>>Previous threads can be found at: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Sorceress%20Quest
>>Character sheet and artifact list can be found at: http://pastebin.com/Fk0iR5bN
>Fate Points: 0
>Signature spells: Summon Elemental, Control Magic, Soulfire
>Funds: Medium
>Location: Warped Lands, Jormungandr

The two twin kalak, Gehenna and Ragnarok, stare at you. In Gehenna's arms sat a thick, silver tome, one you could sense trace amounts of. . strange, unknowable magic from.

Ezekiel roars, and throws two spheres of force. You feel the magic of space. . twisting, and Ragnarok raised both palms.

Dark, uncolor discs appeared in each palm, and he caught the spheres of force in his right hand.

The same spheres of force shot out of his left palm, and slammed into Ezekiel, throwing him back.

rolled 48 = 48

>>19594897
could we just silence them? could we also make the silence multi directional?

>>19594897
"Can we... help you?"

rolled 91 = 91

Ey, you're early.

Summon golem-hands under them grab their legs with crushing force and drag them down so that their bodies lie down so that other hands can grab their hands and crush them.

Also, shoot wide archicing soul fire lances so that they attack them from behind when they use the portals, have it go through it and when it comes out of the second portal, have it coil around and attack them. [Iirc, they made portals in their palms, right?"

rolled 26 = 26

>>19594897
Rip the magic from Ragnarok

rolled 42 = 42

>>19594935
not with that sort of roll no.

>>19594952

overwhelming force is a go!

>>19594952
Our golems, are gonna OWN those bitches.

"Can we. . . help you?" You ask, as Ezekiel pushes himself, angrily, to his feet.
"Yes." Both of the kalak said simultaniously. The one with the tome pointed at you.
"You killed our master. We would like the Ankh."

You bring the floorboards of the ship's deck to life, hands reaching out. .

But you feel a pulse of that unknowable magic, and suddenly both kalak were in the air, wings spread.
"We're sorry, but we cannot allow you to capture and interrogate us like you would have." They both say.

>>19594991
what about our soulfire?

rolled 99 = 99

>>19594991
Can we silence them?

rolled 70 = 70

>>19594991
"why should we give you the ankh when it is an incredibly dangerous artifact?"

>>19595006
Ah, the feel of a good roll in the start of the thread.

>>19595006

Pretty sure thats a yes. However it probably won't effect the Artifact that they already have.

Ezekiel started chanting, and you thrust your palm out, soulfire shooting out and weaving through the air toward them.

The two twins look at one another, and then Ragnarok started chanting a spell. The soulfire Moves. It moves somewhere, somewhere far away, and you lose contact with it.

So, you clench your jaw. Their magic is *cheating* when you can't even hit them. So your reach out, and Silence them, crippling their magic for the next few hours at most, minutes at least.

There's another pulse of that strange, unknowable magic. . and that sense starts ebbing and flowing, a constant, living, organic sense.

. . The portals still danced in Ragnarok's palms, even after he's been silenced, and Gehenna groans, covering his temple with his free talon.

"Please, do not resist. Your workings are harming my brother." Ragnarok said.

>>19595050
What. Even a 99 roll wont hurt them?
"If you would like to talk peacefully, we could maybe do a trade."

>>19595050
"What do you intend to do with the Ankh?"

rolled 20 = 20

I will continue to resist as long as you threaten to take something so very dangerous away. I cannot trust you with it so I will not allow you to have it.

Direct attacks don't seem to do anything but the silence spell worked. I'm pretty sure the book is what is causing them to translocate though. Lets try afflicting them with crippling pain.

"If you would like to talk peacefully, we could perhaps do a trade."
"That is what we intended to do." Ragnarok said, with a worried look to his brother. "But your companion attacked first."

Both of them set down on the deck, and that ebbing, living sense of magic went away. The Heart informs you that it has never sensed that before.

"What do you intend to do with the ankh?"
"Resurrect our master." They both say, simultaneously.

rolled 79 = 79

>>19595050
Put them in stasis? Trans-dimensional stasis?

>>19595120
"Ressurect Eindolon?
No, I cannot allow that."

rolled 49 = 49

If you could would you rather not be slaves to Eidolons will?

Try to break any slavery spell on them.

>>19595120
"I'm not certain I can support that. He was... quite rude."

>>19595120
What could you give in return for the Ankh? And who is your master? Is it that shit Impulse/Eidolond?

Alright, I guess I am doomed never to succeed at rolling *trows up hands in disgust.*

>>19595148
That is why i never do rolls while namefagging.

>>19595139
why do you think they are slaves?

Makes no sense at all

"Resurrect Eidolon?" You ask. "I'm not certain I can support that. He was... quite rude."

Ragnarok stepped forward. . but his brother grabbed his shoulder.
Their eyes met, and they started tweeting like songbirds, speaking quickly to one another. Ezekiel has a confused look on his face as they do.

"We see." They say, and bow. "We suppose we will have to come back later."
Ragnarok speaks up. "I don't suppose there is any chance you can uncast the spell you worked on us previously..? It would be quite convenient."

>>19595182
I really don't trust these guys at all.

>>19595182
"Why do you want him resurrected? And why do you think I would allow it, I almost died fighting him, you know."

>>19595182
"Regardless of what I do, it well probably take a few hours to wear off. Could I offer you some tea and decent conversation in the meantime?"

"Why do you want him resurrected?"
"Because we owe him." Gehenna said, cradling the tome more tightly in his arms.
"And why do you think I would allow it? I almost died fighting him, you know."
"Yes, we do. We did not think you would allow it. We're simply unable to fight you at this juncture." They both say- It's strange, how they can even say the most complex things at the same time. They must practice.

I believe these guys might not be free willed is because when they left Azriel they said soemthign to the effect that they would not be his slaves... and yet here they are calling soemone else a master.

>>19595182
What were you going to trade for the ankh anyway?

Do you know what Eidolons goals were?

If they try to leave, could we use this >>19595122 roll?

>>19595214
"And why do you owe him?"

>>19595213
>"Regardless of what I do, it well probably take a few hours to wear off.
This. We shouldn't turn it off.

Also, check if the Ankh is in place. I mean, they have magic portal specialty, right? Who says they didn't ported it away somewhere while we weren't looking? Ask Kristoph or any other companion, perhaps Marigold through the telepathic rings.

"And why do you owe him?"
"Our reasons are private. Be assured, however, that we do this of our own free will."
"What were you going to trade for the ankh, anyway?"
"Nothing." They said. "We assumed we would simply ask for it. We know you are quite reasonable..."
There's a strange pulse of unknowable magic, again, but stronger, much, much stronger. The ground almost seems to shake, like a crux, but not. . exactly.
"We have something to trade." Gehenna says, and holds out a seed in his palm- something that wasn't there before, and he didn't take it out of a pocket or anything. .
"This is a seed for a modified version of Galadriel's Light. It should allow the wastelands to be repaired, if you plant them. Surely, speeding up the repair of the wastelands would be a greater good than the relative evil of resurrecting our master. Our terms are this- this seed, for the ankh and one of the seeds from the next generation of these plants."

>>19595278
>There's a strange pulse of unknowable magic, again, but stronger, much, much stronger.

We should definitely consult Ell about this before making any decision.

>>19595278
We will not do this as long as we are in the dark about why Eidolon needs to be resurrected and why he acted like he did when he was Impulse.

rolled 52 = 52

Whatever your master wishes, his gathering the Artifacts can doom the world itself. One small portion of it isn't worth that. I've seen a world fall already and I have no desire to have that happen again.

>>19595122
Supporting this

You hear a gurgling noise behind you, so you look back. Ell is on his hands and knees. . vomiting.
"Oh god, oh god." He says, holding his stomach. "What is that?! What is that?! What do you mean you don't know, bubbles?"

"Please choose quickly." Gehenna said, in a calm, almost resigned tone.

>>19595295
Yeah. We can, through our own effort make modified gabriel light. We don't need it.

>>19595304
"What did you do to Ell?"
Ask Marigold if she can heal him.

>>19595304
>"Please choose quickly." Gehenna said, in a calm, almost resigned tone.

"Would you be so kind and give me a day to come to a decision? I'm not quite sure what to make of this, and if I were to decide now, I would probably decline."

THEY ARE HURTING ELL! Quick! The transdimensional stasis!

rolled 54 = 54

Ask the Heart if it can capture a sample of that magic.

>>19595324
I'll back this.

"Marigold." You say, and she nods.
"What did you do to Ell?"
"He saw something that does not like to be seen." They said.
"Only I can understand it in it's entirety." Gehenna said, with a meaningful glance to the tome. "Due to this, and many years of study. His mind is not ready."

"Would you be so kind and give me a day to come to a decision? I'm not quite sure what to make of this, and if I were to decide now, I would probably decline."
"That is acceptable." Ragnarok says, and bows again. "Time means nothing to I or my brother."

With that, their wings spread, and they lifted into the air.

You're certain, from here, you can cast a spell on them before they leave. . It would take a lot out of you, however.
>[] Stasis?
>[] Do not stasis?

>>19595353
[X] Do not stasis?

>>19595353
Do not statsis.

rolled 23 = 23

>[] Stasis

We do need to build up our stamina and these two will be trouble.

>>19595353
[x] Do not fuck with the eldritch abomination

>>19595353
No

They have shown to be able to counter any spells, I do not think we should risk it.

>>19595353
[X] Stasis

>>19595353
I'm against it

You know what... we should just destroy the Ankh if possible. Use the Knife to sacrifice it and lock out the demons forever.

>>19595380
That is the current plan i think.

Don't fuck with the eldritch kalaks
Holy shit

You lower your hand, and they fly out of sight. . .
Marigold pulled Ell to his feet, and he scrunched up his eyes. "What. . What was that." He asked. "Who were those?"

Ezekiel frowned. "He's always had that book, ever since I can remember. None of the coven even knows what it does."

Suddenly. .everything seems to shake, again.

"-even knows what it does." Ezekiel said again, as if to emphasize the point.

It Moves things. Magic included. I silenced them and they still managed to translocate.

>>19595410
"Why did our silence spell not work? Any ideas?"

>>19595410
"Since they said that Eindolon is their master and that they owe him, I can only imagine that it is a powerful artifact he gave to them"

>>19595445
Can you see this?

>>19595410
>He's always had that book, ever since I can remember

>>19595450
>>He's always had that book, ever since I can remember

He wasn't born with it, you numb-nuts..... or was he?

No, he wasn't. He got it from SOMEWHERE

"It Moves things. Magic included." You say. "I silenced them, and they still managed to translocate."
"That. .that makes no sense." Ezekiel said. "They can translocate normally, and really easily. Why would they need a tome to do the same thing?"
"Since they said that Eidolon is their master and that they owe him, I can only imagine that it is a powerful artifact he gave to them."
"That would make sense." Ezekiel said. "Eidolon was still alive when they were born. . "

He shrugged. "Ell, what did you see?" He asked.
"It was. . I don't know how to explain it. It was dizzying, and the world seemed to turn. . upside down, in a certain area. Except worse, and I saw into. . like, a mirror world or something." He shook his head.

>>19595466
Eindolon met Azariel when he came to this world. Azariel came alone with bunch of eggs. So yes, he probably was there when they were alive.

>>19595465
So what do you guys think? I personally say we should refuse the deal and sacrifice the ankh.

And keep our gallant magic-resistant knight closer in the future.

>>19595502
Oh yeah, we should ask what our companion's opinions.
Also, we need to speed up our journey to the Tower. We need to speak of this to Azariel.

I certainly do not want that fuckhead Eindolon coming back in any form. Heck, we should cast a powerful spell, preventing him being resurrected in any way possible.

>>19595410
>None of the coven even knows what it does."
>Suddenly. .everything seems to shake, again.
>"-even knows what it does.
That better not be fucking time travel.

"So what do you guys think? I personally say we should refuse the deal and break the ankh."
"I think. . they knew you were going to say no." Marigold said. "But they asked anyway, like they were acting out lines of a play."
Sacrificing an artifact will cause a crux point, the Heart informs you- destroying an artifact has much more of an effect than just using one.
"We refuse it." Ezekiel said. "Whatever they want to use it for, we don't let them get at it. Even if it means we destroy the ankh."
"I think. . repairing the warped lands would be worth it." Kristoph said. "It would stop the mutants, help man and fey relations, help trade, give more land to everyone. . Reviving one person can't be worse than that, even if he did nothing but murder people. And if he tries. .we can stop him."

>>19595537
What if that shaking was them using their powers to steal the ankh?

"Where's the Ankh?" You ask.
"I still have it." Kristoph said, raising it. It sparked red, as if wanting to be recognized. "I've been keeping it on me, so I don't think they can steal it."

>>19595528
Heh.

>"I think. . repairing the warped lands would be worth it." Kristoph said. "It would stop the mutants, help man and fey relations, help trade, give more land to everyone. . Reviving one person can't be worse than that, even if he did nothing but murder people. And if he tries. .we can stop him."

"Yo understand this is Eindolon we're talking about, right? He could probably end the world if he wanted to, and I'm reasonably sure I can make similar seeds myself."

>"I think. . they knew you were going to say no." Marigold said. "But they asked anyway, like they were acting out lines of a play."
"I thought it was strange too. It was obvious I wouldn't agree.
....perhaps they know what will happen? Actually, this confirms my suspicion that they can use powerful Divination magic. Zeke said how they always seem to be just one step ahead and keep turning up at most inconvenient times."

>>19595537
We're going to revive the warped lands anyway, we don't need them.

>>19595543
Yeah, if they can portal anywhere we need to keep all our artifacts close at hand.

>>19595561
"Smart.
You should keep holding on to it. Probably the reason why they didn't just take it in the first place."

rolled 32 = 32

>>19595537
where is the ankh anyway kristoph??

are we at the tower yet? send zeke down to introduce us.

kristoph I want you to carry the ankh on your person from this point onward...

"Smart." You say. "You should keep holding onto it; probably the reason why they didn't just take it in the first place."
"Yes, my lady." He says.

"How long until we get to the tower?"
"Well, it's about midnight now." Ell said. "We should be there in the morning."
He looked down at his bracer, then took it off. "The Mind wants to speak to The Heart. It says. . the heart can sense what it cannot."

He hands the bracer to you.

>>19595605
Talk to Bubbles.

"You wanted to talk with me, Bubbles?"

rolled 18 = 18

>>19595605
hold them to gether

"may I listen in heart, and bubles?"

"You wanted to talk with me, Bubbles?"
"Ell's vision is limited in this matter." Bubbles responded. "The Heart's senses are not."
This is abnormal, the heart responds.
"Yes, it is. But I have no latent senses of my own- I must rely on others."
"May I listen in?"
"There will be no words." bubbles says. . and you clasp it on.

The heart does. . Something, and you feel that same, strange, unknowable pulse of magic.

"I see." Bubbles says. "That answers my question. After you silenced them, lady, the magic energy from those portals were sent ... from the future."

>>19595655
"I.... see.
So, they can manipulate time itself?"

"Did the book allow it?"

"How can I block it?"

rolled 3 = 3

>>19595655
do you suspect the tome of this?

how far into the future do you think?
is it a matter of hours or centuries?

>>19595655
That must take a huge amount of energy.

>>19595655
Righto, what wee need is to get a complete stasis effect, one that locks them on the current timeline and dimension.

"I. . see." You say. "So, they can manipulate time itself?"
"Not entirely." Bubbles responds. "Not by themselves. The tome must have the relevant information. It seemed easy from our side. . but from theirs, it must have taken incredible amounts of effort, thought, and energy. Even I would have trouble with the calculations involved."
"Is it a matter of hours, or centuries?"
"Hours." Bubbles said. "Perhaps days, but. . It gets exponentially more difficult. If I am correct, there is not enough energy in all of reality to go further than a year and a day."

rolled 77 = 77

>>19595708
I see.

lets gently give this a try with our bullshit magic. draw some power from the future and pour it into the crystals powering the ship and push it along faster.

>>19595708
>If I am correct, there is not enough energy in all of reality to go further than a year and a day.


Hmm... so we must quickly find a way to sacrifice entire universe so that we can go back in time and save Arcturus. Wait- that's a horrible idea!

"Anyway to stop them from doing that if we come to blows next time?"

>>19595725
Do not go over than a day.

Not sure why you need to do such elaborate shit to make our ship faster. You could have just said to make an enchantment to increase it's speed severalfold.

rolled 11 = 11

>>19595746
it's a test of the concept.

the ship already goes plenty fast...

File: 1340482304531.jpg-(17 KB, 239x281, 20kq5qo.jpg)

>>19595756
>the ship already goes plenty fast...

I hope you're not implying that it shouldn't go faster.

rolled 69 = 69

>>19595773
nope.

BUT I think if we make it faster we should also paint it red

>>19595785
>BUT I think if we make it faster we should also paint it red

My thoughts exactly

"Any way to stop them from doing that if we come to blows next time?"
Bubbles was silent, but you feel him buzzing on your wrist, thinking.
"Yes." He responds, a minute later. That's the longest it's ever taken him to respond- ever since he was moved from the spider golem, at least. "Prevent them from leaving with the tome. If you take the tome, they will never have been able to send magic or knowledge back in time, in which case, they will not receive anything from the present. So if they ever do not receive anything from the future, you know that, for whatever reason, they will not assist themselves. Based on my limited knowledge, of course."

"I see." You say, and decide to give this a try yourself. Sorcery can do anything that you can conceive of, so all you need to think is. . taking something from the future.

An hour later, and you have a headache. You know what time is, you're sure you do, but no matter what you try, you just can't- you just can't imagine it well enough to bring it into a spell. You're starting to get frustrated.
It's a conceptual issue. The heart informs you. Sometimes, your sorcery can bridge the gap between knowledge and the spell itself, such as when you crafted your armor- but even the power of sorcery will have limits. . Unless you break through the limits.

You're not sure what that last phrase means.

rolled 98 = 98

>>19595791
"Kristoph, I want you to remind me TOMORROW to send back some power."

another gentle try...

>>19595791
> Unless you break through the limits.

Oh man, time for a training montage of the likes that the reality never seen before

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7CaiWxKYBo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgSMxY6asoE

>>19595791
"Kristoph, if you ever get the chance, then grab that book, and hold tight."

>>19595791
"How do I get around the issue that they will know beforehand that I will try to remove the tome away from them?"

"Perhaps, instead of casting silence, I shout cast something that prevents time-manipulation magic?"

"Kristoph, if you ever get the chance. . grab that book, and hold tight."

He nods.
"And remind me tomorrow, to send back some power."
"Send back some power?"

You nod, then close your eyes, and reach outward. . .
Nothing. Nothing at all.

"How do I get around the issue that they will know beforehand, that I will try to remove the tome away from them?" You ask Bubbles.
"Even if they know, it will be. . fated, I suppose you could say. In truth, there is no such thing as fate, but with this sort of magic, it's the only word that fits."
"Perhaps, instead of casting silence, I should cast something that prevents time-manipulation magic?"
"If you are able to, then you are a fearsome combatant indeed." Bubbles said, in a dry voice.

"I think I'm going to go to bed." Marigold said.

>>19595872
"Good night, Merigold"

rolled 93 = 93

>>19595872
damn...

lets scry for azriel. perhaps leave him a salutation and a statement that he can expect visitors in the morning...

You reach out for Azariel, magically getting in contact with him.

"Greetings, Ishelda." Azariel said, a dry, ragged, old voice. You could only see darkness, perhaps some ward or spell is blocking your view.
"I just wanted to greet you, and inform you to expect visitors in the morning." You say, pushing the words through the connection.
"Oh?"
"We've come to visit."
". . I see." Azariel said. "In truth, we have few non-kalak visitors- the last one was a decade ago. We will welcome you and all your companions. I trust some of my children will come with you?"
"Indeed." You respond.
"Then I shall await your coming."

Then he cut off the connection. How did he do that when you were the one contacting him?
You shrug- you can probably ask him tomorrow.

You go to your cabin, climb onto Grayson, and go to sleep- it seems Marigold is in her own quarters this evening.


The sun shines upon you, and you hear. . birds chirping. Just one bird, actually. You climb up and out of the cabin. . and find Ezekiel at the edge of the ship, looking to a massive, black tower in the distance. A small, winged figure is chirping at you. . and Ezekiel is chirping back.
"It's Duriel." Zeke said, and waved. The flying figure waved back, and started approaching.

Duriel was. . .adorably stunted, you suppose, is the word. His feathers were a dark green, but puffed out in every which way- you couldn't even see his eyes, just the beak popping out of his face. Ezekiel patted his head, ignoring the hatchling's constant, constant chirping.

>>19595985
Pet it
It's so adorable

rolled 67 = 67

>>19595985
Could we find a hat and enchant it with "Understanding all languages"?

rolled 42 = 42

>>19595985
try hard not to squeeeee

"hello little Duriel. are you here to meet us? or just to see ezekiel?"

>>19596013
Why do you always roll, even when you are not casting spells? It is sort of distracting.

"Hello, little Duriel."
You reach out to pet Duriel. . but the hatchling silences and hides behind Zeke.
"Don't worry." Ezekiel said. "This is a friend."
". . Did Cassiel shapeshift into a human girl for some reason?" The little kalak asked.
"Cassiel is. . gone." Zeke said. "This is Ishelda. She's a princess!"
Duriel peeked out at you, from behind Zeke.
". . Hi." He said, somewhat hesitantly. ". . You should meet Kal!" He suddenly decides.

I just realized.
If something ever was to happened to Kristoph, we will be utterly unable to heal him. :(

rolled 54 = 54

>>19596044
I'm sure I will.

Ell bring us close enough to more to the tower...

when duriel suggests flying(if he does) remind him that we cant...

>>19596044
Offer Duriel a biscuit. I'm sure we have some laying around, considering our tea consumption.

rolled 93 = 93

>>19596053
then we make damn sure he is very hard to hurt

>>19596038
old habit...and we might be DIPLOMANCING

this habit, I will remind you, got us Bubbles in the first place...

"Kal's older than I am, but she can't fly yet." Duriel said. "Because I'm the best at flying."
He lapsed back into birdsong, tweeting at Ezekiel. You can. . understand what he's doing- he's rambling, probably telling a story, as the airship gets closer to the tower.

"You should meet her all alone, though." Duriel said, lapsing back into your tongue. "She doesn't like crowds, and she's really shy."
"You're talking about Kaliel, right?" Ezekiel asked, suddenly wary. "Has she changed since we left?"
". . Yeah, in a way." Duriel said, and giggled a strange, whistling laugh. "Come on, come on!"
As soon as the airship docks, Duriel grabs your hand in his talons, and drags you into the dark tower.

The torches on the walls, and sconces in the halls are a strange, glowing green, making the stone seem sinister. He knocked on a door, and it opened. "Kaliel's in here. Go on, say hi!" He says. "Me and Zeke will stay out here. We don't want to startle her."

>>19596116
Well, if she's that shy... we should probably ask her if she's alright with us coming in.

rolled 65 = 65

>>19596116
"ummm hi. I sort of thought I'd be meeting Azriel first but I am pleased to meet you little kalak"

>>19596116
Enter, keeping our hands clasped in front of us. "Hello? Kaliel? I'm Ishelda."

"Are you alright if I come in?" You ask, in a soft voice, peering into the darkness. You can't see anything. . and there's no response.

You feel a talon nudging at the small of your back. "Go on, go on, she'll be fine." Duriel says.

Slowly, you walk in. . why are there no torches in here?
You hear something breathing.
It doesn't sound like a kalak.
Suddenly, the torches burst into green light, and there is a very, very large crocodile, smiling at you.

rolled 54 = 54

>>19596155
remain calm and pat it on the nose.

"that is quite the shape-shifting, I can't even do easy things "

>>19596155
"Hi."

>>19596167
We have never tried.
We can actually do shapeshifting good enough if we want to

rolled 23 = 23

>>19596176
she may be older than us in years but kids need encouragement regardless of what shape their in

"That is quite the shapeshifting." You say, and pat the crocodile's snout.
The crocodile huffs, and then suddenly turns into a kalak, just as puffy as Duriel, albeit with a darker beak and brown feathers.

"Sup." She says brazenly, hands on her hips. "Who're you?"
"No fair." Duriel says, walking in. "When we did this to Vithriel, she freaked!"

>>19596192
bah
we can encourage her without lies.

>>19596197
"That's because I am unflappable."

rolled 87 = 87

>>19596197
yes, but vithriel is more excitable than I am...

>>19596197
That is because i live with a dire bear.

>>19596197
"I've spent way too much time around your siblings."

rolled 97 = 97

>>19596202
but it isn't a lie. we have never tried. so we do not know, and even if we did we don't know how much effort she invested. on the whole I see no harm in saying so...

File: 1340485603461.png-(75 KB, 780x600, 1318109621617.png)

>>19596197
Oh god, I wish we could get a bucket or two full of little Kalaks.

"That's because I am unflappable." You say.
"I could have eaten you, you know." Kaliel said, poking you with a sharp talon. "I am master of a thousand forms, anyway."
"Kaliel, where's Azariel?" Ezekiel asked, walking in.
"Zeke!" Kaliel said, in a tone you recognize well- the same tone Marigold uses when she talks to Kristoph- a squee of girlish admiration. Strange- you don't know anyone you're like that with. . . "He's, uh, in the throne. I think he sleeps in there."
"Right." Ezekiel said. "Come on, Ishelda. Don't want Kaliel to eat you, anyway." He said with a chuckle.

>>19596252
We know we can do any spell that a normal mage can do. And shapeshifting is a normal wizard spell.
So yeah, that would be lying since we know we can do it.

And you're dialogue clearly implies that we have tried it before.
I'm generally against lying if we can help it, whenever it is something incredibly minor and done for the good or not.

>>19596267
Follow Zeke

rolled 68 = 68

>>19596267
get led along

"greetings Azriel, glad I can finally meet you 'in the flesh' as it were; I'd like to apologize about uriel (and that other guy). and I might also have some possible future plans to discuss with you..."

>>19596312
Modify to,
"I regret the necessity of having killed some of your flock. Ezekiel has informed me of your stance on such things, but I offer my condolences anyway."

>>19596312
Nah, no apologies, we know they aren't necessary now.

>>19596332
I agree.

Fucks sake, how often do we need to apologize?

rolled 38 = 38

>>19596292
>implying implications
dude calm down, I like making children happy.

and there's something that strikes me as wrong with the reply "thats very good but I could probably do it better..."

You follow Zeke, as he leads you through the dark halls. This tower is actually very, very large- as if it had spend a hundred years being built- it was even larger than the orcish historian tower which was. . months ago, come to think of it.

"Master of a thousand forms? Psh." Dariel said, as he and Kaliel followed. "Three forms at least. There's the crocodile, the wyvern, and the puppy, right?"
"Wolf. It's a wolf, not a puppy."
"It's a wolf pup, at least. It's tiny and fuzzy."
"It'll get bigger." Kaliel said. "Age is important for these things! You can't even shapeshift."
"But I can fly." Dariel responded, poking her. "While you can't fly, even in Wyvern form."
Dariel started to tweet in laughter, but Kaliel held his beak shut.

"In here." Ezekiel said. "You two, stay back here, okay?"
". . Okay!" Kaliel said, still holding Dariel's beak shut. she gave him a thumbs up, and the two of you walk into, for lack of a better name, the Throne Room.

Azariel has seen. . better days. He's large, almost as large as one of the ogres, but he looks. . thin, and his feathers were drooping and yellowish-gray. His ashy beak was badly cracked, but his ever-alert, neon green eyes still sparked with intelligence.

Something tells you to be very, very wary around him. Those eyes tell you to be wary.
You don't sense any magic, but apparently, the heart feels it too. Be careful, it informs you.

"Greetings, Azariel. I'm glad I can finally meet you in the flesh, as it were." You say, and curtsy.

"My pleasure." He says. "You and your crew are welcome to explore the tower as you wish- I have already informed them."

>>19596374
I was thinking of doing a sacrifice. I was told it would be more efficient with the knife which is in your possession?

>>19596420
what?

Don't make that the first and the opening subject
God damn, show some tact

>>19596430
Then suggest an alternative then, because if you don't I'm going to second him.

>>19596420
I think we should start with… other things, not that I'm sure what, cause i'm pretty crap at chatting

rolled 41 = 41

>>19596374
"ah good; how do you feel about having a little discussion over some tea?"

once that is started

"so how do you feel about cleansing the wastes?"

explain the general Idea

>>19596457
Second.

>>19596446
That is incredibly stupid way to start. I didn't suggest we go here but there seemed to be some general idea what we wanted to talk about.

If you have nothing to talk about, lets start with the Evil Twins first at least.

>>19596457
Stop with the fucking tea. it is uncomfortable for Kalak to take part in this human ceremony

>>19596457
That's decent

>>19596430
Aright, how about: "How are you faring? Should we sit down with some tea?You see, I have quite the amount of topics to discuss with you and i suspect it will take some time."

Sit down with tea:
"We have to major plans at the moment. First we would like to close the demon portal with a sacrifice.
Secondly, we are planning on cleansing the wastelands." Then add details.

>>19596470
>uncomfortable for Kalak

Where the hell did you get that idea? And even if it is, isn't he now the most capable shapeshifter on the planet?

"Ah, good;" You say. "How do you feel about having a little discussion over some tea."
"I'm . .afraid my constitution lately doesn't allow me to consume simply anything I wish." He said. "But we can still discuss a few things."
"So, how do you feel about cleansing the wastes?"
He's silent for a moment.
"How do you propose this is done?" He asks, in a tone you can't exactly discern.

>>19596490
"Modified Galadriel's Light. I just so happen to have a generous donation of seeds."

rolled 49 = 49

>>19596490
I have an Idea. but I want your input on the subject before I discuss it.

truth/lie spell

>>19596480
I seem to remember Zeke telling that it is not very comfortable to use cups with claws and drink from them using his beak

>>19596490
"We have come into some seeds of Galadriel's Light, and Raziel believes they could be used to cleanse the astral fire."

>>19596510
You sentence alludes that we ALREADY have modified flowers. We do not.

Generally outline the plan we made with Raz and tell him that this all just theory.

>>19596544
Yeah this

"Galadriel's Light. I just so happen to have a . . generous donation of seeds, that can be modified to cleanse the astral fire." You say. "Theoretically."
"Plants need to be tended to." He said. "Who would be able do such a thing with the astral fire?"
"Simple- people who are too dead to die." Raziel says, striding in, still in human form. "My minions should be able to handle the flowers."
"I see." He says, and presses his hands together, shifting in his chair.

"You realize, that the warped lands serve as a sort of. . buffer, between this tower and the lands of others. Without the astral fire, I would lack such a buffer. What are your thoughts on this?" Azariel asks, his glowing eyes darting to you.

>>19596568
"I have only spoken with the half of the human leaders but they seem to agree that peace must be held and proposed that I act as an arbiter for the healed lands."


Hmm, but that must be hard to sell to him. Remember how he didn't think that human alliances are worth shit because his race can outlive even the longest ones by tenfold.

>>19596568
"Then we make a new one. One composed of a new nation, open to all those that are willing to live together. Human, elf, lizardman, perhaps even hobgoblins and Kalak.

But perhaps that's just a dream, if the flowers don't work."

>>19596568
"I've had quite the journey visiting all the major rulers of the surrounding lands. I've had each give me their agreement not to immediately run in and start grabbing up land. They all agree it would likely result in a war they nobody particularly wants to have right now."

>>19596568
"Do you think other people will be hostile towards Kalak? Why do you think so?"

Unsurprisingly. Anyone would be wary of weird shapeshifting race

>>19596568
It occurs to me that the GL wouldn't clear all the astral fire at the same time. We could leave a buffer around the Kalak sanctuary.

"I've had quite the journey visiting all the major rulers of the surrounding lands. I've had each give me their agreement not to immediately run in and start grabbing up land. They all agree it would likely result in a war they nobody particularly wants to have right now."
"I see." He says. "And then who would choose who gets the land?"
"I have only spoken with the half of the human leaders but they proposed that I act as an arbiter for the healed lands." You say.
"Then are you saying that you would. . arbitrate the land around this tower, and give it to me and my kin?" He asked.

>>19596663
Obvious trap is obvious.

"I can hardly give you what is already yours, but I could make the others aware that it is not available for development."

>>19596663
"But these lands are already your own."

"I'm talking about the wasted lands, the ones that need healing."

>>19596687
>but I could make the others aware that it is not available for development."

Or claiming and anything else actually. This would be independent nation, I guess

>>19596687
It might not be how I'd word it, but it's got the spirit of the thing.

>>19596655

There's an interesting point to be made here. The wasted land is a rather huge area. We could clear most of the land but leave several KM of astral fire as a barrier around the tower. It wouldn't be hard to clear the mutants from that area with golems and undead and the other nations would be able to go around it to trade.

"These lands are already your own." You say. "But I can make the others aware that it is not available for development."
He was silent.
"That is acceptable. Do what you wish with the warped lands." He said. "I can hardly stop you when my kin are putting their very selves into the creation of . . whatever it is you're creating. I would not want to, either."

>>19596748
But then they will be isolated and there will be no cultural exchange meaning that other people will look at them with suspicion.

>>19596757
We should talk about Eidolon. We know that he was one of the first people to meet Azariel and that he taught the shapeshifting spell to him. We need to gauge his disposition towards him before talking about the Evil Twins.

>>19596757
Next on the list is the demon portal. I understand you have a knife that would make sacrifices more effective?

Also on the list is:
Impulse/Eidolon
Gehenna and Ragnarok

Don't forget guys. We wanted to ask about Kell too

>>19596771

They've taken a reputation/identity as shapeshifters. People will look at them with suspicion no matter what.

>>19596803
Yeah, but hiding behind wall of magical radiation in an ancient tower would make it even worse

"I. . understand you have a knife that would make sacrifices more effective."
"And?" He asked.
"The demon portal below the wall,"
"No." He says, firmly. "You cannot remove the knife from this tower. I do not have the strength to cast the spell protecting us from astral fire again, so the knife must stay here."

>>19596833
I guess we could try again AFTER we cleanse the wastelands with modified gabriel light. Then he wouldn't need it to remove the astral fire, right?

>>19596833
Cant we use the knife from the tower? Isn't the special ability of this tower to make spells reach longer?

>>19596812
I suppose we could raise a physical wall around their land with magic. Something you seem to be overlooking is that once word gets out that the radiation is gone this land will be filled with adventurers and ne'er do wells looking to do everything from looting the ruins to founding their own bandit kingdoms. The Kalak are fairly frail physically and the adults who can defend with magic don't hang around the tower, so those types will be a threat.

>>19596878
That's kinda grim.

But they are excellent spellcasters, so I think they can beat the shit out of buncha bandits.

"Can I not use the knife from this tower? I thought the special ability of your throne was to make spells reach longer."
"This throne is very temperamental." Azariel says. "And even if you could get it to work, that would mean I loan you two artifacts, instead of one. So I will repeat myself, but only once. No. You have far too many artifacts as it is now- It reminds me of Eidolon."

>>19596920
"What do you know of Eidolon?"

>>19596833
Would we be able copy the spell? Maybe create an item that projects the same effect?

"What do you know of Eidolon?"
"He. . played the game, along with the rest of us." Azariel said, in a very cryptic manner. "He was quite obsessed with artifacts, and had a talent for getting them to work for him, no matter the artifact's tendencies. Age got him, in the end."

>>19596969
"How did you play him?"

rolled 35 = 35

>>19596969
alright, may I borrow the Knife after we've cleaned up the wastes?

>>19596920
Yeah, Eidolon is a bitch.
We are actually trying to get rid of an artifact. That is what we are going to sacrifice. Could we do the sacrifice without the knife? How do we do the sacrifice. Will sacrificing the Ankh be enough to close the portal and all other portals from that realm FOREVER?

>>19596989
Don't ask this

>>19596969
"Actually… it was a brick."

>>19596990
Don't bring up sacrificing Ankh just yet. I have a suspicion that it will summon the evil twins. We should touch other subjects first. Like learning more about Eidolon and perhaps telling of his return. Then talking about the twins and/or Kell.
And only then revealing the ankh

>>19597007
+1

>>19596989
-1

"Actually. . It was a brick."
"What."

Azariel actually leaned forward- it was almost the first times you'd seen him move.

"Elaborate." He said, harshly, then seemed to realize himself. "Please."

>>19597032
And now we tell the tale of Impulse, the very very naught rabbit.

>>19597040
with a lot of dramatic hand gesturing and such

"...and then she did *psheew* and I *ptew* her right in the nogging..."

Also, we must tell that we learned it was Eidolon right before killing him.

>>19597032
"Well, to put it shortly, I bashed his head in with a brick, then Zeke incinerated the body."
Then give him the full story.

>>19597065
That's boring and anti-climatic

>>19597065
And at the end, "And now apparently the OTHER twins want to revive him using the ankh. We've guessed Eidolon is likely how they got the book, and that's the favor they feel that they owe."

You tell him the entire story, mentioning everything you remember about Impulse, about how he was actually Eidolon, how he killed Ghujj with Uriel's body, and finally, how you bricked him in the noggin.

When you finish, Azariel sits there for a long, long moment, silent.
"And you're certain he was killed?"
You nod.
"I, ah, disintegrated his body, and then charred it into ash." Ezekiel said.

Azariel sighed, and closed his eyes.

Then he stood, pushing himself to his feet. His legs creaked, and he loomed over the group. All four of the kalak gasped- apparently Duriel and Kaliel had come in when Raziel had.

"The game." Azariel said. "Is not over. Who's agent are you, little girl?"

>>19597089
We should also add how the consider him their 'master'

im the colletives pawn

>>19597101
"I'm not anybody's agent"

>>19597101
"Agent?
What do you mean?"

>>19597127
", as far as I know."

>>19597101
"None but mine own. All I want is for the world to be a more peaceful, happy place to live in. Eidolon was a big fat jerk that flouted peace as an annoyance at every turn and tried to kill my friends.
I don't even really want some of these artifacts, I just don't really trust anybody else with them. Certainly not Eidolon at any rate."

>>19597101
Also, now would be a good time to mention Gehenna and Ragnarok

"Agent? What do you mean?" You ask.
"There were four of us." Azariel said. "Eidolon, Tyr, Myself, and the Traveller. We all played the games. We were both friends and enemies, working for and against eachother. We all, save for Tyr, had agents. When Eidolon died, we assumed it was over, and split. Tyr left the continent. The traveller works in the shadows, and I do not know where he is even now." "I'm not anybody's agent. But. . Gehenna and Ragnarok are Eidolon's."
He bent down, looking you in the eyes. Now that he's actually being active, he's much more imposing.
"I know." He said. "I must locate the Ankh before they get it. They will have to find other means to bring him back. Do you have it?"

>>19597181
That's what I wanted the dagger for. To destroy the Ankh and seal the demons.

>>19597181
Yup, but we intend to sacrifice it to close the demon portal. That way he can never come back, we get rid of the nasty corrupting life-magic in it and rid ourselves of the demons.

>>19597181
It is the reason why we wished for the knife, to sacrifice it and be gone of it.

>>19597181
"Not with me, but yes. It's being kept with a man in my service whose talent is to be...invisible I suppose, to magic. He's able to safely handle artifacts without activating any of their effects."

>>19597202
Kristoph did not come with us into the tower?

>>19597181
Sure, reveal that we have the Ankh. Ask what should be done with it.

Just a heads up, if he wants to keep it, he'll probably use it.l

>>19597181
I say we trust him with this. "Yes. It is safe from their magics, and better protected physically than I could make it."

>>19597181
"Yes. They attacked us yesterday and tried to take it, when that failed they tried to negotiate but I thought it was too dangerous to bring back Eidolon and didn't accept

>>19597243
Actually, they didn't attack us.

>>19597250
Ah, you're right.

>>19597214
He hasn't been mentioned, so presumably he isn't immediately with us.

"I have the ankh." You say. "I intend to sacrifice it to close the demon portal."
". . I can do the sacrifice from here." He said. "Bring me the ankh."

He reached behind the throne. . and drew a massive, long sword, made out of the same materiel the rest of the tower was made of.

"It will cause a Crux. The others will know. Prepare yourself."

The other kalak looked. . quite lost- they didn't seem to know what was going on.

"Prepare yourselves, or leave." He said. "They will come. I know it."

>>19597214
This is bad, the twins can time travel, they could be stealing the Ankh right now.

>>19597268
Let's stay and fight then. Let anyone who wishes to leave with the airship, they can come pick us back up when we're done.

>>19597268
Let us bring in some useful allies here first

Get our friends

I think we can trust him.

>>19597268
Uh-oh.

Draw the sword. Tell Kristopher to be ready.
Guys, now that I think about this. How the ever loving fuck are we going to make the coalition if we remove the demons just like this? Or do we make it again the remnants (which are probably still a major threat)

>>19597280
They're not omniscient.

>>19597305
There will still be demons in the world who will be looking for a way to open another portal. All we're really doing here is plugging the existing space-hole that they're pouring in through.

>>19597305
We'll figure it out. It doesn't need to start with everyone, either. We can start small.

>>19597305
If there's no demons, we don't need the coalition.

<Everyone, inside the tower.> You say.

<On it. I'll tell Kristoph.> Ell said.


Soon enough, the group rushed into the throne room. . Marigold looked up at the enormous, lanky kalak, while the lizardmen looked on, warily.
"What's going on?" Kristoph asked.
"The ankh." Azariel said. "I will destroy it, but others will know what is happening. They will attempt to stop me."
Kristoph looked over to you. "Lady? Are you sure this is wise?"

>>19597307
This is going to cause a crux (whatever that is). They'll be alerted, realize what happened and jump back to stop it.

>>19597329
Send Marigold to the background and weave a few protecting spells around her.

rolled 34 = 34

>>19597329
"how narrowly did you escape the deamons ravaging the world you came from?"

close the portal.

>>19597329
"Why? Because it is dangerous?
I don't back away from challenge."

draw sword

>>19597326
..........
... you realize that then we don't have any means of getting all the people working together for a common goal?

>>19597329
>"Lady? Are you sure this is wise?"
I don't have the slightest clue, to be honst. And I think we're a bit hasty, but I doubt Ishelda can stop this now without getting a lot of trouble.

>>19597329
"I... I believe it is best for the sake of the world. Then we'll just have to play it by ear from then."

>>19597329
Would this work?
We create a sort of anchor here in this world, bound to this dimension and time. When the twins arrive, we attach it to them so they cant flee.

>>19597348
If the Hobgoblins aren't willing to stop raiding once there's no longer a threat from demons then the coalition could be used to stop them?

rolled 55 = 55

>>19597376
also roll

rolled 14 = 14

>>19597376
lets do that yes

rolled 51 = 51

>>19597339
Also rollan for Marigold protection

>>19597401
WHY DO YOU ALWAY ROLL WHEN YOU DONT NEED TO? WHY?????

"Mostly certain. Are you questioning me, Kristoph?"

>>19597415
We asked him to in his oath.

rolled 50 = 50

>>19597409
because.

>>19597401
Do you have to roll every time you post?

>>19597418
I know, the point was to remind him of that.

rolled 53 = 53

>>19597415
part of his vows was to point out when we are wrong

"I... I believe it is best for the sake of the world." You say.
The Heart on your neck starts shaking at your words.
"It has begun."
You draw your sword.
"Marigold, go into the back."
Azariel spoke up. "Dariel, Kaliel, go with the blonde girl, lead her into the safe room." He says. The two kalak go with marigold.

Kristoph looked around, then brought the ankh up, and gave it to Azariel. The shaking grew, and you swear you can hear the tower start to rend.

Azariel set the sword down onto one of the arms of the throne. He took a small dagger out of a pouch at his hilt, took the ankh in the other hand, sat. . and started chanting.

There is, quite suddenly, an explosion, and. . a small, golden ring comes flying into the room. You immediately sense that it's an artifact.
The Fell, the heart informs you.

Mutants come pouring into the room.

rolled 16 = 16

>>19597383
From what I saw, I think they would stop raiding as soon as the demon threat is gone. So, I doubt it.

>>19597429
Ask Heart what fell does.

Shoot powerful soulfire lances at the mutants. One at the time.

rolled 20 = 20

>>19597445
God dammit.

Perhaps summon some golems to hold them at bay?

>>19597429
Cripple them mutants. Let tiny but hard elementals raise from the ground and hold onto their ankles.

>>19597429
Start killing dem mutants. Tell Kristoph to grab the ring.

rolled 49 = 49

>>19597429
ice the floors

"welcome ladies and gentelmen to Bowling for mutants!"

follow up with force

rolled 48 = 48

Teleport the artifact to us, pew pew watchin' motherfucking mutants drop.

rolled 25 = 25

>>19597462
i like this. i like this a lot

rolled 37 = 37

Shitty rolls everywhere

rolled 82 = 82

>>19597429
ELEMENTALS OF TOWER STONE TO ME!

sounds like time for a brutal mauling

rolled 15 = 15

>>19597462
Seconding bowling for mutants.

rolled 15, 93, 44, 73, 28 = 253

>>19597429
The FUCK is with these rolls!?

>>19597445
>>19597451
>>19597451
>>19597462
>>19597470
>>19597471
>>19597473
>>19597477

>>19597451
Maybe we should avoid using spells that require rolls for this battle. They drain to much energy.

rolled 82 = 82

>>19597445
>>19597451
>>19597462
>>19597470
>>19597473
>>19597477

And just as in NFCQ we realize that /tg/ rolls really bad under pressure.

>>19597494
They require rolls, signature spells just don't fail, or cost extra stamina on a low roll.

rolled 83 = 83

Create swinging axes from the ceiling to mow down the mutants.
Oh axes on fire

>>19597515
Oh yes! This SO HARD!

>>19597515
Nah, they look imposing sure, but they only strike once and then they have to be manually reset.

>>19597535
Nah, with enough weight and little friction they will work nice as pendulums of death.

rolled 65 = 65

Burn everything.

rolled 48 = 48

>>19597429
Offer them tea.

use combination of best rolls

You offer the mutants some tea.

"Oh, really? Quite classy of you, milady." One of the mutants said, and donned a monocle. "Perhaps a small tea break would be fine."

No, wait, instead it smashed your head open like a ripe melon.
>>Bad end - 'How silly can you even be'
>>Would you like to reload a save?

"Stone, to me!" You cry, and raise your arms.

What does the Fell do? You ask the heart.
It, quite calmly, informs you that the Fell is cursed. Cursed badly. But it is quite powerful.
The stone itself raises into roughly humanoid forms, and crash into the mutants. Kristoph leaps into battle, slicing a mutant easily in half, weaving out of the way. Ezekiel starts flinging spells, and Grayson rears onto his hind legs, bellowing, as armor of bone started wrapping around him, springing out of his flesh.
And Raziel. . well, Raziel raised her staff. . and necromantic energy blasted out of it, a torrent of lifeless flame, pushing the mutants back.
The lizardmen charged, leaping from one mutant to the next, executing them as the stone golems pin them down.
Azariel sits, and chants, his eyes afire with neon green light, the dagger held above the ankh.