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You are Osyki, journeyman Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. After narrowly surviving a botched attempt to reinforce the Avatar of Hunger's power, you find yourself forced to grapple with an unknown and unwelcome ability within you.

[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem]

HTML Bindings Spreadsheet (Hover for descriptions!): http://zamubafoo.github.io/

Plot Summary: http://pastebin.com/dqBSNUTM

The Cast Thus Far / Binder's Log: http://pastebin.com/VsJpEUx3

Ask: ask.fm/DiarcaEXE

Wiki in progess: http://totemistquest.pbworks.com

Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest]]

>>45397848
>Craft some totems for yourself. Do some research and see what you can come up with.

>>45397848
> Continue experimentation. You need to know your tools inside and out for the seemingly inevitable confrontation with the Tyrant Wyrm

>>45397848
Actually, change >>45397972
to > Continue experimentation. You need to know your tools inside and out for the seemingly inevitable confrontation with the Tyrant Wyrm.

We can always do research later.

>>45397848
> Continue experimentation. You need to know your tools inside and out for the seemingly inevitable confrontation with the Tyrant Wyrm.

Can someone post the spreadsheet?

>>45397848
Maybe check with Amal in the libary about anything Ayren wrote about the Void as well as whatshisface that we're destined to unleash?

>>45398044
It's in the OP

>>45397848
> Write-in
Head into the library, research all we can on the Void and Syn Calizan.

>>45397868
Adding >>45398063
to >>45398017

>>45398084
im dum

Some binding ideas:
Thane+lantern
Amal+key
Basilisk cryst+gem from the lair
Thane+Caethos orb
Leftover bow bindings
Boand+seed
Boand+waterskin

>>45397848
> Return to Azeo Sicros. Your last failure to Hone shouldn't scare you away from increasing your spirits' puissance.

I have a question. Can new Behemoths arise, or were there a finite amount to start with, and the ones left are the ones so strong no ones ever beaten them?

Didn't we get some item from the drawers that lets us put two spirits on one item?

I really wanna try Fourth + Rock Turtle on Bolt Thrower.

>>45398286
I asked that on Diarca's ask.fm page. Behemoths are capable of reproduction, the current crop are the descendants of the creatures that Urihal Ollihim spawned. There are a few that are from the original generation, though, and have just avoided being killed through power or cunning.

Having begun already it seems only logical to continue your creative momentum. You kneel in the finely ground dust at your feet, examining the line of Foci arrayed before you. The Siren's Heart gleams enticingly in the midday sun, a sharp contrast to the matte Stalker's Pelt folded neatly beside it. Fourth's weighty Control Rod and the eversparking Crystal Spear hold down either end of the roll. So many choices—but which will be the most immediately useful?

You have yet to really push your limits. The waterskin and the key were good exercises in creativity, but if Quinn's exercise in Totemic Puppetry has taught you anything you haven't truly considered the depth of your options.

You've decided to let the Foci you already touched today rest for the time being. You're well familiar with the Razor Wing's properties. Frankly, you don't even want to look at the Basilisk Cryst right now, for fear that its intoxicating venom will tempt you to further indisrection.

That leaves a wide range of options.

> Choose a Focus! (Off Limits: Basilisk Cryst, Emperor's Crown, Razor Wind)

> Suggest 5 Bindings!

> VOTE: Quick summary or full experimentation.

>>45398518
>Stalker Pelt

>Mirror
>Bolt Thrower
>Lantern
>Book
>Rope

>Quick summary

>>45398518
>Stalker Pelt

>Mirror
>Rope
>Amulet
>Key
>Journal

>Quick Summary

>>45398568
This. Bolt thrower is gonna be operator as fuck

>>45398518
Fourth

Bolt Thrower
Armor
Shield
Cloak
Lantern

>>45398518
Stalker Pelt
>Mirror
>Lantern
>Key
>Seed
>Caethos orb.

We need to get creative with. Let's try a paintbrush or something more unique

>>45398518
Supporting >>45398705
I'm interested to see more unique bindings.

>>45398732
A paintbrush could be cool
changing >>45398705
>Key
to
>Paintbrush

>>45398732
>>>45398568 >>45398621 >>45398683 Bind fourth to a door

>>45398518

stalker pelt

Key
fruit
book
boots
rope

quick summary

>>45398518
supporting >>45398705
full experimentation

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>>45398792
>Bind fourth to a door

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Awww yiss, time for totems!

Is anyone else curious about experimenting with the strange crystal from the Basalisk lair, Caethos? Also, I'm down with expeimenting with paintbrushes. Imagine it, PAINTING on attacks. I wonder what Boand and a paintbrush does...

>>45399142
Caethos isn't the crystal we found in the lair, he's a benevolent (at least to us) spirit native to the Shade that we've run into from time to time. Last time we encountered him we did something that aided him in ways we don't understand and got a mirrored orb resembling his head in exchange. The stone we found in the Basilisk's den was the remains of some amulet, possibly one that Ayren had been wearing that was destroyed during his battle.

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>>45399278
Meant the jewel AND caethos, sorry.

so, anyone else having issues with reCAPTCHA?

The silken Stalker's Pelt unrolls more akin to a liquid forced into a solid outline than a strip of animal leather. The world around you seems to darken a shade as you turn the turn the skin over in your hands. The hairs should be glossy in the sun but the entire pelt stubbornly remains an ink-blot on the world as you examine it for damage.

“Worry not.” The voice is startlingly familiar. You whirl to see Thane reclining against the Workshop wall in a thin sliver of shade cast by the overhanging roof. He glances up from the roll of parchement in his hands to fix you with one amber eye. “It takes more than a little road-wear to put a dent in me.”

“I need to beg an audience when I want to speak with you in a dark room, yet you manifest in the mid-day sun ubidden. Have I missed something?”

The spirit's eyes crinkle at the edges. “Some occasions are worth the trip. That aside, I've told you before I don't mean to force a lengthy search. It's simply my nature.” Curious eyes flicker to the unrolled bedroll. “Back to the grind?”

“Am I ever not?” you quip.

He nods. “The new moon approaches.”

“A reminder? Uncharacteristically charitable.”

“On the contrary.” You can almost make out the hint of a gleaming fang in the dark nimbus that radiates from him. “I live to serve.”

> Binder's Log: The Stalker Pelt [Summary]

>Mirror
> [[Binding Discovered: Asterian Lens: A flat black disc of metal ringed by stark white steel lacework. Staring into the lens for ten seconds uninterrupted inverts light to the user's eyes. Bright areas are completely shrouded, while utter darkness becomes perfectly transparent.]]

> Lantern
> [[Binding Discovered: Skoll's Maw: A spherical lantern with a single bull's-eye port. When the aperture is opened the lantern devours light in its path, extinguishing flames, muting reflected light, and even drawing fog to shroud the sunlight.]]
(cont.)

>>45399800

> Book
> [[Binding Discovered: Tenebrous Record: A palm-sized black notebook. Perfectly copies any text pressed to its pages. The copied text can be banished with a thought and retrieved just as easily, lasting between bindings.]]

> Rope

> [[Binding Discovered: Shade Coil: A thin black thread spooled round an onyx cylinder. While the thread is brittle and easily damaged, the shadow cast by the thread manifests as physical shadow. This tenebrous rope is nearly unbreakable and stretches as a shadow would in response to nearby sources of light.]]

> Bolt-Thrower
> [[Binding Discovered: Stalker's Intrustion: A sleek black folding crossbow meant to fit easily into one hand. Fires a seemingly inexhaustible supply of jet-black needles at incredible speed. Drawing blood with these needles renders the struck unable to vocalize for sixty seconds.]]

You spin the bolt-thrower in your hand experimentally. It seems lightly anchored to your grasp—difficult to drop accidentally. When folded it slips neatly into your pocket or the side of your boot.

You can see Quinn walking up the road toward the workshop, bell-bladed spear slung over one shoulder. The lines of his face are drawn tight. Preturbed.

> Continue experimenting.
> Looks like trouble. Check in with Quinn.
> Take a research break. You need to learn more of the Void.
> Write-in

>>45399821
>looks like trouble

>>45399821
> Looks like trouble. Check in with Quinn.
Well, that last one is an amazing assassin's weapon. Good thing Osyki doesn't have any cause to use it. Yet.

Anyways, let's check with Quinn. Is he alright?

>>45399821
> Looks like trouble. Check in with Quinn.

>>45399821
> Looks like trouble. Check in with Quinn.

>>45399821
> Continue experimenting.
B-but muh paintbrush

>>45399821
>Looks like trouble

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>>45399821
>Looks like trouble. Check in with quinn.

>>45399821
>> Looks like trouble. Check in with Quinn.
Quinn :O

>>45399821
>>45399821
A lot of situationally useful items, huh? Well, Thane isn't notably powerful, so that's to be expected.

Still, Tenebrous Record + Amal probably means a slowly growing encyclopedia o the go, and Stalker's Intrusion might be useful for preventing spoken magic from being cast (if that exists in this world).

> Looks like trouble. Check in with Quinn.
Anyways, best to make sure Quinn isn't unduly upset. We should be looking for Avatars to enshrine soon, right, and that means leaving things in the village in his hands.

>>45400066
Is it weird that I legitimately want to help Quinn get good? He's our Cotemist, so what does it say about us if we won't help him get good?

>>45400118
We can't until we can induct him.

>>45400118
That's not weird at all. Quinn's our friend, we want him to do well. Soon enough we'll have him properly initiated, and then we'll make up for all the time we couldn't spend properly training him. I say we get him a dragon as a welcome back gift, he's said he wants to bind a Skyscythe Drake like we have.

>>45400196
I'd say he could use a Rockfish. Shit, it BORES into rocks, right? With a spear, I imagine it could sink into things. A skyscyth drake, even with us helping him, might be above his league. Gotta start small, yeah?

We really should be trying wilder bindings, I mean, the stasis key could be one of our strongest weapons and we wouldn't have found it if we hadn't tried new things.

I am honestly too lazy to check but don't all of the Magus Shards have to speak to do their magic? The no-speak needle is like a hard-counter.

>>45400357
Silly anon, everyone know Fantasy Bosses are impossible to silence. Just look at Sephiroth, or Ansem!

>>45400357
I just looked up our last battle with one. There's no mention of it having to do any chanting to cast its spells. Its limitation is that it has to shape mandalas with its limbs to focus energy, that's why we fucked up its joints.

You flag Quinn down with a small wave as he trudges his way up the hill. The sharp downward lines of his face break into something else—relief, perhaps?—as his trudge picks up into a light jog. As he approaches you note the rust-brown stains on his gloves and the slick orange-red accumulation across the grooves of the bell-bladed spear.

Definitely trouble.

You don't even wait for him to jog entirely onto the field. There's not much point in delay. You start rolling your Foci into your pack, placing them in prior memorized places for ease of access. “What's the issue?” you ask as his boots begin to crunch against the fine granules before you.

To his credit, he doesn't waste much time himself. “We've got company in the forest. Not now, but recently.”

“Spirit?”

He shakes his head. “I don't think so. I mean, I hope not.”

You flick your gaze upward. The impatient reply dies on your lips as you catch a proper look at Quinn.

For the first time in a long while, the young Slayer-cum-Totemist looks rattled.

“Quinn?”

“I don't know how Boand missed it.” He shakes his head. “She must be distracted with her new domain. It's right at the edge, too. Bordering the swamp. Maybe it's out of her jurisdiction, or--”

“Quinn.” You rise to your feet, placing your hands on his shoulders to steady him. “What? What did you find out there?”

His gaze rises to meet yours. You can see flecks of dried blood spattered across his nose.

“Something came through the swamp. Recently. Very recently. It's a-“ his breath hitches in his throat. “I guess the word is 'massacre'. I've never seen anything like it.”

Your brow furrows without much conscious direction. “Animals? Spirits?”

“Brood.” Your eyebrows abruptly about-face to ascend. “Wyrmlings filleted like oarfish. Whatever it is had a vendetta. The entire Wyrm's lair is ash.”
(cont.)

>>45400828

You chew your lip. One hand comes off of Quinn's shoulder to cluch at the pearl around your neck.

“Alright,” you tell him. “Relax. If whatever this is wanted us dead, we'd have had a fight by now.” Assuming the wards didn't confuse it. You keep that thought to yourself, though. “I'll ping Boand and see what I can get.”

“You ought to come see it for yourself, Osyki.” He shakes his head. “I can't really describe it. There's a feeling that hangs heavy there.”

“What were you doing so far out in the Brush, anyway? The Wyrm's lair is well into the swampland.”

“Siperco tracked me down while I was restocking the herb drawer. Begged me to take a look.”

You nod, patting him on the shoulder in what you can only hope is a reassuring manner.

“Sit tight.”

> Call Boand. This is her job.
> Head out with Quinn. You'll need eyes on the scene one way or another.
> Stop in for a chat with one of the forest spirits. (Sylvia / Siperco / Other)
> Brush it off for now. You have more pressing matters.
> Question Quinn further. (Write-in)
> Write-in

>>45400828
>Wyrmlings filleted like oarfish
How the hell does Quinn know what an oarfish is? Does this world have freshwater oarfish?

>>45400850
>> Head out with Quinn. You'll need eyes on the scene one way or another.
>> Stop in for a chat with one of the forest spirits. (Sylvia / Siperco / Other)
>> Question Quinn further. (Write-in)
Any smell or just a particular feeling of "wrongness"?

>>45400850
> Call Boand. This is her job.
And then
> Head out with Quinn. You'll need eyes on the scene one way or another.

>>45400890
Seeing all the other giant terrifying shit, I wouldn't doubt it.

>>45400850
>[x] Call Boand. This is her job.
>[x] Stop in for a chat with one of the forest spirits. Sylvia

>>45400850
>> Call Boand. This is her job.
>> Head out with Quinn. You'll need eyes on the scene one way or another.
Both of these: Boand should know of this (and then take it up to Sylvia if needed, since she should know where Sylvia is and Osyki doesn't), and we can talk to her while traveling.

>>45400850
>> Call Boand. This is her job.
Info is a important

>> Stop in for a chat with one of the forest spirits. (Sylvia / Siperco / Other)
>Sylvia
She should know where this thing is.

>> Head out with Quinn. You'll need eyes on the scene one way or another.

>>45400850
Call Boand and then head out with Quinn.

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>>45400850
Modi...Modi what have you done? MOOOODIIIIII!???

Wait, weren't we supposed to kill all the wyrmlings because they're an invasive species?

>>45400850
>> Call Boand. This is her job.
> Stop in for a chat with one of the forest spirits. Siperco

>>45401003
We killed most of them. Guess there was a nest we missed.

>>45400357
Do they even have blood?

>>45401003
We are. Emphasis on 'we' -- while the Land Guardians can assuredly slaughter the lot of them, there are precious few other entities (other than Osyki) in the area who can kill a brood of wyrmlings. And, Osyki really should know about them: they're spiritually powerful, most likely, and it's his job to ensure the village isn't endangered by them.

Ashen lair and a sliced up brood horde. What spirits or person would be able to incierate a Basalisk brood?

You don't think that weird gem belonged to this thing, do you?

Maybe it's the allmother.

>>45400850
>Call Boand
>head out with Quinn
Quinn watches the physical, Boand the water ways to see if there are any traces or tracks, and we aid the both in finding out what happened.

>>45401134
Maybe. What Quinn described doesn't fit what the Codex says about the Allmother Mud itself, but it could have been one of the monsters it spawned.

>>45400850
>> Head out with Quinn. You'll need eyes on the scene one way or another.
>> Stop in for a chat with one of the forest spirits. (Sylvia / Siperco / Other)
Sylvia is the responsible option but yes hello welcome back Siperco!

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The first step is clear. You close your eyes and reach out across the link the Whirlpool Pearl provides. Your mental probe is quickly answered by a cool rush of watery essence. When you open your eyes the world around you has been shifted toward a decidedly cerulean hue. The ground beneath your feet ripples for a moment before disgorging Boand on a pillar of mirror-finish pearl. She steps daintily from the plinth.

“You called?”

You nod, jerking your thumb at Quinn. “I need eyes and ears on the Brush-swamp border and the Basilisk's lair. Quinn says something flew through and torched the place.”

Boand shakes her head, hair rippling an oceanic curtain in front of her. “Not possible. Something with that much juice would have tripped every ward I've got and then some.”

You put a hand to your hip, eyes daring Boand to argue with your shell-shocked apprentice's face. “Something made fish-fry out of behemoth spawn. I need intel.”

The air of breezy confidence she carries with her quails somewhat in the face of your utterly unamused expression. She switches gears gracefully, plunging her hands into the pillar and withdrawing an orb of water the size of your fist. The orb glows between perfectly manicured fingers, and she closes her eyes as she accesses the network linked into its depths.

You fold your arms, waiting impatiently. Quinn is tidying up the last of your gear as you do.

One scultped eyebrow twitches, and Boand's serene visage cracks somewhat as the corners of her lips curl downward. “What...?” Her brow furrows and the orb expands to a long oval plate in the air before her.

“I've got eyes on the scene.” She opens her eyes, projecting her clarivoyance onto the screen in curtains of light that burst from her pupils. The oval depicts a bird's eye view of the swamp. A vast semi-circular swath of deep forest is—
(cont.)

>>45402137

Gone,” she mutters in disbelief. The edges of the perfect half-moon surrounding the lair still smolder at the edges. “How?”

It's more than enough for you. “That is the question, isn't it?” You shoulder your pack. “Get me whatever you can on the past few hours in that region. Let the Mother know I'm en route.”

She nods. “I'll make the call.”

“Any idea where Sylvia is?”

She considers that for a moment. “Not at the moment. Shall I have her meet you there?”

“Only if she's free.”

Boand nods. “I'll be in touch.”

The world red-shifts to an ordinary palette.

“Well?” Quinn turns as you emerge from your trance.

You shake your head ruefully. “Nothing yet, but she's working on it. Lead on.”

The two of you set off at an accelerated pace. The traffic on the main thoroughfare parts for the two of you seamlessly as you pass. Two Totemists armed and looking pensive is more than enough to part the flow of bodies.

Quinn remains largely silent as the two of you trek through the Brush, piping up only to direct you toward your goal. You bind as you walk. If the erstwhile arsonist is still around, you're eager not to be caught unprepared.

> Current Loadout:
Amulet: Bezoar Cryst
Boots: Cloudwalker Stride
Bow: Song of the Deep
Cloak: Nocturne's Embrace
Gloves: Obsidian Touch
Sword: Hypoxian Razor
Pants: Velociraptor Greaves
Knife: Veneni

You don't manage much more before you've reached the heart of the Brush. Now would be the time to veer in search of Sylvia, but Boand assured you she would meet you if she could. You press on.

The scent of burning is thick on the air as you cross the border into the swamp, but the smell is unusual. It is not the thick dung-heavy peat smoke or rich woodsmoke you would expect from the region. There's something almost -spiced- to the scent, a faint shimmer of something unknown carried on the smoke's edge.
(cont.)

>>45402159
I think you made an error in the bindings list, Bezoar Cryst and Venini use the same Focus. Can't use them both at the same time.

>>45402159

You reach the clearing with customary alacrity. With Quinn bound from utilizing his Foci by Hesheza's displeasure you're forced to carry him with you in sparking leaps.

The transition is starker still than the knife-line drawn between Brush and Swamp. The muted, color-devoid waters surrounding the Basilisk's lair are simply gone, the earth scorched dry by flickering golden flame that still lingers about clear-cut stumps. The fog perpetually infesting the stretch of bog is likewise banished. The air here seems frozen, not in temperature but in something deeper. It takes your accessing your second sight—or rather, failing to do so—that reveals the area has been almost entirely severed from the Mists.

A pit forms in your stomach, cold and bothersome. You can feel what Quinn had warned you of. Against all reason, a deep well of utter shame has sprung up within you. Even standing on the precipice feels like trespassing.

“See?” His voice is crisp but devoid of warmth. “It's just... erased.”

> Someone must have seen this happen. We'll wait for our rendezvous.
> No sense standing around. Let's head inside.
> I want to get a better look around.
> Write-in

>>45402264
[[Thank you Anon. Two lists merged together improperly. Replace Veneni with Alruane's Codex.]]

>>45402326
Let's not get ahead of ourselves for now.
> Someone must have seen this happen. We'll wait for our rendezvous.

Meanwhile let's summon up Amal to search for info around the site.

>>45402326
>> No sense standing around. Let's head inside.

Spicy smoke? Something precisely incinerated that section of the forest, WITHOUT Boand's notice. Sylvanis must be pissed.

Now, what kind of spirit has that much juice to burn things that well, and hide?

Golden Flame makes me think someone working with Hesheza...

>No sense standing around. Let's head inside.

>>45402326
> I want to get a better look around.
I want to get a closer look at the flames, maybe we can figure out what caused them.

>>45402326
> Someone must have seen this happen. We'll wait for our rendezvous.
Sounds like void shenanigans.

>>45402326
>> I want to get a better look around.
Ah, just severed from the Mists, instead of burning everything and anything to ashes.

Does anyone here know of anything that might be capable of doing something like this?

(Also, what does severing the Mists from a location mean? I can guess that anything that dies here won't enter their 'afterlife' if I remember the details of why Sylvia likes to spend power on strengthening her forest's beasts, but what else does this effect affect?)

>>45402326
>> Someone must have seen this happen. We'll wait for our rendezvous.

>>45402326
> Someone must have seen this happen. We'll wait for our rendezvous.

We should try to maintain patience around this kind of thing. If we rush in it won't end well.

The half-moon shape makes me think it could have something to do with Elunia

>>45402489
I assume it'd be difficult for any spirit to travel here, as well.

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>>45402806
You just made the shadowruns part of my mind jump to thinking about a possible death-ray from a sun-spirit. Shit, did that sun-totem we gave Terra give one the ability to target in our area?

>>45402326
>> Someone must have seen this happen. We'll wait for our rendezvous.

>>45403014
Well it would explain the flame being golden and not just yellow, assuming that's not some chemical in the swamp burning off. Though I doubt it's that sunlight totem. That didn't involve any invocation of spirits, it was all symbolic links. And it's a pretty minor totem, so even if it did call to some spirit I doubt it would have the range for it to see from the village all the way to the Basilisk's lair. No, if it was a sun spirit doing this then it was on their own initiative, not something we accidentally invited in.

Neither you nor Quinn have any burning need to set foot on the scorched earth. The thought of doing so seems somehow insulting to a higher power which your mind refuses to name. With a shared glance the two of you mutually take a step away from the burn line and await your contacts.

It takes a few minutes for them to arrive. While you wait you busy yourself sizing up the damage. All told the damage is less extensive than you had expected. The clear-cut and burnt sections of the land add up to maybe fifty square meters of land, the segment of swamp that had formed the very heart of the Basilisk's territory. You can see the Wyrmlings Quinn spoke of. The majority of them are half-buried in the dusty basin around the Basilisk's lair, though one or two are draped haphazardly over the remnants of blighted shrubs. All of them sport deep wounds across their body. The cuts are devastatingly clean, as if the sections of flesh had simply ceased to exist rather than being torn from the body by blade or claw. Dried ichor and venom crust around the edges of the Wyrmlings' wounds. A faint purple foam is dried at the corners of their mouths, needle-thin teeth shattered in places. The whole process smacks of careful, systemic extermination. This was no wild beast.

The sound of slightering draws your attention. You lift your spear instinctively, then lower it as you see Siperco threading his way through the steaming swamp. To your surprise, Boand steps lightly over the marsh at his side. Neither look particularly comfortable with being here.

“Sylvia was otherwise engaged, I take it?”

Boand nods. “She said she would catch up. What've we got?”

You blow a stay lock of hair from your face, puffing out your cheeks. “Trouble, par the usual. Nothing solid yet.”
(cont.)

>>45403510

Siperco stares at the cavern entrance behind you, the ring of yellow swimming nervously to and fro in his black sclera. “Glad you're here, Osyki.” He clutches a spear of green wood to his side like a protective totem. For all you know it may be just that—the handicraft of the artifact reminds you sharply of Sylviannis. “Thought you'd want the heads up.”

“You saw this happen?” you ask Siperco.

He shakes his head. “Saw the smoke plume, maybe. I was lucky to see that. It all went down in a minute, if that. The ground shakes, the smoke goes up, then... poof.”

“Poof?” You plant Modi's spear in the ground, leaning against it.

Siperco gestures helplessly. “The wind just kicked all the soot off. The whole smoke cloud blew away in, like, twenty seconds. No trace.”

“I'm surprised this place isn't crawling with lizards,” Boand comments. “The Mother's usually ruthless about punishing invaders.”

You shake your head. “The veil's torn here. Away from the material.” Both spirits wince instinctively, Siperco sucking in a sharp breath through his teeth. “I doubt her soldiers could penetrate the lair if they tried now.”

(cont.)

>>45403547

No veil meant two things in terms of immediate practicality. First, spirits could not materialize within the lair. All entrances would need to be strictly physical. Second, any spirit linked to the land would be severely diminished within the unveiled lands. No connection to the spirit world, no juice for elemental fury or scrying.

A dead zone.

“Fuck,” Boand mutters under her breath. “I'll see if I can get Sylvia to leave her garden. This is worse than I thought.”

Siperco grits his teeth, obviously regretting what he's about to say. “I'm here if you two need backup," he manages through a clenched jaw. "Sylvia asked me to provide you what aid I could."

Boand settles onto a burnt stump nearby, a small shell pressed to her air.

> Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me more about the smoke plume.
> Much appreciated. I think we're out of time to waste.
> I think you'd be better here. Keep Boand safe. Out of trouble, if you can manage it.
> None of us are going in there right now. I need to speak with the Mother.
> Write-in

>>45403579
>I think you'd be better here. Keep Boand safe. Out of trouble, if you can manage it.

>>45403579

I have a feeling that he'd be mostly dead weight here, as would almost anyone. This screams void elements or harbringer shenanigans though.

>>45403579
>> Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me more about the smoke plume.

>>45403579
> Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me more about the smoke plume.

Colour, direction it was blowing, anything

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>>45403579
>Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me more about the smoke plume.

>>45403579
> None of us are going in there right now. I need to speak with the Mother.

>>45403579
>> Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me more about the smoke plume.
>> None of us are going in there right now. I need to speak with the Mother.

>>45403579
>> Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tell me more about the smoke plume.
>> I think you'd be better here. Keep Boand safe. Out of trouble, if you can manage it.
Let us be reasonable and see if we can ask Amal what he knows or can tell from the surrounding area.

On one hand, I want to say they did this area a favor, but on the other hand it went from being a giant blight to a giant crater. I don't know if thats much better.

More and more this is starting to seem like Hesheza did this. Even if he might be stuck in the Forge, this is right up his alley, in decimating Behemoths.

>>45403936
Baby behemoths that no one likes.

>>45403579
> I think you'd be better here. Keep Boand safe. Out of trouble, if you can manage it.

You hold up a hand, shaking your head. Siperco evidently takes this as refusal for backup and immediately relaxes. You can see his tail uncoil from the tight knot it had been working its way into and his shoulders slump.

Behind him, Boand rolls her eyes whilst muttering into her shell.

“Before anyone goes delving into potentially fire-filled holes in the middle of a behemoth lair let's see if we can't get some more information put together. Tell me more about the plume.”

Siperco perks up. “About the smoke?”

You nod. “Color. Shape of the cloud. Direction it was blowing. Anything.”

The corrupt spirit narrows his eyes in concentration. “I didn't get a great look before it dispersed.”

“Too busy hiding?” Quinn says with a teasing grin.

Siperco shoots him a withering glare, though he chooses not to dignify the statement with a response. “It was thick at first, like you'd expect wet wood smoke to be. Toward the end it got wispy. There was something odd about it, too. Glittering, almost. It was drifting toward the Brush before the wind swept it up. After that it below in every direction.”

“So it was intentionally dispersed?”

Siperco shrugs. “Seems that way. I don't know anyone that can control wind and fire like that in these parts, though. Uh, present company excluded.”

You glance back toward the naked cavern entrance. “Might be more than one intruder.”

The snakeman gulps audibly.

Quinn has made himself busy pacing the perimeter. He jogs back toward you now. “Got some tracks on the far side.” He gestures toward the long, flat edge of the semicircle. “Humanoid. They start pretty abruptly and stop at the edge of the damage.”
(cont.)

>>45404930

You rub the stubble at your chin absently, trying to add it all up.

“Boa?”

She holds up a single finger, nodding and speaking quietly into the shell. After a moment she lowers her hand and tucks the artifact into her belt. “Sylvia's on her way, but she won't be much good in a dead zone like that. I wouldn't wait up for her.”

It makes sense. The majority of her power is tied to the land. With no way of accessing that across the veil...

“Right. Quinn, Siperco, stay out here and keep an eye on Boand.” You glance at the mermaid with a sly smile. “Try to keep her out of trouble.”

“Fat chance,” Quinn mutters. Boa blows him a kiss.

> Head down, weapons drawn.
> Swap a few bindings first. (Which?)
> Tap into Modi Magni's power.
> Tap into the Void's power.
> Write-in

>>45404959
>> Head down, weapons drawn.

>>45404959
>> Head down, weapons drawn.

If shit hits the fan we're going to want to bait it out or get onto non-fucked land.

>>45404959
> Head down, weapons drawn.
Whatever did this has probably moved on. But just in case...

>>45404959
> Head down, weapons drawn.

Might as well bite the bullet and charge in.

Let's go in somewhere with level ground so we can get out just as fast in case our bindings have something happen to them.

>>45404959
Tap into Modi Magni's power.
>Head down, Weapons drawn.

Someone had a fuck-huge grudge on these or the Mother Basalisk. Chances are, it was geared up to take out the momma.

Glittery, spicy smelling smoke is odd. This is so precise, I'd say it was planned for a while. No mercy, very methodical.

The fact that we feelguilty about just being here is making me think a high-tier spirit paid a visit with golden fire.

>>45404959
>> Head down, weapons drawn.
I bet void powers might give us an advantage in a space with no veil since they might be separate. also we probably cant really change bindings in there if its so dead.

>>45405088
Granted, I can't really complain about that approach, the best way to deal with a contaminated unholy lair like that is to purge it from the fucking face of the earth.

>>45404959
> Tap into the Void's power.

>>45404959
>> Head down, weapons drawn.
Tapping into Modi Magni probably wouldn't give the desired boost -- whoever did this killed his favored enemies, so he'll be unlikely to devote as much power toward fighting him (unless the killer(s) also are greedy, so something).

And the Void, use of that power should be kept at a minimum until Osyki knows more about the effects of using it.

>>45405088
>inb4 its Ayren back from the dead and finishing the job

>>45405200
Anon that is 2spooky4totems

>>45405200
That...that might not be as crazy as it sounds, actually. I don't think it could be Ayren himself, but someone close to him might be a possibility. Remember his holy/unholy (depends on who you're asking) blade, Illithuvia? What if she's unbound now? What if this is her taking some symbolic vengeance on the thing that killed her friend?

>>45404959
>Head down, weapons drawn.

Maybe we should bind something to Quinn's armor or something, just to help him out?

>>45404959
>> Tap into Modi Magni's power.
We gained a Modi level recently too, let's see how stronk we are.

>>45403936
I doubt it. Totemists exist to maintain the balance, not to rip the veil to shreds for shits and giggles.

Quinn takes up a position beside Boand, bell-ended spear leveled casually at the swamp in a casually cautious stance. Siperco attempts to take up a position at her other flank, but is quickly warded away by a dead-pan stare from the uncorrupted elemental. Instead he contents himself with a slithering patrol of the blast zone.

You double-check the straps and bindings on your person once more before pulling the hood of Nocturne's Embrace over your head. In the fire-lit clearing it wont do you much good, but you know well the long shadows and gloomy alcoves common to the Basilisk's lair. With Modi secure on your back, Dawning Zephyr at your side, and Song of the Deep's string pressed to your fingertip you creep toward the yawning cavern mouth.

For the second time a shiver races down your spine as you pass through the broken stone teeth of the Wyrm's lair. This time it's not dread that weighs primarily on your mind, but a strange sense of guilty apprehension. Daring to descend takes a steeled nerve and grit teeth. Possessing both in abundance, you're able to make your way into the winding warrens.

The tunnels are better lit than expected. Traces of gold-yellow flame flicker in even intervals along the walls, dwelling in deep gouges scored into the rock. Song of the Deep trills a discordant chorus as you test the string and half-pull the weapon. The flames around you gutter as heat surges from the ambient world into the bow, but they do not extinguish.

Curious.

Far from your last trip, the walk seems to grow -brighter- as you descend, more and more of the passage licked by tongues of auric flame. The turn to drop into the Basilisk's grave chamber approaches, and with it the presence of golden motes floating upon the air. Had you access to second sight you could more accurately identify the unknown energy. For now you do your best to avoid the hovering pinpricks of light.
(cont.)

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>>45406657

Crouching low round the final corner you chance a quick glance around the lip of the wall. The brief glimpse gives you a number of impressions.

A crackling flame built in the skull of the great Wyrm.

A dry floor scourged clean of venom and vile, bones clacking together in the dry heat.

A broad-shouldered figure, backlit by that same inferno.

Humanoid. You haven't missed your target after all.

You draw Song of the Deep to its full strength. Tendrils of rime creep up your boots and the bowstring sings a hymn of death in falsetto vibrato. Sucking in one more deep breath you roll round the corner.

The figure turns.

At first you think the fire-light has cast the man—hardly that, no more than a year or two your senior—in the purest gold. As the light wavers away, you see you've only slightly missed the mark. Gleaming polished plate and wings that nearly drip with liquid light only serve to illuminate the messily coiffed mop of blond hair.

Pale eyes rake your crouched form. In one hand the severed head of some ogre or raksha is frozen mid-scream in eternal rictus. The other bears a glittering blade nearly the size of the man's torso. The edge of the sword sparks and hisses with molten gold.

He barely looks human, clad as he is in the regalia of the spirit. A sigil—one you recognize from your time poring over the tomes of Celestial language—hovers at the nape of his neck.

Cleansing flame. Purging light.

Excorcia.

Despite the drawn weapon pointed at his face (or perhaps because of it) the figure makes no attempt to approach you.

At the back of your mind you hear an utterly vile oath sworn over the sound of grinding, shrieking steel.

> Approach the figure. You're not here for murder.
> Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.
> Lower your weapon. Another person?
> Tap a secondary source of strength. (Modi/Void)
>Write-in

>>45406692
> Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.

>>45406692
>> Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.

>>45406692
I smell a rival. You're going to trouble us for some time to come, aren't you Mr. Angel?

>>45406692
>> Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.
ayyy lmao, who the fuck are you?

>>45406692
> Tap a secondary source of strength. (Modi/Void)
Void
>tfw we will never use this because anons are too scared

>>45406692
>Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.
Who, what, why?

>>45406692
>> Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.

>>45406692
> Tap a secondary source of strength. (Modi/Void)
Modi. This guy is bad news. Diplomacy will fail.

>>45406692
>> Approach the figure. You're not here for murder.

>>45406692
>At the back of your mind you hear an utterly vile oath sworn over the sound of grinding, shrieking steel.
...Modi?

Not quite sure, what do we know about these kinds of entities? Not a lot, probably, so--

>> Stay where you are, but attempt to open negotiations at bow-tip.

>>45406692
>> Approach the figure. You're not here for murder.

So almost but not quite an angel, and something with a strong moral complex, on one hand we might be able to play as a honorable peacekeeper, on the other hand we have modi magni and are more tainted than a whore at a port-side brothel.

Is the circle prepared?

>>45408290
It is. Two more minutes, and I shall perform the ritual.

The two of you stare silently at one another for a long moment. The feeling of your heart pounding against your ribs snaps you from the reverie, but in that moment the two of you size one another up. Without your second sight you're effectively flying blind. You have no idea what this man is. Spirit? Mortal? You get the distinct impression that you've come away at a disadvantage in the war of information. Those pale eyes seem to flay you bare of all your secrets as they pass over your form.

You'll have to hope you can win them over.


“On the list of things I expected today,” you say as you straighten from your crouch, “a merry bonfire in the depths of the swamp was not present.”

The figure watches you dispassionately.

“I can't say that I'm upset to see a pit of venom and charnel scraped off the face of the earth, stranger, but a little warning wouldn't have gone amiss. I have a very pretty, incredibly scary spirit to report this to. A few answers would help my position with her a lot.”

A beat. No reaction.

“Right.” You roll your shoulder, gesturing with the humming bead of energy at the end of your bow to the Behemoth's skull. “I assume this is your doing and you're not here for the ambiance. So who are you?”

You don't expect quite such a melodic voice. The flaxen haired intruder seems to be just on the edge of bursting into song, though his face is utterly placid.

“You're the Totemist.”

You crack a smile. “My reputation proceeds me. But the question was regarding your identity.”

You fight the urge to loose the Song brewing in your bowstring as his sword-arm shifts. The weapon's edge ceases sparking, growing still as he sweeps it across his body. The edge of the blade sinks into the dry silt at his feet.
(cont.)

>>45408360

“Avasi,” the figure responds. You feel the name resonate with him as he speaks it, true and indisputable.

You nod by way of greeting since a bow is out of the question. “Avasi, I'd love to put down the bow and have a civilized discussion with you, but the sword and the monster head are making me a little nervous.”

“You are covered with weaponry,” he responds. “Are you suggesting we divest ourselves of anything capable of causing mortal harm?”

“Just the obvious implements of death,” you respond. “I'll put down my bow and you'll step away from the blade. Then we can discuss why you decided on an impromptu Wyrm barbecue.”

“Keep the weapons if they reassure you,” he says without missing a beat. He takes two deliberate steps away from the embedded sword, folding his arms over his chest. “I don't fear your magic.”

“Not exactly a reassuring thing to say, Avasi.”

“Hence the invitation.”

Another moment of impasse. With a sigh you slowly lower the bow, allowing the line to go slack by inches.

“You knew of me?” you ask.

“I do my research,” he tells you. “You leave a trail of rumors in your wake. Word of you has spread from the moon kingdom.”

“Am I to assume this is a social call?” you ask, placing a hand on your hip.

“You may assume what you like. It's not my job to correct you.”

“Then your job is...?”
(cont.)

>>45408385

The winged figure gestures to the roasting Behemoth skull behind him.

“Ah. An exterminator?”

“A hunter. A concept I'm sure you're well familiar with.”

Your eyes dance over the flame-bleached bone. “Hate to break it to you, but that goose was cooked before you flew in.”

“And yet, a burgeoning nest of young went undisturbed. Without timely intervention you would have had another juvenile roaming the swamp, if not worse.”

You feel a pang of guilt. “It was on my to-do list.”

“Feel free to strike it off,” he says without a trace of humor.

> It looks like thanks are in order, then. (Friendly)
> Anything else you're in the neighborhood for, or was this a one-stop sort of shopping trip? (Neutral)
> I'm not fond of unknowns operating in my territory. (Suspicious)
> I think we're skipping the part where you torched part of a spirit's domain. (Hostile)
> Write-in

>>45408408
> I think we're skipping the part where you torched part of a spirit's domain. (Hostile)

>>45408408
>It looks like thanks are in order, then

>>45408408
>> Anything else you're in the neighborhood for, or was this a one-stop sort of shopping trip? (Neutral)

> I think we're skipping the part where you torched part of a spirit's domain. (Hostile)
Ayy you helped out, but you fucked something up

>>45408408
> It looks like thanks are in order, then. (Friendly)
> Write-in
"I would have preferred it if you had spared the collateral damage, though. I understand the need to be thorough, but you've almost caused more harm than good, here. Basilisks I could have hunted once my schedule cleared, repairing this hole in the Mist is going to be a nightmare."

>>45408408
> It looks like thanks are in order, then. (Friendly)
> Anything else you're in the neighborhood for, or was this a one-stop sort of shopping trip? (Neutral)

>>45408408
>> It looks like thanks are in order, then. (Friendly)
Might want to let him know that like 'hey thanks for taking care of that, doing it in a way that pisses off the spirits does more harm than good, so maybe don't do it that way again?'

>>45408408
> It looks like thanks are in order, then. (Friendly)
> I think we're skipping the part where you torched part of a spirit's domain. (Hostile)
Moon kingdom -- I don't quite think he's from the moon goddess, but, perhaps something associated with Marisee (sp?). Similar gold and red colors, maybe?

Still, while the Swamp probably wrote the area off for the while, this sort of destruction -- how does repairing this compare with the time needed for rehabilitating the Behemoth taint?

>>45408408
> I think we're skipping the part where you torched part of a spirit's domain. (Hostile)

>>45408408
"So is this meant to be a lesson in priorities? So things quickly or you'll do them with fire?"

>>45408408
I'd go for a Neutral approach.

Something like "Well, I would be rude to not thank you. I am curious, however, how you did this. Your magic is clearly different than mine, and it disturbs the spirits I deal with. If you have time, a brief explanation would help me a step further. I'd be willing to offer you greater comfort and board in exchange. Sleeping out here isn't the most comfortable situation. Unless you have a means to depart this place immediately...?"

Though something about Avasi's tone rubs you the wrong way, you can't deny that he's done you and the forest a service by nipping your growing behemoth problem in the bud. You lean against the side of the cavern entrace, pulling your hood from your head with your free hand.

“It looks like thanks are in order, then!” You force some of the tension out of your shoulders with a shrug and flash the winged man what you hope is a winning smile. “Far be it from me to question a helping hand, especially with a task as dangerous as this was.”

Avasi raises an eyebrow. It might be the most human movement you've seen him make.

“You came down loaded for war to deliver your thanks?”

“I came down loaded for war because the surface looks like a meteor impact zone,” you tell him. Is that not obvious? “You literally scorched the earth. I didn't get this far by being unprepared for a fight.”

“I see.” The words hang heavy in the air between you, laden with implications to be sorted. The drone of shrieking metal is slowly rising in pitch at the base of your skull.

“Ordinarily this is the point where you would smile and say 'No problem at all, Totemist. Just doing my job'. Then I'd say 'maybe we could compare abomination-slaying tips'.” You watch his face for a hint of a smile. “I'd show you the clubhouse, break bread, etcetera, etcetera.”

“Are you nearly finished?” he asks. Not a great joker, then, despite what is clearly a functioning wit.

“Not remotely.” Something about Avasi is beginning to rub you the wrong way. Whether it's his dogged determination to play the stoic or something about the way his eyes are pinning you to the cavern wall remains to be seen. “All joking aside I am curious about your methods here. I don't know if you're aware, but your work here seems to have neatly severed the World Without from its material anchor. That's not power I'm familiar with.”
(cont.)

>>45409596

“I'm aware,” he responds with that same lilting stoicism.

“My, nothing escapes your notice. Care to enlighten me as to why you found it necessary to torch part of a spirit's domain to get your work done?”

“Education isn't really my purview.” His eyes lock with yours. It's like staring into the Mist. “Nor is your mentor's fine attention to detail my problem.”

He's progressed from flat stonewalling to barely veiled hostility with record speed. Your teeth may be on edge, but you force it to look like a smile. Modi Magni is practically vibrating against your spine.

“You have done your research.”

“My sources are reliable.”

> This is spiraling down a bad path. You'd still like to make an effort for diplomacy. (Friendly)
> You're about done here. Wish Avasi well and get out before you do something he'll regret. (Neutral)
> Unrepentant? He's crossed from nuisance to potential threat. You'll need to make him aware. (Hostile)
> Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.
> Write-in

>>45409262
Asshole has wings, and I am going to assume they are functional.

>>45409623
> Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.

>>45409623
> Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.

>>45409623
> You're about done here. Wish Avasi well and get out before you do something he'll regret. (Neutral)

>>45409623
>You're about done here. Wish Avasi well and get out before you do something he'll regret. (Neutral)
>Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.

In that order.

>>45409623
>[x] Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.

When has based Metalman ever been unhelpful?

>>45409623
> Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.

Even if this guy isn't an enemy, he's a massive douchebag.

>>45409623
> Unrepentant? He's crossed from nuisance to potential threat. You'll need to make him aware. (Hostile)
Fuck this nigga, he's not telling us anything. I don't trust him.

>>45409623
> You're about done here. Wish Avasi well and get out before you do something he'll regret. (Neutral)

>>45409623
>Check in with Modi. He's been grinding away on your back.

>>45409695
Why would we let him go before seeing what Modi has to say? Makes no sense

I think Avasi doesn't want Oysiki to have any interest drawn towards him. He's trying to simultaneously present himself as an unknown threat, and completely forgettable.

Thus I recommend we behave as if we've just been snubbed, go back to our business, and as soon as he's left we should go about researching the man in as much depth as possible.

>>45409766
Because what Modi wants could tend towards aggression, which we don't want, but we still want his knowledge about this guy.

>>45409855
I feel like you should be taking this guy more seriously, his destructive attack goes against everything totemists represent. This guy is bad news.

>>45409855
The dude is a fucking asshole and he just nuked the spirit world in a wide area. That means that he's not just a douche, he's a direct threat to what a totemist stands for.

>>45409985
Plus, he's in our territoy, and that are he nuked was part of one of our allies
And he implied he knew that already, which means he just indirectly attacked us and just doesnt care.

>>45409623
"Look, you like the 'strong and silent' mystique. That's fine. I favor 'glib but determined'. So let me be clear, in case my humor isn't getting it across: You're acting like a dick, and a powerful asshole on my people's territory is DEFINITELY my purview. So spare the five minutes for civility, or prepare to spare it for athletics."

>>45410081
Perfect.

>>45409985
>he's a direct threat to what a totemist stands for.
Maybe he knows that, which is why he's being so stand-offish.

>>45410081
Pretty much this.

We should be cautious, but if this guy is as clued in as he says he is, then he is fully aware of exactly what he just did and all the implications of it, which means he is actively threatening us just by sticking around.

>>45410074
Yeah but I'm pretty sure this is the kind of guy who can murder us with a backhand.

Like I think we might be up against this setting's equivalent of an angel.

>>45410081
This

>>45410137
Even if he is, we cant just let it go, even if we wanted to. He needs to give a reasonable explanation or else the consequences should be obvious.

>>45410243
Us bleeding all over him? I'm just saying I don't think you understand how over our head we are, even with Modi giving us a huge boost.

>>45410376
Even so we can't just let this guy do what he likes here.

This smells of sun-spirit servant to me, but he's obviously connected to Ayran somehow. He obviously knows the moon-lady somehow, so maybe he's from her neighborhood?

Also, first thread I've caught in a while. Whoo.

>>45410376
Nigga we don't gotta dunk on him, we just need to make sure he thinks twice before walking into OUR neighborhood to fuck up the veil.

>>45410376
I think youre both overestimating both how powerful this guy may be, and underestimating how little it matters.
He Basically just committed the equivalent of a war crime in our backyard, insulted our teacher, possibly irrevocably upset the balance of the world in a small way, and is now sitting here basically spitting at us about it.
Its our Duty as a totemist and and an ally to the Land guardians to make sure this shit doesnt happen and this guy is basically saying he believes he can do it whenever he wants to us

>>45410376
Not the guy you're talking to, but I think it's a worthwhile point to stick to. Refusing to acknowledge that he's out of line makes us look weak and willing to remain so. Picking a fight we can't win at least makes it clear we take our duties seriously.

Better he thinks us overeager than cowardly.

>>45409985
>>45409941
No shit he's bad news. If this guy LITERALLY EMBODIES the concept of "cleansing fire", I think he's out of our wheelhouse. Maybe if we could lure him out of the dead zone and have Sylvia help out we'd have a chance, but in his territory?

>>45410562
>insulted our teacher
You mean a mark of good judgment?

If someone actually praises Ayren they're either sucking up to us or are even more of an "ends justify the means" asshole than he was.

At some point everytime someone goes "you don't even have a clue what you're dealing with" to Osyki, I'd expect him to murder the fuck out of him/her/it and with the light going out of the poor fucks eyes Osyki leans down and respond with "Yeah, and instead of enlighting me so I could understand everyone who says that plays the jackass. It's not surprising that they ends up with a spear in their guts."

I wonder if Ayren became a douche after he's got a hundreds or so goons giving him that line.

>>45410633
I think we're already in the deadzone. He doesn't give a shit.

>>45410661
At least the first Totemist decided to teach us when he realized we wanted to listen.

It's a shame he first resorted to kidnapping and making us fight statues, but what can you do.

>>45410633
You're underestimating Osyki anon.

We've already almost died once in the past few threads, why does everyone want it to happen again?

>>45410638
Regardless of his personal failings, he died doing his duty, and bashing him for that was out of line.
We're constantly reminded that however bad the wyrmlings are, the Basilisk was a 100 times worse, maybe a 1000, and he possibly made the whole area safe by taking it out.

>>45410716
Ok now you're just being a pussy anon.

>>45410716
Anons can't tolerate disprespect even though it's long been established that dickishness is proportional to power.

>>45410716
Everyone loves near-death experiences.

>>45410716
Sometimes Oysiki goes to the threats, sometimes the threats come to Oysiki.

>>45410777
Disrespect towards us isn't the issue here.

>>45410800
He isn't threatening us yet, he's just being an asshole.

>>45410820
That whistling noise you just heard was the point flying over your head.

>>45410716
It is sort of our job not to let people go around fucking up the spirit world.

>>45409623
>> This is spiraling down a bad path. You'd still like to make an effort for diplomacy. (Friendly)
And maybe we can get a few quiet tid bits from modi? Since humans are a favored prey of him and all.

>>45410716
I dunno senpai people just seem obsessed with killing the guy who can nullify spiritual shit.

>>45410716
Oh, I don't want to fight this guy at all.

He's just making it pretty impossible to walk away from this peaceably, without basically putting a "please shit all over us" sign over Grisoch.

This dude mentioned hearing of our antics in the Moon Kingdom. In three months, who's to say someone doesn't show up having heard how we folded like origami to this guy.

Also, idea, could we point Alarune's Codex at him and learn things?

>>45410820
Not so much.

He's well aware of what he just did, why we're angry about it, and what sort of person we are. The fact that he is standing there being smugly indifferent about that is about as much of a threat as you can get, it's basically saying 'Yeah, I burnt your garage down, but what are you going to do about it?'

Appeasement isn't an answer.

>>45410710
I can already see the scene, Osyki browsing the Library when he discover the books written by all the Totemists in history, after a while he discover the 1st book of the craft, the bible of it's kind. With childlike glee Osyki reach out for it and look upon the cover of...

>Spirits are dicks.

That's the title of the book written by the 1st Totemist.

>>45410777
I don't want to fight him. There's a not unreasonable chance he's out of our league.

But he isn't giving us much of a choice here.

>>45410927
>>45410938
Again I'm not sure you understand what you're doing. You're literally going to get us mudered for the sake of pride?

>>45410991
Yes. Yes he is. We have responsibilities you shit. Considering what this guy seems likely to be capable of, do you really think any spirit will have the balls to complain about Osyki not fighting him when this flaming jackass could incinerate them without any effort?

>>45410994
He basically spirit nuked the place. It is our job to not let people do that.

>>45411078
Yeah, but you're acting like we actually CAN stop him from doing that.

Which so far seems very unlikely.

>>45411078
This nigga gets it. You guys are acting pathetic. We've got a few tricks up our sleeve, we're not powerless against this guy.

>>45411106
We got a big time spirit en route and apart from severing this places connection to the mist place he hasnt done anything we couldnt do.

What really bothers me is that he has not said what side he's on, nor who he is workring with. Normally someone of his self-righteousness would proclaim that they serve he who has ten names, bleeds children, pack lord of puppies, but not this guy.

Ayran probably killed his dad or something.

>>45411159
>big time spirit en route
One who'll be severely powered down if they enter the affected area.

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You're torn between the urge to push through the veil of barbs and the urge to make this prick swallow those barbs unseasoned. Before you can make either of those choices, however, there is one thing that's been bugging you.

Modi Magni is effectively grinding his teeth directly in your ear. The sounds of shrieking gears and sparking steel has risen to a fever pitch, echoing off the innards of your skull in a manner akin to the world's most persistent mosquito. You take the risk of closing your eyes for a brief moment, reasonably content Modi would warn you if Avasi went for blood.

-For fuck's sake, Modi, do you mind? I'm a little busy here-.

The faceless shape of Modi Magni's upper torso swims into view in your mind's eye. The robes that ordinarily hang from his form are gripped in tattered handfuls, either fist filled with gold and red rags. The wings of screaming metal roar with almost physical force as you finally acknowledge the Wrathful spirit's summons.

-I thought it prudent to inform you,- he says, his level voice the perfect contrast to the practically palpable anger rolling in waves from his form, -that your fair-haired intruder is carrying an artifact of some import.-

You wait for the inevitable elaboration.

-The sword,- Modi hisses. -The blade should be familiar to you, whelp. You saw Ayren polishing it often enough, even if it has been divorced from its hilt.-

You can feel the color drain from your face. -You're fucking kidding me.-

-I haven't the time to waste on humor. The core of that weapon is very clearly composed of the Holy Blade's edge. How it was disassembled I cannot say.-

-You can vouch for that?-

-Happily.- The word is voiced with no small amount of irony.

Your eyes snap open. Avasi hasn't moved a scant inch.

Okay. Round two.
(cont.)

>>45411191
They can just stand on the edge of it and throw magic at him. Or we can push him outside it, not like its that big of an area.

>>45411205

“Avasi,” you begin. “Let's cut to the chase here. Is there any chance this ends with the two of us apologizing for what has essentially amounted to a dick-waving contest and working together for the good of the land?”

“You're attempting to lecture me on the good of the land?” The winged man stops just short of scoffing. “Get back to me when you've rid yourself of the majority of your parasites, Totemist.”

Enough. “Look,” you say with an agitated gesture. “You clearly favor the 'strong and silent' routine. Cool. Fine. Personally I subscribe to the 'glib yet determined' school of thought. So let me be clear, in case my humor isn't getting it across: You're posturing on a flaming hole in my domain, and a powerful asshole on my people's territory -is- my purview. So spare the five minutes for civility, or prepare to spare it for athletics."

Finally, a reaction. Perfectly trimmed brows inch downward, producing a minute crease in Avasi's brow.

“I'm not unwilling to let this slide with an apology. You did my land a good turn by cutting down those wyrmlings. What you're currently telling me with your folded arms and holier-than-thou attitude is that you don't give one hot damn about collateral damage on your hunting trips. If that's the case, this had better be the last I see of you in my corner of the world.”

“You're raising a lot of fuss over a corrupted hole in the local biome.”

“Again, the sinkhole you stir-fried is less a concern than the gaping hole in the Mist.”

“It wasn't pretty on the far side, either.”

“Not a license to go around mystically terraforming. It's not your land.”

> “And that's not your sword.”
> “So how are we going to make this right?”
> “And I think it's time I saw the last of you.”
> Write-in

>>45411233
> “And that's not your sword.”
> “So how are we going to make this right?”
Activate the Modi synchronization

>>45411233
>“And that's not your sword.”
I vaguely remember that thing being important.

>>45411055
It is exactly those responsibilities, and considering what this guy seems to be capable of, that requires us to fucking act.

He fucked up the spirit world. It is our JOB to stop that from happening. His flippant attitude at the magnitude of what he has done suggests he will do it again, and that forces our hand.

>>45410994
No. Should either of our deaths (especially our own) become an option, we Sue for peace, or flee. But right now, he's acting like a bully. And if we don't respond as if we have some self-respect, we leave ourselves open to be bullied by him and any other bully that comes by.

Further, as has been noted, what he's done is almost certainly a grievous offense to Totemistry.

We're a beat cop who found a heavily armed, trenchcoat-over-bulletproof-vest wearing asshole pissing on a burning building, who keeps being a prick when we ask questions. No, we don't want a fight, but it is our job and duty to get some answers, or take the fucker in. That's what we signed up for, like it or not.

>>45411233
> “And that's not your sword.”
Kind of keen for this now to happen now, to be honest.

>>45411233
> Btw faggot that's not your sword
> Can you calm your tits so we can sort this shit out? (How can we make this right?)

>>45411233
> “And that's not your sword.”

Guys. Anyone else getting the feeling he's also here to eliminate us?

This Angeldude is giving off some real "PURGE ALL" kind of vibes. Modi is also on edge.

>>45411384
Eh, I don't see why everyone's freaking out. I can understand standing up to the asshole and asking him how he got Ayran's blade, but he may be on our side. We still haven't figured that out

I mean, he probably isn't, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. After preparing to stab them in the back if things go wrong.

>>45411384
He probably would have come swinging already if he was. Not like he has to claim it was self defense to anyone.

>>45411233
Fucking Evangelics. Taking shit that ain't theirs, clensing what they want, and acting like they din du nuffin.

>and thats not your sword.

Lets do this, but try not to raise too much hell.

>>45411233
>> “And that's not your sword.”
>> “So how are we going to make this right?”

"Given that sword you are carrying around, I'm guessing that it's not an accident that you started blasting holes into the veil in Ayren's old territory. I strongly suggest that you decide to be more forthcoming with me so we can make this right. Clearly something here is offensive to you, and neither of our issues are going to be resolved if you don't start holding up your half of the conversation."

> Write-in
"Yes, I could've come down here at any time to completely purge the place as you have. I deliberately chose to do more research for a more subtle extraction so as not to disrupt the balance and upset everyone. And regardless of how ugly it may or may not have been, it is part of my duty to ensure the continued integrity of the spiritual.
You may as well have come to my village and destroyed a wall to be rid of a spider's nest.
I'm not asking you to repair it, or even pay for it. Just make an apology to the owner and be on your way while I fix this mess for you."

>>45411233
Where are you from? What made you decide to pay this land a visit?

>>45411466
This.
>>45411497
Not this.

>>45411530
>What made you decide to pay this land a visit?
Probably the baby behemoths he toasted.

That's clearly the FBI bargin' into a police investigation and acting like dicks without a warrant or anything to make it legal.

>>45411554
>>45411530
'Who made you visit' would probably be a better question.

>>45411554
How would he know about them? Why would he bother to come here and kill them for us?

>>45411233
>And that's not your sword.

PLEASE

>>45411233
You know, based on some of his lines, I think I see a point of engagement.

"I am grateful for your actions. You say you're a hunter. You bear the sigil of Excorcia. You kill behemoth spawn. You wield a fragment of the Holy Edge. You're clearly not a bad guy.

But you are in MY territory. Thesr lands are like my farm. And this was a rotten tree. When I say that clearing the nest was on my to-do list, that's not an idle sentence. My mentor killed the behemoth there. I brought low the last juvenile to spawn here. And the Avatar of Hunger that fed on the remains. You have done me a service in clearing this, but you did so by setting fire to the tree, risking so much of the orchard.

I need an explanation."

Would literally anyone be surprised if this dude originally owned the sword but Ayren stole it?

>>45411611
More people than us hate giant magical kaiju that utterly devastate the land. Who knew?

>>45411649
I'm fully expecting that actually.

>>45411602
I'm guessing he came to be a dick to Ayren for some unknown reason and now is being a dick to us instead. Thats why he has the sword and so much knowledge of us and our old master. We probably aren't even his first targets and the behemoths were certainly only something done to piss someone off and not his direct reason for being here.

>>45411649
I always thought the sword was some sort of totem thing Ayren made but to answer your question: No.

>>45411649
You know, I honestly don't think Ayren would stoop to thievery, but the TWIST-sense I'm getting is making me think this angelperson IS the sword. Or something very closely related.

>>45411649
That was my guess, as well.

>>45411695
This is obviously the answer. He's a celestial bind, right? He's Ayran's celestial bind, that came undone when he died, and came back to avenge his death, and he's just really, really upset he left a kid in his place? Maybe?

>>45411695
Yeah that was my thinking initially but I don't know, the names don't seem to match up.

>>45411695
Wasnt the sword female in the omake thing?

>>45411851
For all we really know, this could just be a spirit pulling a Joan de' Arc. It might look male, but it might be a woman.

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>>45411893

>>45411695
He's quite obviously a totemist.

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>>45411893
>Reverse trap
Ayren had some alright taste.

>>45412005
Wouldn't you a reverse trap totem?

>>45412211
Anyone who wouldn't is a complete faggot.

>>45412211
>>45412229
Shit taste detected.
>not wanting a bro-tier companion whom you can engage in n-no homo bonding moments

>>45412256
u wana hav a fookin go m8?

>>45412211
>totem
You mean a spirit? Totems are something completely different

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>>45412256
I'm sorry if I'm comfortable with my sexuality, anon. Did you not want to eat Naoto, because you were afraid you'd like it?

>>45412298
try me m8 I'll fok ur shit up
traps>reverse traps

>>45412417
Fookin 'ell m8 you kiss ya mum wit dat mouf?

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Your finger jabs accusingly toward the golden blade standing on its end in the roasted sand underfoot.

“And that,” you declare in perhaps a more accusatory tone than you originally intended, “Is not your sword.”

Avasi's eyes narrow. His arms come down from his chest. One rests by his side, while the other gestures to the blade.

“Is this your way of claiming reparations for your damaged land? I think you ought to reconsider the property value of this swamp.”

“Please don't stoop to playing dumb with me.” Your extended finger draws a line from the blade to Avasi's gleaming chestplate. “I'm going outon a limb and saying that it's not an accident that you started blasting holes into the veil in Ayren's stomping grounds. I strongly suggest that you decide to be more forthcoming with me. Clearly something here is offensive to you, and neither of our issues are going to be resolved if you don't start owning up to what you know.

“I'm not ungrateful for your actions, Excorcia.” You can see the momentary flash of surprise as you name his sigil. “Killing Behemoth spawn and wielding a fragment of the Holy Blade isn't the hallmark of a bad guy.”

“I don't know what you're—“

“But,” you interrupt him, “we're standing at a crossroads here. We need to start working together now.”

“Or?”

There it is. He's trying to call your bluff. You've been expecting this since you first asked for an apology. He's a tough guy. So what are you going to do about it?

You close your eyes. It's an easy thing to make a mental bridge to Modi Magni. He doesn't even need to be in your grasp.

> [[Modi Magni Transformation Level 1: Weaponsmaster.]]

Brass filaments stand visibly from the skin of your arms. You can feel the skin at the edges of your eyes peeling back to reveal delicate circuitry writ into the bone of your skull. Your silvery aura leaks like quicksilver into the visible spectrum, lightning lines of angry red pulsing in its depths.
(cont.)

>>45412702

“Or I take that sanctimonious attitude and choke you with it.” It's as much Modi's wording as your own. You can feel Modi itching at the base of your spine, clockwork gears ready to shift upward, to spin up into the next tier of unrelenting violence.

The raw force of your aura makes Avasi check his step. His wings flare wide, and the blade embedded in the sand twitches as if to fly to his gesturing hand. Your eyes lock again. This time you feel much less at a disadvantage.

“Is it worth your pride?”

The gears in Avasi's head turn nearly as visibly as the ones at your elbows. After a moment, his hand slowly lowers.

-He fears us.-

It's not an emotion Avasi seems familiar with grappling with. He glances between the blade, your face, and the tunnel behind you in rapid succession.

“I came at the Blade's urging,” he finally admits. His eyes stare daggers at the ground by your feet. “It directs me to abominations, and I do what is necessary to wipe them clean from the land.”

“So your sigil tells me.”

“I tore the veil in preparation for a fight with the Basilisk itself. I was... unaware that it had already met its demise.”

“A convenient detail for the blade to leave out.” Modi's voice comes easily to your lips, though you don't necessarily disagree with his point. “Did she bother to mention who put the beast in its place?”

His silence is all the answer you require.

“I'm well aware that my mentor wasn't a paragon, but you're standing on his hard-fought grave. I'm not sure where you're from, but most places think poorly to speak ill of the dead.”

“Dead?” Avasi's eyebrows rise. “I didn't—I see.”

His wings slump slightly at that. The blade sinks an inch into the sand.

> “Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.”
> “Seems like your sources aren't as reliable as you thought.”
> He doesn't get to fake contrition now. Cut loose.
> “Now you tell me about the sword.”

>>45412722
>“Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.”

>>45412722
>He doesn't get to fake contrition now. Cut loose.
Beat him up and interrogate him later.

>>45412722
A & D

See guys? He hasn't killed us yet.

>>45412722
> “Seems like your sources aren't as reliable as you thought.”
> “Now you tell me about the sword.”

>>45412722
> “Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.
And kindly refrain from making holes in my domain, thank you. Do you have any further business here?"

>>45412722
> “Now you tell me about the sword.”

>>45412767
People should learn that you can step up to people without actually starting a fight with them.

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>>45412722
>> He doesn't get to fake contrition now. Cut loose.

>>45412722
>Lets try this again without the machismo. Thankyou for your timely aid.
>Now you tell me about the sword.


Bit of both, Diarca, please.

>>45412722
>> “Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.”
Looks like both of us have asshole intelligent weapons to deal with. Good thing we know not to be super srsn bsns all the time with ours. For reals though, super stoked that we've taken the wind out of his sails without fighting.

and if this guys has a behemoth killing prep routine? He might be a great guy to have around for promoting Quinn to Big Boy totemist. And also for keeping the land safe, I guess.

>>45412722
> “Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.”
I'm pretty sure this guy CAN'T fake anything. Also he seems like our best bet to team up with if we're hunting Behemoths.

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>>45412722
>> He doesn't get to fake contrition now. Cut loose.

HE FEARS US
HIS GOD IS WEAK

Didnt Modi mention something about Not liking the sword too early in the quest?
Maybe it does stuff like this a lot.

>>45412722
>“Now you tell me about the sword.”
"you test my patients desecrating the grave of my master, this power is but a glimpse, it would be wise not to push me any more than you have already done so, now please tell me about the sword"

>>45412702
Modi is creepy as shit but he's also the absolute fucking best guy.

>>45412722
> “Seems like your sources aren't as reliable as you thought.”
"If I'm not pretty sure you're literally unable to lie, I'd think you were bullshitting me. Do you really think Ayren would let me go ANYWHERE if he were still alive?"

>>45412722
>> “Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.”
Let's not fight against Ayren's super-killer sword, even if it's degraded and incomplete, yeah?

Though, if we could perhaps get it (possibly for research, or bury it at Ayren's grave), that would be an excellent loot from this encounter.

>>45412867
He doesnt like lots of things.

>giving up our position of power in the conversation this quickly
Come on guys.

>>45412722
> “Let's try this again without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.”

We stood up, now we need to show that we can avoid taking it too far.

>>45412722
>Let's try this again, without the machismo. Thank you for your timely aid.

You need to consider this, Ayren would have gutted you and taken a piece of you to make a codpiece by now.

>>45412722
> “Seems like your sources aren't as reliable as you thought.”
"My which I mean that I think they have to be actively deceiving you."

>>45412722
Guys, I hate to remind you, but in our flashback Ayren used illithvia and considered it strong enough that he completely ignored modi

>>45413048
>>45413048
This is bad why?

Modi's a dick, this sword was nicer in the flashback. I'd user her over him too. The sword obviously brought itself here to talk to us or to shit on the behemoth's skeleton. Both are fine by me.

>>45413129
Its bad because it means that we have no idea the power scale we're talking about, however, we do know this thing can and has killed GODS. That alone is terrifying. We certainly would be unable to kill most gods.

>>45413048
I don't think Illithvia is complete in this guy's hands, so that could explain it.

>>45413163
And he still managed to fly under the radar and surgically amputate a festering portion of the damn universe!

Also didn't we kill a bunch of those wyrms last time we were here, as did the hunger thing?

>>45413129
I too would chooose a nice feminine sword over Modi McMetalscreacher

>>45413202
I guess the body makes baby wyrms? I dunno. We did kill a bunch of them, and bound the oldest.

>>45413158
>>45413202
Its busted and hes afraid, stop pissing your pants over every single threatening thing. And bonad not paying attention didnt help.

>>45413202
We killed some, but we knew, I think, that we didn't get them all at the time. They were behemoth spawn, and we don't really have a great ability to dive into the swamp for the search and destroy tactics required to kill them all the last time we were here, then as well as now (though, with the Bezoar Cyst, we're better defended against their most potent weapons). Furthermore, the Avatar of Hunger drove the brood(s) away, I believe, so it didn't really kill many of the wyrmlings. Certainly we only encountered the brood outside the lair, instead of within it.

>>45413269
It has a god killer. Chances are, it outclasses Modi, and Modi still needed assistance to beat the shit out of the first Splinter of the Magus.

>>45413236
You have shit taste.

Wonder how this would happen right now in Excorcia Quest.
>FUCK I told you fuckers that pissing off the student of Ayren "I'll make totem out of 'em" Overwake was a bad Idea.
>[Rules of Nature Intensifies]
>He's bluffing, bet he's shitting his pants.
>What's a country bumpkin gonna do to us? Chill we got this.

>>45413269
Honestly I do agree that this guy probably isn't as strong as he seems, but right now I'm not sure we should kick his ass since he just seems to be kind of arrogant and dumb.

>>45413319
You guys are making an awful lot of assumptions based on incomplete information.
Anyway, Wedont know that it outclasses Modi, because one, we still havent unlocked all of Modi's power, and 2, Were still not even sure what Modi IS.
We dont know for sure what the sword was either.

>>45413349
I lol'd

>>45413319
Hes afraid. If it was that strong he wouldnt be afraid. Plus big woods spirit boss is still on the way for back up and he cant fight both of us.

>>45413356
Well, how we go forward depends a lot on whether this area will recover or not.
If Not, Bad, if it will, then this is much less severe then it appears and negotiations will be less strained.

>>45413385
Modi is a Greter Avatar of Wrath. One that we haven't unlcked the full potential of just yet, and this guy has a weapon that might just be better at this stage. Let's not pick fights with unknowns.

>>45413468
I dont remember that ever being confirmed?Where are you getting that information?
And We pick fights with unknowns all the time! Thats almost ALL WE DO.

>>45413532
Fucking this.

>>45413468
If it was full power, which it isnt. Unbunch your panties we are just having a chat right now.

>>45413468
>Greter Avatar of Wrath
That's pretty wrong.

He wouldn't have all metal and circuitry and shit if that were true.

>>45413532
Right now at least this guy doesn't seem to want to fight. He seems like a good guy who's just misguided and a douchebag.

>>45413532
Ever since we failed some dice rolls and got fucked up during that honing attempt there's this attitude that we're weak and that we should be afraid of everything. It's getting really old.

>>45413532
>>45413557

So basically like a younger Ayren. Wait...

THAT FUCKING SWORD!!!

>>45412722
A and D.
Bloody browser, let me vote.

>>45413556
>MODI MAGNI is the spirit who resides within the WHITE CLAW focus lashed to your spear. You've spoken with him face-to-face only once, where he appeared as a faceless figure in robes of black silk and wearing wings of tearing, screaming metal. He identifies himself as a Greater Avatar of Wrath, and seems to hold both you and your master in the same regard that one considers a useful tool favorable. He holds a deep hatred for greed and avarice, and especially the two races which embody that the most: Dragon-kind, and humanity.

He could be pulling a fast one on us for all we know, but right now if someone Ask Osyki "what" is Modi, that's the only thing Osy can respond with beside "Murderboner made manifest". Taken from the pastbin in the 2nd post.

>>45413586
Its not even the third time we got super fucked up in a fight.

>>45413349
>Ayren "I'll make totem out of 'em" Overwake
Can this be canon?

The urge to belittle him or grind him under your heel is considerable. Clawing your way past the barbed witticisms and huffy dismissal has taken its toll on your patience. It would, however, be hypocritical to offer the gentle letdown without giving him the chance to indulge it. You relax your stance a touch, spreading your weight down from the balls of your feet.

“Let's try this again without the machismo, shall we?” You gesture to Avasi with your free hand, palm-up. “I'll start. Avasi! Thank you for your timely aid. I had no idea the wyrmling threat had advanced so far once again in such a short span of time.”

The winged warrior release a long-suffering sigh through his nose.

“Just doing my job,” he says in flat monotone. You'd smile if you didn't think your Modi-altered teeth would come off as a threat.

“Well, hey. I'd be happy to sit down and compare notes with you, big guy. But first...”

You nod to the blade planted in the earth.

“Tell me about the sword.”

“What's to tell? I picked it up a few months back.”

You frown. “C'mon, Excorcia. We were just making progress. Don't start backsliding already. Where'd you find the blade?”

He grinds the heel of his gauntleted hand into his temple. “Asalaria,” he says. “I found it in war ruins in the dunes. I was hunting.”

“So this isn't a new gig for you.”

He stares at you as if you're simple. “Hardly. The sword has somewhat expanded the scope of my quarry.”

You nod. “Holy swords tend to do that. Were you aware that my mentor was the last owner?”

“Only recently,” he says. “The blade doesn't speak much. Never while I'm awake. My dreams are a travel itinerary these days.”
(cont.)

>>45413684

You rake a hand through your hair. “Vision quests,” you say in a 'who can make heads or tails?' tone. “So it directed you here.”

He folds his arms over his breastplate again. “Once I dropped a few local nuisances. It was quite eager to see the Basilisk slain. Imagine my surprise.”

You nod. “Looks like your sources are a little out of date.”

“Evidently. How long has the Wyrm been dead?”

“Couple weeks,” you say with a shrug. “See? This is how we could have started. Mutual exchange of information! It's a beautiful thing.”

You can hear his teeth scrape over one another. “Don't push it, Totemist.”

> “Osyki. You want to take me up on that lunch offer?”
> “Fair enough. You done down here? I'd prefer to continue this in a little more hospitable place.”
> “You want to push it? Let's talk about my inheritance.”
> “Try me. I've been looking for an excuse to cut loose.”
> Write-in

>>45413236
>>45413319
>>45413468

I come back during my lunchbreak and faggots are using my alias. I almost feel proud.

No, he's a GREATER Avatar of Wrath. This sword might be good, but if this guy is backing off this soon, he might not be all he makes himself up to be.

Even if this is true though, I'd agree that we shouldn't go full dickwad to him/her.

(Note to self: become a tripfag.

>>45413636
or he could be a greater avatar of wrath made in the forge in Azeo Sicros

>>45413676
Ayren needs more than 1 nickname, douche as he is he'll switch between them every week just to make people squirm