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>>1815123
One way or another,we will regret our actions this day. I just hope we minimize it.
COME GET SOME,SNEK!

>>1815123
Let's do this.

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>>1815123
Welcome back to Death Among the Stars Quest!

Pastebins: http://pastebin.com/u/ceronull
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Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=death+among+the+stars
Ask.fm: http://ask.fm/DeathAmongTheStarsQuest

Seated in the Charnel Vault as it travels at ftl speeds toward Bastion you look through your connection with the Deep Rot to observe the conflicts.

You sense the Arc Disciples confusion then frustration as she attempts to communicate with the strange voice but it does not respond to vocal or mental attempts. Instead she begins meditating once more, reaching her mind out through the Arc while centered in the nexus of the energy. It did not take long however, for her to confirm the whispered warning. A great source of Arc energy approached, the Disciple momentarily awed at the sheer strength she detected.

Ruscuv and the Fury had withdrawn temporarily back to the fleets, the Ahkam managing to score several blows against it as it feasted on broken warships. The ancient lich had been forced to compel the young bioship to withdrawn, not wishing to face the Matriarch with a too injured warship. So now she soothes its disgruntled annoyance, Bloat Carriers docking with the bioship as they pump raw Cauldron-fluid into it like some grotesque blood transfusion.

The fleets still clashed but the Ahkam and Armada forces took the time to regroup and assess their damages. Ships link and crews are transferred from heavily damaged vessels leaving only the barest crew for them. They would become the shields to protect their still operable allies, the Think Tanks and Reconstructed on board willingly offering up themselves.

Battles still raged on Bastion but the tide was quickly turning against the Ahkam that managed to land on the moon itself. Lead by Muic the Reconstructed and native loyalists of the Lavafather rose up against them, turning the very landscape of the moon against them as landslides and waves of magma rolled over beachheads and marching formations. The damaged orbital platform manages to hold its place in orbit with portions of it reduced to burning slag, the Wormstar Finger holding strong as it still vibrates like a plucked string from the attacks.

Her sister was joined by Tlacex, the Punisher and Illuminator combining their forces in their battle against the large Ahkam fleet that still presses their attack against the gas giants moon. Arc storms crackled among the debris fields, Agona ordering volleys of Necrotic Flayers and Flensers in efforts to burn them away. Waves of green flame and crackling energy seem to consume the storms like kindling, the Necrotic feeding on the ambient Arc in vibrant displays of light.

>cont

>>1815330
Throughout the system there were battleships and other capital ships that had been isolated and crippled, their hulls swarming with boarding pods and Coffins. The Ahkam serpents within likely twisting with fear as the undead and obsidianborn refrain from launching their assaults upon the reinforced bunkers as they were drawn further and further from their allies. Ruscuv and Eiton were quite excited at the amount of the serpents just waiting for their encounters with the undead but knew they must plan and be careful with the Matriarch's arrival looming over them.

A total of thirteen Ahkam capital ships lay isolated from their fleets, the Armada ships working hard to keep their would-be rescuers at bay. They were brought closer to Rukor or the asteroid belt, well within range of the Terrordrome networks or the orbital lances on the surface.

Within the asteroid belt, where the protoplanet had been a long-time source of the Armada's metallic ores, several of the ships were dragged. Terrordromes and the larger Shockdromes drifted around them, their weapons trained on the escape hatches that were well known to the Armada by now. The hollowed portions of the protoplanet buzzed with activity, thousands of bioships awaiting their orders while factory lines rolled out dozens of Nails and Gunships by the hour to replace those that fell every moment in the battles.

How shall your forces deal with these isolated Ahkam serpents for the time being?
>Write-in

>>1815335
Board the ones we can and kill the ones we cannot. Offer them surrender first tho.

>>1815335
We should send an open broadcast showing each arkham we have killed so far and then the fights we have made them surrender in and then finally broadcast Vlekarrak and the other sneak openly denouncing the matriarch and advice if they surrender they will also be given a chance at a new life of freedom. Or they can die by our hands

>>1815335
Aim heavy weapons at their ships and use them as hostages or a way to lure the matriarch into a trap if necessary. Don't risk injuring our generals on capturing them now.

>>1815412
Also supporting trying to convince them to surrender

>>1815395
Supporting.

The ones that refuse, we chiefly need to keep them from assisting the Matriarch in any way. They need to be kept away from where she is likely to appear, and subdued if possible.

I'm hesitant to commit forces to boarding right now, because it's normally taken either hero-level Reconstructed or heavy troop losses to subdue them, and the generals are all either busy in combat or will potentially be needed when the Matriarch shows up.

>>1815412
I don't know if the Matriarch will respond to using them as hostages. It costs nothing to keep big guns trained on their ships though.

>>1815422
>I don't know if the Matriarch will respond to using them as hostages.

Come to think of it, if they get to see the Matriarch openly deny caring about whether they live or die, that makes it much easier to convert them to our side once this battle is over.

My main goals are to keep them from helping the Matriarch, and get the most use out of them possible afterwards. IMO that's in getting them to switch sides.

>>1815422
I'm hoping that the mere fact that we're holding them hostage, when they're supposed to be gods, might anger her more than any concern for her children. It makes her look bad.

>>1815440
Good call. Them having lost is already proof of weakness, and there's no further actions she can take that doesn't make her look either weaker or more evil. If she bargains for their lives, she leaves in disgrace. If she doesn't, she probably loses their loyalty, and that of many subjects who hear of it. If not even her own brood is worth bargaining for, all her other servants know they are worth even less. Fear is the only thing left that could keep them in line, and Ahkam losing in battle strikes a blow to that intimidation factor.

Even if the Matriarch escapes today (I'd rather she not), it's going to deal a mortal blow to her dynasty.

>>1815335
looks like
>Keep them isolated from the battles and held hostage under threat of attack
>Broadcast the footage of Vle'Karak and the other Ahkam pledging themselves to the Armada
>Offer the Ahkam (and their soldiers?) a chance to surrender

Sound good?
>Y/N

>>1815459
>Y

>>1815459
Y

>>1815474
Yes to the soldiers, too. Anyone who will submit is welcome.

>>1815459
>y

>>1815459
>Broadcast the footage and make an offer for their surrender while keeping them hostage

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>1815523
Please work

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>1815523

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>1815523
SSSSnekkles

>>1815607
I honestly love you right now. Please never leave.

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>>1815607
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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>>1815618
>>1815633

>>1815123
Oh shit am I late

>>1815741
Just in time for the fun

>When you arrive just in time for a huge sucess
Never change DASQ, never change.

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Rolled 17, 94, 14 = 125 (3d100)

>>1815772
Sweet
>>1815785
I know the feel man

>>1815523
The battles continued to wage in Bastion and Urdir, the void between ships filled with shrapnel, energy discharges, missiles, and an assortment of other debris while communications are relayed invisibly between them. There was a sudden broadcast then, each warship of the Armada calling out on all airwaves and open communication channels. It was impossible to tell how many of the enemy ships could hear or see the broadcast, most vessels likely shutting down all but crucial communications between each other to escape Ruscuv's tirades and insults.

The broadcast was a simple audio-video transmission, the footage displaying short clips of previous battles between the Armada and the Dynasty. They showed vessels that had once held Ahkam serpents being destroyed or swarmed and boarded by Armada forces. Footage taken from demi-Think Tanks or flatbody Gargoyles show the bloody scenes of Reconstructed rampaging through the hallways of what were clearly Dynasty vessels.

Illuminator Tlacex spoke over the clips, the undead General drawn away from the battle at your urging. His voice was firm as it spoke in the language the Ahkam forced their followers to speak, knowing that not all among their number would know the galactic trade language, "The conflict between our factions has been an intense and vicious campaign. Both of our forces have suffered many casualties and lost many warships. But there has been on difference in the end results of these conflicts."

The footage changes to show short clips of several of the Ahkam serpents that the Armada has faced. Green and blue scaled serpents clashing with the Reconstructed, even glimpses of yourself and the Predators dueling with them as Arc and Necrotic energy surges across the combatants forms. It changes once more as Tlacex spoke, "Every Ahkam serpent we of the Armada have faced, has died or been taken prisoner."

Images of the various trophies taken from the Ahkam are shown. From the statues and memorials in the Garden of Remembrance and Iti'a'Ropku formed from their bones and skulls, to the bodies of slain serpents crucified to hulls of Reconstructed ships when they were displayed over Bastion after its liberation and Kanda during the B'Nan campaign.

"Just as the Arc's strength is the weakness of the Void, the Necrotic hungers for the Arc and we are it's emissaries. One of our greatest heroes, the Predator Nekris, was able to become one of the Arc blessed by consuming the flesh and power of your Ahkam overlords," the footage changes once more to show Nekris, spear in hand as he impales a serpent in the back of the neck in his fateful battle with the Ahkam that unlocked his potential for the Arc.

The broadcast appeared to be reaching some of their number as it floods the Bastion and Urdir systems. The invaders attacks seemed to lose some of their vigor, several of the battles falling into a likely temporary lull.

>cont

>>1816142
"In the short time we of the Armada have been around we have slain and defeated more of these false-gods than any other faction has in years. We of the Armada have seen first-hand the pain and oppression the Ahkam bring, witnessing the strife and suffering they inflicted upon the Stonestar, Ructu, and even the Esat under the guise of worship and godhood. Worlds forced to give up their bounties and their people forced to fight their wars on alien worlds in the name of their megalomania," the footage had changed to show the battles between loyalist stonestar and those that fell for the Ahkams lies, showed the suffering of the ructu as their food stores were raided by the soldiers as tyrre butchered would-be dissidents. There was footage of the ecological devastation the Ahkams occupation has inflicted upon the worlds of the esat, their home system relatively near to Bastion and Urdir.

The footage from the broadcast changes suddenly, showing the interior of an Ahkam battleship where the bridge was a battlefield between the Ahkam soldiers and Reconstructed flooding into the large chamber. At the peak of the ziggurat showed a blue scaled Ahkam writhing in pain as Necrotic flames engulfed her body, the calm form of Tlacex seated on a hardlight platform in the air before her as he held her in place with a telekinetic choking grasp. His voice, different in tone from before, repeats his judgement he had passed on Nru'jok during his and Ruscuv's raid against the Tura system

"By the judgement of the Wormstar I have found you wanting. You are no more a god than I am, but I serve the closest thing to a true god that exists in this universe. I offer you this, an offer that extends to all those that live and breath here. Die and serve Lord Jadyk, the Conquering Worm and successor to the Wormstar itself, with your bones and stolen power. Or you can live and live that life in servitude to him and the Necrotic Armada for the rest of your days. This is the choice that is given to all. This is your chance for penance, o' great serpent of sin and arrogance. Make your choice."

The footage shows the first of the epikor to throw down their weapon and surrender, followed by all the survivors of their conflict as Reconstructed calmly and cautiously relieve them of their weapons. The shot zooms in on the Ahkams face, watching as their face went through a range of emotions until they finally cast down their head and muttered "I yield as well..."

Tlacex speaks as the footage changes to show him standing on his bridge, Necrotic flame rippling across his form in patches as he adresses the demi-Think Tank floating before him, "There is always a choice and this is the one we of the Armada extend to everyone who came to invade our systems at the orders of a Matriarch who cares nothing for her children or subjects."

>cont

>>1816152
The footage changes, showing clips of the various serpents that the Armada has interrogated, showing Vle'Karak, Cve'jok, Dne'tec, and Nru'jok all stating in their own ways that to return to the Dynasty would mean a death sentence for their failures. The broadcast flickers once more to show Tlacex, his beak pulled back from his blunt teeth in a grin, "From the mouths of the Ahkam themselves reveal that the Matriarch Quantac'Vrix cares only for her ego and power. Even the legendary Vle'Karak, who is known and feared across hundreds of worlds and star systems, would be subject to execution because of his defeat at our hands, for failing to uphold the lies of godhood the Ahkam have used to cement their power.

"I ask you, the Ahkam that guide your servants in battle this day, would the Matriarch spare you for the sin of failure? Those of you who are stranded within our systems with our legions clawing at your doors, will she forgive you of your failure?"

The battles lessened throughout the systems as more and more of the ships likely listened and paid attention to the broadcast, "But fear not! Hope is not yet lost, there is a way to survival and even a way to salvation!"

>cont

>>1816155
The broadcast changes to show the Colosseum, only days prior where Vle'Karak was coiled on the platform flanked by Cve'jok and Dne'tec, his voice ringing out as he faced the crowds proudly, "I was known by many names. Butcher, Terror, Worldeater, among those that are less complimentary. But now, I only have one name. I am Vle'Karak.

"Known and feared by many, even by those that served me loyally, I am known mostly as a monster. For many years I proudly served the Dynasties, leading campaigns against our enemies and terrorizing the galaxy in victory after victory. It was during my campaign invading a system held by the Osjiic Empire that I was finally met with defeat. I was defeated by the Predator Nekris, a formidable foe who in time became a friend.

"In my time as a guest of Jadyk, I have had ample opportunity to think on my life and the purpose it serves. I thought on what it means to be an Ahkam now that I had been so thoroughly defeated. I knew I deserved death and more for the atrocities I inflicted upon the galaxy. Yet, Lord Jadyk and Predator Nekris delayed my execution and helped open myself to the truth that we Ahkam have deluded ourselves into ignoring.

"We Ahkam believe and claim that we are divine beings, that we are gods made flesh. I say this, here and now, backed up by my kin Cve'jok and Dne'tec, that we Ahkam are no more gods than any of those that serve us. Only because of our immense strength at manipulating the Arc, once granted by a now extinct race who created us from mindless beasts, are we able to maintain this charade.

"We Ahkam were manufactured as weapons but we were too strong and destroyed our creators, believing ourselves greater than them in our ancestors megalomania. As a species we have caused much suffering across the eons, enslaving and eradicating many in our pursuit of power and greed.

"It is only now, after my time under the tutelage of Lord Jadyk and Nekris, that I have come to realize this truth," he says, raising himself up as Arc energy crackles along his scales, "It is my solemn belief that his New Necrotic Armada and Lord Jadyk are the most capable at righting the very many, many wrongs my species have inflicted upon the galaxy.

>cont

>>1816161
"That is why I, Vle'Karak, formerly a Champion of the Ahkam, renounce the Dynasties and pledge my eternal loyalty to Lich-Lord Jadyk and the New Necrotic Armada!"[/blue]

Cve'jok lifts her head, her hood flaring out, "I, Cve'jok and daughter of Quantac'Vrix, renounce the Dynasties and pledge my eternal loyalty to Lich-Lord Jadyk and the New Necrotic Armada!"

Dne'tec bows his head, touching his bladed tail to his brow before lifting it to speak out firmly, "I, Dne'tec and son of Quantac'Vrix, renounce the Dynasties and pledge my eternal loyalty to Lich-Lord Jadyk and the New Necrotic Armada!"

All three bow their heads, Arc energy crackling along their forms. Vle'Karak raises his head to speak once more, "Hear our proclamation and spread it far and wide! The Ahkam are no more gods than any other being that they have enslaved! Spread this proclamation and let those they enslave hear and know this, their liberation is coming!"

Tlacex reappears on the broadcast, "Hear these words and know them to be true. The days of the Ahkam Dynasties are numbered and we call Matriarch Quantac'Vrix here so that we may finally rid the galaxy of her blight. There can be no salvation for her, but salvation and forgiveness is welcome to all who wish to seek and attain it for themselves. Surrender yourselves to the Armada and you shall be shown mercy.

"May the Wormstar guide and protect all who come to witness its glory and heed the truth of Lord Jadyk's teachings."

The broadcast ceases then and a calm falls upon large portions of the battlefields. The calm was tense as warships faced each other but held their weapons in check. Even on the surface the invaders held back, regrouping in their beachheads and pulling back from their attacks.

Time passes, the Reconstructed fleets taking advantage of the lull to tend to damaged ships. There was suddenly a signal sent from a heavy cruiser that begins to break away from a formation of Ahkam ships, the voice of an epikor calling out that they surrender and requesting protection. They did not get far before several of their surrounding ships fire upon it to deal with the mutinous vessel.

This seemed to set off multiple others, ships attempting to fleet their formations before they were turned upon by their fellows or devolved into fierce infighting. The airwaves became thick with communications signals as sections of their invasion force turned upon each other in confusion.

>cont

>>1816171
There were several signals sent to the Armada ships, stating their surrender and requesting sanctuary as they attempted to escape. Among their number you could see not a single Ahkam serpent attempted to defect but you had doubted that Tlacex would be able to convince them with only word and recordings of Vle'Karak's betrayal. You were, however, pleased with the chaos it instantly appeared to sow among their ranks.

Valresko sends word to you, stating that now would be the ideal time to strike back and protect the defectors, or to wait until the Matriarch arrived and keep the Armada ships from conflict until that time.

What shall they do?
>Reenter battle to protect the defectors
>Hold back in preparation for the Matriarchs arrival
>Other (write-in)

>>1816174
>>Reenter battle to protect the defectors

>>1816174
>Reenter battle to protect the defectors

>>1816174
>Reenter battle to protect the defectors
But keep the fury of the wormstar and our heavy hitters in reserve. Send our most agile ships to escory the defectors to the surface of rukor, bastion or some other place out of the way.

>>1816174
>Reenter battle to protect the defectors

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 please

>>1816208

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>1816208
SNEK

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>1816208

>>1816208
New friends!

>>1816214
>>1816222

dice+1d100 in options field

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>1816208

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>1816208
May i finally learn how to roll a die

>>1816227
Finally got it apparently it's case sensitive. Fml and f my phone

>>1816174
Reenter

>>1816215
That'll do!

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>>1816215
>soon

>>1816208
In truth there were not that many vessels attempting to defect in comparison to the vast array of invaders but you felt it important to show your dedication to your cause. As the mutinous ships attempted to flee they were set upon by their still loyal fellows, likely executions declared by Ahkam desperate to maintain their facade of control. Fighting their way out several of the smaller sub-capitals were struck down while others rely on speed and luck to avoid their dooms as the larger attempt weathering the blows as long as they could.

Relief came to them as kinetic rounds traveling a fraction of the speed of light strike into their pursuers, shields cracking and failing under the barrages from Reconstructed ships. Pike missiles raced past the would-be defectors, the heavily armored missiles striking their targets to explode into massive spheres of flame. Strikecraft raced into the battle, Nails darting in to take down attacking fighters while Gunships and Coffins moved to fly in protective formation around the slower warships.

Armada sub-capitals, mostly corvettes and frigates with the occasional light cruisers, moved in to assist the defectors as the rest of the fleets hold back and open fire from range. They struck hard and fast, forcing the pursuers to break off their attacks to focus on them or face destruction. These conflicts served to spark off the battles once more, the Ahkam fleets launching forward to clash with the Armada forces.

Although, as they reentered the battle the Deep Rot and Valresko could already notice a change in their effectiveness. It was minor at first but it was clear to their hyperattentive minds that the cohesion of the invaders was suffering in the wake of the dramatic broadcast and the near immediate mutiny of several warships.

As a flight of Nails raced to engage a swarm of esat crewed fighters they the Pilots hesitate as they draw within each others ranges and the enemy strikecraft don't fight. Rather they race toward the Nails only to pass them by as they flee the battlefield and head toward Rukor and the Armada forces.

>cont

>>1816435
Throughout the systems there was a sense of mounting panic on the Ahkams side as the battles renewed. While a good portion of the defectors had been shot down there were still those that reached the relative safety of the Armada's lines. Escorted by sub-capitals and flights of strikecraft they were herded toward areas near Rukors moon, Bastions sister moons, or in locations scattered through the asteroid belt. They were kept under guard by the local defenses, anti-ship weaponry trained on them as Coffins docked with their airlocks.

A heavy cruiser, one of the largest ships to escape, was held near Rukors moon with an orbital lance trained on its reactor as a Coffin lands in its shuttle hangar. Disembarking from the Coffin was a group of Reconstructed standing guard over an armored Harbinger that lacked the typical robes. They stand and watch as a group of epikor, esat, and kosda approach.

Moving through the weak artificial gravity of the vessel they come to a stop before the group of Stingers and Trolls, the Harbinger at the front of their group. An epikor steps forward, their uniform and markings showing she was the second in command of the vessel. A bandage was slapped over a burn on the side of her face, a temporary cap sealed over their damaged eye to keep it sterile but from the wounds around the socket it was clear it would need replacing with cybernetics or a cloned transplant.

They held a blaster in their hand but they drop it to the ground in front of the Harbinger while looking up to its eyeless visage, "I am Captain Lurral. I speak for those on board who no longer wish to serve the Ahkam tyrants."

"I am the Harbinger of the Armada. My words speak for Lord Jadyk. What do you and those you represent come to say to me?" the Harbinger asks with your voice, it's secondary arms folded across its chest but resembling little more than segmented portions of the chitin armor.

The epikor bows their head and kneels, the motion mimicked after a delay by the others. The empathic sensors in the Harbinger could detect fear in all of them, along with despair, regret, and anger.

Captain Lurral speaks, "We surrender, to you and the Necrotic Armada. We can no longer abide living under their enslavement," she looks up to you, "I have hated the Ahkam for all my life. If Jadyk is truthful about wishing to dethrone the Ahkam, then I will pledge my life to him. But first, I wish to ensure the safety of my crew, who only wish to survive this day," she speaks firmly, the empathic sensors detecting nothing but completely honesty in her words.

The Harbinger nods its head, "Very well. You are now under the protection of the New Necrotic Armada. You will turn over all your weaponry and control of this vessel. We will ensure the safety of you and your crew."

>cont

>>1816440
Captain Lurral stands and gives a satisfied nod, "Our escape wasn't a unanimous decision," she touches the wound under the bandage over her eye and cheek, "Those still loyal to the serpents have been subdued or slain."

The Harbinger bows their head, "Excellent," it says as the Reconstructed soldiers move forward to relieve the somewhat hesitant crew of their weaponry until Lurral commands them to.

The scene was similar among the other defectors and traitors. Disillusioned soldiers suffering from lifetimes of cruelty and pointless wars at the orders of the serpents pushed over the edge by the broadcast and message of hope it brought them. You were somewhat surprised by the number of esat who fled to your sides in their strikecraft. They were the newest vassal race of the Ahkam, the enslavement of their race only several generations old with their elders passing down tales of their former freedom.

The battles renewed in their ferocity, but the invaders were shaken. The revelations and defectors serving their purpose in driving a wedge into their cohesion and threatening their efforts. While no Ahkam had yet to defect you knew there were events still to come that would possibly influence their decisions.

Defectors protected:
>5 Heavy Cruisers
>6 Light Cruisers
>14 Frigates
>12 Corvettes
>460 assorted strikecraft

>>1816445
You're not gonna blue-bone us are you Graves? The Matriarch is really busy dealing with the Osjiic and one of her favored daughters is approaching or something similar? Nothing like that I hope.

>>1816445
>Defectors protected

Absolutely wonderful. Really warms the cockles of where my heart used to be.

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Quick Heads up. Graves power went out so there is a slight delay with the next update

>>1816576
Fuck, and I need to go to sleep

If the question comes up tonight I vote to take the power

>>1816445
In Urdir the conflict seemed to be waning, the Ahkam forces grouping together as they dealt with their would be defectors. Rethaks fleets continue to pressure them away from the planets. Seeing that the situation was nearly in hand within the system Valresko converses with the Immortal General briefly before portions of the large fleets began to depart to reinforce Bastion.

Agona's composite forces of Reconstructed, Obsidianborn, and Armatocere ships held their blockade as the Ahkam attempted another push against Bastion to join their forces already landed on the moon. Tlacex rejoined the conflict after his broadcast, joining with the fleets in his new attempt to support his sisters fleet. The Ahkam were partially scattered from the chaos of the defectors and the hours of conflict, their line stretched across a wide area as they converge on the defenders line from multiple angles.

The conflict for Rukor continues as the Ahkam fleets follow in pursuit of the traitors to clash with the blockade commanded by Ruscuv and Eiton. They had managed to regroup once the Fury had withdrawn from the battlefield and launched their attacks with a newfound anger and ferocity that surprised and delighted the Lich and aggressive bioship.

Eiton watches from the pocket of twisted light in his cloaked vessel, observing and judging the battles as his other Arc Disciple leads a strikeforce to continue the efforts of seeding Crit Crawls into the battlefield itself. Feeling a moment of pride he watches as a recently deployed cluster of the explosive undead swarm over then detonate the engines of a battleship, leaving it stranded even as the cloaked corvette speeds away to its next target.

"She's here! Her death is our salvation!"

The words came to Eiton, whispered harshly from the void with a sharp scraping of metal that forces the undead to grasp his head in alarm.

Moments later alarms blared throughout the system as a large gravity well began appearing over the toxic world along with a suddenly billowing Storm Gate that grew and grew and grew. Lightning flashed with a strobe like intensity as it swelled. From within its cloudbanks emerged new fleets of warships, their hulls crackling with the residual energy of the trip through the Arc. They moved quickly into formation around the Storm Gate, a number of them moving through the clouds of Crit Crawls that infest their hulls.

From within the massive storm you could see a shadow unfurl itself against the backdrop of the Arc lightning. It's twisting form a stark silhouette within the Storm Gate until it bursts forth with a great flash of light as it breaches the confines of the dark clouds.

>cont

>>1816712
Quantac'Vrix unfolds her wings that line the length of her form, the largest pair stretching out wider than a cruiser was long. The limbs flexed, the bladed scales that resembled the tail blades of the younger castes. Experience and seeing her in battle let you know how deadly those blades could be, quite capable of slicing through the hull of an Imperial Destroyer with ease, Arc energy leaping between the blades to resemble a web of energy stretched across her form. Her scales were a pale white, similar to the bone shades of Valreskos armor, but they pulse and crackle with waves of Arc lightning that warps the light around her like an intense mirage.

She was easily longer than a battleship, her massive skull plated in dense armor and lenses fitted over her ruby red intense eyes. As she yawned her massive maw open Arc lightning leapt between her fangs, her hood of blades flaring open as she rears back to examine the system. Embedded in portions of her scales were turrets and missile pods, the Matriarch arming herself for battle. Shield emitters appeared to be surgically implanted into each wing but they were not ignited, instead twisting and coiling amid the large fleet that had accompanied her. Arclight shone off her like a star, the light warping violently around her with clusters of ball lightning leaping from her form to twist violently then dissipate.

Her voice suddenly rings out, carried across the airwaves and psionically projected through the Arc, "Tremble in dismay and curse your false gods! I am Quantac'Vrix and I will eradicate EVERY trace of the Necrotic Armada and it's blasphemous followers! The Arc Surge itself supports and strengthens me! The very universe calls for your destruction, Jadyk!

Quantac'Vrix has arrived to enact her revenge for all the pain the Armada has caused her. The Charnel Vault was still another hour or more away, its massive Combi-drive struggling to propel the massive flagship to the defense of the Armada's valued system. You silent cursed as the Matriarch twists, turning herself toward Rukor. Silently her wings beat against the airless void but she propels herself forward rapidly, a web of Arc lightning stretching from her form to her accompanying fleet and dragging them in her slipstream with the same principles of the Arc Drive developed by Eiton and Dne'tec.

The Matriarch heads for Rukor, keen to take her revenge on the idyllic world that forsook her rule.

Roll me 2d100 best of first 3 for holding her back long enough for you to arrive

Sorry about that. Breakers went out with the sudden wind storm and took a while to get stuff back working properly. couldn't get section of the house that powers the modem to work at first

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>>1816712
Too late

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Rolled 54, 46 = 100 (2d100)

>>1816715
I dont think I have any good rolls banked, but Im gonna check, pop a few bennys and see if I cant get us something good. This is the moment guys. We are probably going to lose a general here somewhere.

>>1816714
delete

Rolled 1, 44 = 45 (2d100)

>>1816715

>>1816736
Sure, I mean yea Ill delete it but why? Too on the head?
>>1816748
Also fuck, Im gonna say I called it twice in a row. We are probably going to lose a general. Maybe even the Beast of Rukor

>>1816750
Dunno, didn't read.

It's more like it just ruins the flow of important posts pretty bad since it's such a big post.

But that's just my ego talking if I seem like I'm being a dick

>>1816755
Fair enough

>>1816756
Sorry. =/

I don't want to punish people talking about strategies and such since I've worked so hard to encourage that. It's just the timing of both our posting was inconvenient lol

Still need one more set of rolls folks.

Rolled 95, 17 = 112 (2d100)

>>1816715

>>1816767
Its something I guess.
>>1816757
Well I hope you read it, and some other folks did, cuz I didn't back that post up and its gone forever now. No hard feelings though, I'm not upset over it.

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>>1816771
Here's to hoping it can... mollify what is going to be a horrific opening act

Tactic wise I suggest we do a staggering blockade ships set up in firing lines try to get as many shots in before we close the distance try to kamikaze if need be to cripple and slow as many enemy craft as possible while the next line fires into the chaos and repeating the process

Just try and buy as much time as possible as they will have more reason to avoid friendly fire and if we get in the middle of them they will have to try and avoid hitting each other while for us it is a target rich environment meanwhile between said firing lines deploy as many crit crawlers as we can and aim to give the matriarch a new coating of cosmetic explosive crabs

>>1816767
At least that'll lessen the blow.

>>1816715
Matriarch Quantac'Vrix moved with shocking speed that left afterimages of her sinuous form in her wake, racing for the battlefield near Rukor where her children and subjects battled against the blockade. The Arc rolled off her in waves, storms of condense Arc energy marking her path that her fleet followed. Among their number your sensors could make out multiple signatures of younger Ahkam but their numbers were unknown, overshadowed by the strength of their Matriarch.

There were ripples of flames among the ranks of the warships, the hidden Crit Crawls detonating themselves at Eitons hasty command. Their momentum and the pull of the Arc kept them travelling forward but they begin to tumble. Their engines were melted or heavily damaged from the sabotage turning them into dangerous kinetic force who's crews struggle to regain control.

Quantac'Vrix shimmered with light as the emitters in her wings flared to life and projected a close fitting shield of refracted energy. In her previous appearance within Urdir she had been devoid of such upgrades beyond a few communications implants that allowed her to contact her servants vessels. Now she had purposely altered her form, embedding weaponry and defenses for her encounter with your fleet.

Before she had been an arrogant false god, injured once by the Lavafather when she descended to its surface and again by the Armada when she had been baited into the conflict against the Osjiic Empire. Her grief had made her easy to manipulate and draw into your trap. But now she had come for war, armoring herself for battle to take her revenge against you.

You watch from the shell of twisted space-time, surfing on the waves of an artificial gravity well, as your Armada comes under assault. From the sensors she passed her power felt as if she could truly claim to the god she claimed, the Arc Surge propelling a foe that would normally give even you a significant and deadly challenge into something beyond the realm of the mundane. She was the Arc incarnate and she throws herself bodily at your subjects.

Ruscuvs fleets withdraw from their battles, regrouping closer to the web of terrordromes protecting Rukor, its moon thankfully on the opposite side of her approach. At the Lichs commands and Valreskos aid the fleets arrange themselves, layers of protective vessels shielding the Armatocere and command ships at its core. The Fury waited in its vanguard with heavily armored battleships and destroyers.

With a shouted command that carries through the psionic network the Furry and the combined fleet open fire with a barrage of kinetic and missile strikes that streak across the void to intercept the Ahkam. They pass through the opening left by the scattering of the fleets already engaged, seeming to clear a path for the Matriarch.

>cont

>>1816933
The Matriarch detects the approaching attacks and her body shimmers and twists violently suddenly. With a flash of Arclight her form disappears from sight moments before the kinetic rounds would strike leaving them to pass through the empty space to strike at the fleet following in her wake. Their shields glow bright as they hit, ricocheting off into the cosmic distance.

Quantac'Vrix reappears, her Arc Blink launching her to the side of the Armadas formation. She twists, her body coiling around itself, as she changes direction at speeds that would have been impossible for a mundane starship.

Rebounding she launches herself toward the fleet with another psionic and radio screech as she yawns her maw wide, a small star of shining Arclight forming between her fangs. With a twitch of her head a blinding beam of pure Arc energy rips across the void to slice into the sides of the fleet. Even with the Necrotics natural resistance to the Arc the sheer amount of energy was enough to vaporize the hulls of a dozen warships in a brief moment as she sweeps it across the formation. The energy rips through the fleet, blasting through shields and sublimating entire portions of capital ships as the turbulent element force tears them apart at the subatomic levels.

Hundreds of Reconstructed perished in those few seconds the beam persisted, dozens of Reconstructed and Obsidianborn vessels broken or destroyed. The fleets were quick to retaliate, their turrets turning rapidly to aim for the approaching serpent and opening fire. Nails and Gunships leap from their hangars, launching themselves in almost assuredly suicidal attacks against the Matriarch but fear was foreign to them even now as they throw themselves into the eye of a living hurricane.

The Armatocere Warship, the colossal ship dwarfing the nearby Reconstructed Battleships, pulses its grav-drive as it spins on an axis to bring it's hull cannons to bear on serpent. It's swarms of Thorn fighters detach and launch themselves and splitting their numbers toward the approaching Ahkam fleet and the Matriarch herself. The prow of the Warship seems to retract its heavy armor to reveal the bore of a massive cannon that would allow several Coffins to fly into with ease. A single message is beamed from the Warleader commanding the treeship, "Brace yourselves."

>cont

>>1816936
There was a discharge of intense radiation and light as the treeship rocks from the blast, a kinetic round travelling faster than your sensors could track leaving a trail of distorted light in its wake. The Matriarch detects the incoming attack and twists out of its path but the strike curves its path to follow. Arclight pulses along her form as she attempts another Blink but she took too long as the Armatocere weapon drew close to her before detonating in a massive explosion of intense radiation that grows into a miniature nuclear star.

In such close proximity her armor and scales were seared with the radiation and heat, her scream resonating across the spectrums as she recoils in an attempt shield herself. The miniature star does not last long, quickly collapsing in on itself with a torrent of gravity energy into a singularity that tugs at the Ahkam.

The immense pressures generated by the temporary singularity caused the Matriarch to fold in on herself. Arc energy surges off her in waves, likely the only force preventing her from suffering much more extensive injuries from the attack. The singularity lasted only a few moments before it dissipates in one last surge of radiation but the Matriarch was already retreating from the area by the time it burst.

Uncoiling herself her rage was felt throughout the Arc that seemed to permeate the system upon her arrival, her psionic influence reaching out across the Arc itself. Her rage turned to momentary alarm as some internal sensor alerts her too late to the approach of a foe.

With its own psionic bellow the Fury of the Wormstar lashes out with its arms, each claw flexing as Necrotic flayers lance out at her. She manages to twist partially to avoid several of the beams but others slash across her form, the corrosive energy leaking through the shields to slice into the segmented armor plating and her pale scales.

Snarling in anger she bares her teeth as the Fury reaches out with snapping claws but she twists out of their grasp. The turrets embedded in her body swivel rapidly to track the attacker and open fire, rapidfire discharges of explosive Arc bolts peppering the shields armor of the bioship.

Ruscuv snarls her own sound of rage, her body pulsing with Necrotic might as she links herself mind and soul with the Fury to lend it aid. She could feel the pain of the attacks that warped and cracked its armor, the searing heat as spray of chaotic Arc lightning is unleashed from her mouth that sweeps across it.

The Lich bellows out her own challenge, her telepathic shout causing the serpent to recoil slightly as it rang in her skull, <YOU WILL KNOW THE TERROR YOUR CHILDREN HAVE FELT AS WE RIPPED THEIR SOULS FROM THEIR BODIES!>

>cont

>>1816938

The threat seemed to affect the serpent, rage surging across the telepathic link and through the Arc as its twisting light distorts her form. But the distraction was all Ruscuv and the Fury needed as the first of its claws sink the pincers into the flesh of one of its wings. There was a flurry of arms reaching out as the rest snatch onto the serpent, rapidly drawing her into a brutal melee. Its arms coil around its body, pinning wings against its side as claws tear at armor while spewing Necrotic flames from its flayers.

The Ahkam retaliates with an indignant rage, her bladed wings surging with Arc energy slicing through armor and muscle of the arms entangling her. Arc lightning crackles off her form, fighting with the blaze of Necrotic flame that engulfs the Furys. Quantac'Vrix struck with blade and fang, tearing off a limb with a twist of her mighty jaws, the two titans tearing into each other in a vicious duel that was leaving both bloodied and enraged.

As the would-be demi-gods fought, their followers clashed their massive fleets against each other. The fleets drew in close, vicious battles being fought at near point blank range. Storms of discharged Arc and Necrotic energy build around the fleets, shifting waves of light consuming each other as the system was flooded with the energies.

On Rukors moon the Disciple was seated in the Predator Temple, the chamber of the Arc Condenser turning into a violent storm of discharging energy but the bolts do not strike her. She continues to meditate, her mind reaching out and witnessing the conflicts through the Arc itself. The Matriarch was a singularity of Arc energy, a condensed star that emanates massive amounts across the system.

Sensors through the system begin failing as they attempted to record the scope of the conflict and increases of energy. This mattered little to the Disciple though, her mind attuning itself with the very Arc itself. She could sense the Matriarch, then Predator Eiton as his ship raced to assist Ruscuv, then the stars of Arc that were the other serpents and her fellow Disciple. The Arcdancers on Rukor shined like distant starts, motes of the Arcs will contained in the flesh and blood of mortals.

Yet they were not all she sensed. A familiarity seeped through the Arc, a presence unseen but felt. It hid within the Arc, as if reluctant to reveal itself. The Disciple reaches out with her mind, probing for the presence but it slips away again.

In frustration she reaches out once more, opening herself to the Arc in dangerous levels. Bolts from the Arc Condenser begin to strike her but they do not harm yet. Her body of Reconstructed bone and chitin flickers and shimmers, the light around her warping violently as she nearly fades completely from view.

She casts her mind forth, searching for the illusive presence. Concentrating on the unexplained familiarity of the Arc signature she probes the depths of the Arc for answers.

>>1816940
And with that I should call it for the night.

Hope folks had fun, I know I did writing it!

Thread will be continuing later this afternoon around the normal time.

>>1816942
Well that explains why it took so long, it was a monster of a post, thanks for runnin, see ya toms faggot

>>1816940
fuuuuck yeah! Let's hope that Rukorbeast and Ruscuv hold out long enough for us to arrive.
And perhaps slam her to Bastion's surface so Jadyk, Ruscuv, and Lavafather can gang up on her.

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>>1816933
>>1816936
>>1816938
>>1816940

>Jadyk's face when

I'm know pretty sure that the Arc Voice is at least no longer the Nekris we know. Can you imagine him saying these things? He was always a restrained individual.

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>>1817124
>Jadyk Anon when faced with the choice of seizing the Arc, 2017 (Colorized)

>>1817124
It's more likely that an, or the, arc entity/personification used Necris to gain sentience or an awareness of the world, or something like that. I believe it's because of Necris it took an interest in Jadyk and the Armada's officers.

>>1816942
IT BEGINS. I'm never awake when you run but damn it feels good we've finally reached this part.

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>>1815123
>tfw internet went down the entire night while the quest was running

>>1817281
That makes me wary. What a being composed of one of the fundamental forces thinks is best for us is likely different then what a w,a being powered by another force,would want.

>>1816942
If people can't be here in time for an important decision, because of work or sleep or something. Can they cast there vote beforehand?
I would like to have a say wether or not we take the ark but I'm going to be working odd hours this week and might not be there in time.

Sorry folks, no thread today. Will resume tomorrow afternoon. Sorry my schedule is so weird lately

>>1818040
Sadly I'm going to have to say no. I'll try to get that vote up during primetime when most folks are likely to be around

>>1817612
Maybe. But an Arc being saying we should get Arc powers bodes better than an Arc being saying we shouldn't.

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Alright, I have to go to bed now so I won't get to read skelly vs snake live. But here's some battle music for tonight's showdown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEV4bz4I2cQ

Alright folks threads resuming

Roll call time, sound off

>>1821162
sup

>>1821162
ey

>>1821162
Death is comming for Quantac'Vrix, the Fury of the Wormstar is but it's Harbringer !

Also just reread the thread, holy mother of all tree, the Amatocere have some heavy fucking shit, this canon of them could probably ended the fight much quicker if the Big snek wasn't powered by the Surge, we should totaly trade this shit.

Also the little "Brace yourselves and hold my beer" of the Warleader was perfect.

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>>1821162
I CANT HANDLE THE WAIT ANYMORE

>>1821162
Skelly>Snekkle

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>>1821162
Ready to crush Quantac'Vrix

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Rolled 61 (1d100)

A taste of things to come

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>1821245
I'll give you a taste.

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Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>1821299
>>1821245

>>1816940
Silently cursing yourself for not departing for Bastion sooner you watch the minutes countdown as the Charnel Vault and it's accompanying fleet travel. Through the psionic link with your Reconstructed you watch the destruction that the Matriarch inflicts upon your forces, her fleet clashing on near equal ground with your own in vicious battles throughout the system.

Ruscuv and the Fury grapple with Quantac'Vrix, the trio of immensely powerful entities locked in a bloody struggle. Blood froze and spun off them in spiraling waves, heating to steam as the waves of energy washed off them only to freeze once more in a perpetuating cycle that makes the light around them distort even more. Arc lightning raked across the Fury's armor, leaving dark furrows of blasted bone and metal while claws blazing with Necrotic flames tear and rake at the Matriarchs armor and scales.

Agona and Tlacex fight on, attempting to break the charge of the Ahkam forces while keeping their attention partially split with the battle of titans. You could tell just from the Pilots on the bridge of her Destroyer that she was wanting to join Ruscuv in the battle but she dutifully holds her position defending Bastion.

Eiton holds back from the battle between Ruscuv and the Matriarch, knowing his small corvette would be easily swept aside by either party without notice. Instead he commands his Disciple who helped him create the Arc Savages to continue their mission of sabotage the vessels carrying the Ahkam serpents. You could feel his concern as the other Disciple continues her meditation in the Arc Temple in her efforts to identify and locate the mysterious Arc entity.

Valresko sends word to your ship, his mind straining as he assists the Deep Rot in the brutal battles. His message requests your advice, knowing your arrival was due shortly.

He questions where he and Ruscuv should attempt cornering the Matriarch for your arrival, listing off locations quickly rather than addressing the full strategy as he normally would.

Where should the Armada attempt to draw the Matriarch?
>Continue to fight her by the Rukor blockade
>Drive her back to the toxic world
>Corner her in the asteroid belt and the protoplanet
>Force her to Bastion and the majority of the Obsidianborn fleet
>Other (write-in)

>>1821320
Is the Def. Asteroid Network still up in the asteroid belt ? If yes, corner her here, detonating things in her ass could surprise her, and give us a valuable distraction.

>>1821320
I think forefinger to move would create more casualties how ever the stone star would be the best ships conceal with her and the lava father would greatly appreciate a front row seat for her execution

No reward without risk as they say but it would be a costly risk if we fail...

Gonna say hold her where she is

>>1821320
>Other (write-in)
Away from our planets, and the asteroid belt. The destruction her death at our hands will wreak will doubtlessly be immense, and we arent about to settle for a pyrrhi victory. If at all possible Eiton and the other disciple in sowers should prepare a minefield to draw her into.

Additionally Agona and any other generals willing to get in on the slaughter aught to make moves to do so now, focusing fire to clear a path through their opponents.

We also really need to tell the Armatocere and the Lava father we are nearly in the system and to coordinate accordingly. The battle is about to spin into madness.

>>1821320
>Corner her in the asteroid belt and the protoplanet
Gives us more options and cover to move around, and it should still be full of crit crawls

>>1821320
>>Corner her in the asteroid belt and the protoplanet

>>1821351
Yeah the Ahkam mostly avoided the asteroid belt by flying above and below it so most of the defenses are still in place.

Some of the ships that were in hiding there joined the battle near Bastion by sneaking up on the Ahkam there from behind

>>1821377
changing vote to this then. The asteroid belt was supposed to be a battleground anyway, so I wont cry over havoc raised there

>>1821363
>The Arkhan Fleet is wawering but holding itself together
>The Matriach is fighting the Beast, probably thinking the winner of this duel will win the war
>Suddenly gravity well appear everywhere
>The Great Fleet of Jadyk as arrive
>The gigantic charnel vault lead the charge
>Panic.

>>1821377
Perfect then, those defense are pretty much here to die while inflicting the maximun damage possible anyway; it will be the perfect battlefield.

>>1821320
Attempt to drive the Matriarch toward the
the asteroid belt

Roll me 2d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 46, 30 = 76 (2d100)

>>1821399

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Rolled 55, 19 = 74 (2d100)

>>1821399

Rolled 40, 98 = 138 (2d100)

>>1821399
Come on, roll me a good one !

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>>1821408
That's a good boy.

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>>1821408
I look forward to Jaydk telikinetically plucking the matriarchs wings

Rolled 99, 94 = 193 (2d100)

>>1821408
WEW

>>1821435
WASTED

>>1821435

By the Wormstar

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>>1821435
So close

>>1821435
You wasted it you monster.

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>>1821438
>>1821443
>>1821453
>>1821458
This is the third time I've done this now.

Maybe I should start rolling sooner.

>>1821459
Knowing our luck it will be straight crit fails across the line

>>1821548
Now I'll really be sure to make the next roll.

>>1821399
With your approval Valresko transmits his plans to the rest of the fleets. Almost immediately Eiton and his Disciple leap to action, their cloaked ships moving to carry out the Solar Dominator's orders. The message traveled through the Armada's forces, the Armatocere vessels included, and the defenders gave a sudden push against their foes and fighting with renewed ferocity.

Ruscuv snarls out in annoyance at the plan at first, but as the Matriarch rips another portion of segmented armor from the Fury she quickly came to agree with his suggestions. While the two titans battled Ruscuv forces the Fury to ignite its engines, its limbs coiling tight around the serpent as it begins accelerating away from Rukor while dragging her. The Matriarch immediately did not tolerate this, her body twisting and bucking against the Fury's grip while flexing her bladed wings.

Arc lightning crackling along her body she gave a might burst of the energy that sears the bioships hull badly and with a psychic squeal of pain it begins to finally uncoil itself from the serpent. Freed once more with the Fury recoiling Quantac'Vrix presses her attack, the cluster of blades at the end of her tail lashing out and scraping its side. Now separated they lash out with their weaponry, turrets and missiles exchanging blows of Arc and Necrotic might but to the Matriarch it seemed as if the Fury was drawing back from her assault.

Still putting up a vicious fight the Fury began accelerating away from the serpent who follows after, likely blinded by her anger in the battle. Lightning leaps from her in great sprays of Arc energy, the bioship responding with blasts of flayers slicing wildly in return.

Quantac'Vrix rears back, her wings stretching as she charges another miniature star in her open mouth before unleashing the beam of turbulent elemental energy. The Fury tries to twist out of the way but one of its limbs is half-vaporized by the attack and a very real emotion of pain surges through the bioship.

At Ruscuv's orders the bioship spins and twists itself around, the Lich having to exert all of her will to make the nearly enraged warship turn tail and run from the attacking serpent. Seeing her foe flee seemed to spur the serpent on, her cackling filling the airwaves and psychic broadcast as she gives chase. She unleashes bolts of energy from her fanged maw but the surprisingly nimble bioship avoids most of them as it flees toward the outer rim of the solar system.

>cont

>>1821781
With the Matriarch drawn away from the battlefield her fleets seemed somewhat confused by her decision but they hold, continuing to battle with the blockade.

As the defenders made a push to drive them back the Ahkam invaders fought back to hold them there, their determination a small surprise but with the Matriarch in the same system they must have been emboldened. To Valresko's annoyance they turned back the ships attempting to break through to assist the Fury in herding the Matriarch toward the traps set in the asteroid belt.

Instead he sends commands to the damaged ships who's crews had been transferred to those still intact. The vessels, many of them lacking portions of hull or working weapon systems, move forward from the packs of starships as their engines burn bright and hot. They accelerate at dangerous levels, the pilots and Think Tanks in charge ignoring the alerts of failures and damages even as the Ahkam begin firing upon them.

The martyred ships rush forward firing their remaining reserves of missiles and still functioning weapons without heed as they were struck down. The chambers and halls that still held atmosphere rang with the hymns of the built in Choirs and the chanting of the Pilots themselves, calling out the name of Jadyk and the Wormstar even as their ships erupt in balls of flame as they're destroyed or crash bodily into the Ahkam vessels too slow to avoid their course.

The moment of confusion and chaos from the kamikaze attack grew as swarms of Reconstructed, Obsidianborn, and Armatocere strikecraft raced in. Nails and Gunships unleashing their payloads against Ahkam warships as the Dervishes and Thorns move like schools of predatory fish to carve out chunks of their foes before moving onto the next before they could retaliate.

The Armada's forces surged forth in the wake, their engines burning bright as they raced forward to break through the Ahkam lines. They moved in numerous wedges, the heavy capital ships at the core and front forcing the invaders forces to split as they pummel their way through. In the chaos, ships come to blows at near point blank range as they passed each other in deadly exchanges of their turrets and missiles. Plowing through the center lines of the Ahkam forces was one of the Armatocere treeships, the same one that had unleashed their devastating gravitic weapon against the Matriarch. It guides the Armada forces following it through the path of destruction it unleashes upon the invaders.

As the Armada forces moving to follow the Matriarch and Fury passed the Ahkam lines the invaders tried to come about to follow after her. As their large vessels slowly turned they came under attack from another barrage of kinetic strikes, the shields failing on multiple ships before several were cut in half by the attacks.

>cont

>>1821788
Only a portion of the blockade had moved on toward the asteroid belt, the rest that had stayed behind launching their own attacks as the Ahkam forces tried to come about and follow the Matriarch.

This sent their lines into disarray as their fleets struggled to decide who would stay and continue the siege of Rukor and who would provide back-up for their leader. Their forces split, a portion chasing after the Armada ships that had broken through their lines, while the rest stay and reengage the blockade forces and the Armatocere treeship that had stayed behind to safeguard Rukor.

Ruscuv urges the Fury to go faster, even as it reaches back with several limbs and taking shots at the Matriarch as she pursues. The nimble serpent avoids most, but not all of the powerful attacks, sections of her shield flickering but holding now that they were no longer locked in a deadly grapple. The Lich forces herself to hold back her distaste as she can feel the psionic taunting the Matriarch was flinging her way. She wished nothing more than to turn the Fury and reengage in the brutal melee but she knew her best chance of victory was following Valresko's plans.

Her reverie was broken as there was a sudden burst of Arclight before the Fury. The bioship twists into a tight roll with its limbs retracting or coiling tight against its body as the Fury attempts to avoid the Matriarch as she emerges from her Arc Blink only dozens of kilometers in front of them. Her jaws snap at the Fury as its momentum sends her hurtling past but her bladed wings and tail slash out scoring several deep wounds in its armor.

Bellowing with anger the Fury cuts its engines suddenly, twisting around as it's momentum carries it still. It's limbs pull back and from the four barrels around its beak unleashes a barrage of its spinal Necrotic flayers, the mighty beams striking one of her smaller wings. The limb visibly corrodes and withers from the blast, the Matriarch letting out her own psionic scream of pain. The bioship spins itself around once more, it's engines flaring bright as it resumes its race toward the asteroid belt.

Despite the passage of time the Matriarchs anger and desire to eliminate the bioship did not seem to be abating. She follows the Fury even as they pass the orbit of the toxic world, where multiple Ahkam ships raced to intercept but the speeds of the two titans meant they would not be able to catch up.

The asteroid belt looms ahead of the bioship and Ruscuv silently whispers a prayer to the Wormstar for your speedy arrival, the Fury quaking from a blast of Arc lightning that nearly strikes an engine.

>cont

>>1821808
Her prayers were answered as the Eyegore in the system detects the presence of a large gravity well forming over the toxic world. Moments later there was a massive flash of light and radiation as the Charnel Vault emerges, flanked by a fleet fresh for battle from Horizon's Drop.

Seated in the bridge of the flagship you shout your order for the fleet to race after the Matriarch, but as your voice rang out you find yourself alone in a motionless chamber. Anger bubbles up in your chest as you recognize the sensation, the freezing of time and existing in the space between movements of the cosmic clock.

>>1821819
Now is this a masked freez or a 3 voice freez?

>>1821819
Go away Masked, your ruining our moment.

Tell them either they their names or sod off.

>>1821861
The Pilots and Talons in the bridge were frozen in place, Kyn'tk a heavy weight in your ribcage. You glance around but see nothing out of the ordinary. No sound reaches you either, only the sound of your own robes as you stand from the throne.

"Alright! I've had enough! Show yourselves!" you call out, the sound not echoing like normal and falling flat.

You feel yourself freeze in place then, an all encompassing force that surrounds you. The voice comes to you then, gentle and calm as it spoke with a human tongue, "You are in no position to make demands, Lich. You are here to listen, to heed our warning. We delivered our warning and threat, demanding you avoid taking the Arc for yourself."

A second voice, different from the first in that it spoke with a vorh's language, but still calm and confident as it reached you, "We heard your discussions with your Predator and pet Ahkam. We know you still think that the Arc is yours to claim. That those which should remain dead urge you to take it for yourself."

A third, speaking with the tongue of a long extinct race, the language vaguely familiar as it strikes a note in your memory of the old Armada, speaks from your side, "You bring hope to your subjects, Lich. It makes them easy to manipulate to your will. A more effective form of conquest than your old tactics of conquest and consumption."

The first speaks once more, "Ignore the Arc. You already have more power than any other being in the history of this galaxy. You do not need it."

"The Solar and Void are already yours because we did not believe you could control them and your power Necrotic," the vorh's voice says from beside you and you feel the faintest pressure of a physical brush against your shoulder.

The alien voice speaks, its void holding an edge the others had lacked, "We warned you that taking the Arc would lead to consequences but still you act as if you wish to take it for yourself. This we cannot allow."

They trail off and time remains frozen, as if expecting your answer.

What shall you say to these mysterious Three?
>Write-in

>>1821969
and What is your place to allow anything? Who and what are you to judge me? And don't say Gods, because that has been the fall back of the fakes and mad for millennia. You warn, but then you threaten. If you are as knowledgeable as you claim you know I respond to that poorly.

>>1821969
>That those which should remain dead urge you to take it for yourself.
So the voice is nekris
>>1821969
you talk as if bringing hope to my subjects and the galaxy and taking the ark are mutually exclusive. Simply put it's not. Taking the ark would only increase my ability to bring hope.
Now if you don't want me to take it you better have a dam good reason. Because I AM in a position to make demands. I'm your only chance of bringing hope to this galaxy. I'm the only card in your deck.

>>1821969

"I don't answer to cryptic warnings from disembody voices, if you wish to convince me from taking the Arc, then you will explain yourselves clearly or leave me to do as I will."

>>1821978
Backing this plus along with demanding names even the masks had the decency to show themselves and say who if not what they are.

>>1822003
>>1821978
Both of this
Fuck these guys
>>1821969
>Pull out the mask
You aren't the only players in this game. I think your afraid. Afraid of someone becoming strong enough to fix this galaxy and make you no longer needed or wanted.

>>1821969
>>1821969
Do each of you claim guardianship over one of the Elements? Do you claim to speak for the Solar, Void, and Necrotic? If so, where is the one that speaks for the Arc?

You claim to care for my subjects, as I care for them. You have spoken of bringing hope to the galaxy. But I do not yet have enough power to bring protection and peace to all who seek it. If I refuse to claim the Arc, will you lend me your powers instead? If you see my goals as good, why have you not advanced them yourselves, and will you change that course now? If you will not bring hope, then I must.

And finally, why do you oppose my claim on the Arc? You have given many warnings, but never any reasons. Why should I trust that your true goals are aligned with my own?

If you merely impose your will because you are powerful, that is no different from the tyranny of the old Armada. If it is because you truly share my goals and know that claiming the Arc would be destructive to them, give me reason to believe it. Do you rule by power like the old Armada, or by persuasion and wisdom?

>>1821969
If I didn't know any better.. I could almost think you three to be, afraid.

You talk as though I do this out of greed or that I wield hope like a weapon. Well vibrate to burst your bubble but I give them hope because it is what they deserve and I take these powers to ensure thereafter of my people and here we are at the precipice and though your warnings and threatening tones are clear you seem too fearful to even show yourselves.

And for all your apparent act of omnipotence involving future events you have failed to realise o be thing... as am agent of hope I shall never Submit to fear of the unknown

So do as thou Wilt, but know this if you think to get in my way, I will. One for each of you as immortal or not. My time has taught me one thing. Death comes for us all, it is only a matter timing

>>1821969
You spoke of power, of the limit I should impose to myself, or to be precise the limit YOU want to impose me; you tell me that I should content myself of the power I already have. That it's enough
*silence*
Do you take me for fool, or are you fool yourselve ? Do you think I would present such a lack of ambition ? Do you think that the races thriving in this galaxy would have gone this far by being content with what they have ? They are no end to progress, no end to ambition, no end to hope, because they are the very drive of every being. You tell me I'm powerfull enough, yet you know of Akka-Tor the despicable, of the Hypocrite Masked and the cruel "Great Game" of their, and of your own power.
So tell me, if I am really powerfull enough to protect my people ? The silence of the dead in the world destroyed at the hand of those being will be your answer.

My ambition will know no end because my dream know none, I will become the emboniment of the dream of my people and I will protect them, including of being like you if you treathen him.

>>1821969
I have no obligation to trust or respect your orders or wishes. Your trickery irks me, and I will not play into your demands.

The masked, terrible and wicked though they are at least have courage enough to meet me, and entreat with me, but you phantoms are cowards beyond even the masked.

The Arc must flow.

>>1821969
>The Solar and Void are already yours because we did not believe you could control them and your power Necrotic
I think I know why we can control multiple powers.
We died and came back.
Our soul has a true neutral resonance.
In terms of power affinity we are like AB- blood, able to use all sources

>>1822034
This
>>1822040
And this
>>1822041
And this
>>1822003
>>1821978
Fuck they are all good

I'm also glad that we are all telling them to eat shit

>>1822034
>>1822027
>>1822040
>>1821978

We should yell at them like a pissed off old man going off the rails at a chair.

>>1822057
If they want us to listen to them, they must tell us why we should do so; we will not be bossed around by a bunch of cryptic ghostly voice who act like they had the moral highground.

>>1822070
As far as I can tell, we are the highest moral authority around, seeing as we are the most good leaning superpower around, and we have- or are going to have- the power to back it up.

Fuck these guys. They dont get to judge us. We are the good guys here.

>>1822069
We are likely older than they are. You should yell at them to respect there elders and complain about kids today

>>1822057
I'm mostly giving them a chance to give me a reason to *not* tell them to eat shit. If they're on our side they'd better start being convincing about it. If they're able and determined to destroy us if we take the Arc, they have yet to say so.

>>1822070
>>1822077
These. We have demonstrated evidence that we're good. Who the hell are they?

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>>1822079
>Channel our inner Eastwood

>>1822096
I know your asking yourself, did he use 3 powers or 4. In all the excitement I can't remember. So ask yourself. Do you feel lucky? Well do ya punk

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>the anticipation is killing me

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>>1822337
Stare into the void and await answers

Not giving any reasons just makes the yes argument stronger.

I think we're all very keen to try our luck here, if it goes bad at least we have Jor...

>>1821969
You can feel your anger bubble up like black pitch, your voice hard as you spoke, "Who are you to forbid me anything? Who are you to allow anything?"

The outburst was answered by silence but you could feel them still around you, their grip holding you still, "I have no obligations to trust or respect your orders and whims. You come to me and speak of threats and warnings, saying I must resist and temper my hunger but WHY must I?

"Even the Masked have the courtesy to introduce themselves before making their demands and propositions! Even they do not restrain me like some prisoner before trial! They at least have courage enough to meet me, and entreat with me, but you phantoms are cowards beyond even them!"

There was a harsh hiss and clack of anger but a whisper just beyond your hearing cuts them off. The humans voice speaks, still calm and confident, "The Masked are fools, abusing their powers for their amusement to abate their eternal boredom. Do you believe they think you to be an equal?"

The unknown alien speaks, their voice hardened but still calm, "Do you believe that scrap of wood in your torso to be of any importance rather than the cruel joke they have been playing on you?"

"You still have not answered any of my questions and as such I have no desire to heed your threats and warnings. I do not answer to or obey those that refuse to show the courtesy of a conversation," your annoyance thick in your voice, "Point at the Masked, the deceptive manipulators that they are, all you wish, but it does not give me any reason to trust or heed your words.

"Why does me taking the Arc scare you so?" You question them, preparing yourself to attempt breaking free. If it was possible.

"You speak as if I use hope as a weapon to control my subjects. I do not. The hope I instill is because I believe they are worth it. I will take the Arc if it means I can further protect them from the likes of those that wish them harm."

There was silence for several moments then the vorh speaks, their temporary anger gone from their voice, "You have already damaged the fabric of reality but embodying the Void, Solar, and Necrotic under one soul. We Three are jailors and guardians of reality who will do all we must to prevent the creation of another Abomination that would threaten the Order of Reality."

"Already the boundaries weaken. The Necrotic and the Void stir from their slumbers," the human continues.

"The Arc Surges in response to the corruption you have started," the alien says, their voice hardened, "Reality and its enforcers will continue to rail against you."

Their voice overlaps in imperfect harmony, "We Three have given you our final warning. The Arc is not yours to take. Do you still intend to steal that which is not yours and become Abomination?"

How do you answer?
>Write-in

>>1822413
Render unto Jadyk that which is Jadyk's. Reality will be safe under my gaze, after all I live here.

>>1822413
Another Abomination ? So they have been one before ? Speak now, I'm tired of your game. I wish to make the entire universe my people, to protect them and to have the strengh to do such a thing. I do not care about a great order or balance, for such thing are limitation put by people unable to control their power and fear. I had a taste of absolute power, I was the avatar of a True God. Yet I do not wish to return to those time. For I do not seek power for itself, but for a greater good, a living dream.

>>1822413
Become? No. In this reality of despair and hopelessness.. I Am the Abomination who shall bring about change. I will not steal the Arc I shall reclaim it

Jailers you claim to be and I do agree you have such powers at your disposal and yet you do nothing about the state of things. By your inaction you have chained this realm in stagnation, I shall reclaim the arc and break your chains and usher us all into a new age of hope.

>>1822413
They are idiots. They dont know a damn thing about us.

Lets take the arc and then FUCK THEM ALL TO DEATH YEAAAAAH

>>1822413

Begone, if you refuse to give me answers real answers you will get none in return.

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>>1822413

>>1822413
And yet the arc desires me too take it into myself. You still have not answered me, only given vague warnings and vaguer threats. I wish for two things, the knowledge and the power to protect me and mine. No more no less. The masked May not regard me as an equal but they at least come to the table with something worthwhile. i laid out my terms and you ignore them. What is abomination? What are the boundaries? How does my taking in power weaken them? What do you mean by the necrotic and void stirring? You are blind and fools, powerful ones, but fools nonetheless. Either give me a proper answer or reason or begone. I cannot and will not submit not to you, not to the masked, not to that bitch akka tor, not even to the still extant "gods" still extant.

>>1822413
Can we break their hold over us so we can move about?

>>1822462
Yea Im gonna put my vote for this. Lets strong arm their force against us and try to break free

>>1822413
Only now do you even BEGIN to explain yourselves. If you truly care about reality you have not given your "final" anything. If your duty is to reality, then you will not withhold the knowledge that would protect it.

Tell me of the last Abomination, and why I should not claim the Arc. Tell me what risk there is to reality. If our goals are aligned then we need not be enemies. If you care about reality more than your pride, then treat me as an equal and share what you know so that we can protect reality together.

If instead your pride and arrogance has blinded you, such that you would rather risk reality than treat me as a friend, then you are like the old Armada. Arrogant and proud to the point of blindness and self-destruction.

You warn me because you believe I have power to harm reality, and lack the knowledge needed to use it wisely. If ignorance is the threat, then tell me know what you know. If a lack of wisdom threatens reality, then share your own.

>>1822413
You want that I shouldn't then tell all. No secret. No lie.

>>1822444
This
>>1822462
This as well
When we do say something like
>no chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.

>>1822444
>By your inaction you have chained this realm in stagnation
You know, you've got a point.

The "reality" they're "protecting" is a shitshow, and the hope they claim to want was damn hard to find until we showed up.

What makes them fit to be guardians of anything? The status quo indicts them as incompetent.

This Abomination thing would have to be really bad to justify the status quo as preferable, and their either unwillingness or inability to improve the status quo without destroying reality shows that they're either weak or corrupt.

>>1822484
Loving the fire in this. Supporting

>>1822484
If we do break free I'm all for saying this

It would be some serious blue balls if we try to take the power and we roll so low we fail

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>1822508
I'd laugh pretty hard.

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>>1822519
>>1822508

>>1822519
"I told you, even if I want to, I couldn't! Happy now? Now leave me alone, reeeeee"

>>1822413
"You deliver these threats but do not speak of the consequences of becoming this Abomination you fear," you let out a bitter laugh, "In this reality of despair and hopelessness, I -am- the Abomination who shall bring about change to this reality. I will not steal the Arc, I shall reclaim it!

"The very Arc itself reaches out to me, protecting those that share my vision for a future of hope and peace. Who are you to forbid this of me? Faceless voices slinking between the moments of the cosmic clock delivering threats without the knowledge that would make these threats and warning worth listening to," you gather your telekinetic might but you do not attempt your escape just yet, "Share this knowledge with me if my ignorance is the danger. What does Abomination mean to you Three?"

There was a moment of silence but the human lets out a faint chuckle, "We know how the Arcs prisoners whisper and tamper with events they should not."

"They will be dealt with soon," the third unknown says.

"You wish to know Abomination?" the vorhs voice questions, "It mustn't be a coincidence, we must admit."

"Coincidence? Explain," you demand.

"The first Abomination we knew, you knew as well. You were allied with their champion, a being as close to a friend as possible in the Old Armada," the humans says with an amused tone, "The Black Flame. A hybrid abomination of the Void and Necrotic."

"An acceptable hybrid, complimentary elements. The Arc and Solar have joined in similar unions," the alien says, their voice firm, "While frowned upon, their existence was not harmful to realities boundaries."

The vorh speaks, their voice finding a cruel amusement, "You were already slain and entombed by the Crystalline Minds and their Wasp partners, when your old master, became an Abomination beyond the Black Flame.

"The Wormstar unlocked the secrets of the Solar, becoming Abomination by discovering how to subdue and control that which would have consumed them," the vorh says with distaste, "A foolish decision upon the Wormstar's part that lead to their eventual destruction. Their corpse and power shattered and scattered to the corners of the galaxy along with their forsaken followers."

Attempt to break free of their control?
>Y/N

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Rolled 10, 9, 2 = 21 (3d10)

>>1822519

>>1822544
>N not until they are finished exposition
Then break free.

>>1822544
>Y
>no chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.

>>1822544
>N
Not, yet let them talk its surprising to get some information of the Wormstar.

>>1822544
>Y
If they are done explaining

>>1822563
So it looks like we wait until we are done getting information out of them, and if they give no more then we break out
Hopefully saying
>no chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.

>>1822544
>N
Let them finish then we break free.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. LET THEM NIBBAS TALK

>>1822544
"Tell me more of the Wormstar's transformation," you say, very interested in this info you had yet to receive, "Tell me more of what happened."

"The Crystalline Minds came to eliminate the Wormstar. Lead to its location by the betrayal of the Wraith Queen Akka-Tor who became the Sun-Eater after feasting slowly on the carrion of the Wormstar," the human says with their eternally calm voice.

"She hid from the Crystalline Minds, her slow consumption allowing her attain her own ascension to conjoin the Solar and Necrotic. She continues to elude her punishment, her deceptions tricking even the Masked until she slew several for insulting her," the vorh says, distaste plain in their voice at the mention of the Wraith.

"She does not matter at this time. Only you and your decision that we cannot allow. You, the former favored champion of the Wormstar," the unknown voice says with a sneer of contempt, their language infuriatingly familiar, "Have followed in its path and that path lead to it's destruction and the desolation of the old Armada and the Undying Court."

The human speaks, "No entity has ever taken more than two of the elemental powers into themselves until you. Your Wormstar came close though. They were studying the remains of the Black Flame, attempting to unlock the secrets of the Void in a mad desire to attain all and become true Abomination."

"This must never be allowed. The fact you have come so far means we have nearly failed in our duty. A failure we shall correct, by any means necessary," the unknown alien says firmly, their voice dripping with malice from just behind your throne.

You let out another bitter laugh, "Then becoming Abomination is my fate! The Arc itself calls for me!" As you shouted out your words, your mind twists with this revelation and the implications but you force them aside for another time as you attempt to break free of your unseen bonds with your own significant telekinetic force.

The Three hiss in angered unison, their voices overlapping as they sense your attempt at escape, "So be it! Your Armada will never know what became of you!"

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>1822607
>no chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>1822607
NOW'S MY CHANCE.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>1822607
Here we go
>>1822616
Really nigga

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>1822607
>!" As you shouted out your words, your mind twists with this revelation and the implications but you force them aside for another time as you attempt to break free of your unseen bonds with your own significant telekinetic force.

>>1822620
Damn, nice save.

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>1822607

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>>1822621
>>1822620
oh shit

>>1822620
That's more like it
>no chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.
>what you call abomination I call apotheosis

>>1822607
There was a sound like a battleship being twist apart as your telekinetic force bursts out from your form, straining against the telekinetic grip holding you in place. There was a struggle that feels as if they could win at any moment but with a shout of rage their hold crumbles and breaks like shattered glass around you, glinting in the moment of frozen time.

You feel something speeding for your back but you spin in place, your hand thrusting out with a powerful blast of Necrotic might. The sheet of green flame washes over the humanoid lunging for you with a blade of negative-light in their grip and you are met with the indignant shout of a vorh.

The attacker is pushed back by the wave of Necrotic force you were unleashing upon them but a sphere of telekinetic force appears within the torrent. You see the figure stand with two others by their side but the flames obscure them. Withdrawing your attack you see the Three standing before you and the recognition is enough to make you falter.

Three of them stood, or rather, floated before you. Their forms were indistinguishable from each other, the humanoids clad entirely in Cauldron-forged armor and Necromancer vestments. The eyes of their helms blaze with energy like motes of light as they stare at you. You recognize the designs, remembering them garbing the battle Necromancers of the Wormstars favored elite. Many of the warrior-sorcerers that wore this armor had been trained by you during the Necrotic Wars.

They stand before you now, blades of negative-light in their hands but they do not attempt to strike. Instead the human speaks and still you are uncertain of which of them it was, "We underestimated your strength, Lich. It is no wonder the Masked treat you so kindly in their negotiations with you."

"The next time we meet, we shall end your existence should you attempt taking the Arc," the vorh speaks with their voice hardened by anger.

"We orphans of the Wormstar must do what we must to ensure that the universe need not suffer another Abomination," the alien third speaks.

>cont

>>1822690
You stand up straight in front of them, Kyn'tk slithering and reforming quickly in your hand now that it was freed from their restraint. The weapon shifts, the fractal blades hungry for battle but you hold back, speaking with a voice full of anger and annoyance at their machinations and threats, "Heed my words. No chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.

"That is the way of the New Necrotic Armada. Rebirth and Reconstruction, to Death and through it to Eternity," you say and level Kyn'tk in their direction.

The Three glance at each other for a moment then bow their heads to you, speaking in unison once more, "Then we shall meet again. Should you survive your battle with the Matriarch, we will be there to stop you from dooming reality and unleashing those that must remain imprisoned."

There was a flicker, like a holoscreen correcting an error in its display, and time resumes its pace. The Three were gone, the only sign of their arrival the section of the bridge warped and corroded from your Necrotic attack against them.

The Charnel Vault and the fleet you brought from your home race forward at your command, issued only a split moment before. Several of the Reconstructed look at you in confusion, having seen you seated in your throne then standing by it without seeing you move. They return to their work, the Pilots of the Charnel Vault coming to somewhat expect inexplicable things within the bridge of your flagship.

You return to your seat as you race toward combat with the Matriarch. Kyn'tk retakes its place within your ribcage as you pull the Mask from its confines. As before it was coated with a rapidly evaporating layer of bone-dust, the wood heavy in your hand as it shifts imperceptibly like a living creature. Tapping the wood with a claw you growl down at it, "I expect some very extensive explanations the next time we speak."

The Mask does not reply, merely being a piece of inanimate carved wood but you hear a faint hiss of a chuckle within your skull, "We owe you that much."

Replacing it in your ribcage you look to where Ruscuv and the Fury were pursued by the Matriarch. Your thoughts linger on the encounter though, the revelations of the Wormstar and the mysterious Threes suggested origin troubling you.

>>1822695
>unleashing those that must remain imprisoned
That's why we have seen no gods

Take the ark! Brake the chains that bind!
>No chains shall bind me. No throne shall be denied me. No god shall stop me. And should reality break I shall forge it a new.

>That is the way of the New Necrotic Armada. Rebirth and Reconstruction, to Death and through it to Eternity," you say and level Kyn'tk in their direction.
God that is good

>>1822695
>"We orphans of the Wormstar must do what we must to ensure that the universe need not suffer another Abomination,"
>we will be there to stop you from dooming reality and unleashing those that must remain imprisoned."

These stupid upstart children. They're incompetent and unworthy of the position they've given themselves.

If it were truly so important to keep the "arc prisoners" imprisoned they wouldn't risk failure to hide the reasons for it. But no, they'd rather stroke their egos about being "guardians" while failing to actually do it.

Are we the only person in the whole Armada that learned the folly of pride?

>>1822695
There is a lot to digest here.
But it all reaffirmed my desire to take the ark. In part to stick it to these smarmy cunts

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>>1822718
Probably not, it's just that the not prideful ones have lived quietly since then.
I think one went and became a farmer. His name was Bill Door if I remember right

>>1822695
Sadly it's looking like I should call it here. Forgot I gotta be up early in the morning.

Hope folks had fun, I know I did writing it.

Been waiting with this reveal for a while

Doubt we'll be able to do a continuation of this thread later in the week. Might have to do a .2 thread on Saturday, sorry folks

>>1822770
It was a fun thread, thanks for running.

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>>1822770
Thanks for running Grave

Also Just admit you love having cliff hangars

>>1822770
Thanks for running, this thread was full of bombshell info.
How long had the matriarch coming to attack been in real life? Feels like months. Fitting for such a big event

Things are escalating. I'm exited!

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The necrotic warriors three

I assume the Vohr would be Porthoss

Ok so, theory crafting time
If there 3 are the best of the best necromancers of the old armada there is a chance that so to are the masked
We already know the maske are necrotic because the after effects of the last time the masked physicals fuck someone up left a super huge necrotic impact. That the dead star thing the plant guys told us about when we first brought up the masked to them.
That lends credibility to them being necromancers from the old days


Here is what I think happened.
When the wormstar died local reality broke. Sending all the necromancers defending him out of time. Many went a bit mad from the boredom and became the masked, 3 because the (needs a name, let's call them the trinity) saw reality break and didn't like it, so they try, inevitably, to prevent what they think caused it from happening again

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>>1822830
>They're the Three Musketeers

>>1822835
We still don't have any explanation for why the Three think that mixing elements was the cause of the Wormstar's downfall, when even they say that it was the Crystals and Wasps led by Akka-Tor that were directly responsible.

That part still confuses me. What gave them such a hateboner for element mixing? What's this "reality" stuff? Maybe something along the lines of what you're saying happened.

I'm thinking out research in phasic energies is going to become important. It's not just a quirk, there's something fundamental going on here.

And it is VERY interesting that Akka-tor has both killed MULTIPLE masked and eluded the Three.

>>1822850
Too tough to fight so they focus on killing up and conning powers

I suppose the joining of multiple elements makes for a more powerful entity as you can only fill a vessel with so much of one kind before it begins to break. Or something along those lines

Personally I believe the masked are the corrupted shard of the old necrotic Armada God's and what is locked away if the other parts of them. Perhapsvtheor essence.

Their fear is most likely that we will become to powerful to contain if we have all 4 seeing as we already bested them with just 3 elements

Far easier to kill a Prince than to dethrone a king

>>1822830
>>1822843
>Three Musketeers
>not The Spanish Inquisition
but yeah, it's the least expected outcome

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>>1822970
NOBODY EXPECTS THE REALITY INQUISITION!

>>1822770
Say, Grave. We know how Jadyk's old flagship Mausoleum compares in size to the Charnel Vault, but how does it compare in terms of equipment and function?

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>>1822770
>three entities that converse with us in a realm in-between
>they are desperate to contain something
>Our journey will likely see us defeat them and release THAT WHICH MUST NOT BE RELEASED
>Its release will likely be a requirement to fix some flaw in reality
Graves,you put my Hollow Knight in your Death Among the Stars!

I used to not want to take the Arc,but after conversing with these guys(who dont seem bad,they are simply acting as self-imposed wardens over Something)I'm all for it. We are likely the mechanism that will either fix the universe, or usher it into a new age and taking all the Energies will likely be a requirement. However, once this battle is over and while we finish pushing the Osjic and Akham remnants out of the sector, we NEED to look into this. Whatever the Things are that the Three Musketeers dont want loose are things that will be inherently dynamic to the point of pointless upheaval or outright malevolent/Cthulhu levels of apathetic Amageddonness. Just because we are going against these guys wishes on taking the Arc does not mean we must spite them on all levels.

>>1823382
Agreed on the being cautious as fuck over this. If we are to control the Arc we need to research everything we can about it, its interaction with the other elements, and maybe even the previous 'Avatars'. Oh and also side-effects on the time-space fabric that is the universe.

So from what we know
>The Old Armada is conquering the galaxy
>Meth Crystal and Ant alliance show up
>They kill us
>Wormstar is weakened
>It try to acquire more power
>It somehow acquire Void ability
>Around the same time, the Voidknight loose their power
>Suppostion : Wormstar eated the Void Flames ?
>It try to absorb solar
>Akka-Tor and the Sunscale kill it
>The bitch feed on some of it's remnant, acquiring Solar power
>Everything go south, time passes
>We awake

>>1823526
You got your timeline wrong.
It first got soler. And was trying to get void when It died

>>1823531
Ok so got solar, and maybe was trying to eat Void Flames when it died, wich explain why the Sunscale where able to do it in the first place.

So these three schmucks look down on the masked but they're nothing but rogue elements from the old armada, and were not even among the upper power levels at the time.

They found a way to transcend into another form of existence where they spend eternities twiddling their thumbs JUST IN CASE someone tries to absorb elemental powers. They do this because they are keeping things out of this reality.

How did they gain this power? What are they the wardens of, WHY are they? HOW are they?

We tell them to start talking sense and explain things so they do the only right thing to do: attack us, fail, and give us another dumb fucking warning like fucking wind-up toys telling you your horoscope.

>>1823665
These guys do worry me. They said that if we succeed in taking the Arc,then they will destroy us. That means that they will use the time it takes for us to fully harness it to off us or they believe that they are capable of taking us out even with all four energies. Theses guys must be strong and/or able to make a situation that will destroy us. I think it is the later or else they would have killed us after we told them GTFO

>>1823821
The former you mean ? They do tried to kill us, we just BTFO them and they recognized they underestimated us. They will probably try to kill us while we are weakened from pumping the arc.

Let's hope our best good boy Nekris is really one with the arc now and will be able to help us with that.

>>1821320
Damnit I missed it, war of the chosen came out and sucked me in.

Hey folks, just wanted to say and express how thankful I am that you all enjoy the quest. Means a lot to see people enjoying something I've worked on.

Hope I can continue to make something ya'll enjoy

>>1824379
I am excite for next thread.

>>1824379
Well thanks your for running this amazing quest Grave, it's a lot of fun, and I can't wait for the next thread !

>>1824379
Love you too, Grave

>>1824379
Loving the quest, grave. Lots of awesome moments.

>>1822695
Hoooo boy this is going to be legendary.

>>1824379
THis quest is absolutely magnificent. Thank you so much for running it. I hope you can continue to run it for a long time

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Withdrawing your attack you see the Three standing before you and the recognition is enough to make you falter.

"I never expected th-"

"OF COURSE NOT! NO ONE EXPECTS THE NECROTIC INQUISITION"

I shall goto my execution unreprentative of my continued crimes against art and humor!

>>1825201
You shall be reforged into a jester hero unit

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>>1825230
My mother always warned me that if I kept it up I would become a generic tattoo... why didn't I listen

>>1823007
Hah I didn't even see this Damnit awesome work IG

>>1822695
>The Mask does not reply, merely being a piece of inanimate carved wood but you hear a faint hiss of a chuckle within your skull, "We owe you that much."
Wew lad, I enjoyed that. Great update, Graves.

Before we go to take the Arc,we should take what few precautions we have in case the Inquisition tries anything,such as having our 2cute spear it its best versatile form(since it would also be frozen to),have 1 or 2 generals near by for emergency energy drain(not lethal,and no more than 2 in case of AOE attacks),and maybe ,since the Masked's internal gamble is us beating the Matriarch,ask them for a bit of help so that their new favorite sitcom doesn't go of the air right after the such better time for it to do it. These guys have dealt with Abominations before(though apparently only those with two Energies instead of 3 or 4),but they know that we are tough shit.
Great,now I cant get the image of an obese masked in a recliner watching The Necrotic Bunch while saying"I love this show".I can even see us and our generals in those boxes in the intro...

I am currently reading through the archives, but just a minor thought. ignore me if you have done so already but why don't you have the generals one by one take a day off and clone the personalities. then even if they meet an end like the predator then their strategic might and humours would not be gone. the only thing they would lose is their weapons and powers. a hefty price but certainly better than true death.

>>1829172
Because we've been in a constant state of warfare for the last..8 threads? A month or so irl? There's been no chance since we got the tech to take a General off duty for a full day.

You really really need to catch up before making suggestions.