thing, in a voice like a storm wave “WISE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE CHILD, AND THE STRUGGLES SHE FACES IN YOUR WORLD BUT FOOLISH TO REJECT THE PHYSICAL CHANGE, OR NOT PUNISH THE TRAITOR, YOUR FATE IS BALANCED ON ONE LAST CHOICE, BUT NOW YOU MUST FIGHT.”

“Why?” you say “I just want to know what you are, why Calluna hears you in her dreams, and find a way to help another of students. Why must we fight?”

“IT IS” the thing pauses “A TEST.”

Of course it is, why can nothing be simple...

You turn back to Calluna, or rather, the Callunas, plural.

Before you there are five Callunas. All look much like she does...with some variations.

One is tall and athletic, her muscles show as she sweeps the axe in her hands back and forth, she wears heavy furs.

Another is skinny and twitchy, holding a pair of knives, and wearing a cloak as black as night.

A third has spellrunes carved into her skin and the air twists and writhes with arcane energies. She wears a long skirt and a sleeveless shirt.

A fourth wears long robes, and has a wand held in every tentacle.

A fifth appears more like one of the fish-people mages you just saw; a long coral rod and various spell pouches arranged on her harness-like clothing.

Mr Pogustus has changed too: He is now a 15ft-tall hulking humanoid fish monster with brutal-looking teeth, sharp claws, and a dozen tentacles ending in mouths.

You also face not one displacer-beast, but twenty of them.

Actions?

Sallazar
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis

>Attack (who?)
>Denial of Heresy (all allies get magic resistance)
>Righteous Fury
>Snipers Shot
>Other (what?)

Janrael

>Attack (who?)
>Judgement
>Healing Wave
>Herald of War
>Other (what?)

Kittrane

>Attack (who?)
>Inferno
>Demon Style
>Burning Rush
>Other (what?)

Foes
Barbarian Calluna
Rogue Calluna
Sorcerer Calluna
Wizard Calluna
??? Calluna

Mr Pogustus

Displacer-beasts (20)

>>41892399
>>Spell (what?)
Missile storms everything
>Denial of Heresy (all allies get magic resistance)
>Judgement
>Inferno

>>41892399
Sallazar
>Spell Turning on Phaysis

Phaysis
>Denial of Heresy

Janrael
>Judgement

Kittrane
>Burning Rush against the ???? Calluna

>>41892399
>Rapid Spell Mantle (assuming we have to recast it)
>Prismatic Spray

>Denial of Heresy

>Judgement

>Inferno

>>41892399
>Spell Turning on Kittrane
>Denial of Heresy (all allies get magic resistance)
>Judgement
>Inferno

Spell Turning, breaking tie in favour of Phaysis as target
Denial of Heresy
Judgement
Inferno

Please roll 2d20 for
Judgement
Inferno

Rolled 2, 3 = 5 (2d20)

>>41892597

Rolled 18, 15 = 33 (2d20)

>>41892597

Rolled 11, 2 = 13 (2d20)

>>41892597

>>41892399
>For the recoded the traitor didn't betray us, just the forces we faced.

>>41892623
Thank you based anon

You give your orders and launch into casting your spell, protecting Phaysis from hostile magics.

As you do so Phaysis casts her own spell, giving all of you some extra protection against magic.

At the same time Janrael and Kittrane launch their own spells against the Callunas.

The Sorcerer Calluna and the unknown Calluna cast their dispels and Kittranes spell fails, though Janraels succeeds and all of the Callunas look pained.

The wizard Calluna fires all of her wands at you at once, striking you with spells that would paralyse you, turn you mad, into a drooling idiot, blind you, and other effects.

Hah! Doesn't she know that your Mantle can absorb...a limited number of spells, damn. Your Spell Absorption is almost entirely gone, still, at least you have plenty of arcane energy.

The Barbarian Calluna rushed forth, with Mr Pogustus at her side, both attacking Kittrane, even as the Displacer-beasts swarm the rest of you.

And the Rogue Calluna...disappears after wrapping her cloak around her, wonderful, now you just have to watch out for a knife in the back.

Your stoneskin spell protects you from the Displacer-beasts for now, the others saren't so lucky.

Kittrane has assumed her demonic form but is being pushed back, Janrael has summed her swords and is slashing at the displacer-beasts around her.

Phaysis has her spear out and is fending off those snapping at her heels.

Actions?

Sallazar
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis (HP 110/120)

>Attack (who?)
>Eye of Judgement (learn about targets abilities)
>Righteous Fury
>Snipers Shot
>Other (what?)

Janrael (HP 232/250)

>Attack (who?)
>Fires of Heaven (Wide area damage spell that deals damage for several rounds)
>Healing Wave
>Herald of War
>Other (what?)

Kittrane (HP 324/380)

>Attack (who?)
>Burning Aura (all nearby foes take fire damage, lasts for the fight)
>Demon Style
>Burning Rush
>Other (what?)

Foes
Barbarian Calluna (Judgement)
Rogue Calluna (Judgement)
Sorcerer Calluna (Judgement)
Wizard Calluna (Judgement)
??? Calluna (Judgement)

Mr Pogustus

Displacer-beasts (20)

>>41892893
Sallazar
>Chain Lightening on Wizard Calluna

Phaysis
>Righteous Fury

Janrael
>Fire of Heaven

Kittrane
>Demon Style

>>41892893
>Spell (what?)
Disintegrate
Wizard Calluna
>Righteous Fury
>Fires of Heaven (Wide area damage spell that deals damage for several rounds)
>Burning Aura (all nearby foes take fire damage, lasts for the fight)

>>41892893
>Rapid Spell Mantle
>Chain Lightning
Recasting Spell Mantle should refresh Spell Absorption and only only costs 7 AE, which will be more than replenished if Calluna tries another spell barrage.

>Righteous Fury

>Fires of Heaven

>Burning Aura

>>41892893
>>41892962
adding
>Rapid Spell Mantle

Chain Lightening (+Rapid Spell Mantle)
Righteous Fury
Fire of Heaven
Burning Aura

Please roll 2d20 and vote on extra Arcane energy for Chain Lightning

Rolls are for Chain LIghtning + Fires of Heavan

Rolled 14, 20 = 34 (2d20)

>>41893118
5

Rolled 14, 20 = 34 (2d20)

>>41893118
5

Rolled 13, 8 = 21 (2d20)

>>41893118
15

Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d20)

>>41893118
10

>>41893145
>>41893158
Janrael finally comes trumps.

>>41893145
>>41893158
Well then.

You refresh your spell mantle and cast another spell that you're sure that Calluna will find rather shocking.

The sorcerer Calluna is actually trying to dispel your lightning, oh that's rather cute, she-

No! How the f- she dispelled your spell, how dare she? How could she? Oh this will not stand, not at all! She has to go down, fucking sorcerers! Time to show them that wizards are the best mages there are!

Kittrane surrounds herself with an aura of fire that makes her attackers fall back, if only momentarily.

Phaysis boosts her own combat abilities, her eyes shining with white light, and then starts tearing into the Displacer Beasts around her

Janrael kinda steals the show as a heavy rain of burning, glowing motes comes hammering down. To you and your allies it has no effect, but to your enemies it burns into them, leaving none untouched.

In retaliation Wizard Calluna turns her flurry of spells upon Janrael. Janrael seems to shrug much of the attack off, but is left swaying, some of it got through.

The unknown Calluna transforms into some sort of 30ft tall vaguely lizardlike bipedal monster with four arms and dozens of tentacles. It comes bounding towards you, but you duck its initial swipe.

Mr Pogustus and Barbarian Calluna continue to battle Kittrane. Barbarian Calluna turns red, grows four extra tentacles and now has a flickering corona of green flames around her head.

The Displacer-beasts continue to swarm all of you.

Rogue Calluna reappears and hops onto Phaysis' back, driving two daggers deep into her sides. Phaysis furiously tries to throw her off, to no avail.

Actions?

Sallazar
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis (HP 138/180, Righteous Fury, poisoned)

>Attack (who?)
>Eye of Judgement
>Armour of Contempt (massively increases damage reduction for a short time)
>Snipers Shot
>Other (what?)

Janrael (HP 212/250, poisoned, strength penalty, agility penalty, parasite)

>Attack (who?)
>Angels Trumpet (Summons several angelic allies)
>Healing Wave
>Herald of War
>Other (what?)

Kittrane (HP 278/380)

>Attack (who?)
>Healing Flame (cone of fire hurts foes, heals allies)
>Demon Style
>Burning Rush
>Other (what?)

Foes
Barbarian Calluna (Judgement, lightly wounded)
Rogue Calluna (Judgement, lightly wounded)
Sorcerer Calluna (Judgement, wounded)
Wizard Calluna (Judgement, wounded)
Druid Calluna (Judgement, lightly wounded, Form of the Ocean)

Mr Pogustus (lightly wounded)

Displacer-beasts (wounded, 17)

>>41893574
Sallazar
>Break Enchantment on Janrael

Phaysis
>Eye of Judgement

Janrael
>Angels Trumpet

Kittrane
>Healing Flame towards Phaysis

>>41893574
>Dispel the maladies on Janrael and but up spell mantle if need be
>Eye of Judgement
>Angels Trumpet (Summons several angelic allies)
>Healing Flame (cone of fire hurts foes, heals allies)

>>41893574
Sallazar
>>Spell (Break Enchantment)
>Janrael

Phaysis
>Armour of Contempt (massively increases damage reduction for a short time)

Janrael
>Angels Trumpet
and if possible
>Attack Rogue Calluna

Kittrane
>Demon Style

>>41893621
>>41893659
Reminder that Break Enchantment takes several minutes to cast.

>>41893677
Dispell magic would remove her own buffs too though.
Not sure if thats better.

>>41893677
He's right you know, it's not practical to cast in a combat situation.

Doing so would would have a very high risk of perils of the arcane.

>>41893574
>>41893659
changing
>>Spell (Break Enchantment)
to
>Dispell debuffs
If they can be dispelled without hitting her buffs too

>>41893735
>If they can be dispelled without hitting her buffs too

They cannot, each spell has a chance of being cancelled

Extending voting dealine to 5 minutes from now.

>>41893574
>Dispel the maladies on Janrael and but up spell mantle if need be
>Eye of Judgement
>Angels Trumpet (Summons several angelic allies)
>Healing Flame (cone of fire hurts foes, heals allies)

>>41893759
are the any of the forms the Callunas took magical?

>>41893790
very likely.

>>41893801
Dispel as many of them as we can.

>>41893574
>Prismatic Spray
Screw it, the only things that could be dispelled are penalties to stats she isn't even using much right now and *maybe* the poison. The Callunas being able to just recast all those debuffs next round, possibly without the protection of her magic resistance buff, is also a factor.

>Armour of Contempt (massively increases damage reduction for a short time)

>Angels Trumpet (Summons several angelic allies)

>Healing Flame (cone of fire hurts foes, heals allies)

So I'm going with

Breaking tie to Dispel on Janrael
Eye of Judgement
Angels Trumpet
Healing Flame (towards Phaysis)

And I forgot call for rolls

2d20 for
Dispel
Healing Flame

And vote for extra Arcane energy for Dispel

>>41893842
I wouldn't know where to cast Prismatic Spray right now, its not effective enough damage-wise to be worth it on only Sorc/Wiz Calluna and all other directions it would hit our allies.

Rolled 19, 15 = 34 (2d20)

>>41893881

Rolled 20, 14 = 34 (2d20)

>>41893881
5

Rolled 7, 20 = 27 (2d20)

>>41893881
5

Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d20)

>>41893881
20

Rolled 15, 6 = 21 (2d20)

>>41893881

>>41893908
>>41893913

That's 20/20
We're on a roll today.

>>41893908
>>41893913
20,20.

Just like I wish my vision to be.

>>41893889
Probably at the kaiju Calluna that's trying to rip our face off. That seems like a good place to start. Hell, maybe the size would make all the rays hit, that'd be nice. One of them is instakill, IIRC.

>>41893944
I don't know why you think the 2/7?6? chance of getting a useful effect from Prismatic Spray is omehow better than just Forcecaging her.

>>41893991
Because I can't remember the max dimensions on Force Cage, Calluna has an ability that would let her bypass Dimensional Anchor and Dimension Door is one of her Innates.

As the battle rages on, the burning motes falling from the sky continue to sear into the flesh of your foes.

You cast your spell and remove all of the magical effects on Janrael.

Janrael casts her spell and four angels appear. Two take up position guarding her, and two fly overhead, casting spells to heal your allies.

Phaysis casts her spell and tries to discern the powers of your foes, only to give a panicked “Professor they can do anything! But the giant monster is about to make things much worse, if you don't stop it, it'll-” She trails off into a gurgle as Rogue Calluna makes a spirited attempt to cut her throat.

Its at that point that Kittrane sends a blast of fire in her direction, burning Rogue Calluna to a crisp, along with several of the Displacer-Beasts, and healing Phaysis.

Kittrane is thrown back by a incoherently screaming Barbarian Calluna, and barely manages to block Mr Pogustus' attacks.

The Displacer Beasts continue to harry all of you, though they are falling in number.

Wizard and Sorcerer Calluna both cast spells, around you the floor turns slick with grease and walls of weird-looking stone appear, leaving you only one direction to run to escape the giant monster that is about to-

WHAM!

Ok, that hurt....

With no room to dodge the monster got you pretty good, ouch, yeah something is broken...

You roll away from its stomping foot and scramble to your feet, if not for your Spell Mantle, that would have been it for you.

Actions?

Sallazar (HP 2/18)
>Attack (who?)
>Spell (what?)
>Other (what?)

Phaysis (HP 38/180, Righteous Fury, poisoned, bleeding)

>Attack (who?)
>Eye of Judgement
>Armour of Contempt (massively increases damage reduction for a short time)
>Snipers Shot
>Other (what?)

Janrael (HP 250/250)

>Attack (who?)
>Angels Trumpet (Summons several angelic allies)
>Healing Wave
>Herald of War
>Other (what?)

Kittrane (HP 268/380)

>Attack (who?)
>Healing Flame (cone of fire hurts foes, heals allies)
>Demon Style
>Burning Rush
>Other (what?)

Foes
Barbarian Calluna (Judgement, wounded, Rage+)
Sorcerer Calluna (Judgement, severely wounded)
Wizard Calluna (Judgement, severely wounded)
Druid Calluna (Judgement, lightly wounded, Form of the Ocean)

Mr Pogustus (wounded)

Displacer-beasts (severely wounded, 10)

>>41894196
Sallazar
>Missile Storm focused on the Druid

Phaysis
>Armor of Contempt

Janrael
>Healing Wave

Kittrane
>Demon Style

>>41894196
>Spell (what?)
Druid Calluna
>Armour of Contempt (massively increases damage reduction for a short time)
>Healing Wave
>Burning Rush
Druid Calluna

>>41894257
Dispell Druid Calluna*

>>41894196

>Dispell on Druid Calluna
>Armour of Contempt
>Healing Wave
>Jumping Flame: Druid

>>41894196
>>41894244
changing to
>>41894300

This shows how squishy Salazar really is.

Dispel on Druid Calluna
Armour of Contempt
Healing Wave
Burning Rush: Druid

Jumping Flame is not an option in this vote

Please roll 2d20 for
Dispel
Burning Rush

And vote for extra AE used to Dispel

>>41894369
He is a vanilla human wizard, of course he's squishy.

I like this. I'm looking forward to the girls becoming stronger than Sallazar and him learning to rely on them.

Rolled 6, 9 = 15 (2d20)

>>41894395
20

Rolled 16, 16 = 32 (2d20)

>>41894395
25

Rolled 4, 19 = 23 (2d20)

>>41894395
76

Rolled 13, 8 = 21 (2d20)

>>41894395
30

>>41894402

Well with some toughness or other things he might get less squishy.

I don't know if it is possible to make items with +hp though.

You cast your dispel just as the giant monster casts its own spell. Something to do with enhancing the Displacer-Beasts. You're not sure why, they haven't been very important in this fight.

Still, your spell squashes the monsters spell, and restores that Calluna to her normal (?) form.

The burning embers from the sky finish off the Wizard and Sorcerer Callunas, even as Phaysis casts her spell to make herself all but invulnerable for a few moments.

Janrael and her angel allies fully heal everyone [All: Max HP].

Kittrane slams into the de-powered Calluna and explodes with fire, easily taking her down.

The only Calluna left is the Barbarian one and she...suddenly shrinks down to regular Calluna size and collapses to the floor sobbing.

Mr Pogustus turns back into a floating fish, and all the Displacer-Beasts fade except one.

“Why can't I win?!” wails Calluna “I just want the others to like me? Why can't I ever win at anything?”

Janraels angels fade away, as do the magical and physical effects from the fight.

“Should we have won sir?” Phaysis asks you “I mean, now I feel kinda bad.”

Calluna suddenly lurches to her feet and runs at you.

Not, not at you, she's going past you, towards the huge monster that forms the far wall, and is fading away like an illusion.

“Don't go!” yells Calluna “please, stay!”

What do you do?

>Let Calluna try to catch the Ocean, alone
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her
>Other (what?)

>>41894593
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her
Why does that other option even exist.

>>41894593
>Let Calluna try to catch the Ocean, alone

>>41894593
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her

>>41894593
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her

>>41894593
>>Hug her, tell her the others do like her

>>41894593
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her

>>41894593
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her

>>41894593
>Hug her, tell her the others do like her
>>41894625
Seriously

>>41894625
Because it will probably empower Calluna with the ocean's bullshitery.

>>41894716
No, because it would have us fail the test.

You grab Calluna as she tries to run past you and hug her tightly “the others do like you” you say as she weeps into your chest “you don't have to 'win' at anything for that, they like you for being...you.”

Phaysis comes up beside you “I like you Cally” she says, putting a hand on Callunas arm.

As you hold Calluna you turn to the fading monster “I still don't know what you are, what you mean to Calluna.”

“We are gods” it whispers, so very quiet now “but the child is so very far away and we cannot help, only advise, as best we know how.”

“Why the interest?” you ask “Why her?”

“I would help the daughter of my younger sister out if I could” says the almost gone monster “I cannot speak for the others, they have their own reasons.”

You swallow, realising you're hugging a tiny demi-god right now.

“How can Calluna help Nevyn?” you ask it.

“Ask the child” says the monster “she knows now, and as for you...we were saving a gift for the little one, so very hard to pass it on this far away, but perhaps it is better to give it to her teacher instead.”

“If its hers, then I don't want it” you say “give it to her.”

“It will be hers in time” says the fading voice “you are after all, only mortal. And we will give her other gifts, when she comes back.”

“And will that be soon?” you ask, as its almost gone.

“No” says the monster, its expression is very hard to read, but you think it is angry “she was lost to her family, because someone tried to kill her, her attacker needs...dealing with before her parents come for her. Now choose, will you hold the gift for her in temporary custody, or give it to her now?”

Accept Gift of the Ocean?

>Y/N

No means Calluna gets it. 10 minute vote

Follow up vote to shape the Gift, if the roll is successful.

>>41894943
>N

>Follow up vote to shape the Gift, if the roll is successful.
Ah for fucks sake...

>>41894943
>N

>>41894943
>N
I thank you but no

>>41894943
>Y
I don't mind metagaming this.
Sallazar has a lot better chances to make that Will roll.

>>41894943
>Y
Hell yeah

>>41894943
>Y
What could go wrong.

>>41894943
>Y

>>41895030
Horrible negative mutations, could go wrong.

>>41894943
>Y
We ARE kinda being pressed by outside powers (guild4slaves), might use a bit of a boost.

>>41894733
>N

>>41894943
>Y

So hope it does not go wrong.

It might be better to give the gift to Calluna. She could use it during dungeon runs.

>>41895023
>>41895047
Curious

>>41895058
She's was the Druid Calluna one. We'd not get anything that helpful.

>>41895074
Both has its up and downsides. If it weren't for the fact she still has to make a shaping roll I would give it to her but as it is, I consider it safer to have Sallazar carry the risk.