>>46044459
Vox is good and everyone loves him

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>>46044459
You let go of Miles' thigh, just in time to be missed by his grasping hand, and sprint through his legs. You cluck loudly, and hear his snarl in rage when your brother pecks him in the back of the knee. A thoughtless kick sends your skeletal companion rolling across the stone floor.

"Fetch, are you okay?" River calls.

"Stay out of it," you and Miles answer back, at the same time.

"I'm watching a demon warrior fight a talking chicken zombie and no one is going to believe me when I tell them later," one of the hostages mutters.

You dodge a series of kicks, staying quick on your feet, and peck at the demon's leg on your way past. The deathly energies infusing your form do a lot more damage than the actual injury would indicate, and you can hear it in Miles' pained hisses and see it in his tense, frustrated motions.

"Fires below, /why are you so hard to kill/?" the demon complains. "You're literally a chicken!"

"I am Sir Fetch the Nightfeather, Bane of the Secondborn, and I am more than hard to kill. Surrender, seducer!"

"I /literally can't/," Miles complains. "Summoned, remember? I have orders, and I am not going to lose to you /twice/."

In the thick smoke, something sparks; flame, flickering to life all over Miles' armor and body.

Fuck. This might actually be trouble.

> Fighting retreat
> Charge! He'll never expect it!
> Surrender honorably. He has his victory...if he can deal with River

>>46044960
>> Fighting retreat

damn, we need to get distance so we can down him with our quills.

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>>46044960
>> Fighting retreat


>"I am Sir Fetch the Nightfeather, Bane of the Secondborn
Pic related is my reaction from vox using my write-in.

>>46044960
> Fighting retreat
something something envenomed with justice!

>>46044960
> Surrender honorably. He has his victory...if he can deal with River
Though this is predicated on one question.

If he wins and takes the caravan, can we keep the hostages inside it?

>>46044960
>Miles has enough firepower to crack open a cage, right? And we can surrender the caravan but keep the hostages, right?

Folks, the surrender option hinges on the fact that with your duel concluded, River is free to whip his ass.

>>46044960
>>Miles has enough firepower to crack open a cage, right? And we can surrender the caravan but keep the hostages, right?

I like this idea.

Although Miles might not like it, seeing as it's coming after getting his face ripped up, but well. There'll time enough for a battle for his honor later. For right now, lives hang in the balance.

>>46045403
Well screw that, Fetch doesn't let others fight his battles. Still the way Miles spoke earlier it sounded as though his orders didn't exactly specify the prisoners.
>Fighting retreat.

>>46045488
Yeah, I should have backed that thought line earlier. Fetch will fight with honor, not cowardice!
>>46044960
>>46045115
I'll switch to
>Fighting retreat
though we can still ask if he only needs the caravan, cause it'd be too funny an opportunity to pass up.

Sir Fetch: So awesome, he even lets his opponents win when they lose.

This vote may be slightly extended. I'm writing something Related for you.

In the meantime I'm still not sure where I stand re: move on immediately vs. take a brief narrative breather.

>>46045932
I'm heading to bed, so I figure I'll get to see both choices by the next time I hop on.

Don't kill us all with your zombie army, I guess. That's my vote.

I am very unhelpful when tired. I apologize for nothing

>>46045932
In terms of rising up to the climax, it doesn't make sense for there to be a breather right before the matchup against Traitor.

Some time for Nate to get his feelings straight, yes, and maybe prepare a trump card using whatever we pick up here and/or the bell, but it doesn't really make sense for Traitor to just sit there after a loss.

If she WINS, though....

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[NSFW; Lewd] Lost in Translation: http://pastebin.com/NrDcz74C

>>46046870
Wait, so when Miles dies he just comes back.

What about that one pain demon chick who we killed in the Lichyard. Is she floating around hell somewhere?

>>46046870
Isoldt


> “...I'd be hurt. Aren't I enough?”

>>46047059
She was half-demon - half-rakshasa, specifically. She died a mortal death.

>>46047080
Do you have to be pure blood demon to go to hell when you die?

>>46047131
As far as anyone knows, yes. Part-demons of all stripes are numbered amongst the Firstborn.

>>46046870
> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”

ISOLDT

I'm really against choice #1 purely because it seems a little inane and out of character considering what literally just happened.

>>46046870
Isoldt
> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”

Alright, I am CALLING THE FIGHT VOTE.

The ISOLDT vote remains open.

Also I'm taking feedback on Lost in Translation. I've written maybe five lewd things in my entire life and this quest contains two of them.

>>46047337
It's fine, seems a bit OOC for what we know about Henry to just agree to fuck some poor girl though.

You need to work on making them longer.

>>46047337
I mean in terns of how hot it is, its decent. The concept itself is pretty arousing and your style of prose doesn't fuck it up. A few phrases and way you word things make certain sections a little too impersonal, but nothing so silly as to draw me out or make it laughable like when someone eats shit trying to do a pole dance or something,

and your minimalist description for how Andrea looked was pretty good, Lets the reader's imagination fill in how they are attractive to them. Only a master lewd writer (I feel embarassed to type that phrase) should go super into detail on how an attractive character looks because odds are you may describe something oddly that fucks up the initial image or just isn't attractive to some non-zero percentage of your readership.

And points for that use of the succubus tail. I mean, I'm generally pretty vanilla, but the sucking on the tail is weirdly arousing considering I don't find tails attractive seeing as most human women don't possess them. Utilizing this alien erogenous zone is interesting at the very least.

>>46046870
Isoldt
> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”

Go go, demonic total-lack-of-understanding-for-mortal-courtship!

I'd really love to see Brook's reaction when Isoldt tells her what she gave Harry.

> I don't think the gift went over well.
>> Why? What did you get him?
> The militia captain's daughter tied up and teased to the point of exploding.
>> ...
> What? Why are you looking at me like that? Crap, I did something wrong, didn't I? It was the teasing, wasn't it. Damn, I should have known. Harry's always been an upstanding guy, of course he would have wanted me to go easier on the girl, or at least let him do the work of warming her up. Damn, this human courtship stuff is hard.

>>46046870
> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”
ISOLDT

Not hypocritical given what she just did, not so casual that he thinks she's not actually interested in him.

>>46047337

I'll agree with >>46047378; I'm surprised Henry was so quick to drop trou, and they definitely need to be more... substantial. Longer, thicker, denser, deeper, however you want to describe it.

>>46047378
He trusted Isoldt's word that the girl was in it willingly, essentialy. Harry's caution with Isoldt is about the power he has over her because of her binding; his lack of romance and/or sex life previously was because he did the Single Dad Thing and forgot to have either of those while taking care of Nate. Isoldt's reminded him what it's like in a rather firm way.

>>46047467
Aight, but seriously, make them longer. The writing and imagery is great, it's just way too short to get off.

File: Larry David.gif (6.98 MB, 500x337)

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>>46047490
>Aight, but seriously, make them longer. The writing and imagery is great, it's just way too short to get off.

>>46047506
Is that you sorta agree with me sorta don't?

>>46047599
Like, the idea that Vox is writing porn for you to fap to and changing his "style" of literotica to aid masturbation cheapens writing in the same way pornos cheapen directors as opposed to arousing sex scenes in movies.

But I won't kid myself.

Erotic shit is still made to be masturbated to.

Its just when its so blunt like you're putting it it's like going to a Pussy Cat Dolls concert and shouting "SHAKE YOUR ASS!"

Yeah, it's true, sex appeal is a big part of the marketing, but when its crass it . . . cheapens it?

Personally, I'd say try and make it longer simply to work on them; as it is, this one is good. Could use some tweaking, I think, but the main issue I have with it is the length makes it feel a bit rushed. Making it longer (by expanding the dialogue or what have you) would, I think, make it feel a bit more natural as a scene.

>>46047710
That's kind of the point of writing smut, for people to fap and get off to. I'm not asking him to cheapen his writing, the only criticism I had for him was that it was too short.

That's it, I have no problem with the flow or narrative quality of it. It's just as good as his normal writing.

Could we not talk like pretentious assholes from /lit/ though? Your whole post is a self-masturbatory message to your ego.

>>46046870
Anybody got the link to the first one handy?

>>46047849
Which is why I used Larry David instead.

Because it is a bit pretentious. And then you asked me to explain and I did.

Like, you literally asked 4 this.

>>46047921
No I asked for you to explain if you agreed with me or not, not your opinion of smut being cheapened by crassness or comparisons to porno. You're the one who decided to vomit out a bunch of nonsense onto a post.

>>46047994
You asked for an explanation of the gif.

Everything I wrote was wrapped up in that gif.

I can meme at you or I can give a long-winded, pretentious explanation.

>>46048037
Or you could not be an ass and just respond like a normal person.

>>46048064
Or you could not get butthurt?

Or the both of you could chill out and not argue over something like this.

>>46048120
But I'm having fun. Is this encroaching on your safe space anon?

>>46048120
>>46048153
Me too. Seriously, are you getting upset that people are arguing? On the internet?

>>46048153
Nah, just personal preference, I dislike seeing shitposting and arguments in quests I enjoy. Keep at it if you like, just pointing out that there's better things you could be doing.

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>>46048179
>I dislike seeing shitposting and arguments in quests I enjoy

Do I have some unfortunate news for you.

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>>46044960
Your sprint away and jink left on instinct; a good call, as it turns out when a flaming whip splits the air where you just were. You turn and fire a volley of quills at Miles. He folds his wings in front of his face, but it doesn't entirely save him - while most of the bone projectiles burn up, some penetrate, delivering their slowing toxin.

You bawk an order, and your brother fires on him from the other side before sprinting towards you.

You just have to lure him away for awhile to ensure that the hostages get away.

"Are these fucking poisonous?" Miles asks, offended.

"Envenomed with /justice/!" you answer, firing another volley. Miles tries to dodge it, only to get caught by your brother's quills. He staggers back, swatting at the air.

"Seriously, what are these laced with?" the demon yells, in a slight panic.

"...Death energies," you answer, stopping your retreat.

"...Fuck me."

The flames wreathing the incubus turn a sickly green, and he screams in agony. Miles hits his knees, trying to focus enough to snuff the fire, and he can't. He clutches at his torso, shaking through the pain.

"Someone...please...kill me..." he manages, through gritted teeth. "I can't...stop it..."

"Sir Miles, I am /sorry/," you tell him. "I didn't know."

"Couldn't have..."

"You two can catch up later," River murmurs. She pulls the trigger on the gun in her hand, sending an iron round into the back of the demon's skull. He hits the floor in a heap before fading away, taking his axes, armor, and smoke with him.

"Come on," River says solemnly. "Let's go."

"What happened?" you ask, hastening to obey.

"The flames took the death in your quills, and from your attacks, for fuel and turned into balefire instead of demonfire. It wasn't good for him, and he'll need time in Hell to recover. He'll be fine, long-term. Short term..."

You sigh. "I'd been hoping to conclude our duel..."

Anyways, time to go play Ur-Quan Masters, have fun arguing boyos

>>46048235
That entire little conversation reminded me of this for some reason:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R1JT7tcKfOw

>>46048241
Shhh, Vox is posting.

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>>46048235
You are Nathan Bookchild, tired and at the point where you shouldn't be using more potions, and -

And the little silver bell rings. You raise it and, in confusion, ring it back.

"You think you've won?" Natalia's voice is hoarse, shuddering. You hear her force back a sob. "You've changed nothing. I still see it, in the future. The harvest of the unplowed fields..."

"Natalia," you murmur. "...Mother, that's not /your/ future. You're -"

"LIAR!" Natalia shrieks. "I know what I See!"

"Your circles are broken, Natalia. You lost."

"Did you break the one that encircles all of New Hell?"

Your veins run ice cold. "What."

"Come alone, Nathan. The circle must be closed. We will fight, and one of us will lose, and the other...the other gets what they want."

The bell goes silent, and you stare at it in horror.

"What are the chances that she can just do it if we don't do what she wants?" Amy asks.

"She'd need a massive power source," Catherine answers softly.

"Is an angel of death big enough?" you ask, bitterly.

"Yep, that'd work just fine."

> Meet Natalia's terms
> Bring Amy and Catherine

Are we still able to knock Bri out to block the chain-holders from getting Lora? If so,
>Knock Bri the fuck out

>>46048385
>> Meet Natalia's terms

>>46048385

Now would be a good time to get Brianna to sleep, what with the potential angel-sacrifice. Unless Lora's room is actually in New Hell.

>>46048455
>>46048465
A bigger potential concern is the fact that if everything went according to plan, she's currently on the surface watching for signs of a teleported caravan. She may not be safe or in a position to be knocked out; even if she is, she might not have anything smarter than Kat to watch for her safety.

>>46048385
>> Meet Natalia's terms

Whaaaaaaaat
Aaaaaaaaaa
Bitch what a bitch what a bitch what a bitch bitch bitch what a bitch what a bitch what a bitch bitch bitch what a bitch what a bitch what a bitch bitch bitch
What a biiiiiiiiiitch
What a bitch bitch bitch

Having a backup plan like that isn't 'fate', Natalia.

Also unless she can selectively teleport shit I don't see what having a circle around the entirety of New Hell would do for her, unless she's threatening to throw a suicidal temper tantrum and teleport the entire level into space or something.

>>46048496
Oh, not the entire level. Just everyone and everything in it, to the location of her choosing.

Like, say, the meeting point with her client, so he can pick up the guns, the people who know how to build the guns, and all of their forges and material. Sure, they won't have the stuff that's built directly into New Hell, but...details.

>>46048385
>> Bring Amy and Catherine
At this point I see her as grasping at straws.

>>46048513
Because they'd be prepared for that arrival?

How big is this guy/gal's property that they have enough space squared away for the /possibility/ that Natalia might have to send upwards of 10,000 people and thousands of tonnes of various supplies and products to them without warning?

>>46048554
That'd be something to ask. However, he doesn't necessarily need property, just empty space. Depending on how long Natalia's had this planned, there's plenty of time to pick the spot and...arrange things.

>>46048385
>> Bring Amy and Catherine

Fuck it. i like the idea of everything being teleported.

I don't negotiate with terrorists Natalia.

>>46048385
>Bring Amy and Catherine
Patrick told me to vote for this so I am voting for it.

>>46048614
...Wat.

>>46048622
My friend, who is named Patrick, told me to vote for this option. I have no context or stake, but since I value his opinion and friendship I agreed to his terms of an unconditional vote in support of the option he told me to pick.

>>46048640
in that case, I never normally vote but I will vote the opposite way to cancel it out.

> Meet Natalia's terms

>>46048659
>>46048385
in that case, I never normally vote but I will vote the opposite way to cancel it out.

>Bring Amy and Catherine

>>46048385
>Meet Natalia's terms..
It's time to end this.

>>46048496
She IS crazy headcase. Logic isn't included in the premium psychosis package.

>>46048640
..Wat the shit? Go back to Bikini Bottom, Squarepants.

>>46048668
I felt it was dishonest to bring in somebody with no stake it the story, I'm not going to post anymore after this

>>46048696
I feel its a shame that someone that can't even use grammar or punctuation like you be allowed to vote in the first place.

But we all can't have what we want.

People sure are salty tonight...

>>46048179
I'm just upset that Isoldt brought home a girl and not some tight boipussy, But I guess Harry is too much of a faggot to suck some cock.

Actually, I would have loved for Isoldts reaction to be just that. "Wait. I got you a nice young girl, if you're going to get me something it should be a young boy."

Breathe folks. Juuuuuust breathe.

We're tied 4/4. Calling at 3:15 AM EST.

>>46048756
You know it takes a special sort of cowardly faggot to be passive aggressive over the internet on an anonymous image board.

>>46048763
Fuck off newfag.

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>>46048763
I can't breathe cause I don't have any fucking lungs!

>>46048640
Your friend Patrick is a samefagging actual faggot. I recommend you find a better friend.

>>46048768
>calling the QM a newfag and telling him to fuck off
>in his own thread
>being this much of a tard

>>46048777
>Losing a friend cause he asked you to vote on a shitty imageboard story.

Holy shit anon. That's some minor ass shit. You're not going to have many friends if you get pissy over inconsequential shit like that. I almost feel sorry for you.

Called. We're still tied, so...I guess the power's mine.

Writing.

>>46048819
Fuck that, roll a fucking die you railroading faggot.

CHOOO CHOOOO!

>>46048808
>Biting the most obvious bait.

>>46048808
Putting on a trip and running a thread doesn't suddenly stop you from being fresh as fucking grass.

>>46048835
He's been here for three, four months now. He might not be an oldfag but he sure as shit isn't a new one.

>>46048867
>Four months
>Not new

Pick one you fucking Troglodyte.

>>46048867
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

oh wait you're serious?

LET ME LAUGH EVEN HARDER!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Of the piddly four months he's spent here, 90 percent of it has been inside his hugbox of a fucking thread.

Fuck off with that bullshite and head back to tumblr. Take your train tracks with you.

>>46048817
Anon, anyone asking someone to post in this is a piece of gigantic shit that should be shot.

Just samefag like a normal person, or use your phone for fucks sake. It's not hard. Hell, just for you and you alone, I'll do it for the next vote, okay?

>>46048887
Hey, I like this quest.

Yeah, there's a shitty hugbox fanbase, but hey it doesn't intrude on the quest so who cares if a bunch of whiny faggots or trannies are behind the blue boxes. God knows we all fap to traps and futa anyways, maybe they'll learn to stop being such gigantic pussies that words anonymously on the internet hurt them.

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>>46048887
Look at all this fucking sodium. Christ alive man, get some sleep or something.

>>46048940
As Patrick's friend I will hit up our other friend Tony to one up your terrible disgusting samefagging.

Samefaggers should be shot.

>>46048940
>Anon, anyone asking someone to post in this is a piece of gigantic shit that should be shot.

Holy fuckig shit Hitler, calm down with the booty rage. I thought my friend would like to participate, sorry if that rustled your jimmies.

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>>46048960
>mfw a Weifag posts near me.

Fuck your ambition you piece of shit.

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>>46048960
Cao Mengde, you are a despicable villain.

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>>46048981
>>46048983
I'm laughing so fucking hard right now holy shit

>>46048965

> Thinking this is anything except shitposting.

Anons, please. This is why people call you newfags. Although >>46048964 has the right of it. Welcome to The Game brought to you by Cancer Corp. purveyor of the finest memes.

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>>46049032

>That entire post

>>46046870
> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”

>>46049059
Read the fucking instructions loser.

You're supposed to put ISOLDT in any votes that deal with the pastebin.

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>>46049043
Get used to it.

> Vox, Catgirl shadow waifu when?

>>46049079

I'm sure that's what your family has to tell themselves every night with you in the basement.

>>46049079
Your shitposts are tame and bore me. Step it up.

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>>46049092

Be the change in the world you want to see, Anon.

>>46049091

Catgirls are exempt.

>>46049106
>that thing
>a catgirl

The fuck are you talking about. That shit is fucking furry dude.

>>46049106
Ignoring the furry/not furry argument, that anatomy annoys me.

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>>46048385
You look back down at the bell in your hand, then pocket it as you reach your decision.

"Zachary, can you be of aid in finding the components of the teleportation circle?" you ask.

"Yessir, Mister Bookchild," the imp confirms.

"Catherine, can you find the components on your own?"

"Yes," the Chosen agrees, with confidence.

"Zachary, update River on the situation, then help Amy find and destroy elements of the teleportation circle. Once River has those hostages to a safe place, I want her and the Sultan on that too. There's not time to do this right instead of fast."

"What are you going to do?" Amy asks.

"I'm going to go deal with my mother," you say with a sigh. "This has to end, one way or the other."

Amy puts a hand on your shoulder. "You remember what Bri said. You need to come back with all of your bits attached, Nate."

You grin, ruefully. "I'll try, Amy."

The half-harpy gives you a fierce kiss. When she pulls away, Zachary hops onto her shoulder. She and Catherine sprint off in opposite directions, and you head for Forge Regicide, and the woman who gave birth to you.

There is a conspicuous absence of forces between you and the Forge. Doors that ought to be blocking your path stand open; traps that should be going off are visibly disarmed, sometimes with scorch marks and, here and there, corpses - signs of hasty work.

She's expecting you.

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>>46049145
The main doors to Forge Regicide - iron, banded with bronze - stand partially ajar, just wide enough for you to squeeze through.

You stop, stunned, when you gaze into the heart of Natalia's domain.

Forge Regicide is a vision of stained glass and glimmering light. Set into the rear wall is the entrance to the Slope, the passage between New Hell and the Cornucopia, but the workshop between you and there is like something from a dream. Forges of spun glass, gleaming with runes to harden and reinforce it, hold burning coals and molten metal and glow in rainbow colors that wash through the room. Towering in the center of the chamber, twisting around and above the foundry in which metal is melted and refined, is a double spiral staircase all of frosted glass, intersecting at various landings with vine-like railings and delicate sculptures.

Chimes ring sweetly, in the breeze of the bellows.

"Nathan," Natalia's voice says softly, ragged and pained. You look up and find her on the top landing. Her hair is a mess, her clothes dirty and stained with ink everywhere, but her armor beneath them gleams.

There are tears in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she whispers.

You swallow around the lump in your throat. You're not seeing any weapons on her...

"What happens now, do you think?" your mother whispers. She's shaking, trembling from her head to her toes.

> "I free the angel."
> "I bring you to justice."
> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

>>46049274
So, uh, has anyone considered that she might be able to listen in on our plans with the bell?

No?

>>46049274
> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

> Seriously, you don't look good. Why are you doing this if it obviously makes you so unhappy?

>>46049287
It's moot at this point, really. Even if she can listen, and marshal her forces to defend the circle - the second one being a big /if/ - it's the avenue Nate's taken as an attempt at insurance.

Also, thread seems to have been archived. My thanks to whatever anon did that for me, even if it's not quite the description I mighta chosen. Still, saves me from forgetting about it on accident later.

>>46049274
>> "I free the angel."
You chose your fate and we chose ours.

>>46049287
On one hand, she is a seer, so it shouldn't be relevant.

On another, she's a cheater who likes to help fate along. We really should had had tossed the bell.

>>46049305
ur welcum, fampai.

>>46049274

>"I get answers. I mean, the villain spiel is kind of a tradition, right?"

>>46049274
>> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

>>46049274
Just some idle musings but, would us refusing to fight and just flat out ignoring her completely break her? Like at this moment her entire being believes we are going to fight her to the death. What if we just, don't?

>>46049274
>>> "We have a debate, harpy-style."
Fuck you mom

>>46049274
> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

Because there's something wonderful about a build up to climactic battle instead culminating in an angry slap fight.

>>46049274
>> "I free the angel."
And then she kills her for us
>>46049399
Why did I laugh so hard

>>46049274
>We will fight, and one of us will lose, and the other...the other gets what they want."

> When you said this, did you think that what I want is my Mom?

> What do you want? Not what do you see, but if you could change things what would you want. Let me know that, at least. I want to know that there are some good things about my mom.

>>46049274
> Shit on the floor

> Get Schwifty

> Did you see THAT happening, Mom?

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>>46049274
Hit her with the train we're riding upon.

>>46049430
If you'd care to expand on this critique? I see the accusation; I've yet to see you tell me what it is, precisely, that you're objecting to.

As folks may have guessed, I need to hit bed. Votes will remain open until the morning.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>46049079
Before I go to bed though - is that a fucking maple leaf on her belt buckle?

>>46049442
Oh, well, you made an executive decision with a tie instead of just rolling a die. Like, if you would prefer to write one choice over the other in a case of a tie, you're doing questing wrong. You should like both choices equally and leave it up to FATE which way we go.

Like Natalia!

>>46049442
It's pretty obvious he's just throwing it out there because it's an easy accusation to make with no real substance to back it up.

Put simply it's just a buzzword to piss people off.

>> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

>>46049450
Yes and its a dude.
It's from a webcomic Spinnerette.

>>46049461
>leave it up to FATE which way we go.
Take your own advice.

>>46049489
Retard that argument doesn't even make sense.

Like c'mon, shut up and let the grown ups have their conversation.

>>46049274
>"We have a debate, harpy-style."
It would be touching to see Nathan finally break through to his mother and make her see the truth; not her visions fueled by death and madness, but that the only real fate is the one you choose.

>>46049450
Yes, they are Canadian superhero team.
The wolf's full name is Werewolf of London, Ontario.

>>46049430
Go to bed Valeys.

>>46046870
In my mind, the only way sex could offend Isoldt is if it was done without consent or in spite. She might want in on the action, but so long as Harry's affections are aimed primarily at her, I don't see how she'd mind. These kinds of things are /really/ tricky, easy to fuck up, and IMO casual without-strings sex is practically nonexistent.
>"I'd be happy. She was a good fuck."

The only reason the three-way romance between Bri, Nate and Amy works is because they all care for each other (the bonds of battle and shared pain helps with that too).

>>46047337
I like `em, though I have to agree with some of the other anons. They feel kind of short, like more detail could go into what's going on.

Are you nervous about writing smut? I mean, if so, I totally understand, having tried and failed myself. Writing sex scenes is easy to mess up, but your stuff seems very good.

It's 5AM, I'm too goddamn tired to give a proper critique, and I'm hardly qualified to begin with. In short Vox, you're like an undead Varric Tethras with an unhealthy obsession with the black bean.

>>46049461
There is no wrong way to quest, your argument is invalid.
You should've just said at the start, that currently the quest is not going the way you envision it, and that you are vexed by it.
As long as the majority of the playerbase still likes the result the QM brings, that's still acceptable questing.

> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

Maybe that's the best way to go about this.
Freeing the angel is the result of this "talk", and makes it impersonal. Which we all know it isn't.
Justice, while being the Hero thing, does not really factor in here either and would be impersonal as well.

Both Nate and Nat are idiots who seem to only be able express themselves to each other like this.
And if I read Nat right she is preparing a Suicide By Cop. There's very little way for Nat to win a direct fight, due to her clairvoyance. So she's ready to play her part. :/

Let's play it out. I do hope we still have a chance to get through to her as the fight goes on.

I'd just like to point out to the people voting for a harpy debate that Natalia has heightened seer powers the closer the events are to happening and in one thread it was explained shes basically untouchable in a fight.

>>46050001
But a Harpy debate is not just a fight. Can she guess the emotional turmoil her son is going through and the correct responses to it -while at the same time- fighting her own son?

>>46050001
We will punch her . . . WITH FEELINGS.

Besides, we just have to distract her until the other wreck the hell circle.

>>46047337
Isoldt

> “I'd be happy. She was a good fuck.”
CONFLICTING CULTURAL STANDARDS

I am a little confused by Harry's character. He dropped his pants too quickly after the initial supposedly negative reaction. There's ambiguity with how he actually feels about it AFTERWARDS, but from my perspective it still seems like a net negative.

>>46047467
alright, that's firmly in the "I don't understand how things work in old timey villages".


>>46049274
>"We have a debate, harpy-style."
>And then I cry to you about my love life and family life and you act as the consoling mother who gives admittedly questionable advice.

Is this why we don't have 24/7 qtg anymore?

Well, at least now I understand why lurkers are so afraid to vote.

>>46049274
> "We have a debate, harpy-style."

Both of them need to punch somebody in the face very badly.

The other options feel really impersonal. Freeing Lora is what needs to get done, but it doesn't offer much in the way of closure. Justice offers closure, but it's /way/ too cold.

Right now, the both of them are running incredibly hot, and need to vent.

I just hope that this doesn't end with forces coming up the Slope to interfere. Or a sniper waiting in the dark for a perfect shot.

That said...

>her clothes dirty and stained with ink everywhere

Why are all her clothes stained with ink? From the mad scrawling and blue prints? Or is she trying to write a final letter? Or is it something else?

>>46050391
A Will, most likely.

>>46050406

Well, that's morbid.

Makes perfect sense, but damn is it morbid.

>>46050406
>>46050443
It would be crazy if her gleaming mail is actually the 'sibling' of Verve, coming from the same Wraithsteel predator. Probably protects her from all sorts of nastiness, and she'll probably want to leave it to Nate once she's gone. A token or symbol from her might just be a way to ensure that the armor accepts him as its master.

Of course, this might also be a fresh load of crap, but one can only hope.

>>46050001
Harpy style is without the intent to kill.

>>46050001
yes? Harpies don't fistfight to kill their family members.

>>46050768
Of course not!

They have talons...

Let's make a list of all the terrible things Natalia has done and throw `em in her face!
>She abandoned her son.
>She's been murdering innocents to fuel her rituals.
>She wants to start a World War.
>She let Grand Master Dick manipulate her like a spineless puppet.
>She cursed her son forever, forcing him to hide his true self lest he be burned at the stake for simply existing.
>She helped enslave an Angel and pervert the laws of the Dungeon to suite her wants.

All under the pretense of 'Fate'! If it isn't obviously, I hate seers. And Calvinists.

>>46052545
I agreeFucking calvin. Always fucking around with that stuffed lion and being irresponsible.

>>46046870
Isoldt

> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”

>>46052578
Stuffed tiger, anon. Goes by the name of Hobbes.

I miss Bill Watterson.

>>46046870
Isoldt
> “I'd be confused. Why not tell me?”

Calling the ISOLDT vote.

I'll call the main plot vote after morning shit and coffee.

>>46053447
It's not like he's /dead/, he's just reclusive as fuck. Has about a single person that he keeps regular contact with.

>>46049274
>> "I free the angel."

The rest...is somewhat more ambiguous, I think.

Votes called, writing shortly. I now have breakfast and tea.

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>>46049274
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX53I5NCpSM

You take a deep, steadying breath, and unshackle your shadow. You hear the icy cracking behind your eyes, feel the shadow stretch and enlongate.

There's pain here, in the Forge, centered around Natalia but present everywhere; it's spun into the glass, hammered into the steel.

Misery and sorrow, in all its kaleidoscopic splendor.

"We're going to have a debate, Natalia," you tell her. You unbuckle your belt and drop it at your side, leaving all of your weapons with it, and then shrug off your pack. "In the traditional harpy style, because honestly, we could both use it."

"Harpy style?" she asks, in confusion. "Why are you throwing down your weapons?"

"No weapons," you tell her, flatly. "You, me, a fistfight, and a conversation."

Natalia's shaking intensifies. You see her eyes break, the black veins come forth, as her shadow breaks loose. She reaches behind her -

And picks up a chain. The Traitor throws it, and it lands neatly into a hanging bucket, suspended near the cieling.

"Fine," she says icily. "Let's talk."

There's a lot of stairs between you and your mother, and you spare a glance for your shadow while she starts descending. You find it with hers; the two hug quietly, both sobbing mutely in one another's arms.

You advance on the stairs with a heavy heart.

The two of you meet on the glass landing on the second floor. Natalia advances steadily, her body tense with an icy fury that you can see in her broken eyes. You block her first hit, only for it to turn into a swift arm bar that plants your face against the glowing glass.

You grit your teeth when her steel-toed boot hits your ribs. You manage to roll away from her vicious stomp and get to your feet with the help of the railing.

"You seem upset," you tell her. "Things not going according to plan?"

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>>46057020
"Don't sass me, boy," Natalia snarls. "I thought I could change fate too. I thought I could /save people/. All I did was -"

"Save people?" you ask. You take advantage of her shock to take a swing; she sidesteps casually and seizes your wrist.

A quick motion levers you into one of the multicolored table, shattering it. Thank the gods for your coat.

"Look at yourself!" you yell. You roll out of the glass and to a standing position, both thankful and worried that Natalia doesn't seem to feel the need to follow up on your vulnerability. "Is this really what you wanted to become? This is what you're willing to kill me for?"

"...Idiot," Natalia whispers. "Do you think I'm trying to /win/?"

> ...Yes?
> Gods /damn/ it mother, can you stop being crazy for TWENTY SECONDS?
> Then stop fighting! You don't have to do this!

>>46057279
>> Then stop fighting! You don't have to do this!

Only that won't work, because she fully believes she *does* have to do this. So more like,

> Then stop fighting. You think *you* can't change your fate? Fine. Then let *me* change it. Let Bri change it.
> Let the angel whose *name* you hid change it.

>>46057279
>> Then stop fighting! You don't have to do this!

>>46057279
>I don't even know /what/ you are trying to do anymore, you wanted to save lives and yet here you are, about to condemn countless people to die, all because your visions have blinded you to the present!

>>46057279
>> Then stop fighting! You don't have to do this!
I prefer this anons take on it though>>46057352

And something to possibly ask
"If fate is pre-determined then what the hell's the point in seeing it? If you can't fight fate why should you even bother seeing what it is?"

>>46057279
>>46057352

This works.

>>46057279
>> Gods /damn/ it mother, can you stop being crazy for TWENTY SECONDS?


It'd be a nice change of pace.

Also, I've noticed a trend, people who see into the future and exploit it like this almost always end up being hillariously unethical. Whether it be kidnapping people from alternate dimensions to torture, selling super weapons to criminals, flat out genocide, patricide, fratricide. Just generally awful people.

>>46057279
>>Writein : Probe for why. If we can't get her off this course then we should understand what put her on it; and being face to face with her son she left behidn is about the only time I think we can use to leverage a honest, straight answer from her.

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>>46057797
"The Greater Good"

>>46057855
>>46057899
Uhhh, does anyone see two identical posts, and one of them has a fedora thumbnail instead of the actual one?

>>46057939
Yeah, it happens.

>>46057939
This is what happens when people delete posts. Honestly, I thought fedoras were just as good.

>>46057939
Moot ate my first image so I deleted the post and made a new one.

Called, writing. Sorry about extended vote there, being disturbed by RPG Writing Stuff.

>>46058315
>being disturbed by RPG Writing Stuff.
What kind of rpg?

>>46059407
The one he's semi-employed by, presumably. Psionics for Pathfinder or something.

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>>46057279
You let out a wordless growl of frustration and tackle your mother to the ground. The two of you roll together for a moment, but you lost control of this grapple before you ever had the chance to take it, but that's fine. You're pretty sure you know what she's gonna go for.

When Natalia goes to pound your face in, you catch her wrist in a firm grip.

"If you're not trying to win, /stop fighting/," you tell her. Your eyes stay on hers; her expression is lost, torn between anger and sorrow. "You think you can't change the fate you see? Fine. Let /me/ change it. Natalia...Mom, you don't have to do this."

"Yes I do," Natalia whispers miserably. "I tried. I tried, I did everything I could, I..."

"You hid the angel's name for /us/, didn't you?" you murmur, gently.

A hot tear falls on your face. "Yes."

"You can choose, Natalia. You don't have to be this thing that the Master's turned you into. You told me that if I win this, I get what I want. You ever stop to think that what I want, what I've wanted for longer than I can remember, is /you/?"

Natalia screams, wordlessly, and punches your arm with her free hand. You're forced to let go with a hissed curse of pain, and her next hit crashes against your jaw.

"You think I can just change?" she yells. "You think I can turn back after all I've done? All the blood, the betrayals, after I /left you/? Why? Why won't you hate me?"

"Who came to you, when you were lost and alone?" you ask, your voice barely a murmur.

Natalia lets go of you and steps back, holding her hands over her ears. "Shut up! I did this! I did all of this!"

"You did this all of a sudden?" you press, finding your way back to your feet for the third time in less than a minute. "Funny, I thought it was fate, Natalia."

"SHUT UP!"

"Who was it, mother? What's the point of seeing the future if you can't change it? Who told you that you have to be a monster?"

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>>46059693
You take a careful step forward. Natalia flinches, sobbing softly, but doesn't make an aggressive move.

"You've done terrible things, and at some point, that needs to be addressed," you say softly. Gently. "But that's not who you are. Look at yourself, mother. You're miserable. You don't want to be this."

"No..."

"Start today. Surrender. Give me the chain and leave these people in peace. Nataia, please, I -"

The Traitor lunges forward with hellish speed. Her hands grab your shoulders, lift, and whirl you -

Away from the crossbow bolt that passes through the air where your head just was.

At the top of the Slope, two dozen men, armored in mail and weilding crossbows, spears, and machetes, are arrayed in formation behind a leader in polished plate.

"You've betrayed the wrong people, Natalia," the plate-clad man calls out. "We'll be taking possession of your chain and killing the Heritor's allies now."

Natalia lets go of you and reaches behind her back. She hands you one of the revolvers she pulls from her waistband and points the other down at the armored man. He dodges, but she's already ahead of his aim; one shot blows his brains onto the floor.

"YOU CAN'T HAVE MY SON!" your mother shrieks.

> Fight alongside her
> Go for the chain
> Shoot her in the back

>>46059893
>> Go for the chain

Time to ruin everything!

>>46059893
>Go for the chain

It must absolutely NOT fall into the masters hands.

>>46059893
>> Go for the chain

Nice twist

>>46059893
>> Go for the chain
>> Fight alongside her
Why not both?

>>46059893
>Fight alongside her
play fair
Yes, the shadow will be quite obviously looking back at the chain every 30 seconds in temptation, so there's no point in thinking Natalia won't anticipate it.

Natalias right, there isn't a scenerio where both of us live.

>>46059893
>>46060099
>>> Go for the chain
>>> Fight alongside her
Why not both indeed

I need to head to work, folks. This vote will remain open until after I get home, just past midnight EST.

As always, questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

> Fight alongside her

>>46059893
>Shoot her in the back
One more god rejected.

>>46060839
Honestly the smartest thing to do in this situation.
Just kill her, destroy the chain and get the fuck out.

>>46059893
> Go for the chain

>>46059893
>Fight together towards the chain

>>46060883
Ahahahaha, but since are we doing the smart thing?
Screw that!
>Fight alongside her
We'll kill her after if we need to.

>>46060883
Smart=/=in-character

We're a capital-H Hero right now, remember?

>>46059893

>Fight alongside her

If we free Lora right now, she'll probably just kill the Traitor.

Four hours and change to call.

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>>46059893
>>Fight alongside her

Called it about the open door.

Not surprised that people from the Lower Levels have sent people up. It's been at least a day since this whole mess started, and they've probably been expecting something like this.

The thing is though, ironically, I don't think they can kill her. She's still the Chain Holder for this floor, and killing her means that the chain breaks, which is definitely a loss for them.

... I wonder if they know that though?

I'm betting Natalia does.

inb4 Natalia pulls a JUST AS PLANNED

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>>46063458

>>46063395

...motherfu-

>>46059893
> Go for the chain.

>>46059893
>Fight alongside her

>>46059893
>>Fight alongside her

she's gonna pull a just as planned and i'm not even going to be surprised.

>>46059893
>Go for the chain

If we get it, presumably Lora will make short work of things. Natalia is more-or-less invincible in quarters that close, she does /not/ need our help or the distraction we represent

>>46065122
yes but then lora will kill natalia

>>46065122

Won't Lora kill Natalia, too? Is Lora allowed to harm people who work for chain-bearers?

Two hours and change to call.

>all these people wanting to save Natalia

Hasn't Lora said there was no chance she was going to let the Traitor go like she did the Poet?

>>46065732
Even further, none of these scenerios end in her surviving, all of them end with her dying of one of a variety of things, I can go into detail but I don't see a "natalia lives" shadowrun ending where nathan, amy, fetch, and river also live.

>>46065732
She said she's not sure she can forgive Natalia but agreed that the issue is between Nate and herself.

>>46065732
Easy.

Once we figure out Lora is actually secretly the big bad psycopathic cunt she is, we betray her.

>>46065732
We are not saving her, we are doing what felt right to Nathan. He will still have his showdown with Natalia after they take care of these interlopers who have the gall to interfere in a long awaited harpy fight.

>>46065837
What?

>>46065837
Lora isn't the big bad. I don't know where some of you guys are getting this idea. Calling her 'evil' is like saying that a black hole is evil just for existing.

Whatever purpose she was made by the gods to perform, and Natalia was willing to protect for Nate, its probably something more than just making /something/ die, whether its the world, the gods, whatever.

>>46065732
Nate wouldn't ask Lora to spare Natalia's life, but maybe he can ask her if her soul can be reforged. Natalia, the mad seer and Nathan's mother, would be gone forever. But she wouldn't be burdened by painful visions or guilt and shame.

I guess we'll be addressing this issue soon enough.

>>46066402
>>46066432

Please, think about it. It's how it always starts.

The sympathetic character. Oh she looks like a dark angel, but she's really good.

Then you have The Master. Who's name is fucking Richard. He's literally called Dick.

And here we go, not knowing what he wants or what he's doing, only that he's taken this place from this angel.

It's going to be the classic reversal. Dick is trying to keep the world from being fucked and Lora is the one who's going to fuck it.

We'll kill Dick, Lora will take back her power and then real ultra boss fight for the souls of humanity begins.

>>46059893
> Go for the chain

Natalia can handle herself.

>>46066480
Doesn't gel. Why hire scum like the Moneychanger? Why did working with and for him drive Brigette to drink and depression?

>>46066917
What horrific things would you not do to preserve all life on the planet, if that was your prerogative?

>>46066480
Why would Lora /create/ the Dungeon, and then mold it into a home for the various mortals who lived there, just to destroy it?

Don't get me wrong, she could actually the Angel of Armageddon. But she obviously cares about the lives of these people and wants them to, in her own words, "Experience all the joys and sorrows of life."

Remember the La Croix motto, fair anon. Life is for the Living, Death is for the Dead.

>>46067098
Easy.

The dungeon is actually an ark.

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUNNN

>>46067038

The Master could have found other, less blatantly evil, people to hire. If he was trying to save the world somehow, he would have had an easier time convincing good, sane people to help him.

>>46067151
>could have
Could he?

Could he really?

Remember, the worst ones were the latest hires. A desperate man at the edge of the world's rope?

>>46067187

Why would the Moneychanger be hired, then? The Master actively looked for people who needed the laws of death changed. I don't believe the Moneychanger had any ability other than being filthy rich; this implies that there are few to no actual requirements for taking part in the binding ritual. Hypothetically, the Master could have just picked a a random guy in the dungeon to take part in the ritual instead.

>>46067348
Well, being a Chain-Holder doesn't come without a price. We just haven't seen what these are yet.

And before anyone says it, it's not their souls. Lora just claimed the others for pure vengeance. There's gotta be something else.

>>46067348
Maybe he needed her resources?

Home. Eating some quick dinner, then gonna call and write.

>>46067393
Y'know, the order of Chain-Holder's we're facing probably isn't the same order of recruitment. I mean, Bridgette was pivotal in Lora's binding, but she was holed up in the third level (the Atheneum).

I'd have to go back and look at the list again, but each of the Chain-Holders are probably controlling those levels pertinent to their interest. For example:
>The Lush is a massive hedonist and narcissist who's growing the best and worst hashish ever. It's literally a method of mind control via addiction to his product. The natural abundance and fertility of The Cornucopia lets him grow a whole years worth in just a month.

Called, writing. Likely only update tonight, I'm fucking wiped.

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"We need to get the chain," you tell Natalia.

"That's not the chain," your mother answers. "That's a fake I threw in the bucket to trick you."

"...Damnit, mom."

You and Natalia go for the stairs, moving as fast as you dare to keep ahead of the crossbow bolts. One hits the trailing edge of your coat, not that you can let it slow you down.

"Verve!" you call out. The saber launches from its sheath and flies eagerly into your outstretched hand. The Lush's men are fanning out to take the stairs; you aim your revolver and fire a shot at the lead man on the stairs. He can't dodge in time, and goes tumbling over the side of the glass steps and into the molten metal below.

Natalia fires at two of the men in front of you, completely ignoring the ones advancing on her in favor of leaping over them and landing lower down on her staircase. She kicks a man in the side of the head, sending him tumbling over the side, and smoothly sidesteps a pair of crossbow bolts.

"How /dare/ you try to harm /my son/," your mother snarls.

"Natalia, where's the chain?" you ask. Those spears are coming up the steps, and you're not in a good position to fight. You loose Verve at the men advancing on you and curse the fact that your fresh rounds are at the foot of the steps.

"Did you mean it?" Natalia asks, flowing through the Lush's men like water through a grate. "Do you believe in me?"

> Yes
> No

>>46068823
>> Yes

In for a penny, in for a crazy mother

>>46068823
>Yes.
Let's face it, she's going to have to face her sentence for what she's done. But there's too much on the line to hold grudges or stay bitter.

>>46068823
> Yes

> Yes

We're a Hero. Believe is what /fuels/ us!

>>46068823
> Yes
They're related, if she's anything like Nate then this is the right answer.

>>46068823
>> Yes

... Why do I think the next couple of lines will include the phrase "Goodbye"?

>>46068823
>> Yes
What, it's Nate. Bri and Amy may disagree on the specifics, but Nate can't NOT do this.

Called.

Writing.

>>46068948
>> Yes

"What, do you think you have a monopoly on being crazy? I AM your son after all."

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>>46068823
You shoot one of the men distracted by Verve; your faithful saber slices at the - soldier? Mercenary? - standing next to his now-dead compatriot, laying his throat open and coating the glass steps with slick blood.

"I do," you shout. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it, Natalia! The people who left me with made the mistake of raising me to be honest and trustworthy!"

Natalia laughs, bitterly. She whirls around a thrust spear and cracks the handle of her pistol against its wielder's temple. Your mother tears away her tabard and tosses it aside, taking -

Taking her armor with it?

Natalia is dressed only in her dirty and patched clothes, stained with ink. Wrapped around them is a chain.

"ANGEL!" the Traitor shouts.

"Don't let her summon it!" one of the mercenaries yells, in a panic.

"I RELEASE YOU FROM THIS BOND!"

Freezing fog billows from Natalia's body, swallowing up the room and turning all into hazy shadows in the mists, made colorful by the glowing glass.

Lora's mighty voice splits the shocked silence, reverberating with the Divine Tongue: |<[Die]>|

There are no screams, no protestations - just the dull sounds of armored bodies hitting the glass, the molten splash of those that slip over the edge of stairs and into the foundry below.

One word, and it's over.

The fog swirls, opening a tunnel through which you see Lora, clad in her armor, and Natalia. Your mother kneels, her head bowed, and tears stream silently down her cheeks. Lora looks down at her, and then up at you.

Black wings beat, and the angel alights on the stairs beneath you.

> What do you say?

>>46069573
damnit vox, my wit has left me.

>>46069573
>"You did the right thing, mom. You've seen how it starts, you've seen how it ends, but you chose how it plays out." Then turn to Lora. "Lora, I know Natalia's done many terrible things, but she wasn't herself. Now I'm not asking to spare her or something, that would betray both of you. But as her child, can I ask for her soul to be cleaned afterwards? No more of that clairvoyance shit in her next life, thank you, and that is all." Then hug your mother for one last time - before you release her into Lora's decision.

>"Once upon a time the rope broke..."

Previously, I felt that Natalia shouldn't be spared because she just wasn't worth the time and effort to "redeem" in the face of all the lives quickly being lost. That said, Nate would still ask for SOMETHING, the Truth, maybe.

But holy shit, she dropped down and gave up fast.

She doesn't deserve Bridgette's deal, and there's little that she can do to redeem herself directly to the people she's harmed. The magnitude of what she's done is too great for "sorrys", and is actually so large that throwing her to vengeful spirits wouldn't be enough.

So what is there to do?

>>46069676
Seconding this

And now I really am going to bed. Votes remain open.

>>46069676
If this ends up getting traction, I have a different relevant story that will end up getting told, which was originally told to me by a guildmate back in my WoW days. The sentiment will be preserved.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>46069573

>>46069704
Sounds good to me, seconding >>46069676

Hrm, this has heavy odds of going exactly one way... and I have my doubts that Nate would want to let that happen. Not here, not now.
But what could he possibly say to prevent that? What WOULD he want as alternative? Nat's situation is... heavier than that of Bridgette, on a "immediate suffering" level, if not on a grander scheme (like figuring out how to bind an angel).

Plus, how much of this has Nat forseen exactly? Did she see her end like this? Is this her act of defiance to fate? And if so, did she shackle herself to a different fate?

My head...

> "Wait. Just... wait."

Need time to think. Time to say some words. Time to decide.

>>46069676
Yeah Seconding

>>46069659
also I am against outright giving up on her, maybe lora will kill her anyway but it nathens job as the big damn hero to defend her chance to make it right

>>46069726
Hmm, true, I didn't mean for my original post to sound defeatist. I meant at least we've advocated for her to not suffer the horrible fate of becoming part of Lora's sword.

The first interesting thing about angels, Mr. Lipwig, is that sometimes, very rarely, at a point in a man's career where he has made such a foul and tangled mess of his life that death appears to be the only sensible option, an angel appears to him, or, 1 should say, unto him, and offers him a chance to go back to the moment when it all went wrong, and this time do it right.

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>>46069775
> TFW I stayed up long enough to catch someone dropping this reference.

>>46069795
not surprised at all that you got it. had to search it online first though, it's been a while.

>>46069573
>>"Once upon a time the rope broke..."

Fuck. This is actually pretty hard. I'd like something classier, more elegant, more heroic. But I think that this is about all we're going to get.

I mean, not a lot of the people we've 'saved' have all been that good. And there's a bit of a difference between a simple murderer saved by chance and letting Natalia go after this.

But if she dies here, that's it. That's the end of her line.

She'll never save enough people to undo what she did, never put the lives back together she ruined. The past is in the past, and it can't be changed.

But that doesn't mean that a genuinely repentant individual can't try and make up for what they did. There's lives she could still potentially save, people she could still protect, and things she could still do that would never happen if she died on this floor.

And I think we should give her the opportunity to find them.

>>46069701

This is /really/ hard.

>>46069726

I like the way you think.

>>46069775

You. I like you.

The thing about angels though, is that you only ever get one.

>>46069818
>>46069818
he could bring up River as well, it is not really anywhere near the same level but river killed innocent people too and here she is working to save lora and innocent lives as we speak.

>>46069573
Not sure if there is redemption for someone like this. Jesus doesn't exist in this world so all of my experience and belief in the matters of forgiveness are thrown out the window, hahaha.

So in lieu of that

>"Once upon a time the rope broke..."

>>46069895

River, Jewel, Brig, Crocodile Pirate, there's probably a lot of other people with less than savory pasts down here too that've been given second chances. Opportunities to become more than what they were.

If she strays, then fine. Take her. If you have a job for her, then give it to her. But give her the one thing she probably never imagined she'd ever get. A chance.

>>46069775
just spitballing now, because I don't have the courage to commit a vote, yet.

Along these lines, a new identity: "Natalia" will be executed, and a "new" person appointed to an important role where she isn't known. No handholding, no teaching, no contact with family beyond maybe a letter or two every few months.

The problem is, we can't give her exactly the same treatment as Moist. This whole thing happened because she was beholden to only her own decision-making abilities. There definitely needs to be a few rules, although it might be difficult to appoint a dedicated "parole officer".

Thou shall not Kill. She has enough blood on her hands. Let her find ways through her life that refuse to compromise on that one single point, unlike before.


.....what about Disaster Management? Her job is entirely to organize and head projects to prevent/survive natural disasters. No enemies but nature and time.

Of course, translating this into something Nate would say is entirely something I'm not up to doing right now.

>>46069573
>"I know that Natalia has to be punished for what she's done, and I won't stop you from delivering your judgement. But, perhaps, if she can be taught the error of her ways, she might know the peace she never found in life. Can you do this for my mother, Lora?"

>>46069775
I..feel very ignorant right now. Care to assist this poor unfortunate soul?

>>46070340
Going Postal, Discworld, Terry Pratchett

this is why you don't keep stuff up 24/7

>>46069573
> Don't take my mom.

> Haven't you ever done something you didn't want to do because you felt like you didn't have a choice, and then found out that you were simply told that and it wasn't actually true?

Fuck you, I know you got a history Angel-Tits.

>>46069676

Seconding that as well. A thing learned from Bri. Good callback.

>>46070366
Appreciated, based anon.

>>46069676
>"Once upon a time the rope broke..."

Fourthing, or whatever it's up to by now :-)

I'm up. Called, will write soon.

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>>46072721
> Awake when Vox starts running
> Still awake when he stops
> Still awake when he starts again
I love studying for engineering finals.

Guys, its not gonna work, not this time.

>>46072763
"Valor is it's own reward," and standing up for your mother in her time of need if foolish, but valorous.

What else can Nate do but hope in the face of hopeless causes?

>>46072908
If this keeps up, Nate will be Chosen the moment he steps out of the Dungeon

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>>46069573
You take a deep breath and tuck your hands into your pockets.

"My Heritor is rubbing off on you, Hero," Lora murmurs. "She does that when she's about to have a hard conversation."

"I've been on the recieving end of a few of her hard conversations," you remind Lora. "...How hard is this about to be?"

"I could have killed her when I took the Lush's men if I weren't willing to listen to what you have to say, Hero."

You look back at Natalia, then over to her tabard. The illusion of armor flickers and fades, leaving only tattered cloth draped from a sustaining crystal. The woman herself hugs herself tightly and sobs, staring blankly at the stone floor of her forge.

"Do /you/ even know what you want?" Lora asks, gently.

"I want this to be a world where /this/ doesn't happen to innocent people," you tell her, with a sigh. "Not just Natalia, but all the people who got hurt because of her."

"She is not blameless in this, Hero."

"No. But once upon a time, the rope broke, Lora."

The angel sighs and turns to regard your mother, her arms folded across her chest. "I know the story of the hanged man. But is she that person, Hero? Do you look at her and see someone who wants to be a good person?"

"I don't think she's evil, Lora. I think she's /lost/. I think there are a lot of lost people who needed a hand to help them from darkness, and never got it. Here, now, I can help, like we did for River, or for Kells, or for Jewel."

"I have my doubts. As long as what is to come continues to haunt her, she will have trouble living in the present. She sees too far, sees too much. Let me tell you a story, Hero."

"I'm listening," you tell her, softly.

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>>46073917
"Long ago, there was an orcish warlord, and he wished for his name to live forever, to be a legend among his people. He gathered to himself one hundred of the fiercest and most skilled warriors of his kind and ravaged the lands, and when there was no more to which he could lay waste, he set his eyes on a lush forest land on the other side of the mountains. But the forest was guarded by a temple, and so he took his men to lay siege to it."

Lora takes out and lights one of her cigarettes. "The warlord bellowed his challenge before the walls of the temple, which were silent in return. Infuriated, he issued his challenge again, and in answer a single priest, an old man in plain robes, wielding nothing so threatening as a broom, came out onto the walls and asked the warlord what he wanted. And the orc boasted that he had one hundred fierce warriors, and demanded that the priest surrender the temple.

"But," the preist answered, in the air of a man confused, "we are three hundred within these walls."

You snort in amusement.

"The orc's army quit the field in fear, and he was enraged. He gathered to himself a new army, five hundred strong, and returned to the walls of the temple to bellow his challenge - and was again met by the same confused priest."

"Priest," the orc cried. "Come forth and meet me in battle! I have five hundred fierce warriors, and we will ravage your temple and burn it to the ground!"

"But," the priest said, with the air of a man confused. "Were you not told that each of our acolytes raises a fierce, man-eating snake from the egg, that we might better understand nature?"

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>>46074573
"The warlord screamed in vain fury as his army once more quit the field, unwilling to face the priests and their man-eating snakes. Enraged beyond reason, he spent many years gathering a mighty horde, and in the doing he used all of his skill and diplomacy, all of his strength and guile and ferocity. And they marched on the temple in their thousands, clad in sorcerous armor and cloaked in magics stolen from the tombs of their ancestors, and arrayed themselves at the walls of the temple."

"Priest!" the orc bellowed. "Witness the glories of my army! Surrender immediately or face our unending wrath!"

"And the priest came forth onto the walls and looked down calmly at the orc and his army, and he said to him, "We know of the glories of your army. Our spies have told us all that you do."

Lora sighs. "There was no such thing as trust in that army, for they knew only strength and fear. They fell upon one another, and there was a great slaughter. And at the end of it, only the warlord remained, broken and bloody, kneeling in the gore and ruin of his grand ambitions. The front gates of the temple opened and admitted the old priest, who began to patiently lay out the dead for burial rights."

"Where are they?" the orc demanded. "Where is your great army?"

"The priest sighed, with pity in his eyes, and said: "You brought it with you."

You look thoughtfully at your mother. "...What can we do?"

"I can take her Sight from her," Lora offers, quietly. "But it would be on your head, Hero. Not just to help her on a better path, but to teach her how to live her life again. Everything she is and does is informed by her Sight. She will be lost and in need of your help. Her wrongs would be yours to help right. If you ask me to spare her life, that life will be your responsibility, forever more."

> Accept
> Refuse; ask for Natalia's soul to be re-forged
> Refuse; propose another idea (what?)
> Refuse; let Lora do as she will

>>46074745
>Accept
Seeing the future is kind of shitty anyway. Better to take things one day at time, making your own fate instead of worrying about prophesy that may or may not come true.

>>46074745
>> Accept
Ask Lora if she's ok with this.

>>46074745
>Accept

Big-h Hero, people.

Also am I the only one seeing an Alzheimer's analogy here?

>>46074745
>Perhaps ask Natalia what she wants.
She may not want to live with the memory of her misdeeds.

>>46074973
You are not the only one, no. Not even a little. This is gonna be rough.

>>46074745
>> Accept
We are the Hero, we will save mom even if she doesnt want to be saved

>>46074745
>"I ask instead that you temper it. The Sight has always been her gift, and to remove it entirely would be cruelty beyond measure. Let her See only that which is close, both in time and distance, that she may remain her essential self but not be driven mad by the far futures."

>>46075099

I think this might be an "all-or-nothing" deal, whether by how the process'd work or just Lora's choice.

>>46075099

Nope, her sight is trouble

>>46075099
>cruelty beyond measure

Lora has a thing for cruel mercies, if you'll remember the Poet. It's not like I hate her, but I certainly wouldn't put it past her to demand Natalia's Sight as recompense for her name and the general crime of being-a-chainholder.

This vote will be left open until after 8 PM EST, both because I have to go to work and because based on the previous discussion on the matter, the following vote deserves some space to itself for debate and discussion.

Questions, comments, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>46074745
>Accept
The time for guidance regarding the sight has long past, removing it is the only option.

>>46075192
Let the war begin!

We should have her reforge natalias soul!

>>46074745
>Accept.
We should all understand that Natalia will be essentially defenseless now without her Sight to give her an absolute edge over opponents, and there are A LOT of people in New Hell who'd see her suffer for what she's done.

Maybe we can enlist Catherine the Chosen to guard Natalia while we take her back up to the Basement. She can learn to live again, and maybe even learn to be a real mom with Jewel and Cherry (though that is a really optimistic take on the situation).

>>46074745
> Accept

Honestly, this is about as good a deal as we could hope to get. The Sight goes away, and Natalia gets a shot at normality.

In a way, we'd be crippling her.

She's probably incredibly reliant on her ability to See things before they happen. Her combat skill is greatly boosted by her precog, to the point where without it I don't know where her skill level would really be.

The Alzheimer's analogy really isn't accurate, but the idea of working with someone with literally massive problems isn't. Natalia's got PTSD like nobodies business, and probably a few other little mental deficiencies. And that's to say nothing of the side-effects of having the ability to see the future ripped out of you. I wouldn't be surprised if legitimate blindness was an issue.

This is going to be hard.

But what's worth doing that isn't?

>>46074745
>Accept
Although this isn't the option I would pick if I were in this situation, I think it's what Nate would pick, and that's what's important here. Although I have no idea how I'd get in this situation in the first place...

Anyway, I'm going to pose a question to you guys. If the Traitor wasn't Nathan's mother, if she didn't have any personal connection to any of the main characters, would your choice here be different? Would you still spare her and remove her sight, or would you opt to punish her for the horrors that she's wrought?

>>46075827
Big H man, redemption is always possible.

Hrm...

> Ask Lora whether or not her Sight can be dampened to only near time and place

Having one of your senses removed is a scary proposal. Lessening it may work. And if it doesn't... tabula rasa. We accept, to have at least a chance to restore some of her sanity.

In either case afterwards we will have to get her somewhere safe to recover. Cherry and Little Assassin are actually pretty sensible, in that regard. She can be the cool grandmother to children she didn't have.

Cherry's cheerful demeanor would help with that too. Good for the mind.

Additionally, maybe we can rig up the bell system in some manner, or replicate it, so Nate can "phone home" regularly. It would be cruel to both Nate and Nat to leave them out of reach of each other.

>>46075099
If the Sight is removed completely, Natalia will adapt to a completely new life without Sight. If it's only reduced, she will be reminded every moment how she had the strong Sight and now has only a pitiful rest ("I could see 1000 years in the future and now I can't see beyond lunch"). I think the latter is more cruel.

>>46075827
I personally don't like it too much that everybody is getting a second chance no matter what they did, but I can understand why. It's the problem caused by the group being too understanding with the antagonists, leading to sympathy:
If you know a person's every thought, have felt every emotion they ever felt, lived the life they lived, then you understand why they did what they did. Not "why they chose to do what they did", because all our actions (except those caused by chance) follow from what we have gone through in our lives so we are not completely free to choose (simple example: If you are offered a steak vs a fish but you don't like fish, is it really a choice? You take the option that remains. Sure, you could take the fish, but why should you?). So in her own personal world Natalia experienced lots of things that shaped her into what she is; she reacted so a vision and it turned out some way or another; she reacted to the outcome and something other happened; and somehow it ended with Richard recruiting her (probably because she thought there would a good end for her or the world).
Sure, at some point she could have chosen not to kill some guy, but there must have been some reason she still did it. It's like whether you walk or drive to work: One day you walk (because it was sunny, or you were early anyway, or you felt like walking) and another day you drive (because it was raining, or you had something heavy with you, or you felt like driving). Except if you throw a coin, there will always be some tiny reason for one or the other.
tl;dr: free will is not really free and any action has a reason

>>46075827
Even then, this all stems from the colossal Dick pushing her in all the wrong directions. He took a fragile woman and broke her, then put her back together into something terrible in order to serve his purposes.

>>46074745
>> Accept

>>46074745
>>accept

>>46075827

You mean, if we just knew that she was a person who could see the future and was terrifically taken advantage and had her mind warped by the ability and the other various issues that she wasn't so much evil as she was incredibly lost and slightly insane?

I'd like to think we would have, but without the rapport of Natalia being Nate's mother, I'm not sure we would've had the ability to convince her to stand down.

I like to vote we try and give each Chain Holder a shot. I think Natalia's probably the last one for awhile with regrets and redeeming values, but nobody starts out wanting to be evil. We owe them a shot.

But I think that there's still only so much we can do.

Brig and Natalia genuinely regret their hand in things. I'm not sure how many of the rest do.

>>46075991

This is basically what happened.

But again, where does Dick find these people? How does he know the exact right buttons? He finds one of a handful of people capable on the planet of interpreting the Divine Language and speaking it without immediately turning themselves into a little pile of giblets, and cons her into working for him. The Baron, who's schtick was loyalty beyond measure, gave his to this guy. And Natalia, a powerful seer who was probably smart enough to realize that he was going to manipulate the fuck out of her, still ended up falling in line.

What the hell is going on with Dick?

>>46074745
> Accept

Three hours to call.

>>46075970
>I think the latter is more cruel.
This. It's horrible to know that you have been more in the past than you can ever be in the future, especially when it's somethign as fundamental and as potent as the Sight. Having once had a perfect memory and losing that capacity due to brain damage, it's an awful, awful thing to know for a fact you could have been more and were more at one time.

>>46079491
I think that taking away the sight might be the better call considering she went insane and started killing people to see visions.

>>46074745
>Accept
On the one hand, Sight is necessary for Natalia to prove that it can help, to achieve anything close to atoning for the full weight of her sins.

But I JUST said she doesn't deserve Bridgette's deal.

Still, I don't know about Nate being responsible for her. Something about it rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's the assumption that she'll never "get better".

bump

Off work. Home shortly.

Home, called. This thread needs to be slain, so...Q&A TIME, I GUESS.

And/or feedback, thoughts, critique.

>>46082462
Eh.

Don't know why, can't really explain.

Just eh.

the arc has been pretty good so far and I enjoyed the part where we were Natalia, the ending so far feels a bit weak and could probably use some fluff to tie it all together.

>>46082462
I enjoyed this arc, it was pretty good. The only issue I'm seeing is how it ended, it wasn't the best ending.

>>46082847
>>46082947
Can I get you to expand on this? I mean, obviously the ending isn't /over/ yet, but this is starting to sound like a learning experience in the making.

>>46083071
I mean, I'm 'eh' guy and I think the end fight with the guys from the Lush was a bit anti-climactic. Hard to say what would have been better.

>>46082462

>>46082847

I'm actually going to agree with this guy.It's been a good arc, but I expected more heartrending decisions, more potential for general predictive fuckery, and lots more Natalia breaking down in general as we systematically tore apart her operation. Her own troops were willing to shoot a guy for taking the time to question her orders.

Basically, I expected more mental anguish on both Natalia and Nate's parts.

Instead, we just took down a demon she may or may not have summoned, did some negotiation, and had a couple of neat fights. There was some interesting and clever moments, but I kind of wonder how the Chosen never figured out her God couldn't see her until we pointed it out.

Travel in and out of the Dungeon isn't exactly easy right now, given how each Chain Holder is supposed to be acting as a wall on their floor to stop people from going past them. So, how did she come in, negotiate to work for Natalia, set up shop, and never realize that she had fallen out of contact with Red Troth, given that it literally takes just a few seconds to try and dial him up?

That having been said, getting Natalia OUT of here and into a safe level for rehabilitation is probably going to be an adventure all on it's own given how the number of folk who don't actively hate/fear Natalia is limited to people Nate can count on one hand.

Things I like?

Natalia's gigantic middle finger to Dick. Chain Holders may be more or less independent in their realms, but seeing her actively deciding to abandon whatever goal he had set up for her, and work towards her own ends instead? That took balls. Bricking up the Baron was the first real sign we had that there was dissension among the Chain Holders, and that not all of their interests align. I basically want to see more of that, too. They're an organization, they cooperate, but they each have their own interests and desires.

>>46083071
well, I am no writer but it might have been better if Lora put up more of an objection and the ordeal were more of a conflict. As it is Natalia pretty much immediately surrendered followed by Lora pretty much immediately going along with what Nathan wanted.

There was no big reveal or anything, and not a huge amount of emotion from either Nathan or Lora. Though that is just my best guess as to why it felt a little limp so take it with a grain of salt.

>>46083173
>>46083201
>>46083145
Noted. Thank you for the feedback, folks; I haven't precisely been on my A-game lately, but a lot of this is stuff I could or should have done.

Though I will note for the Chosen thing that you can /ask her/. That I do have handled!

Thread so close to death. We must slay it so I can start the new one.

>>46083173

Continuation.

Basically, I want to see conflict among the Chain Holders. We can't be the only Force of Good in the Dungeon, and quite honestly? I wouldn't be surprised if we arrived on a lower floor to discover that somebody has beaten us to the punch and taken down the Chain Holder. Or maybe, they've gone and stolen the Chain.

I also would like to maybe see a Chain Holder that isn't a complete dick. Maybe they're locking down a dangerous floor because, holy shit, it's /actually/ /dangerous/. We've enjoyed an advantage on each floor that the Chain Holders have been assholes evil enough that we've had no real problems finding allies we can agree with. It'd also represent a moral challenge in that, yes, he's got the Chain and is kind of an asshole by default. But removing him could probably cause a lot of harm as well. Hell, have him be the young, impressionable type who's been warned that we've killed three of his great comrades who were defending their holdings and tricked the nice librarian who helped them bind this terrible spirit to their righteous cause, and that the Token Evil Team Mate the Traitor has switched sides to help us.