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>>45087236

You sit for a while in silence, both staring straight ahead, before Cassandra finally picks up her glass, regarding the dark red liquid within. “To Mastema,” she says, with the slightest hint of mockery in her voice, “And to Lucy.”

Implying, you suspect, a certain desire for Lucy to share that angel's fate. Murmuring her words back to her, you take your glass of water and tap it against hers. It's an odd moment – you're not exactly celebrating his death, but you're not mourning him either. It's almost like you're not sure how you feel about it, or what you should do next.

“World's a better place without him,” Cassandra says simply, looking down into her glass of wine, “I know, not very charitable of me to say so, but it's true. The world doesn't need scheming manipulators any more than it needs overt tyrants.” She turns to you, a small smile playing around the corner of her mouth, “Wouldn't you agree?”

You just wanted a rest, you think bitterly to yourself, not to engage in mind games.

“I know, I know,” Cassandra holds up her hands, “Rude. Not what you're here for. That's fine – it's a topic for another day. I did want to talk to you for a bit though, about your immediate plans. There's still a lot going on out there – fallen angels, rampaging monsters, that kind of thing.”

A lot of bloody work, in other words.

“Not all of it,” she insists, “Just, I guess, most of it. You could always go and talk with Titania if you feel like something peaceful – that is, if you were serious about that alliance thing.” Shrugging, Cassandra turns back to her glass of wine, peering down into the depths. You feel, in some small way, like she's testing you.

>I've got some time. Let's talk, right now
>I was thinking of getting everyone and heading South
>You're right, we should go after Uriel and Nidhoggr
>Let's go and speak with Titania together
>Other

>>45087241
>You're right, we should go after Uriel and Nidhoggr
"Probably best to clean up loose ends before we move on the South and Gabriel could use some more time to consolidate Law before making alliances. Hows the leg? You up to a couple more fights today?"

Though
>I've got some time. If you want you talk, right now

>>45087241
>>45087298
This

>>45087241
>>I've got some time. Let's talk, right now
>>You're right, we should go after Uriel and Nidhoggr
I assume we're trying to talk her around to the three gods thing.

>>45087241
"Mister Black, do you know Nidhoggr's strengths and weaknesses? I can guess but it's good to have confirmation. In return for the information I'll go put it down and stop its rampage in this world."

>>45087298
>>45087388
>>45087393
>>45087409

Actually, you suggest, you've got some time now if she wanted to talk. She said immediate plans – so it's about the idea you proposed earlier, the thing about sharing Amelia's divine power?

“Got it in one,” Cassandra runs her finger around the rim of her glass as she thinks, “It's a lot of responsibility, you know, and it's not an easy job. At least, Amelia didn't make it look very easy,” grimacing, here, as she says this.

That's your point, you counter, Amelia dropped the ball because she was too alone. If there had been someone else there, pointing out whenever she made a mistake...

“They'd never get a moment's rest,” Cassandra interrupts, with something approaching a smirk, “No, I get what you mean. If there had been someone there to stop her from keeping that... that monster alive...” She shakes her head, as if lamenting the past, “Well, it would have been for the best, that's all I'm saying.”

To tell the truth, you admit, you're still a little uncertain about it. It's a big step to take, and there's no way of knowing if it's the right decision or not. Though, does Cassandra have any objections to the three you suggested? You thought she might feel... left out or something.

“I have something here,” Cassandra says softly, yet with a firm resolve in her voice, “A chance to work with Gabriel and make things better. I'm not sure I could do that, if I vanished off to play God somewhere else. For now, I'm right where I want to be – where I NEED to be.” Turning in her seat, she gives you a cautious smile, “So, on the subject of making the world a better place...”

Right, you nod, it's time to tie up a few loose ends. How does she feel about a few more fights, is her leg strong enough to stand?

>>45087546
>“They'd never get a moment's rest,” Cassandra interrupts, with something approaching a smirk

Woman she made like 3 mistakes over the course of millions of years. That's a pretty good ratio.

>>45087546

“A little stiff,” Cassandra pats her leg, the tear in her trousers flapping loosely, “But it's all healed up. Considering the arrow was aiming for my heart, I really don't think I can complain too much about a scratch like this. So, Nidhoggr and Uriel, huh? Got an idea of how best to approach this?”

Gathering information, you reply, before you do anything else. With that in mind, you speak up a little so that you have Mister Black's attention. Does he know anything, you ask, about Nidhoggr's strengths or weaknesses?

“Hmm,” Mister Black pauses in the middle of polishing a glass, “Once, I would have said that he was vulnerable to lightning magic. Now though, I'm not sure exactly what that monster is. These... changes are quite unprecedented. I would approach the situation with an open mind.” Peering into the mirror sheen, he puts the glass below the bar, “But generally, I would expect a beast of that size to be slow, yet terribly strong. Prepare accordingly, I would suggest. Now, about my fee for that little hint...”

You'll kill the thing, you offer, and stop its rampage. Better to take care of it now, before it flattens half the city, right?

“That shall suffice,” Mister Black nods his head, a slight smile playing around his lips. The act of “paying” for the information seemed more like a formality than anything else, a required part of the contract. “And you might be wise to start your search in the slums. A wounded beast never roams too far from its lair, after all.”

Thanking him again, you hop off the stool and pull out your phone, tapping out a quick message to everyone. Time to move out.

>>45087647

On the way to the slums, walking quietly through the snowy streets with every sense primed for the slightest rumble, there is little to occupy your mind. In your overcautious state, every little action takes on a significance – from a pile of snow listing to one side or a gradual shift in the wind. An innocuous odour, not a rare thing in these noisome streets, suddenly becomes a threat of things to come. When you reach the cathedral – Joseph, you notice, doesn't seem to hold any pleasant nostalgia for this place – Cassandra speaks up.

“The tower,” she suggests, “We put someone up there and we'd have a lookout. It would be much easier to track Nidhoggr that way, if it tries to flee. At least, it would be easier than trying to find it on foot with all those tight streets.”

She makes it sound like a stealthy thing, you remark, and not a giant half-mechanical worm monster.

“You'd be surprised,” Cassandra shrugs, “And the worm isn't the only danger out there. Uriel is still prowling – do you really want him to get the drop on you? Anyway, it IS a risk, we'd be one man down if we put someone up there. Plus, if Uriel went after them, they'd be alone...”

>We're sticking together. I won't isolate someone
>Alright, we'll have a lookout. We should send... (Who?)
>Other

>>45087665
>>Alright, we'll have a lookout. We should send... (Who?)
Joseph.
"If it comes to that Gabriel should be able to hold Uriel long enough for us to get there. She could also summon Law reinforcements."

>>45087665
>>Alright, we'll have a lookout. We should send... (Who?)
Joseph

>>45087665
>>Alright, we'll have a lookout. We should send... (Who?)
Joseph, Gabriel is an archangel and a light show could get us coming fast

>>45087665
>>Alright, we'll have a lookout. We should send... (Who?)
I'll throw in my vote for Joseph. He'd better not get distracted though.

>>45087877
>>45087801
>>45087743
>>45087695

Okay, you say as you nod slowly, you'll have a lookout. Joseph, you add, does he feel up to it?

“Ah,” Joseph scratches his head, “I should be able to watch for any signs of trouble. I'll phone you if I see anything, and I'll have Gabriel to watch my back if things go wrong. Yes, I'll do it – but if you need me to come running, just call and I'll get there as fast as I can.”

“Just keep your fuckin' eyes open,” Leon mutters darkly, “And pointed in the right direction. I ain't gonna get my arse burned off cause you wanted to chase some feathery tail.”

Joseph bristles at that, frowning hard at Leon, but he doesn't take the bait. Nodding sharply at you, he turns and makes his way into the cathedral. As he vanishes off up into the lofty vantage point, the rest of your group makes your way into the slums. As you walk, you repeat Leon's words to yourself in an attempt to puzzle them out. Gabriel doesn't even have a tail...

You're walking for a while, picking your way carefully through broken buildings and narrow streets, when your phone purrs. “I see it now,” Joseph tells you, without any introductions, “I think it's asleep. It's certainly not moving much, at least. Uh, let me see... it's curled up around a thin tower like building to the left of you, if I've got your position right. There's nothing else moving down there, so it must be you.”

A thin tower, you repeat as you scrabble up onto a broken roof to get a decent look out across the slums. It's not much, but it's far better than the view from the ground. You see the building now – not a tower, so much as the ruins of one – and the monster coiled around it. Sliding down from the roof, you press your finger to your lips and point out the way forwards.

File: Nidhoggr.jpg (37 KB, 576x414)

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>>45087978

You're glad to see a clearing ahead of you – although you're somewhat less glad to see the mutated Nidhoggr up close – but the lack of a clear escape route is troubling. You can see the path that Nidhoggr made upon entering this shattered clearing, a deep ditch carved into the ground, but fallen rubble has blocked that exit. Even getting into the clearing had been something of an ordeal, requiring you to worm your way through a broken outer wall. Not something you can do, unfortunately, in a hurry.

Just as Joseph suggested, Nidhoggr seems to be asleep, coiled tightly in a protective huddle. The single biomechanical arm is an anomaly, thrust out from its wounded side and awkwardly propped up on the ground. When you see the rough head section – eyeless, with little more than a giant mouth – you recognise Raphael's spear jutting from the forehead, like a twisted unicorn horn. The flesh around that weapon is blistered with useless random growths, tumours that have burst open to reveal metal pieces of no purpose whatsoever. Once again, seeing the thing brings a sudden pity to mind – this thing deserves a merciful death.

“We've got the drop on it,” Petra murmurs, “It will be slow, yes? We'll have time to strike before it has uncoiled.”

>How should you launch the attack?
>For convenience, I'll split the dice rolls up into two waves, one with three people and one with two.

>>45088043
>1st Wave
Mia - Cern ("Does this make me big worm when we kill this?) - Parvati

Leon - Baphomet - Fuuki

Elliot - Fortuna - Kagutsuchi

>2nd wave
Petra - Dullahan - Berserker

Cass - Wingless - Ose


Mia Debilitates and Luster Candy
Fuu-ki Fog Breathes
Fortuna does her thing.
Have Parvati give Lightning a go, see if it damages him more than Fire from Baphomet/Kagu

>>45088043
>>45088110
This should work. Do we get any bonus for a surprise round?

>>45088110
>>45088043
This

>>45088160

>Nidhoggr is going to be at a pretty steep penalty for a sneak attack, yes.

>>45088214
Petra can finally try out her glove then.

File: Fuu-ki.jpg (472 KB, 1936x2460)

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Rolled 17, 3, 40, 40, 69 = 169 (5d70)

>>45088110
>>45088160
>>45088167

It's time, you decide, to hunt some worthy prey. That means Cernunnos, here to spread his own particular brand of carnage. With Parvati backing him up with magical support, that should hit pretty hard. Baphomet and Fuu-Ki for Leon – a good mix of magic and physical aggression – while you want Elliot playing his usual tricks. You were lucky to find this thing sleeping, but you want to tilt the odds in your favour as much as you can.

Petra and Cassandra, you add as an afterthought, should hold back a little and see how best to attack. They can be the second wave, capitalising on whatever openings the others make. The pair nod when you mention this, seemingly happy to work together – or happy to compete against one another, which seems more likely somehow.

Perhaps its the sound – or some other imperceptible shift in the currents of this world – of your summoning, but Nidhoggr begins to stir. Slow, weary with sleep and its gruesome injuries, the beast is slow to unwind itself from the tower. Wasting little time, you shout for the attack to begin.

>Please roll 5D120, for Cern, Parvati, Baphomet, Fuu-Ki and Kagutsuchi. I'll take the highest of the first three, and Fortuna's modifier will apply.
>Also a 5D10 dodge roll, aiming to beat 3. He's pretty easy to dodge!

Rolled 36, 11, 78, 104, 94 = 323 (5d120)

>>45088340
Attack roll.

Rolled 7, 8, 8, 2, 6 = 31 (5d10)

>>45088340
Dodge roll

Rolled 58, 43, 78, 4, 55 = 238 (5d120)

>>45088340

Rolled 90, 20, 107, 51, 78 = 346 (5d120)

>>45088340
So is he going to be rolling a d140 when he wakes up?

>Nidd
7, 1, 30, 30 59

>Us
100, 53, 117, 114, 104

>>45088445
Jesus, Nidd is totally a nigg.

>>45088478
Wait til he wakes up. He might not be as strong as he was, but he still took down Raph.

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>>45088416
>>45088407
>>45088388
>>45088372

“Into the fray!” Cernunnos roars, beating one meaty fist against his bare chest as he charges towards Nidhoggr, bring his spear down to rake the stone tip against pallid flesh. The barbaric weapon easily parts Nidhoggr's soft underbelly, tearing through the filthy white material and spilling out a flood of dark blood. The stench is appalling, but that barely seems to bother the furious hunter, who laughs aloud and scoops up a great handful of the blood, smearing it across his bone mask.

That's pretty gross.

Parvati, following Mister Black's suggestion, hurls lightning at the creature. The thunderbolt strikes home, blinding sparks playing across the random metal spikes and shards erupting from Nidhoggr's flesh. That same flesh darkens and burns around the metal implants, some parts of it even bubbling and melting away. Mister Black, once again, knows his stuff. Baphomet is quick to follow up with a ball of smoky fire, casting the flicking flames into an exposed side. The fire doesn't seem quite so effective, dampening down as it tries to consume the sickly body. Kagutsuchi meets much the same result, with his torrent of flame blackening the flesh but leaving it remarkably intact. There is some damage, true, but far less than you expected. The flames distract the sleepy creature, though, and Fuu-Ki is able to cut deep with his glaive, severing one of those disturbingly human hands that Nidhoggr has.

Not so bad for a first attack, you think to yourself, before opening your mouth to call for the second wave. Then you stop, horrified at what you're seeing. From the wounds Cernunnos and Fuu-Ki inflicted, new metallic flesh is flourishing, repairing the damage they inflicted in an instant. The spear jutting from Nidhoggr's brow seems to... glow as the regeneration takes effect.

>Order the second wave as planned
>A new plan is needed (Write in)

>>45088601
>A new plan is needed (Write in)
Parvati enchant everyone's weapons with Lightning. All Melee units need to try and dig that spear out of Nidhoggr's flesh ASAP.

>>45088632
Like have someone like Berserker pull it out (and get rid of it immediately) as the others fuck up the flesh holding it. It needs to be fast and coordinated so we don't give the flesh time to regenerate.

>>45088632
>>45088601
This. Get that spear gone. Other than focusing on that the plan should work.

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Rolled 138, 23, 129, 2, 3 = 295 (5d140)

>>45088632
>>45088712

That spear, the source of all this corruption, needs to go. Until you can stop Nidhoggr from simply healing any damage you inflict – faster, even, than you can reliably inflict – you won't be able to stop the thing. It's going to be harder now, though, that the beast has woken fully. It drags itself up to its full height and roars, spittle raining thickly from its enormous maw. There are more than just teeth in that mouth – there are gun barrels sprouting awkwardly from the guns, pointing out at all angles.

Petra grins, seemingly eager for this battle, and flexes out the fingers of her left hand, a few sparks playing around her glove as she does so. “You hear that, yes?” she tells Berserker, “The spear. Get it out quickly, and get it away quickly. No holding onto it, yes?” The warrior nods, growling to himself as his rage builds.

“Oh,” Cassandra says lightly, Ose folding his arms beside her, “Did you think you were going to get it out? I suppose we'll have to see about that.” She smiles, Petra returning her expression with a savage grin. They're... sort of getting along?

You'll lend a hand, you think, gesturing for Parvati to spread a little magic. As your various weapons glow with a blue light, you swear that you see Nidhoggr retreat slightly. It knows what's coming.

>Please roll 5D120, for Dullahan, Berserker, Wingless, Ose and Petra. Highest of the first three, and Fortuna's modifier will still apply
>Also a dodge roll of 5D10, aiming to beat 4.

Rolled 36, 97, 105, 105, 98 = 441 (5d120)

>>45088848
Hey Petra got lucky for once. Though to be honest we probably shouldn't risk her now that he is at d140 dicepool.

Rolled 4, 10, 4, 7, 5 = 30 (5d10)

>>45088848
Dodge roll.

Rolled 80, 7, 73, 118, 52 = 330 (5d120)

>>45088848
Fighting roll. Looks like Ose did well.
>>45088881
Agreed. Keep Petra back for now.

>>45088881
>Though to be honest we probably shouldn't risk her now that he is at d140 dicepool.
After this round I mean if that wasn't obvious.

>>45088898
World of AGI

Rolled 64, 55, 11, 77, 12 = 219 (5d120)

>>45088848

>Nidd
128, 13, 119, 1, 1,

>Us
90, 107, 115, 128, 108

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>>45088881
>>45088898
>>45088908

Rearing up, the bass howl that Nidhoggr lets out suddenly changes, drowning in a metallic rattle that almost reminds you of coughing. It takes you a moment to realise what is coming, but as soon as the thought passes your mind the warning cry is on your lips. When Nidhoggr's maw yawns open once more, those glistening gun barrels have sprouted a few inches further out and there is only the slightest pause before they erupt in strobes of bright light.

Bullets tear up the ground around the assembled demons, with Petra throwing herself to the ground as a few scattered shots punch darkened holes in the snow around her. The rest of the demons, all clamouring to be the first ones to take the spear from Nidhoggr's brow, sprint forwards instead. To a man, they all duck under the curtain of gunfire and begin the monumental task of scaling the beast.

At least, that's what most of them do. Ose, on the other hand, takes a moment to size up his opponent before dropping into a low crouch. Exploding into motion, his powerful leap takes his right up to Nidhoggr's skull in a single, graceful motion. His swords, arcs of lightning dancing along their blades, flash as he carves away the tumorous flesh around the spear. As soon as it is exposed – although the blackened flesh is slow to grow back, scorched by the lightning – he seizes it in the pair of blades and hurls it away, without ever touching it against his bare flesh. A terrible screech, accompanied by aimless spurts of gunfire, escapes the beast as it writhes, throwing the various demons scaling it away. The metal parts of it seem to darken slightly, cut off from the source of their power.

Now the real fight can begin.

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Rolled 97, 128, 53, 7, 18 = 303 (5d140)

>>45089197

Leaping upon one of Nidhoggr's thrashing legs, Dullahan plants her sword into the ground – the blade punching straight through the limb in the process. Screaming, Nidhoggr pulls carelessly back, letting the impaled limb tear free as the ravenous lightning consumes its flesh. Berseker strikes in much the same way, swinging his heavy lump of metal about in deadly arcs and hewing great chunks of flesh out of Nidhoggr's underbelly. Thick blood drips out, and this time the wounds show no sign of healing.

Wingless, on the other hand, shows no desire to lunge forwards and indulge in bloodlust. Her lace dress flutters slightly as she struts around to Nidhoggr's vast mechanical arm. Waiting, taunting the giant demon, she taps her heel lightly. Screaming with rage, Nidhoggr slams that steel arm down only to find that Wingless has already moved, her sword flashing out to take the “foot” off in a single stroke. Unbalanced, Nidhoggr lists feebly to the side. Now that's disabled – for a moment, at least – you call for Petra to back off while she has the chance.

“Not yet!” she insists, scrabbling to her feet and throwing out an unusually flamboyant gesture. A little fire flickers at her fingers, only for a far greater flame to explode into existence before Nidhoggr. When the smoke clears, the beast's blunt face is blackened, patches of white bone glistening through. “Now I'm done!” Petra confirms, back off to join Cassandra at a safe distance.

“Guys,” Joseph says, his voice coming from your phone's speaker, “I'm seeing movement here. Something might be headed your way soon.”

All the more reason, you decide, to make this quick.

>Please roll 5D120, for Cern, Parvati, Baphomet, Fuu-Ki and Kagutsuchi. Same as before, with Fortuna's modifier
>Also a 5D10 dodge roll, aiming to beat 5.

Rolled 88, 92, 3, 11, 59 = 253 (5d120)

>>45089234

Rolled 9, 4, 9, 7, 1 = 30 (5d10)

>>45089234

Rolled 115, 55, 65, 75, 113 = 423 (5d120)

>>45089234

Rolled 37, 18, 48, 16, 88 = 207 (5d120)

>>45089234
Parvati is probably going to have to heal herself. Or maybe we can change her out with Succubus/

>>45089234
>Nidd
87, 118, 43, 1, 8

>Us
125, 102, 75, 85, 123

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>>45089243
>>45089258
>>45089267

You might have stopped his regeneration, you notice, but that hasn't stopped more and more of those damned guns bursting from Nidhoggr's flesh with each passing moment. You wonder if they'll ever stop, or if you'll end up fighting a giant pile of automatic weapons before too long. Perhaps that's his final form or something. Even as you're crying for the party to duck, to scatter to the four winds if that's what it takes to evade, Nidhoggr's body erupts in flashing gunfire.

Most of the demons are able to dodge, ducking in and out of sheets of bullets that flicker and dance against the ground. Kagutsuchi, never the quickest customer, is content to throw up a haze of heat that reduces the projectiles to molten lead – something he seems to care little about, apparently – while Parvati is just... too slow. She takes a bullet low, punching clean through her unarmoured stomach, and sits down hard. “Oh,” she whispers, seemingly unable to raise her voice as blood darkens her dress.

Heedless of her plight, Kagutsuchi sends that heat haze rippling out from his body as a single missile, darkening Nidhoggr's flesh and causing great sheets of his leathery skin to peel away. Even more disgusting, you note absently. Sticking to more conventional fire, Baphomet sets a torch to that flag of loose skin, finally causing the flames to spread and climb up Nidhoggr's body. With mist billowing from the cavernous hollow of his head, Fuu-Ki sways back as he winds up a powerful throw, casting his glaive out like a tremendous boomerang. Describing a flashing arc in the air, it bites deep into Nidhoggr's maw, tearing its way through one cheek. Rearing away from the pain, the beast is open to Cernunnos' attack, the horned god's spear plunging deep into tender flesh and tearing upwards to loosen the worm's entrails. They fall, ponderously, through the wound to slop about at Cernunnos' feet.

>>45089516

Good, you breathe as you survey the damage, it can't be long now. Putting your phone to your ear, you call out to Joseph for a status update. Has he seen Uriel lately?

“No, I think I've lost him,” Joseph says, his voice uncertain, “He was heading your way, like I said, and then he just stopped. I lost sight of him not long after that, but it didn't look like he was retreating. He might have realised I was watching him.”

You curse softly as you process this information, your gaze torn between Nidhoggr and Joseph's distant vantage point. Is he okay, you ask, to keep up his watch?

“I'm not sure,” Joseph admits, “It'd put my mind at ease somewhat if you sent some reinforcements back here. I've got Gabriel, but...”

>Order him to hold his ground
>Order him to hide for now
>Send Petra and Cassandra back to his position. Keep up the attack on Nidhoggr
>Other

>>45089539
>>Send Petra and Cassandra back to his position. Keep up the attack on Nidhoggr
Hide til they get there

>>45089539
>Send Petra and Cassandra back to his position. Keep up the attack on Nidhoggr
We should be able to clean up Nidhoggr. We'll be right behind them.

>Other
Loan Petra our Scarf. Nidd is already debilitated and if they run into Uriel they'll need all the help they can get.

>>45089539
>Send Petra and Cassandra back to his position. Keep up the attack on Nidhoggr

File: Fortuna.jpg (53 KB, 487x748)

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Rolled 72, 134, 28, 71 = 305 (4d140)

>>45089617
>>45089582
>>45089569

You're sending Petra and Cassandra to his position, you say quickly as you hurry over to the pair of them, so stay hidden until they get there.

“Got it,” Joseph's reply is clipped, abrupt, “Going silent until then.” Just as abruptly, he hangs up, leaving you with the stupid hum of an empty line. Shaking your head, you pull off your scarf and thrust it out to Petra.

Take it, you urge her, and get back to Joseph. If Uriel is coming for him, he's going to need all the help he can get. You can take care of things here – probably – and you'll join them as soon as possible. Don't waste any time, you add as you hurry back to Nidhoggr, just go! Petra, the scarf dangling from her fist like a flag, nods once and races off. Cassandra joins her a moment later, Ose padding quickly after her.

Now then, you mutter, time to finish this monster off. That might not be as easy as you expect, though – judging by the shuddering within his throat, Nidhoggr is preparing for something big, something that is sure to be unpleasant.

>Please roll a 4D120, for Cernunnos, Baphomet, Fuu-Ki, and Kagutsuchi. Parvati is spending her turn healing. I'll take the best of the first three, and Fortuna's modifier will still apply.
>Also a 5D10 dodge roll, Parvati included in that. This is aiming to beat 8, so good luck!

Rolled 40, 51, 25, 32 = 148 (4d120)

>>45089756
Damn was hoping to just desummon Parvati.

Rolled 7, 2, 7, 3, 3 = 22 (5d10)

>>45089756
Dodge roll.

Rolled 119, 72, 1, 10 = 202 (4d120)

>>45089756

Rolled 18, 115, 94, 69 = 296 (4d120)

>>45089756

Rolled 38, 101, 63, 57 = 259 (4d120)

>>45089756
This might be bad.

>>45089756
>Nidd
62, 124, 18, 61

>Us
129, 125, 104, 79

Baphomet INCHES by with Fortuna's mod.

>>45089870
This is why you respect the dice gods. They are fickle and cruel.

>>45089813
>>45089842

With a shuddering motion, Nidhoggr's blunt head jolts once, the ripple travelling all the way down its loathsome body until it reaches the rent that Cernunnos had torn in it. With a wet squelching sound, something inside the giant worm bursts and thick, bubbling acid begins to flood out from the wound. It just ripped its own stomach open, you realise with horrified fascination, just to try and kill you.

There was no way that Cernunnos, still poised beneath the beast's underbelly, could avoid such an attack. The frothing acid pours over him in a vile torrent, hissing furiously as it burns his exposed skin. Just the sight of it is enough to cause Leon to moan with dismay, as if he cannot stop himself from imagining the gruesome injuries that would result from such an attack. Then, taking your breath away, Cernunnos bursts from the vile waterfall and launches himself at Nidhoggr, dropping his spear and clinging to the pallid flesh with his bare hands.

As Cernunnos rips and tears at the monster, Baphomet hurriedly float a few feet higher, desperate to get away from that bubbling filth. Fuu-Ki throws his glaive out again, a heavy wind blasting the tide of acid away from him in a stinking wave. His throw is a good one – a damn good one, in fact – and leaves a glistening crescent of blood on Nidhoggr's slit throat. Kagutsuchi doesn't even try to avoid the acid – he just strides through the burning tide, bearing it stoically, and grapples with Nidhoggr's torso. Reaching inside, he tears the wound wider still, ripping and tearing at the huge guts within.

Even as Nidhoggr groans and tumbles backwards, entering the final climax of its death spasms, Parvati is helpless to prevent the acid from creeping up onto her skin. At least she fights back the worst of her screams and dies in silence, vanishing from the world as Nidhoggr finally dies.

>>45090098
Poor Parvati

>>45090191
Was hoping to preserve her. We don't have an ice Demon now.

>>45090201
We should have started succubus she has lightning too. As does Nadja.

>>45090201
Doesn't Mizuchi have ice magic?

>>45090251
Wait yeah, you are right.

>>45090234
We didnt know if Lightning for sure was going to work. Mister Black didn't know if he retained his weakness after being Nyarly'd. That's why we went multi elemental.

>>45090098

“Disgusting,” Elliot remarks, in a matter of fact voice, “Really, I mean that. We do such lovely things, on these little expeditions of ours.”

You ignore him, turning your back on the elegantly dressed young man and starting to punch Cassandra's number into your phone. You get the first few digits down before a thunderous explosion disturbs you. Jolting around, you cast a panicked glance up to the tower where Joseph had been keeping watch – ruined, now, and wreathed in a thick cloud of oily black smoke. Bursting through the smoke, jumping freely away, is a lumpen metal figure – Uriel, perhaps, and retreating?

Your blood runs cold at the sight of that explosion. Is he retreating because his work is done, the lives of your companions extinguished? Or perhaps that explosion was his parting salvo, one last bitter surprise to cover his escape – you won't know until you've seen for yourself. You're already breaking into a run, heading for the cathedral, when your phone buzzes in your hand. Oh, you say softly, you'd forgotten about that in all the confusion.

“What was that?” Elliot asks desperately as he hurries over, “They didn't, did they? They blew it all up!”

“Mia,” Cassandra says bluntly, “We're all alive. That's the good bit. A little banged up, but we're all alive. When Uriel saw there were three of it, he decided to cut his losses and run. Damned coward – I never expected that from him.”

They're okay, you mouth to Elliot, before turning back to your phone. What, you ask Cassandra, does she suggest?

“Regroup, first of all,” she says simply, “But be careful – Uriel might be looking for stragglers. We've got to stick together!”

Repeating that to yourself, you end the call. The cathedral, you tell Leon and Elliot, you need to head back.

>>45090333

Your flight back to the cathedral is a fraught one, with flashes of a leaping shadow swinging in and out of your vision. It could be Uriel, following you just close enough that he's always in the corner of your eye, or it could be some other resident of this dismal slum, keeping curious watch over you. You wish it was the latter. You suspect the former. As you get closer to the cathedral, the stench of smoke and burning stone – you didn't even realise that had a smell – fills your senses. Inside, Cassandra is waiting for you.

“It's worse than it looks,” she tells you straight away, which leaves you understandably worried. She leads you through to Joseph, who is slumped against the wall. He looks... pretty bad. His exposed skin is almost completely black, save for the whites of his wide, frantic eyes. “Mostly soot and grime,” Cassandra tells you, reaching down to wipe some of it away. Beneath, Joseph still has some skin – a blessing, under the circumstances.

“Got the drop on me,” he rasps, with the kind of voice you'd expect from a lifelong smoker, “He just... poured fire into the tower, like it was water. I ran, he followed me down. When he saw I wasn't alone, he took off. Heard something, when he left. What was it?”

That, you reply, was when he blew up the tower.

“Bastard,” Joseph remarks, “I liked that tower.”

“What next, then?” Petra asks quietly, “His ankle is bad. Sprained, I think, when he was running. A quick heal, yes, but he needs rest...”

“Uriel is still out there,” Cassandra reminds you, “He needs to die.”

>Leave Joseph with a guard. Chase Uriel
>Have someone take Joseph to safety
>Get everyone to retreat for now. Uriel can wait
>Other

>>45090421
>Have someone take Joseph to safety
Gabriel. She is an Archangel, she should have the strength to carry him to Hellfire or the Fairy Kingdom. Summon Archangel the demon to be an escort as well.

>>45090485
>>45090421
This, we got the demonic manpower. Instead of losing 4 fighters we only lose 2. Hell Gabby can even call on some Law support for the escort if she is worried.

>>45090421
>>Have someone take Joseph to safety
Does this mean chasing after Uriel as well?
But yeah Gabriel can take him back just fine.

>>45090599

>Yes, I meant to add that. Send Joseph back to safety while Mia and the others chase after Uriel.

Huh. Its kinda funny.

Right now Petra is soft spoken one being cautious and focused on aiding an ally, while Cass is being the eager, wrathful one.

Guess that's character development for you.

>>45090485
>>45090528
>>45090599

Chewing your lip slightly as you think, you nod shortly to Cassandra. She's right – Uriel is going to be a thorn in your side as long as he's out there, and it's time to put him down for good. You should be able to track him down easily enough, if he doesn't come to you. Joseph, though...

“He can't fight,” Petra murmurs to you, “Not with a leg like that, yes? He'd slow us down if we took him with us, and we don't have the manpower to lose more of us.”

Gabriel, you reply simply, she can take him back to the Hellfire Club. She should be able to move fast enough, and Joseph has his other demons to provide an additional escort. You'll still be able to chase after Uriel, but you won't need to be fighting at greatly reduced strength. It's not a perfect solution, but it's about the best you can expect under the circumstances.

“I understand,” Joseph nods, shakily standing up, “I'll be fine, don't worry about me. Just watch your backs out there – he's quick, and he hits damn hard.”

That's the only advice he can offer, you ask with an attempt at a smile, nothing else?

“I was a bit busy,” Joseph matches your lame effort at cheer, “Sorry.”

Saying goodbye to him once more – and hoping that it won't be for the last time – you lead the others back out into the maze of slums. It's hard to know for sure, but it looked like Uriel was heading in the direction of the ruined serpent shrine. It's somewhere to start your search, at least. You're moving out when Cassandra holds out a hand to stop you.

“I'll go first,” she insists, “I know my way around here, and I know the best routes to travel. We need to move quickly and quietly, don't you agree?”

Lead the way, you whisper with a shrug. At least you won't be first on the chopping block if Uriel ambushes you.

>>45090802
I guess Petra knows what it's like to be injured. Cass has the LAW on her side now so she's pretty eager to take Uriel out.

File: New Cycle Uriel.jpg (259 KB, 457x629)

259 KB JPG

>>45090821

Watching Cassandra slinking through the ruined slums, you're somehow reminded of Cernunnos and his deadly grace. You've got to admit, she certainly does know what she's doing here – you can't count the number of times that she silently points out a snagging piece of broken lumber or a patch of rotten, frail floorboards. The long hours that she spent here, sneaking around and searching for her divine fragment, are plain to see.

“The serpent shrine is just ahead,” she murmurs, pointing up at the symbol painted high above you. “If we've got to run, remember to come back this way. The direct route is...” she glances across at the chasm tearing up the ground, a relic of Nidhoggr's rampages. “Unavailable,” Cassandra finishes, with a crooked smile.

And what, you find yourself wondering, are the chances of needing to run away? Quite high, if Joseph's injuries are anything to go by. Then again, there's nothing else to do – Uriel needs to die. If he can spread Nyarlathotep's taint like Raphael did, he's more like a walking biological weapon than an angel. Pausing a moment, Cassandra fishes out a little golden crucifix from around her neck, pressing it softly to her lips for a moment before dropping it back down into her shirt. For good luck, you wonder, or praying for success?

Peering around the corner, you take a look around the ruined shrine. It's empty, without even any bodies to suggest the conflict that erupted here. Then something drips from the ceiling, a single splash of dark oil. Your eyes rise, fixing on the monster crouched upon a rooftop beam. Uriel.

>Summon your demons and launch the attack
>Back off for now
>Other

>>45091011
>Summon your demons and launch the attack

Mia - Mizuchi - Minotaur
Petra - Vivian - Berserker
Cass - Ose - Suiki
Elliot - Fortuna - Kagutsuchi
Leon - Fuuki - ....Sidhe?

Mia Luster Candy.
Petra Debilitate.
Fuu-ki Fog Breath
Sidhe hangs back with us and plays medic when needed.
Fortuna does her thing.
Kagutsuchi only uses Phys attacks.
Vivian enchants everyone's weapons with Ice.

>>45091092
>>45091011
+1

>>45091092
>>45091011
This. Unleash the titty monster!

>>45091139
Almost tempted to summon Succubus to have them argue, but gotta be pragmatic against Uriel.

>>45091214
Business first, pleasure later.

File: Mizuchi.jpg (243 KB, 1844x2168)

243 KB JPG

Rolled 133, 125, 70, 34, 15, 118, 94, 57 = 646 (8d140)

>>45091092
>>45091124
>>45091139

Rattling off your list of orders as quick as possible, you pluck your own phone out and call up Minotaur, with Mizuchi following soon after. A dismal whine escapes Mizuchi as he looks around the shattered remains of what was once his shrine, the corners of his mouth dipping low in an exaggerated sulk. Vivian and Berserker answer Petra's call, while Cassandra calls up Ose and Sui-Ki. Leon is only slightly reluctant to summon Leanan Sidhe – you'll need her healing magic – and adds Fuu-Ki alongside her. Elliot, lastly, makes sure to stay well back, with Fortuna and Kagutsuchi flanking him.

In response to your summons, a great fire ignites within Uriel's torso, the oil gathered within that bestial mouth catching fire and dripping to the ground as flowing light. He moves strangely, hobbling on uneven legs in a manner that you find hard to believe. Joseph said he was fast... a mistake?

Whatever he's capable of, you decide as Fuu-Ki belches thick smog into the ruined temple, you won't give him a chance to harm this world any longer!

>Please roll 8D120, for Mizuchi, Minotaur, Vivian, Berserker, Ose, Sui-Ki, Kagutsuchi and Fuu-Ki. Best of three, and Fortuna's modifier applies.
>Also an 8D10 dodge roll, aiming to beat 5

Rolled 75, 118, 116, 82, 106, 108, 34, 23 = 662 (8d120)

>>45091303
This is going to be a fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6cSbof7Pik

Rolled 3, 7, 7, 10, 7, 7, 10, 10 = 61 (8d10)

>>45091303
Dodge roll.

Rolled 93, 76, 65, 17, 73, 92, 19, 58 = 493 (8d120)

>>45091303
Good luck to Mizuchi. He's weak to fire.

Rolled 11, 117, 23, 43, 62, 1, 31, 120 = 408 (8d120)

>>45091358
On one hand. WORLD OF AGI

On the other. Mizuchi noooooo!

>>45091303
Rolling.

File: 1449782755045.png (85 KB, 265x348)

85 KB PNG

>>45091303
>Uriel
123, 115, 60, 24, 5, 108, 84, 47

>Us
103, 128, 126, 92, 116, 118, 44, 130

All Pass except Mizuchi and Kagu.

Kagu dodges, Mizuchi does not.

File: Minotaur.jpg (159 KB, 698x1280)

159 KB JPG

>>45091340
>>45091358
>>45091368
>>45091388

Frankly, nothing with legs that stubby should be able to move so quickly.

He doesn't even walk, Uriel sort of glides across the ground as he charges towards you, the scuttling metal components of his body melting and flowing to form a grasping hand. It's that hand that closes around the sinuous length of Mizuchi's body, tightening until all the glowing snake can do is hiss and whine, steam rising up as his body begins to evaporate. Mizuchi's thrashings get weaker and weaker still until they have faltered completely, but before the finishing blow can be dealt, Minotaur ploughs one shoulder into Uriel. Whining, the snake drops flat to the ground, close to death.

A deep laugh rumbles from Minotaur's chest as he pounds on Uriel, knocking free bits and pieces of metal from the fallen angel's body. Eventually, Uriel is able to slide away – somehow – and appears elsewhere. A trail of blistering frost, conjured up by Vivian, follows his every step until it finally catches up with him, forming a thick skin around those stubby legs of his. Slowed, Uriel can do little to avoid Berserker's heavy blow, the frost-coated blade smashing into his metallic body with terrific force. Before Uriel can recover, Ose adds his blades to the beating, smacking them again and again into the angel's imitation of flesh.

Sui-Ki, adding to the terrible chill filling the shrine, breathes a thick mist out. Different to the mist that his brother Oni has cast out, this mist forms into solid crystals once it meets Uriel, hardening and cracking in an instant.

>I have the other half to finish posting, but would you like to swap Mizuchi out for another demon or focus on healing him?

>>45091561
Its why Leanan Sidhe is there, heal him up. If you need to get him out of harms way, desummon him and resummon him next us near Sidhe.

>>45091561
>>45091585
this

File: Leanan Sidhe.jpg (39 KB, 440x778)

39 KB JPG

Rolled 61, 95, 12, 40, 66, 22, 48, 52 = 396 (8d140)

>>45091585
>>45091626

As Uriel darts away from Ose and Berserker – again with that impossible grace, darting about like nothing can touch him – you begin to see a problem. With every movement he makes, Uriel leaves a trail of burning oil. Even the thick frosts blanketing the area don't seem to deter those unearthly flames, but you have little doubt that they would burn through any exposed flesh. You're not even sure that your hellish armour would be completely proof against them. As weapons, those trails of fire are ineffectual, but they seriously hamper your ability to evade attacks. The longer this fight last, the harder it will be to dodge.

Leon barks out an order to Leanan Sidhe, commanding her to heal the wounded Mizuchi. She is quick to obey, a warming light descending upon the weary serpent. He rises again, not quite fully restored but no longer lingering on death's door. It'll do, you decide, for now. Stepping boldly over those streams of fire, unconcerned with their flickering bite, Kagutsuchi swings a series of powerful punches at Uriel. None can connect, though, as the fallen angel evades with mocking skill. Perhaps it's that overconfidence that takes Uriel right into Fuu-Ki's waiting blade, for the Oni is able to impale Uriel upon his weapon, the blow casting out a hail of oil droplets and shattered metal. A good blow, but still one that Uriel is able to dance away from.

Fine, you find yourself snarling, keep dancing. It won't help you forever!

>Can I get another 8D120, for the same demons? Best of three, with Fortuna's modifier. However, Mizuchi will be at -10 due to injuries
>Also, a 8D10 dodge roll, aiming to beat 6

>>45091693
>Best of three, with Fortuna's modifier. However, Mizuchi will be at -10 due to injuries
Is that on overall -10 or a overall 0?

Rolled 64, 22, 91, 67, 39, 107, 81, 69 = 540 (8d120)

>>45091693

File: 1452725241526.jpg (155 KB, 902x854)

155 KB JPG

Rolled 119, 4, 86, 83, 110, 49, 55, 83 = 589 (8d120)

>>45091693

>>45091722

>That works out to an overall 0 for Mizuchi. Uriel's attack against him will still be at -10 though.

Rolled 4, 3, 2, 9, 6, 9, 6, 1 = 40 (8d10)

>>45091693

Rolled 113, 30, 48, 80, 28, 26, 18, 47 = 390 (8d120)

>>45091693

>>45091693
>Uriel
51, 85, 2, 30, 56, 12, 38, 42

>Us
129, 40, 101, 93, 120, 117, 91, 93

All pass except Minotaur who does not dodge.

>>45091807
Woops Mizuchi should be a 119. Still, he is back with a vengeance.

>>45091835
perhaps mizuchi can help marcotaur out? The bros shall help one another.

>>45091917
Return the favor eh? Dad is still probably going to need some Sidhe healing.

File: Sui-ki.jpg (456 KB, 2028x2212)

456 KB JPG

Rolled 98, 47, 68, 22, 19, 79, 60, 80 = 473 (8d140)

>>45091740
>>45091741
>>45091756
>>45091763

Mizuchi – the burnt imprint of Uriel's hand still visible on his pale, watery flesh – rises high up into the air, his voice rising just as much. “This is MY shrine,” he howls, taking you entirely by surprise, “And you are NOT WELCOME!” He shrieks those last words, a small but intense rainstorm forming above Uriel's head. The fallen angel looks... confused, as much as he can wear any expression at all, until a single spear of ice hammers into him. It doesn't come from above, from that dark cloud, but from beneath him. Impaled, thrust into the air, Uriel is unable to dodge the rain of magical swords that Vivian hurls into him, each one shimmering with the absolute cold held within. She cackles as she attacks, revelling in the sounds of shattering metal.

Swinging his sword more like a baseball bat than any weapon, Berserker's blow smashes Uriel away from the pillar of ice, knocking him clean through the wall behind. Snorting and snarling, Minotaur charges through that blasted hole only to emerge a moment later, thrown by a powerful blow. Blood from his opened chest makes an arc through the air, misting up in the biting chill. Leanan Sidhe is by his side virtually as soon as he's landed, cooing soft words into his ear as she attends to his wounds.

Charging low, as is his habit, Ose's duel attack takes out Uriel's legs, sweeping them out from under him and spilling him down to the ground. You almost find yourself laughing at the clumsy sight, your laugh turning spiteful as the pair of Oni begin to rain blows down upon the fallen – literally – angel. Like a pair of bullies, they kick at him until Kagutsuchi arrives, hauling Uriel up by the throat. Grunting with the strain, he rips Uriel's head clean off.

If only that was enough to stop the angel.

>Please roll 8D120. Best of the first three, Fortuna's modifier included. This time, Mizuchi and Minotaur are at -10
>And a 8D10 dodge roll, aiming to beat 7 now.

File: 1453925342464.png (1.04 MB, 850x709)

1.04 MB PNG

Rolled 96, 39, 83, 73, 93, 64, 74, 69 = 591 (8d120)

>>45092000
Dude is the terminator.

Rolled 16, 76, 113, 62, 57, 69, 100, 67 = 560 (8d120)

>>45092000

Rolled 6, 6, 9, 1, 2, 2, 5, 4 = 35 (8d10)

>>45092000

Rolled 74, 73, 102, 28, 53, 32, 64, 73 = 499 (8d120)

>>45092000

>>45092000
>Arnold Schwarzenegger
88, 37, 58, 11, 9, 69, 50, 70

>Us
96, 76, 123, 83, 103, 79, 110, 83

All pass thanks to Fortuna.

File: Vivian.jpg (50 KB, 525x748)

50 KB JPG

>>45092034
>>45092041
>>45092053
>>45092076

Spurts of oil – not yet ignited – pump from the shorn remains of Uriel's neck as he twists and turns, swiping out at your demons with flowing, mutable arms. Thick and stubby sometimes, they can shift into slender whips and claws in the blink of an eye. Even so, for all his adaptability, he is reduced a blind flailing. Without eyes, he can only trust himself to luck. And luck, as you've made quite sure, is on your side.

Uriel's flailing stops abruptly as Mizuchi calls up a thick, frozen quagmire around his feet. The rain from earlier, you realise with a startled laugh, is now forming a thick and imprisoning ice. It causes Uriel to pause – to freeze, you could say – and pivot around in blind search of the cause. Standing still like that, though, makes him a very easy target. Easy enough, say, for Minotaur to seize one of the fallen roofing beams and swing it like an enormous club, battering Uriel down into the ground like a tent peg. Trapped, half buried in the broken floor, Uriel can't even look at you as Vivian cautiously approaches, holding her sword out ahead of her like a patient executioner. Hovering over Uriel, she thrusts the blade down into his body, the blade carrying a deadly frost into the fallen angel's body. There is a final whirr of activity from within the mechanical creature, and then it falls apart into rusting scrap.

It takes a few seconds more for the trails of gluey oil to cease burning, and a few moments more for the trails to fade away completely. Still, you're happy to wait.

“Well then,” Elliot says to nobody in particular, “Home in time for afternoon tea.”

>>45092267

“Afternoon tea” for Elliot turns out to be brandy, bought at the Hellfire Club with some of the gold coins he cheated out of his Pixie admirers. With his flask filled, he retreated to a darkened booth and sips cautiously, as if expecting it to be some horrible demonic brew. It must meet his standards, because he goes back for a second sip.

The walk back to the Hellfire Club was uneventful enough, with Cassandra probably the most cheerful among you. You couldn't quite be sure why, but she seemed to take Uriel's existence personally, as an affront to her and her... faith, if that is what it could be called. Then again, maybe she just despised the fact that Nyarlathotep had something to do with their creation. With the pair of corrupted being gone, wiped from the world, she walked like someone with a weight lifted from their shoulders. She even bickered, playfully, with Petra somewhat, arguing over who was more useful in the fight. You're just glad you weren't asked for your opinion.

Back at the Hellfire Club, Petra and Cassandra hurried off to find Amelia, claiming that there were important things they needed to discuss. Personal things, Petra had mentioned apologetically, history stuff. You let them head off, recognising a delicate issue when you see one. That leaves you here, propping up the bar again. You should find someone to talk to, you decide.

>See how Joseph is doing
>Chat with Elliot for a while
>See if you can find Leon
>Other

>>45092441
>See how Joseph is doing

>>45092441
>See how Joseph is doing

>>45092441
>See how Joseph is doing
Wonder if Gabriel wants some time being the leader of Law before potentially going for alliances.

>>45092441
>See how Joseph is doing
>See if we can take a nap.

Not sure what the time is, but we've certainly been active of late. Can't hurt to give our heart a bit of a break.

>>45092541
Probably only like 2 o clock. We just did a boss rush in the morning/noon. There's nothing on the agenda right now (South expedition is going to take a full day) so everyone can kick back and relax. We'll sleep in tonight/tomorrow to compensate how active we've been. Right now is time to spend with friends and debate on possible outcomes of the world.

Also when you think about it, other than dodging an arrow, we weren't all that active.

>>45092541
>>45092523
>>45092477
>>45092468

Leaning across the bar – Mister Black is, of course, polishing glasses – you ask if Joseph got back safely. And, assuming he did, if Mister Black can point you in the right direction.

“He arrived, safe and sound,” Mister Black nods slightly, “We had him put up in one of the guest rooms. Do you know the way? Oh, of course,” he laughs, the sound like a coffin closing, “I'll take you to him. The world won't end, I believe, because I took a short break. This way please.” Following the lean, cadaverous gentleman down the impossible corridors, you feel compelled to say something, to break the silence. “I understand your mission was a success,” he says suddenly, as if sensing your mood, “I'm glad. The world is a better place without both of those villains.”

Oh, you say aimlessly, that's right. You couldn't say if the world is a better place or not, but you're happy not to have to deal with constant earthquakes.

“Quite so,” Mister Black sounds satisfied with your answer, “Here we are. I believe your friend is still awake. I'll give you some privacy.”

Nodding him goodbye, you enter Joseph's room. He looks a lot better, and a lot less like a racist caricature, now that the soot has been washed from his skin. There are a few spots of plaster covering his scratches, and his foot is raised on a cushion.

“Mia!” he says, pleased to see you, “I'm glad to see you well. Gabriel stepped out for a few moments, said she had some business to attend to, but I can call her back if you want.”

No, you hastily correct him, you came to see him. To see how he's doing.

“Oh,” Joseph sounds a little surprised, “I'm on the mend. A night's sleep, and I'll be perfectly fine. Can I help you with something else?”

>Say, what did you think of my plan? The whole... god thing?
>Where do you see yourself, in this new Law thing?
>I'm just glad to see you're okay
>Other

File: 1382324003981.gif (575 KB, 512x384)

575 KB GIF

>>45092799
>I'm just glad to see you're okay

Then
>Say, what did you think of my plan? The whole... god thing?
>Where do you see yourself, in this new Law thing?

>>45092799
>I'm just glad to see you're okay
>Say, what did you think of my plan? The whole... god thing?
>Where do you see yourself, in this new Law thing?

In that order. Sorry about the 'All the things' vote.

>>45092799
>>45092888
this

>>45092839
>>45092888
>>45092932

You're just glad, you tell Joseph with a warm smile, to see that he's okay. When you saw that explosion, you feared the worst. For a moment, you thought...

“Worried about me?” Joseph matches your smile, although his is somewhat more forced, “I imagine it must have looked very dramatic from the outside. Such a shame as well – it was quite a beautiful building, when you look at it with neutral eyes. It will always be a prison, as far as I'm concerned, but it's far from the worst prison imaginable. Ah, but I'm rambling. I'm glad to see that you're okay as well. Uriel can't have given you too much trouble.”

Avoiding that particular issue, you press ahead with one of the serious questions. He heard your plan, didn't he, the whole... god thing? You were just wondering what he thought of it. He never raised any serious objections at the time, so...

“Because it's a good idea,” Joseph shrugs slightly, wincing a little as he does so, “Logically, it's sound. I think the idea of a human god – or gods – ruling the human world is an appropriate one. Amelia made some mistakes, so having one or two people around to keep an eye on her would be the best possible outcome. Ah, in my opinion, of course.”

So, you muse, if it came to a vote...

“I'd be on your side,” he confirms, “Definitely.”

You can't help but smile a little at the man's honest support, coming from a position of genuine belief. You've not bought his loyalty or coerced him into supporting you, but he has given you his backing nonetheless. It's a nice feeling, to be trusted like that. Still smiling shyly to yourself, you ask the next question. This new Law thing, you offer, where does he see himself in it?

>>45093194

“Well, I wouldn't be in charge, that's for sure!” he laughs, again with a slightly deliberate tone, “No, I'm very much a follower. An organiser, of sorts. Although, if I may be entirely honest, I don't know if I'll be welcomed as a part of it. Despite everything, I'm not sure...”

He's not sure about what, you ask, if he wants to go for it?

“I don't know if I believe,” he offers, “I support all the ideas that are being put forwards, but not out of any particular faith or passion. They're the right things to do, that's all.” Sighing, he flexes out his fingers, “So there's that. It wouldn't feel right, following them like that just because of my personal feelings, and not my feelings towards God either. Maybe I should go back to the human world, when all this is over. Go back to my studies, become a doctor...”

Well, you begin uncertainly before lapsing back into silence. It seems that you could only produce that one, useless word. Well, you repeat, you're not quite sure.

“You're right,” Joseph decides, as if you've just said something profound, “It's a decision for another day. I've got until I make it to decide. You never know,” he offers you a wink, “I might not even live that long!”

...He shouldn't say things like that.

“True,” he nods grudgingly, “It's not good to dwell on things like that. Frankly, I have no idea how Petra managed all this fighting stuff. Most of the time, I'm utterly terrified. But, ah, maybe I shouldn't talk about that. Are you tired? I think the room next door has an empty bed in it.”

>I could use a nap
>I had another question... (Write in)
>Other

>>45093336
>Other
"I'll take you up on that in a few minutes."
>Go see Leon. The last time we had a one on one with that guy was when he was in the hospital since usually he and Elliot are attached at the...hip.

>Then nap afterwards.

>>45093336
>>45093495
this

>>45093495
>>45093336
Well Ellie was at the bar so Leon should be alone. Go and have a talk.

>>45093539
>>45093508
>>45093495

You might go and see Leon for a little bit, you decide, it's been a while since you've had a chat with him after all. He spends so much time with Elliot, you remark, it's good to see the two of them getting along.

“Ah... yes,” Joseph can't stop a small frown passing across his face, “Well, I suppose it's better than having them argue all the time. I believe he's a few door down actually – I heard some people arrive, and he was definitely among them. I WAS dozing, but... anyway, I'd try a few doors over.”

Thanking Joseph for the lead, you emerge back into the corridor and knock on each door that you pass. When you hear Leon's gruff voice responding from within, you enter.

“Ellie?” he asks, turning to look at you, “Huh, wrong girl.”

That's mean, you scold him playfully, Elliot isn't exactly macho but that's no reason to joke around like that. He might really take offence at some of those jibes! Anyway, you say as Leon regards you with amused eyes, you just wanted to see how he was doing. And, you suppose, to thank him for all his hard work lately. He's really grown into a valued member of the team.

“You're gonna make me blush,” Leon smirks, but there is a rare trace of genuine pride in his voice, “Just glad to be out and doin' stuff, right? Ain't much fun lyin' in bed all day. Well, except maybe...” He cuts himself short here, in a rare moment of self-censorship. “Aye, well,” he meanders a moment, “You're doin' good as well. As a leader, I mean. I ain't got a fuckin' clue about all this stuff, to tell the truth.”

It's been, you pause for thought, a learning experience for everyone. A silence descends – not awkward, though, but sort of cosy and friendly – before a yawn escapes you. Time for a nap, you explain apologetically.

“Aye, I was thinkin' that way myself,” Leon nods to himself, “Next room over is empty, I think. All yours, if you want it.”

You'll take him up on that.

>>45093788
>That's mean, you scold him playfully, Elliot isn't exactly macho but that's no reason to joke around like that.
She's going to have to learn eventually.

>>45093788

Saying your goodbyes to Leon, you slip out of his room and make the short journey next door. It was one of the doors you tried on the way here, so you didn't need to be told that it was empty. Still, you appreciate the offer. Pushing the door open, you take a quick glimpse around the gloomy room.

It's just a guest room, as plain and anonymous as all the others you've seen in the Hellfire Club. Maybe it's even one you've rested in before – but when the bed has been immaculately made, and there are no other traces of habitation, how would you ever know? Shrugging – it's not like it makes a big difference either way – you flop down on the bed and let your eyes drift shut. A few hours rest, that's all you'll need. Just enough that you're not running your body ragged. It's not good for your health, living like that. Although, you think to yourself with a slow, sleepy thought, you might not need to worry about it forever.

That would be nice, you decide as you sink into a deep, dark pit. Blessed sleep.

...You're not asleep. Everything around you is black, but you're not yet asleep. Then a voice – coy, neither male nor female – sings out to you.

“It's been a while,” the voice croons, “Quite a while, in fact.”

Source.

“So you DO remember me,” it sounds despicably pleased, “Ah, we have so much to talk about...”

>I'll leave that there for tonight. Next thread on Sunday, and I'll stick around to answer any questions you might have!

>>45093907
>Petra and Mia both learn as they ascend to Godhood.
>"Ohhhhhhh. That makes a lot of sense actually..."

>>45093922
I was wondering when Counter Strike would show up again.

Well since Mastema is dead this can only be either Nyarly or the Last Cycle Outsider. I think.

Thanks for running.

>>45093922
Thanks for running Moloch.

What was the Last Cycle's Trio meeting about? Have Cass or Amelia actually nutted up for once and said 'I'm sorry.'?

>>45094033

The original purpose was just to try and clear the air between Amelia, Cass and Petra as well as talking over old times. When Gabriel arrived, though, things strayed into "forgive and forget" territory. I wouldn't say everyone is cool with each other now, but things are a lot less awkward!

>>45094122
Oh Gabby was in that meeting too? Neat.

If its no trouble would it be possible to get a write up of that meeting sometime in the future? I'm curious as hell.

Also you ready for your half a year anniversary as a QM on Sunday?

>>45094122
Did the entire demon world have a collective sigh of relief when Uriel and Nidd went down?

>>45094184

I could probably see about making that the next write up. It could be quite fun to write actually!

And six months? I'm genuinely surprised - I've never been very good at measuring time long term!

>>45094239

Yes, actually! Nyarlathotep's taint is a very new thing, so nobody was sure what it was capable of. With the infection - theoretically - destroyed, everyone should be safe!

>>45094249
So are we in the home stretch of the Quest? It seems like we only need to take Dagon down, then walk over to Scathach and then we are good.

>>45094293

We're certainly getting close to the end. It might not be quite as simple as you've described, but there aren't many "major" events left that I'd planned out. I doubt we'd make it past thread 50, although you never know!

>>45094293
>Implying Nyalarhotep won't start a taint plague because demons aren't protected
>Implying he won't take out the fire tower
>Implying Nyalarhothep won't bring back his tainted generals
>Implying Luci won't Blitz us with ALL the devil Archdukes and himself once we've gotten the fragments.

>>45094364
Did Pavarti get knocked back down to SAti?
Are we going to get a chance to upgrade Nadja?

>>45094382
0% on that last one. Hell is fucked up right now and only starting to get their shit together.

For the others, Nyarly does like to be an asshole yes, but he isn't desperately trying to 'win' this game of his. He's already won with the anarchy he has wrought, he's already had fun.

>>45094461
>Did Pavarti get knocked back down to SAti?
Thats not how evolutions work anon. She IS Parvati now, Sati is 'gone'.

>>45094382
>>45094462

Then again, there might be a FEW roadblocks still in the way!

>>45094461

Parvati is still in her Parvati form. As for Nadja, I do have something planned for that. If you want to know about fairies, ask a fairy!

>>45094497
Huh didn't know Nadja was a fairy actually. I guess thats something we can ask Titania when we bring the alliance prospect up to her.

Speaking of which, is Gabby ready to go at any time to talk to Titania or does she need more time getting the rest of Law onboard?

>>45094538

There isn't really much resistance in terms of getting the rest of Law on her side these days. I would say that the leaders can meet and talk things out any time now.

>>45094597
Did Gabriel princess carry Joseph all the way to Hellfire?

>>45094701

Absolutely.
It was very awkward for Archangel, who just didn't know where to look!

>>45094757
>tfw no heathens to smite.

>>45094795

>These shrines look pagan
>Those heathen chants are too loud
>My feet hurt

>>45094859
>Gabriel: "You realize you have wings and flying would give you both a speed and observational advantage, yes? Why are you walking?"

>>45094938

Nobody ever said the lower ranking angels were particularly smart!

>>45094859
>Michael's dead
>Uriel and Raphael turned and are now also dead.
>Blonde human is running around acting like she is part of our glorious force.
>My human boss and main boss are giving each other strange looks.
>Dad hasn't talked to us in forever.
>I'm barely let out to do anything anymore.

>>45095064
Why can I See Gabriel teaching a "Common Sense 101" to all the angels after this is over?


Also what was Amelia's reaction to Gabriel being forced to be better version of Wingless from YHVH dickery?

>>45095144

Probably because angels need to learn some common sense!

Amelia's reaction. Partially surprised that YHVH would actually do something like that - it's quite petty, really, and it didn't really help. There was a bit of smugness in there as well though, since she can still claim moral superiority over YHVH. Still, it presented a rather harsh reminder of what she did, and that's never going to a nice feeling. So, overall the reception was mixed.

>>45095080

Archangel had a hard life!

>>45095221
>Archangel had a hard life!
>had

Worry

>>45095236

Ah, just an incorrect turn of phrase. He's still perfectly fine!

>>45095264
So which demons on roster are most relieved at the 1 per summoner restriction is removed?

>>45095302
I bet Ose was grateful seeing as Cass exclusively using him since she got him. Sui-ki is kinda dumb and she didn't want to summon Wingless.

>>45095302

Most of the "B" team, really! The thing about only being able to summon one demon at once is that you tend to pick a favourite, someone that can do a little bit of everything. Dullahan kind of took a backseat once Berserker came along, while Kagutsuchi gets to take advantage of Fortuna bending the odds.

So I'd say it's a pretty even spread. Leanan Sidhe gets to pop her head out a bit more often, so she probably appreciates it a lot.

>>45095404
How's Marco doing? I figure we gotta drop the 'Going to go be God Dad.' bomb on him eventually. Unless Amelia already told him.

>>45095577

Actually, we should really get around to telling him that! I meant to add that in as an option once we returned to the Hellfire Club but it totally slipped my mind. Maybe Marco's caught some of Joseph's invisibility powers?

Amelia hasn't talked to Marco about it though. Something that personal isn't really her business.

>>45095658
You know to be honest the one hang up I have about the plan is that Marco is going to have to live alone in that big house. That's kind of depressing.

We'll have to make it a point to visit often when Petra and Amelia can hold down the God fort.

Or he could go 'Fuck it.' and pull a Carnby, staying in the demon world/Fairy Kingdom.

>>45095782

That's not something I'd thought about, actually, and it really IS depressing. Hell, it was pretty rough when it was just the two of them.
On the other hand though, I can't really see Marco deciding to stay in the demon world. He's a bit too practical for that.

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>>45095920
Hmm. Maybe we can have him do a job for us. Like have a direct line to us.

Say really improving the demon summoning app.

Preferably humans won't need to tame demons for an almost infinite amount of time, but I think you mentioned that someday down the line there WILL be a new cycle as the world naturally 'dies',

So maybe instead of starting from scratch like we've had to do twice we can arm humans with an already upgraded COMP, SMT 4 or SJ style.

12 Demons slots, 3 demons summoned at a time.

A repository that you can call up to reference a demon's weakness and strengths.

Not to hurt Mister Black's business but a human should hypothetically be able to type in Uriel's name and see that he is weak to Ice and strong against Fire.

It gives him SOMETHING to do for the rest of his days and he is directly involved with his only daughter.

>>45096330

I can see that, actually. Steering his research onto a more arcane path.
I should really specify what kind of scientist Marco is. A computer guy, I guess?
And yes, the world is based around a system of gradually succumbing to decay and requiring a reset. Being able to help humanity would definitely be a suitable purpose for Marco. Plus, as you mention, it would keep him involved with Mia.

>>45096449
Also I'm sure how exactly managing the world works for the Goddesses but do they need to be incorporeal floating above the world or something? Or can they manage from the Earth, corporeally, maybe from a position of power?

What I am asking is, is it possible for them to make a Mt. Olympus equivalent (Less Greek, probably more like a England Manor)? A kind of physical home that mortals can't reach or see that they could manage from? Cause if so Marco could just move in there with them. Have his own research wing or something.

>>45096579
>Also I'm sure
Also I'm not sure*

>>45096579

Amelia was, I suppose, present in the world but intangible. She could project her illusion to people, but she never actually had a physical body.

That said, that was largely her choice. If the next generation of gods decided to have a more direct, physical presence in the human world, they could definitely do so. Having a remote little hideout would be pretty neat though, and it would keep them more grounded in reality.

>>45096741
Obviously we shouldn't be overt. The goal of this world is let humanity decide how it grows, without influence of Gods or demons.

But as long as we are discreet we should do it. Keeps Marco away from crippling isolation and keeps the goddesses more grounded. Good deal.

And hell Joseph, Ellie, and Leon (if Ellie drags him) could visit if they wanted to. Probably with us having to teleport them there.

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>>45096579
>They have an XCOM style hologlobe in the middle of their 'house'.

The perfect blend of cosmic, arcane and good old sexy human technology to help manage your world!

>>45097040
>>45096880

Well that settles it then. It HAS to be done!

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>>45097074
>Cass will be super jelly that she can't see our super sekrit highly advanced clubhouse!

Speaking of which. I know its going to depend on a lot on how Law goes, but what are the odds of Archangel Cassandra?

Or is she the kind of girl that's going to stay human until the end?

>>45097174

I could see Cass taking a certain stubborn pride in being human but possibly taking up a "promotion" at the end of her natural life. So, Archangel Cassandra is not out of the question!

>>45097305
>Potential new Great Will with Archangel's Gabriel and Cassandra.

Could be neat.

Speaking of which. If YHVH never comes back and is replaced by a new entity due to how the faith got warped, would Lucifer have as much animosity towards it?

>>45097427

I imagine Lucifer might oppose it on general principle - at least, at first. If the new Law wasn't quite so restrictive and bend on robbing people of their free will, Chaos has much less of an appeal. So perhaps Lucifer would need to change as well, becoming something that is just as new as the replacement for YHVH.

Interesting times, I think, lie ahead!

>>45097501
You know honestly, ill as his intentions were Nyarly's Chaos could potentially lead to a lot of good.

Both him and Amelia shook things up really hard for the demon world.

>>45092799
whelp, fell asleep way early and missed the thread

>The world won't end, I believe, because I took a short break
this is a joke about amelia, isn't it?

>>45097668

I almost imagined things as being reduced to a near blank slate. The Great Will and Lucifer lost much of their influence, allowing newer groups to rise up and redistribute power. Now, with that opportunity, things can really start to change for the better.

Of course, there was always the chance of things descending into full blown "kill your friends" level doomsday, but we seem to have dodged that fate!

>>45097713

It wasn't intended that way, but now I've gone back to reread it I'm a little amazed that I didn't pick up on it. It works well enough as a little joke though!

>>45097725
>Of course, there was always the chance of things descending into full blown "kill your friends" level doomsday, but we seem to have dodged that fate!

Mia's a good girl, but still had she been alone, if everyone had been as disagreeable as Cass was, if we decided to try one of Moloch's bugs out...its weird thinking about what could have happened.

>>45097764
So I take it we weren't able to salvage anything from Uriel and Nidd? I get it if none of the parts remained after they died and/or they're too infected, just checking.

.....that spear. Where. Is. It?

>>45097842

The various bits and pieces weren't really safe to handle. Treat all Nyarlathotep infected demons like you would treat a plague riddled corpse!

>.....that spear. Where. Is. It?
Nothing to worry about!

>>45097801

It's always interesting to consider the hypothetical. What if, say, we left Joseph in prison for ages?

>>45097901
>Nothing to worry about!
...I can't tell if you are being serious. It..it distingrated right?

Right?

>>45097929

Well, it survived Raphael being crushed by a giant worm, but what are the odds of it surviving two dead hosts?

>>45097988
AmeliaPetraMiadamnit. I can't believe we overlooked that.

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>>45098028

Well, what's the worst that could happen, a couple of Kobold scavengers drag it away to their cave?

It'll be fine!

>>45098140
Its probably too late, but could Gabby send some angels to scour the area where we fought for it. That shit needs to be quarantined.

>>45098224

I'd suggest sending someone trustworthy!

But that'll have to be the last question for tonight, because I need to get some sleep. Thanks to everyone who contributed today, and we'll pick things up on Sunday!

>>45098350
Have a good night Moloch.

>>45098350
ahhhh damnitall. Gnight, Moloch