File: c33ce674fbdd050eb7494a92f(...).jpg (805 KB, 2362x1181)

805 KB JPG

While it is unlikely that it is a trap, if the elan's purpose is true, it is still a significant risk. Hence why you are taking Yzia as well as Tzanzi. No others though – there are secrets you cannot let out in public yet, if Dunzamn's warning is to be believed. The power of the elder Ones is a thing the dragons may accept, but the knights might be an issue. Strangely, you suspect Her Majesty may have an inkling, which is rather a terrifying thought, especially as she continues to let you roam free.

If you were paranoid, you might suspect a trap on Dunzamn's part.

Not that you don't, but you're pretty sure it's not on Her Majesty's behalf. Coincidence? That you do doubt. Especially if the Zerth Cenobite of the githzerai guarding the human princess possesses the Elder Power as Yashi's divinations have indicated.

Which brings you to the problems before you: what to tell your cadre.

[] Inform them you are going to heal Tzanzi and then deal with a special situation in the human kingdom.
[] Inform them of the bounty you will be paid to deal with a particular problem of Dunzamn's.
[] Instruct them that they have two days grace, and you will expect them to be prepared for a raid after.
[] Ask them what they think of their current success, see how they've made out on the first raid.
[] Ask them how much of a ransom they expect for the elven childer.
Siobhan thinks that the mission for Dunzamn should be addressed first, with Tzanzi's healing being 'preparation' for a certain issue.

File: 3b2e602da3f244a10787ab33e(...).jpg (997 KB, 2126x1063)

997 KB JPG

>>2069521Twitter: https://twitter.com/XsQuestmistress

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

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2045553/

Akko, Akatmosoko, like all her kind, has a measure of psychic ability. She will simply use most of these powers without prompting, instinctively, when appropriate. Her spells are another matter.
>She is a high ranking Gish, and may give orders to low ranking Knights; mid-ranked Warriors; high ranking Spellcasters, Skulkers, and Murderers; and any Gish lower ranked than herself.
>True Silver Sword: Siobhan
Siobhan offers her opinions and advice on matters when a vote is called for, drawing on Akko's potent intellect and voicing subconscious thoughts for her to consider.
>Current Spell Selection
Warrior's Mix: Combat+Defense+very few Utility

>Current Cadre:
Yzia:, Yzidriava: Ancient Mythic Solar Dragon, lover and companion. She may carry Akko and nine others, being gargantuan.
Falna: Mid-ranked Warrior (Unstable position); Class:Slayer, bound by Oath.
>Silver Sword: Malnae
Yashi: High-ranked Illusionist (Your Spellcaster); Class: Illusionist Wizard, Bound by Oath.
>notSilver Sword: Fehr Vaed
Tzanzi: High-ranked Murderer (First in Command); Class: Pureblade Slayer, Bound by Oath and Friendship.
Auena: Mid-ranked Gish (Yzia's new quarry); Class: Psychic Warrior, Bound by Oath.
Schechei:: Mid-ranked Gish (mated to Falna); Class: Magus, Bound by Oath
>Silver Sword: Tiagothe
Kteine: Mid-ranked Gish (adoptive daughter and acolyte); Class: Psychic Warrior, bound by Oath
>Silver Sword: Achris

>Akko's Current Supreme Leader
Dunzamn, a Lord Knight with a True Silver Sword (Voorsi), leader of the Raid upon the Elven and Human Kingdoms of Iridaiya and Boggsteading, respectively.
>His dragon companion Jacinth, whose true name is an unknown, and is an ancient creature.

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

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

>>2069522
>[] Inform them of the bounty you will be paid to deal with a particular problem of Dunzamn's.
>[] Instruct them that they have two days grace, and you will expect them to be prepared for a raid after.
Still technically true regardless of what happens I guess, Githyanki don't really do mourning.

>>2069522
>[] Inform them you are going to heal Tzanzi and then deal with a special situation in the human kingdom.

>>2069544
I don't think we've told anyone but Yzia, Tzanzi, and maybe Yashi about the Elan yet, and it might be a good idea to keep it that way.

I guess it's possible that they could believe the calibur of our opposition in the Githzerai is enough to justify Akko pooling her own resources for it, but I'm not sure.

>>2069522
>[x] Inform them of the bounty you will be paid to deal with a particular problem of Dunzamn's.
>[x] Ask them how much of a ransom they expect for the elven childer.
Raiding time!

File: fc280cc80731c02e1e8dd2d1f(...).jpg (1.1 MB, 700x1225)

1.1 MB JPG

[XX] Inform them of the bounty you will be paid to deal with a particular problem of Dunzamn's.
[X] Instruct them that they have two days grace, and you will expect them to be prepared for a raid after.
[X] Inform them you are going to heal Tzanzi and then deal with a special situation in the human kingdom.
[X] Ask them how much of a ransom they expect for the elven childer. A little laater, however.

Once everyone is up and has eaten at least something, you have Rana chase all the other slaves out, leaving herself alone to serve, though you suspect she will undoubtedly cheat. Unseen Servant would be one of the first spells a slave would take, after Prestidigitation. A simple 'wish' would allow her to cast the spell to serve others wine, food, and other domestic duties after all. The others become attentive, sensing that you're not simply being sociable.

“Dunzamn has tasked me with a very specific and lucrative mission in the human kingdom. It is significant enough a duty to warrant the giving of large amounts of deep crystal, a group of slaves, and a favor, along with a nearly priceless treasure.” You gesture towards the delicate illusionist, sitting nearest you on the left. “Yashi is aware, of course, as the Divination was hers to cast.”

That raises some eyebrows and gets some interest as well. “A githzerai cenobite has taken up the protection of the human princess by contract, and apparently has been telling tactical information about our people to the humans as well. Ordinarily such a creature would have been the primary target for killing, but instead three cadres were slaughters nearly to the man. Two survived the initial onslaught....though one died later from the effects of a Zerth bit of trickery, their hearts burst from a distance. Lesson taken – it is a powerful Zerth cenobite.”

“That is a fearsome foe indeed; that talent takes much effort and practice.” Tzanzi's compliment is delivered with a flat, unhappy tone.

“The cenobite also has access to Dimension Doors and uses them with far greater capacity and without the usual sickness they inflict. Finally, they have shown a penchant for returning Silver Swords rather than trying to abscond with them. It has done so by throwing them at our warriors, twice with fatal results.” That causes a distressed stirring. “I will be taking Tzanzi to prepare for the fight we will enjoin against the Cenobite. I am also forbidding Auena, Schechei, and Kteine from joining the battle against the cenobite. Yashi and Falna, you two may join if you wish. I am ordering Tzanzi into battle with me. I may take Yzia, or I may not. It depends on how much defense we can prepare against the anti-dragon efforts.”

File: f36106f2c7b1d79aba9d073bd(...).jpg (777 KB, 2532x2868)

777 KB JPG

Falna frowns. “And what are the others to do while you and Tzanzi fight the cenobite?”

“Those who chose to accompany on the flight will be sent raiding against the humans and the mercenaries. Mind you that capturing mercenaries is above and beyond the slave quotas that have been set by Dunzamn. Any mercenary captured it property of the capturing githyanki, to dispose of as they wish.” That sparks a lot of interest. “I will share in the bounty Dunzamn has offered me, to those who accompany. I will say that he has some choice slaves to offer.”

That nets nervous amusement from the table.

“How will you prepare against the betrayer? such a creature will be a difficult fight....” Auena points out.

“I am planning to have Tzanzi healed entirely.” That sets off a flurry of telepathic chatter and shocked gazes and glances, and one outright stare. “Do not bother asking how, I will not tell you.” You look around the table, and Schechei's disappointment is clear and obvious, while Falna is trying to keep her temper in check. Yashi is looking very speculatively at you, and you incline your head. “Any questions other than that?”

Yashi's voice still sends shivers of pleasure and desire down your spine. “That seems a small price for such a puissant foe. What else has the Supreme Leader offered you?” Ah yes, that sounds like a manipulative attempt to sow discord in the ranks.

[] Tell them of the Cubic Gate.
[] Deflect the question, and assure her that the shares will be more than adequate – though you may want to mention the jewels this time.
[] It is a prize well worth the value of the mission, but you want to make certain it is safe to keep first.
[] It's of enough value that you're not going to count it as a prize until you come back alive.
[] Do you need a larger bounty to be satisfied, Yashi?
Siobhan thinks she needs to be put in her place again!

>>2069597
>[] Do you need a larger bounty to be satisfied, Yashi?
>[] It's of enough value that you're not going to count it as a prize until you come back alive.

>>2069597
>[] It's of enough value that you're not going to count it as a prize until you come back alive.

>>2069597
>[x] It's of enough value that you're not going to count it as a prize until you come back alive.
>[x] Do you need a larger bounty to be satisfied, Yashi?
Siobhan please, don't you know that's what she wants?

>>2069597
>[] It's of enough value that you're not going to count it as a prize until you come back alive.
>[] Do you need a larger bounty to be satisfied, Yashi?

>>2069597

>"I won't get into details for now, but I assure you I am not getting ripped off. However, your 'concern' for me is both touching and noted, Yashi."

>>2069597
>[] Tell them of the Cubic Gate.
>[] Do you need a larger bounty to be satisfied, Yashi?

I'm sure Yashi would enjoy a large booty or two right now.

>>2069632
She'll just have to check about Aeuna's schedule then.

Maybe we should also get a noblewoman who's smart and sexy.

Akko has a thing for people who are useful and pleasing to the eyes.

File: f29c27bce2777924be99e3524(...).jpg (1.83 MB, 2300x1294)

1.83 MB JPG

[XX] It's of enough value that you're not going to count it as a prize until you come back alive.
[X] Do you need a larger bounty to be satisfied, Yashi?
[X] Write in? Your concern for my bargaining skills is entirely touching, Yashi, truly.

“I will not deny that there is a further bounty, but it involves handpicking about a blade-weight of gems and jewels, and an object of such value that it is not worth mentioning unless we survive to claim it.” You lean back against your dragon, who purrs (well, you think it may as well be a purr) and presses her back along yours, her tail sliding around your ankle and squeezing. “I believe I could request something more, but Dunzamn may need permission to grant more, or dip into his personal treasury.”

She considers thoughtfully, while you can see suspicion dawning in Falna's eyes, while the twins are speaking telepathically, and Auena looks concerned. Studying Yashi, you ask her calmly, “Do you think you will require more, given that this is a volunteer mission for you, rather than an order given by your Leader or the Supreme Leader? Or are you suggesting I may need to hone my bargaining skills some?”

Yashi smiles faintly and inclines her head. “I see. Well, if you can suggest that you could earn more than a fair share of the treasures and bounty involved, I will consider sweetening the deal for you, perhaps. Bearing in mind that a Zerth Cenobite, on her own and without assistance, killed fourteen githyanki warriors, knights and spellcasters among them. The only true survivor was a single gish using Dust of Disappearance and a knight whom was killed at a later hour.” You grin viciously as Yashi's eyes widen. “Also, I remind you that a Zerth cenobite has a will of of adamantine and can Dimension Door. That makes it impossible to protect someone in the ranks.”

“I have a spell that would be of great value against the latter, at least, Schechei volunteers, much to her mate's consternation. “I am willing to share it for a standard price, if it is in either of your repertoires.” It is harder to tell when Falna uses her telepathy in conversation, but it is clear her offer of assistance angers the female. You recognized the hallmarks from personal experience, of course.

File: f4d9f8fa5d68109220fa2652a(...).jpg (416 KB, 2100x990)

416 KB JPG

'If it is Conjuration Foil or Arcane Disruption, then I know them already. Yashi may not, but I do not know what limitations her knowledge has concerning magics.”

“I can learn them both, and do not possess either” Schechei shivers and Falna refrains from baring her fangs at Yashi when you casually glance at her and make a sharp cutting gesture. “I will gladly pay however you wish, Gish Schechei.” That catches Schechei's interest, and Kteine hisses soft laughter under her breath.

“Antagonize the mate at your own peril; I have no interest in losing my spellcaster....but if you cannot manage basic survival, then I have no need of you, Yashi.” Yashi smiles faintly at you, and Rana watches with increasing interest.

Wonderful, she's catching the ifrit's interest. That can only end badly for someone.

“If there are no more questions, you have two sidereal days free to do as you wish, and half a day to decide on your plans for the next raid, which will involve the killing of the betrayer.” You sip the rich dark brew, not chicory, but some richer, more flavorful liquid similar in nature. You rather like the stuff, it has a rather bitter stimulant taste to it.

“Since you will be taking the second in command and yourself, I presume that I will be in charge after Tzanzi, then Auena?” Falna asks pointedly. You can already tell she'll not be joining the battle against the githzerai; taking over your cadre will earn her some respect.

[] Put Yzia in charge; she won't be available for the battle against the githzerai though.
[] Place Auena in charge of the acolytes, and Falna nominally in charge otherwise. That'll piss her off, but she deserves no trust considering her love-sick nature.
[] Yes, she may have third in command position....if she wants it.
[] Point out the fact – she's less qualified for this group than to lead another entire cadre.
[] No. In fact, she's now under orders as well, to join the battle....that question sealed her fate.
[] Write in?
It would be an excellent excuse to assassinate Falna while Yashi and Kteine can keep Schechei under control....

>>2069651
Hmmm...
>[x] Place Auena in charge of the acolytes, and Falna nominally in charge otherwise. That'll piss her off, but she deserves no trust considering her love-sick nature.
Simple and hopefully clean is how I vote.

>>2069651

>"Falna, we need to talk. Everyone else, please leave us."

>Have Rana gets you a glass of the strongest spirit available, you're going to need it.

We need talk with her, for real.

We can't continue to juggle with her issues like that, no matter how much Akko likes drama.

It's just becoming too impractical to have a powder keg about to explode in our Cadre, especially when the keg is constantly throwing itself at fire.

>>2069653

Pissing off Falna will just make things worse.

We need to deal with her for good now, not be passive-aggressive

>>2069651
>[] No. In fact, she's now under orders as well, to join the battle....that question sealed her fate.

>>2069651
>[] Yes, she may have third in command position....if she wants it.
>>2069659
The problem is that when it comes down to it, neither Akko nor Falna are really very reasonable people, and the Githyanki themselves can be an unreasonable race. I don't really think there's much show of kindness we can offer that Falna won't see as either pity or weakness.

>>2069659
>>2069662
I dunno how much we can really do about her any more, it sounded like things have gotten pretty bad last time this came up. Possibly beyond the point of no return bad. I kinda just don't wanna deal with assassination or rebellion or whatever in this important a mission, leave it for after.

>>2069661
That is very tempting, but to be honest I kind of feel like she's unexceptional enough that she'd die almost immediately and that would fuck Scheichei up but good, I'm pretty sure.

>>2069662
>>2069665

Regardless of this, the situation right now is so bad that if we don't do something now, we're going to have to kill her.

I say we deal with this NOW. Either we solve something or we cut down the chase and kill her today.

We can't go on that mission with a snake in our shirt, and if she does anything bad while we're dealing with the cenobite it'll cost us dearly. If we have to kill her, doing it now is not different from after, aside from the lack of risks.


>>2069666

It would kill Scheichei.

I say we list all the ways she has been crossing the line since the last time we sparred her life for being a short-sighted traitor (beyond what is acceptable for our species) and we ask her why she's doing that when it's endangering Schechei and the years of lovey-dovey happiness they could share

>>2069671
Yeah but you can't really just say "deal with it now" without really having a plan. Like I'm not even clear on what her specific grievance is now. Is it just that she can't stand that her mate and prospective mate respect us a lot? Like she's angry now that Schechei wants to help us defeat a fucking Githzerai, the runner-up in the "Things Githyanki hate the most in the whole multiverse" and I have no idea how to address that.

>>2069673
The root of her anger is that she was in a relationship with Akko when Akko was considerably less old/mature, and in that time Akko has eclipsed her in literally every fashion imaginable. And you want to shame her as if she's a child? That's ridiculous.

>>2069673
>>2069675
Yeah a lot of this issue seems to stem from simple pride, and logic can have a tough time getting through if she's blinded by that. Additionally I think Schechei's clearly enjoying her position in the cadre and respecting Akko is what poured fuel on the fire, and why her lovey dovey status isn't helping her let go of this whole thing but instead exacerbating it.

I dunno, maybe confronting her as an equal (well, as much of one as we can) and making it clear we can't tolerate the direction things are heading and will sort it out now in one way or another is our best bet? Worst case we have to kill her but at least we get it done early. I'm not sure what other way we could approach this that would have a better chance of making her see reason.

>>2069683
I guess I feel like just giving her the position with minimal pissing her off and then killing her if she abuses it is kind of our best bet.

>>2069651
>[] No. In fact, she's now under orders as well, to join the battle....that question sealed her fate.

>>2069651
>[] Point out the fact – she's less qualified for this group than to lead another entire cadre.
>[] No. In fact, she's now under orders as well, to join the battle....that question sealed her fate.

>>2069691
>>2069694
>>2069661
What exactly is your plan here? That's a death sentence and both Akko and Falna know it. Do you want her to try to kill us right now?

>>2069674

>Like I'm not even clear on what her specific grievance is now.

That's what we need to find out.

> I have no idea how to address that.

Me neither, but not addressing it isn't working either

>>2069675
>That's ridiculous.

Perhaps, but she is clearly not in her right mind now and she needs SOMETHING to get back at at least the "scheming intelligently" stage, rather than insulting us like a drunk boar like she keeps doing and think we won't kill her.

>>2069683

This indeed sounds like our best bet.

>>2069688

Again, we've been doing that since the last time we spared her, and it only has kept getting worse since.

>>2069691
>>2069694
>>2069661

Yeah, no, killing her like that solves nothing. We might as well slit her throat right there and now.

Which I'm not opposed to, as long as we try discussing things with her first.

>>2069651
>>2069653
I guess I'll officially swap to confronting her.

Methinks XS is rather tired of trying to figure out what this next update will look like by now, but so it goes!

>>2069696
>>2069697
Falna's a loose cannon. She was given the chance to choose wheter or not to join this op, and she instead wasted the opportunity we graciously presented her with to try and gain control of the cadre.

I don't want Schechei to die, but Falna's really more trouble than what she's worth. Hell, she's so indebted to us we could probably claim most of everything she has if we killed her.

Only reason that she's alive is that until now she was less trouble than what Schechei is worth.


Maybe we should try to appeal to Schechei to get her mate to stop fucking up?

>>2069696
>>2069697
Maybe Akko has a plan other than "fuck you then" and maybe we're underestimating Falna? I mean Tzanzi felt that Falna could conceivably beat her in a fight didn't she? But yeah I don't know maybe a one-on-one conversation would be a bit better but I don't think there's any way to avoid getting messy, which sucks because Falna will take Schechei down with her, and at minimum that'll make Kteine pretty upset.

>>2069705
That is part of it, but it could also be Falna not really thinking she stands a chance and thus could maybe be goaded into fighting alongside us?

>>2069706
I'm not really sure Schechei can due to the substantial power imbalance in hers and Falna's relationship. Like Shechei can't really say anything without seeming like she's taking our side over Falna's. God this is a mess isn't it?

>>2069709
Indeed, and yet I bet Githyanki societal norms purposely encourage this kind of conflict just to stave off ennui some more.

>>2069697
This post actually made me understand why people complain about redditspacing.

Also gotta say, all these green IDs are not ideal for following who votes for what when everyone's discussing and people are changing their votes. /qst/ please.

>>2069709

Turns out accepting to make a daughter so one of the people who hates us the most could fuck her is kind of a mess.

>>2069710

Well yes and no. Githyanki society would probably have wanted us to kill Falna a long time ago.

>>2069711

What do you mean?

>>2069714
People generally avoid double lineshifts unless seperating paragraphs on this site. When someone strays from the "accepted" posting norms they tend to be called out as a newfag or redditor.

I don't really care, either way, but when it happens multiple times in a single post so there's more open space than actual text it looks onoxious on the site layout so I'm more understanding of the people I see complain about it now.

File: faf50f84d29fe41ae1c64cd34(...).jpg (1.79 MB, 1191x1684)

1.79 MB JPG

Rolled 11, 16 = 27 (2d20)

First comes Falna, then comes Akko. Initiative checks.

>>2069727
Goddamnit.

>>2069727
Welp.

>>2069727
At least we won the initiative.

>>2069727
Oh Dead Gods take your eyes you stupid, stupid creature. Why in all the many hells can you not adjust to what is Falna?! Or ask to be released to another cadre if service to Akko rankles so

>>2069740
Unfortunately anons kind of chose the "just fucking kill her" option.

>>2069741
It's really more of a "goad her into suicide" option.

>>2069745
Not better

>>2069745
>>2069741
Would have preferred her to die in battle with the cenobite.

>>2069750
It would have been the better outcome.

File: Akko and Siobhan.jpg (574 KB, 2240x1260)

574 KB JPG

[X] Place Auena in charge of the acolytes, and Falna nominally in charge otherwise. That'll piss her off, but she deserves no trust considering her love-sick nature.
[X] Yes, she may have third in command position....if she wants it.
[XX] No. In fact, she's now under orders as well, to join the battle....that question sealed her fate.
[X] Write in? It seems that she wants to have this out now, instead of doing so in a more private venue....very well. You can oblige to an extent.

“Rana. There are distilled spirits that I will need. Mayune knows where I keep them.” Rana immediately rises, your tone of voice apparently enough of a warning that her desire to stay is eclipsed by her desire not to annoy you. The others tense, your eyes fixed on Falna.

I see you have less faith in my skills than Dunzamn does. It was his choice to send me – or Tzanzi. Or, deal with it himself. I choose another method, one which ensures success and has a much higher chance of survival than his idea.

Without your companion to assist you, you believe you and Tzanzi can take such a warrior as a Zerth cenobite? Either you overestimate your skills or underestimate theirs. The Quivering Palm will ensure one of you dies, and Tzanzi, for all her skills, is not fit to lead in your place with the damage she has suffered. Falna narrows her eyes and gazes at you sternly. You may have become a great and powerful Leader, Akko, but I know that you are less than interested in the well being of your cadre than you would be in learning some new bit of lore or facing a threat you believe you are equal to the task of.

Rana returns and pours a serving of the clear liquor into your bowl, and you lift it, the potent alcohol flooding your senses with stinging pain even before you drink it. You drain the bowl and feel your throat close and your eyes water. Rana shudders and caps the bottle quickly, that fumes alone making her slightly giddy. I see. And you believe they would be safer under your command than Auena's? Fine. If you desire third in command, it is yours....but Auena is tasked with making sure both the acolytes survive. Falna's anger is instant and total and she places her hand on Malnae's hilt.

>>2069750
She would probably never go for that. That cenobite is most likely even stronger than Akko one-on-one (though hopefully not by much), and Falna is all too aware of how she measures up to Akko.

File: Falna.jpg (972 KB, 1680x1050)

972 KB JPG

Schechei is not the most important person here. If one of you was to be given that label, it would be Yashi, whose skills and talents can provide better weapons against the enemy in time than any of us. Her skills would prove more valuable than any number of swords and spells, because they involve the understanding of the enemy that surpasses all of us. She starts to rise and you are on your feet in an instant. Do you wish me to order you into battle with the cenobite? That is my other option, if you cannot grasp the simple fact that I do not consider any one of my people expendable, including my friend and my companion, but will not chose any one over the others either if that is what the Cause requires of me!

Siobhan's soft, dark song is one of blood-lust and terror, a sinister combination of the fear she wishes to instill and the death she would like to inflict. Falna, half risen, mentally lashes out at you, her towering ego becoming a torrent of overwhelming spite and disdain, a seething diatribe of painfully vicious insults to your intellect

A very, very potent Ego Whip – even if you resist it, it will inflict the withering power against your intellect, your awareness, or your sense of self for a moment and leave you debilitated for a few dangerous seconds or minutes.....depending on how you deal with it.

File: 815a216bba503b41058312d62(...).jpg (672 KB, 1913x957)

672 KB JPG

[] Thought Shield: +8 to the Will Save for 17 rounds, makes Akko's thoughts unreadable and will stun those who try. This will leave you vulnerable for a few seconds as even if you Save the power of the Ego Whip will overwhelm you for one round – instead of the fourteen plus rounds it would normally affect you.

[] Intellect Fortress: This will affect everyone within the area, protecting them from all psychic and emotional attacks such as the Ego Whip. Even if you fail your Save, it will suppress the power of her [Ego Whip entirely leaving you perfectly capable, but it only lasts a single round.

[] Tower of Iron Will: For five rounds, you and all those around you will have Spell Resistance 29 against psychic magic and mind effecting powers (meaning Falna will have to make a roll vrs DC 29 consisting of her Level+1d20; her level is at least 14, maybe as high as 18 or 19). However, this protection does not help others against your psychic powers.

[] Burn one Hero Point and Quicken a Psychic Crush before she completes her Ego Whip; Falna can negate this attack with a Thought Shield of her own as long as she makes her save against the Psychic Crush. This will NOT prevent Akko from using a defense against the Ego Whip as well, should she manage to survive the assault; hence the expended Hero Point, of which Akko has three. It will also use her Quicken Spell ability for the day.. Please choose one of the above defenses as well.

[] Expend Mythic Power to gain Battlemagic Sense, and attempt to Counterspell her Ego Whip. Roll 1d20+17 against a DC of 25 to 30; if she fails to counterspell, Akko will be staggered and have a sever penalty to one of her mental stats from the Ego Whip for one round, but she will get her Saving Throw to negate the remainder of the rounds though she cannot benefit from the other defenses until next round.

[] Write in?

Siobhan thinks it's about time you put the upstart bitch in her place!

>>2069758
Well geez. The Counterspell is tempting, but blowing a point on a roll we could well fail, in which case we've not just wasted the Mythic Point but put ourselves at risk of completely failing our throw, seems foolhardy.
>[x] Thought Shield: +8 to the Will Save for 17 rounds, makes Akko's thoughts unreadable and will stun those who try. This will leave you vulnerable for a few seconds as even if you Save the power of the Ego Whip will overwhelm you for one round – instead of the fourteen plus rounds it would normally affect you.
>[x] Burn one Hero Point and Quicken a Psychic Crush before she completes her Ego Whip; Falna can negate this attack with a Thought Shield of her own as long as she makes her save against the Psychic Crush. This will NOT prevent Akko from using a defense against the Ego Whip as well, should she manage to survive the assault; hence the expended Hero Point, of which Akko has three. It will also use her Quicken Spell ability for the day.. Please choose one of the above defenses as well.

>>2069758
Personally I'm undecided betweenThought Shield or Intellect Fortress

>>2069758
To be honest, the fact that she'll try to put Schechei first isn't the problem to me. The problem is that Falna can't even do THAT right, as seen by her trying to fight us.

>>2069758
>intellect fortress

It’s a surefire defense, and protects the newbs if the fight widens in scope

>>2069760
Aren't Hero Points much more rare than Mythic Points/Power?

>>2069764
Yes. Akko will receive a new on when she gains her next level. She's used one once before, but she regained that since then. Three is her maximum.

She would never use one on a whim or without a dire necessity.

>>2069766
I understand that, and that we shouldn't hoard stuff like that. I'm just worried that we're going to need all three against the Cenobite.

>>2069758
>[] Intellect Fortress: This will affect everyone within the area, protecting them from all psychic and emotional attacks such as the Ego Whip. Even if you fail your Save, it will suppress the power of her [Ego Whip entirely leaving you perfectly capable, but it only lasts a single round.

>>2069758
>[] Expend Mythic Power to gain Battlemagic Sense, and attempt to Counterspell her Ego Whip. Roll 1d20+17 against a DC of 25 to 30; if she fails to counterspell, Akko will be staggered and have a sever penalty to one of her mental stats from the Ego Whip for one round, but she will get her Saving Throw to negate the remainder of the rounds though she cannot benefit from the other defenses until next round.

Rolled 13 + 17 (1d20 + 17)

>>2069758

>[] Expend Mythic Power to gain Battlemagic Sense, and attempt to Counterspell her Ego Whip.

Eh, DC 8 seems ok

>>2069760

Burning a Hero point on that is worse than buring a Mythic point.

>>2069776

Boom, beat DC30

>>2069771
Need a roll please. 1d20+17.

>>2069777
I think the red text was supposed to roll first? Or the rolling happens after we decide on a course of action?

Honestly I don't really know how that's meant to work because yeah that certainly seems to be good now.

>>2069776
How so? It's worth more than an MP certainly, but the effect seems much safer in terms of not being at the mercy of rolls as badly.

>>2069760
I will point out that Battlemagic sense lasts 1 minute, and also increases Akko's BAB to Full BAB for the same duration. she will also sense all magic being activated in her vicinity and have the option to immediately counterspell that too..

>>2069781
That is pretty potent.

Rolled 16 + 17 (1d20 + 17)

>>2069778

>>2069778
That person might have just been passing through, should we wait or can someone substitute?

>>2069784
I'm sure any roll will do

Rolled 2 + 18 (1d20 + 18)

>>2069788
....ouch.

File: fear.jpg (47 KB, 500x442)

47 KB JPG

>>2069788

>>2069789
Yeah someone had a bad time.

Rolled 17, 7, 2, 10 = 36 (4d20)

It's safe to say Falna is getting a lesson in Akko's power.

>>2069798
Well... one way or the other, this will be the last time.

>>2069798
I don't dare hope it'll knock sense into her

Rolled 5 + 30 (1d20 + 30)

Confirming the crit.

Rolled 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 + 155 = 176 (5d10 + 155)

And finally....damage. Note that her Temp stats are not in effect.

>>2069804
>+155
What.

>>2069804
Ouch indeed.

Poor Schechei.

She was a good daughter, despite everything

>>2069810
Akko's done a lot of crazy things, maybe she can defeat her third-most-hated enemy, -love-.

...Probably not.

>>2069810
>was
pls no
I know it's inevitable but still.

>>2069810
>>2069814
I think we didn't kill Falna just now but more returned the Ego Whip with interest, thus incapacitating her? Though I'm not really sure what we can do but kill Falna afterwards.

>>2069813

So you're saying...

Let's Fighting Love?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GpqJtc0f-s

Joke aside, I think part of the reasons why Akko is notably xenophile is because she can see how shitty the typical Githyanki love is

>>2069821
I dunno, Akko is still very aware that she herself is Githyanki and for her, love is presumably just as dangerous whether it's with another Githyanki or a Dragon or whatever.

Gods and angels, it's so sad. She had just gotten her Silver Sword.

>>2069824
We probably could have avoided this for a couple more threads maybe, but I'm not sure about the long run because I still don't really understand what specifically pisses Falna off and whether or not avoiding that would even be a good idea. ...We probably should have kicked her and Schechei out of our Cadre and ordered her to find a replacement.

>>2069823

Dunno, Akko is pretty self-aware, but she knows she loves differently than most Githyanki.

I wonder how much that "parangon of Githyanki" stuff people say about her is accurate and how much it's just Akko doing things better and them claiming it's a clear demonstration of the Githyanki way's superiority. Because there is a lot of things Akko doesn't do like a yanki.

>>2069823
I don't think that's quite the case? Like the Githyanki's specifically have their psychic powers link their brains together in a weird and inconvenient way when they're a mated pair, dragons don't have the same brain.

>>2069826

Honestly I don't get it either. She just can't handle Akko being better, apparently.

Kicked her out would just have lead her to attack us from the outside, you can bet on it.

We should have talked with her and tried to figure out a way to manipulate her into directing her anger away from Akko

>>2069829
Fair enough, perhaps it will be more manageable with Yzia.

The idea of taking the Elan deal and ~~be able to love~~ is a little funny to me though.

>>2069826
I feel like the Silver Swords ceremony was what really pushed things over the edge. Given her obsessive love and her dislike for Akko, Akko getting the invite there seems a likely trigger.

It might have been inevitable either way though. Or maybe she would have held out through the raid and then cooled off when going our separate ways. Who knows.

>>2069805
Power attack+Siobhan Unstoppable=+31 points of damage - and with 3 hits and crit, that 31x5+5d10.

Theoretically she could have survived it if the dice had been slightly more kind.

>>2069833
Ah, so Akko well and truly reached her limit huh?

File: 2bffdedd6b2d2284b924fd478(...).jpg (214 KB, 551x700)

214 KB JPG

[X] Expend Mythic Power to gain Battlemagic Sense, and attempt to Counterspell her Ego Whip. Roll 1d20+17 against a DC of 25 to 30; if she fails to counterspell, Akko will be staggered and have a sever penalty to one of her mental stats from the Ego Whip for one round, but she will get her Saving Throw to negate the remainder of the rounds though she cannot benefit from the other defenses until next round.

The power of the Elder Ones rushes through your body and mind, your reflexes and mental state expanding, encompassing all the forces of magic around you. You sense her potent Ego Whip, designed to crush your intelligence brutally and reduce your fantastic mind to a shadow of yourself.

You dismantle the overpowered Vampiric Touch, the loss of the powerful spell not unrecoverable, but a better loss than the similarly overpowered Form of the Alien Dragon. If it seems that the battle is going badly, that would be an exceedingly effective spell to use as well. In either case, the dismantled spell is quickly formed into a matrix opposite and as intense as Falna's Ego Whip. You release it against the spell before it ever makes contact with your mind, and there is a sharp CRACK and a flash of actinic blue light as the spells destroy one another.

Falna's eyes widen as her psychic attack is ended before it ever reaches you, her expectation of the loss of your magical power and intellect (which even at the most potent would still leave you nearly a genius and with all your spellcasting intact) foiled utterly. As if that wasn't bad enough that is when you grab Siobhan and pour your arcane forces into her, she explodes into a beam of raw, seething energy, ruby light and sapphire flames, around a dark core of black energy, her sheath falling away as you step onto the table. The incantations and gesture for the spell you cast is not as quick as it would be if you had made it so, but it is horrifically fast, and even before anyone else can react the grey fires that erupt from your sword hand and through Siobhan are driven into Falna as you thrust Siobhan halfway through the middle of her chest.

She keens in agonized pain as the immaterial blade easily passes through armor, sliding into flesh and bone. The Elder Power driven Enfeeblement spell ruins her body, drawing more strength from her than her Ego Whip would have torn from your intellect. The assault is followed by two more, each one passing through her armor effortlessly, leaving blood to pour from the joints and plates of her armor. The on in her chest, however, jets blood, spilling it onto the table. Schechei makes a whistling scream in terror, and Kteine jumps across the table, tackling her twin to the cushions as she keens in that shrill, painful cry of helplessness.

File: Magus.jpg (1.15 MB, 2480x1984)

1.15 MB JPG

Falna gazes up at you as she coughs up sapphire blood, the disbelief in her expression and the shock in her eyes clearly that of someone who could not have imagined the outcome that has occurred. Your telepathic words echo through the encampment as you stand over her. You tragic, foolish creature – I told you Love would be the death of you.

Her eyes go wide and she chokes spattering blood across your leggings.....For Schechei's sake....mercy, Leader! You feel Yzia casting her Lesser Wish, calling upon the power that is hers and hers alone to relieve Schechei of a burden, if only for a while.

This is mercy for her, you foolish wretch. You hold Siobhan high and call out to the mystic blades born by the knights, the gish, and warriors who bear them. ATTEND! As Leader, so do I deem the Silver Cord CUT! You plunge Siobhan through her chest one last time, killing her instantly as you open both Falna's hearts to the mental attention of over a dozen silver swords and four True Silver Swords. She dies instantly, a last gush of her shining sapphire blood bursting from her wounds as all her muscles contract in her death throes. You withdraw Siobhan whose screams of victory and blood-lust are nearly overwhelming, and turn on Schechei.

To your surprise, Schechei is on her knees, looking strangely bereft, but neither insane not horrified, or even angry. Yzia is stroking her hair as Kteine whispers softly to her, reassuring her that she is well and safe, that you will not judge her harshly. Yzia glances at you, smiling. You owe me a great many diamonds, my love. I have done what I thought you might do, given the opportunity. Kteine was in agreement, and hopes you will let her twin live, despite her mate's foolishness.

File: e82bf8d53f616b4f9fc1ac72c(...).jpg (399 KB, 1050x1680)

399 KB JPG

What did you do, Yzia? You ask her silently and privately, stepping off the table and standing over Schechei. The young gish looks up at you, her eyes clear, though bemused. The understanding that you can and will kill her on a whim if it strikes you is clear in her expression, yet there is no animosity or insanity there. Kteine is worried, but does not stand in your way or attempt any power to try and hinder you. Yashi and Rana are both greedily drinking in the sight, awed at the power you demonstrate. Tzanzi is speaking softly with Auena, who is clearly shaken by the thoroughness and purity of your deadly brutality.

I used the power I have gained to Wish her mating bonds in abeyance. I cannot remove them, but they will remain in stasis until another claims her as a mate. She strokes the young githyanki's hair softly. The next whom shares their body with hers will be forced to mate with her, and they will be truly mates, Akko. It was the only thing I could manage that would allow her to live.

She looks at the corpse halfway upon the table. “After all,” she says aloud, “I have my doubts that Schechei would be able to manage to take you where her lover failed.”

Siobhan's shrieking laughter echoes in your mind.

>To Be Continued....

>>2069838
Yzia continues to be the best.

Thank you for reading and playing.

Here is the corrected paragraph in >>2069837

This is mercy for her, you foolish wretch. You hold Siobhan high and call out to the mystic blades born by the knights, the gish, and warriors who bear them. ATTEND! As Leader, so do I deem the Silver Cord CUT! You plunge Siobhan through her chest one last time, killing her instantly as you open both Falna's hearts to the mental attention of over a dozen silver swords and four True Silver Swords. She dies instantly, a last gush of her shining sapphire blood bursting from her wounds as all her muscles contract in her death throes. You withdraw Siobhan whose screams of victory and blood-lust are nearly overwhelming, and turn on Schechei.

>>2069838
Oh, an interesting solution. But also quite a dangerous one in its own right. I do hope Schechei understands the gravity of this situation then, and takes care to choose her next one wisely. I suppose ideally it would be no-one, but I don't think anyone can expect a Githyanki to go celibate through life even were they somehow excused from procreational duties.

>>2069843
Thanks for writing! Very eventful session today. Or night, as it were.

>>2069842
Our wonderful dragon never disappoints.

>>2069837
>Falna gazes up at you as she coughs up sapphire blood, the disbelief in her expression and the shock in her eyes clearly that of someone who could not have imagined the outcome that has occurred.
In the end, this is the worst part of Falna. Despite everything Akko has done, I guess Falna just couldn't stop seeing Akko as anything but the way she was when they broke up. I mean yeah being resigned to your fate but doing it anyway wouldn't have been like her, but to not even have an inkling that things could turn out this way?

As an interesting side note....

Falna was planning to continue the raid, and then next time Akko was deep inside an elven home tree....tossing half a dozen Beads of Force at her, trying to trap her with the elves who would have a great deal to say and do to the person who successfully kidnapped their children and killed their people.

Schechei was not in on that plan.

Leaving the mating issue aside for the moment, what should we do with Schechei now? On one hand, leaving her on her own seems both risky and heartless, on the other pushing her to mentor under someone else might risk complicated feelings. I figure we should at least encourage Kteine to spend some time with her if nothing else.

>>2069848
On the one hand, that's actually a pretty clever plan and one that, unlike challenging us directly, seems like it at least has a chance of working.

On the other... even if there was a way to get through to her, I do not think it would be feasible for us to have done it.

>>2069848
Well, that would have been unfortunate. Glad we didn't leave the pot simmering then.

>>2069849
>>2069845
It is worth noting that Tzanzi, and any non-githyanki, can have sex with Schechei and not trigger the mating urge. Schechei might not be interested though, depending on exactly what the spell did. A problem to be explored.....

>>2069843
This really brings me back to that one guy from the first couple threads who hired Aeuna, and makes me think that generally Githyanki can't adequately use second chances.

Though could Yzia have cast Limited Wish whenever she wanted, or was that something she gained from becoming Mythic? If the latter, there was some advantage to waiting out the clock.

>>2069849
Should probably take the chance to bond a bit with her. Mating her with Kteine seems the best choice for now, but we've still got some time to decide.

>>2069848
Sounds like that'd be a lot of fun in its own right.

Thanks for running!

So, QM, was there any point where we could have made Falna stop being crazy about us?

Also, in the end, what was her deal, really?


>>2069849

Eh, we can keep her for now. We should probably give her a time out for a while, telling her she is not in danger but she shouldn't try to get out for a bit.

>>2069848
>>2069850

I don't see how it was a clever plan. It seems pretty dumb to me.

I mean, it might have worked if Akko was a bit less powerful than Falna, but even only counting the power her Cadre knows her to have, Akko could have handled all those elves alone.

>>2069855
That was somethign that becomingmythic has allowed her access to when her grwth spurt hit. She is the equivalent of a 14th level sorceress now.

The spell list is not the one other Ancient Solar Dragons have, incidentally. Some just don't work, and others are redundant and foolish spell choices.

>>2069854
>It is worth noting that Tzanzi, and any non-githyanki, can have sex with Schechei and not trigger the mating urge.
Since I don't really think finally killing Falna changed our current plans, Tzanzi would have to act fast if she wants to do that.

>>2069854
That could help but there's still the mandated breeding whenever that comes up right? Assuming Akko&Co are actually part of Gith society by that time of course. Which I guess isn't exactly a safe assumption.

Her preferences and urges are a challenge either way. Figuring out her thoughts and reaction to this seems high priority.

>>2069858
Okay then yeah, I'd say that's worth allowing Falna to live as long as we did.

>>2069860

The mandatory breeding is not before years and years, for Schechei.

Thanks for runnin
Hope Schechei will be ok

>>2069857
Not really. Falna, in case it wasn't clear, could not handle Akko's gettign past her - her ego could not handle the strain. Combined with an obsessive personality and a desperate desire to find something that Akko couldn't take away or excel at (somethign akko contoinually did, on many occasions) it was inevitable that she would lose her mind.

The breakign point was when Kteine finally rejected her. Schechei's acceptance of that and her willingness to accept Akko as a genuine leader cemented her plan to destroy Akko - by proxy if not directly.

Also, there are very powerful elves you haven't met yet, and being trapped in a force bubble is a hindrance that could have allowed the elves time to plan for when the bubble popped.

>>2069837
>....For Schechei's sake....mercy, Leader!
Actually wait, this is what makes me angriest. Despite being mated to her, Falna has never once put Schechei first, even when Akko utterly wrecked Schechei she also had Falna mostly dead to rights, and her last act was to try and use Schechei as a shield, tacitly acknowledging that Akko was better than her even at caring for Schechei.

Well, RIP Falna. You died like you lived. An useless shithead.

Also now we can claim basically everything she owns, given how big her debt to us is.

Though we can be generous and have the other debtors take what they're legitimately owed, of course.

>>2069867

I see.

What did Falna expect when she asked mercy "for Schechei's sake" ? That we would let her live because we liked her mate, even if she just accused us of not caring about our Cadre as much as our greed?

>>2069869
>>2069847
If you feel something about a character, I am doing that character right.

>>2069874
Akko spared her once before, for Schechei's sake.

It didn't occur to her that Akko is quite a lot smarter than to make the same mistake twice. (high int, low wis there).

>>2069875

Indeed.

>>2069869

Keep in mind Falna couldn't bear the idea of being in love with the two girls without turning them into Githyanki.

She never loved them for who they were.

>>2069875
You've done a fantastic job making me be able to relate to a bunch of Fantasy!Space Pirates who are just awful, awful people, while still keeping them alien at the same time. You're honestly one of my favorite writers, period.

>>2069880
Completely tangential, but have you seen Thor: Ragnarok? It's a bit on the silly side, but Valkyrie and Hela seem kind of up your alley.

>>2069886
I have and yes, I like them both.

I would definitely have carnal relations with the Valkyrie. Hela doesn't seem like much of a switch....

>>2069884

>You're honestly one of my favorite writers, period.

I strongly second that compliment.

>>2069880

Eh. What an empty husk of a person.

Though to be fair it wasn't a mistake the first time. Would have been to spare her now.

At least now we can get that cute girl in our Cadre

>>2069887

She's one Hel of a woman, though.

As for being a switch, if she's anything like her dad from the comics, she might..

>>2069887
>Hela doesn't seem like much of a switch....
Yeah not really much for a reoccurring thing, but it could be good experience for one night. That is of course assuming she'd let you leave.

>>2069887
>>2069899
It kinda baffles me how Hela does more for me than literally any other Cate Blanchett character.

>>2069905

Funnily enough, I didn't like her in LotR, but I liked her in the Hobbit.

As to your "doing more" thing: why the baffle? I don't think Blanchett is in the habit of playing sexy leather-bound queens of evil. It's kind of a big departure from her other roles.

>>2069910
>As to your "doing more" thing: why the baffle?
It has mostly to do with how much older she is now than back when LoTR was made. She was in her early 30s as Galadriel and nearly 50 now when she played Hela.

>>2069925

She definitively became more beautiful and sexier with age

>>2069925
>>2069936
Graceful aging plus movie magic makes the two very similar indeed.

Yzia being self conscious about her humanoid-male form's penis size is adorable. And her compensation with THICC is even better

>>2069849
I didn't notice a partcular party of this post.

>leaving her on her own seems both risky and heartless, on the other pushing her to mentor under someone else might risk complicated feelings
She is still Akko's acolyte, by oath, and Akko is responsible for her training or replacing herself with someone to train her. that's an aside from the oath to join the cadre.

Yzia's spell list has been added to Akko's spell list.

File: disregard bitches aquire (...).gif (1.81 MB, 248x142)

1.81 MB GIF

>>2071485
>Create Treasure Map
That's cute.

>>2071514
Up until she actually USES it on something.

>>2071514
>>2071761

It involves skinning a dead body and turning the skin into a map of what the dead person knew, right?

>>2069848
THAT was her big plan?

Lets ignore for a second that bead of force allows a reflex save to negate. Even if we assume all six saves fail Akko still has access to both disintegrate and dispel magic.

She could be out in a matter of 3-6 rounds. faster if she uses any teleport ability.

tl;dr Falna didnt think this through

>>2072777
Correct. It points to whatever the person thought was most valuable within the region of the map.

>>2072877
Teleport works on cage-type forcecages, but not solid ones like the force beads generate. You are also forgetting the 30d6 damage that would be involved and has no saving throw, as well as the fact that Akko very much downplayed the number of teleport effects she has access to at any given time. Falna did not expect the force beads to hold her for long, only long enough to give the elven mages a few seconds to do something far more effective against Akko.

Very much within the realm of possibility, and a bad roll on the damage dice would have left Akko severely injured as well. As a delaying tactic it would have been very effective.

>>2072891

If it was used on Akko, it'd show where Yzia and Tzanzi are.