>>42516490

So you're not happy about things. Not at all. Unhappy enough that you've decided to kill – or at least defy and fight – this nameless Outsider, this manipulative ghost that took your mother's face. Can such a thing be done? Your guide – still wearing the guise of a mildly dishevelled priest – seemed doubtful, but you've never let someone else's doubt hold you back before. Carnby doubted you when you first suggested going against both of the great powers, and you proved him wrong.

But it's going to be a long time before you're ready to fight this entity, whatever it is, and you're going to need to prepare. That means power – not just personal power, but getting the greatest demons you can on your side. Scathach claimed she could help with that, telling of some artefacts that might bolster Ripper's power located within the British Museum. Looks like you're going to be doing the tourist thing again – this time, under the light of the full moon.

“Wait!” the priest calls out to you, before you can leave him behind, “Think about what you're doing! There's no way of knowing where this path might lead. Even if you manage to defeat the Outsider, what then? Nobody has done such a thing before, nobody can know the consequences of such an act – it might even destroy everything, smothering the new world before it can be created!”

The truth? Or one last desperate gambit to force you back onto the path that's been marked out for you? Your guide, the priest, was eager for you to take his place – eager enough to conjure up a story like that?

>...Really?
>I don't care!
>Leave without a word
>Other

>>42516493
"Maybe, but for better or worse humanity deserves to choose its own fate, free from the influence of God, demons, and this entity. This cycle needs to be broken.

Besides, if that bastard thinks it can wear my mothers face, try to influence me with it and get away with it? Its dead wrong.

>>42516641
>>42516493
Sure

>>42516493
>>42516641
This

>>42516641
>>42516729
>>42516732

For better or for worse, you spit back at the priest, humanity deserves the chance to stand on their own two feet and choose their own destiny. You've fought against Heaven and Hell for that chance, and you're not going to throw that away to bow before this entity either! This cycle needs – needs, you stress – to be broken, and you're going to be the one to do it.

“...I see. I hope you're sure about this,” the priest tells you sadly, “Although, I suppose, even if you destroy the world as we know it, I'll find rest either way. I can be satisfied with that.”

You're not doing this for him, you shoot back. That bastard stole your mother's face and tried to control you, influencing your every decision. You're not going to let that lie. If the Outsider thinks it can get away with that, it's dead wrong. Emphasis, you sneer, on “dead”.

The priest is silent for a long time, pondering your violent words. Maybe you got a little carried away, but the pit of anger boiling within your stomach made it difficult to hold back. Finally, he manages to come out with an answer, his words weary and defeated. “The choice, of course, is yours,” he tells you, “And so are the consequences. As long as you accept those, I've done my duty. If I should be called back to my master, I will not reveal your plans. For my own part in this deception, I owe you that much.”

Huh, well. You weren't really expecting that, but you appreciate it nonetheless. You were prepared to storm out, slamming the church door behind you, but this humble declaration sobers you slightly. When you leave, you do so quietly and without spite. The museum, then? No doubt Cassandra is still sleeping off her earlier overindulgence, so there's little to summon you back home.

Yes, the museum. Scathach warned of a “degenerate cult” within, and you taking them on sounds like just the thing.

>>42516891

You walk slowly, savouring the moonlit night and the first hint of clear sky you've seen since arriving in this hellish world. True, the moon is unusually large and low, but the sight of something left over from the old world is heartening. It might drive fairies and demons wild, and it passed a little of that lunacy onto you as well, but it's still a lovely sight. That's why, when you arrive at the steps of the museum, you're a little disappointed.

That disappointment is quickly replaced by a vivid curiosity as you notice marks on the ground. Not footprints – the ground here is too firm and clean for those – but deep scores in the concrete pavement and marble stairs, like something heavy was dragged across it. A box of some kind, perhaps. Maybe something looted from Forneus' pile of crap, like a statue or an idol? Some kind of religious paraphernalia, anyway. You can't imagine it's anything you need to worry about – the cult itself is the problem.

Guards. You were expecting guards or something at the door, but there's nothing. Where a revolving door once stood – a sudden, vivid memory of playing in that door while your mother looked on in wry bemusement strikes you with painful force – is a shattered hole in the wall. Whoever these cultists were, they chose to smash the wall rather than find a wider entrance for their icon. Vandals – no respect at all.

Creeping softly into the museum, you follow the markings on the floor, tracing the steps of your prey. Deep gouges are carved into the marble tiles here, ruining what is otherwise blissfully free from corruption. You're still following the trail when you hear a noise – something shattering, glass maybe – from a distant side room. That's the first sign of life you've found since entering here, and it comes from the wrong direction entirely.

>Investigate the sound
>Follow the trail

>>42517070
>Investigate the sound

File: Knifegun.jpg (54 KB, 587x585)

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>>42517070
>Investigate the sound
Summon Ripper, this is now a sneaking mission.

At least for now.

File: Gurr2.jpg (41 KB, 523x739)

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>>42517102
>>42517103

You call up Ripper and make to investigate the sound, leaving your second demon slot empty for now. When you know what you're dealing with, you can call up a suitable companion. Ripper glides alongside you with murderous ease as you creep along, getting further and further away from the trail and closer to this overlapping chorus of smashes and crashing sounds. Pressing your ear against the door, you listen closely.

It doesn't just sound like a bull in a china shop, it sounds like a whole herd of them. Do bulls run in herds? Whatever. As you listen, something particularly heavy shatters against the door and causes you to jerk your head back in surprise. Whatever is in there, does it know you're listening in? Either way, you're not in the mood to be subtle about this. Taking a step backwards, you haul open the door and stride in, pausing momentarily to dodge a thrown vase. The priceless relic flies right over your head, detonating on the tiles behind you.

Standing in the centre of the room, balanced easily on one leg – the other leg already reaching for fresh ammunition with an impressive dexterity – is a revolting looking thing, like some skeletal hybrid of bird and... rat, almost. Whatever it is, it looks like it's been dead for a couple of weeks, and it has the attitude to match.

“Hhhhhuman,” the thing rasps, drawing its words out in a rather vile way, “Thisss place will be your tomb!”

Like hell it will, you snarl, preparing to face the foe. Still, with no idea of what it's capable of...

>Have Ripper hold it off while you consult Goetia
>Summon another demon (Choose one)
>Attack head on, worry about demons later (Roll a D100, I'll take the highest of the first three)
>Other

>>42517420
>Summon another demon (Choose one)
Eligor. As long as the enemy isn't Holy he is a solid choice.

Then consult Goetia

>>42517420
>Summon another demon (Choose one)
Eligor

>>42517420
>Summon Eligor


M̢̧͙̯̘͉̯͇͙̋̆ͧ̈́̓ͩ́Y̐͊̏̏̾̇͋̉ͥ҉͔̳̠̹͙ ̮͎͕̺̟̘̣͑ͧ͗͂̓ͮ̋̀F̷͕̳̱ͯͥ͆̍̂A̝̯͒̀ͨ̕͞Tͮ͌͂̓̏̆͒̄͏̨͈̟̤̞̥́E̹̙̘͎ͥ͌̄̄̐ͬͩ ̸̗̙̺̈I̵̲͓̭̩̣͉͕̼͈ͣ͂͒̽S̷̴̜͚̗̲͉̠̮̤̏͒̿́̑̔͐̕ ̢̥̝̮̩͔̣̭̣̻̎ͨ̂̇́͜A̶̷̯͇̻͉̞ͯ̏͗ ͒̚҉̵̣̯̖̪͕͔H̲̼͚̣͙͍̺ͯͭ̅̈́ͪ͂̈ͮ̀̚A̍̏̎͂̌ͮ̇͏̤̬̦͎̘̗̫U͋ͧͯͯͣͪ͐̇̚͜͟҉͇͙̯̬Ņ̹̪͇͌͠T͆̽̉ͯ̽ͥ̌͏̝͙͠I͇̲̟̖̺̞͙̲̅̉ͣ̾̽ͦ̑͢͜N̛͈̥̯͉̭̯̒͑͋͋ͨ́̿̈́͝Ḡ̛̟͇͎̗͐͆ͥ́ͣ͑͒͡ͅ ̽ͨ́͏̴̧̫̻C̹̳̠̫̫̎ͨͩ̿̃̀ͅƯ̢̻̮̥̞͉̟̪̑͗ͤͥ͗͞R̠̤͈̺̮͑̍̊Ş̖͙ͪ̒̊͌̓ͪ̽́̀͘Ẹ̶̛̮͚̒̉̆̓

File: Eligor.jpg (893 KB, 1920x2644)

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>>42517460
>>42517501
>>42517689

Eligor should be able to help here, you decide. The armoured devil laughs in the face of anything that isn't holy magic – or massive amounts of Forneus' ice breath, you have to admit – and this thing before you looks anything but holy. Far from it – the thing seeps darkness like a broken bottle of ink. Delicate porcelain shatters as the knight is conjured into being, crushed beneath the hooves of his mighty steed. Just another little piece of human history wiped out, you think to yourself with a wince as you duck behind a podium to check your phone.

When was the last time you used this Goetia thing? Way back when you encountered the Minotaur – Marco – it must have been. Despite the changed man's promises, you could never quite convince yourself that the thing wasn't haunted any more. Still, needs must. At least the app is quick to bring up the relevant information, in a revoltingly cheerful fashion.

>What you're looking at now is a Gurr, a particular type of evil spirit. Those wings might look rotten, but it can fly as well as any bird! Expect wind and lightning magic, with a risk of dark magic throw in. Use holy magic if you can, and avoid casting dark magic on it. In a pinch, brute force should clip those wings!

Well. Holy magic would be good, if you had any. Looks like you're going to have to do this the hard way. Brute force and ignorance, just the way you like it.

“Orders, master?” Eligor asks, his steed pacing on the spot. His arrival, at least, seems to have given the Gurr a new caution, for the rain of improvised missiles has stopped for now. For the moment, the bird creature is content to glare at you, flexing its nimble feet in anticipation. Those claws look sharp, you think to yourself – not with dismay, but with enthusiasm. Maybe that bout of lunacy still haunts you...

>Eligor, keep it busy. Ripper, get behind it
>We'll attack together and overwhelm it
>Other

>>42517747
>Eligor, keep it busy. Ripper, get behind it
>Amelia circles to it's side, wait for an opportunity to get a hit in.

>>42517747
>>Eligor, keep it busy. Ripper, get behind it

File: Ripper.jpg (246 KB, 745x1000)

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Rolled 71, 89 = 160 (2d100)

>>42517794
>>42517813

You snap out commands quickly and silently, gleefully exploiting whatever strange telepathy allows you to fire your orders straight into the minds of your demons. Eligor, you send, get right up in that thing's ugly face and keep it busy. He should be able to take whatever dark magic it throws out, and his armour looks as strong as ever.

“Yes master!” the knight growls, readying his lance and squaring his mighty shoulders.

Next, Ripper. You silently order the phantom killer to slip behind the Gurr as quickly – but stealthily – as possible and immobilise it. Clip its wings, drag it down from the sky and slash every tendon in its limbs if need be, but you want it alive. For a while, at least. You need information, for one thing, and perhaps this demon could be... coaxed into working for you. You don't expect a reply from your murderous shade, but one comes anyway in the form of a vague chill brushing up against your thoughts. Eager confirmation, you assume.

When the beast is well and truly helpless, that's when you'll strike. As always, your bone knuckleduster seems to fit perfectly in your grip, ready for use.

>Please roll 2D100, first for Eligor, second for Ripper. I'll take the highest of the first three

Rolled 75, 100 = 175 (2d100)

>>42517955
Moloch why you always roll high?

>>42517961
.... damn. Attaboy jack.

Rolled 27, 32 = 59 (2d100)

>>42517955
Dude, full moon. We ain't getting this guy.

Rolled 75, 57 = 132 (2d100)

>>42517955
Rolling on the off chance I can improve Eligor's roll.

Rolled 99, 70 = 169 (2d100)

>>42517955
>>42518011
I guess we don't know that yet. We might get something from it though

>>42518011
Eh same rules may not apply. Fairies were wilder sure but still cognitive.

>>42518062
I apologize for blocking that 99.

Jack best summon.

>>42517961
>>42518046

The winged beast glides up in the air, flapping his scabrous wings so ferociously that Eligor's charge is blunted by the sudden breeze. Still, the devil knight powers through and manages to drive his attack home, plunging his lance into the creature's chest and dragging it down to the ground. It kicks and thrashes, claws gouging deep scores in the floor as rage envelops it.

That's when Ripper strikes, materialising behind the thing with a sinister ease and wrapping suddenly solid arms around its throat. The Gurr struggles for a moment longer before Ripper reaches down with a scalpel and, with a single efficient flick of the wrist, severs some vital nerve in the devil's leg. As one limb grows limp, the other stops moving entirely, fear forcing it into stillness.

Easier than you were expecting, you have to admit. Like always, Ripper never fails to disappoint. You stoop down next to the pinned devil, not caring about the greasy blood that soaks into your trousers and grab its jaw, unkindly tilting its head towards you. You've got its attention, there's no denying that. The fact that, with your enchanted knuckleduster at the ready, you could crush its skull with a single punch is strangely reassuring.

Deep within the hollowed eyes of the creature's skull face, you see a vague light. Intelligence, yes, but also a deep rolling madness that has infected it. Another victim of lunacy, perhaps the same frenzy that drove it to tear into this barren room in the first place. Still, it might be able to answer some of your questions...

>Where's the cult, and what are they worshipping?
>How many of you are there in here?
>Join me or die
>Other

>>42518302
>Where's the cult, and what are they worshipping?
Then
>Join me or die
A simple choice will probably go over a lot better than persuasion with this moon out.

We could really use a wind demon.

>>42518302
>Where's the cult, and what are they worshipping?
then
>Join me or die

>>42518302
>>Where's the cult, and what are they worshipping?
>>How many of you are there in here?
>>Join me or die
WHERE IS SHE!?

YOU'RE GARBAGE THAT KILLS FOR MONEY!

We need to get Daisoujou.

>>42518503
Any fiend would be awesome, really.

Also,

>>42518302
>Ripper never fails to disappoint
Don't you mean impress?

>>42518744

>Well, that's a stupid mistake to make. Yes, that's what I meant.

>>42518325
>>42518342
>>42518370

You'll start with a simple question – where is this cult, and what are they worshipping? You ask this one nicely enough, even smiling a little at the trapped demon, just to show it that you're willing to cooperate. Slowly, with great care to appear non-hostile, the Gurr lifts its one usable foot and indicates back where you came from. So, following the tracks would get you there like you expected. Your other question, then. What are they worshipping?

“Death itself,” the Gurr giggles, “Caged death!”

You frown at the demon, the smile dropping from your face as you ponder over the vague answer. Is that really the best you can expect out of this lunatic? So, you tighten your grip around the thing's jaw until you see a thin web of cracks spreading across the bone and then ask again. What, you repeat, are they worshipping?

“The coffin!” Gurr croaks, “They worship the coffin!”

Better. Not a perfect answer, but better. How many of his friends, you ask, are there?

“Nnnnno friends,” Gurr growls, “Taken by the coffin, all!”

Really? Sacrifices, perhaps? Whatever the truth of the matter is, you don't much like the sound of it. You stand, absent-mindedly brushing at the blood on your trousers, and ask the devil to join you. Actually, you don't ask – you give the thing a simple choice: join you, or die. You loom over it as you say this, ready to put the boot in if it chooses the latter.

“Kyahahaha!” Gurr cackles, “Taking me into the coffin's jaws, yes? Plunging into the heart of darkness, yes? Fleeing from the light of life, yes?”

What.

As you look down at the cackling madman your demons hold at bay, it repeats the string of nonsense questions. So, is this some riddle, or just a random stream of nonsense? You look up at Eligor, who shrugs slightly.

How on Earth are you supposed to answer this thing?

>Yes yes yes!
>No no no!
>Just kill it now – there's no point in trading words with a madman
>Other

>>42518955
>>Yes yes yes!
Yup! This seems like full moon demon negotiation, time to flip the coin.

>>42518955
>>Other
Yes! Yes! No!

Yes to taking you to the coffin's jaws, because we're fighting it.

Yes to plunging into the heart of darkness because we're going to fight caged death.

No, we're not fleeing from the light of life.

>>42518955
>>42518978
I'll revise my vote to >>42518989
this

Its Mot time baby. Lets hope he doesn't have his glitched Nocturne AI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIjVvnO5lgM

>>42518989
>>42519002

Do you plan on taking him into the coffin's jaws? Yeah, probably – if it means fighting the damn thing. Do you intend on plunging into the heart of darkness? Again, yes, if it's talking about dark magic. Are you fleeing from the light of life? You look Gurr in the eye – or those glints of light that pass for eyes, you guess – and the demon stares back at you, waiting eagerly on your answer.

...No? You guess. It's true – you're in no hurry to die, if that's what it was asking, but you're not convinced that logic had any place in this conversation. Your answer seems to puzzle the Gurr, who falls silent as it tries to process this new information. At least it thinks in silence, rather than slurring or grunting for however it takes.

And it takes a long time. A long, long time. Long enough that you get sick of waiting and thrust your phone in Gurr's skeletal face. Just get in, you sigh. Get in the damn phone.

“...Yessss,” Gurr grudgingly replies after an awkward pause. You're about to ask, surprised at the result, if it was being serious when the demon fades out, appearing as a new icon on your DevilSP app. Huh. You weren't expecting that to work.

“Nothing is predictable under the full moon,” Eligor tells you with a shrug, “Cause and effect can break down, time flows in strange ways...”

Hey, you're not complaining. You'll take what you can get. When Gurr has finished returning to storage – where he'll be healed, you hope – you begin to return to the trail. You can't help but think that you spent too long on that little diversion, too much time spent on too little. The information was paltry and vague, if it's even correct. You're still cursing under your breath as you follow the trail to a pair of tightly closed doors and, with a final complaint, you break them open with a kick.

File: Mot.jpg (24 KB, 512x480)

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>>42519384

The room inside, a wide open chamber that once contained ancient artefacts looted from countless dead civilisations – although they're all dead now, aren't they? - is littered with corpses. All kinds of devils, although mostly members of the lower orders as far as you can see, but all of them are in the same state. Desiccated, already well into the process of decay, and filling the air with a vile odour, the corpses are somehow more offensive dead than they ever would have been when they were alive.

At the centre of the room, standing in a circle of vague sludgy marks that might once have been corpses, is a majestic coffin. Stone, covered in intricate carvings, the coffin stands upright and open, a slowly swirling shadow leaking out from within. So this is it, the caged death. The coffin itself. Now what? How do you defeat a coffin? Just walk up and... punch it?

“I advise caution, master,” Eligor warns, “There is power here. All these bodies, their life has been drained away to awaken something. THAT thing,” he adds, pointing his bloodstained lance at the coffin, “And whatever lies within.”

Well, that's great and all, but it doesn't really tell you anything. You've still got a stone coffin that needs killing, and no idea how to do it. As you say this, and before you can say anything else, the coffin rises from the ground, floating up in the air on a pillar of invisible power. Before your very eyes, an arm – almost formless, as though it's crafted from the shadows themselves – reaches out from the darkness and claws at the air.

“It's gathering power, master!” Eligor growls, “We must act, before it can unleash its attack!”

>Attack with Eligor and Ripper
>Summon different demons and attack
>Other

File: A serious and mature game.jpg (36 KB, 500x492)

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>>42519551
>Other

Quickly acquire the help of two odd-looking japanese boys.

>>42519551
This guy looks armored towards physical attacks.

>Summon different demons and attack
Pixie and Valk, have them use lightning. That outta get through its defense. Unless that coffin is rubber.

>>42519590
If only right?

>>42519612
>>42519551
It's kind of metaknowledge, but yeah. Pixie and Valkyrie. We can swap in Gurr if we have to

>>42519936
I mean yeah, but if I went into this blind I'd think go Magic and from there I'd think Lightning or Fire to cook him from the inside.

File: Pixie SMT3.jpg (266 KB, 1720x2084)

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Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>42519612
>>42519936

This thing, this coffin, is nothing like what you expected, when it comes to fighting. For one, it's so terribly fast that, in the time it took you to ready your phone, the coffin has already moved across the room – so fast that it borders on teleportation – and seized one of the more intact corpses lying around. By the time you've returned Ripper and Eligor to storage, the coffin has already drained that corpse dry, reducing it to a thick slime, and moved onto another one. Finally, when Pixie and Valkyrie appear on the battlefield, the coffin glows with stolen energy.

“This is bad, boss!” Pixie chirps, sounding surprisingly optimistic, under the circumstances. “This power... I've felt it before!”

What, you ask as you watch a blinding light forming around the coffin, the hell is she talking about?

“That's the power that all Pixies aspire to,” your fairy friend gasps, awestruck, “Almighty power, of the highest order!”

Well, if she's finished admiring the hideous monster, you snarl as you back off, perhaps she could DO something about it?

“We fight!” Valkyrie shouts, cutting off any advice Pixie might have to offer, “We fight and we die!”

This is not going to end well, you mutter to yourself.

>Please roll 3D100, first for Pixie, second for Valkyrie and third for Amelia. I'll take best of the first three.

Rolled 83, 66, 82 = 231 (3d100)

>>42520107
Zap

Rolled 18, 5, 32 = 55 (3d100)

>>42520107

>>42520107
>For one, it's so terribly fast that, in the time it took you to ready your phone, the coffin has already moved across the room – so fast that it borders on teleportation

Fucking beast eyes.

Rolled 94, 44, 70 = 208 (3d100)

>>42520107
My redemption

>>42520191
You've made a Pixie very happy.

File: LawFags.png (172 KB, 500x280)

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Important update from the alternate universe where Amelia went law.

>>42520250
The most handsome and trustworthy angel.

File: Valkyrie.jpg (93 KB, 600x826)

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>>42520131
>>42520191

Now, you shout, attack now!

“To Valhalla!” Valkyrie screeches, clashing her swords together and calling a blindingly bright spear of lightning down from the roof. The bolt strikes the coffin with terrific force, knocking it off its axis and sending its hover into a stumbling dive. Just as it seems to be recovering, Pixie lets loose her attack.

“For the king!” the little fairy yells, her voice sounding like a mouse compared with Valkyrie's. Her voice might be small, but the raw power she hurls at the coffin monster surprises even you. You think, judging by her wide eyes and slack jaw, it surprises her as well. The bolt of magical power strikes the coffin and knocks it backwards, the thing's flight carving a deep furlough in the tiled floor. Yet, for all the force it's struck with, it remains upright and, a moment after if falls still, the door swings open and an explosion fills the hall.

The best thing you can say about the explosion is that you all survive it. The discharged energy, harvested from countless sacrificed demons, washes over you and your party, blasting you back into the wall with enough force to shatter the no-doubt priceless carvings you collide with. For a moment, you see yourself back in Ankou's domain, facing the ancient death guardian in confusion. Before he can do anything more than look up from his abacus and sigh heavily, your consciousness rushes back to reality. You're not dead yet, damn it!

Your demons are looking just as worse for wear as you feel - blackened, singed and cowering from the lingering power that crackles across the floor. Yet, the coffin seems stunned – possibly defeated? - standing inert on the floor with the door yawning open. Staring at that black abyss within, you feel the strangest urge. The urge to... go inside. Not to close the door or anything – that would be ridiculous – but just to approach it and take a good look.

What secrets could lie within?

>>42520429

“Boss?” Pixie gasps, “What's wrong? Boss?”

Wrong? There's nothing wrong, you want to tell her, but you can't seem to form the words. The little amber pendant around your neck is burning, blazing hot, but even that – and the knowledge that your mind is being toyed with, is not enough to stop you from taking a shaky step forwards. It's power you're after, isn't it? There's great power here, enough that even your numb human senses can detect it, if only you could muster the courage to take it.

“Foul sorcery!” you hear Valkyrie hiss, shortly followed by a rattle of hooves as the warrior woman rides up to restrain you. “Master, it is death!” Valkyrie protests, “And not a warrior's death either!”

Then another voice calls out, and this one wipes all other thought from your mind. There's a rough edge to this voice, the grating surface of age, but it's cultured nonetheless. “This battle is meaningless,” the voice sings to you, “All battles are. Men die, and men live. This cycle is eternal, as all are. To fight is senseless. These cattle sacrificed their lives in search of power, but they were nothing. What would you sacrifice, I wonder, for a share of my power?”

Power. Yes. That's what you want, isn't it? The power to bring death to something above even God? Can it really hurt to take a look inside, just to see what there is on offer?

>Step inside the coffin
>Stop. This is madness (Roll a D100, I'll take best of the first three)

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>42520535

>Damn, forgot to roll

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>42520535
>>Stop. This is madness
Yeah yeah yeah, Sparta joke or something

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>42520535
>Stop. This is madness (Roll a D100, I'll take best of the first three)
Yeah, no. When fucking Valkryie is telling you to be cautious there is something up.

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>42520535
>Stop. This is madness (Roll a D100, I'll take best of the first three)

File: 1432433472346.jpg (100 KB, 636x946)

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I think we are back. I miss Moot ;_;

>>42520579

Just what the hell were you thinking? Even if that offer wasn't ridiculously evil sounding, your pendant – a fairly general purpose “evil shit” detector – was so hot that it felt like it might burn straight through your skin. And then, if those two pretty big warnings weren't enough for you, even Valkyrie was trying to hold you back. Yet still, even with all those factors urging sense and rationality, you find yourself taking a few more steps before halting at last.

Is that a vague hint of surprise you feel, coming from whatever deathly entity lies within that coffin? You think it is. Grinning savagely, you swing your fist – protected by the enchanted knuckleduster – in a quick punch, hitting the coffin door hard enough to slam it shut, the stone slicing cleanly through the arm that had been reaching out to claim you. You feel... not a screech exactly, but some kind of psychic emanation coloured by pain and frustration. You've hurt the thing – now to finish it off.

“Jeez boss, don't play around like that!” Pixie scolds you as she glides up to you.

“You chase the wrong kind of death,” Valkyrie adds, rising up on your other side, “Foolish, master.”

Yeah yeah, you grumble as you crack your knuckles. You almost snuggled up in a coffin with some primordial death god on the vague promise of some power. You'll call that foolish alright, but if your demons aren't too busy poking fun, maybe they can help you kill this creep?

“Our pleasure!” both demons say at once, gathering bright clusters of energy around them as they prepare a new attack. This time, at least, you have the chance to look away before the light can blind you. Even through your clenched eyelids, the resulting storm causes a stab of pain against your retinas. When you open your eyes, the coffin is lying on the ground, shattered and empty, in the middle of a smouldering crater.

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>>42520897
>Grinning savagely, you swing your fist – protected by the enchanted knuckleduster – in a quick punch, hitting the coffin door hard enough to slam it shut, the stone slicing cleanly through the arm that had been reaching out to claim you.

Metal.

>>42520897
No recruitung Mot?
Damn. Wouldve been a great edition.

>>42520897

Well, you say to yourself, dusting off your hands during the resulting silence. That's one degenerate cult dealt with. It takes you a while, after that, to remember why you even came here in the first place. You were looking for something – you never got a proper description of what you were supposed to be looking for – to empower Ripper. It's magic, or at least you guess it's going to be magic, so maybe Pixie can sniff it out.

“Looking for something, boss?” your fairy asks.

That's what you said, isn't it? That's why you came here.

“Oh, I thought...” Pixie falters slightly until you gesture for her to continue, “I thought, uh, we were here to help people. Make the world a better place, y'know?”

...Right, of course. That's a part of it. You force a smile onto your face as you look at Pixie. The awkward silence draws out a moment longer before you ask, again, for if Pixie can sense anything magical.

“Sure thing boss,” the little fairy answers you glumly, “There's something here. Not far. I'm getting kinda of a... bad feeling about this though. Maybe we should let this one go.”

>No. No turning back
>What do you mean “bad feeling”?
>Fine. We're done here
>Other

>>42521062
>What do you mean “bad feeling”?
It might help to explain that we are looking for something for Ripper.

>>42521062
>>What do you mean “bad feeling”?

>>42521062
>What do you mean “bad feeling”?

>>42521062
>>No. No turning back
>>What do you mean “bad feeling”?

I need power!

>>42521251
Calm down Vergil.

>>42521062
Is Ripper getting the same "bad feeling"?

>>42521083
>>42521097
>>42521133
>>42521251
>>42521292

Before you make any decision, you're going to need to know exactly what Pixie means by a “bad feeling”. If it's some vague, not sure about this, feeling then she can forget it – you didn't come this way to turn tail and run at the first hint of a risk. On the other hand, if she can give you some concrete information, you'll consider what she has to say.

“Boss, you're kind of scaring me,” Pixie shifts in the air.

Irrelevant. What does she mean by “bad feeling”?

“It's just... jeez, bad!” she shivers, “If I could give you something more than that, I would. I mean, I've spent so much time in that prison of yours with your spooky murder buddy leering at me – I know a bad feeling when I feel one!”

So that's what this is about. Of course it feels a little off, in that case, this is all about Ripper! You're here to make him more powerful!

“Right, boss,” Pixie nods, “...If you think that's a good idea.”

You frown at Pixie for a while longer before sighing. You'll ask Ripper, and see if he has an opinion on the matter. Can she handle translating for you? When Pixie nods – reluctantly, you note – you return Valkyrie to storage and call up Ripper, also noting that Pixie glides a little further away from the phantom killer. The two demons glare at each other for a moment, before Pixie turns to you.

“He, uh, he senses it as well. Not a bad feeling, though,” she shudders, “He likes it. He wants to get more powerful.”

Well that decides it then, doesn't it? There's no turning back now. There's three of you here, you add as you look between Ripper and Pixie, and it looks like she's outvoted.

“This way,” Pixie says, before adding sullenly, “Boss.”

>>42521522
"If its any consolation Pixie, if we ever find ourselves in the lowest part of Hell, we'll see about powering you up too."

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>>42521522

Although she moves with a noticeable lack of urgency, Pixie eventually leads you to locked chest – crafted out of toughened leather and reinforced with tarnished metal. The lock gives way easily enough, ripped out along with a chunk of the leather, and the chest creaks open on stiff hinges. Inside, cushioned on plush velvet, are a trio of antique masks. Masks, you think to yourself, you came all this way for masks?

Well, whatever. Scathach will know what to do with them. Even if you can't use them – although you should, unless the witch sent you on a pointless venture – you might be able to trade them for something you CAN use. Nodding grimly, you slam the lid back down on the chest and set off back through the museum's desolate corridors, dragging the box behind you. As you walk, you barely notice the foetid corpses and decaying remains, paying them enough attention to avoid stepping in them, but no more.

None of your companions are willing to talk. For Ripper, that's not a choice – although you do detect a trace of arrogant satisfaction hanging about him like a shroud – but Pixie is so quiet that you eventually banish her back to storage. It's still quiet, but at least you don't have to deal with her petulant attitude. Perhaps you'll have to watch her, in future, just in case this becomes a problem.

Scathach, when you arrive at the hospital basement, is delighted at the sight of the chest dragging behind you. When you drop it at her feet she lifts the lid with a little telekinetic flourish and levitating the three masks out.

“My, more beautiful in person that I had thought,” the witch purrs, “And I would consider myself a connoisseur of such things. Just one of these is enough to gift your killer, or any creature not bound within a single form, with great and deadly power. Shall I tell you of their gifts?”

Damn right, you tell her with a nod. You want to know.

>>42521848

“Now let me see,” the witch purrs, lifting the first mask up. This one is black, with a heart painted in gold over one eye. “The Mask of the Heartless. I imagine this would be not dissimilar to the spirit you know now. Lethal up close, with a formless grace and an aura of pure terror. Exciting to think about, is it not?”

“Next,” Scathach continues before you can say anything, “Ah, the Mask of the Defiler. Implacable, unshakable and utterly toxic to those around it. The bearer of this mask should resist far more damage than any other form. Useful, no?”

“And what do we have here?” Again, the female demon cuts you off, “Ah, the Mask of the Legion. Unlike the others, this one bears a strong magical potential and not one bound to a single element. Versatile, would you not agree? However, you'll need to find someone else to carry your sword, in the future.”

Those all sound delightfully violent, you mutter. You weren't expecting Ripper to get any nicer or anything, but even these characters sound a little too... No. They're exactly what you need.

“I warn you, the transformation will be permanent. Irreversible. The other two masks, well, I shall keep those for myself,” behind her own mask, Scathach's eyes are bright, “A fair trade, for my services. Now, cursed one, what form do you want your guardian to take?”

What indeed?

>Heartless, the close up killer
>Defiler, the poisonous stalwart
>Legion, the magical terror
>I'd rather keep Ripper as he is

>>42522058
>>Heartless, the close up killer

Speaking of Heartless, I want this pixie transformed into some sort of badge that lets me detect magical objects and cornerstones. I'm tired of the backtalk.

>>42522058
>Heartless, the close up killer
Going to have to go with the pure physical damage one. We can cover magic and tankiness..

>>42522058
>>Heartless, the close up killer

>>42522058
What a cunt, the Legion mask would be wonderfull to Eligor.

>>42522128
Veto'd on the pixie. If you start transforming everybody that gives you a second opinion we'll be out of people fast. Also thats extremely ungrateful considering what she's done for us.

>>42522128
Whoa, lets not be too hasty here. Im not sure what crawled up her ass either but im not about to turn her into jewlery for being concerned about Ripper.

>>42522177
>>42522185

Purge the weak!

>>42522206
Lucy what are you doing in this thread?

>>42522058
>Heartless, the close up killer

>>42522128
nah. What we really need is either MORE mind resist or a way to keep track of our own sanity.

>>42522379
Its a balancing act. We need to become strong enough to fight this war while maintaining our humanity. Characters like Undine, Pixie, and Cass will be instrumental to that. Maybe Cu too.

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>>42522128
>>42522130
>>42522141
>>42522379

You don't want to take Ripper too far from what he is now – after all, he's served you well so far – so there is little in the way of a choice. You'll go with the close up killer – Heartless. The name? Eh, you can take it or leave it. You might just keep calling him Jack in your more relaxed moments.

“The choice has been made!” Scathach announces dramatically, taking your chosen mask and hurling it into the open fire that replaced the furnace. When the mask lands in the fire it vanishes immediately, turning the flames an inky black colour. For a moment – a brief, passing moment – you feel... strange. Like something inside you was ripped up and violently sewn back together. Like some small part of your own soul was just carved into a new shape.

“Go ahead, call it up,” Scathach purrs, apparently satisfied with the result.

Really, you ask with surprise, that's it? When Scathach gives you a gracious nod, you shrug a little and summon your newest demon. It's... not what you were expecting. Was this what Scathach said about binding Ripper to a single, solid form? What was once smoke and constantly blurring movement has concentrated into a lean, lethal form. You were expecting knives or something, but this demon's fingers look powerful enough to tear flesh apart with the greatest of ease.

“Master...” Heartless hisses, the words slipping out from its bared teeth, “I will serve you.”

It can talk? You're impressed. Ripper was the strong, silent type, but you can just imagine all the wonderful conversations you're likely to have with your new friend.

“Who shall I rend first, master?” it growls.

Eh, nobody. For now, you add, tapping your phone to return the killer to storage. You look up at Scathach, who gives you an indulgent shrug.

“No refunds,” she tells you cheerfully.

Wait, listen to me. I just thought of this from a game perspective. We now have three lightning demons. We only need two. Undine is already a healer with the same downsides as pixie. And, if we need to fight and search for a cornerstone at the same time, we're wasting a slot on her. I recommend turning her into an object on actual rational grounds.

>>42522513
We can swap pretty quick and in case we are down people we have more people fresh for the fight. I'll consider it if our roster is full but not before.

>>42522601
What if we go on a long stretch of demon recruiting without access to Scathatch? We're at 7 of 10 and if Scathatch becomes unavailable for some reason, we might need to drop somebody. Better to get the best reward now, especially since pixie is at minimum usefulness.

>>42522513
Its good to have backup and she is better at lightning that Valkyrie.

>>42522511

Wonderful. Well, you weren't too happy with Ripper when you first got him, but you warmed up to the killer soon enough – you can't imagine it'll be too different here. So you thank Scathach for her help and start to head out of the hospital.

“Wait, cursed one,” Scathach calls out to you, “Your little problem. Have you found a solution yet?”

Your problem – well, you don't need three tries to guess what she means by that. In other words, she's asking if you've found another way of dealing with the Outsider. The question is simple enough, but it raises an issue – who, exactly, can you tell about this? The priest knows, but has sworn to silence. Scathach knows some of the situation, but not your current plan. The fewer people that know a secret the better, but you need to trust some people. Does Cassandra need to know? Can she be trusted to keep a secret?

“Ah, never mind,” one of Scathach's eyes dips in a secretive wink, “I won't pry. A secret is best shared between two people – the more people who know, the less of a secret it is.”

How does she always do that, pluck the thoughts right from your mind?

“It's a talent,” Scathach assures you smugly, “But in this case, it was obvious.”

Damn it, you hiss, before shrugging and forcing a stoic smile. You need to go home and get some rest. Maybe, when Cassandra has slept off all that wine, you can have a serious talk.

>I think that's a decent place to finish for tonight. Next thread on Friday, I think, and I'll hang about for a while.

>>42522855
>Does Cassandra need to know?
Yeah she kinda does, specially if she is coming with us to find the cornerstones. Can't really go 'Oh by the way I am sending this one to Hell for the (heh) hell of it' out of the blue like that.

Thanks for the run boss.

>>42522855
So we can't send any cornerstones to the fairy kingdom, right Moloch?

>>42522963

Unfortunately not. For reasons of consistency, mainly. I don't want to start changing the "rules" now that I've laid them down.

>>42523025
Alright that means 1 for Heaven and 1 for Hell. The question is which one first.

We know if we do Heaven we'll be fighting an empowered Michael but I have no idea what Hell's 4th cornerstone's champ will be.

My vote I suppose would be Heaven first. Enemy you know after all. We also might have an easier time tricking the Hell's 4th champion into taking down Michael. I don't think it would be possible to do the reverse.

>>42523098
I agree. Michael generally is a giant faggot. :)

>>42523123
:^)

We should be total dicks about it too. Go to Raphael and bow down and say we have seen the errors of our ways and wish to serve the lord and then just fuck em on the fourth cornerstone

>>42523462
I mean Gabriel. Raphael's dead, lol.

>>42523462
While I get that, I'd rather kill Gabby before we give the 3rd cornerstone to Heaven. You don't want to fight TWO empowered Archangels at the same time right?

>>42523489
You're right. Michael would be a big enough faggot to have to deal with anyway, he doesn't need back up considering how gay and lame he is. :)))))))))))

>>42523098
Id also vote for heaven first, but only so that michael isnt a raving lunatic when we meet him.