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The fantasies and thoughts he evoked ripple through your consciousness and it's all you can do to keep from cleaving him in half in rage. Siobhan isn't helping, she wants this fight; her song is a battle hymn and her cackling, giddy laughter in your mind urges you to defeat your enemy. Yashi has a spell on the tip of her tongue, awaiting only your command to Blind him permanently.

“Peace, Leader Akko, in Her Name do I sue for it!” His breath is harsh; the acidic energies you used to break his concentration were potent enough and precisely delivered well enough to have killed Schechei or Kteine, and possibly incapacitated Auena. Even if he was searching your mind for seditious thoughts and desires, he stepped over a few lines, as far as you are concerned, and your cheeks tingle with the blush that the thoughts of Tzanzi evoke. It might be his job but that was beyond uncalled for!

[] Hit him once with Siobhan, call it even; she probably won't kill him. Roll 1d20
[] You're within your rights to kill him for mind-raping you (literally) even if you have to answer to an inquiry. Roll 4d20.
[] Give him one chance to explain. His duty is one thing, though, and he moved beyond that.
[] Threatening him isn't beneath you; he might be an inquisitor, be he's no knight! Roll 1d20.
[] Write in?

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/XsQuestmistress

Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/edit/5H8tWFRe

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1396870/

>Akko, like all her kind, has a measure of psychic ability. She will simply use most of these powers without prompting, instinctively, when appropriate. Her spells are another matter.
>Current Cadre:
Yzia: Adult Solar Dragon, lover and companion. She may carry Akko and four others.
Falna: Mid-ranked Warrior (Third in Command); Class:Slayer, bound by Oath.
>Special Silver Sword: Malnae
Yashi: High-ranked Illusionist (Your Spellcaster); Class:Illusionist Wizard, Bound by Oath only.
Tzanzi: High-ranked Murderer (First in Command, Your Mate); Class:Pureblade Slayer, Bound by Oath and Friendship.
>Special Silver Sword Siobhan
Aeuna: Mid-ranked Gish (Yzia's new quarry); Class:Psychic Warrior, bound by Oath.
Schechei: Mid-ranked Gish (mated to Falna); Class:Magus, bound by Oath, and due to receive her Special Silver Sword soon.
Kteine: Mid-ranked Gish (once an ifrit, now your student); Class: Psychic Warrior, bound by Oath.
>Akko's Current Supreme Leader
Dunzamn, a Lord Knight with a True Silver Sword, leader of the Raid upon the Elven and Human Kingdoms of Iridaiya and Boggsteading, respectively.

Character Sheet repair is always In Progress: https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1009380

Spell Book: http://pastebin.com/WjH8UfyY

>>1419104
About how fast do inquiries work? My assumption is really fast which would interfere with our ability to participate in the raid, which I'm pretty sure is when we think we'll have our best chance to minimize pursuit if we play all our cards right, but if it'd actually take a while to process, then I'm not so sure.

As it stands though, I'm torn between trying to be professional and allowing him a chance to explain himself or threatening him to both vent our anger and impede his ability to bullshit us.

Rolled 20, 15, 8, 13 = 56 (4d20)

>>1419104
>[] You're within your rights to kill him for mind-raping you (literally) even if you have to answer to an inquiry. Roll 4d20.
Well, he does know too much.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>1419104
>[X] Threatening him isn't beneath you; he might be an inquisitor, be he's no knight! Roll 1d20.
Eh, I'm up for giving it a shot, I'm pretty sure Akko is good enough at people to make the Inquisitor properly appreciate how much trouble he's in without making him think he needs to attack first to defend himself?

>>1419149
As a general rule, it depends on how badly the knights want to interfere with your life. In Akko's case? If they could get her to the inquiry, it might take quite a long time. If they can't get here there, they'll wait until the raid is over and take her into custody.

Of course, if they think she might abscond? They may actually send some knights to the Raider's lair to collect her.

>>1419196
Technically I don't think Akko knows how much he knows. Like how much of that power fantasy was auto-generated by Akko, and how closely was he reading the script of that encounter while he was doing a more detailed search of our memories looking for treason, and what did he manage to find beyond Akko's lust for knowledge? We don't actually know the answers to these, I don't think.
Nor do we know whether or not we can withstand a full inquisition with prep time, due to our being in very dangerous position.

>>1419212
Like while I don't think murder is off the table, I also don't really think it should be our first resort regardless of your rolls.

>>1419212
>On the other hand, not only did he violate your mind and explore some of the most ridiculous of power fantasies in your head, he might have stumbled onto secrets you really don't want him knowing.

I mean, sure. We don't know if he fully knows our secret, but it is a risk. And he did mind-rape us which is pretty bad on it's own.

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Rolled 2 (1d2)

Tie breaking roll, unless I receive another post before my writing is finished.

>>1419223
Well yeah, if he knows that an entity that called itself Gyr came unto us and awakened power within us, I can't really think of that being safe for him to know. I'm just a bit reluctant that, even if the mind-rape thing is corroborated and trusted, enough eyes are on Akko from her various displays of combat (even with her mask) that we might already (correctly) identified as a flight risk, which I am not really confident in our ability to survive without being heavily scathed.

Rolled 12 + 24 (1d20 + 24)

Confirming potential crit - just in case.

>>1419235
In the case that I won (which intuitively seems to be the case, but I won't be upset if I'm not), would circling the inquisitor so we're between hhim and the exit but at the same time lowering Siobhan be considered too hostile a move for further negotiation?

>>1419104
>[] Give him one chance to explain. His duty is one thing, though, and he moved beyond that.
>[] Threatening him isn't beneath you; he might be an inquisitor, be he's no knight! Roll 1d20.

I'm on the fence here. Both killing him and not killing him puts us in considerable danger, but we should at least give him one chance to explain himself.

>>1419289
>>1419104
That's about where I am, though it's less for his sake, and more about risk assessment, or at least that's what I'm trying to do. I don't think he's going to try to bolt or teleport out the second he has the chance, but then again I didn't think most of the previous thread was an elaborate illusion, so I'm not sure what I know.

>>1419272
No, that's just good tactics.

>>1419375
Alright then can we please do that?

>>1419329
I feel like -ideally- he needs to believe that we aren't concerned about a potential inquiry, because they wouldn't find anything. However, I'm not sure how we can deceive him into thinking this and still not kill him? Imply that we have barely enough self control to assess that as satisfying as it would be to kill him, it would lead to a further amount of hassle in the future? Be begrudgingly professional enough to acknowledge his right to act in HER interest, even if we really, really, really don't like his methods?

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[X] Threatening him isn't beneath you; he might be an inquisitor, be he's no knight! Roll 1d20.

Intimidate: 35

You close the distance between you and angle Siobhan under his arm and point her towards his chest. She's absolutely useless for parrying in this situation, but your bracers will serve adequately. He lifts his head slightly and slowly unwraps his fingers from the hilt of his own blade. It isn't a Silver Sword – it would have certainly made itself known to you and to Siobhan when you drew against him.

“You are a word away from being rendered nearly helpless; you have angered me greatly to say the very least.” You let Siobhan's tip slip through the armor at his sternum, above where you seared armor (and most likely flesh) with the acidic energies you drew from your arcane force. When you feel flesh, you stop, not piercing his skin just yet. “I do not know what techniques you were using, but I sincerely doubt that what was within my mind was entirely my own thoughts....you have a great deal to explain and no time to do so.”

He looks up at you, his expression guarded....but his hand moves further from his weapon. “I understand, Gish Akko.” He looks at Siobhan, well aware his armor is no defense against the weapon as she is now. You smile wickedly and move the tip of the seething weapon to the hollow of his throat.

You slowly walk around him, drawing Siobhan along his neck, and to his credit he remains where he is as you block his way to the exit. Siobhan creates another wall of crystallized ectoplasm to prevent easy egress and you finish your circle with the tip of her blade once again resting at the hollow of his throat. You lower her, but that means little enough. He relaxes a little, and goes to one knee before you, one hand on his thigh, the other in a more proper salute. “Tcharik, Her Majesty's Servant and Guardian of her Desire.” You slide your thumb along Siobhan's quillion, and she pouts faintly, wanting to slaughter him.

Falna rises, drawing Malnae, who thrums menacingly. Schechei and Kteine, not as used to being mentally browbeaten, are both a bit dazed still. Auena frowns, and starts bolstering her defenses, building them quickly and carefully. Yashi keeps the spell in abeyance; a single movement or word from you and she will unleash Blindness upon him. Rana is looking a little confused, but Yzia....

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You blink and slowly take a step back as the dragon approaches, raising Siobhan and keeping your guard up – but not against the inquisitor. The githyanki warrior looks at you, confused, and then turns suddenly, his hand closing about his blade.

Yzia's hair is floating, radiating in golden lines, a writhing halo as shimmering waves of heat radiate from her body. The shining flesh of her aasimar-like form ripples, muscles twisting and bulging as she maintains her spell in the face of outrage, but that doesn't stop her from backhanding the male hard enough to send him crashing through shelving and books into the stone surface of your cell.

HOW DARE YOU, YOU INSIGNIFICANT VERMIN. her telepathic roar is almost incomprehensible, and when she opens her mouth you turn and wrap Yashi in your arms, trusting in Siobhan and your mage-craft jewels to protect you as you glance over your shoulder. I AM NOT SOME SLAVE THAT YOU CASUALLY SUBSUME THE MIND OF IN PETTY MAGICS AND PSYCHIC MOLESTATION.

He manages to turn and pull his blade, a heavy blade of artistically crafted void glass, and old it up to shield his body as a wand-thin beam of searing radiance erupts from Yzia's mouth, striking the blade and erupting around him as the power within the blade deflects the blistering heat. Yashi's eyes are wide and frightened, and she's not the only one; aside from yourself and Falna the dragon's terrifying presence has overwhelmed everyone. The beams continues even as she berates him, and he bares his spurs in the effort to maintain his defenses against the onslaught.

SUCH CASUAL VIOLATION OF OATH AND TREATIES CAN ONLY END IN DEATH! She floats towards him, her muscles no longer rippling, but her blazing eyes illuminate the astral fundament around her, the waves of heat threatening to ignite anything near her. She's already destroyed half a dozen irreplaceable tomes and books.

The inquisitor is scorched and his armor even melted in places, but he lives, his eyes narrowing as he starts to rise. He's shaken, and badly injured, but he is nowhere near helpless or incapacitated. He's a psychic, obviously, and that makes him a threat even to Yzia. Falna is gripping her blade reflexively, and Schechei is looking up at her, clearly receiving instruction. You don't like the way she's looking at Yzia at all.

[] Try and calm your Companion before she does what you were only thinking of doing.
[] Just watch – you suspect this will be very short.
[] Command Falna to stand down if she doesn't want her heart on a platter.
[] Silently prepare to take Falna out if she betrays you.
[] Write in?

>>1419437
>[] Just watch – you suspect this will be very short.
>[] Command Falna to stand down if she doesn't want her heart on a platter.

That was not her breath weapon, but a Searing Light Spell. Her breath weapon likely would have blasted a hole through the side of the Column.

>>1419437
Huh. Now THIS is interesting. Like... I'm kind of sure that for Githyanki and Solar Dragon alliance to work, there can't be any languae that indicates Solar Dragons are properties of their Rider, or even subordinate to them instead of equal, due to Draconic Pride. Not just that, but Yzia is not susceptible to Her Majesty's culling standards which means that her Mythic Status is allowed to be known and makes her a pretty important dragon indeed, and Tcharik just forcing her into our fantasy out of convenience is a terrible insult, so I'm unsure of how culpable we are in this, or whether shaming a dragon counts as suicide.

>>1419437
>[] Just watch – you suspect this will be very short.
>[] Command Falna to stand down if she doesn't want her heart on a platter.

>>1419437
>[X] Command Falna to stand down if she doesn't want her heart on a platter.
>[X] Try and calm your Companion before she does what you were only thinking of doing.
Looking past self-preservation (since I feel like it is within Yzia's rights to be so enraged) part of me is also wary of her getting into more trouble (or worse, actually wounded by Tcharik) when this could help us out and started in an attempt to get to us (even if the fact that she was treated as simply incidental is probably part of what has filled her with so much anger).

>>1419437
>[] Just watch – you suspect this will be very short.
>[] Command Falna to stand down if she doesn't want her heart on a platter.

>>1419487
Like I don't know, even if I'm like... 70% sure she can beat this guy without us needing to intervene in her defense, but I'd kind of feel a bit guilty if she even got so much as a scratch putting this guy down.

Then again, it could be arrogant and selfish to think this is about us at all, and not her own pride that was wounded, and thus the thing most respectful of our bond is to stay out of her way, even though it's a risk for us, just like she's risking stuff for associating with us?

...Kind of feel like this we should ask Yzia to give this guy like... a minimum of one sentence to excuse himself though, maybe he has something worth offering, but then again, I'm not a dragon or someone really familiar with dragons.

>>1419437
This is mostly incidental, but does Rana being a slave mean that is at least loaned to us mean that it's as okay to do that to her as it is any other slave, or does it cause disrespect to the powerful Efreeti Lord that is her true owner (also her dad maybe)?

>>1419437
>[] Just watch – you suspect this will be very short.

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>>1419548
Akko hasn't any idea - but as far as she is concerned, Rana is just a slave, and therefore property with no recourse unless she decides not to be property anymore.

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[X] Command Falna to stand down if she doesn't want her heart on a platter.
[X] Just watch – you suspect this will be very short.

If you do not want me to cut your heart out and offer it to Yzia as a sweetmeat, you and your acolyte will stand down, Falna. You don't limit your command to her either; Schechei looks at you defiantly, but Falna lowers her Silver Sword, and inclines her head slightly; the young gish follows suit, unhappily. Auena glances at Falna and then at you, her expression carefully neutral. Kteine looks upset, and understandably; you've just indicated that one of your cadre might not have your best interests at heart, and that person is someone she cares about deeply.

You did try to warn her about love.

As you release Yashi from your protective embrace, she continues huddles behind you, well aware that as unprepared as she is she's supremely vulnerable to Yzia's wrath compared to the warriors present. You remain crouched as well; Yzia's temper has truly been exceeded, and you can't really blame her for it. Interrupting her might cause her to turn that temper on you, and while you may be her companion and strong enough to fight her, the destruction a fight between you and she would unleash could take out a section of the column at this point. While the knowledge is flattering, it's not exactly the best way to keep a low profile.

Tcharik holds his blade crosswise, palm against the flat and stands tall. It's clear he's buying time; you can see the burned flesh in the few gaps in his chain mail and the padding beneath healing, but not enough to completely make him whole. “I sue for Peace in Her Majesty's Name, Great Yzidriava, Keeper of the Vault of H'gatha and Despoiler of the Hive of Ssluethar!” Yzia's mental growl is threatening, but her expression becomes slightly less menacing. “It was not my intent or desire to insult you so, nor my will to belittle you and your companion!”

There is a soft tapping at the barrier Siobhan placed in the doorway. Siobhan joyously shouts a greeting that will go entirely unheard by Tzanzi, and you silently lament her timing.

Give me one reason I should not incinerate you and that piece of glass you call a sword where you stand, whelp. You can't help but grin slightly, as Tcharik colors at the insult, which apparently is a sore spot for him.

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“All the Leaders for Dunzamn's Raid are being so tested, at Her Majesty's command. I have found what she desires to know, and have come to a conclusion that will please you above all, Great Yzidriava.” That piques her interest and causes a little confusion among your cadre. Yashi silently opens the barrier for Tzanzi, a momentary fading of a section of the crystal, something which you make note of for later use.

“Do tell,” Yzia asks aloud with a dubious tone in her voice, as Tzanzi, in soft black leather breeches and a half-tunic with flowing sleeves that shimmers with dark iridescence walks in – notably armed, unlike the illusion Tcharik had created. The portal Yashi opened closes behind her, and you stand up, Siobhan still coruscating with wild energy.

He turns and kneels to you, not daring to move from his position (which also leaves him facing all of your cadre, so he's not feeling safe just yet). “Leader Gish Akko....forsake this raid. Take up a True Silver Sword. Become a Supreme Leader. Form a stronghold of your own, in Her Majesty Vlaakith's Name and to further the war against the Enemy.” He lowers, but does not sheathe his sword, which is not surprising....

All of Falna's blood has left her face, while Schechei and Kteine just look confused. Auena is shocked, while Tzanzi smiles, and glances at you knowingly. Your slaves are all huddled as far away from Yzia as they can get and probably haven't even noticed what's happening. Yzia looked entirely shocked, which is a precious expression that you hope to carry with you for at least decades, while Rana is looking at you speculatively. Jiyua is just flabbergasted, and looking terribly out of her element. Yashi's desires flood your mind – she wants this, she wants this badly, she will do ANYTHING to make this happen for you, so long as she is at your side to see it happen!

[] If this is a joke, it is in poor taste, Tcharik.
[] I've taken oaths and make promises, and must refuse.
[] You will have to take several burdens and oaths in my place if I accept this – will you?
[] ….Her Will Be Done. Now get out. I have work to do.
[] Write in?

>>1419609
...Well -shit-. On the one hand this could keep us safe for at least a good deal longer, on the other hand, Siobhan has been modified with Mythic Power, allowing anyone else to lay hands on her, even to upgrade her to a True Silver Sword... won't that out us to the Silver Smiths?

>>1419609
>>1419616
As far as I understand gaining a True Silver Sword is completely out of the question as it would tip our hand and make us a prime target for being eaten by Her Majesty. Unless there is some way for us to upgrade our Lady Siobhan without causing suspicion.

>>1419609
>[] I've taken oaths and make promises, and must refuse.
Wasn't this the Real Bad Idea like anon mentioned? Sorry Yashi.

>>1419609
>[] If this is a joke, it is in poor taste, Tcharik.
>[] I've taken oaths and make promises, and must refuse.

>>1419624
It's possible that we could gain a fresh True Silver Sword and have Siobhan be given to someone else, however I don't think there's anyone eligible that I'd trust enough and I really don't want to regardless.

...On the other hand, considering Akko's intelligence, if it was as bad an idea as we thought, wouldn't every option be variants on denial? Like if saying yes does auto-screw us, does it make sense for success on us remembering in-between posts in like the first thread?

>>1419609
>[] Write in?
Ask him to give us a brief moment to collect ourselves, consult with Yashi and Siobhan as privately as possible to see if the three of us can figure out a way this could work?

>>1419642
Tzanzi could probably get her but I'd never even consider giving up Siobhan

>>1419609
Raiding time! And I'm only a bit late!
>[x] If this is a joke, it is in poor taste, Tcharik.
>[x] I've taken oaths and make promises, and must refuse.
This kinda feels like a trap with no good options and I kinda see both Tcharik and Yashi (at least) taking this badly which is unfortunate. Might not be able to let him leave. And if he speaks the truth, killing him could be annoying too.

>>1419642
Like I don't know, in the past it doesn't really seem like we've dealt with votes where there's only one right answer, so part of me suspects we're missing something important but I just don't know what. (Not to say that this kind of challenge is unfair at all, since we were able to remember it easily, but still I'm apprehensive)
>>1419649
I think that while Tzanzi is eligible for a True Silver Sword due to having enough renown and strength to be a Supreme Commander, her class disqualifies her from getting a regular Silver Sword?

>>1419657
See, this is what's really tripping me up here, while there are easier and harders paths, this vote in particular seems like a choice between Probably Bad and Game Over which could just be demonstrative of how shitty a situation we're in, or it's possible that we're seeing a problem that in reality doesn't exist. Like maybe the Silver Smiths are loyal to Gyr's memory to the point where it'll briefly supersede their loyalty to Her? Or maybe that rune we got on our cheek extends to Siobhan as well, and thus cloaking her anomalous properties?

>>1419669
Yeah, it's possible (well, the latter at least). But I don't think we can really take the risk when we've been explicitly been warned against the alternative. Besides, going straight to Leader Quest before getting the raiding done sounds boring!

>>1419681
Have we though, or is that an assumption on our part, that's primarily based on OOC knowledge?

I kind of agree that that would be a bit boring, and the quest name is literally called The Raiders, but I'm just paranoid that we're tricking ourselves out of a good thing, and I'm the first one who remembered so I feel like it would fall on me

There are no "trap" options in general - all options are as informed as Akko can make them, and if a situation is insurmountable by her standards, she will note that. The options presented can range from easy to difficult, and sometimes there are no easy choices, but there are no 'impossible' or 'doomed' options.

>>1419649
>>1419661
Tzanzi cannot use a Silver Sword because she lacks the ability to communicate with one. Her inability to use or receive telepathy or empathic transmissions means that she cannot become a Leader or use Silver Swords to their full potential.

>>1419609

>>1419695
In that case I'm willing to jump over to
>[] You will have to take several burdens and oaths in my place if I accept this – will you?

>>1419695
That's what I thought, but I legitimately don't understand how that is the case and it's kind of making me upset and guilty that I brought it up in the first place.

Even if it would break suspense, could you please at least give us the gist of how Akko thinks becoming Supreme Leader is a valid option?

>>1419695
Eh, I'm fine refusing still then. Just gotta hope it doesn't look too much like lack of ambition.

>>1419609
>[] You will have to take several burdens and oaths in my place if I accept this – will you?
I don't know, I'm kind of feeling this but I don't want to force a tie, but what I really want is more time to kind of cool down both in and out of character.

>>1419727
While I don't disagree, it's funny to say that 15 threads into The Raiders when no raiding has yet occurred.

I suppose 'Small-scale Gith Politicking And Relationship Simulator With Smut' wouldn't be a very catchy title though.

>>1419727
On the other hand, it's possible that becoming Supreme Leader will mean that we'll constantly have an Inquisitor near us, and have to watch our back due to a higher profile maybe? But then XS just said that there are no doomed options, and I feel like that would make being Supreme Leader at least doomed-adjacent? I don't know, I really don't want to have this reduced to a second coin toss, even if it worked out in the opening vote, but I really do feel like if this does work out, it'll be good for us and also fun? So I don't know, I stand behind that as a vote but I'm not sure about forcing a tiebreaker.

>>1419739
Technically if we become Supreme Leader and everything is smoothed over, can't we schedule our own raids?

>>1419754
>>1419727
Like the general idea is that if we do go on the Raid we kind of have to go on the run during the raid, because otherwise Yzia will be reassigned to someone more worthy due to her Mythic Status, on the other hand if we become a Supreme Leader and are able to keep Siobhan by our side, that means Yzia can stay with us as well, and we can at least turn back the clock a bit before we trigger the hunted/rebellious portion of the story? This is really REALLY hard.

>>1419788
On the other hand, am I just oversimplifying in the other direction now? Like just because it's not certain Siobhan would be discovered and we'd be doomed doesn't mean it absolutely won't happen, and maybe it'd be possible to have enough renown to keep Yzia with us?

I don't know, who does Tcharrik think he is putting us on the spot like this when he severely shamed us just a couple small time instances ago?

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[XX] I've taken oaths and make promises, and must refuse.
[X] If this is a joke, it is in poor taste, Tcharik.
[X] Write in? This must be considered most carefully.

You stand up and narrow your eyes at the psychic. “Your sense of humor leaves much to be desired, Tcharik. Even without considering the Oaths and Vows I have made, not the least of which is to Dunzamn himself and therefore giving him the power of life and death over me, the idea of taking on the mantle of Supreme Leader smacks of suicide by politics.” Gesturing mildly towards Falna with Siobhan prompts Schechei, the little lovelorn fool, to step in front of the hateful bitch. “My own cadre might want to see my blood spilled over this, for Dead Gods' sakes.”

He lifts his head and looks seriously at you. “I do not jest, Gish Akko. Her Majesty would sooner forsake a Stronghold to you than lose your capability to harm the enemy.” You can tell his silent dialogue is for you alone. I will aid you in your needs as best as I may be able to do so, if it means retaining your presence to be used against the enemy, Gish Akko, regardless of your profane powers. So he knows you have some extraordinary power, but suspects it more of being a bargain with some other-planar power than anything personal to you.

Tzanzi hisses laughter. “It is true, Akko; Tcharik is not known for having much of a sense of humor, especially in comparison to your strange one.” She slides through the fundament towards you, caressing Yzia's bare shoulders as the dragon's human-likeness calms slowly. Her fingertips hiss in the residual heat of your companion's wrath and she licks them as they smoke, the pain meaningless to the murderer.

“Bide a moment then, though I still am of the opinion that this is a ridiculous joke.” Or an elaborate trap, you reply to him in silence, your unvoiced comment rife with the fact that you will not hesitate to cut him down if you come to the conclusion that it is one.

“As you see fit, Leader Akko,” he replies, sheathing his blade and rising slowly. He starts to concentrate and Yzia glares at him. He immediately stops whatever he was thinking of doing, realizing that your threat is also her threat.

I would say that his timing is suspicious, you send to Yzia and Siobhan, and then including Yashi into the discussion. As desperate as she was to see this happen, you think she might have further insight – she's been in this Stronghold for at least millennia and might have insight that can help you. I would say that, but I think he is telling the truth – that this has been done for all those on Dunzamn's raid. It would make sense for exactly the reason he describes. It is an opportunity to abscond with a cadre of warriors and supplies and it is an unusually large and long term raid with a peculiar reasoning behind it.

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You mean that Dunzamn's reasoning of taking slaves from two physical strongholds at once, and ransoming them back is unusual?

It is not unique for him to do such things, Yashi informs you both, her rich and detailed thoughts providing memories of him using such raids to train groups of leaders in unusual tactics and strategy, collecting off treasures and supplies, and making raids against groups of nomadic raiders on\f various sorts, peoples who would not usually be targeted. Tcharik is a being of his word, even if given under duress. He is trusted even by the Lord Knights. He will defy them in the name of serving HER.

You recoil a little at the sheer intensity of the images and feelings that flood through Yashi's contact when she indicates Her Majesty to you. The awe, fear, and reverence she possesses for Her Majesty is eclipsed only by the awareness that soon she will be one of those summoned to Her Majesty's presence, an event she is certain will lead to her death. Even if he is speaking the truth and is willing to help, I am not even remotely prepared for such a responsibility, much less willing to risk my life and Siobhan's existence in dealing with the Smiths.

Siobhan's mental scoff in your minds is almost funny, but her intense and fervent belief that you could surpass their skills and make of her a True Silver Sword by yourself is so certain that you almost feel convinced by it.

Perhaps we can do both? Yzia unfolds a mental plan for the three of you, a bold plan that merits serious consideration.

Her idea is to use the raid as a means to gather supplies with which to outfit a Stronghold, and to feel out other cadres who might wish to join your Stronghold. It doesn't have to be many – thirty or forty githyanki, and triple that number in slaves with the potential to be trained into guilds and castes. Possessing a True Silver Sword would allow you to command a number of lower caste githyanki into moving into your stronghold as well, regardless of the Supreme Leader of this one's wishes, especially if you have Her Majesty's blessing. We would also be allowed to take at least two Master Smiths as well, to maintain and make more silver swords as needed, she suggests.

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Yashi concurs, and also indicates that she knows of at least four other spellcasters and two more illusionists who would be willing to accept duty under your Supreme Leadership; like herself they are reaching the edges of power that would make them prime targets for Her Majesty's attention. Thus you would fulfill all your oaths and vows to us and Dunzamn.

I would be more comfortable with all of this if I had not just managed to destroy the last bit of superiority that Falna might have held over me. As it stands I am going to need to be concerned with her rebelling against me, even with the oaths and vows we've made. Siobhan giggles and Yashi just considers that some light entertainment compared to the evening she's had with you. Yzia is more understanding, and reassures you that she will have your back, as she always has. I will still have to deal with the Master Smiths, if only to return the other Silver Sword.

Not if you accept Supreme Leadership. You can then bestow it upon Schechei under your own recognizance, Yashi reminds you.

[] Follow Yzia's Plan.
[] Accept the Supreme Leadership if Tcharik will serve Dunzamn in your place.
[] Refuse the offer and the plan; you will come up with something on your own.
[] You'll consider it, and nothing more at this time.
[] Write in?

>>1419840
Hmmmm, well it's a tough decision for sure. But Yzia's plan doesn't sound bad to me. So for now I'll vote that way.
>[x] Follow Yzia's Plan.

>>1419840
>[] Follow Yzia's Plan.

>>1419852
My main reservation is, if we can't trust Falna 100%, by extension we can't trust Schechei either really. Trusting her as our Master Smith seems a little questionable. Well, that and also whether Tcharik will accept us taking that much time to consider it.

Man, I'm so late

Hi XS, how are you?

>>1419609

>Explain yourself. Why should I abandon this Raid? And why a Stronghold

>You have already tried to honey your way in my mind once. Do NOT repeat it. Our you will find Yzia's sweetness to be hard to match

>What about establishing a Lair, instead?


Remember, guys, Akko making a L'air was the alternative to needing a True Silver Sword we've thought of

>>1419840
>[] Follow Yzia's Plan.

>>1419837
>Siobhan's mental scoff in your minds is almost funny, but her intense and fervent belief that you could surpass their skills and make of her a True Silver Sword by yourself is so certain that you almost feel convinced by it.
I mean... we probably can eventually, but wouldn't we get in enormous amounts of trouble if we did so? Like I'm pretty sure we can't just lie and say we obviously went to the Silver Smiths because otherwise there's no way we would have a True Silver Sword, and expect no one to ever follow up on it.

Like I'm not sure of Yashi's logic here, even if we can just give the Silver Sword of a guy we killed to a person who is mated to someone who hates us (which... doesn't SOUND great?) how would we avoid seeing them again to find another Silver Sword?

It's not like we can just say we don't want a True Silver Sword because in addition to a gift, it's also meant as a means of HER keeping an eye on her subjects, I'm pretty sure.

>>1419862
you wouldn't be trusting her as a Master Smith, you would be entrusting her with the Silver Sword you took from the githyanki you killed earlier. She's already been slated to receive one as a capable gish; being a Supreme Leader means you would get to bestow one on her yourself instead of waiting on others to do so.

>>1419878
Ah, I see. Well that shouldn't really matter much at least.

>>1419840

>What about establishing a Lair in the Material Plane, rather than a Stronghold in the Astral?


>Check to make sure this is not another mental manipulation attempt

>>1419840
>>1419863
I don't mind supporting more questions. Backing.

>>1419882

I think it'd be better for Akko's realm to be mostly in the Material Plane.

>>1419882
That might not work, because the reason we're eligible for this promotion in the first place is that Tcharik thinks we're useful enough in the eternal war agains the Illithids that going on a raid that seems even a little dodgy is too great a risk to Githyanki-kind as a whole?

>>1419875
>how would we avoid seeing them again to find another Silver Sword?
Mistyped, I'm saying that we'd still need to either be issued a new sword and find something to do with Siobhon, or upgrade her and hope we can successfully deceive the Silver Smiths into thinking whatever we did to Siobhon isn't execution-worthhy.

>>1419840
>[X] You'll consider it, and nothing more at this time.
I'd really feel more comfortable if we at least had a plan for Siobhon, which... Akko doesn't seem to currently possess?
>>1419882
Maybe ask the first part, like is there a diplomatic way of saying that we desire more leadership experience before being in charge of a stronghold while still acknowleging our merits?

>>1419888

Well, technically I've had linked that to the update before this one, because my phone didn't update.

But it's true the questions are still somewhat relevant.

>>1419882

A big reason why I say we have to check is because a) Yashi should NOT be in danger of getting eaten by the Queen. She's talented, but not powerful enough. It's something we've talked a lot about, those last few sessions. b), it makes no sense she'd have that kind of respect for the Queen, given how ready she was to betray her for a weapon of her own.


Also, c) it's weird that this would be enough to calm Yzia

>>1419914
I'm pretty sure Gish are allowed a higher level threshold than pure casters?

>>1419878
>>1419875
>>1419862
By the same token, you'll know when Kteine is a true githyanki because she is also a gish and should be recipient of a silver sword as well (even though she is a psychic gish and not a magical one). All gish of a certain level receive a Silver Sword.

>>1419892

The war against Illithids happens on the Material Plane. For the most part.

It's weird that he went "b-but ur 2 valuablz!" On us, though

>>1419924

It makes no sense, Yashi has stayed at this level of power for centuries

There are definitively more than a few odd and off things, about this session's posts.

>>1419924
>>1419914
Full casters have a very low level limit - almsot zero make it to 17th level, a 15th level is a rarity. Yashi is at least 10th, but she is rightfully paranoid about it, regardless of her perceived power level.

>>1419914
Calm her, probably not, but distract her? Definitely.

>>1419925
...So what, complete Kteine's training as fast as possible, entrust her with Siobhan, and then get a brand new True Silver Sword?

I'm not really sure if that's really an option. Like a: we specifically chose Siobhan because we had a compatible personality, so even if Kteine can be entrusted with Siobhan and Siobhan would still be by our side as long as Kteine is, it still doesn't feel right and b: Siobhan is loyal to us above Her Majesty, I'm not really sure a True Silver Sword would feel the same way without reprogramming, and I'm not sure if we can yet do that without violating the warranty.

>>1419940
I don't... REALLY think XS will do two threads in a row with the mind control premise, also I don't think we ever dismissed Intellect Fortress so it doesn't really seem probable that Tcharik is capable of messing with our heads without us noticing again.

>>1419840
>[] Follow Yzia's Plan.

Rolled 16 + 16 (1d20 + 16)

All the bad thoughts out.

>>1419948
I'm not really sure what's possible at this point, like in the future if we have follow the path Gyr laid before us, can Siobhan's essence transfer from her current vessel and overwhelm the True Silver Sword we're issued, and then have a replacement consciosness form for Kteine to wield (or a full replacement if we have to physically merge Siobhan with our True Silver Sword) all without bringing Her Majesty's wrath on our heads?

>>1419961
Pretty good!

>>1419961
...Pretty good roll, so does that mean we are being suckered again and this guy is just super-good at lying? Or can we roll a generalized resistance even if nothing is actually affecting us?

Should be noted the guy might just use magic to boost how convincing he is.

>>1419964

Fuck Gyr and her path.

Question, though, why is Falna acting outraged?

She knows she still has her near unrepayable debt to us to repay, right?

>>1419991
Yeah, but that one male knight who had a crush on us also owed us a pretty big debt and that didn't stop him from hiring someone to kill us and otherwise getting in our way.

>>1419991
Part of what caused Falna to kick Akko to the curb was Akko's apparently lack of ambition, and not Akko is being asked to take on the ultimate honor of a True Silver Sword and is being told to take the ultimate leadership position.

She already abased herself before Akko, but this is an intolerable affront to her ego.

>>1419982
>Should be noted the guy might just use magic to boost how convincing he is.
Possibly true, but if it is, that doesn't outright mean he's lying, even if he's telling the truth he could conceivably want to make sure Yzia isn't still angry enough to kill him?

>>1420062

Not sure I follow. How is it an affront to her ego? Like "I've misjudged her, how dare she not conform to what I thought of her!" kind of deal?"

>>1420097
I think it's more "She got leadership and now Supreme Leadership without even trying to do that or even wanting it, while I don't have those things despite working really hard to get them."

>>1420103

Flana never worked hard to have those things, or at least she knowingly destroyed her chances to have them with her little love stunt.

>>1420108
Pretty sure she did work hard for those, which is why she dumped us, and the reason she asked us for help is to preserve her political ambitions.

The problem is that Schechei is in it with Falna to the end, and if Kteine becomes their mate, she'll jon them against us as well.

Well, I say "problem" but Akko might find it entertaining, I know Yashi does.

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[X] Write in? Assuming this is not another trick, you are not to be trusted, and there are alternatives to discuss.

Ignoring Yashi's clear and obvious (and possibly understandable) bias in having a Supreme Leader who would hesitate to throw her to Her Majesty upon command, there are some other issues to consider. You gently close your mind off to her and Yzia and erect the most powerful Thought Shield you can manage, burning through your small wellspring of psychic energy. Unlike thee momentary Intellect Fortress or lesser versions, this one will last some time and is not merely passive; if he tries anything, he will not get away with it easily or unharmed.

Yashi's concerns are obvious and understandable. She's maintained her current level of ability for centuries, perhaps even a millennium, because she fears what might happen if she exceeds her power allowance. It's a valid fear and having you as a Supreme Leader, someone she can at least try to influence and who appreciates her, is an opportunity to grow beyond her current level of power. Not to mention her request for something like a Silver Sword.

Siobhan, of course, can't be excluded by the Thought Shied; she is part of you in many ways, and the Elder Power you share with her is not the main part of that. You chose her because you wanted a weapon that would love you, and that you could grow with and learn from. You and she are as close to mates as you dare become – fantasies of Tzanzi notwithstanding – and giving her up is unthinkable. It may be impossible, given your connection. She has already become something more than a mere Silver Sword, even if she is not a True Silver Sword. Your options are limited now – either see the Master Smiths, or make yourself into one. Siobhan has faith in you; her slow, sweet song of reassurances and love are the only statement she makes on the subject.

Yzia's wrath might have been abated by the distraction of his announcement, but you're not entirely certain he's not influencing her moods a little. You're absolutely certain this is no mind trickery now; between True Sight and the Thought Shield your mind is definitely out of his influence. Yzia's plan makes a certain amount of sense; there is also the fact that she is incredibly invested in you, not merely as a treasure or a companion, but as a lover and a work of art. She sees you as hers, and perhaps more than merely an amusing creature to watch. She has already offered to sacrifice everything she has here to follow you into exile; to follow you into something less than exile and amassing even more power and glory as a result is just properly draconic. That you benefit as well suits her just fine; perhaps even more than just fine.

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Falna's ignorant and unsolicited accusation of being Yzia's mate echoes in your protected mind, and you kind of wonder at it yourself. Does she see you as more dragon than githyanki?

There is one other thought that worries you. While you and she were making love, you gave her a portion of the Elder power. She warned you that the power would require her to be companioned to a Supreme Leader, and not merely a Leader. While she said she would remain with you for the duration of the raid, returning with her might have forced her to be separated from you or....

….is THAT why Tcharik suggested this?

You round on him suddenly and are on him before anyone can react – even Yzia.

You slam him to the shattered wall with all the force of your will, naked flesh pressed agaisnt his damaged armor, and Siobhan seethes menacingly against this throat, her immaterial blade sunk through the armor at his neck. Your other hand grips the back of his head, tangled tightly in his hair. “You have been playing games with my mind already, and you may not be now....but by the Blood of Dead Gods if you even so much as consider anything but true and forthright speech with me, I will remove your head and bury your body in the alls of my Cell, Tcharik.”

He doesn't breath, and his heart ceases beating, all his attention focused upon you.

“Who sent you here with this request?”

“I-”

You snarl, literally snarl, and bare your spurs at him, pressing Siobhan against his throat hard enough to draw blood. You know she's drawing blood because she screams for more of it in your mind, a howling tempest of vibrant song. Staring into your crimson eyes, his mouth opens in a tight little 'O', the edges of his spurs barely visible in the fear expression. “Who?”

He manages to barely speak the name with his expression so tightened by terror. “....Vermithrax....” The Great Dragon Himself, the Maker of the Compact.

Yzia is staring at Tcharik in disbelief. You don't blame her – she is comparatively young for a dragon, and you would probably look the same way if he'd said 'Vlaakith.' Falna starts towards you, drawing her sword, but Tzanzi steps between her and you, looking at the warrior mildly. Falna stops, looking at the murderess with disbelief, while Schechei pulls her own blade of deep yellow crystal. Kteine glances at you, then at Falna....and then draws her red crystal blade and stands with Tzanzi.

You can almost hear Schechei's heart break and Falna's ego crumbling as you wrest victory after victory from her, and none of it truly your own doing.

>>1420120
>Your options are limited now – either see the Master Smiths, or make yourself into one.
...The second part is actually a valid option?

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Siobhan remains at his throat and you narrow your eyes. You close your eyes, thinking hard and fast. “Would it be enough to establish a Lair?” You wouldn't have to be a Supreme Leader, or increase your cadre by much....you glance at the tableau behind you, watching Auena take a stance and readying to assault Falna if she makes any further move. Jiyua bites her lip, while Rana flits over and sweeps your helpless slave out of the way of the potential battle, and gathers the other two and comforts them softly. You feel Tcharik tense and turn your eyes on him, sliding Siobhan a few inches down, slicing a long, thin cut along his tight tendons. He freezes instantly.

Tcharik doesn't risk shaking his head. “....no....you must....take on the role....of Supreme Leader....” Dead gods damn it.

“Explain yourself. How did you get chosen to do this. Why did you take this place in my life?” Your eyes open and fix on his.

“Vermithrax is aware of your relationship with Yzia. He doesn't....” You narrow your eyes. even further and he swallows, ignoring the fact that it widens the cut you've already opened even further. “His interest is only in Yzia's continued life....he suspects she would pine away if you were taken from her....”

Even Siobhan doesn't know what to say to that.

“So....you are telling me....Vermithrax is meddling in Stronghold politics....and my life....because he has a....a crush on Yzia?” you can just imagine Yzia gaping at your temerity. “And if I refuse?”

Tcharik looks into your eyes, his expression suddenly calm. You stare at him for a long moment.

[] Kill him and ignore that he was ever here – if an Ancient Wyrm is plotting against you you're done in any case.
[] Teleport him into Vermithrax' Hoard and deal with Falna.
[] Have Yzia deal with him; maybe she can get more comprehensible answers.
[] Time to double down – put the Fear of the Elder Githyanki into him, since he seems to know already. You have to be certain.
[] Write in?

>>1420129
>He manages to barely speak the name with his expression so tightened by terror. “....Vermithrax....” The Great Dragon Himself, the Maker of the Compact.
Holy fucking shit.

>>1420136
Hmm, well this got a bit more complicated.
>[x] Teleport him into Vermithrax' Hoard and deal with Falna.
Maybe?

>>1420136
>“So....you are telling me....Vermithrax is meddling in Stronghold politics....and my life....because he has a....a crush on Yzia?”
Huh, and here I was thinking that Yzia was Vermithrax's daughter or grand-daughter to some degree. Do Solar Dragons not care about stuff like that??

>>1420136
>[] Time to double down – put the Fear of the Elder Githyanki into him, since he seems to know already. You have to be certain.
Have the rest slay or incapacitate Falna.

>>1420136
So Vermithrax knows who we are, knows who Yzia is, is invested in Yzia's happiness, and is aware that we are the key to her continued happiness?

...Under some circumstances I feel like he would be willing to not look for the two of us if we fled, as long as we later came back, but because he's a dragon it seems more likely he'll hunt us down to the edges of the multiverse because Yzia's happiness only has value if he can see it.

...Can we just flat out say that Siobhan has attained anomalous properties and see if Tcharik is able to call in some favors, to keep Vermithrax pleased with him?

>>1420149
Akko isn't even going to guess at the actual motivations an ancient Wyrm might have....but she does know that one would be smart enough to put together the fact that Yzia is now mythic with the fact that she wasn't before, and that Yzia really hasn't been doing things that might make her mythic.

Yzia companioned with Akko to be entertained and because Akko is interesting. It reasonably follows to Akko that an Ancient Wyrm would meddle in Stronghold politics for his own amusement.

A crazy write in would amount to "Teleport yourself and your cadre to confront Vermithrax in his Hoard."

>>1420129
>Kteine glances at you, then at Falna....and then draws her red crystal blade and stands with Tzanzi.
>You can almost hear Schechei's heart break and Falna's ego crumbling as you wrest victory after victory from her, and none of it truly your own doing.

Ouch.

>>1420166
I'll admt, the thought did cross my mind, but I'm not sure about gambling THAT much.
>>1420136
>Explain to him that you and Siobhan have also become a package deal, possibly using the Elder Power to demonstrate (if possible, maybe indicate the Mythic abilities come mostly from Siobhan and not us?) ask for either his aid, or just time he can't grant that, to resolve the situation?

also, I want to ask Falna not to throw Schechei's life away due to her pride, after everything Falna has given up just a couple day-equivalents ago, but I don't know how to do that without making Falna angrier. Like we're balancing a shitload of plates here, and she's willing to fight outnumbered and outmatched (even if Kteine was on her side) instead of waiting for it all to come crashing down on us?

>>1420136
>[] Teleport him into Vermithrax' Hoard and deal with Falna.
Is that a tacit no, or is that a "I'll finish dealing with this later?" Which a dragon would likely treat as a no anyway.

>>1420136
>[] Time to double down – put the Fear of the Elder Githyanki into him, since he seems to know already. You have to be certain.
Shit
I like >>1420215 too.

>>1420218
Do you? Because I'm kind of afraid it's as insane an idea as confronting Vermithrax directly. Like it's really pushing what Tcharik is willing to accomodate what the consequences of failure are, and what level of his infraction is he willing to report even if it costs him his life. Like... I ASSUME Inquisitors are very carefully vetted, even if this guy is kind of a jackass.

>>1420215
Also is there a way we can quietly avoid him sending any outgoing messages?

>>1420136

>Kiss Yzia. The idea that one of the most ancient and knowledgeable Wyrm in existence would say that she wouldn't survive being separated from you -even if it turned out to be not true - is... giving you a feeling you're not quite able to identify.

>Briefly consider how you would be if you were definitively separated from Yzia.


>Tell Tcharik to leave for now. You have other things to do before you can give your answer.

>>1420209
If Schechei weren't blinded by love, she'd probably make the same choice.
>>1420217
Just to clarify, that's not a vote for that option but more asking for what Akko intends to convey by doing that.

>>1420136
I'm not sure, would adding
>[] Have Yzia deal with him; maybe she can get more comprehensible answers.
Improve our chances, like he might find it a bit harder to deny her? But then again, he had no trouble trapping her in that illusion, despite Vermithrax having his eye on her.

>>1420250
>Tell Tcharik to leave for now. You have other things to do before you can give your answer.
Is that even an option now that it's all laid out there?

Also while I respect your dedication, I don't think now is the right time.

>>1420236
Not with a Thought Shield up, but it's easy to tell when people are communicating telepathically.

>>1420217
That choice is literally "You say it's his message, prove it by surviving being in his hoard whether or not I believe any of it while I take care of my cadre." It's Teleportign him into Vermithrax's personal treasure and dealing with Falna.

When angered, Akko is about as subtle as an onrushign train, in case you hadn't noticed.

>>1420136
>[] Time to double down – put the Fear of the Elder Githyanki into him, since he seems to know already. You have to be certain.

>>1420256
>Is that even an option now that it's all laid out there?

Well, the dragon certainly didn't expect an immediate answer. Keep in mind the Inquisitor's prodding our mind would probably have lasted a lot longer if we hadn't broken it.

> I don't think now is the right time.

Given that part of the troubles we're dealing with right now are linked to this issue, I think it is the right time.

>>1420251
>If Schechei weren't blinded by love, she'd probably make the same choice.

Dunno. Still, it shows that if Schechei and Falna ever hope to have Kteine go back to them, they have a lot of efforts ahead of them.

>>1420259

Wouldn't that be considered as an insult, if Vermithrax has nothing to do with it?

Angering him if he's not yet involved isn't a good idea

>>1420259
Then maybe I could see voting for that in addition to my write-in, as kind of an "I'd very like to accept this great honor, but there's one sticking point, please convey my concern to Vermithrax" since that seems like it could be the proper amount of balls that could help Vermithrax understand why Yzia is so crazy for us.

>>1420272
I assume Akko is gambling that if Tcharik isn't allowed to be there, he'll be dead before he's given a chance to speak, and if Vermithrax is curious, learning that Tcharik was falsely invoking his name would make it a deserved fate.

>>1420250
>>1420268
I'm generally in favor of kissing Yzia, but only if there's a way for XS to fit it in without skewing the tone too badly.

>>1420136

Adding to my vote here >>1420217

>[] Teleport him into Vermithrax' Hoard and deal with Falna.

>>1420291
I'm not completely sure if I want to make that my vote though?
>>1420148
Seems more definitive?

Man, reality seems almost as troubling as the fantasy we were trapped in last thread.

Also I'm sad about lack of potential raids, we were going to give Yzia princesses, doesn't Vermithrax care? ...DOES he care?

>>1420136
>[] Teleport him into Vermithrax' Hoard and deal with Falna.

Rolled 6, 14, 6 = 26 (3d20)

Intimidate (with massive bonus for showmanship), Perhaps or Perhaps Not a Bluff check, and a Saving Throw (not yours).

>>1420347
Bad good bad huh. Interesting. Seems like an okay result.

>>1420354
Akko has a +21 on her intimidate checks without additional bonuses, anon; it's safe to say her 'bad' roll is still good.

>>1420360
Even if the result is good, the roll is still bad! I'm doubling down!

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[X] Time to double down – put the Fear of the Elder Githyanki into him, since he seems to know already. You have to be certain.
[X] Teleport him into Vermithrax' Hoard and deal with Falna.

You actually liked Yzia's plan. It was sound, it had the merits of keeping your vows and oaths in place, and it was a good way to prepare for the future.

And now Her Majesty's Inquisitor – a person who by all accounts that you trust is a loyal and true githyanki who is a creature of honor and who puts the War against the enemy above his loyalty to Her – is claiming the Keeper of the Compact is meddling in your life because he thinks Yzia cares about you enough that she'd die of heartbreak if you were killed or separated.

You're not the most people oriented person you know of by any means. Intelligence isn't always a good replacement for an intimate understanding of personal motivations and lies. Fear, on the other hand, usually is a very good way to convince people you mean business and that lying to you is a very, very, very bad idea. Sooner or later you're going to reveal this information, and considering Tcharik was already in your head, you suspect he may realize what he is dealing with already.

Falna, on the other hand, is a good enough warrior that Tzanzi is placing her life on the line for you, and Kteine is putting her oath or loyalty and her faith in you above her love for Schechei and Falna. Siobhan is singing a soft, deadly love-song to you, promising she will be with you regardless of your choices, that she trusts you to be the githyanki she has always believed you to be. That not even death can separate you from her. Auena's choice is clear as well, and while Jiyua is terrified of you, she's not going to make a move against you even if she could tip the balance in Falna's favor.

So now you're see just how far Tcharik is willing to take this tale he's spinning and show them all exactly what they're dealing with on your own terms.

Drawing on the arcane force to empower Siobhan even further is one thing. But using the Elder Power to break down one of your more powerful spells and add that energy to your own is something else entirely. Siobhan erupt into sapphire and ruby lightning and fire, and the immaterial blade disintegrates the armor it is passing through, leaving an inch wide gap in the material and making Tcharik grit his teeth in pain as the supernaturally potent flame and lighting condense into a seething sheet around the silvery blade.

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As if that wasn't enough, you make a sharp, quick gesture with your free hand and speak a few specific words of power, transforming arcane force into another spell in your mind. But then you infuse the spell with the Elder Power, not merely maximizing the potential power of the spell, but overcharging it with energy, making it into a spell that no one could possibly have made as powerful as it is, including the highest circle of spellcasters. The black energy that coalesces inside your palm becomes a tiny mote of black energy, a radiance of shattered rainbows and silver light swirling around the tiny vortex linked by black lightning to your hand – Vampiric Touch, yes, but more potent than you could possibly have made it through any ordinary means.

You now have everyone's undivided attention.

“Siobhan and I,” you murmur very quietly, Siobhan's voice echoing yours in everyone's mind save the one person who cannot hear it, “are not parting ways any more than Yzia and I are parting ways, Inquisitor Tcharik. So you may put that bit of stupidity out of your pretty little mind. I will ask you this one, last time, Inquisitor Tcharik, and I would appreciate an honest, comprehensible answer before I demonstrate that Yzia is a most temperate creature in comparison to myself.”

....have you been reading those ridiculous journals from the Dreamlands again, Akko? Yzia asks in a terribly amused, rather adoring manner.

You're being awfully blasé about this, considering you've just been accused of being in love with me....

AKKO! Her embarrassment and shock at your mild accusation is surprisingly intense.

Is it true?

Her mental voice is filled with shock, silence, and perhaps, just perhaps, a bit of shame. How could it be? You yourself told Falna we could never be mates....

Your reply stuns her into silence, and she takes a step back, her cross-pupiled eyes going white hot instantly. If it is not, then how can you reach me past the Thought Shield that only Siobhan can reach past?

To that she has no answer. You have several, but you are a little busy.

Yashi stands up slowly, carefully backing away from you, fear slowly enveloping her expression as she realizes what you are. Falna is as pale as a corpse, and Schechei is in heated telepathic communication with her twin, whose expression is as hard and cruel as any githyanki warrior has ever been. Tzanzi glances at Falna lowering her blade with a pitiless expression,while Jiyua and Auena stare at you like you've gone mad. Which is not entirely inaccurate, you suppose. Threatening Her Majesty's inquisitor with power that no githyanki has ever demonstrated before is not exactly the act of a sane person.

But it most certainly gets the job done.

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“I speak only the truth, Gish Akko,” he murmurs quietly, not daring to move even slightly. His scorched flesh stings your nostrils; the blood of your kind reacts badly to both electricity and flame. “Vermithrax may lie to me about his reasons, but I do not lie in repeating his reasoning to you. As a Supreme Leader you would be far more valuable to the cause than you would be as a Leader on a simple raid....” He shifts uncomfortably and Siobhan shifts her weight in your hand signing death songs and hate in your mind.. He gasps and bares his spurs in fear and pain as she cuts a little deeper, reaching soft flesh beneath the skin and causing the droplets of shimmering blue blood to become a steady trickle.

You narrow your eyes. If he can state it that coolly with this kind of threat, he's either more insane than you are....or telling the truth. “Very well. If you are serving his desires, then there should be no issue with showing up in his lair unannounced.” You begin the words to the teleportation spell, half expecting him to react or tell you to stop even despite the threat of intense and horrible death by Angry Silver Sword. Yet he does not, and when he vanishes so do you, only to appear before Falna and Schechei, malicious magics in hand and on blade.

Falna immediately raises Malnae to strike you, but her heart isn't in it; it is most fear and resentment that drives her to do it. Schechei panics and cries out, a sharp, intense shriek of warning. You gesture for Tzanzi and Yzia to hold back, rather than allowing them to assist you, and Siobhan informs you that Tzanzi has a hold of Kteine.

[] ….you know, you've never heard of anyone breaking a Silver Sword before....
[] Put her out of her misery; no one should have to suffer this much.
[] See how she wants this to unfold – she still has a choice, even now.
[] Swat Schechei down first; she doesn't have to die unless she wants to.
[] Write in?

>>1420396
>[] See how she wants this to unfold – she still has a choice, even now.
Poor fool. She really shouldn't stretch her luck so far.

>>1420396
>[] See how she wants this to unfold – she still has a choice, even now.

>Schechei has only been Gith for a handful of cycles, would you really put her through this so soon?

Doesn't having a mate die kind of drive a Githyanki permanently insane unless they're already polyamorous?

Also
>Yashi stands up slowly, carefully backing away from you, fear slowly enveloping her expression as she realizes what you are.
Oh Yashi, it's too late for that. Far, far too late. You had more than enough warning, and you cannot stop us from making your dream come true.

>>1420396
>[] See how she wants this to unfold – she still has a choice, even now.

>"Not too long ago, you came to me, saying that you would be ready to do anything for your love. Was it a lie? Because there are some people here who will not handle you dying in such a selfish manner well, you know."

>If she still attack, incapacitate her non-lethaly.

Remind Falna that she has things to live for. I doubt Schechei (or Kteine) would live if we killed her.

>>1420396
I'd ask what that might do but, well...that'd be a stupid question given this wording. I can't foresee any positive consequences, but I AM morbidly curious. I'll hold off though.
>[x] Swat Schechei down first; she doesn't have to die unless she wants to.

>>1420422
Sorry, was talking about breaking the sword. Guess I ended up accidentally snipping that part while copy/pasting.

>>1420409
>>1420417
I don't know, in retrospect I'm not sure if Falna is rational enough right now to be able to tolerate being lectured on Akko's part.

>>1420392
Well shit, we got an astral red dragon to fall in love with us.

That's pretty great

>>1420396
>[] Swat Schechei down first; she doesn't have to die unless she wants to.


>Yashi stands up slowly, carefully backing away from you, fear slowly enveloping her expression as she realizes what you are.
didn't she already have that realization here:
>>1355724
>
Yashi, on the other hand, stares at you with hose pale yellow eyes of hers. She looks at Siobhan, and then back to you. You smile faintly and lay your fingers upon your lips. She nods once and closes her eyes. You are....far more than you allow others to know, in many, many ways, my Leader. I will serve you until I die, or Her Majesty calls me.

>>1420444
It is.
Once this is over it's time to have some self-satisfied gloat or, more likely, some existential dread given Akko's fear of love.

>>1420445
She understood we had the Elder Power, but didn't know the quantity?

>>1420444
Solar Dragon to be specific, but now the hard part is continuing to be worthy of that love.

Rolled 13, 12, 3, 12, 6, 5, 3 = 54 (7d20)

Schechei, Akko, Falna, Schechei, Akko, Akko, Akko.

>>1420462
Damn, Akko and Falna both jobbing hard.
I mean, we did well on one and I bet we have bonuses out the ass for the rest but still.

>>1420462
So Falna isn't having a good time, Shechei seems to be doing pretty good, and Akko starts off halfway decent only to effectively give up and coast on her modifiers.

Well... RIP Falna and Schechei I guess.

>>1420445
>>1420456
There is a slight difference between understanding intellectually that someone has magical powers above and beyond the norm and uses them for mystical workings to help people, and then experiencing personally they're a killing machine with access to power that is beyond the pale.

It's like seeing a lightning bolt across the sky from inside a house, and then seeing someone hit by said lightning bolt five feet away from you. The scope becomes a lot more intimate.

>>1420473
ah ok, that makes sense

>>1420456

The hard part is for Akko to realize she loves the dragon, too, even if it's not typicall Githyanki love.

>>1420473
Seems almost appropriate for a truly chilling cover of "Friend Like Me" though it would likely offend Rana.

Rolled 2, 1, 1, 3, 6, 5, 4, 5, 6, 1, 5, 4, 1 = 44 (13d6)

6 Fire and 7 Lightning, nonlethal

Rolled 8, 1 + 16 = 25 (2d10 + 16)

>>1420507
Weapon damage, also nonlethal.

Incidentally, Schechei took 72 damage from the Mythic Maximized Vampiric Touch (which was not a mythic spell itself).

>>1420512
...ouch. I hope it was in fact non-lethal.

Rolled 3, 4, 9, 5 + 38 = 59 (4d10 + 38)

....and the last two hits. With the damage i forgot to add from the power change you put Siobhan through.

>>1420507
>>1420512
Generally speaking is it hard for a Githyanki to rethink her life, and realize that even from a purely self-interested position, they have perhaps not made the best choices, not approached things with the right mindset, and should instead see if being different will result in a better outcome?

>>1420524
I hope it's not impossible.

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[X] See how she wants this to unfold – she still has a choice, even now.
[X] Write in? I warned you about love, did I not? These were your choices, and now I will make you live with them.

Schechei is much quicker to react than you expected, but she's still young; and while she may be a gish and may have earned a silver sword, she is nowhere near on a par with her lover, Auena, Tzanzi....or you. So you catch her blade on your bracer and slam Siobhan's quite solid hilt across her face, still bruised from the violence of her mating with Falna. She reels, which invites a half-hearted swing from Falna, but that you catch upon Siobhan's quillons. Schechei recovers quickly and slashes at you, which you take against your ribs, the bruises developing quickly though the magical forces that protect you prevent any real injury.

Schechei's eyes go wide as she looks up at you, realizing you struck her the first time to salve her pride, but you are no longer interested in dealing with her; she isn't a threat to you. Falna hefts her blade, caught between protecting Schechei from your wrath or trying to kill you in earnest. Her hesitation is far more than you need.

You grab Schechei by the throat, the black orb of power breaking apart between her throat and your palm. Black lightning erupts about the slender githyanki's body. She wails, a high keening cry as her life force is shredded by the potent spell, bolstering your own in equal amount. She falls unconscious – you suspected she was a hardy little thing, given how violent Falna has to have been in mating – and you turn your crimson gaze on Falna, who takes a startled step back. It isn't enough, because you are all over her. At the very instant Siobhan nearly makes contact with the first blow you channel the arcane forces that empower her, transforming her back into solid material, but making her more accurate....while muting the energies of violence around her, softening their power into something survivable.

The blast of ruby and sapphire lightnings that Falna absorbs is backed by the impact of your sword into her side and she staggers under the assault....the next two hits are a result of her lack of focus and her inadequate armor (she's mostly naked, and her magical protections aren't nearly the equal to yours. It's not nearly enough to kill her, but she's hurting badly, still in shock at your power and your willingness to kill the young acolyte. You look her in the eyes and then lash at her twice more, Siobhan shrieking in your mind as Malnae howls in helpless frustration as his distracted mistress is treated like so much practice material.

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“For love's sake Falna?! After all my warnings, did you listen? You should have thought of that long before you came to me with your desires.” You smash Siobhan across Falna's exposed back, and she arches, her high pitched whistle of pain telling you that she can't take very much more at all – one more solid blow would render her unconscious for certain. Shaking, the warrior takes the hint and moves to a standing position before you, Schechei still clutched in your left hand by her throat.

You step back, exposing Tzanzi and Kteine. Kteine's eyes are narrowed in anger, her spurs bared by grit teeth. Falna's expression of horror and shock are enough; Kteine, whatever she may have been to Falna, is no longer in love with her. Tzanzi smiles faintly, vindicated in something, you're sure. “One betrayal too many Falna. You have lost much more than what you could have gained from me. Behold your new born githyanki, who has grown out of the love you once shared even as she became everything you wished of her by my hand.”

Falna's expression is utter despair, and then she looks at Schechei in your hand, and you can see something desperate, something violently and absolutely desperate move through her expression. Malnae gives of a low, soft moan of pain and anguish for her mistress.

“And now we come down to the moment of truth, Falna,” you whisper softly, your vengeance finally complete – even if it wasn't what you had planned for at all.

>To be Continued....

>>1420575
>>1420570
>and your willingness to kill the young acolyte
I don't think that was what we asked for?

>>1420575
Thanks for running!
Looks like our cadre might be shrinking at this rate.

I almost added a vote, but then saw the time.

Thank you for reading and playing. I'll stay to answer some questions.

>>1420533
Certainly it's possible, but that tends to be something the psychically aware tend to realize more often than the militant or magically capable are. Falna and Akko aren't among those in that category.

kteine, on the other hand, is, and has truly embraced her new nature entirely. Which is very sad for Scechei and Falna.

>>1420582
You didn't actually kill her either - but it certainly looks like you were casually willing to do so to an outsider. Akko's guesstimate of how healthy Schechei was is not something anyone except Siobhan was privy to.

>>1420585
Thank you for running, and also thank you for answering my questions. Sorry if I gummed things up a little by bringing up what I thought I remembered about True Silver Swords.

>Tzanzi smiles faintly, vindicated in something, you're sure
I wonder if Tzanzi and Falna had their own history, or if Tzanzi is actually happy for our benefit.

>>1420583
It's not actually that unusual; githyanki are a very vicious and violent people, and their extreme emotions and their efforts at staving off ennui make them volatile. A cadre can go through many changes before it gels into a working group.

>>1420575
Wow, things are getting heated. Very much looking forward to seeing what happens next time. Wonder if Yzia's even paying attention or if she's still distracted by Akko's earlier reveal.

>>1420591
As far as Akko can guess, just how much did Tcharik see before we revealed all our cards? And how much of what he sad was purely what he thought the scary dragon wanted him to say, and how much does he honestly believe?

>>1420603
When everyone cools down, I'm not sure who will be more embarassed, Yzia for having the unquestioned ruler of all Solar Dragons think that Yzia's love for us is so precious we're worth protecting by proxy, or still us for that whole "I'm Gith reborn!" thing.

Speaking of, what must we do to make sure no one ever tells Tzanzi?

>>1420613
Threats of death usually work okay.

>>1420603
>>1420598

Oh, Yzia is payign attention....mostly. akko's history with Falna was before her time. Tzanzi wasn't Falna's type, but that was where she and Akko met.

>>1420609
Unfortunately, Akko isn't sure on any of those things - she is very much aware that dealing with an elder dragon is much like dealing with a god, however: what you think and know isn't nearly as important as what IT thinks and knows, and you don't have much chance of figuring that out. she is absolutely vertain that Tcharik was tellign the truth and believed what he said though, and she's fairly certain that he knows of some great power she has that is unusual (she believes he thinks it is an infernal or abyssal pact of some sort, rather than Elder power though).

>>1420613
Note that Vermithrax is only the ruler of those who have the githyanki pact in this particular stronghold. He holds the Compact here. Others do so elsewhere. If Akko establishes a stronghold, that title may go to Yzia.

>>1420585
Thanks for running XS!

These last few chapters have been something.

>>1420632
Oh, that's very interesting and important info right there. We can work with that.

>>1420633
Thank you. I do try.

Tzanzi gets her biting in next episode it seems.

>>1420639
Can't wait!
Now that you mention it this was an unusually SFW episode huh.

>>1420632
Oh, I thought he was the first Solar Dragon to ever make a pact with a Githyanki, which... would have been incredibly daunting.

Though even just being tied to this particular Stronghold is a big enough deal.

>>1420650
Ancient Wyrm is Ancient Wyrm, anon - those should ALWAYS be scary.

Thanks for running!


>>1420575
>Kteine's eyes are narrowed in anger, her spurs bared by grit teeth. Falna's expression of horror and shock are enough; Kteine, whatever she may have been to Falna, is no longer in love with her.

> “One betrayal too many Falna. You have lost much more than what you could have gained from me. Behold your new born githyanki, who has grown out of the love you once shared even as she became everything you wished of her by my hand.”

Well, that still sucks.

XS, if you don't mind, could you tell us what Falna thought she was doing, with all that shit she pulled off, and what did Kteine realize for her love to die?

Also, what about the love between Schechei and Kteine?

>>1420627
I was kind of curious about whether Tcharik really believes that Akko being a Supreme Leader is good for the cause, or if he just believes that Vermithrax wants him to act as if Akko being a Supreme Leader is good for the cause, but then I guess you're saying that as far as Tcharik is concerned, what Vermithrax seems to want is worth so much more than what Tcharik himself may want that it's not even relevant?

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>>1420647
Well, Akko was naked except for jewelry.

Dejah Thoris githyanki, hawt.

>>1420670
>spoiler
Yeah that's...a good mental image.

>>1420670
I forget, what's Akko's policy on piercing? I know it's not as prodigious as Rana, but I'm not sure if that's the same as none.

>>1420660
Imagine, if you will, you had a cute lover who was laxy, adoring, and interesting, but ultimately was not interested in the same things you were. Then a slightly more mature and interestign lover comes along, and you discover much more incommon with her, and she's willign to go the distance for the things you want, as well as work hard for what she wants. You abandon the airheaded cutie and get with the cool new girl, even though it angers the airhead beyond all reason.

As time goes on, you and your current lover move on with your lives in differing directions. then you hear tale of your previous girlfriend. She's made something of a name for herself in the circles she runs in, which are very different form yours. In fact, she's managed to achieve something you were sure she wasn't going to manage - gaining a Silver Sword of her own. You don't worry about it, you've got some new slaves to play with.

Later, you are called to a ceremony of companionship, where a Dragon chooses a rider for long term companionship. Oh, you've heard about the dragon following your one-time fling around but thought nothing would come of it - after all, she was a notorious underachiever. But no, not only is your ex at the ceremony, it's her ceremony. So now she's a dragon companion with a silver sword. And she's been Leading raids as well! You tell yourself the jealousy you feel is just at her achievements and that she won't amount to much. The dragon will probably eat her for being a lazy slut.

Then you hear that your ex has been hobnobbing with real powerful folks. Talkign with many dragons. Seekign things out in the Astral. Fuckign around in the hellforsaked Dead Gods! She's become infamous for her brutal and simplistic techniques of combat, combat so basic and simple in effect that it galls the masters of sworrdplay no end, yet it's flashy and powerful enough that they....don't....stop....talking....about....it. As if that wasn't enough, she's classed as a Lady among Gish.

She fucking OUTRANKS you.

So you bury yourself in work and play, and eventually fall in love. But you can't help digging at that scar, that hateful little itch that wonders what she's doing, what she's up to, what she's become. And to your shock and shame, she's become a paragon among githyanki, someone that even the most violent and brutal and ennui-laden dretches of githyanki can look to for inspiration. Then you find yourself in love with a pair of slaves who aren't githyanki....but they could be. If they weren't slaves.

So you get a wizard to turn them into githyanki look-alikes. And you look around for the best way to teach them being githyanki. And the name that always....ALWAYS crops up is HERS. That lazy little bitch you turned out for something you thought was better. Well, she's better now, so you swallow your pride for love. And by all that is hallowed, she fucking manages it for one of your lovers right off the bat.

>>1420715
You spend joyous time with you new mate, and encourage your other lover to study hard, learn from the woman you've come to appreciate despite how she makes you feel useless and low-class. She managed this once, she can manage it againb....except that you and her cadre are slightly at odds, beign a mated pair. And your other lover is strangely standoffish, and is distant. She couldn't be....no, that's rediculous, especially after what she sarcificed for her love. She wouldn't dare.

Except now you have an inquisitor who is studying your father fucking ex and he's tellign her she needs to - no, MUSt become a fucking Supreme Leader. And she tells him she hadn't planned on it! She doesn't want to! And then he demands it of her! The fucking Dragon Lord of the Stronghold is tryign to get her to become a Supreme Leader because a fucking dragon fell in love with her?! What the shit? And now she's not only faced off agaisnt an inquisitor, she's STILL refusing?!? And now your other lover is standing AGAINST YOU? On HER SIDE????

It's safe to say Falna wasn't thinking very much at all at this point.

>>1420730
>>1420715
Was Akko's initial rise to power the result of trying to show Falna what a mistake she made, or did it just kind of accumulate around her as a natural result of her curiosity, boldness, and general competence? Because right now, it seems like we're actually dangerous good at winning to the point where a fucking Elder Wyrm is making plans for us, and it doesn't seem like things are ever gonna die down or make sense.

>>1420698
Akko doesn't do much of it, but isn't particularly agaisnt it; she sometimes has done so in the past. She does do mystical tattooing though. Yashi, on the other hand, is well pierced. Especially her tongue. Tzanzi is into scarification, of course.

>>1420738
Akko's rise to power was pretty gradual, and largely due to curiosity, desire to learn, and her self-made promise that she would never suffer ennui.

That last part seems to have backfired a little bit.

>>1420730
Well, I mean when you put it THAT way...

>>1420715
>>1420730

So Falna was too self-absorbed to care about the girl she allegedly loved had a problem?

I mean, we haven't exactly encouraged Kteine to be the forget and forgive type, but we certainly haven't encouraged her away from Falna.

Ironically for someone who like her partners young, Falna's second main problem was to not understand how someone could grow up.

Her main problem was to not love her girls for who they were, but for who she thought she could change them into.

What about Kteine? What did kill the love?

>>1420752
That is Kteine's story, and contains spoilers.

>>1420730
So did we reject the inquisitor, or does Falna not get our deal enough to grasp that, in addition to being melodramatic as fuck, Akko was also being, to the best of her knowledge, sincere on an almost scientific level, I guess, about her and Siobhan being a package deal?

I hope Tcharik got that, and if not, he at least has the sense to not leave any details out when reporting to Vermithrax.

>>1420762
Well, considering Siobhan echoed every word, it entirely lilely that there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Siobhan and Akko are not going to be separated by any forces they can muster. That Akko also included Yzia in that statement - as did Siobhan - is probably going to stick in their minds as well.

Actual spoiler.
Tzanzi already knew.

>>1420857
I'd imagine she would, since it was her body maybe-Gyr chose as a vessel.

Also wait, is it possible that the backlash of that also granted Tzani Mythic Power, and she's just more capable of keeping a lid on it due to not constantly doing things that cause her to raise tiers?

Ya know, if Akko spent a few months in the Material Plane, she'd probably gain a lot of bulk. For a Githyanki, at least. The kind of muscles she has requires a lot of nutriment, and given the Giths basically have no fat nor any weight to lift to make muscles bigger, she's currently as lean as possible. Spending time somewhere she has to eat and carry weights would probably give her a larger build.

>>1422828
That was all part of the hallucination, and in truth Tzanzi is just observant.

>>1422886
Not bulk - definition. Githyanki musculature is essentially like that of sharks, and rather than 'bulking out', heavy exercise tends to give them increased definition as the fibers multiply but do not gain tissue size growth or any fatty tissue as padding. Since the lymph that their blood consists of doesn't have corpuscles, there is no need to increase blood supply to the muscles through fatty tissue growth. So rather than becoming larger or bulkier, githyanki muscles become more compact and tighter, leading to refined definition and harder bodies. not to say they can't develop a layer of fatty tissue OVER the muscles - Auena is a prime example. Like a whale shark, a githyanki can add fatty tissue over the muscles, and that give them a softer, rounded look such as Auena has. This incidentally gives them a tiny bit of natural armor, as superficial wounds don't hit muscle, and makes her look delectable and soft to connoisseurs such as Akko, and delicious to biters like Tzanzi.

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>>1423035
>and makes her look delectable and soft to connoisseurs such as Akko, and delicious to biters like Tzanzi.

>>1423035
Wait, what do you mean by hallucination? You mean the opening sequence of Thread 3, when Tzanzi asked us about the force that possessed her, and we shared our theories on the matter, and she offered a mask to hide the rune on our cheek, didn't actually happen?

Like that's what I was referring to, with the possibility that the entity that called-itself Gyr left any lingering effects on Tzanzi that she's just kept a lid on.

>>1424144
Ah, I misunderstood your time referencing, my apologies.

No, Tzanzi did not gain any mythic power from that experience; if she had it would have been obvious to Akko at least.