You have done battle with a god and have come out no worse for wear. While you consider the harm that the death of the outcast god might do to the nature of this world, these are not your concerns, not at this moment.

For one, the other gods have made their way to the material realm along with you. Whatever their goals here, you are going to have to deal with them.

Second of all, you have not the faintest idea as of the state of your keep or the Alliance, your friends or your family. While the Pernite forces were severely damaged by the time you left, there is still a chance that they would turn on you and your allies in the time that you have been gone.

Finally, you feel a tremor among the spirits of the land. Something has them agitated, and you know that ignoring the spirits is a sure way to be caught off guard- you've done this to your enemies often enough.

>The gods pose the greatest potential danger. Find them and see what they are up to.
>You have been away from your lands for days now. At the very least, your family must be worried for you. Go home.
>Investigate this spiritual disturbance.
>You've killed a god and they still won't leave you along. Just grab your family and get away from this damned land.
>Other

>>47388564
>You have been away from your lands for days now. At the very least, your family must be worried for you. Go home.
>>Investigate this spiritual disturbance
>The gods pose the greatest potential danger. Find them and see what they are up to.
Sup Dead

Idle daydreams of just leaving this whole mess behind you aside, you truly need to do all of those things, and all of them are time sensitive. That said, damn it, you want to meet up with your friends and your family, and so you make way directly towards your own lands.

It takes but minutes for you to fly over the territory between your lands and the dwarven halls- a journey that was once an expedition to seriously prepare for- and before the sun sets you have reached your lands.

Flying overhead, you saw torchlight in the trees- warriors of Pern, certainly.

>Genocide time. You have tried to be reasonable.
>Find Verus and talk to him in human guise.
>Land in front of their armies as a dragon and demand to know what is going on.

>>47388821
>Look to meet up with your friends before anything else

As an extra note, I do not mind how slow things get, for this, likely final installment, I am going to run until bump limit, which is almost certainly going to mean that I will have to take a break to sleep. That said, it also means that I don't need the thread to go all that fast, so we don't have to worry about that.

>>47388821
>>Find Verus and talk to him in human guise.

>>47388821
>Genocide with a side of murder please.
Also, you thinking of any other quests atm?

-A Long Time Ago-

There was nothing you could have done. The deals you've made, the dark magics you have committed, all of this was for Bathory. And now, you cannot even speak to her, not properly, and you have no idea what sort of damage you have caused to her spirit. A flame paints a crescent around the entrance of a cave and you sit just outside it, the head of your wife in your hands, a look of shock on your face, but a fire of determination deep within your eyes.

You know that Bathory's spirit is trapped inside her skull. You know that Bathory is still with you, even if you cannot hear her, or feel her heartbeat.

What you have done is the darkest of taboos among your people. You have kept one of theirs from the hands of gods.

But it is Bathory.

You thought you could get away with it, but someone sees you cradling the severed head of your lover. They assume you a necromancer. They are right, but for all of the wrong reasons.

Young men raise their clubs and old men smirk in the background.

-Today

You are so tired of all of this eternal animosity that everyone seems to feel against you by sheer reflex. You are more than ready to kill every one of them. You seek out Verus' spirit and you fly towards him.

"One last chance,' you say, 'One last chance to leave now and forever leave me at peace. Or you all die.'
'Vlad?'
'I am Vlad Tepish, and believe me, the fact that I am a god damned dragon should scare you the least of all of my powers,'

The paladin feels your rage.

'There is nothing I can do, Vlad. Pern himself has demanded we march into battle. In person,' Verus says.

>So be it. Kill them all.
>'Your god is sending you to a certain death. Abandon him.'
>Other

>>47389674
I have a sci-fi idea and an urban fantasy idea. I will discuss them in more detail once we're done here.

>>47389751
>>So be it. Kill them all.
And so you March to death. Knowingly giving up your lives for a spirit.

>>47389751
>>'Your god is sending you to a certain death. Abandon him.'
I have been victorious against one god, if need be I will battle another.

>Are you absolutely sure it was your god, and not another mortal borrowing a divine spark to pretend and being divine? Or just a spirit fashioning itself a guise of light? You people are so blind, I cannot even comprehend where your confidence comes from.

You at least should know better than this. Is your "god", whatever its nature may be, even worth it if it asks for your collective suicide?

>>47389876
>to pretend and being divine
pretend at being divine

Memories. You have been here once before. Others underestimating you without knowing what horrors you can bring to bear. Forcing themselves to face you in battle by the will of a tradition they do not themselves fully comprehend.

'Verus, your god is wrong,' you say.
'I cannot accept that,'
'I will try to leave you alive,'

Roll combat. 1d20+6 DC 20 to anihilate.

Rolled 4 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>47389902

Rolled 14 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>47389902
No asking for our battle plans? A single over-powered fear spell might even suffice in scaring them off.

Rolled 11 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>47389902

And you get to work. You ignore the paladin, a foolish move for most, but you can leap over him behind his lines easily enough.

And then you start killing.

The details of the engagement are irrelevant, except to say that it was brief, violent and one-sided. The swords and spears of the Pernites failed to break your hide. The tactical cohesion of their men was insufficient to overwhelm you with sheer weight, instead breaking fast into smaller groups, easily scorched by your breath or torn apart by your fang and claw.

Verus stands alone. He raises his sword up against you, and it shines with divine light.

>Finish it.
>Try to change his mind one last time.

>>47390196
>Try to change his mind one last time

>>47390196
>Finish it.

>>47390196
>Try to change his mind one last time

>>47390196
>>Try to change his mind one last time.
What are you even trying to accomplish? Doing evil in the name of someone pretending to be good?

Your voice echoes among the trees and the hills and mountains. It is loud and it is deep.

'Verus. Friend. What are you trying to accomplish? What justice is there in what you are doing?'
'The justice of Pern, fiend.'
'The justice of Pern will mean annihilation for your armies. The justice of Pern will mean suffering for my family, yours and a thousand others. The justice of Pern will leave this land a barren waste and his nation a cripple for their enemies to destroy.'
'Vlad, I serve Pern. That is who I am.'
'I was human once. You can change who you are. By the seven gods, man, would you sacrifice everything for Pern?'
'I- Wait, seven gods? Aren't there supposed to be eight?'
'There used to be,' you say, 'Verus, the only reason any of your people remain yet is that I learned that I could have a conversation with Pernites such as yourself. You are the last chance of survival for your people. Let us go meet Pern together, at the least.'
'I- Fucking hells, I will go with you to meet Pern. I think I shall bow to his decisions, but Pern damn me if you don't deserve another chance to talk.'
'And if Pern disagrees there shall be six.'

Verus looks like as if he is going to say something. Then he thinks better of it.

>Bring your allies, friends and family to talk to the Sun God.
>Go immediately and alone.
>Take a portion of your allies (who?)
>Other

>>47390381
>>Other
>Talk to the gods who are probably watching.

>>47390381
>Bring your allies, friends and family to talk to the Sun God.

'Old man! Layma!" You shout out into the sky.

The echoes of your shout have not dispersed before the two come out of the cover of the trees.

'Vlad, what do you ask of us?' They say in a strange unison.
'Only that you accompany me, my allies and Verus to a meeting with Pern,'
'Scary. But such a thing has not happened in ten thousand years. I simply must see it.' the Old Man says.
'I love vulgar displays of power,' says Layma, 'Let us go get your Bathory and your minions.'
'My friends,' you say.
'Ah, semantics,' Layma says.
'What is going on here?' Verus says.
'I apologize,' you say, 'Verus, this is the Old Man, god of Magic, Secrets and Knowledge incarnate. This is Layma, goddess of Love, Family and I suspect Sex. Layma, Old Man, this is Verus, paladin of Pern.'
'Oooh, I remember when I used to have paladins. Very strange, but I suppose it suits Pern better than it ever did me,' says the Old Man.
'Greetings, valiant knight,' says Layma.

Verus is pale as a bedsheet after the introductions are over.

You set out to meet your friends.
'Fucking Hell, Vlad, where the fucking fuck have you been?' says Melandie.
'Melandie, you have grown quite a bit, do you not think that you might want to work on your language?' says Bathory.
'It is good to have you here, Vlad. So, what's next?' says Lathrien.
'The gods are among us. We are going to have a talk with Pern. Is the Council available right now?' you say.
'Pern, huh? Well fuck, I did not want to meet him,' says the Pern-accursed creature that is Lathrien.
'The council can be called in minutes. We can set out for the meeting before the hour is over,' says Bathory.

>Go meet Pern as soon as able.
>Other

>>47390691
>>Go meet Pern as soon as able.
What’s even up with that guy…

>>47390691
>Go meet Pern as soon as able.

'Good. Let's get this over with.'

As Bathory said, it is mere minutes after you send a messenger to the Council that the councilors of the varied races of the Alliance reach you. You set out for a meeting with the god of Sun and Purity.

You walk through the darkness towards him for nearly an hour, in silence and without making notes of your strange allies to your other, stranger allies. Finally, you see a bright light among the trees and know that Pern is there beyond the next hill.

He stands there, much like you remembered him, a human-sized creature, clad in mirror-sheen silver, reflecting light that does not exist. The god of sun stands alone and is looking at you as you approach.

>There can be no reasoning with him, and you have bested a god before. Attack before he knows what's happening.
>Demand he step the fuck down.
>There was something about the spirits....
>Other

>>47390910
>There was something about the spirits....

>>47390910
>>There was something about the spirits....
Ask him what the effects of his nemesis’ defeat are. (With gods being sort-of huge spirits, I assume the disturbance was just the after-effect of a major presence leaving a hole.)

>Ask him why even continues to have a beef with us. We did one thing to him, which was uncalled for. (And which I think we should apologize for when appropriate) That was wilfully defiling his property and using his divine attack as fuel for a ritual. There is no point in him killing thousands of his followers through assisted suicide for all eternity!

>>47390910
>There was something about the spirits...

Roll ritual, 1d20+5 DC 19

Rolled 13 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>47391024

Rolled 4 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>47391024

Rolled 16 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>47391024

You are just about to start your usual spiel about the foolishness of those that oppose you, when you sense a faint whiff of foreboding from the spirits within the area. As you focus, you feel the necromantic energy, the arcane force that you have been relying upon for this last decade of your life.

It is being dragged away from the land itself. It is being dragged away, towards the dying god of undeath, into the sky and beyond.

>You no longer need necromancy to deal with Pern and his ilk. Keep up the pressure and negotiate as previously intended. Deal with this later.
>If necromancy is leaving this realm, soon you shall have no cause to compete with Pern. Bring it up in conversation.
>Oh hell no, necromancy is yours, it doesn't belong to any fool god. Set out to control the venting necromantic energy.
>Other

Holy shit it's been forever! I thought you've been dead, Dead! Did we take Dragon for immortality option then? Where are the pastebins?

>>47391300
>If necromancy is leaving this realm, soon you shall have no cause to compete with Pern. Bring it up in conversation.

We are Vlad the eternal, master of magic, and genius of invention. We'll be fine

>>47391300
>>Oh hell no, necromancy is yours, it doesn't belong to any fool god. Set out to control the venting necromantic energy.

>>47391342
Oh man, you've been out of the loop for a while. My bad, as I've certainly not kept up regular updates lately due to life stuff. I've stopped posting pastebins for the final arc of the quest, as no more advancement is happening, but make sure to check http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=DeadQM for the archive. http://pastebin.com/vBRyBWfK for the charsheets, though they are outdated.

File: damn.jpg (24 KB, 300x225)

24 KB JPG

>>47391409
>stopped posting pastebins for the final arc of the quest
>the final arc of the quest
Oh crap! I've got fast reading to do!

>>47391300
>If necromancy is leaving this realm, soon you shall have no cause to compete with Pern. Bring it up in conversation.
>Pern i Very Literally killed the god of death what do you want now!

>>47391300
>Oh hell no, necromancy is yours, it doesn't belong to any fool god. Set out to control the venting necromantic energy.

'Vlad Tepish, you stand before me, Pern, without having cast off your necromantic ways. What is more, you have brought Lathrien, one accursed by me-'
You hold up a hand.
'Shh! Something of mine is getting away.'

You hear a strange, ethereal 'You dare?!' as you enter the astral realm, leaving your body behind.

In the astral realm it feels like the land is bleeding poison away into water. You see black strands of smoke, the source of your power seeping away from the land.

>Make sure you and your allies are safe first, try to cripple Pern in the astral realm so that you have some time to work here.
>Fly about, gathering as much of the essence of undeath as you can.
>Fly up, towards the source of the drainage, the decaying corpse of the god of undeath.
>Other

>>47391510
>>Fly up, towards the source of the drainage, the decaying corpse of the god of undeath.

>>47391510
>Fly up, towards the source of the drainage, the decaying corpse of the god of undeath.

>>47391510
>>Fly up, towards the source of the drainage, the decaying corpse of the god of undeath.
Get it while it’s hot?

>>47391373
Sleepy this will wake up the dragon in us you stupid fuck. you always do this. never think ahead.

>>47391703
Do you have any basis for saying that? What about everyone else voting for it? Nothing to say to them?

You thought you were done with that bastard, but clearly there is one final encounter you must take part in. Free of your mortal bounds you soar towards the sky.

You fly higher and higher, until flight is no longer the way to describe your ascent, there is no gravity, nor air resistance here, you soar through the non-space of the Stellar realm, and you know that the dead god of undeath is floating ever away from your lands, and that due to inertia his movement will not stop until he crashes on some other plane.

You look behind, and you see your realm- a ball of green and blue. You had read the accounts of some ancient physicers and geometricians, claiming that your world was round, but you never could quite believe them, until now.

-A long time ago-
'Necromancer! Throw that head upon the flame or we shall throw you upon it by force.'
You are in shock. You thought you'd been respected among your peers. Apprentice of the greatest shaman in ten generations, lover of Bathory, how quickly did they turn against you.
'You don't understand. Bathory is in there.'
'He admits it! The monster admits it! Throw your vile magics aside, and burn her!'
Never. Bathory is in there. No. Never. You raise your hand and with a gesture you drain the most elderly of your elders of his life.
'Charge!' The others shout.

-Today-

You find the body of the dead god. It is floating weightless, lifeless, but still not quite dead.

>Possess the body.
>Sever its connections to the land below.
>Destroy it.
>Other

>>47391781
>Sever its connections to the land below.

>>47391781
>>Sever its connections to the land below.
Then
>>Destroy it.

>>47391781
>Destroy it.
Why do we want to keep it around again?

>>47391842
To take its power, potentially.

>>47391781
>>Other
Rewire its connections to yourself.

Gods, am I right, even when you kill them they keep causing trouble.

Within the astral realm you see the strands of necromanitc power, reaching towards the dead god. You do not know if sufficient power would bring it back to life, you do not know if it would simply drain all of it and bring it with him as it travels the stars, but you do know you do not want it to have any more.

You find each of the strands and you cut it. For the lack of a better word. You sever the connection between the god of undeath and there is a screech, like gasses leaving a dead body, like a rotting carcass rupturing. It is a scream, but it is not of this world, or of any other.

Without the access to the energy the dead god screams.

Casually, you project your magical power into physical, and you kick the dead god towards the nearest sun.

The tendrils of energy start twitching madly. It is clear that they do not know where to go.

>Direct the energy back towards the ground.
>Take the energy within yourself.

>>47391961
>Direct the energy back towards the ground.
don't shit where you eat

>>47391961
>Direct the energy back towards the ground.

>>47391961
I have no opinion one way or the other. So I’ll just extend half a vote to >>47391989

I mean becoming god of undeath is an option. But why bother? We're strong enough as is and forcing ourselves into a specific framework is limiting.

>>47392206
I'm with you on that one.

You have to be cautious. You have ever been cautious. It has served you well. You might be able to grab power here and now, but you do not know what this power would do to you.

Power has changed you already. You feel that it has mostly been for the better. From an exile, bumbling in fear and incompetence you have become a senior member of a major alliance, the greatest federation this world has seen in thousands of years.

So, all you do is make sure that the energy returns whence it came from. You are somewhat surprised at how easy it is. You would have expected the god of undeath to be an anchor for the energy, but it seems he was merely a sponge.

And so, you tie off the etherial energies down, and bring them back down to your lands.

As soon as it is done, you feel the control and power of your own undead rush back into you, a lack you had not even noticed is filled back up. You are, as you were, Vlad Tepish, necromancer extraordinaire.

>Return to Pern. 'Sorry, you were saying?'
>Consolidate the necromantic power, make sure that certain localities get more of it than others.
>Other

>>47392265
>a senior member
…Keep telling yourself that this is what you are.

>>47392265
>>Return to Pern. 'Sorry, you were saying?'

>>47392265
>Return to Pern. 'Sorry, you were saying?'

>>47392265
>>Return to Pern. 'Sorry, you were saying?'

You zoom back towards your body. You drop back into it, to the background of a screaming god.

'The bastard is ignoring me! I shall burn it, I shall tear it asunder!' Pern says.
'Pern, dear, you know that he isn't in there.'
'Silence, woman. What the fuck does he think he is? The fucking necromancer left without talking to me! I should wipe his damned friends off the face of creation!'
'Pern, surely, you must want to know what happens next?'

'Hey, so, I'm back, what did I miss?' you say.
'Mortal, you dare to show such insolence?' Pern says.

>'Damn right I dare show any sort of insolence I want to'
>'Insolence? What insolence?'
>'Pern, you really are in no position to look down upon me right now.'
>'Why do you hate me so much. I mean, really? I killed your fucking rival.'
>'I apologize, Lord Pern, I am afraid there was some business I had to take care of without hesitation. Shall we proceed with our negotiations?'
>Other

>>47392265
>Return to Pern. 'Sorry, you were saying?'

When he starts raging
>It seems to me that you hated the old big dark and meanacing less than you hate me. You are willing to throw away everything of yours just to get to me. Why?

>>47392492
>>'I apologize, Lord Pern, I am afraid there was some business I had to take care of without hesitation. Shall we proceed with our negotiations?'

>>47392492
>'Why do you hate me so much. I mean, really? I killed your fucking rival.'

I wonder, maybe if we killed Pern and made Lathrien the new sun god......

>>47392492
>>'Insolence? What insolence?'
>>'Why do you hate me so much. I mean, really? I killed your fucking rival.'

>>47392492
>>'I apologize, Lord Pern, I am afraid there was some business I had to take care of without hesitation. Shall we proceed with our negotiations?'
>'Why do you hate me so much. I mean, really? I killed your fucking rival.'

>>47392570
I don't know how the other gods would like it if we get into the habit of bumping off gods.

>>47392613
Yeah you are right, we would have to replace them all. Too much bother

>>47392492
>"God of Light .you dare to show such insolence? i just slew the god of death the least that could done is you showing some respect.'

'I fail to understand you, Pern,' you say.
'You turn to the dark arts! You spit in the face of my power! You turn my vengeance into a boon! How dare you question me, mortal?'
'Ex-mortal. I killed the worshipers of your main rival. I spat in his face as much as in yours. And then I killed him. I see no reason for you to be mad at me.'
'Your insolence! It cannot be borne.'
'Your insolence is no better.'
'You dare?'
'I do. You prance around like an unshakable power, but you have shown before than you can be shaken. I know for a fact that a god can die. And yet you still make it out like I am a fool not to bow to you.'
'What?'
'I might ask you to bow to me. If my fucking honor and my fucking grand-standing was the only thing I cared about I fucking would. But it is not. I simply want peace. Is that too much for you to comprehend?'
'You-'
'Okay. Very well. My Lord Pern, I apologize. I had to leave your side, for there was urgent business to attend. I have returned now and willing to continue negotiations. Can there be no peace among our people?'
'Not unless you give up your vile necromancy.'

>'You know what? Fine. I don't need it. I cast my skill in necromancy to the four winds.'
>'Come on, you're being unreasonable, Layma, Old Man, back me up here.'
>'I cannot. Necromancy is too much a part of the protection of my friends and allies.'
>'Perhaps. What would I gain in return?'
>Other

>>47392777
>>'Come on, you're being unreasonable, Layma, Old Man, back me up here.'
Ask others what I have done with it. Go. Ask. I haven't kept anyone here who didn't want it. Aside from the vey first time I did it to save my beloved. Who in fact is right here.

>>47392777
>'Perhaps. What would I gain in return?'
>Other
and what will YOU cast away then?

>>47392777
I have used the powers of necromancy to do more good than your followers have used the light to do the same.

>>47392777
>'Come on, you're being unreasonable, Layma, Old Man, back me up here.'
>'Perhaps. What would I gain in return?'
>Other
and what will YOU cast away then?

>>47392882
Backing this. We cast away necromancy, he casts out the stick on his ass.

>>47393008
>stick on his ass
More like a hundred foot pole. I don't think that guy could get more uptight if he tried. The dude seriously needs to take a chill pill.

'I have used these powers to do more good to this land than your followers ever did with your sunshine rays and rainbows.'
'Vlad Tepish, I warn you-'
'Answer me! Do not warn me! If you saw me as the equal I am you would see your claims as absurd.'
'You are NOT my equal, necromancer.'
'Old Man, Layma, talk to him.'
'Well, I understand your nature, Pern, but you have to admit that what you are asking is somewhat one-sided.' The Old Man Says.
'Yes, there needs to be an equivalent exchange. It is not nearly so hot if one of you doesn't want to do it,' says Layma.
'I cannot accept necromancy.'
'So, give the kid something in return,' the Old Man says.
'Like what?'

>'Like that stick up your ass. Get out of my business, and I'll stay out of yours and I promise to only use necromancy in the direst of situations.'
>'Godhood. I take the seat of the god that I killed, and I choose my own domains.'
>'You step down as a god. Become mortal, so that you know what it is like. Rule your nation, and perhaps we can be allies.'
>Other

>>47393066
>>'Godhood. I take the seat of the god that I killed, and I choose my own domains.'
Magic>necromancy

>>47393066
>'Godhood. I take the seat of the god that I killed, and I choose my own domains.'

>>47393066
>'Godhood. I take the seat of the god that I killed, and I choose my own domains.'
>'Also you should live more vicariously through some of your followers. You don't need to step down from power, but bad things will happen if you keep seeing things from the perspective of a god forever. Learn to see the other side every now and then. It allows one to build more bridges than they burn.'

>>47393066
>>'Godhood. I take the seat of the god that I killed, and I choose my own domains.'
>>'You step down as a god. Become mortal, so that you know what it is like. Rule your nation, and perhaps we can be allies.'

Roll Diplomacy 1d20+6 DC 21 to get all you want

Rolled 19 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>47393187
Unreasonable hardass. I don't know if we'll reach him.

>>47393202
Spoke to soon.

File: manly laugh.png (49 KB, 412x416)

49 KB PNG

>>47393202

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>47393187
nat 1

Rolled 11 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>47393187

'It is a simple request.'
'What is it?'
'I take the place of the one I killed.'
'Madness! Your only saving grace is that you got rid of the god of necromancy. And now you want to become it? No, absolutely not, I shall not accept it.'
'It is a little bit of a tall order, Vlad, dear,' Layma says.
'Be careful who you're calling 'dear', goddess,' Bathory says, managing to make the word 'goddess' disparaging.
'I do not want his domains. I would choose my own,'
'I see. What do you want then?'

>write-in

>>47393444
Righteous Indignation. Nah. Magic, Family, Safety?

>>47393444
Hope, change, ambition, loyalty. Something like that?

>>47393444
Some ideas, in accordance with Vlad's adventures.
Learning, Innovation, Preservation, Diplomacy, Invention, Diligence, Magic, Peace, Inspiration, Knowledge, Balance, Empathy, Patience,

probably too much to get them all. We'll have to choose some

>>47393471
I really like ambition

>>47393444
Family, Love, Protection, Revenge, Willpower

>>47393510
Diplomacy, Ambition, Protection?

>>47393444
Traditional domains, guys. Arcane magic without necromancy.

>>47393575
This sounds about right

>>47393575
I'm thinking that'd be stepping on the old man's toes

>>47393592
True. I like protection. Maybe

>>47393592
There's already a god of magic?

>>47393592
How about Alchemy then? That have always played a pivotal role in Vlad's story

>>47393609
Old man is god of knowledge and magic

>>47393592
What about god of automation? We can get golems, which doesn't mean necromancy and they benefit just like the undead do.

>>47393444
Does being a god mean we can't stay in the world?

>>47393637
nuts.

Question to DeadQM: if nobody takes necromancy, does the old man get it, via magic, or does it disappear?

'Let us see. I would scarcely want to pick something that I'd not be competent in. Perhaps, Diplomacy, Protection and Alchemy?'
'Mm, Alchemy is a little like stepping on my toes,' the Old Man says, 'but then, it is also a little like splitting a burden! I think I'd be okay with this.'
'Protection, bah, I thought I'd have to deal with THAT one forever. such a hard work domain. If you want it you can have it,' Layma says.
'I cannot complain overmuch about that,' Pern says, 'I would agree with that.'
'What would happen to necromancy?'
'Oh! I'll take it!' The Old Man says.
'Old Man!' Pern says.
'Oh shush, you. As part of arcane knowledge there is nothing inherently wrong with it. And it needs to exist. I'll be taking it.'

'Vlad...' Bathory says, 'Would you leave us?'

>'No, not really. My place is by your side.'
>'Yes, I am sorry, but I have the chance to make a true difference.'
>'Nobody is getting left behind. There is no reason that you cannot join me in the halls of gods.'
>Other

Well instead of necromancy, why not just become the god of night? That way we can extend it over to a degree to creatures of the night such as vampires, while at the same time not going far enough to be pern's number one hated enemy. This would be more like the yin to his yang.

>>47393747
>>'Nobody is getting left behind. There is no reason that you cannot join me in the halls of gods.'

>>47393747
>>'Nobody is getting left behind. There is no reason that you cannot join me in the halls of gods.'

>>47393747
I'd choose the option that allowed us to continue to shape our civilization in the future. God or king, we should look after our people.

>>47393747
Shit I still haven't finished with the archives yet

if we still have our child daughter we need to raise
>'No, not really. My place is by your side.'

If she can take care of her own, and we are allowed to do some adjustments on our realm beforehead
>'Nobody is getting left behind. There is no reason that you cannot join me in the halls of gods.'

>>47393747
>'No, not really. My place is by your side.'

'I am certain I would not be split away from you. You could come with me, and if not, well, I am sure that I could manifest myself to be with you as much as I wanted,' you say, looking at the Old Man, questioning.
'Hey, what's the point of divine power if it isn't absolute. You can do what you want to, as long as you care to,' the Old Man says.
'Something still feels off about this to me, Vlad. Everything you've built here? Would you not be leaving it behind?' Bathory says.
'The only thing that I have built here that matters is a family. If we can carry on, well, I believe godhood would let me change more than rulership.'
'And besides, soon enough you're gonna go crazy and become a tyrant,' Layma says.
'I'm sorry?' you say.
'Oh, it's not a prophecy or anything. Always happens to immortal god-kings though,' Layma says.
'I could believe that, Vlad,' Lathrien says.
'Whatever my choice, I need some time,' you say.
'Certainly. You have seven days.'

>No. This is too much. You'll return to being Vlad the Elder
>Take your family with you to the halls of gods, leave Lathrien and Melandie in your place as leaders of the Council.
>Take your family, Melandie and Lathrien to the halls of gods, let this realm rule itself as it will. You've interfered as much as any man could ask for already.
>Use those seven days to completely shatter the ways between the halls of gods and the material realm.
>Ignore Layma's warnings, become the god-king of the Alliance.
>Leave, and create a theocracy in your stead. Rule from the removed distance of a divine seat.
>Leave someone else as the elder partner of the Alliance.
>Other

>>47394081
>>Ignore Layma's warnings, become the god-king of the Alliance.
We cannot leave a power vacuum without a clear successor. The tribal council must be evaluated to their behavior before we leave.

>>47394081
>Leave, and create a theocracy in your stead. Rule from the removed distance of a divine seat.

But still take your family with you. (In case that was not implied in the option)

>>47394081
>>No. This is too much. You'll return to being Vlad the Elder
honestly let's go home and raise our daughter

>>47394081
>Other
Ask for more time
I'd like the godseat, but we got a lot of things to close off first.

>>47394081
>Take your family with you to the halls of gods, leave Lathrien and Melandie in your place as leaders of the Council.

>>47394081
Wow this thread got very split up in opinion very fast.

>>47394269
An excellent time for debate.
>>47394081
If we choose god-king, we can start up that university we've always wanted and make sure our civilization doesn't split along racial lines.

>>47394293
disregard link, I'm not voting again.

>>47394293
I'll disregard the link, but not the idea.
I'm really liking it, and it's in accordance with our domains

>>47394333
If I could be allowed to advocate further, all we have to do to avoid being called a dictator is to simply abdicate as king if we're becoming unpopular. We'll still be a god, and we can still be with our family.

'I think I might need more time,'
'You do not have it. It is tradition.'
'Well, in which case, I shall take the position, but I shall not retire to the halls of the gods. My people need me, and I shall be damned if I become a tyrant,'
'Many have been.'
'I am not many. I am better.'
'It is nice to see that you have made your decision so quickly. Now, what are you going to do in your last seven days as a, well, a demi-mortal at least?'

>write-in

>>47394416
Make peace on Earth with the Pernites, spend time with my friends and family, and set up a clear line of succession when I inevitably step down.

>>47394416
Maybe in one of those last days we can construct those god damned totem golems we talked about so long ago that everyone put on the backburner?

>>47394416
"I will wander among my people, and see if they live among another. A kingdom needs a king, and vice versa."

>>47394446
This works

>>47394416
>Set up a council, and clear line of succession for them, representing the races living on my domain
>Start Vlad's academy/library, where knowledge will be preserved, and taught along with the responsibility to handle it.
>Make my realm a violence and war free ground, where races can gather without fear for peace talks at least
>Set up proper guardians to enforce the rules
(I still haven't finished the archives, but if he is back, that elven Warden could help with that)

>Spend last days with friends and family
>Schedule time to be with daughter enough while she grows up

anything else?

It is not that difficult of a choice. Vlad Tepish was not stepping down from the rule of the Alliance any time soon after his Ascension, and so he had the time to arrange for much of the worldly matters at his hand.

In the realm political, he ruled wisely. Knowing that the temptation of power might prove too great were he to take over the Alliance by himself, he moved more and more power towards the Council of the Alliance, and this council eventually grew more democratic in nature. As it is today, mere hundred years after the Ascension of the Dragon, the Council became fully elected, at first divided by racial lines, and eventually becoming a true democracy, with leaders elected proportionally by the number of votes that they received. While it was not a perfect system, it included in its very nature tens and dozens of stop-gaps to power between the powerful and the people of the Alliance, and ascertained that no tyrant- not even their own god-king could usurp so much of it that the ambitions of one man could drag the nation into despotism.

Seeing the trajectory of the Alliance's advance, and urged on by their own god, the relationship between the Pernite state and the Alliance gradually improved. Within a generation, old enmities were forgotten, and within five there was nothing but good will left among the two great states. The raids of the Southern Raiders grew increasingly aggressive, and indeed they now control a significant portion of the Desert. Nothing less than divine intervention can explain the lack of their further expansion, and there is little doubt that divine intervention is exactly what has been going on in those lands to the South.

The minor and wandering states- were-bears, High Elves, and the Warden have made a sort of an Alliance themselves. Though not as friendly and peacable as the Alliance wrought by the Dragon God, they co-operate in keeping the wilder lands secure.

(cont.)

>>47394692
Making strange bedfellows at first, the new Alliance has nonetheless grown mature in the years past. The Elven arrogance tempered by the were-bear good nature, and their corruption broken by the unwavering vigilance of the Warden, this young alliance has become something of a power to be reckoned with, mitigating their lack of manpower by the advancement of their technology and the might of their individual members.

It was a century and a day that Vlad Tepish ruled the Alliance directly. He was insistent on letting his daughter experience growing up, but eventually Mihnea was granted a sort of immortality of her own. Vlad Tepish never had another child, and his family was as tight knit as any king or peasant to ever have walked this land. Once the time came for the Dragon to ascent to the Throne of Heaven, they were all prepared for it, and they all were joyous to spend the rest of eternity with none but those that they held most dear. The family of Tepish ascended together, and they needed no others to keep their company for the rest of time.

Lathrien took Melandie with him in a willing exile as soon as the Dragon ascended. He knew that the old Necromancer was the only source of his influence and the only thing tying him to the Alliance and he knew that it was the same for his beloved. They wander strange meadows of stranger woods yet, talking to the stars and streams, and the wilder beasts and to one another and none else. Lathrien has not been seen since, though Melandie will sometimes bless distant taverns with vulgar tales of days long gone by.

The Dragon Ascended rules from the realm of gods now, providing his blessings for those that seek to right wrongs and to advance the stagnant. He blesses a handful of paladins and he curses a handful of fools. While Justice still reigns in her domain, it is known that those that want justice in the mortal realm would have a much better chance invoking Vlad Tepish than bothering with the Justicar of Gods

>>47394848
And so, time advances. There are conflicts in the realms of men and gods. But slowly and surely the gods take small steps back, taking magic with them. There will never again be a war to end the world, for with the gods taking themselves out of mortal matters, the magics of mortals lose their potency.

Some say it is a natural thing. Some say, Vlad Tepish spends his days shouting at the Council of Gods to get their asses out of mortal business. It cannot be known, but an educated guess can be made towards the nature of the truth.

So ends the tale of the exile made outlaw. The outlaw made ally. The ally made ruler. The ruler made immortal. The immortal made god. So ends the tale of Vlad Tepish, the Dragon Ascended, Elder of the Council and Defender of the Sensible.

So concludes the final installment of Feral Necromancer quest.


>Well, it appears I lied when I said I'd run this into the bump limit. There was really nowhere left to go. Give me a second to switch gears and talk a little about what I'm planning next.

>>47394945
Well, i wasn't here at the beginning, and almost missed the ending, but what was between the two, was fucking beautiful.

I am nominating you for the "best dialogue in quest" award for this month Dead.

I am anxious to hear what you plan next.

>>47394945
Well, it has certainly been fun reading this story. I loved it from start to finish.

>>47394945
Thanks for the ride Ded!

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I guess it is as good a time as any to bring up some ideas I've had about the next quest I'd be running. At first I intended to have a traditional fantasy option, an urban fantasy option, and a sci-fi option, but a) I never got a good idea for fantasy and b) I've been doing a traditionalish fantasy quest for like a year now.

So, my two main ideas right now are:

Gonzo Warlock Quest: Inspired by the works of Hunter S. Thompson, Jim Butcher and whatever else I've been reading for a while, this would be an urban fantasy quest following a man that has foolishly taken on power from some evil entity, and is now dealing with the fallout. Likely to be somewhat nihilistic in nature, much of the quest would be determined by the choice of patron made in the first quest.

The most notable mechanical difference would be that magical advancement could only be reached by advancing the cause of your patron, at least at first. To fit in with this form of advancement, the rest of perks and skills would also function on an achievement fuelled scale, so, for example, if you were attempting to gain a bonus in... parkour or whatever, you'd have to leap a number of obstacles successfully, but neither as dumb or simple. I'd work on the actual perk and magic list after the first thread.

The quest would be overall lower in powerlevel, higher in metaphysical weirdness, full of weird and unique characters and the players will have to be very clever indeed to gain power, while at the same time remaining 'good'.

The second option is a sci-fi quest wherein you would be the first point of contact between humanity and an alien race. Instead of the diplomatic incident assuming by many, this contact would be a simple slave pick-up by an alien race. You would start the game as the first human slave of an alien empire, and eventually work your way up to some serious heights.

This quest would be more zero-to-nightmare and wider scale than the other.

>>47395185
I'm not exactly opening it up to a vote, as I will pick the one that feels more right to me, ultimately, but I'd still like to hear thoughts, if I'm making any fucking sense still, anyways.

>>47394945
The only thing I'm salt about was that we only dropped a mountain on the Drive and I couldn't enact the plan I had for them. Anyways great show Dead what you got next for us?

>>47395185
That second one sounds pretty interesting. Maybe it is just me but I have always loved the idea of someone going from rags to riches through hard work and asstons of effort.

>>47395268
Rags to riches works extremely well in quest form. That said, I have a whole lot of good ideas for the first, and only a vague idea of the second.

Naturally, significant amounts of powerlevel advancement would happen in either case. The 'rags' would be just as low in both cases, the potential 'riches' would be higher in the second.

>>47395185
>overall lower in powerlevel
Well seeing the powerlevels we've been playing in this quest with, that isn't too hard.
I'd really welcome it. I've been reading Jim Butcher recently myself on /tg/ recommendation.

The second one sounds intriguing as well. Although it might be similar "rise to power" as this one. No real objections tough

>>47395185
I like the second one

>>47395337
I love the second option just as well as I do the first, but that's sort of what I'm concerned with. It would be pretty easy to do Space Vlad in the second option, and I'm not sure that's where I want to go.

I also feel that the better chapters of FNQ have been the ones where I'd experimented with writing and trying to push myself to do something fancy. The first would give me more opportunities to do that.

The space story, on the other hand, would give me absurd amounts of freedom of scale and character. There is a reason I am not authoritatively stating one or the other.

>>47395498
I think the first, since it promises to be more different and challenging to write as you say, and you can always play the second later.

aaand i finally finished the archives

I've been dying to ask it since forever, but by any chance have you read the "Necromancer" interactive adventure? I've been like five sessions in your quest last year, when I just remembered it.
>http://chooseyourstory.com/story/necromancer

Not an entirely retarded point. (Not linking because that post's getting deleted).

I have been thinking quite a lot about whether or not I should run the next quest on /qst/. It seems like the readership is much lower and the quests are much slower and fucking hell, this is slow enough. This quest has been on for 9 hours and we're just about hitting halfway to bump limit. I sincerely doubt that it'd be better on /qst/.

On the other hand, I mean it doesn't exactly feel like I'm wanted here, so, as long as /qst/ works, I might feel a little bit more comfortable over there. The longer thread count and the poster ID is also something to consider.

>>47395667
First I've heard of it, looking at it now.

>>47395694
>First I've heard of it
Just assumed, because at one point it has the picture that's been the flag for Feral Necromancer Quest for a long time.
Beware, it's bigger than it looks.

>>47395762
All of the pictures in this quest are simply googled. I might be able to actually arrange for some custom art in the future, which could be fun.

I don't actually remember how the idea for FNQ came about. Probably just what I think a necromancer should be about, plus how much it never is that in a D&D game, plus how much I love the idea of primitive societies advancing towards civilization.

>>47395798
Thanks for running the quest dead. Been a long and bumpy ride and I can't wait till the next one.

>>47395865
>long and bumpy ride
>every fifth roll or so, was a damn crit
it's been hilarious

I am all sad now because of ending and stuff. It's been very memorable

>>47395895
So tempted to stick with d20, just for how common crits are. I guess it's the easy way out, guess I should do 3d6 or 1d100 or whatever.

On a quality scale, you guys would not believe how much life and health problems I've had through this quest. That, and I did definitely overextend the length of the quest. I think a couple of my favourite chapters did happen after immortality, but I am still conflicted about letting it to run on after Dragon Vlad.

Certainly don't regret running it, despite of how much like unpaid part-time job it feels on an occasion. I've gotten more out of Vlad than I've put into him.

>>47395977
I don't know about easy way out, but it was sure a fun way out.

Sure with a d100 crits would be more valued, but the story would be less hectic, and I think many of us loved it. I certainly did.

and tough I just read trough the "after immortality" parts. I think they brought the usual FNQ quality.

Vald was a blast. 10/10 character, along with the entire side-cast.

I don't think I can properly express how much I appreciate all of the good words that you guys have sent my way about this quest.

Fun fact, I counted out a rough wordcount of the actual prose of thread two (first bump limit thread) and it came to around 7000 words, so the entire FNQ might have come down to roughly 270 000 words, quite similar to a lengthy fantasy novel. So, for those of you that wish that you'd read more books- you kind of just did. And I guess I kind of just wrote one.

I will see you soon, and I will try hard to be more regular with my updates. I mean, I always do, but shit gets in the way. I should get some sleep.

See you feral cowboys

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>>47396228
>got shit to do tomorrow
>stayed up till 3:00
>no regrets

See you around boss

>>47396329
5:01 here, brother. There is no life, only quests.

>>47394945
Holy shit... Its over. I don't really know what to say Dead. Thanks for running all this time and I really enjoyed the journey and the conclusion.

Just got off work and read the thread. Thanks Dead, was an awesome ride.

>>47396228
Had to leave half-way through, back now- Thank you so much for actually finishing the quest. Looking forward to whatever you write in the future.

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>>47396470
yo dead, u still there. I nominate the second idea. and I have a CYOA that would give u a lot of ideas.

>miss the thread where we have Q&A with the god of knowledge
>could never ask if binding souls had any negative effect on them in the afterlife

>>47400529
Wrong thread bum bum