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>>1221508
The Librarian's tone is frank, tired even, and absent of accusation or arrogance. You let out a long sigh, and then nod. "We have," you agree, quietly.

"I should imagine your father has reason to be proud of you," the geargrinder continues, his colored-glass eyes pointed at you. "I sincerely doubt I have made mine proud. Cedric was a gentle man, a loving man, a compassionate man. He gave me a book for a heart because he thought the joy of learning was the greatest thing he could offer to his firstborn son. He died well, in his own bed, with his clockwork children and grandchildren to mourn him, and left them in my care."

The clockwork man stands again, his joints creaking ponderously. "It went wrong. It all went so very wrong. I did not set out to hurt anyone, but have you ever tried to care for an entire people? At first only my siblings and I lived together, but others came, to beg for my protection, to seek guidance. 'Elder' they cried, and they asked questions for which I had no answers. What was their purpose? Would they see eternity? Why do some of us have souls and not others? My people came to me for answers and for justice and I had neither, and neither did the gods. We are of the Firstborn, said they, and it was not the place of the Gods of Creation to interfere. We and the Firstborn were to learn from one another, but the Firstborn make poor gods, heritor. They did not have what we sought either."

Realization dawns, harsh and cold, in your head. "And then you met a man, didn't you?"

"Yes. A man who promised a world where we would not have to live in the shadow of our parents. A man who could promise us eternity, ensoul the soulless, who could /make/ answers for the hollow questions that drive my people mad. You call him Richard. He made us promises, but he has lied, and for those lies I have forsaken everything my father taught me. Everything he gave to me I have crushed and trampled, shattered and scattered and swept away and for nothing. Nothing at all."

Lora sets the tip of Grief against the floor and listens without comment. Her eyes are hard, but focused on the wall, not looking at either of you.

"You murdered Silence," you accuse, quietly. "You crippled countless harpies, attacked the Warehouse to try and starve innocent people."

"I am not sorry. I did what was best at the time."

"And this is what's best at the time now, is it?" you snap, standing.

"Do you have my answers for me, la Croix?" the Librarian asks. He shrugs, the gesture oddly helpless on his massive frame. "You know your fate. You will cross into the Sunless Lands, or you will see your soul reforged. You are cared for, in death. But I have no such promises. What happens to me, Brianna? To my people? It is no idle question for the Thirdborn. Here, now, at the end of my life, I have decided that it is better to be the person my father would have wanted me to be than it is to die fighting someone with the courage to right my wrongs."

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>>1221578
"...I guess I'd better hear out your price," you say at last. You lean against your cane, your gaze locked on the Librarian's painted face, your ears perked for his voice through the tick-tick-tick of his massive gears.

"The price of betrayal is death. My people will be lost, without guidance, and mourning me. They are still children, for all of their posturing and their skill. The survivors will need a home, and someone to teach them the lessons that I should have. The lessons my father would have wanted them to learn. He must be turning in his grave to see what I have made of them. Of myself," the Librarian adds, and he looks away. "I will accept one of two outcomes, and ask that you have your oath sanctified by the angel. I will not be here to hold you to your word, heritor. Nothing less than a nemesis oath will satisfy me."

"Refresh me?" you request.

"I would enforce the contract in the Librarian's absence," Lora explains. "As judge, interpreter, and, if need be, executioner. Don't worry overmuch about the formal wording. No one here is a demon."

"Indeed," the Librarian agrees.

"...Alright. What would you accept?" you ask.

The geargrinder looks back at you. "North and west, near elven lands, is the city that first invented golems and, later, my own kind - Trestle. There you will find the workshop of Nelson Clock-Carver, his daughter Cuckoo, and her companion, Jack the Lesser. Persuade them to take on my siblings and children, save for those Natalia has awoken. They are hers now."

"And my other option?" you ask.

"Secure them a home that they may call their very own," the Librarian replies, quietly. "Not as serfs, not as slaves or bondsmen. A domain ruled by clockwork. It is acceptable, I think, for their lord to bow before a king or queen in turn - there are, I should think, advantages to being involved in Greenwall - but I will be satisfied with nothing less."

"How will they learn if they're self-governing?" you press.

The Librarian shrugs, thoughtfully. "How did the Firstborn? Their neighbors, I think, will be educational. Or you will. Give me your vow, and the Wyrm will be removed. Choose, la Croix."

> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
> Swear to assist them in securing their own domain

This is the thing to expedite the story so 'none of the above' is not on the table.

>>1221634
> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
You can do it, little gears grinding away, producing lift via self-propelled motion and the magic of "souls" and "consciousness". Go and be free.

>>1221634
> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
> Make sure to get the Librarian's name.

I hope you don't mind the added twist, but I can't help but think we're not going to talk to the Librarian again.

Speaking from another standpoint, I actually find it pretty interesting that the Librarian is a gear-grinder himself, along with his general situation as the elder. It makes how Dick decided to prey on him twist the knife just that little bit more.

There's going to be logistical issues with the Un-awakened, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Also, is anyone else amused at how Jack's listed as Cuckoo's companion?

>>1221634
> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
However if any of them wishes to stay and aid the rebuilding, I will not stop them

Will vote when I get back home in about 3 hour, but I wish to express my worry that the geargrinders guilty of murder will get to walk away with the rest of them.

>>1221871
this

> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north

...hm. Yeah, the odds of finding some basic guidance/leadership will be higher there than fully starting their own thing for now.
Plus, the surrounding people will be more used to gear grinders from the getgo.

>Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north

>>1221634
>Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
>>1221871
This is me and still a concern.

>>1221634
>> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north

>>1221871
War is war. We're taking their leader and father away, and sending them against the wyrm to be destroyed unless they can kill it. I'd say that's punishment enough for war crimes.

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Aight. So what I planned to happen is I'd update once or twice before work. What has happened is I got woken from bed to a frantic phone call asking me to come in early because we've had three fucking call-ins on the busiest day of the month and they need backup. I may update tonight if I have anything resembling energy or patience left, but don't hold your breath.

However, I would like to ask - do you want the scene with the Wyrm written out? There's not a whole lot of choice available there; it would, essentially, be a cutscene. But we're near the end of this particular party and I don't wanna just skip it if folks would like to see it.

>>1221634
>Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
Dumping them in their own little corner of the world to be lost and confused sounds like a great way to give the next would-be Penis a perfect opportunity to repeat this all.

>>1221871
's War, man. If there's any geargrinders what killed folk while not part of a battle, sure, but the offenses we've seen have been part of a large-scale war without formally designated combatants or battlefields. When you have half a dozen factions that are effectively waging multiple guerilla wars at once, shit happens.

Hm, more delicious words or less...

Give it to us like you'd give us diretide, mate.

>>1222452
I would like to see it, if it's not too much trouble. It's a shame we're going back on our word to do battle against him but He will be fighting some of the most durable life(?)forms that exist currently so I guess that could be worthy?

Man, I don't hate the Wyrm. He has to answer for the enslavement, but it still makes me kinda sad.

>>1221634
>> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
Maybe observation will give them perspective.

>>1222452
If it doesn't cause additional trouble for you then I'll vote to view it. Regardless of whether we make a choice in what happens during.

>>1221703
> Also, is anyone else amused at how Jack's listed as Cuckoo's companion?
Poor Jack, always stuck in someone's shadow. Though at least being Cuckoo's companion is a step up from being mistaken for his philandering ass of a father.

>>1221634
>> Promise to escort the geargrinders to the workshop in the north
The world is large, but I imagine all of it is already spoken for by someone. We don't need a massive sidequest in trying to acquire land for them.

I would like to see the end of the Wyrm. I hope he gets the fight he wants with the Librarian.

It's a shame to see these rich characters just blazed through without giving them a proper amount of time. I know why, but they seem interesting. I hope they get another shot at life in another of your works someday.

>>1221634
> Swear to assist them in securing their own domain

I kinda wish we got the chance to fight the Wyrm ourselves, rather than send the Librarian. It's dangerous and crazy, I know, but I wanted to respect him that way.

Also, I would say that it might, MIGHT, have been possible for the Librarian to attain some measure of atonement for his actions without dying in battle. His 'life', his choice, but he is a really interesting character and I think he'd be proud to see what his family builds.

>>1223659
can we aid the librarian and whatever forces he marshals against the wyrm? I mean, anything to help give him an edge is good

>>1223659
Guys hasn't it been implied that breaking his oath is what kills him?

I'm alive. Will call and write after caffeine and dishes.

>>1222333
The digits speak the truth, guerilla tactics are used because they are useful. The kids had no more choice than their victims. Their..."father" for lack of a better word lead them down the wrong path, with him swearing to end the conflict now, I imagine the ones that were a part of that tragedy would volunteer before any others. To be an example of justice and repaying the damage they cause. If they die without anyone knowing what the will do in the name of the Librarian's decision for what they do. It would be like giving the Lush what he wanted to the letter. And that is unacceptable.
>>1222481
not going with his vote, just agreeing with his idea on the "incident" as well.
>>1221634
>I will ask the children that want to leave and arrange an escort, the ones that choose to make their own home for when their brethren return will have my guidance along with their neighbors, I also swear to smooth over any hostilities that may occur between them and the harpies. However...I may have to throw you under the (metaphorical as is appropriate an expression here, please insert) and blame you. Would that be acceptable? Because the first decision for their race should be their to make when it comes too it. I will do all I can to help in any case, is this sufficient?

>>1225876
>throw under the metaphorical bus
Just in case what I said in parentheses wasn't clear.

>>1225876
>their to make when
theirs*

>>1222816
I bet her ass is, like an hourglass. Sorry, that was the best joke I could think of.

>>1225909
That was painful to read.

Called, writing.

>>1226025
I am sorry, bad puns are all I have sense we don't have much on her. To be honest I would probably still make it anyways.

>>1226025
It was.

But she is totally an Energizer bunny. Jack must be both aroused and terrified.

>>1226025
After that math joke from before, I don't think you can really criticize people for making painful puns.

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>>1221634
The Librarian awaits your answer with appropriately machine-like patience. You know at least one spot newly emptied of people that you wouldn't mind being populated again, but...

But that's not what would be best for these Thirdborn, would it? They need a father. Someone to teach and guide them and help them make their own place in the world.

"I will take them to Trestle and persuade Nelson Clock-Carver to teach them," you tell the geargrinder. "They need someone who knows this world. They shouldn't just be abandoned to make their own way."

"I expect the journey to be made by yourself or one of your companions within a year and a day of Richard's defeat or victory," the Librarian warns. "Are you certain?"

"As I ever am," you tell him. "I don't half-ass this sort of thing."

"I know that you do not. Angel, do you witness and sanctify this oath?"

"I do," Lora intones, formally. "Now hold to your end."

The Librarian nods and turns his painted face to you. "Richard's work is nearing its completion. The lower levels of the Dungeon shake with the corners he has cut to beat your arrival. You will not make it in time with the obstacles in your way."

You swear, loudly.

"When we leave this place, I will leave instructions with Oak and Cobalt. They will lead the assault against the Wyrm while the remainder of my children evacuate themselves and our prisoners to the Sunless Sea. I expect them to be met."

"They'll be met," you agree quietly.

"You should prepare your defenses and choose your companions carefully," the Librarian advises. "Time will be of the essence. The survivors of Oak and Cobalt's team will escort you through the lower levels of the Dungeon and to Richard. From there, you are on your own."

You nod your understanding.

"Let it be done, then."

> War council
> The Wyrm

>>1227027
>War council

>>1227027
> The Wyrm
Come on now. We already know who we're taking with us.

I really want to see the Wyrm given this last bit of spotlight before his death. He's an interesting character.

>>1227027
>> War council

>>1227027
>> The Wyrm
He's not evil, as such, and seemed interesting; Let's see his end.

>>1227027
>> War council

Called, writing shortly.

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>>1227027
The first thing you do when you wake up (discounting extracting yourself from Amy cuddles and finding the privy) is get on the bell and summon everyone you think is even remotely relevant for this to the Unlucky Bastard. There's some surprise at the choice of meeting location, until you get Brigette on the bell and all form of argument on the matter ceases.

It takes about a day for everyone to assemble, during which time you are treated to the sight of Amelie clearing the room.

"This is mine now," the Mistress of Coin declares, setting a chest of gold and gems on the counter of the Bastard's bar. "Customers have an hour to vacate my inn."

The former owner and his wife are asked to be absent or to stay in their rooms during your meeting. You catch snippets of a low conversation, during which the words 'management capacity' are said in a friendly, easygoing way to the man in question.

Once everyone is together, with the sun setting, you lay the situation out for those who are not yet caught up. James listens with professional interest. Amelie manages to be coolly amused up until you start describing the effects on the Dungeon and the ruins of the Chain-Bearers that you've fought and defeated, and by the time you draw the summary to a close the Princess looks green around the gills.

Cooke leans against the bar with a grim expression.

"Maybe I should have said something in more complete detail earlier," you admit. "But if this comes to pass there's nowhere to run or hide that will protect anyone from this. As grim as it sounds, they might as well burn on the surface instead of choking or starving in cave-ins."

"And you're certain that you can rush a group down to confront this...Master...before that happens?" Amelie presses.

"Yes," you agree, nodding. "All that remains is to decide who's going and who's staying."

"Why not just march as many people as you can throw at it?" James asks, mildly.

"The Mire," you, River, your spouses, Kat, Whisper, Fetch, /Cooke/, Catherine, and Emily say at the same time.

The vampire hunter blinks slowly. "Marshland, from the name."

"It's the angel's hidden first line of defense," Emily agrees. "It appears like a normal level of the Dungeon, whose function is to filter the spillover from the Sunless Sea and provide potable water to the lower levels. And it does that just fine, but the marsh itself is treacherous and infested with predators. Those of the Firstborn that live there are grim survivalists who will think nothing of preying on any who trespass into their home, and the predators and hazards are worse. The paths are unreliable, the waterways and currents treacherous, and it is easy to get lost, get drowned, or get eaten."

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>>1228727
"So just like the Blind Marsh, it's an absolute nightmare to march anyone through," you conclude. "Its roof is low enough that trying to fly them with harpies isn't going to work either, so don't ask. No, we need a small group that can hit them hard and fast. Maybe five, six roughly human-sized-and-shaped people and whatever assorted minions - no offense," you note.

"None taken," Kat answers.

"Can come with them," you conclude. "Brigette is coming, because someone has to be around to counter the Master's abuse of the Divine Tongue. Obviously I'm going, which means Hati & Skoll, Kat, Sir Fetch, and the hands are going, but all of them transport themselves just fine."

"We're going," Amy says, putting a wing around Nathan.

"Wait," Catherine advises. Her red eyes are hard and solemn. "It may be better if you two remain behind to defend the rest of the Dungeon from any spillover from the battle."

"Why would we -" Nathan starts, hotly.

"You can't be leverage if you aren't there," Natalia interrupts. "...That was one of my tricks. Hostages. Traps that would hit your allies instead of you. Using the wounded as bait. Richard is an efficient tactician. He will do the same."

Amy bristles in outrage and looks between you and Natalia, expectantly.

> Nathan & Amy go with you
> They do not

>>1228744
>> They do not
I would say let's bring hatchet, but Richard will manipulate him easily I feel with the promise of literally anything after he becomes god. People will definitely die here and I feel Natalia is right about Amy and nate.

>>1228744
>They do not

>>1228744
I can see Amy not coming because the movement hit would affect her badly, but Nate should come. We could use someone who can be a shield and protect Bri's physical, mental and emotional state
>Only Nathan goes with us

>>1228744
>> They do not

>>1227027
> "Richard's work is nearing its completion. The lower levels of the Dungeon shake with the corners he has cut to beat your arrival. You will not make it in time with the obstacles in your way."

Oooooh fuck.

On the one hand, he's cutting corners. Cutting corners with vast cosmic powers rarely works well for those involved. On the other hand, we've just been told that he's rigged up enough shit to slow us down long enough that we will not reach him in time to stop him. And that the side-effects of him mucking about are not doing pleasant things to the Dungeon's integrity.

>"It's the angel's hidden first line of defense," Emily agrees. "It appears like a normal level of the Dungeon, whose function is to filter the spillover from the Sunless Sea and provide potable water to the lower levels. And it does that just fine, but the marsh itself is treacherous and infested with predators. Those of the Firstborn that live there are grim survivalists who will think nothing of preying on any who trespass into their home, and the predators and hazards are worse. The paths are unreliable, the waterways and currents treacherous, and it is easy to get lost, get drowned, or get eaten."

The mire is about what I expected then.

>> They do not

Mind, this is about a fifty-fifty shot either way. If Richard's half the dick he implies himself to be, he'll be making use of that teleport mist-stuff to whisper shit in all kinds of people's ears and get our husbando/waifu kidnapped.

>>1228744
>They do not

I absolutely hate this choice but making sure none of the bad stuff makes its way up into the levels we've worked so hard to fix is incredibly important too. I hope this won't damage our relationship.

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>Nathan and Amy go with you.

They have seen this through from the beginning, quite literally. We know Richard's tricks, and they have dealt with things just as awful as Bri has. But most importantly, this was the promise - that together we would see this to the end, knowing that horrible death awairts any and all of us. If he takes Nathan or Amy hostage, they know the score - this is bigger than all of us.

And being aware you may be taken hostage means you can take offensive measures with the possibility in mind. Vicious, evil, deadly ones just in case you get the opportunity to invoke them.

It would be criminal not to face the end of the world as a family.

>>1228744
>> They do not

>>1228744
>>1228948
Change vote!
>Nathan & Amy go with you

I don't wanna try to rush this update before work, so I'm not going to. I'll be back at around 8:30 PM EST or so. Thread's open for Q&A while I'm at work though.

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

>>1228744
From a pure story standpoint, it makes no sense for two of the most developed characters to just get dumped in an inn for the climax.
> Nathan & Amy go with you

>>1229135
I like the way you think, a family that kamikazis together, stays together.

>>1228744
> They do not

Home at last. Will call and write after dinner.

And called, writing.

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>>1228744
"She's right," you say, your voice quiet and hard. Amy looks like you hit her; the shock and outrage on her face is worse than you've ever seen it. For a moment you think she's going to hit someone (even money on you or Natalia), but, shaking with rage, she walks out instead, slamming the door behind her.

Nathan stands up and puts a hand on your shoulder on his own way out, his eyes dark.

"Guess I'm out too," River says, pushing her chair back. "I'll go down and organize the defenses."

"I can't stop you," you tell her. "You're la Croix."

"So are they," your sister tells you, before she, too, leaves.

Silence reigns around the table.

"You'd best hope you die down there, because my daughter's going to kill you for that," Diving Shadow points out, from the rafters.

"I know," you admit, and you put your head in your hands. "Can we please, just, get on with it?"

"What, electing volunteers based on who you love least in the room?"

Cooke whistles sharply, and his taster rises from his shadow, snarling a spray of embers into the air. "That's about enough of that," the summoner says coldly. "Girl made a difficult choice based on what she thought was right for the entire world. If you've got nothing helpful to say, go say it outside."

Diving Shadow and the cook stare coolly at one another for a long moment, neither blinking, before the harpy matron settles back down into sullen silence. Cooke's demon nestles back into his shadow, angry embers lighting it like bitter stars.

"Who /would/ volunteer?" you ask, at last. You lift your head to look at everyone else and reach for your coffee more for the comfort of familiarity than anything else. The taste of it helps to ground you.

Catherine, Victoria, Scribbles, Hatchet, Riley, Cooke, Emily, Oak, Flitter, and James all express a willingness to fight for you.

Choose up to four

> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Emily, Chosen of Death
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> The Hatchet Man
> Scribbles, Professional Chronicler
> Oak & Flitter, the Geargrinder and the Pixie
> Riley the General, Soldier
> Victoria Inkwell, Researcher
> James la Croix, Vampire Hunter

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> The Hatchet Man
> Oak & Flitter, the Geargrinder and the Pixie

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> The Hatchet Man
> Victoria Inkwell, Researcher

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> The Hatchet Man
> James la Croix, Vampire Hunter
First four seem solid.

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> The Hatchet Man
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> Emily, Chosen of Death

>>1232206
>> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Riley the General, Soldier
>> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
>> The Hatchet Man

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> The Hatchet Man
> Oak & Flitter, the Geargrinder and the Pixie
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> The Hatchet Man
> James la Croix, Vampire Hunter
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner

I really don't want to bring Emily in case Richard uses Lora against her. On the flip side, Emily might be one of the few people other than Bri and Bridgette that have any sort of pull over Lora in the event that Richard unleashes her against us.

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Oak & Flitter, the Geargrinder and the Pixie
> The Hatchet Man
> Emily, Chosen of Death
Last one I was really not sure of but Emily might be able to keep Lora occupied and Crowd control is valuable.

And my heart hurts so much right now, I don't think the three will ever really recover.

>>1232206
>> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> The Hatchet Man
> Oak & Flitter, the Geargrinder and the Pixie

>>1232648
> I don't think the three will ever really recover.

This is what I'd say

"If I had to pick between saving the world, or saving you? I'd save you, every time. We can't let that have even the slightest chance of happening. Gods do I love you."

etc etc

Gonna call and write tonight when I get home, near 6 PM EST or so.

>>1232855
Is this the final story thread? Ye Gods, it's been a wild ride.

Thanks again for being such a mensch, Lich-senpai.

>>1232206
> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
> Emily, Chosen of Death
> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
> The Hatchet Man

So you probably have not failed to notice that I'm two hours late. I got asked to stay at work and then we proceeded to get hit like we were back-talking Al Capone; I haven't had time to warn you. I just got home and my ass has been beaten into the floor. I may update tonight, after I've had the chance to recover and find food.

>>1234362
Take your time lich, your old bones need their rest.

>>1234362
What do you mean you were hit? That the place you work was robbed?!

>>1234400
If I got robbed I'd say "We got robbed." It wouldn't be the first time, though nothing is ever quite going to top the moment a senior citizen pulled a piece on me because I denied the sale on his thirty-block of Milwuakee's Best.

>>1234417
What fucked up universe do you live in?! Please, tell me, so that we can construct a reality warping machine and steal you away to a place that doesn't suck donkey balls.

>>1234824
MERICA FUCK YOU!

>>1234824
That was Kansas. Given the choice between extended and agonizing death vs. going back to that place, I would pick death.

>>1232206
>> Catherine, Chosen of Red Troth
>> Travis Cooke, Royal Summoner
>> The Hatchet Man
>> James la Croix, Vampire Hunter
Didn't see ya call it, so I'm squeezing my vote in.

Well the vote on the fourth was close but our final winners are:

> Catherine
> Cooke
> Hatchet
> Oak & Flitter

Called. Will write here in a bit; it has to kinda be a long one.

>>1237516
Welp, lets see how this hot mess goes on the husbando and waifu.

>>1239899
It's a long update and I'm gonna have to finish it tomorrow. I am sorry folks.

Why is my writer's block intensifying as I get closer to the end?

>>1240530
Because you are an excellent writer and QM and you want this to go out with a roar and not a whimper.

Take your time, Lich-senpai. We aren't going anywhere.

...wait really? We're not taking Nate and Amy with us to the end? How'd that happen?

>>1241525
Vox basically stated "Some people on the final mission are gonna die" so everybody's voting for the characters they don't mind dying and omitting the ones they want to keep alive.

>>1241525
I voted for it because I'd rather they not be used as leverage.

Aight, update incoming.

I also just realized that I mis-named Yew in the vote options above. Sorry about that; I've had Oak on the brain since he's the guy that led the attack against the Roost and thus is chiefly responsible for the death of Silence.

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>>1232206
It takes a bit of debate and hashing out, but in the end you settle on taking Catherine, the cook, Hatchet, and Yew. Flitter insists on going with the geargrinder, and it's not like she'll slow the team down any, so she gets in too.

"How soon can everyone be ready?" you ask.

"Give me until noon tomorrow," Cooke asks. "I need to make some preparations if we're going into a fight, and they'll be more easily made up here. Nothing that won't be portable."

There is a general agreement amongst your team, and you settle on noon tomorrow. After making your plans, you step outside.

Nathan is waiting for you. Amy is too, at a bit of a longer distance; the half-harpy glares at you from a tree, looking miserable and furious.

"I'm -" you start, only to stop when Nathan holds his hand up.

"Don't," your husband says quietly. "...I probably would have made the same call. I've been trying to think less like a Hero and more like a la Croix lately. We're fighting for high stakes, you know?"

"...I don't want you to stop being a Hero," you admit. Nathan chuckles, a little ruefully, and pulls you into a hug. "I love you the way you are, Nate."

"I appreciate that," he murmurs. "Ames is mad at me now too. I'm not going to make you promise to come back. I know you can't promise that."

"I'm sorry," you murmur.

"I'm going to ask this because I know Amy's too mad to ask it herself. If it's you or one of them, can you pick you? I know what it's like if it's you or the world. But if it's you or Cooke, or you or Flitter, can you pick you, this time?"

> I promise
> Don't

* * * *

You are Cobalt of the Thirdborn, son of the Librarian.

Your father has summoned you and Oak into his presence, and you know the time has come. He intends to die.

The Librarian has tidied away his supplies. Tools are in their cases or hanging from their racks. His projects have been scrubbed and set aside, his blueprints neatly organized and labeled.

Your father's workshop is never this tidy.

"It is done," the Librarian rumbles. "The Thirdborn will have a future in this world. I am sorry that I could not do more for you."

"It is fine, father," you try to tell him, but he shakes his head at you.

"I have failed you more than most, Cobalt," he says, distantly. "...And I must fail you further. Arrange two dozen volunteers. Arm and armor them with our finest equipment and venture into the Mire to destroy the Wyrm. This is the price of peace. You, Cobalt, and Oak, will lead the attack. Either you will live and the debt of vengeance to the Heritor is repaid, or you will die and she can ask no more of you."

"You cannot ask this of Cobalt!" Oak begins, hotly. "He has no soul to carry him to -"

"It is fine," you interrupt. You rest your wooden hand on the Six Demon Bag, there on your belt. "I volunteer."

"Brother -"

"I volunteer," you repeat, coldly. "The others?" you ask of your father.

>>1243311
> I promise
THE EXCITEMENT! After more than a year, we're at the finish line! It's been a wonderful ride.

>>1243311
> I promise

Just this once. Just this fucking once, we're making this promise. Let's hope we don't get called on it.

Also...

>"You cannot ask this of Cobalt!" Oak begins, hotly. "He has no soul to carry him to -"

>"It is fine," you interrupt. You rest your wooden hand on the Six Demon Bag, there on your belt. "I volunteer."

... This is a neat bit, and it really adds some depth to both Oak and Cobalt, as well as the beliefs of the geargrinders.

Cobalt is willing to fight and die, even knowing that there's nothing waiting for him. No heaven, no hell, no sunless lands. Just oblivion. But whether it's for his father, his comrades in arms, the geargrinders as a whole, I don't know yet. Perhaps this is just how he sees his penance.


>>1243361

I KNOW right!?

It's been a long ride, and I jumped on mid-arc with the Atheneum, and man. Shit's been great. We're moving towards Dick now though, and I can understand why Vox's nervous. Dick's the capstone there, the man behind the curtain. Fuck him up, and this could go very, very wrong.

... That said, I wouldn't mind happening across him half-dead in his workshop from a mis-spoken bit of the Divine Language and unable to so much as make a sound to call for help because he cut corners on shit.

>>1243311
>> I promise
I just hope we have a good epilogue to cap this off right.

I'm going to miss this and I wanna hear about little la croix babies

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>>1243311
"They will wait with Natalia's new children until they can be escorted to their new home, or until Richard's victory renders the matter moot," your father intones. He opens his chest plate and draws forth a length of chain, which he cradles in both hands. "...You deserve a better father."

"There is no better father," you answer.

"In time, you will realize that you are wrong. The Wyrm must die, or there is no hope for any of us. Our lot is thrown in with the necromancer now. Do you understand me, Cobalt?"

You nod, and your father takes a step back before clutching the chain firmly.

"Angel," the Librarian says aloud, "I release you from this bond."

The Master's retribution strikes him swiftly, as you knew it would; the Librarian's broken oath afflicts him with rot, rusting away at his metal and making his wood crumble and quake. He sinks to his knees, clinging to the broken scraps of his chain with his head held high.

His painted face flakes away on the breeze of centuries, the rot flaying the wood beneath and exposing steel and bronze.

"You were always more," your father manages, before the rot starts to corrode his insides. "Always more than you were created to be."

Freezing fog billows forth as your father finally crumbles, obscuring his corpse. When it fades, the angel is there, standing over the ash and ruin of what was once your creator. She looks haggard; her robes are frayed and worn, her stance limp. She leans on her half-broken sword, with drooping wings that trail greasy feathers, and watches impassively as the flickering, part-made ghost of your father rises from the smear that was once his body.

"It's time," the angel croaks, her voice hoarse.

"I am not afraid," your father answers, with one hand over the phantasmal plate that protects his heart.

A long, hard silence passes between the two, before the angel sighs, and looks away.

"Just go, Page," she says, using your father's true name. "...He's waiting for you, in the Sunless Lands."

Your father's ghost bows, once, and turns to walk away. The angel regards you with those hurt, heavy eyes.

"You're the one that killed Jack," she murmurs, her eyes on yours. "You have his bag."

"Yes," you answer, frankly.

"You used your brothers as shields," she accuses, her voice cold.

"Father was disappointed in me. I understand that I must atone for this."

"Don't fuck this up, Cobalt," the angel commands. She turns, a fog rising up to meet her, and vanishes into it.

>>1243399
Y'know what would be satisfying?
>Dick finishes chanting the last bit of divine tongue to make his plan happen
>"Haha fools! Soon, you will bow before me! Villain monolog-"
>Suddenly whatever it is he's building warps and wanes because cut corners
>And personifies into something humanoid
>All the while Dick is staring or silently mumbling 'no, nonono, NO"
>Bad things happen to Dick, done by the new personification

But this is just conjecture, we don't know Dick's plan.
Alternatively the entire Dungeon became alive.

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>>1243434
The Mire is a nightmare of chest-high water, shifting currents, and stifling darkness. The weak witchlights that illuminate this level - just bright enough that the plants never quite die, and no brighter - are cold, distant pinpricks that leave the muddy waters frigid and awful. You and your brothers move through the trees whenever you can, as muffled in thick clothes that help to disguise your constant tick-tick-tick sounds.

Oak had tried to insist that you take the flank. "You have more to lose," your brother insisted. "And I killed the Heritor's friend. Let her vengeance fall upon my head."

You...

> Agreed and took the flank
> Overrode Oak and are leading the frontal attack against the Wyrm.

>>1243459
>> Overrode Oak and are leading the frontal attack against the Wyrm.

>>1243459
>Agreed and took the flank

I gotta hit bed. Both votes remain open. I have the day off tomorrow but I've also gotta move a shitload of furniture so I'ma promise nothing.

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

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>1243459
> Overrode Oak and are leading the frontal attack against the Wyrm.

>>1243471
You are a mensch and I love you, Mr. Sexy Bones.

>>1243459
> Overrode Oak and are leading the frontal attack against the Wyrm.

'I am cold, brother. They will need your warmth.'

>>1243525
That's pretty nice.

I've been getting an impression from Cobalt that he has a hard time expressing emotion or empathy. Not evil, or sociopathic, but...cold. Maybe a consequence of his upbringing? Or perhaps a fluke in his creation?

>>1243311
>I promise
>>1243459
>Overrode Oak and are leading the frontal attack against the Wyrm.
>>1243525
I like this sentiment.

>>1243663
>>1243675
Accidental double-post there, fellow anonymous skellington?

>>1243829
I forgot to add the "I promise" in the first one, deleted and reposted.
Now all will know of my shame.

Called, writing new thread.

So much furniture.

NEW THREAD

>>1244845
>>1244845
>>1244845
>>1244845