>>42235697

“Amelia, good morning,” the professor greets you as you sit opposite him, carefully shifting a teetering stack of mouldering tomes to one side, “Oh, be careful with those. They're new – well, not new, they're actually very old, but they're new to me. A messenger brought them over late last night.”

A messenger? You look up from your breakfast – a rather drab bowl of some kind of porridge, the cooks being apparently incapable of anything more involved – and look over the books. Not that looking at the titles helps much – few are in English, and even fewer use any kind of words you can understand. If you had to guess, you'd say they were from The Archivist's collection. Looks like the Hellfire Club delivered on their promise of sharing their knowledge.

“Are you still looking for the cornerstones?” Carnby asks bluntly. It's not often that he'll get straight to the point like this, and his direct question immediately snares your attention. Pushing your unappealing food aside, you lean forwards and give him a firm nod. Your interest has definitely been piqued. “Well...” Carnby sighs a little, “There may be something here. A clue, perhaps, to the location of the next one.”

You're listening, you tell him. If you can get to the cornerstone before the next Archangel – Uriel, wasn't it? - descends, you'll be ahead of the game.

“Well, the original text required a translation, of course, but I've worked out a translation key for many of these old languages, so it's time consuming but not too difficult,” Carnby immediately launches into the unnecessary details, “Plus, it was a rather poetic fragment to begin with, so I can only make an educated guess at the proper interpretation...”

Drumming your fingers on the table, you wait with as much patience as possible. Get to the point old man, you think to yourself as you wait.

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>>42235704

“You see, this passage refers to “veins that carry the lifeblood of the city”, or at least that's how I've managed to translate it,” Carnby points to a scrawl on one of the pages in front of him. It looks more like something that's been scratched into the paper than actual text, but you take his word for it, “Now, that doesn't mean much in of itself, but when I compared it to some earlier imagery, the word “lifeblood” is used to refer to workers and craftsmen. Men and women of low status, but whose work is nevertheless vital to any society. In a modern context, I think...”

“You there, human!” a piercing voice rings out, causing several of the dozing fairies around you to writhe and moan in pain.

“Me?” Carnby asks, looking up from his book and blinking once, twice in confusion.

“Uh, no,” the guard falters slightly, “The other human. Amelia Bishop – you are summoned by the king. Please come with me immediately.”

Well, you really should have been expecting this. Is there any chance he can wait, you ask without much hope, until tomorrow perhaps? Maybe even after lunch would be late enough?

“Immediately,” the guard stresses, “I am instructed to remind your place, and the price of failure. Please, come with me.”

Sighing, you look to Carnby who gives you a helpless shrug in reply. Cursing your poor luck, you follow the guard down one of the countless corridors into an anonymous side room. Oberon waits, lounging in a chair with his usual disdain. When you arrive, he looks up for the briefest of moments but says nothing. His chair is the only one in the room, leaving you standing in silence. The guard bows and leaves, but still the king remains silent.

>Ask what he wants
>Say nothing, wait him out
>Other

>>42235715
>Say nothing, wait him out

>>42235715
>Other
Subtlety put your phone on record.
Then
>Ask what he wants

>>42235783
what'd that accomplish? Also going for our phone could be construed as attempted regicide.

>>42235837
Cause if we catch him talking about how we failed him by not killing Cu Chulainn we have ammunition against his bullshit.

That said kinda wish we could have done it before we got in the room.

>>42235715
>Say nothing, wait him out

>>42235856
>Cause if we catch him talking about how we failed him by not killing Cu Chulainn we have ammunition against his bullshit.
Cu already knows, Titania knows, all we could use it for is to unseat him by exposing him to all fairy kind and give Titania full control of the court. Which would fuck us over, because then she'd exile us so we're not a threat to her, or she'd simply have someone assassinate us.

>>42235882
Alright I'll concede. Just thought we could use it as blackmail so we don't have to put up with as much crap from him.

>>42235715
Oh and yeah “veins that carry the lifeblood of the city” are probably the subways under the city.

>>42235945
Or the sewers/water pipes.

>>42235970
I don't think sewers and water pipes carry workers and craftsmen from point a to point b.

Unless London is very different from what I thought.

>>42235918
It's a thought, the problem is using it would fuck us. Oberon may be prideful, but he's not stupid. He'd know our threat would ring hollow, and be even more pissed at us. This is his court still.

>>42235993
Water could be construed as life blood too. Since you need a good aqueduct to actually have a city exist or else everyone dies of dehydration or disease.

>>42235779
>>42235783
>>42235872

You might be in a hurry, but you'll be damned if you're going to give him the satisfaction of blinking first. This is just an immature power play, but years of causing trouble in the playground while you were growing up has given you a flair for immature power games. Folding your arms with the faintest trace of insolence, you fix Oberon with your gaze and wait.

Eventually, the king deigns to speak up, not even looking in your direction when the first words slip from his lips. “It seems,” he begins, his voice thick with scorn, “That you cannot be trusted with any task that requires... political sensitivity. It was my mistake – and not one I'll make again.”

So, did he just bring you here so he could insult you, or is going to get to the point?

“There is another task for you,” Oberon sighs, “A small matter, one that even you can handle easily, but it needs to be done immediately. I have my doubts about your loyalties, but none in this court can fault your efficiency.”

That's vaguely reassuring, once you strip out all the insults and spiteful comments. At least it won't keep you long – maybe you can search for that cornerstone today after all. So, you ask obediently, what is this task?

“An item has come into the hands of an... agent of mine,” Oberon begins, picking his words carefully, “They cannot enter the court, so they cannot deliver this item to me personally. Thus, you shall meet them – alone, I must stress - acquire this item, and return it to me.”

That's it, just grab the item and bring it back? Is it heavy? Awkward? Will it try to kill you? The "alone" part worries you a little, but you've seen enough crime dramas to know the score.

>>42236017

“It's a pendant, not unlike the one gifted to your companion,” Oberon frowns, as if he didn't want to admit this, “But far more powerful. Such a token could protect the wearer from all but the most powerful forms of holy magic. If you are to continue this...” his lips twist as though swallowing something unutterably bitter, “Crusade of yours, this protection will be invaluable.”

He's not wrong – you could seriously benefit from an item like that. Glaring at you, Oberon seems to read your mind.

“This protection is for me, human,” he snarls, “But, if you endear yourself to me, I might be willing to loan it out to you. On the other hand, if you attempt to keep this boon for yourself...” he pauses menacingly, “You will have no home here, and nothing Titania can do will change that. Your friends will have no home here, and all our resources will be stripped from you. I have been lenient up until now, but this is one treachery I will not forgive!”

There is another brief pause as Oberon pants a little, getting his breath back. “I hope I am understood,” he mutters darkly, kicking his heel against the chair. The hollow sound rings out, and the guard returns with a piece of paper. The address where the meeting is to take place – it's a shop you know, actually. An antiques store that you'd sometimes walk past on the way to school. “Dismissed,” Oberon adds, waving both you and the guard out.

You're about to head off and get this over with as soon as possible when a thought strikes you. Titania wanted to know about any task Oberon gave you – should you tell her? It's information she might want, and you got the impression that Oberon wanted it kept secret, but... it might be useful to have your own secrets.

>Just head off to the meeting
>Send Pixie to inform Titania (Pixie will leave the party temporarily)
>Ignore Oberon's task

>>42236028
>Just head off to the meeting

>>42236028
>Just head off to the meeting

Maybe before we hand it off we go by Scathach's and see if she can replicate it somehow? Or something close to it.

>>42236085
For all we know it could be Scthach we're seeing, and it was god who put the curse on Obie. Still if it isn't and we can find her. Good idea.

>>42236028
>Just head off to the meeting

>>42236047
>>42236066
>>42236143

You really don't have the time or the inclination to obey every single one of Titania's little whims. Maybe this is one little secret you can keep for yourself – knowing a weakness would be better, but this way you can know what Oberon is immune to. Besides, you kinda like the idea of getting that pendant for yourself – it would come in pretty handy for the next time you need to go toe to toe with an angel or two.

So, keeping your secrets to yourself, you march out of the palace and make your way to the real world – if that is a suitable term for the corrupt London that you must navigate. Once outside, you take a look up at the sky, the churning storm clouds as red as ever, and think hard about the directions you'll need to take. It's a pretty simple route, assuming the streets haven't been blocked by fallen buildings or some other distortion of the landscape. You've never really thought about it much until now, but for a world said to be “ruled by demons”, you never thought the streets would be so... dead.

So dead that you don't see a single living soul – or any dead ones, for that matter – as you make your way along once familiar streets. Then again, you don't mind it this way. It would be a real pain to have demons appearing out of thin air every few steps, demanding a battle to the death. This way, you can walk unmolested all the way to your destination. There is it – Edogawa Antiques. You bought a clock out of here once, for your mother's birthday. A little brass thing, with insides more complicated than anything you'd ever seen.

Huh. Nostalgic. You wish you could see Edogawa himself inside, the kindly old man bent double with age and years of bad posture. Maybe you could rummage around for a bit, see if you can find a chess set for Cassandra. The bell above the door actually tinkles a little as you push your way in, scanning the darkened shop.

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>>42236275
>It would be a real pain to have demons appearing out of thin air every few steps, demanding a battle to the death

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>>42236275

If you were supposed to meet someone here, they must have missed the memo. The shop is empty – not empty, exactly, but filled with nothing but the accumulated junk of a not so successful antique store. A narrow path marks the way to the counter, but that's pretty much all the bare floorspace in the building. A pair of grand looking statues sit in the corners of the room – elephant headed figures, from India Edogawa had always said – and something twinkles from the counter. Something gold.

You approach cautiously, one hand slipping into your pocket to hold your phone tightly, and look down at the counter. The tiny object lying there is a gold cross alright, carved with minute detail and untarnished by age. Picking it up, you almost expect to feel some swell of power coming from it, but there is nothing. Perhaps your human senses are too muted to pick up on such things. Dropping the little pendant into your lowest pocket, you turn around, ready to get the hell out of the shop. Suddenly... you've got the spooks.

Then, a terrible howling noise bellows through the shop, forcing you to clasp your hands to your ears. The sound tears through your body, sending every one of your muscles into a painful spasm and causing your phone to drop from your grip. The elephant statues are... moving, grinding to life and shrieking that awful sound. You feel dizzy, sickened and disorientated by the force of it. You need to get out of here!

Fighting would be difficult – your gun would be useless, and your muscles fight against every order your mind sends them. If you could find your phone – it must be somewhere in these piles of garbage! - you could summon help. Or, perhaps, you could run. Once outside, you might be able to think clearly.

>Fight (Roll 1D100, I'll take the LOWEST of the first 3)
>Find your phone
>Run

>>42236360
>Find your phone
Draw the gun though, it might not do much but it could slow them down.

>>42236360
>Find your phone
Oberon you cheeky fuck.

>>42236360
>>Find your phone
proof against manipulation necklace too.

>>42236389
>>42236450
>>42236451

Before you can think of anything – fight, run, whatever – you're going to need your phone. At least the pair of demons are slow, tangled up in the knee deep layer of priceless vases and traditionally carved furniture – or so Edogawa always called it. You've got the time to scan the room quickly, the hasty motion causing your head to spin even as your frantic eyes fall upon the dropped gadget. It is – of course – under a particularly lumpen looking desk, not not too far to reach.

Spitting out more slurred curses than the average sailor, you fall to the ground and fumble for your phone, a great crashing cacophony from around you signalling the arrival of your demonic attackers. They were slow, you tell yourself again, you've got time! When you get reach it, Ripper is going to make these bastards endangered! A manic grin forms on your lips as you lunge across the last little bit of floor and throw your hand out, fingers brushing against the dull metal of your phone casing.

Then, with a great and terrible weight behind it, an ash grey foot crunches down on your foot. The shrieking din, you realise numbly, must have ended while your attention was elsewhere. If the demons were still bellowing, you never would have heard the bones in your hand shatter. Then, the moment of shock passes, and a sickening wave of pain runs up your entire arm. Your jaw is hanging wide, ready for a scream of pain, when the second demon lands a firm kick in your side, just above your kidney.

Your armour – faithfully worn, just like always – cushions the blow a little, but that does little other than prevent you from being totally disabled. Even with the protection, you're helpless against the blows that rain down upon your prone form.

>>42236735

“Vengeance!” the first demon bellows, kicking again and again at your arms, your sides, anything it can reach.

“Vengeance for the demon king!” the second adds, thankfully relenting his attack while he grunts out a cruel laugh.

Forneus, you think deliriously, are these Forneus' minions? You never thought that the old fish could command enough loyalty to have demons serving him even after death. Or maybe these are just opportunists, taking their chance to make a name for themselves by bringing down the demon king's killer.

A sudden kick, catching you on the side of the head, puts an end to your desperate thoughts. Your vision first greys out, a blessed numbness creeping through your body, and then everything starts to turn black. As you feel your body growing limp, you realise that the rain of blows has stopped. The demons, for whatever reason, have halted their attack.

For some reason, the realisation brings little comfort.

>Please choose a character

>Cassandra
>Amelia

>>42236751
>>Cassandra

>>42236751
>Cassandra
Well alright then.

In retrospect we probably should have told Titania. Opportunistic bitch yes, but she might have figured out what was up earlier.

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>>42236764
>>42236766

Character Sheet: http://pastebin.com/GkV7x9Z9

Your name is Cassandra Einhart, and things around here could really do with a good clean.

You're currently in the fairy kingdom's grand archive, looking for information on angels. Simple information, mind you, which is remarkable difficult to find. What you're looking for is something like “Introduction to Angels” or “A Beginner's Handbook of Angels”. Frankly, at this point you'd accept “Angels for Dummies”, even if you always found those books a little insulting. Anything in English would be a good start. Not... these. Latin, at least, you can recognise, but most of these books have titles written in... squid, or something.

Sighing wearily, you sit down on the creaking ladder and blow dust from your hands. That's another problem – before you can even read the books you find, you need to wipe a thick layer of cobwebs and dust from them. It's all so inconvenient! You wanted a book on angels to help Professor Carnby with a summoning ritual – he offered to try and summon a new servant for you, maybe something nice and harmless – but that's just not working out!

“No luck?” Carnby calls from one of the other aisles. It's strange to think of the man – you've known him as a teacher for many years, but you barely spoke outside of classes – as Amelia's father. You weren't sure if you believed it at first, but the more you thought about it, the more you started to notice a vague family resemblance. That must have meant that your friend's parents were unmarried – that explains a lot, now you think about it.

No luck, you shout back, climbing down from the ladder and finding the professor. He's frowning a little, as though he can't believe that the books have let him down.

“Well, I'm sorry to let you down like this,” he sighs, rubbing his untidy hair awkwardly, “Wait, there is one thing I could try.”

>>42236912

Oh, you ask politely, what might that be?

“Well, I could try summoning without a specific form of, ah, spirit in mind,” Carnby explains, “There's no guarantee that it would work, but it could call up something useful.”

Not an angel, you frown a little, is that what he means? Is he suggesting summoning something... unholy?

“I would summon whatever is drawn to the light of your heart,” the professor explains hastily, “I doubt anything unpleasant would answer the call, and even if it did, you would be under no obligation to take it on as a servant. Most likely, you'd reach out to an angel regardless.”

Well, that doesn't sound so bad. You've still got ethical problems with calling down an angel of the Lord like some faithful hound, but if they have to willingly answer the call, then that's a lot better. This summoning ritual, you ask cautiously, would it take long?

“Not at all long,” Carnby assures you, “I've been preparing something like this for a while. We'd need to go outside – properly outside, I mean – but it doesn't call for anything complicated. A chalk circle, and that's pretty much it.”

Oh, well, that sounds easily enough. You've been meaning to get a new angel for a long time now, so this is a golden opportunity – if you're willing to trust the magic within these old books. Isn't there something in the bible against magicians?

>Go ahead with the ritual
>Call it off

>>42236989
>Go ahead with the ritual

>>42236989
>>Go ahead with the ritual
inb4 it summons Choo Choo

>>42236989
>Go ahead with the ritual

>>42237012
>>42237037
>>42237050

It's about time you took a few risks, and this ritual sounds like a pretty safe way of doing it. A safe way of taking a risk? You shake your head and allow yourself a whimsical smile. You've been looking at these ridiculous books for too long, it's starting to mess with your mind. Back in the old days, you'd be spending an evening studying the good book for such a foolish idea. The good old days – strict, maybe, but you didn't have to worry about being eaten by monsters.

Okay, you tell Carnby, forcing an enthusiastic smile onto your face. You'll do it – Amelia is out there giving it her all, so you can as well!

“That's very, ah, good,” Carnby looks a little mystified by your excitement, but he nevertheless packs up a folder of papers and starts to head out. You hurry to follow him, your mind already whirling with thoughts of what might answer your heart's call. A beautiful angel this time, you decide, with soft feathers and glowing features!

That's the mental image that stays with you as you follow Carnby out into the world at large, leaving the fairy kingdom behind with a faint sigh of regret. Ever since Amelia told you about the risks, you wonder if you'll have to leave the place. You said you would, but really... you don't want to. Where else do you have to go?

“Give me a moment,” Carnby tells you as he copies an elaborate circle from one of the scrolls he holds. “Now,” he adds, drawing a second, smaller circle, “Stand in here and clear your mind. I'll begin the ritual.”

Following his orders, you take your place in the circle and focus on nothing at all. It's not easy, but you're slowly able to empty your mind. You expected chanting, some kind of sinister words to go along with the ritual, but there is nothing but the slowly gathering power in the air.

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>>42237221

The ritual ends with a silent thunderclap of displaced air, the sure sign that something has arrived from another world – Heaven, perhaps? Holding your breath, you open your eyes and look. It's... oh. Okay. You're actually speechless.

“Ah, is that what we've got?” Carnby announces after a moment of hesitation, “Ah, you must have an exceptionally pure heart, Cassandra, to call such a... magnificent specimen.”

Well, you've got to admit that the brilliant white horse – not a horse, that single horn upon it's brow can mean only one thing – standing before you is pretty impressive. It's powerful, muscles flexing and straining beneath skin as white as snow, and you sense a gentle aura coming from the thing. Even the horn looks sharp, ready to gore anyone foolish enough to stand in its way.

But it's not exactly an angel, is it?

“Well?” Carnby asks as you take a tentative step towards the unicorn, “Are you willing to accept it as your own?”

Are you? You feel, somehow, like accepting it would be significant in some unknown way. Like you were severing some tie with your old life. Then again, maybe a fresh start isn't so bad...

>Accept it
>Reject it

>>42237244
>>Accept it
Aww~

>>42237244
>Accept it
I wonder what Amelia would get if she tried this.

>>42237244
>Accept it


>>42237281
A dragon probably, stubborn, prideful, goes it own way, and with age and experience terrifyingly powerful.

>>42237259
>>42237281
>>42237294

Well, it's not exactly an angel – you were right about that – but you've never heard anything bad about unicorns. Quite the opposite, in fact. Aren't they supposed to be guardians of purity and defenders of fair maidens? That's basically an angel – or so your hasty mental gymnastics proves. Still, as you nod to Carnby, reaching up to brush a hand against Unicorn's muzzle, you feel a vague... discontent shiver through you. Something is different now.

You take out your phone and look at it. What was once called AngelSP – the app you used to summon Archangel – has now darkened, mutating to DemonSP. Something more... general purpose, perhaps?

>Alignment shifts towards Neutral – Neutral Alignment achieved.

Well, you say with a vague sadness, you should get used to your new friend, shouldn't you? Maybe take it out for a spin?

“That's a good idea,” Carnby offers you an encouraging smile, “Once round the block, perhaps?”

Right, you nod, patting Unicorn on the side before carefully climbing atop it. C'mon pony, let's hit the road!

“Yes master,” a soft, androgynous voice murmurs in the back of your mind, “Let's take a walk.”

Wait, it can talk? You're still reeling when Unicorn takes off at a canter, bringing you deeper into London's streets.

>Updated Cassandra's character sheet

>>42237452
>can be ridden into battle

Heh, would it possible to ride with Eligor into battle?

>>42237505

>Possibly, but it might be pretty awkward. You can share his steed out of battle, though, to save on the walk

>>42237532
>You can share his steed out of battle, though, to save on the walk
Not a bad idea actually.

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>>42237452

>Control returns to Amelia

You wake slowly, pain crawling through your entire body, and face a craggy stone ceiling. Wait a moment – you recognise that craggy stone ceiling! The last time you saw this particular cave was after you'd taken a bullet to the chest – this is the realm of Ankou, the guardian of the dead. Does this mean... No...

“Fear not,” a thick voice, ponderous with age, rings out, “You're not dead yet. You were beaten – what's that phrase you humans use? - within an inch of your life. You'll wake soon, in the land of the living.”

That's a relief, you murmur, pulling yourself upright and looking across at Ankou. He's right where you saw him last, sitting at an ancient desk sliding beads of smooth bone across an abacus. So, you ask lamely, how's everything in the world of the dead?

“Nothing changes here,” Ankou replies, “Except you. It's strange, you coming here. Perhaps your earlier visit has granted you an insight into the world of the dead, as you called it. Regardless, your time here is limited – for now.”

That's good. You actually like talking with Ankou – the psychopomp reminds you of a curmudgeonly grandfather, in a way – but you'd rather be alive. You died once, and didn't think much of it. Already, though, you can feel a faint tugging at the brink of your senses, a vague lightening of your body.

“Remember death, Amelia Bishop,” Ankou cries as you fade away, “Your debt will be paid in time – death cannot be held off forever!”

>>42237829

“...Amelia? Can you hear me?” a voice, shrill with fright, brings you back to your senses. Cassandra, you realise, leaning down over you with an expression of barely suppressed panic on her face. “Amelia, can you talk? Please say something!”

Say what? You're sure there should be something charming you should say in a situation like this, some one-liner that would immediately calm the girl's nerves and put both of you in a bright mood. You can't really think of anything though – your mind is too busy processing every injury you've been dealt. One of your eyes is swollen shut and your throat has the thick taste of blood. Your right hand is a ball of agony, and you can barely move your fingers. Finally, there seem to be countless bruises patterned up and down your entire body.

Really, what is there to say at a time like this?

“Amelia?” Cassandra's voice drops to a worried whisper, “Please...”

>I'm not dead
>I must be hallucinating – is that a white horse?
>Other (write in)

>>42237842
>>Other (write in)
Cass...there's a white horse right behind you.

>>42237842
>>I must be hallucinating – is that a white horse?

>>42237842
>>I must be hallucinating – is that a white horse?

>>42237869
>>42237888
>>42237896

You must be hallucinating, you rasp, there's a white horse standing right behind Cassandra. Not a horse, even, a unicorn. That's... even stranger.

“Oh, um, that's actually real,” Cassandra laughs in relief as your words reach her, “Professor Carnby summoned it for me. It heard the call of my heart, apparently. I rode it here – I've never ridden a horse before! It's quite easy actually, but maybe it was helping me.” She leans down, giving you a conspiratorial whisper as she helps you up, “It talks!”

Your saviour, you murmur, wincing as you get to your feet. You're glad to see that Cassandra has a new demon, but you struggle to give her an appropriate show of enthusiasm. You can stand, but your head spins when you try to move.

“So what were you doing out here anyway?” Cassandra asks, taking your shoulder to prevent you from falling, “And who did this to you? I found you like this, laid out in the street. Were you... mugged? Have you been robbed?”

You don't think so, you tell her. The little golden cross is still deep in your pocket, but... Your phone! Wincing as you leap into frantic action, you try to shamble back into Edogawa's shop so you can look for it. Without that, you might as well be defenceless.

“Your phone? It's here,” Cassandra pulls it out from her pocket, “It was right next to you.”

So wait, you narrow your brow in a fierce frown, these two demons jump you, beat you within an inch of your life and then just... walk away? Leave you here for Cassandra to find?

“Come on, let's get you back,” Cassandra hushes you before you can launch into a paranoid rant, “We can find someone to heal you back at the court. It looks like that hand is broken...”

>>42238191

Broken? You look down in surprise, and your stomach lurches at the sight of your crushed hand. It's deformed, jagged needles of bone jutting out from broken skin, and the fingers hang at awkward angles. “Broken” would be putting it mildly – without the aid of magic, you'd assume the mutilated hand was a candidate for amputation. As soon as you look at it, the pain surging from it just seems to grow more intense.

Favouring your other hand, you let Cassandra help you up onto the back of her pet unicorn, holding onto her as she takes the front seat – so to speak – and the three of you start to trot off. You're moving through the streets in silence for a while before the first faint bars of singing can be heard. The unicorn pauses, and you both look up at the sky. A radiant light has filled it, and you can feel your heart sink at the sight of it.

“Sinners, tremble in your worthless boots!” a thunderous voice – far harsher than Raphael's – roars out from the heavens, “I, Uriel, have descended to spread the terror of the Lord amongst you! No longer will God's obedient servants cower from your wicked ways, and no longer may those who flee from His glory draw heathen breath!”

“That doesn't sound good,” Cassandra whispers, her slender body taut with fear.

“Bow down! Bend the knee! Accept the Lord as your saviour, and live one more day!” Uriel bellows, “And may all who sin fear my sword of fire!”

With that last threat, the skies darkened, and the Archangel's voice can no longer be heard. Cassandra lingers, her unicorn matching her hesitation, with no sign of snapping out of it.

>Are you okay?
>Cass? Let's go home
>Can you take me somewhere else? (Write in)

>>42238327
>Are you okay?

Maybe on the trip back after this summon Undine to patch us up.

>>42238327
>Are you okay?
Genuine concern.

>>42238327
>Are you okay?

>>42238366
>>42238397
>>42238450

Is she okay, you ask the girl, is there something bothering her?

“Ah, no, um,” Cassandra stammers, coaxing Unicorn into movement with a nod of her head, “Well, it was that speech, wasn't it? That's not the kind of thing you like to hear. I mean, here I am, trafficking in pagan spirits, and you...”

Yes, you ask with a pained smile, what about you?

“Well, you know,” Cassandra forces a laugh, “You've done things. Bad things. No! I mean, bad from an angel's perspective. Not...”

Not bad from a human perspective, you ask, does that mean she's starting to see things from your point of view?

Cassandra is silent for a long time. “That speech,” she murmurs eventually, “There wasn't much in the way of “peace and love” there, was there? Plenty of holy wrath, but no forgiveness. No compassion or mercy. Just... nothing but rage.”

You can't really argue with that, but the stunned sadness in Cassandra's voice doesn't give you much to work with. You can't shake the feeling that you've been watching the slow collapse of someone's faith since the moment you woke from your coma – maybe even from the very moment you entered this new world – and now you've reached the point of no return. You've always had your stubborn streak, your blatant defiance of any authority, to fall back on. What can Cassandra place her faith in now?

You give the girl's shoulder a brief squeeze, wordlessly reminding her that you're there is she needs you, and focus on the journey. It seems to pass quickly – or maybe you're just lapsing in and out of consciousness. Certainly, your body feels weak, struggling to keep going even without the stress of walking home by yourself. Maybe you should just... rest a little.

>>42238687

You wake a while later with the pattern of Cassandra's blazer imprinted on your cheek. Had you really fallen asleep with your head resting on her shoulder? If you had, she had taken it with a stoicism you would never had expected. The only reason you woke was because she had gently shrugged her shoulders upon arriving at the gateway to the fairy kingdom. You're going to have to walk from here, you realise with dismay.

In the end, it isn't as bad as you expected. The brief nap you were able to snatch brought some of your strength back, and Cassandra was ready to offer you a shoulder to lean on all the way. When the grand entrance to Oberon's keep rises up in front of you, you're actually able to walk unaided. Not a moment too soon, either, as the king himself is waiting in the foyer, guards flanking him and lining the hall. It almost looks like he's ready to arrest you – or at least confiscate the pendant you risked your life to recover.

“Well well,” the king remarks, cold contempt in his eyes as he sees the state of you, “A shame that my protection does not extend beyond my kingdom. You clearly need it.” His guards chuckle obediently as Oberon holds out his hand, “My pendant, please.”

You've got something you want to give him, and it sure as hell isn't a piece of gaudy jewellery. But, all these guards...

>You bastard, you set me up!
>Here, take it and let me get some rest
>Hand it over without comment
>Other

>>42238783
>Hand it over without comment
He's done fucked up.

>>42238783
>Hand it over without comment

>>42238783
>Hand it over without comment
Too bad we couldn't get it to Scathach.

>>42238783
>Hand it over without comment
You're a funny guy Oberon. That's why we're going to kill you last

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>>42238951
>>42238831
>>42238845
>>42238863

Sure, you can play this game. He wants you to make a big scene, throwing some massive tantrum in front of all these guards. And, as much as you want to fling as much crap as possible in his face, you just know that, come tomorrow, the entire kingdom will be gossiping about how crazy and unreliable you are. Right now, you're pretty popular amongst the fairy people, but all that could change in a few moments. If the whole kingdom hates you, you could vanish and nobody would raise their voices in protest.

Besides, as suspicious as he makes you, you don't actually have any proof Oberon ordered the attack. You're not about to start hurling accusations around without something to back them up – you're smarter than that. So, you simply dump the little gold token in Oberon's outstretched hand and stalk off, the sight of his disappointed face offering you some meagre solace. You need some sleep and a good dose of healing magic before you're ready to deal with this for more than a few moments.

Luckily for you – and for them – nobody stops you from retreating back to your room and collapsing down onto the bed. At least this time, you don't even have the chance to get to sleep before Titania intrudes upon you – you swear there's a hint of disappointment on her face when she sees you sitting upright and awake.

“Cassandra informed me of what happened,” the queen tells you, by way of explanation, “Didn't I tell you to keep me informed? Nevertheless, do you require healing? I have some of the most powerful curative magic in the entire kingdom,” she adds, without a hint of modesty.

Healing? Healing would be very nice, you tell her.

“Very well then,” Titania rubs her hands together in preparation, “Now, disrobe.”

>What
>I absolutely refuse
>No seriously, what?

>>42239091
>What

>>42239091
>P-pardon?

>>42239091
>What

>>42239091
>“Very well then,” Titania rubs her hands together in preparation, “Now, disrobe.”
something something wine and dine something something before getting down for some snu snu

>>42239100
>>42239178
>>42239213
>>42239248

“Just a joke,” Titania informs you with a deadpan expression, “A human joke, to help diffuse the stress you must be feeling.”

That. Isn't. Funny.

“No? A shame,” Titania crosses the room and presses a finger to your forehead, immediately banishing much of the fatigue you felt and reducing the swelling in your eye. A second touch, on the back of your hand, causes the bones to recede, literally crawling back into your flesh and shuffling into their rightful position – the sound is ghastly – with a strangely small amount of pain. It doesn't take effect immediately, but compared with natural healing it might as well have been in a heartbeat.

“I recommend rest,” Titania tells you, with the brisk professionalism of an experienced doctor, “A new injury this soon might undo much of the healing I performed. If you have any vital tasks to do, I suggest you delegate them to someone else. Alternatively, I can send for someone, one of your friends perhaps?”

How long does she suggest you stay in bed? You've got important things to do, you explain to her, and you can't be stuck in bed all day – no matter how appealing the idea might sound.

“Rest until tomorrow, if possible,” the queen tells you, “Tonight, if it absolutely cannot wait. Can it?”

You'll have to decide that for yourself. You need information before you make your move, and that mean hitting the books – or rather, asking Carnby to hit them for you. At breakfast, it sounded like he was halfway there already. Then again, some demonic information might be more useful, if you're going to be tackling an Archangel.

What to do next?

>Ask for Carnby
>Ask for Cassandra
>Summon a demon (choose one)
>Get up against her advice
>Other

>>42239330
>Ask for Carnby

While he is on his way
>Summon a demon (choose one)
Summon Undine for information about Uriel. Strengths, weaknesses, etc.

>>42239376
>>42239330
I'll second.

>>42239330
>>42239376
this

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25 KB PNG

>>42239376
>>42239408
>>42239475

You want to talk with Carnby, for one thing, but you need some intel on Uriel as well – maybe Undine's mysterious contacts can help with that. You ask Titania if she can have Carnby summoned to your room, and the queen gives you a gracious nod. As soon as possible, you add, secretly enjoying the chance to boss her about. That was always the best thing about being ill, you recall fondly, ordering everyone else around while you got to lie in bed.

When Titania leaves, you fumble your phone out with your left hand – your right, although healed, is stiff and awkward to move – and tap Undine's icon. She appears briskly, staring down at your fading bruises in open shock.

“Jeez boss, you've had the stuffing knocked out of you! Who gave you those lumps, huh? I'll mess them up!” Then, she pauses to think, “Wait, if they beat you up... Eep! Keep them away from me!”

You can't help but laugh, the little demon's clownish antics brightening your mood, before you force yourself to be serious. You need to know about the Archangel Uriel, as much as she can tell you. Also, if possible, if there's a devil of equal power kicking about. These things tend to come in pairs, if experience tells you anything.

“Uriel. The flame of God, huh?” Undine makes a pantomime of thinking, “You might of guessed, but he'll throw fire around like a pro. Ice might help against him – maybe more than I can throw out, unfortunately. His holy powers aren't much, but he's a monster with that sword of his. Stay far away, unless you fancy getting your head chopped off!”

Keep your distance and freeze him. That doesn't sound too bad. Then again, Raphael didn't sound too bad either, and it took him forever to die. Now, does she know anything about a devil?

>>42239608


“Ah,” Undine shuffles awkwardly – an impressive feat, considering she's hovering in place – before answering, “Pazuzu, god of the poison winds. When I say “poison”, I mean it – I'm talking about the real deal. Flesh melting, blood boiling poison.”

Sounds like the last time you tried to cook, you shrug, playing at being nonchalant.

“I'm being serious here boss, don't try and fight this guy in a small enclosed space,” Undine wags a serious finger in your face, “If you don't, he won't even need to lift a finger to kill you. He can just watch and laugh!”

Okay, okay, you'll be careful. Fight him somewhere with lots of fresh air, and no tight spaces. Message received and understood. Anything else to worry about?

“The usual,” Undine shrugs, “Dark magic, death stuff. Won't trouble a devil much, but he'll eat lesser angels for breakfast. Do I hear you asking about weaknesses?”

Well, you were just about to, but...

“Ice again,” gleeful, Undine flashes two fingers in the V for victory, “At least, that's what I hear. Freeze him solid! Eh, I might need help though...”

Call it a work in progress. You send Undine back to storage just as Carnby knocks, entering the room a moment later. He looks as harried as ever, perhaps more so. You realise, with a sudden pang of empathy, that he was worried about you. He must have learned of your injuries and, judging by the heaving of his chest, came running. When does Carnby ever run?

“Amelia, I got here as quickly as I could!” he gasps, “Are you... okay? Well?”

Fine, you assure him, Titania saw to the worst of your injuries. Before he can launch into any other spiel, you ask him directly to continue what he was talking about at breakfast.

>>42239840

“Ah, that?” briefly wrong-footed, Carnby scratches his head, “Oh, that! Yes, uh, the translation. I told you about the lifeblood connection, yes? I believe the cornerstone might be located somewhere within the London Underground!”

The tube tunnels? The tight, enclosed space of the tube tunnels? Wincing, you close your eyes and try to think of a way around this. You can't lure the damn thing out – if you run, Pazuzu can just track down the cornerstone while you're elsewhere – and there was never any clean air in the Underground when the air conditioning was in perfect working order. Now that it's out of action...

“That's right, the tube tunnels!” Carnby continues, not noticing your distress, “A magnificent piece of poetry, isn't it? To compare the common man with the blood circulating our very bodies... Ah, these ancient fairies knew their stuff, let me tell you.”

No, please don't, you plead. He really does not need to tell you. You frown deeply, mind still fixated on the issue at hand. How are you supposed to delve into a poisonous network of tunnels? You could see if the Hellfire Club has anything to help – if they don't, you're fairly sure they can acquire it, at a price. But, you're confined to your bed for the time being. A thorny issue, to be sure.

>Ask if Carnby can research something to help
>Get out of bed and do something (Write in)
>Ask if Cassandra can do something for you (Write in)
>Other

>>42240000
>Ask if Carnby can research something to help
Any demons that you know of that really specialize in ice magic? I am going to need to recruit one soon.

Also I need some way for me and my demons to resist poison. Fire too but that's less of a priority.

>Ask if Cassandra can do something for you (Write in)
At the bottom of Forneus's old hospital theres a demon named Scathach. She offers magical items on occasion. Can you head down there and ask about anything that can resist poison or fire? And hey maybe get something for yourself while you are down there.

>>42240095
>>42240000
Seconded and maybe ask if he had any luck improving the app. Or upgrading Cass's.

>>42240095
>>42240226

“Ice...” Carnby thinks hard for a moment, “There was one... Ah, hmm, but what if it's...” His face contorts, twisting in a bitter frown, “Is mankind really ready for such power? Are we really so arrogant?”

Come on man, you urge him, spit it out! This is important!

“There is a demon that might help you,” Carnby admits, “But... it's strong. I'm not kidding around here, I don't know if any human has the power to control it. It would definitely serve your purposes, but... I don't know.”

You'll take your chances, you tell him firmly.

“Well in either case, I'll need a long time to prepare a ritual,” the professor blurts out, almost glad to have something to procrastinate over, “And I won't summon it until you're back on your feet. Even then, it might be too much for you to handle. Can't you just... drop it? No good can come of this!”

Just prepare the ritual, you ask, closing your eyes with frustration.

“Fine,” Carnby sighs, “But I'll ask again before I start anything. Think hard about this – some of these demons will make demands of you. Maybe more than you're willing to sacrifice.”

You'll keep that in mind, you tell him, stressing the words carefully. Carnby sighs again, recognising that the cause is lost, and turns to leave. As he's heading out, you ask if he could find Cassandra and send her your way.

“Cassandra?” Carnby asks, “She's waiting outside. I think she was worried about you. You can come in!”

“Uh, I'm here,” Cassandra adds, embarrassed, as she pokes her head around the door, “I, uh, wasn't listening or... Ah! Can I help with something?”

>>42240578

Well, there is something. You tell her about Scathach, stressing that the demon appears trustworthy, and tell her where to find the wise woman.

“Okay, Scathach,” Cassandra scribbles the name down in a little notebook, pausing suddenly, “Wait, how do you spell that? Does it matter?”

Doesn't matter, you tell her, just go and see if she has anything that might help you against poison or fire. She might have something for Cassandra herself, if she ask nicely. If Scathach asks for something in return, some service or favour, tell her that you're good for it. You're in bed now, but you'll be up and about soon – ready to run countless errands for a bunch of ungrateful bastards.

You don't say that last bit out loud, for obvious reasons.

“Scathach, fire, poison,” Cassandra murmurs as she writes, before adding somewhat lamely, “Good for it.”

That's right, you sigh. Now, you've got your own business to be getting on with. The task of getting some rest – not an easy thing, with Titania on the prowl. Maybe you'll set a demon on guard. Eligor seems the type to enjoy standing in a threatening pose for hours on end. In fact, you think to yourself as you take your phone out, you'll do just that.

>That's probably a good spot to pause for today. Next thread on Friday, and I'll lurk for a while in case of questions

>>42240631
Thanks for the run boss.

File: KingFrostSMT2.jpg (771 KB, 1960x1976)

771 KB JPG

>>42240578
This Hee or the other Ho? Place your bets.

>>42240704
Black Frost would be great for our needs. Good Ice magic and resistant to fire.

>>42240704

Put all your money on black

>>42240732
>>42240753
Someone pick up that phone...

So I've been lurking for a while and can anyone tell me what the deal with Titania is? Does she just put the moves on everyone?

>>42241075
She wasn't actually coming onto Amelia, she was just fucking with her. As for Carnby, well its one way to get someone on your side right?

>>42241075
She seems to be a sociopath who thinks the best way to get someone to like her and follow her orders is to bone them.

>>42241075

It's kind of a mix between the two suggestions above. She likes to toy with people, but she's also acutely aware of how easily some people can be won over.

And, to be honest, it's pretty fun to write Amelia freaking out about her games.

>>42236360
There was no good option here, was there? Fucked the moment we went in without Titania's help.

>>42241589
Yeah we'd have to be extremely lucky to pull off fight and running would have us lose our lifeline.

Next time we need to use Titania as much as she'll use us. At least we are in good favor with her unlike Oberon.

>>42241589

Other than a very lucky roll to fight, it was pretty much a hopeless fight.

Even if Titania knew. Who says she would have intervened?

>>42241653
>Even if Titania knew
haha, Fuck, I hate fey.

>>42241653
Its too bad we didn't get the pendant to Scathach. We could have worked this whole mess into a net win if we could.

Either have her replicate it somehow, make a weaker version for us, or hell we could have traded it for something and gone back to Oberon empty handed saying that the guy we were supposed to meet wasn't there, only two elephants that used me as a punching bag.

>>42241720
The pendant was a fake and a pretext to bring us there so we'd get beat down.

Rolled 85, 84, 8 = 177 (3d100)

>>42241653

>>42241755
Still even if we got that information we would KNOW that Oberon set us up instead of the maybe we have right now.

>>42241768
>8
Yeah we would be fucked.

>>42241768
Anon...............


please tell me you are not this dense

>>42241804
I'm not but

>>42239091
>Besides, as suspicious as he makes you, you don't actually have any proof Oberon ordered the attack. You're not about to start hurling accusations around without something to back them up – you're smarter than that.

More proof is always nice *in character*.

>>42241768
>worst of 3
that's pretty bad.

I was thinking more along the lines of smashing the floor until the building collapsed on everything, but that wouldn't really solve much other than call other demons to join the party.

Then again, if these demons forced the thugs to join US to fight them off...

>>42241830
>More proof is always nice *in character*.
except he could easily say his agent must have been mistaken then, or something else to that effect.

>>42241871
Look the only point I was trying to make was bringing the pendant, real or fake, to Scathach might have helped a little more than not. That's it.

>>42241893
Well, we were bleeding and bruised all over the place, so it's either a terrible idea, or the perfect excuse to get some outside aid and put both Oberon and Titania on guard.

Whether that's a GOOD thing is another thing altogether.

>>42241938
You know I think I am just going to drop this cause you are going in wildly different place than I was thinking of.

Think we could have a talk with Chu after this?

>>42241986

Amelia's going to be stuck in bed for a while, so she's got plenty of time to talk. Just a general chat, or something more specific?

>>42241985
Oh, I'm a different anon chiming in. I don't think Scath would appreciate being dragged back into politics, but it would be nice to interact with the only really benevolent neutral faction and get some pull for recruiting Chu.

Hellfire Club is good for making deals, but these deals are also greatly in their favor. All bets are off if their end goal is to permanently awaken Alice to kill everyone, too.

>>42242037
Talk, ask if they've had him do anything, maybe get some practice for Eligor/Ripper/Valk

>>42242099
>Oh, I'm a different anon chiming in. I don't think Scath would appreciate being dragged back into politics, but it would be nice to interact with the only really benevolent neutral faction and get some pull for recruiting Chu.

No no, I wasn't intending to drag her into anything. I just wanted to go there for a business transaction.

Just a "Hey can you do anything with this pendant?" and see what she comes up with. If it was fake we'd thank her for time and leave.

>>42242151
Again, a little hard to do when you're broken in several places. We would definitely ask for healing first, and she would explain that this is exactly the sort of thing that turned her off court politics.

Wouldn't stop her from doing business, of course. Just a....thing to talk about.

>>42242228
Hey we could have had Undine and Pixie patch us up together (if they got along).

I'm surprised Unicorn didn't heal us, its pretty damn good at healing according to the character sheet. Cass probably just doesn't know yet.

>>42242037
Hey Moloch if you are still there can Undine enchant our pistol with ice?

If yes would it be the pistol enchanted or the magazine?

>>42242260
that is a thing I was wondering about.

Gonna be honest. We fucked over Oberon. He fucked us over back. He could have had us killed or had our demon summoning phone destroyed. He didn't. Let's make peace with him. Titania is much worse even if Oberon is more antagonistic.

>>42242679
Going to pass on that.