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>>3056436
It begins

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>>3056436
Welcome back to Death Among the Stars Quest!

Let's jump right in!

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Nekris stood alone in the chamber silently observing a wall of holoscreens projected before him. They each showed a cell in which an Ahkam serpent was contained. Data ticked by on each holoscreen, showing details about the serpents health, vitals, and emotional states. Each of his four eyes that glowed with indigo Arclight moved independently as he observed his charges, the Predator turned jailer resting his hands on the hilts of his weapons.

Only when the door behind unweaves to allow you entrance does he tear his eyes away from the screens. He bows and salutes with both right hands thumping against his chest, "Welcome, Lord Jadyk."

Floating a few inches above the floor you drift into the chamber with hands clasped behind you as you nod to Nekris, "Predator Nekris. How do our guests fare?" you ask while turning your sockets to look toward the screens as you join him by his side.

Nekris looks back to the screens, this time folding his lesser pair of arms across his front, "Two attempted to take their own lives with their tail blades the night before and this morning. Others still seem to be in shock while some seem to think they can still find a way to escape," he says with a motion to one screen that shows an Ahkam meticulously examining every seam and corner of their prison.

His mandibles click, making a sound of disappointment before he says, "We have fourteen total Ahkam imprisoned here. Eight of them surrendered, not counting Vil'cva who is now on Horizon's Drops moon with Eiton and Vle'Karak, while the other five were captured through force," he points to another holoscreen, showing a female Ahkam coiled up and seemingly deep in meditation, "Nru'jok has been here the longest now that Cve'jok and Dne'tec are no longer captives, but citizens. She has hardly spoken since Vle'Karak visited her. She still bears the scars of her battle with Tlacex, both physical and mental.

"They are awaiting your judgement, Lord Jadyk," he says, turning his eyes toward you.

What would you like to do?
>Speak with Nekris further (write-in)
>Address the Ahkam (write-in)
>Other

>>3056482
>A dress the arkham:

Nekris, I do believe it is time to up the numbers of the Arc order... (goto loud speaker) Good evening orphaned children of the Arc, I imagine this may come as a bit of a shock but there is no.

Even in death you will be made to serve to those of you who thought it would be a way out.

Normally I would leave you longer to ponder your current predicament, I have personally found that solitary confinement is amazing at allowing self analysization, to ponder ones action that lead them to their lowest point... But regardless why draw this out any longer than needed.

Allow me to give you something, unique for some of you this will be the first of its kind you have ever received. It is but a simple thing often so easily discarded but I assure you it is the most precious thing in your existence.So do not cast it aside thoughtlessly for some, pitiful attempt at pride or bravado.

I give you a choice.

Will you serve me in life, or serve me in death.

>>3056482
>>Speak with Nekris further (write-in)
I would know your thoughts on them then predator.

>>3056482
We should take the Ahkam that tried to kill themselves and the ones most aggressively against us and try to make that Arc Hydra we keep bringing up.

But only after we offer them their choice if course.

Should we contact Vle'Karak for his advise or stick with our own assessments?

>>3056509
>>3056521
Supporting A mix of these

>>3056521
>Arc Hydra
Yes please!

>>3056482
With a claw tapping your chin you look toward the screens, "I would know your thoughts on them, Predator. You have observed them and know about the Ahkam more than anyone else among my Generals."

Nekris is silent for several long moments as he mulls over his thoughts before speaking, "A few may end up seeing the truth of our ways just as Vle'Karak and the other three have. However, the rest will never submit," he waves a hand and two screens are highlighted showing unconscious Ahkam having their wounds tended to by medical Reconstructed, "The two that tried to take their own lives have given up and are only fit for the Cauldron or feasting upon. Others are so full of rage and fury they will never twist the coil and submit," he says, picking up on the speech patterns of the Ahkam.

"I say offer them your choice. Sift through those who are filled with rage and morbidity. Find those that seek to preserve their lives," he pauses, turning to meet your gaze, "Take them and tell them to prove their drive for survival. Implant them with symbiot leashes and Domination Collars but do not bend their minds. Force them to prove their desire for life."

"That is a bold action, Predator Nekris," you muse.

>Predator Nekris has given his recommendation that the Ahkam captives that have tried to kill themselves and those that aggressively refuse your choice be Reconstructed or feasted upon to drain their power
>He also recommends taking those that wish to live be coerced to fight for their survival

How should you proceed?"
>Write-in

>>3056601
Oh shit, does he mean draft them to fight for us?

It would have to be against the osjic empire and their void. They'd try to escape if we sent them against other ahkam

If so, having them fight the Empire to prove themselves worthy if life is a pretty brutal but smart tactic. Nekris is still best son

>>3056601
Let's draft those and see if they survive the rest I'd say hydra or reconstruct individually

>>3056601
Follow Nekris recommendation

>>3056601

>Follow Nekris' recommendation

>Further, have Vle'Karak visit each of them in turn before taking this course of action. If any can be turned, this would be the best way of doing so.

If they can't be turned, then they will be useful fuel for the coming war with the other Serpents

>>3056601
"You have grown ever more cunning since the day you crawled from a Cauldron," you say, "I believe your suggestions have merit."

Nekris bows his head in thanks and takes several steps back, "You honor me, Father."

Facing the demi-Think Tank that drifts down from the ceiling your holographic image is suddenly projected within each cell of the Ahkam, at least those not currently being operated on. There was a mixture of shocked and furious hissing, some coiling up defensively while others lash out with fang or tailblade reflexively.

"Calm yourselves, children of Quantac'Vrix. I have come to speak with you orphans of the Arc. I apologize it has taken me this long to address you directly. My name is Lich-Lord Jadyk of the New Necrotic Armada, and I was the one to slay your mother and feast upon her flesh and Arc," your introduction was met with snarls, hisses, and spat curses but you continue.

"Normally I would leave you longer to ponder your current predicament, I have personally found that solitary confinement is amazing at allowing self-reflection and realization, to ponder ones action that lead them to their lowest point...," you say, remembering your own imprisonment but also Vle'Karaks and that the other pair of serpents, "But regardless why draw this out any longer than needed.

"Allow me to offer you something, something unique, for some of you this will be the first of its kind you have ever received. It is but a simple thing often so easily discarded but I assure you it is the most precious thing in your existence.So do not cast it aside thoughtlessly for some, pitiful attempt at pride or bravado.

"I give you a choice, a choice I have offered countless times before but each time it is with as much gravity as the very first time," you pause, seeing that you have gathered their attention, eleven Ahkam staring at your image in silence, "Will you serve me in life, or serve me in death?"

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3056777

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>3056777
>pitiful attempt at pride
>Ahkam

Uh oh

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Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3056777
It's the Cauldron then

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>these rolls
MEDIOCRE

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>>3056783
>>3056829
I think I can guess the general response

>>3056777
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLtmnlON1gE

Upon your declaration the results are near instantaneous.

"I will break free and avenge my mother by grinding your bones to dust!" shrieked an Ahkam who threw himself at the hologram.

"Slay me and be done with it, I grow tired of this farce, you twisted undead freak," hisses another as they coil up into a miserable ball.

"Why are you doing this? What have we done to deserve this? We are the Divine, you have no right demanding our subjugation, this is heresy," snarls another as they pace, slithering back and forth in their increasingly frantic ranting.

Others stayed silent, staring morosely or hissing with seething agitation but holding their composure and refusing to answer.

Nekris shakes his head as you let out a soft sigh, vocalizing your disappointment. You begin to ponder just how to proceed with them when a voice cuts through the noise of the others ranting and wailing.

"I have no wish to die just yet. How would I serve?" came the quiet, stoic question, your focus shifting to its origin.

Nru'jok lifts her head from the coils of her form, her hood of blades tucked back as she looks to your holographic image, "My pride was broken along with my body but I am not content to die."

You reply solely through the hologram within her cell, "The same way your family has already served me. Fight in my name, become my tool and weapon. You claim that you were broken when you submitted to my Illuminator, but heed me, Nru'jok, orphan of Quantac'Vrix. My Armada's way is that of rebuilding and Reconstruction. Your previous life and self are broken, but serve me and I will help you rebuild yourself for a new future. I have already given this blessing to Vle'Karak and your siblings and they would welcome you."

The blue scaled serpent is silent for some time before she bows her head, her tail blades hesitating a moment before they move to touch her brow, "Release me from this prison and I will fight your battles."

Silence had fallen across the other cells as the holographic images of your talk with Nru'jok was projected before them. Several immediately begin to rage with renewed fury and must be subdued as gas is pumped into their chambers and their collars send painful seizures through their bodies.

One male who had already been a silent and morose subject snarls and lifts their trembling blades to their throat just as the others had before them, but they hesitate then collapse into a depressed pile as misery radiates off them. Several of them curl up in their misery, self-pity and depression easily detected by the empathic sensors.

>cont

>>3056980
However, four others broke their silence in turn, each unaware of the others but unified in their intent. They slowly each proclaim their willingness to fight for you, seeming to value self-preservation over their pride. You find it interesting to see all four were among the youngest of their number except for Vil'cva who had already denounced his past life.

Ahkam "Volunteers"
>Nru'jok, Ahkam Female
>2 Males
>2 Females

With nine remaining they were those of the depressed, the suicidal, the enraged, and the maddened. Nekris offers suggestions as to their use, referring to intel already gained from questioning your already loyal Ahkam.

Nekris suggestions:
>3 have the potential to be turned loyal if allowed to live and converse with Vle'Karak and the others he believes, being the least violent in their captivity and intel taken of their former subjects
>6 have demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to serve, including the suicidal and those too filled with rage or cruelty

Do you wish to address and assign those who wish to serve you in life?
>Write-in

What shall you do with the remaining nine?
>Write-in

>>3056987
I'd personally vote to keep the three possibles alive so Vlekarak can try to convert them.

And then for the other 6, give one to Eiton and the newest Predator each to drain or sacrifice to turn into soul bound weapon.

The other four I definitely want to become the Arc Hydra

>>3056987
Use 6 to make a hydra
3 to be reconstructed


For those willing to serve, have their cell doors open "thank you for your cooperation plead follow the designated reconstructed so we can help you integrate." If any question about why we so easily let them free after they agree just chuckle and say "I killed your mother at her strongest with my bare hands, it would be no issue to bring her wayward children to task... think of it as a kind of test of trust on your first steps to a new life"

>>3056987


>You show great promise by following in the path of one of the greatest of your species. Your old life is over, you died when you were captured and your patron killed. Having joined us you will be reborn, no longer looking to conquer the galaxy in the name of greed and the narcissism of your brood-mothers. Now, we spread throughout the stars looking to aid and to bring help to those who labour in silent pain.

>Do as Nekris suggests. For those who need their belief of their own divinity broken broadcast constant holograms of dead and dying serpents, focusing heavily on their leader. For those who need a mood boost, show our current Akham citizens enjoying life, show images from the capital of all species working together to achieve a brighter future.

>>3057050
Actually change those numbers

Give the 3 time to decide

Of the remaining 6 turn 5 into a hydra and 1 into a general

>>3056987
>Do you wish to address and assign those who wish to serve you in life?
Your choice too great personal strength, your kin, those who have not yet realized even gods can fall and die, will hate you for seeing reason valuing your own life over pride. Some may in time see your line of thinking too, but it is rare that your kind take a loss in stride. I too know what it is like to have the trapping of divinity ripped out from under you. I was once the herald of the Wormstar, the terror of systems uncounted and slayer of trillions, then I was sealed. I felt nothing and when I woke, my god was dead, slain by enemies I could not stop. So I created a new armada, one that would make things better, not worse and one where all would be equal unto each other, not based upon birth or preening, but on merit and ability. I will reforge you life into something good, from the poor broken beings you are now.

>What shall you do with the remaining nine?
let Vle-carac and the other visit, attempt to turn, if they remain recalcitrant? end them.

>>3056987
>Do you wish to address and assign those who wish to serve you in life?
You will not find your service to the Armada fill with senseless indignities or petty humiliations. I have no intention to be cruel or tyrannical and you may even find freedoms for expression and self-determination previously deny to you by the Dynasties and their Matriarchs. Now come, I know what it is to be lose hope and purpose to isolation and defeat, so my gift to you now is the open skies the company of others. See for yourselves what have built, what it offers to you and how you may help me improve it.

Let them enjoy Iti'a'Ropku and talk to other Ahkam that have join us previously.

>>3057077
>>3056987
>What shall you do with the remaining nine?
Let the 3 with potential live to converse with Vle'Karak, the other 6 are to be turn into the hydra.

>>3056987
Hydra time

>>3056987
The holograms flicker out in the cells with those who rejected your offer, leaving your image within Nru'joks and the others who offered to serve you. Clasping your hands behind your back you nod in satisfaction, "Your choice took great personal strength. Your kin, those who have not yet realized even gods can fall and die, will hate you for seeing reason valuing your own life over pride. Some may in time see your line of thinking too, but it is rare that your kind take a loss in stride.

"I too know what it is like to have the trapping of divinity ripped out from under you. Once I was the herald of the Wormstar, the terror of systems uncounted and slayer of trillions, then I was sealed. I suffered for eons alone in the dark and when I was freed I discovered that my god was dead, slain by enemies I could not stop. So I created a new Armada, one that would make things, rather than destroy for the sake of destruction and power."

Nru'jok and the others are silent as they listen with rapt attention while you speak.

"You show great promise by following in the path of one of the greatest of your species. Your old life is over, you died when you were captured and your patron killed. You will be reborn, no longer looking to conquer the galaxy in the name of greed and the narcissism of your brood-mothers. Now, we spread throughout the stars looking to aid and to bring help to those who labor in silent pain, much like those who have been forced to worship you. Be aware that service to my cause will not make those freed from your kinds subjugation for generations forgive those transgressions. It will not be an easy task, to earn their forgiveness, and it may never come, but in my Armada you will begin the long journey of atonement."

"You will not find your service to the Armada filled with senseless indignities or petty humiliations. I have no intention to be cruel or tyrannical and you may even find freedoms for expression and self-determination previously denied to you by the Dynasties and their Matriarchs.

Do you wish to:
>Let them be transported to Horizon's Drops moon with Vle'Karak
>Send them to assist the Voidknights in attacking and disrupting the Osjiic Empire during the coming campaign

Suggestions for the rest seem to be
>Allow the three undecided time to speak with Vle'Karak and make up their minds
>Create an Amalgamate Reconstructed similar to Void Juggernaut Gral from the Ahkam prisoners

In addition, do you wish to:
>Turn the strongest into a Reconstructed Hero
>Give two to Predators Eiton and Qavun to sacrifice

Sorry for all the questions and clarifications but these are some rather important guests

>>3057137
Send them to fight the Empire, they should have experience with that

Turn 4 into a hydra and turn the strongest into a new Arc Predator, give two to the other Predators as sacrifice

>>3057147
I mean three into a hydra, one into a hero, and the last two as sacrifices. My math was off lol

>>3057137
>Let them be transported to Horizon's Drops moon with Vle'Karak.
get them prepped for joining the legion.

>Create an Amalgamate Reconstructed similar to Void Juggernaut Gral from the Ahkam prisoners
>Turn the strongest into a Reconstructed Hero
a five headed Arc-hydra and one Ahkam style predator

>>3057137
Give the 3 time to consider as we gave them a choose and it is up to them to make that choice

Make a hydra

And turn the strongest into a general

>>3057147
>>3057151
The disagreement here mainly seems to be whether meeting with Vle'Karak first is an important part of integrating them mentally into the Armada's worldview.

But now that I think about it, that integration can happen after participating in a campaign as well, as long as their loyalty during the campaign isn't in question.

>>3057159
I would say let them talk to to the wise old snek and then see what they volunteer for to assist

Who knows maybe one dreams of being a florist

>>3057165
That's true, we did let one of the Akham that joined us get off without serving any combat duty. Vil'cva the scientist, right?

But I'd only approve of any of them not serving in combat if they have something else at least equally useful that they would be enthusiastic about. A lack of purpose won't remake them into what they could be as citizens of the Armada.

I'll vote for letting them meet with Vle'Karak first, though I'd prefer that to not take too long if they're willing to fight the Osjiic and don't have any compelling counter-proposals.

>>3057137
>>Let them be transported to Horizon's Drops moon with Vle'Karak
>Create an Amalgamate Reconstructed similar to Void Juggernaut Gral from the Ahkam prisoners
>Turn the strongest into a Reconstructed Hero

>>3057137
"You five will be sent to the moon of my throneworld, there you will meet with Vle'Karak and your siblings. You will be healed and prepared to fight in my name against our mutual foes the Osjiic Empire," you proclaim and several hiss at the name of such a hated foe, "Perhaps striking against them will help ease your minds about your decisions."

One of the females hisses, her hood flaring, "I spent my life fighting against the Empire for all of my kin they have slain. This task is well known to me and I will gladly accept this charge."

>Nru'jok the four other "volunteers" will be sent to Horizon's Drops moon to meet with Vle'Karak before deployment against the Empire
>Vle'Karak will then visit with the three undecided in the Prison

Your hologram fades as you turn to Nekris who gives a low chuckle, "That went better than I expected."

Tapping your chin you nod in agreement, "Much better," you give a wave of a hand and the holoscreens of the six left, "Select the strongest of their number, the one that comes closest to Vle'Karak in might."

Nekris faces the screens once more and falls to silence. Finally he lifts a hand and points a claw toward one of the serpents that had to be subdued and rendered unconscious because of their rage, her blue scales melted and scarred in great swaths that were still healing, "This one. She is Tov'swi. Of our current captives only Nru'jok is stronger. She was captured by Obsidianborn and Stonestar when her ship crashed upon Bastion during her attempt to attack the Lavafathers subjects."

"Tov'swi shall be Reconstructed. Jor may join once he has time to recover from Reconstructing your newest siblings," you decree then point a talon toward him, "Now, I have a task for Eiton, Qavun, and yourself. You shall take the remaining five and make a beast. Take inspiration from your Voidknight brothers, make these serpents who have given up on life into a monstrosity that will bring terror to our foes.

"I have faith in your abilities, my son."

Nekris salutes and bows his head, "It shall be done, Lord Jadyk. They will be glorious."

>Tov'swi, Ahkam female will be Reconstructed into a Hero unit
>The remaining five Ahkam will be made into an Amalgamate Reconstructed

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>>3057200
Several lightyears away in the Necromancer's Spire of Iti'a'Ropku a door unweaves itself to allow the large form of Red-Leaf-Strains to enter the chamber. Her ears flit back instinctively as she lays eyes upon Ruscuv with a collection of Necromancers she had hand-picked. She spots the stonestar Necromancer Klikli among those Ruscuv had selected from both the Legion and the Spire's numbers.

The lich gives a nod to the osogo before looking back to the Necromancers, her tendrils twisting conversationally as she spoke, "Lord Jadyk has deemed fit to have me train you. I understand that you have training from Jadyk and the First Necromancer themselves and I shall expand upon these lessons. I have trained countless Necromancers before, saved many from becoming Pariahs," she hisses the word with disgust before continuing, "Now it is time I begin training the new generation of Necromancers in what it means to be a Necromancer of the Wormstar.

"War is a constant reality for the Armada, both old and new. I shall teach you all what I have learned in my millennia of undeath so that you may bring glorious battle to our foes in worship of the Wormstar. This war we are about to embark against the Ahkam, it shall be the perfect training ground, my delightful apprentices. Prepare your bodies and minds, some of you may wish for the sweet release of undeath by the time I judge you worthy of bearing the title of Wormstar Necromancers."

The collected Necromancers salute in the ways their anatomies allow, intoning a prayer to both you and the Wormstar before they disperse to begin readying themselves.

Red-Leaf-Strains strides up to the Lich, both figures towering over the other Necromancers in the chamber. The osogo gives a polite bow and speaks in the Wormtongue "Greetings, Lich Ruscuv. May the Wormstar guide you."

Ruscuv clicks her mandibles in mild surprise but bows her head and gestures with her humanoid hands, replying in the Wormtongue as well, "May the Wormstar guide you as well, Necromancer," she says before shifting back to a modern tongue, "I was not expecting you to visit."

"I came to see what it is you require of my Necromancers," she says, speaking her native Osogoan language, "News of your recruiting reached me."

"Your Necromancers?" Ruscuv states more than asks, "I suppose a herd species like yourself would have an instinctual drive to protect those of your "herd". Would not be the first I've encountered."

Red-Leaf-Strains snorts at what she assumed was an insult but says nothing about it, instead saying, "You have known Lord Jadyk for a very long time."

"Longer than your species had thought, I'm sure," Ruscuv remarks.

>cont

>>3057325
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_wKk3RIsv8

"Tell me what he used to be like, before he was imprisoned," the Necromancer says, the osogo nearly as tall as the Lich.

Ruscuv gives a harsh laugh, her hands clapping together and rubbing her palms, "You wish to know of Jadyk when he was like me," she chuckles, a rough grating sound, "Very well.

"Lord Jadyk, my brother Lich, was a nightmare for the Living. And for some of the Undead as well. When I first met him, he was in the midst of razing the Singing Cities of the Gugon Assembly, dragging their floating kingdoms crashing down onto the world they had choked with pollution and destruction, where the weak and lower castes dwelt," Ruscuv starts to speak with fond remembrance, "Jadyk let the former slave have a month of revelry, letting them punish those that had risen above them quite literally. Then at the end of that month, every last living sentient and beast in that star system was marched into the Cauldrons.

"Jadyk created the Cauldrons, uplifting the Wormstar from a powerful piece upon the board into one of the leading forces of the Undying Court. Worlds burned at his feet and he chewed upon the flesh of countless species," she lets out a wistful sigh, her tendrils lashing, "Few among us, the Champions of the old Armada, could rival Jadyk. The Voidlord Ghul, the Lightdrinker, the Rot Speaker, even myself, we all looked to him as a shining example of what glorious Undeath could be."

"You wish him to return to his past self, don't you?" Red-Leaf-Strains asks, hiding her emotions as best she could.

Ruscuv shrugs both pairs of shoulders, a very human gesture on her inhuman form, "If I could only be so lucky," she shakes her head and extends a claw accusingly toward Red-Leaf-Strains, "No, I believe he is set upon the path that Jor, the Voidsinger, and yourself guided him toward."

Red-Leaf-Strains tilts her head curiously, "What do you mean?"

Clicking her mandibles together Ruscuv makes a vague sweeping motion with a hand, "You should know. This "New Necrotic Armada" of his is a dark reflection of the old and himself. Caring about the living beyond those with solid use like you Necromancers," her tendrils twist dismissively.

"I can see it. A human, an osjiic, and an osogo. The three of you, forced to live together under him, it let you infect him with your ideals and morals, even as he taught you lessons of the Wormstar," Ruscuv starts pacing in the chamber, "He said it himself, he was desperate after his imprisonment, longing for companionship after eons alone in the dark, with only his own thoughts to keep him company. It left him... vulnerable to infection."

"You speak as if him finding value in the worth of the Living as a flaw, a disease. One you wish to cure?" Red-Leaf-Strains asks, almost accusingly.

>cont

>>3057326
Ruscuv laughs again, stopping her pacing alongside the Cauldron set into the center of the chambers floor, her back toward the osogo, "Is it not? You must understand, Red-Leaf-Strains. In my time, the Necrolytes and Necromancers were the only living in the Armada. Worshipers who praised the same gods we fought in the name of. We had no living population, those we conquered feeding the Cauldrons to become a part of our Reconstructed hordes.

"Lord Jadyk, as misguided as he is now, sees some kind of worthy in you lot. He sees something that he claims I cannot yet see," she scoffs, slapping at the surface of the caustic fluid before she turns back toward the Necromancer, "I do not agree with how my Brother Lich leads his Armada or treats his subjects. I think he has gone insane, fighting so hard to protect even the weakest and most pitiful of the Living when we could have an eternal, perfect army with which to carve out a dynasty of his own!" she nearly shouts, causing the osogo to tense and reach for her folded staff.

Ruscuv however shakes her head, turning away from her and resuming her pacing, each step a heavy thud against the stone floor, "But, I am indebted to him and First Necromancer Jor. Without them I would still be a fossil, dreamlessly slumbering through the ages. I do not believe that Jadyk's path is the path he should be one," she shakes her head again, the tendrils coiling and twisting animatedly, "But it is one I am curious to see the end result of.

"Do not fear my betrayal, Mother of Necromancers," she says, falling back into the Wormtongue as she looks to Red-Leaf-Strains, "You have nothing to fear from me so long as Jadyk remains intact and you remain loyal to him. Jadyk has twisted the message of the Wormstar, rewriting it to serve his needs in this era.

"Who am I to judge? The Wormstar is dead and devoured, but we, it's orphaned children, continue to survive and struggle. Maybe Jadyk's new path is the correct path for our continued survival," her mandibles twist and spread into a broad smile of blades and fangs, "Won't it be interesting to see what comes of it? You may not like me, Necromancer Red-Leaf-Strains, nor even trust me. But I am eager to witness the future with you and Brother Jadyk."

>cont

>>3057327
Red-Leaf-Strains was silent for a stunned moment, not expecting the ancient lich to go on so long and freely. Finally she gives a bow of her head, "As you said, honorable Lich, my species evolved to embrace the herd, to protect every member we can. If it is my fault that Lord Jadyk was... infected with these ideals, then I take immense pride in that fact. My family is no longer the herd. My family is every single being who lives under my protection and Lord Jadyk's, and I will do everything in my power to defend them as fiercely as any other.

"I am curious to see what shape this shared herd of ours, this Armada, takes in the future. I am willing to face it by your side even," she says, her eyes squinting into an osogoan smile for a few moments, Ruscuv nodding along. However, the osogo's expression goes stern and she speaks with a coldness in her voice that very few had ever heard, "Know this, Lich Ruscuv. I am far from your equal in strength and I doubt I ever will be. War is not my calling, not like it is yours. But know this," she levels a steady finger toward the Lich, "Compromise this Armada or Lord Jadyk's spirit, betray him or those laws he has carved through blood and fire, and I will do everything in my insignificant power to ensure that you meet the True Death that all undead fear."

Ruscuv's tendrils lash violently, the Lich fuming in silence for a moment before she lets out a grating, booming laugh, "Careful Necromancer, I think I may just start liking your yet," she gives a bow, more formal and intent than before, "May we never meet as enemies, you have the determination of a Lich. No doubt what Brother Jadyk saw in you."

Red-Leaf-Strains returns the formal bow and says in the Wormtongue, "May the Wormstar guide you and my children in the battles to come. Make them fearsome and worthy of the title Necromancer of the Wormstar."

The Necromancer strides from the chamber, departing to leave Ruscuv alone. The Lich chuckles in the dark chamber and runs her hand through the burning liquid of the Cauldron while muttering to herself, "Your champions all love you, don't they?"

Shaking her head she splashes the Cauldrons brew before sending out a psychic summons to those Necromancers she had selected. As they assembled she clambers up and over the edge of the oversized Cauldron, descending into the liquid that was already breaking her physical form apart.

War was nearly there and Lich Ruscuv felt a new shape would be required for these battles.

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>>3057328
Ok I'll admit I got kind of carried away with what should've been a brief scene but that's all the time I have tonight. I do plan to continue running the thread tomorrow afternoon, hope to see folks there.

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

I've been waiting for a proper chance to have Red-Leaf-Strains and Ruscuv speak, both perfect examples and paragons of the New and Old Armadas.

>>3057335
Thanks for the thread

>>3057335
Thanks for running Graves

Also, I am curious as to what would happen should Ruscov actually face off against Red leaf even if indirectly

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>>3057366
hypothetically if Ruscuv and Red-Leaf-Strains were to face off one-on-one, it'd be Ruscuv but Red-Leaf-Strains would give a formidable resistance.

She hasn't had a chance to really demonstrate it but Red-Leaf-Strains is one of the strongest telekinetics in the Armada with only Jor surpassing her among the Living subjects.

Ruscuv would still a serious and deadly threat to Jadyk if she were to give her all against him in a battle

>>3057335
That was some great character development. Thanks for writing it up, Graves.

>>3057335
Gotta say, awesome encounter. Thanks for running!

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>>3057327
>"Lord Jadyk, as misguided as he is now, sees some kind of worthy in you lot. He sees something that he claims I cannot yet see," she scoffs, slapping at the surface of the caustic fluid before she turns back toward the Necromancer, "I do not agree with how my Brother Lich leads his Armada or treats his subjects. I think he has gone insane, fighting so hard to protect even the weakest and most pitiful of the Living when we could have an eternal, perfect army with which to carve out a dynasty of his own!" she nearly shouts, causing the osogo to tense and reach for her folded staff.
I feel like I'm one of the few Anons around who likes seeing the side of Jadyk that is a brutal undead demigod, rather than the usual diplomancing. Not many opportunities for that lately, though. At least I have Ruscuv.

>>3058787

The point of Nice-Jadyk is avoiding the inevitable "Well fuck, we've killed the Universe, now what?"

>>3058787

Soon anon. To those that oppose us we can be brutal and cruel.

We just decided to collect up 5 of some of the strongest race in the galaxy, creatures capable of living hundreds or thousands of years and becoming living symbols of divinity and knowledge, and we're not only going to throw them into a melting pot, we're going to twist their divinity and power into a barely sentient creature of bloodlust and rage.

We dueled their leader, their god-queen and tore life from her body. We then took the power that made their race rise to greatness and we incorporated it into our being. We're now in the middle of re-crafting their God-Queen into not only a superweapon, but a powerful symbol of fear, proof that even the greatest of their number can fall. We will travel to their systems, we will kill them and their subjects with one of their own, and we will tear the life from their God-Queens family using her and her power.

>>3058813
>Portents of Divinity

>>3058813
When all the Slaves and false gods will look up and shout "Save us!"... and I'll look down and whisper "Yes"

>>3058806
I don't mean I despise diplomancing, or anything. I just like seeing the brutal, eldritch side.

>>3058813
>We dueled their leader, their god-queen

To be fair, Quantac'Vrix was only one of the matriarchs. She wasn't the ruler of the entire Akham empire.

But everything you said certainly applies to her former domain.

>>3058787
>>3058806

I like both versios of Jadyk, but his current self has a soft spot for me. He is likely incapable of recognize it or even admit it but his imprisonment left him traumatized and afraid to be left alone or in similar a similar condition of his imprisonment. He might racionalize it as a new and better strategy, which it is, but there's something buried beneath that's deeply emotionally.

>>3058787
>Usual diplomancing

Unfortunately, that's what happens when you run an empire. But i get what you mean, i would be lying if i said i didn't get a thrill from the matriarch fight, or i don't like to imagine jadek doing a vader "neck grip, sneer and throw into the wall"
Generally being an intimidating mother fucker.

>>3059158
So sister lich was right about him going mad...... Interesting.

>>3059158
Well, ever since he started working for the Worm Star, he has always had it in his head to some degree. After thousands of years imprisoned, which by itself would leave ones mind malleable and vulnerable, he subconsciously desires something to fill the void that the Worm Star left. Something I also like is comparing him before and after his imprisonment. He still desires conquest and domination to some degree, to see his will be done and go beyond his current limitations. Thats why, before all else, he is the Conquering Worm.

>>3059265
I could give a lot of reasons for what Jaydk is doing and why but your comment made me think about how before he could always hear the songs of the worm star no matter how distant but since his release he could no longer hear it

And then cutting back to recent moments when Jaydk is meditating and all he can he is the chorus of prayers, hopes and dreams offered up by all our living subjects

Maybe he's found exactly what was missing.

>>3058787
I love how even though she thinks Jaydk has gone mad she Still loves and support him in his eccentric interests

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>>3057328
Green lightning flashed across the sky and the air rumbled with booming thunder as fierce waves lashed a rocky shore. There was a distant screech that tore through the air from some far-off predator flapping through the storm. A Cyclops shifts slightly as a spray of water douses its form, a transparent membrane sliding across it's eye to clear it's vision as it peers stoically out across the storm-wracked sea. It was one of a multiple stationed along the shoreline cliffs, ever vigilant in their duties of watching the skies and sea. In this weather even the Gargoyles could not stay airborne for long, forced to perch miserably in the deluge to avoid being blown away.

Far beneath the raging storm in their hidden fortress the Disciple stood over the slab holding the carefully laid out remains of the damaged Protectorate Synth. It lay there like some specimen ready for dissection, which it recently was, with the damaged Arc generator linked to it by a tangle of wires. Glutton crystals built into the slabs corners and even the one at the heart of the Dirge transporting the specimen kept the ambient Necrotic radiations at a minimum to help preserve the weakened Arc energies within.

Voidflames burned low around their skull, the Disciple knowing that even their own Void emissions could prove dangerous in snuffing out the energies. They pondered in silence as they regarded the construct and the revelation that it was the Arc energies powering it were the same entity that dwelt within.

"An electric soul," the Disciple scoffs to themself before turning their eyeless gaze toward the Itru Voidsinger that hops forward on its foot and knuckles, "Did you inform Cipher I wished to speak with them?"

The itru nods their head, their beaks parting as they spoke in their native language, a privilege that most itru enslaved under the human ruling class were forbidden from speaking, "Yes. They are expecting your presence at your leisure," they look to the synth spread out on the slab and a ripple of Voidlight crosses over their form in surprise, "Is that...?"

"Yes, it is," the Disciple says with a short nod, their hands clasped behind their back.

"It feels... weak," the Voidsinger says while holding a hand out in it's direction, "It's aura doesn't sting like the others. It feels..." they trail off and look to the Disciple, "Hungry."

"Very good, student, you are growing more in tune with your Flame," it says with pride in its voice, the Voidsinger perking up at the praise, "Tell them I shall be with them in but a moment."

"Of course," the itru says and turns to hop away on it's tailfoot.

This left the Wayward Disciple alone with the Synth and it's Dirge transport. They are silent for some time in silent contemplation.

The Wayward Disciple is about to reveal the damaged synth and Arc generator to the ambassador sent by the Transcendent Protectorate. How should they proceed?
>Write-in

>>3059917
Present it as is. Politely ask if we could speak with the one that we saved if possible. Offer aid in healing/repairing the damaged synth.

>>3059917
>>3059946
This covers everything pretty clearly. I cant quite remember which force feeds off arc and the inverse but since we have a multiple element force we could suggest protecting and feeding the arc entity.

>>3059917
Honesty.

>"Experience has taught us that transparency and candid communication are the most suited methods to build mutually beneficial relationship with other species and alliances. It it’s for this reason that I most inform you that during salvage and intelligence gathering operation on a battle site between your forces and the council that we recover a maroon synth. Due to the expensive damage it was initially misidentify as part of the wreckage and taken back to our base for analysis. It was then that we recognize it as an injure individual and we have made efforts preserve and improve his condition. We merely wish for instructions to ensure his well benign and repatriation."

>>3059952
Arc eats void eats solar eats necrotic eats arc.
We could offer to feed it some of our own energy, though in small amounts since it is apparently so weak that even a bit of Void would harm it.

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>>3059952
I save this picture just for that, but the Disciple only has access to Necrotic and Void if I remember correctly. And in its current state its unlike we will be able to feed it without harming it.

>>3059957
That is what I thought. The issue I was worried about is that the world we are on is infested with the necrotic, so using void energy to keep the ambient necrotic away might be useful.

>>3059917

>Offer up some void energy from out Void troops. Not enough to significantly damage them, but enough to drain them. See if they go for this offer and leverage it forward in our diplomacy

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>>3059917
Turning on their heel they exit the chamber followed shortly by the Dirge and it's cargo. During the short trip toward the Protectorates quarters the Glutton crystal glows with a fain inner light as they siphon the ambient Necrotic energy that saturated the planet and Armada fortress. Initially it was to prevent the spark of Arc energy from being snuffed out and prevented from study or replication to power their own Arc derived tech.

A doorway slides open at their approach and the Disciple enters the chamber they had been meeting with the one called Cipher while the slab and Dirge remained outside for the moment. Cipher turns it's screen toward the Disciple and flashes a symbol of welcome while a synthetic voice chirps out, "You wished to speak with me? The Itru was vague as to the reason," they say with a short, deliberate motion to the Voidsinger they had just been speaking with.

With a nod you dismiss the Voidsinger who hops away to tend to other tasks. Standing beside a table the Disciple rests their hands upon its surface in silence for a few moments as Ciphers screen pulses with gentle patterns the Think Tanks decode as patient waiting.

"I do not have many fancy words like my liege does, but I have tried hard to follow his example," the Disciple starts, "Experience has taught us that transparency and communication is a suitable method to build stable alliances. The truth.

"The truth is that during our initial encounter my forces were salvaging tech from your damaged vessels during your conflict with the Council," the screen of Cipher flashes a symbol that the Think Tanks don't understand before it returns to it's neutral patterns as the Disciple continues speaking, "That singular shuttle you had detected entering FTL that lead to their discovery? On board was a collection of what we thought was scrap and damaged tech we needed to replicate our own Arc technology. Among it was this entity."

The slab then drifts into the chamber and Cipher immediately approaches its side while the Disciple speaks, "Due to the extensive damage we initially misidentified it as part of the wreckage. It was only later that we recognized it as an injured individual."

Cipher holds out their hands, the palms splitting then the rest of their forearm as tools and devices emerge, scanning over and prodding at the damaged synth, "You attempted to repair them?"

"That was our intent but we are ill-prepared here to commit to such a delicate operation. We attempted to stabilize their condition but we do not know if what we try would help or damage them further," the Disciple folds their arms across their chest, watching as the synth poured over and cataloged the damage.

>cont

>>3060049
Cipher rests their new multitude of hands upon the generator and lifts their screen to face the Disciple, colors rippling across it in intense patterns, "You did not tell us you had possession of one of ours. Why wait and why reveal at all? Our technology and spirits are valuable yes?"

"Like I said, honesty is required if we are to work together," the Disciple looks to the damaged synth, "Is there anything I could do to help preserve them?"

"How?" Cipher demands bluntly, their normally elegant speech growing somewhat cold by comparison.

Voidflame curls around their fist as they lift it up, similar ultraviolet fires wreathing their skull, "The Arc consumes Void energies correct? I am made of the Voids fires and I would offer my power to fuel their recovery if it would help. My flames burn eternally, there is plenty to spare."

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 pleast, time to diplomance the synths

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>3060051

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>3060051

>>3060055

>97

Fuck yeah

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3060051

>>3060055
Oh god it's the Plant Husbandos ALL OVER AGAIN~

>>3060051
>time to diplomance the synths
Man, even or creations are friggen Archdiplomancers.

>>3060049
So the Protecterate
>Exist as beings of Arc energy
>Live in/possess special vessels

Fuck me, they're Arc demons aren't they?

>>3060065
My guess is similar concept but from what we know of Arc demons those would be more akin to demonic possession and highly manipulative and destructive.

While the protectorate seems more like magical brain uploads, post humanism stuff.

>>3060051
Cipher is silent for several moments but sensors within the chamber and that of their Protectorate companions detect rapidfire transmissions occurring between them. Within the chamber the other synths seemed to activate, rising to their feet and other appendages as if waiting a signal.

Finally the Cipher gives a chirp and a symbol of affirmation flashes across the screen, a slender finger that had been a surgical looking tool moments before pointing at the Disciple, "The Transcendent Protectorate does not appreciate having our technology pilfered and our citizens abducted. However, we are willing to give the benefit of doubt. The ones contained in these frames are weak, they barely answered our call. Your offer is appreciated but must be altered."

"What do you require of us?"

"Void energy accumulators, you possess this technology yes?" Cipher asks and their holographic "face" flickers to show esoteric mathematics and brief schematics the Disciple and Think Tanks recognize as attributed to Void energy research.

"We have portable Void generators, if that is what you are asking. We can also produce organic Void-saturated materials. Bonedust," the Disciple clarifies to the symbol of curiosity the synth displays.

"A generator capable of generating this amount would be preferable but even smaller would work," they say as their screen displays measurements roughly equal to a standard power core.

"We can lend you one of these to aid in their recovery though understand we are similarly cautious about sharing our technologies secrets," the Disciple says.

"Of course," the Cipher says curtly in reply as they pull their hands back that fold into their default configuration. The Disciple does not remark on the Think Tanks observations that among their configurations they estimate was one similar to a hardlight weapon projector, "We will discuss our plans concerning the Council once this one is stabilized."

The door slides open and the Dirge drifts past with the slab and Cipher following but the synth pauses and turns back to the Disciple, the patterns projected by their "face" more subdued than they once were, "We do have a warning for you. One that is delivered without malice and derived from understanding your necessity.

"The Transcendent Protectorate forgives this transgression but warns that any other attempts to salvage, loot, or steal Protectorate secrets, technology, or citizens will result in the immediate termination of diplomatic discussions."

Clacking their teeth together sharply the Disciple gives a curt nod, "Understood."

>cont

>>3060087
The Cipher departs the chamber with the slab carrying their fallen compatriot to their dwelling. Once inside the Dirge lowers the slab to the ground and departs just as another carries a Void Core into the chamber, it's bone casing rippling with distorted light from the energies within.

Immediately the Cipher and other synths began tending to the fallen, linking both frame and Arc generator to the larger device they had brought with them or even to themselves and each other in a complicated tangle of wires and connections. Sensors within the chamber could detect rapid transmissions of Arc along them, the signals growing stronger as an insectoid looking synth inspects the Void Core and begins slowly filling the chamber with Void radiation.

>Transcendent Protectorate Synth turned over to the Cipher and diplomatic delegation
>the Transcendent Protectorate claims to forgive this transgression but deliver a warning against further attempts to reverse-engineer their technology
>the Cipher states they are still willing to collaborate in efforts against the Council of Thirteen

>>3060090
It would be a sad thing to crush a potential ally beneath the New Necrotic Armadas march to eternity.

>>3060090
Well, it's not like we can't get their technology later if we need it. After all, if they want us to be their cat's paw against the Council, we're gonna need some goodies.

>>3060123
Also when it comes down to it, anything they can provide us pales in comparison the mission which is to recover a shard of the Wormstar.

>>3060126
Damn, I'd forgotten about that.

>>3060132
>>3060126
He'll only reason we went for the remains is to get a spark to start an arc generator and we can basically extrapolate from there into making an Arc gate

>>3060090
Well, that ended about as well as we could hope. It might be a longer road to get to actual technology exchanges with them but the long-term gains from at least having tentative peace are worth it. We've got enough fronts as it is, even in this sector.

>>3060126
Yep. That's our major prize. Then hopefully long-term peace with the Protectorate, and eventually an alliance/tech trade with the Protectorate.

Whatever we might have learned from this one chunk of tech isn't worth jeopardizing all of that, even just for the Wormstar fragment. We're probably going to need their help to take down the Council's floating city.

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>>3060090
A battleship with an accompanying fleet appeared not far from Horizon's Drops moon but a safe distance to avoid an Overlap Incident as a bubble of warped spacetime fell away from the formation. It moved toward the moon but several Coffins raced ahead with their faster acceleration, ferrying their passengers faster toward their destinations.

Rethak now stands on the surface of the moon, a bubble of refracted energy holding in an atmosphere he hardly needed to breath anymore. The Immortal Voidsinger strode through the grasses that had grown waist high even to him, a singular tree transported from Horizon's Drop growing in the center of the biodome. He stood before it, looking up without eyes into its branches.

The sound of bladed scales against stone and then grasses cause him to turn and look on in surprise at the Ahkam that slithered forth from the moons surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBRCbFUwlFM

Cve'jok hisses softly as her tongue flits out, tasting the air as she approaches the Legions commander, "Commander Rethak, thank you for meeting me with me."

Rethak tilts his head, hands resting on his hips, "Cve'jok, yes? I'll admit, I was not expecting to get a summons from you of all beings. I was honestly expecting Vle'Karak."

The serpent laughs, the guttural noise ringing in the dome as she coils up into a relaxed position, scales scraping against scales, "Understandable. We Ahkam and Voidsingers have never coexisted peacefully before have we?"

Rethak chuckles softly himself, shaking his head, "Too true," he looks up to the serpent towering over him, noticing the mostly healed wounds and Voidburns she had sustained during the defense of this very moon, "What was it you required my presence for?"

"Vle'Karak is currently busy working for Lord Jadyk in preparation for the campaign against the Dynasty," she says, not answering his question.

"So too my Legion prepares for the conflicts," he says in reply, curious as to why she called him there.

"Yes, your Legion," Cve'jok murmurs as she turns her gaze upwards to where the Necrolyte Legion battleship he had arrived in passes overhead, "I have a request of you Commander Rethak. Listen to me for a time and hear my request."

"No offense, Cve'jok, but what do you require of me? Time is a precious commodity."

She hisses and looks to him again, her hood of blades flexing and relaxing, "I have killed many of the Empire. I have devoured Voidsingers and slain Warbeasts of your homeworld. I have even dueled with Sunscale and decimated Confederate armies," she says slowly and calmly, as if remembering past glories, "I have always been a killer and for my Mother, that was enough. My strength cultivated and honed and sharpened against the bones of countless beings I have slain..." she trails off and looks down to her tailblades.

Rethak is silent, folding his arms across his chest as he listens.

>cont

>>3060221
"And then I met a creature that was stronger than I, a mightier predator than I," her voice takes on a tone of distaste but she continues, "And I was imprisoned within this very moon. I was no longer a god, no longer a killer or a slayer yearning to be as strong as the great Butcher Vle'Karak, but rather a wretched prisoner.

"And then, I was a traitor, sharing secrets of the Arc with my captors," she turns her attention back to Rethak who began to suspect she had bundled this all up inside and was only not getting a chance to uncoil these thoughts, "The secrets I gave, the weapons I helped your Armada build, Jadyk used them to kill my people. To make them afraid," she lets out a slow, dark hiss but she makes no move of aggression, instead trying to work through her suppressed rage.

"Me, once a beloved daughter of a Matriarch, I betrayed my people! Jadyk slaughtered them because of me!" she snarls, baring her fangs but she lets out a heavy sigh even as Rethak takes a step back defensively, "I let despair win... Did you know I wanted to kill myself? I nearly did if I hadn't learned Vle'Karak has also been captured.

"If the mighty Butcher was defeated and captured, then what could I have done to succeed? Slowly I came to the realization that I'm sure you and everyone in your Legion came to understand," she lifts her head, her outburst calmed, "It is futile to struggle against Lord Jadyk. Even my mother came to understand this, upon her death."

"What is it you require, Cve'jok?" Rethak asks once again, even as he suspects her next words.

"When the Osjiic Empire attacked, I was called to defend the very Armada that had enslaved me," she chuckles darkly, "At first it was an easy choice, Void Tyrants must be fought wherever they spread. It was only after those assaults, most recently the attack upon this moon, that I realized something.

"For once I was not just a killer or a betrayer," she lowers her head closer to the Immortals level, her eyes burning with intensity, "I became a defender, a protector. I never fought for myself, never for reasons I decided on myself, always obeying my Mother and Dynasty's needs. Now, I wish to fight for something, for myself.

"If you will have me, I would request to join your Necrolyte Legion. I wish to fight, for reasons of my own choosing and I believe your Legion will give me what I require. Lord Jadyk gave me a choice before, but now I make one of my own because my decisions are all I have anymore that are my own."

>cont

>>3060224
Rethak was silent at first as he looks up toward the serpent, well aware that she could potentially slay him or at the very least destroy much of his form before she could be stopped. But he felt no fear, instead he says, "I am not one for grand words like Lord Jadyk or Necromancer Jor. The Necrolyte Legion accepts all who would fight and bleed for the Armada. We all have our own reasons but we all made this choice.

"I welcome you, Cve'jok, to the Necrolyte Legion."

>Necrolyte Commander Rethak has initiated the betrayer Ahkam Cve'jok into the Necrolyte Legion

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>>3060226

>>3060226
And here's where the Armada's strategy pays off, once again. Citizens with a personal purpose they embrace by choice become more powerful and effective than slaves ever can.

>>3060226
I really did plan to have more done tonight rather than just two scenes.

Good news is, besides the next thing we need to cover, we're ready to start the next full proper thread with research and everything.

Gotta call it here for the night but fear not, either tomorrow or Thursday we'll be resuming with some serious progress with the Barqalan situation

>>3060261
Thanks for running

SOON SKELEBROS

>>3062396
clacketing in anticipation!

Bump?

Soon(ish)

>>3060226
As Rethak stood upon the moons surface and spoke with Cve'jok, the battleship he'd arrived with had shed its Coffins transferring their cargo to smaller stealth craft waiting nearby. Necrolyte Legionnaires filed into the ships and began assembling the equipment they would be using for their next mission. Esat, epikor, kosdan, and a small mix of other species soldiers removed their Cauldronforged gear and donned uniforms and armor from the Dynasty, many of their symbiots detecting disgust at having to wear the outfits once more. They complained about the weaponry, most salvaged from the Arc Surge invasion, having grown used to Reconstructed weapons. Their chatter dies however as a mental nudge was sent through their control worms and they turn to face the holograms that flickered on throughout their ships.

Commander Rethak's image flickers into being, just having excused himself from Cve'jok's presence, "Soldiers, I know this mission you are about to embark upon is one of great importance and danger. Due to your pasts as soldiers of the Dynasty before you joined the Armada and my Legion you will be sent to the Esat system in order to establish contact with local revolutionaries and dissidents. Some of you have past experience with them or know those who do. Enter the system, make landfall, and establish contact with these rebels, with luck and their good sense they will join us.

"The Armada has given every one of you a chance at a new life now that it has broken the shackles of the Dynasty over you. It is now your turn to extend this gift to those still bent under them in servitude. Lord Jadyk and I have faith in you all, make Him proud," he salutes with a fist thumping against his armor, "To Death and Through it to Eternity. May the Wormstar guide you."

The Necrolyte Legionnaires voice the prayer as one before his image flickers out. Around them they feel the stealth corvettes charge their engines, the hull thrumming as space-time is warped around them and they accelerate at impossible speeds into the cosmic distance.

>Undercover Necrolyte Legionnaires have been sent to the Esat system
Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>3069545

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>3069545
oh you bitch, why must i choose between this and sleep?

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>3069545

>>3069545
Rethaks arrival to the moon marked a departure from it as well.

A frigate traveled at sublight speeds toward the gas giant at the edge of Horizon's Drops space, where the Arc Relay was in orbit. Even from this distance it was easy to see a pulsing of light, like a nearby star emitting bursts of radiation, as the Relay station sends or receives ships from both the Drakon and Bastion star systems.

The newly Reconstructed Predator Qavun stood in an observation deck, her talons sunken into the floor to keep her rooted in the zero-g, the smaller vessels such as this foregoing the Void tech needed to produce artificial gravity. The bone plates protecting her cluster of eyes were drawn back, letting her look out at the stars. They fold back into place however as the door to the chamber slide open and Eiton drifts in.

Moving to join her his talons instead sink into the ceiling, the cyclopean undead staring unblinking out at the stars and the approaching Relay. After several moments in silence the crimson eye, the same vibrant red as an Ahkams, swivels towards her as he broke the silence, "How are you adjusting to your new state?"

Flexing her hands she looks down at them, metallic claws extending from fingertips, "I believe so. It is hard to describe. I am... no, was Orvca. I hold all her memories, but I am Qavun, more than Orvca," she clenches her fists and lets out a chuckle before letting them fall to her side.

Eiton nods folding his arms and tapping at his chin, "Very good. Are you prepared for what we must do next?"

"I would have thought I'd see battle before I was asked to create a monstrosity for the Armada," she says dryly.

"Reconstruction is a holy tenet of the Armada's Generals. Which you now are. Sister in Carnage," he says with a wry twist to his voice, answered by her chuckle.

"Maybe I am biased because of Orvca's history, but I do admit some... delight in the idea of twisting the serpents into weapons against them. It's cruel, but perfect."

Eiton's eye looks to her again, "Each one of us Reconstructed Generals were created with the intent of becoming cruel weapons against what we once served in life. I myself was apparently a high ranking epikor soldier under the Quantac'Vrix Dynasty."

"Do you think Vle'Karak knows of what we plan?" Qavun asks suddenly.

Eiton is silent for several moments as he taps his chin with a talon, thinking about the serpent currently resting the very same frigate's hold where he could actually fit. Finally he gives a shrug, "He may. He is among the most cunning and intelligent beings the Armada has among its numbers, I would not doubt that he knows of our intent. It matters not, he certainly will deduce it once he witnesses the beast we are about to construct. Not to mention he recommended turning Quantac'Vrix into a war machine to Lord Jadyk himself."

>cont

>>3069820
"You believe him loyal?" she asks, looking to the older Predator.

"Loyal enough. Loyal to Jadyk," he says before chuckling softly as he muses, "I wonder how long until Lord Jadyk makes him like the revered Commander Rethak."

Qavun nods, "Immortality would serve as a fine leash."

Eiton tilts his head curiously before looking back out toward the stars and the gas giant slowly growing larger, "Less of a leash I think. More of an eternal debt, if I know the serpent. I expect by the time he may consider that debt paid, he will be a true believer of Lord Jadyk."

>Predators Eiton and Qavun, along with Vle'Karak, are en route to the Bastion system

File: storm_moving_thru_the_plains.jpg (174 KB, 1100x1100)

174 KB JPG

>>3069824
Within the Bastion system itself a world wracked in Arc storms holds a station in orbit, formed from both Armada and Collective ships linking together. Glutton Crystals working hard to keep the living ships of the Armatocere ships from growing sick at the prolonged physical contact. Think Tanks and Mindvines theorized and worked on complex algorithms, the Think Tanks adopting a similar process to the Harbingers in possessing Talons to interact with the floral scientists easier. Their sensors were aimed down towards the planet but they could not pierce the interference caused by the Arc storms.

Their solution to this plight was currently on the surface, flying over a dune of toxic sand. Flying Reconstructed flew close behind the Arc Disciple as the Chariots trailed behind. The mountain range that was their target was looming larger as they sped toward it.

Bolts of indigo lightning cracked across the sky or struck the ground in the distance, the air thick with the sound of continuously rolling thunder. Sometimes they struck alarmingly close, the rumble causing the dunes to shift with the vibrations. Arc energy crackles like static to the ears of the Arcdancers riding in the Chariots, the atmosphere saturated with it.

"All those Storm Gates forming over it with during the [blue]Arc Surge[/blue] must've done something to the planet," says a kosda looking at data displayed across their helms display.

"It infected the planets energy, like a venom," another Arcdancer says as they look up towards the patterns of web-like Arcbolts dancing in pulses among the clouds above.

One of the Think Tanks slotted into one of the Chariots receives another burst of the Obsidianborn ships distress signal, repeating its automated call for aid. However the broadcast was changed from before, mentioning contact with hostile forces. The message is funneled to the Disciple, the insectoid Reconstructed immediately suspecting survivors of the downed Ahkcam vessel that had crashed near the stone-hulled ship.

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>3069977

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>3069977
Check these digits.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>3069977
W E W

Oh! i forgot about that ship!

>>3069993
>>3070039
well they are fucked now

>>3069977
With lightning flashes illuminating their path they raced toward the wreckages, the dunes slowly being split by jagged hills of rock and boulders as they neared the mountain range. A bolt of Arc lightning strikes relatively nearby, blinding the living and sighted undead momentarily as the are quakes with the thunders growl. The Arc storm seemed to be getting worse the closer they got to the mountain and the downed ships, bolts of lightning striking both to and from the ground and sky.

Gargoyles sent far ahead finally gain sight of the impact sites, swooping up into the air as they nervously try to avoid the thickest crackling of static as they inspect the ground. Sand burned to glass marked their impacts, pieces of the Obsidianborn warship looking like a piece of mountain had been thrown a vast distance. Cooling magma leaked from portions of the half-buried ship, the orange glow illuminating the landing zone.

Further away, where the lightning was strikes were fiercest and most common, was the mangled wreck of the Ahkam ship. Arc energy crackles visibly across it's hull, surging brightly with each bolt that struck it or leapt out from it. Even pieces of shorn hull scattered from the wreck seem to glow with an Arc charge.

However the Gargoyles vision were drawn toward the Obsidianborn ship once more when there was the sound of distant weaponsfire and explosions. Diving in they search for the sounds of battle and spot where a cluster of rocky shapes and nimble pentapods were hunkered down around a large rip in the side of their vessel. They were crouched or hiding behind portions of wrecked hull or rocky outcroppings emerging from the sand, firing or lobbing grenades at nimble forms that bound between the dunes and rocks firing in return.

Obsidianborn levitated a slab of stone hull and slam it down before them and to the Gargoyles shock they see what looked to be a handful of unknown humanoids rush forward along with several stonestar to take cover behind it and open fire on the startlingly fast opponents. The Think Tanks scan their memories, wondering if any of the Obsidianborn craft had Legionnaire crew members.

A Gargoyles swoops low and spots the attackers, appearing to be Dynasty soldiers moving quickly behind cover and popping out to open fire occasionally to keep them pinned down. They seem to spot the Gargoyle and several open fire, the Reconstructed squealing in alarm as one of its wings is clipped sending it tumbling but the undead creature manages to flee from their range and find refuge hiding in the shadow of a crevice of a rocky hill.

>Allies under attack by Dynasty survivors

From their angle of approach they are coming up on the other side of the Obsidianborn wreckage and would need to go over or around it in order to join the battle.

How should the Arc Disciple approach this conflict?
>Write-in

>>3070261
Can the Disciple's forces attack from the enemies rear? Also have someone demand their surrender and tell them the invasion is over and the Matriarch is dead. Show the battle's end with the Demi-think Tanks. Anyone capable of camouflage should strike where it will disrupt the enemy best.

>>3070369
Currently the Arc Disciple has with them
>6 Arcdancers
>Arc Savages (can fly)
>Arc Vipers
>Arc Trolls
>1 Dirge

>>3070432
Pretty shrimpy lineup, but I suppose this is the state of things. Can we circle up on top of the obsidian born ship with the vipers on chariots, maybe use some of the ship hull as cover, meanwhile trolls should be engaging directly and trying to interupt their ranks. Arc-dancers and savages aside them... Dirge to damage control with the rest of the obsidian born? They dont have arc protection, so it should be good. Also need to have that in the wings in case there is a serpent.

File: God, you are fucked..jpg (264 KB, 1920x1080)

264 KB JPG

>>3070261
We need to save those survivors and the unknown humanoids have caught my interest, but we also need to deal with the large arc bullshit further off. Have the Arc Savages lay down suppressing fire on the enemy forces attacking the Obsidionborn and friends, giving them some breathing room to work with. Also have some Arc Vipers join the fight as well. Have the rest keep going and deal with the large Arc bullshit. The Arc Dancers and the remaining Arc Vipers should be nimble to avoid large damage and the Arc Trolls should be sturdy enough to survive some strong blasts, forcing the enemy to focus on the weak but agile foes or the slow but hard hitting ones(pic related). Leave the Dirge in reserve for the latter battle, just in case they try to pull anything or we need it to minimize the fallout from a shit roll.

>>3070432
Well I 'm not good with strategy but how about having the Savages lay down suppresing fire while 3 arcdancers take the Trolls for a frontal assault to draw their fire while the disciple, the rest of the arcdancers and the Vipers attack where the enemy is weakest to break their forces?

>>3070483
>>3070461
I'm down with suppressing fire from the Savages. Whether we can close the distance with the other troops depends on whether it works though. They might just get shot down.

>>3070261
Plan seems to be
>Arc Savages will fly overhead and lay down suppressing fire providing cover for approach
>Arcdancers deploy with Vipers to disrupt the attackers
>Arc Trolls and Dirge join and reinforce the defenders
>Have Chariots provide cover fire with mounted weapons from afar

Where should the Arc Disciple go?
>Meet with survivors
>Lead the Savages in the attack
>Other (write-in)

Sorry for the delay, had some issues with captcha and my wifi there

>>3070658
Plan looks good.

Send them to deal with the attackers and have the arc dancers and think tanks group up with the survivors

>>3070672
I'm on board with having the Disciple lead the Savages on the offensive, but the arc dancers are already deploying with the Vipers.

>>3070658
Sounds good to me.
>Lead the Savages in the attack

>>3070683
Just the think tanks meeting with them then

>>3070658
The Arc Disciple mentally sends out their commands and with a burst of speed they and the Savages shoot forward with increased speed even as their bodies began to flicker and distorting, their silhouettes blurring and making them difficult to track. The Chariots give their own bursts of speed as the Arcdancer drivers aim themselves toward the wreckage sending the sand underneath whipping away from their hoverpads.

Roll me 3d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 51, 22, 26 = 99 (3d100)

>>3070756

Rolled 3, 47, 29 = 79 (3d100)

>>3070756

Rolled 36, 59, 75 = 170 (3d100)

>>3070756

>>3070792
>>3070800
>>3070841
These were some incredibly mediocre rolls.

>>3071038
And none of them above 75. That's about one in twelve chance.

File: Arc Blur.jpg (32 KB, 620x384)

32 KB JPG

>>3070756
The sounds of battle reached the Disciple as they and the Savages flew low to the ground to avoid being seen during their approach, the shadow of the Obsidianborn ship looming larger before them. A quick glance behind and they see the trail of dust and sand rising up from the Chariots engines not far behind them. With their wings buzzing faster than the eye could follow they zip over the rise of the ships hull, trailing afterimages of themselves in the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QpUGCXwOks

A moment later and they zip out over the heads of the defenders, drawing the surprised shouts and clicks of those below, the chatter of an automated gun clipping the side of one of the Savages as the wielder reacts blindly. The Reconstructed hisses as it loses a portion of a leg but it keeps flying.

As they passed overhead the Disciple finally saw who it was that joined the stonestar and Obsidianborn in their defense and it immediately confuses them greatly. Hunkered down behind chunks of hull and boulders alongside the stonestar were soldiers wearing armor marked with the colors of the Ahkam Dynasty. The mystery would have to be solved after as they are reminded of their task as a burst of blaster fire nearly strikes them if not for their blur ability.

Flying over the no-man's-land between the advancing attackers and the survivors the flying Reconstructed opened fire, bolts of Necrotic and Arc energy lancing out along with bursts of kinetic slugs and flechettes. As if in response to their attack new figures raced out from the dunes, dashing with unnatural speed.

It was easy to recognize them as Tyrre from how they ran on all fours and their bladed armor, but something was off with how rapidly they charged toward them. Climbing higher they expected themselves to be just out of reach but to the Disciples alarm they watch as one of the charging tyrre leaps with unnatural strength and speed into the air with a shriek that did not sound like a natural tyrre's howl. The tyrre collides with a Savage that didn't swerve out of the way in time and the pair go tumbling to the ground slashing and clawing at each other with their wicked blades but both were dead by the time they impacted, having torn each other apart.

Another went leaping through the air toward the Disciple but their armblade, a scythe much like Ruscuvs, lashes out and the bisected pieces fall to the ground. A burst of shardspitter flechettes trailing small bolts of Arc energy puncture the skull of another racing toward them, sending them stumbling into a furrow of sand. More of the tyrre leap at the Savages and Disciple only to be cut or shot down but more raced under them, ignoring them as they charged toward the defenders.

>cont

>>3071065
Only as they ran past did the Disciple start to notice something odd about the attackers beyond their increased physical abilities, as some of the tyrre were lacking limbs and many of their armors were not environmentally sealed. The Disciple could taste the toxins in the air and knew them to be stronger than what even an enraged tyrre could withstand.

Flying over the head of the attackers the Savages dove in to live up to their names, their blades and claws slashing and tearing through those unfortunate enough to encounter them. The Disciple darts in like a blur of light, their blade slicing through what looked like an epikor but their armor already sported bullet and blaster wounds. Annoyed and alarmed the Disciple watches as a kosda they had riddled with shardspitter flechettes, their throat torn out, shakily rises up from there they fell and opened fire against them.

Their attack seemed to have the intended effect of disrupting the ranged attackers even if it did flush out the tyrre berserkers now racing toward the survivors. Obsidianborn soldiers lumbered forward and began geokinetically launching shards of sharped stone that tear through several tyrre but the rest are just nimble enough to avoid their the majority of their attacks as they drew ever closer. The furthest line of Ahkam soldiers and stonestar began to fall back, covering each other as they fired behind them in their retreat.

The first of the tyrre throws itself off one of the hull chunks, leaping through the air with shattered helm yawning wide with jagged teeth and extended claws for a scrabbling kosda but a screaming sound and flash of sickly green energy stop them in midair. The necrotic flayer's beam strips the molecules away from the tyrre leaving a meaty chunk to fall to the ground at the kosda's feet who looks up in startled alarm and relief to their savior.

One of the Chariots was perched on top of the hull, the Arcdancer manning the Flayers sweeping the weapon around and opening fire, its green beam lancing out to burn away more of the attacking Tyrre that drew too close. The gunner shouts out, the netu cursing in a spacer language as they covered the retreat of the survivors. The Trolls it had been transporting leap into the air, jumppack fins trailing distorted light as they joined the line of defenders, their own flayers and heavy weapons disrupting the charging tyrre while others rush in with shield and melee weapons to duel with those that broke through the line of fire.

The other Chariot races forth, the Arcdancers and Vipers from the other packed on the hoversled it dragged behind it. The sled suddenly detaches as the Chariot banks sharply, as it's own mounted guns, a pair of heavy chain-repeaters begins firing with slowly building speed until it was barking harshly as it unleashes streams of burning slugs that tear through dunes and body alike.

>cont

>>3071067
The sled coasts forward on it's momentum and the Arcdancers and Vipers leap from it even as it's fired upon. Racing ahead on all fours the Vipers were much faster than the Arcdancers and they throw themselves over the dunes and boulders at the attackers lines, joining the Savages attack. The Chariots continue to open fire from afar, providing cover fire and preventing any more of the tyrre from racing across to attack the defenders.

With their reinforcements arrived the Disciple and the Arcdancers lead the Reconstructed in routing the would-be attackers. Vipers charged in, their massive jaws ensnaring foes and tearing them apart with fierce shakes of their heads or pulling them apart between each other. Arcdancers live up to their namesakes as they moved across the battlefield with deadly determination, their blades and guns tearing into the foes that should not be moving.

The enemy fought with a fierceness that matched their strangeness, moving unnaturally with how they swung vibroblades or clutched at weaponry yet still with a dangerous accuracy as they wound and down a few more of the Reconstructed. Yet for their bizarre nature they couldn't stand against the Reconstructed and Arcdancers.

A sudden surge of Arc energy in the distance draws the attention of the Disciple and the Arcdancers toward the downed Ahkam warship, a visible flash of Arclight shining off its hull. This seemed to draw the attention of the attackers and they began to break combat and race toward the ship in their hasty retreat. A few are gunned down as they fled but the Disciple calls a halt to their attacks, not wanting to follow them into an ambush without knowing the situation.

>Attackers have been forced into retreat
>Handful of Arc Savanges and Vipers slain, others injured but capable of repair by cannibalizing the fallen corpses

Roll me 1d100 best of first 3 to investigate the battlefield

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3071072

>>3071067
> Annoyed and alarmed the Disciple watches as a kosda they had riddled with shardspitter flechettes, their throat torn out, shakily rises up from there they fell and opened fire against them.

Undead? Cybernetic? Manipulated manually by Arc energies like puppets? Something weird is going on here.

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3071072
Holy hell! Did not expect that all at once.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>3071072
Pls

>>3071072
With a few quick orders to the Arcdancers and Reconstructed the Disciple flew away from the carnage and toward the Obsidianborn ship. At the guidance of the Arcdancers the Vipers and Savages began a collection of the most intact of the corpses and salvaged weapons on the hoversled that still functioned despite a bullet holes and blaster burns. The rest of the corpses, those in pieces and too damaged to be inspected, were quickly set upon by the damaged Reconstructed, tearing and swallowing down chunks of meat, bone, and metal in their cannibalistic hunger.

The Disciple passes over the single Dirge as it works with Obsidianborn to move boulders and hull chunks into new defensive lines in case of another attack. They pass over the Chariot that had moved into a closer position, a Troll gunner now controlling the twin Flayers.

Already an Arcdancer and demi-Think Tank were conversing with a handful of floating Obsidianborn and stonestar while Dynasty soldiers stood back watching intently. For their credit they kept their weapons holstered and sheathed as they waited.

Landing next to the Arcdancer, the netu taller than the esat derived Reconstructed, the Disciple gives a bow of the head toward the obsidianborn and stonestar soldiers, "We hope we arrived in time."

"Perfectly timed to prevent us from being overrun at the very least," replies one of the stonestar, their armor Cauldronforged but sporting polished obsidian and markings showing them to be a high rank in the Lavafathers military, "These Arc zombies have been a nuisance."

"Arc Zombies?" the Disciple repeats incredulously.

[i]<A temporary moniker until further study can be undertaken>[/i] an Obsidianborn chimes in the Disciples skull.

"They were just explaining the attackers appear to be reanimated corpses but their sensors aren't detecting any traces of Necrotic energy or pathogens. Only Arc signatures," the Arcdancer says with confusion in their voice then nods to the Dynasty soldiers, "They were just about to tell me about them."

The stonestar gestures with one of their arms toward, "It would be best to ask them yourself," and they motion toward them.

A single figure steps up toward the group, an epikor wearing advanced armor the Disciple could tell was powered by a portable Arc core, much like the personal guards of Vle'Karak had. A vibrosword was magnetically sheathed to their back and small rifle holstered at their thigh, speakers on the suit letting them say, "I am Nevren. I was security captain for that warship crashed over there. We crashed about the same time as they did I think. By the time I woke up from the crash I don't know how much time had passed. We gathered up the survivors in what chambers were still environmentally sealed."

>cont

>>3071203
"Things weren't weird for the first day. Then the Arc anomalies started up. Weird lights, sounds, static build-up making it a pain to touch anything," they sigh and shake their head, "And now somehow our dead are rising up. At first we thought it was an Armada trick but eventually we were forced to flee from the ship when they broke in. We fled blindly but we saw this ship and raced for it, hoping it was one of ours," they chuckle darkly, "It wasn't of course."

The Disciple looks to the stonestar, "Why did you let them in and protect them?"

"We'd dealt with our own dead rising up against us and saw them being hounded by the others. My command was to leave them to rot," the stonestar says bluntly, the Disciple remembering the hatred their kind had for members of the Dynasty.

[i]<However there is safety and survival in numbers. If they were to die, they would become more enemies. If they survive, they may not be enemies. It is simple logic>[/i] the Obsidianborn responds with a chiming sound despite it's telepathic communication.

The Arcdancer shrugs, "I mean, that does make sense."

Their conversation is interrupted by an Arcdancer approaching with a troll carrying the corpses of two kosda and an epikor. The Disciple looks to them as the Arcdancer salutes, "Report."

The troll drops the corpses at their feet, Nevren taking a step back from the sight. The Arcdancer, a human, crouches down and points to the corpses, "I took a brief look at them and scans show no sign of Necrotic radiation beyond wounds from our weapons and no sign of the Blight Hunger or other pathogens. Nothing that we know reanimates the dead."

The Disciple hisses softly in annoyance but the Arcdancer holds up a finger, "However! I did find something that may be intriguing," they say before they plunge a hand into the blasted open chest cavity of the epikor and the yank out a small mass of gore. Holding it in their palm they pull away bits of the flesh and blood, but even before they reveal it the Disciple could sense an echo of the Arc.

"I found what looks to be pieces of glass in the corpses. They resonate faintly with the Arc, otherwise I wouldn't have discovered them," they say, showing a lump of misshaped dark glass, the color hard to discern with the viscera staining it as they hand it over to the Disciple.

The lump of glass was hardly larger than a human eye, it's surface jagged and misshapen as they run a claw across it's surface. The chunk of glass seemed to vibrate imperceptibly to anyone not attuned to the Arc.

>Contact with the Armada forces in orbit is cut off currently due to the Arc storm interference but the Coffin reports good progress with repairs

How should the Disciple proceed?
>Write-in

its getting late, so I turn in, a pleasure as always grave

freebump

>>3071206
We need to check whether the other once-reanimated corpses contain similar fragments, and whether they appeared before death or after. If it's been happening to our dead too, then we certainly didn't do it. So some Arc anomaly must be creating the shards in the bodies, possibly after they are dead. We should try to check the living that shouldn't have any arc signatures inside them to see whether they do, just in case.

But if that's the case (shard appears after death and coincident with reanimation), it still doesn't tell us how to prevent it, unless the Arc Disciple has any keen ideas.

Does the Disciple have any keen ideas? Maybe they should commune with the Arc here in an attempt to find out whether there is any intelligence behind this phenomenon.

>>3071229
this seems to fit

>>3071206
Just realized how late it is. Thread will be continuing Tuesday or tomorrow if plans irl fall through.

Hope folks had fun, I know I did.

We'll pick up where we left off with the Disciple and this new mystery next time.

>>3071269
Thanks for running, Graves!

>>3071269
Thanks again.

>>3071269
Thanks for running

>>3071229
I vote for the disciple meditating while the arcdancers investigate the stonestar corpses and search for that strange glass.

This planet is goddamn spooky

>>3071206
Ok time to get this rolling

Roll call time, who's around

>>3073832
not me.

Or am I?

>>3073832
here

>>3073832
present.

>>3071206
We left off with deciding what the Arc Disciple, their team and the survivors should do next.

A few suggestions already mentioned
>Check the previously reanitmated stonestar corpses for evidence of the glass fragments
>Check the living for signs of possible Arc contamination
>Have the Arc Disciple meditate to gain a deeper insight into the situation

Were there any other suggestions that folks would like to add or adjust?
>Yes, write-in
>No plan ok as is

>>3073919
>all of the above.
The Arcdancers can split and look for arc corruption and the shards while the Disciple meditates.

>>3073919
>Yep

go for all. and make sure that we keep someone on overwatch for sneak attacks. every undead so far has a unifying intelect, this should be treated as if it also has one.

>>3073927
>>3073924
Support.

>>3073924
Supporting

>>3073927
Also supporting keeping someone on overwatch, just in case.

>>3073924
>>3073927
These suggestions look good.

>>3073919
Holding the chunk of glass the Disciple turns it over in their palm a few times in thought before tossing it back to the Arcdancer who catches it deftly, "This planet is strange," they say to a wave of muttered, chimed, and clacked agreements. They point a talon toward the human who had brought the matter to them, "Check the other corpses. All of them, every last kosda, epikor, esat, tyrre, and even the stonestar."

"The stonestar?" asks Nevren.

"If the reanimated ones they've already slain have these glass shards it should prove we aren't to blame," the Arcdancer says and the Disciple nods.

"Just so," they look to the netu Arcdancer standing beside them, "Search the living for signs of possible contamination. I want to know if these shards manifest in the living, the corpses, or the reanimated."

"On it," they say with a salute before turning and calling another Arcdancer over to assist them.

"Obsidianborn and Reconstructed will stand guard and keep watch for any other attackers with the Chariots and Gargoyles," the Disciple says, directing a finger to the Obsidianborn who chimes in an affirmative, "Do what you can to build fortifications even if we have to strip the hull of your ship," they gesture with a vague motion to the crashed ship.

"What shall we do?" Nevren asks, folding arms across their chest.

The Disciples wings buzz for a moment before then nod, "You wish to survive yes?" he nods, "Good. If we get off this planet we will see what happens next. For now, set aside past hatreds and do what you can to ensure we all survive," they turn their head toward the Stonestar leader Chruach, "I mean that for all of us. These things don't seem to discriminate about who they wish to kill. We have that choice," they say with voice of finality, making it known their orders were to be followed.

There was a tense moment where the two leaders seemed to eye each other in suspicion but they were satisfied to see that both Nevren and Chruach acknowledge them.

<What shall you do, Disciple?> The Obsidianborn questions with a gentle chime.

"Get some answers I hope," they say as they jump into the air, flying up to seat themself on the hull of the ship while the living, undead, and stone constructs began to follow their orders.

Roll me 2d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 26, 67 = 93 (2d100)

>>3073975

Rolled 16, 88 = 104 (2d100)

>>3073975
lets ago

>>3073975

This is a first for me. How do you roll dice here?

>>3074045
In the box above the text where it says options you write: dice+#d# so like for this roll it would be

dice+2d100 in the options box

Rolled 34, 30 = 64 (2d100)

>>3074057
Oh thanks. Here you go.

>>3074064
>>3073990
>>3073978
34, 88. A mixed bag, then.

>>3073975
A pair of the Arcdancers are lead down into the bulk of the obsidianborn ship to where they had stashed the corpses of those who had risen up against them, including those who hadn't but were butchered along with just in case. Assisted by the stonestar they begin dissecting and inspecting the corpses, the stonestar surgeons quite used to butchering their kin even while they were alive.

Another pair begin gathering the living, ushering them into the areas of the downed ship that were still environmentally sealed so they could start inspecting them, focusing on if they could sense any echoes of Arc energy within. Small crackles of static leap from their palms to flesh, scale, and chitin as they pass them over in their search.

Seated on top of the warship the Arc Disciple could feel the storm raging above and around them as they faced the Ahkam wreck in the distance where bolts of energy continued their strange cycle. Focusing themselves they let their mind drift, pushing aside thoughts of how their sister Disciple had regained their memories and their lost mentor Nekris by doing such a task.

They reach out their mind, into the Arc that suffused the air around them and woven into their very being. Normally the Arc was a delicate skein, a weave of probability and bonds that was both daunting and beautiful in its complexity and patterns. But here, on this world wracked by the storms, the Arc was a vicious tangle of threads, a snarl of energy that seemed to stretch as far as they could sense, reaching far beyond the horizon if they had to guess. The Arc itself seems to press at the very fabric of reality, energy leaking uncontained into the material realm.

It was a suspicion confirmed, one they had hoped they were wrong about but knew since the moment they stepped out of the Coffin and onto the planets surface. Ever since they had arrived they had felt energized, as if fresh from the Cauldrons and recently fed, a sensation of continued strength they had felt recently.

This planet wasn't just tainted by Arc storms and anomalies. They could feel that somehow the Arc Surge continued to persist on this world, lingering beyond and even seeming to strengthen the longer the initial Surge was finished.

As they focused on this revelation they felt something, like a ripple of a tug against the skein. Concentrating they noticed it once more, emitting from the Dynasty wreckage, giving the impression of the shadow of something large moving beneath the surface of a choppy sea. It was too distant to discern the cause of this disturbance.

Once they noticed the ripple, they began to spot lesser disturbances, like schools of fish swirling in its wake as they moved through the snarl of probability and bonds that entangled the planet. Their mind swims, realizing they were not as alone as they thought and as they reach out tentatively toward one of these shadows in the Arc something reaches back.

>cont

>>3074301
Hissing in sudden alarm they realize they had actually been reaching out their hand in the real and when they draw it back in alarm there was a sudden sound within their skull like knives scraping against each others edges in an enraged shriek.

Where they had been reaching out a rip is torn in reality with a ghastly sucking sound and blinding indigo light. From within this tear something lashes out, a furrow scarring the Disciples forearm they threw up in defense as they fly back, alarm rippling out from them toward the rest of the Reconstructed.

The tear warps and widens, and to the Arc infused undead they see something pull itself free and the tear seals itself just as quickly as it had appeared. The figure flickers and warps, as if this form of reality was antithetical to their being, their shape warping with the moment and reconfiguring itself on the fly, bolts of Arc light traveling along twisting, gnarled and grasping limbs. Multiple eyes of alien make and arrangement stare with an intent the Disciple could only sense was murderous as it lurches toward them, it's physical form fading then growing distinct in a vicious cycle of solidity and incorporeality.

The Arc Disciple immediately recognizes the threat as a Daemon of the Arc, plucked from the weave of the Arc and now advancing with hunger and rage radiating off it in psychic waves.

>Arc Disciple under attack!

How should they respond to this sudden attacker?
>Write-in

>>3074303
Well that's one mystery answered!

Shoot, we don't have any hard counters to Arc energy here. Can the Dirge do anything to hamper it?

Maybe have the Disciple retreat in the direction of the Dirge while rallying everyone to focus it down. Anything that can hit it quickly or at range should do so while its target (currently the Disciple) evades, and once the Dirge is in range it should try to slow it down. Maybe we can't absorb it directly but I bet we can disrupt it if we just blast it enough. Its existence here is unstable.

Then we'll have to pay attention to whether any Arc energy that hits it is helping or hurting its ability to stay both here and dangerous.

>>3074330
Because I forgot to specify, the Dirges brought with the expedition have their Glutton Spheres attuned to draining the Arc currently.

>>3074358
Even better.

>>3074303
>>3074358
Drain them using the Disciple's innate energy-draining abilities (which I think all sentient elemental reconstructed have) and any nearby glutton spheres, while fending them off.

>>3074303
Have Dirges attempt to drain them have the disciple maintain distance but keeps it's attention try and lure it into an open firing range for the other reconstructed to attempt gunning it down with necrotic based weaponry

If that fails..we move on to phase two of testing

>>3074303
Plan seems to be
>Arc Disciple will draw attention of the Daemon and lure it into a beneficial area
>Arc Disciple and Dirge attempt to drain or contain the Daemon
>If that fails attempt to use Necrotic weaponry against it

Roll me 2d100 best of first 3 please

Rolled 43, 68 = 111 (2d100)

>>3074415
If this fails, there's always the good ol' bomb it from orbit approach

Rolled 52, 63 = 115 (2d100)

>>3074415

Rolled 19, 95 = 114 (2d100)

>>3074415

Rolled 87, 61 = 148 (2d100)

>>3074415

Ok so, I have what could be a terribly fantastic but possibly rather horrible idea

So the world is ravaged by arc storms to the point of have arc entities ripping through and that's bad for business so why don't we make a large armour of Necrotic fonts.

Large ship sized ones, basically just a font with an engine and a lot of shielding and we just, saturate the surface in these things so they suck up most of the ambient energy and convert it into Armada friendly Necrotic output. The suffused necrotic aura will being repulsive for the Arc zombies and with the over pasteurization of arc energy they should be really pumping out that necrotic juice

Note... we should only do this after we extract every living Armada member and move them to another system

>in before necrotic daemon infestation

>>3074473
I'm faintly worried about fighting fire with a different kind of ire. I feel that if we use too much of the 4 energies, even to contain another one, we will still begin to saturate reality with it.

>>3074473
Necrotic daemon infestation should be your last concern. Your thinking too small with the possible outcomes. Heres a few examples:

>Creation of another wormstar. Hopefully friend.
>Universe devouring blackhole fueled by necrotic powers which starts feeding off different worlds because of the Arc tears.
>Abmoination Daemons which wield Arc & Necrotic powers
>Attracting Lizard Gods because of the large necrotic signature.
>Necrotic nova after collaspe of planet which effects nearby planets.

Also
>Mistyping image captcha

>>3074485
>>3074481
Ok we in the R&D team have heard your feedback and afterburner care (madscience)Deliberation we have a new format set up.

Ok so the necrotic fonts act as the anchors for where we place worm star fingers, after completion on a wormstar fist we then set into the ring a series of solar fonts to absorb all those happy necrotic rays, (which the dev team tell us are 100% safe for living consumption (warning do not eat)) but those dangerous solar rays won't do for our Necrotic friends on high, so to confer this we build a second array of void fonts pointed directly back at the planet to feed that excess solar energy back into the Arc anomaly

This may lead to issues with space time and general damage to all parties involved but sometimes... you just got to take a Hit for Science

>>3074512
That sounds like a mad scientist's experimental lab which would be prone to exploding and threatening the universe.

Sounds perfect! When can Lord Jadyk move in?

>>3074415
All four of their wings beat hard, buzzing audibly as the Disciple flies backwards out of range of the groping swipes of the daemon as it seems to slither through the air toward them. Their shardspitter darts up and spits a burst of flechettes charged with Arc energy but they hardly seem to do anything against it as it's form grows indistinct for the moment they would've occupied the same space although they do recoil from their passing. Noting the observation as being alarmingly similar to tales of the Wraiths battles against Jadyk and Rethak the Disciple was not keen to let the entity close the distance between them.

Almost as if reading their thoughts the entity disappears in a flash of indigo light, the Disciple recognizing it in the split moment before it reappears at their side manifesting fangs that glow with the same light. Their own Blink yanks them out of the way, appearing several yards away. Turning their back on the daemon they fly off rapidly, boosting themself with the Arc even as they feel it following in their wake.

By pure instinct they whip around midair and lash out with their armscythe, the blade made with a Reaver crystal core, slicing through a limb that felt solid and real. In the split moment the Disciple watches as the limb curls and withers into gleaming dust but in the moments of heightened awareness thanks to the Arc they could see more snaking toward them, claws and fangs spawning chaotically. They could see that this reality was unfamiliar to them, perhaps even painful with how they screamed across the Arc.

Landing with a spray of sand, the momentum carrying them several feet as they thrust out their hand that crackles with energy toward the daemon. However, unlike the usual indigo light of the Arc it was the nauseating green of Necrotic radiation they project like a metaphysical shield. The near invisible obstacle causes the daemon to halt its advance, coiling in on itself and twisting in a manner that made it difficult to look directly at.

Temporarily disoriented it doesn't seem to grasp why the Disciple had stopped directly in front of the hovering Reconstructed, nor the glow of light within the crimson crystalline growths that burst from its skull and body. A pair of heavy stone slabs, portions of the warships hull, slam down into the sand in a chevron caging in the daemon before a third was slams down on top like some primitive stone shelter. Obsidianborn that had thrown the slabs moving closer with aggressive chimes.

With the entity cornered it begins lashing out angrily, multitudes of eel-like appendages darting out to slash and slam against the stone in its attempt to flee from the painful energy the Disciple was emitting. While they were made from and for the Arc, each Reconstructed had a heart of Necrotic force.

>cont

>>3074522
I believe he would be the only entity in current knowledge who could survive the place with no Ill effect

>>3074564
The Dirge floating behind them reaches out it's telekinetic grasp, attempting to contain the daemon in whatever way it could while sapping at it's energy. To the Disciple they could see the tangled snarl of Arc energy that made up its physical form being siphoned around them and into the Dirge's chest of dense Glutton crystal, seeming to breaking it down into the raw energy as it was consumed.

As it was being quite literally stretched out as it struggles against the pull of the Dirge and the repulsion of the Necrotic energy the Disciple became suddenly keenly aware of a central knot of Arc bonds at it's core. It suddenly seemed so simple as their scythe lashes out in quick surgical movements, carving away the excess from the tangle again and again. The reaver-blade glows with the siphoned energy that flooded into the Disciple with each precise cut.

Each time the scythe carves away more of the daemons extremities there was a psychic scream that could be heard by even the non-Arc inclined, the living and Arcdancers racing toward the combat. Even the Chariot with it's twin-linked Necrotic Flayers races into place, ready to open fire but holding back with the Disciple and Dirge in it's way.

With a final deliberate cut the daemons scream rings out before it's silenced with a dull, muffled thump as its grip on reality was, quite literally, severed and a shockwave of pressure sends the Dirge and Disciple scattering back from the force.

Silence fell on them then, beyond the ever present rumble of distant and near thunder. Lifting themself up from the sand the Disciple buzzes their wings to lift up and shakes itself free of the granules while the Dirge seems to vibrate rapidly in pulses, the sand falling off with it's telekinetic motions.

Approaching the stacked slabs of stone the Disciple could see a small crater blown out from the concussive force of the daemons expulsion from reality. The first of the Arcdancers to run up was the kosda with Arc-edged blade drawn, "Disciple! Are we under attack?!" they looked around, searching for anymore threats.

Crouching by the crater the Disciple reaches in, searching through the sand, "Threat has subsided for the moment. I think I know what is going on here."

"What is it? This place feels like it's an Arc Surge going on here," they say as Obsidianborn, stonestar and other Arcdancers approach.

"You are very astute. That is precisely what is going on. I believe our undead foes are not truly undead, but possessed," they say as they pluck a gnarled chunk of dark blue glass that dripped with strange fluid and held it up to the light, "We are on a Daemon World."

>cont

>>3074567
With the news the survivors and the others quickly resume building their fortifications and inspecting the corpses and the living. An hour later and the Arcdancers report the presence of glass fragments in every corpse that had reanimated previously but lacking in the bodies of those who had not been possessed. Likewise the living did not seem to show any sign of Arc contamination.

Potential Research unlocked upon return to the Necrotic Armada:
>Daemon Arc Glass - Found mainly manifesting in the corpses reanimated by Daemon possession and recovered from a slain unbound Daemon these chunks of glass are resonant with the Arc and appear partially organic in nature but further intensive study is require.

>>3074571
>>Daemon Arc Glass
Sounds metal as fuck.

>>3074581
We shall have to make some class's out of it to partner with the necrotic alcohols

>>3074571
Neat. So there are condensed material artifacts of both Void and Arc energy that we're aware of now, at the very least.

>>3074571
With this new information it appears that this planet is under the effect of a localized Arc Surge. This has led to numerous anomalies to occur, including the manifestation and infestation of Daemonic Arc entities.

How should the Arc Disciple direct the mission to continue?
>Write-in

We'll be continuing a bit longer tonight but not for much longer. Then either tomorrow or Thursday we'll be wrapping up the thread with the Arbiters mssion on Barqalan

>>3074600
Immediately inform the Armada. I doubt this one team will be able to do much to solve the problem, so for now they should leave and keep the planet under observation for research purposes and to alert them if anything untoward happens

>>3074600
The daemons seem to need assistance or lucky circumstances to manifest in our reality, even with the local Surge. Either a corpse to possess or a tear to slip through.

Our two main options are either evacuating with our Dynasty prisoners while minimizing casualties, or trying to establish a base and wait for reinforcements to build a permanent outpost on the surface.

Is controlling territory and setting up a research station possible here, or is this planet just going to be a pointless nightmare for as long as we're on its surface?

A lot of this seems to rely on whether reinforcements can get past the storms in the atmosphere reliably, and we can't tell that from the surface here. If there any way we can reestablish contact with the Armada?

>>3074601
Basically this, but if we can pull it off a research base on the surface might be valuable. I just can't tell whether we can pull it off without contacting the Armada and getting and update on their side.

>>3074600
>>3074601
Currently the Arc Storm is rather dense above where the Coffin is being repaired but the Think Tank of the vessel estimate it will take likely another half day before it's clear enough to send a proper message to the Armada or attempt to break atmo with it.

>>3074603
From the encounter with the Daemon and past experiences of the Obsidianborn tech vs Arc tech, the Obsidianborn thinkers and Think Tanks present estimate the safest area would be within the Obsidianborn ship

>>3074607
So what you're saying is if we want to make a research base in the surface we should have LavaDad drop some buildings from orbit?

>>3074609
I mean, that would be an option.

I should clarify that corpses were possessed within the wreckage but observation seems to suggest physically manifesting Daemons are unable to or have great trouble passing through Obsidianborn forged stone. It's not a 100% impervious as concentrated Arc attacks can still damage it.

>>3074301
Anyone else concerned about that large presence detected on the Arkham ship?

I kinda want the Disciple to investigate but dont want them to get eaten by arc demons. I'd suggest sending a full Predator if we didnt have a war about to start

>>3074620
That's a good point. Whatever Arc reactor powers the ship may have become the food or door for a bigger daemon.

I would suggest establishing a defensive position as soon as they can make contact with Armada detailing the situation and request reinforcements

Perhaps we can create a crystal matrix necrotic font combo to ease and drain arc around it and suffused a necrotic beachhead for the Armada to begin asserting our presence for further development

>>3074600
To wrap it up for the night, suggestion seems to be
>Wait for storm to lessen to establish contact with the Armada again to give update on status and discoveries

And then some minor debate on the next move. Among the suggestions
>Send for Obsidianborn to construct a beachhead
>Send for Necrotically saturated building materials to establish a beachhead
>Convert the crashed Obsidianborn ship into possible base
>Other (write-in)

Which should the Disciple order?

And then the subject of the wreckage of the Dynasty ship and the presence detected inside. What should they do concerning it?
>Write-in

>>3074678
Set up reinforcements

We can't hope that the storm will pass

>>3074678
Can't the Disciple use the Arc to communicate with other Aec users? Jadyk is in the same system and soon Vle'Karak will arrive. For the moment leave the Dynasty ship alone. Living members should only fight from range and any new corpses have their extremities removed to prevent possesion. Otherwise all three options are fine. Start with converting the ship to a base.

>>3074678
>Convert the crashed Obsidianborn ship into possible base
I really dont want to use too much Necrotic on this planet. I just feels like it will escalate things.

File: We have passed a line.png (880 KB, 914x784)

880 KB PNG

>>3075401

>>3075401
In the future we should have the Predators establish a temple or base here. Have them tame the planet or use it to temper and train Arc dancers and future Disciples

>>3074678
>Convert the crashed Obsidianborn ship into possible base
A stupid decision makes interesting future results.

Lets be ambitious

>>3074678
>Send for Necrotically saturated building materials to establish a beachhead

>>3074678
>And then the subject of the wreckage of the Dynasty ship and the presence detected inside. What should they do concerning it?
Send over some reconstructed to scout it out

>>3074678
Alright let's get this going. Won't be going on for long tonight but we got some things to wrap up and clarify before the start of the next day and the start of the invasion campaign

Roll call time

>>3077290
here.

>>3077290
...wew?

>>3077290
Ayr

>>3077290
Alright so it seems like the plan for the Arc Disciple for the foreseeable future is
>Have the Obsidianborn survivors begin converting the downed ship into a base
>Wait for the storms interference to lessen enough to transfer a message to the station in orbit

There was also a suggestion for sending Reconstructed to investigate the crashed Dynasty vessel.
Is this agreeable?
>Y/N

There was also a suggestion for the Arc Disciple to meditate and attempt communication with the Predators or Lord Jadyk through the Arc itself.
Should they attempt meditating on the Arc again?
>Y, attempt to communicate
>N, don't risk it and wait for a message to get through the Deep Rot Relay

Was there any other preparations or suggestions for the Arc Disciple?
>Write-in

>>3077479
>y
>n too risky right now

Also can I suggest the Disciple make a Cauldron like Muic did when she crashed on the fractoid planet?

>>3077479
>There was also a suggestion for sending Reconstructed to investigate the crashed Dynasty vessel.
>Is this agreeable?
>>Y

>N, don't risk it and wait for a message to get through the Deep Rot Relay
They are useful because they can act independently.

>>3077479
Well seems like it's a slow night. Not a bad spot to wrap the thread up with these choices.

>Arc Disciple will begin construction of a Cauldron
>Obsidianborn will begin converting the wreckage into the beginning of a base
>Gargoyles and Arc Vipers will attempt to stealthily investigate the Ahkam Dynasty wreckage
>Repairs on the Coffin are progressing despite the storm

Hope folks had fun, I know I did. Next thread will be a proper new day with research and everything. It will also be the opening stages of the campaign to invade the Dynasty worlds and retaliate against the Empire. Aiming to have it up on Tuesday to give myself a deadline.

>>3077715
Looks good to me! Thanks for tying this up, Graves.

>>3077715
Since no one actually chosen the last choices for the session, I'll vote
>Gargoyles and Arc Vipers will attempt to stealthily investigate the Ahkam Dynasty wreckage

>>3079689
I think those were
"These are the choices you made" sir.

Why don't we just bomb the snake ship from orbit until it is nothing but a puddle of glass?

>>3083330
Cause there may be something cool inside.
Mystery and adventure

>>3083330
Research and loot, anon.