The seas are perfectly silent, and the stars are glistening spheres hanging in the sky, so close you feel like you could almost reach up and touch them.

In the field of curled up, sleeping flowers, a woman stood, wearing a long, dark cloak, and a golden sword sat on her hip. Grayson from a moment ago was gone- Jormungandr, from a moment ago, was gone- all that remained was the field of flowers, the night sky above, and her.

The hooded woman seemed to be waiting for you to say something.

>>20469225
"Well, hello. Anything I can help you with?"

>>20469239
Look around for a moment.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage."

>>20469239
"I wish I could offer you some tea, but it seems my ship has disappeared."

"I wish I could offer you some tea, but it seems my ship has disappeared." You say.
<This is a dream.> The voice said, without intonation. <Will some up. This is your mind- I am just reaching here from afar.>
"I'm. . afraid you have me at a disadvantage."
<What.> She said, stepping closer to you, careful not to step on any of the flowers. <Do you know about demons, and the Arakoatoa? Do you know how they are related?>

>>20469329
Will up some tea.
"I do not know a lot about demons, and even less about the Arakoatoa. It seems that neither of them can enter this world at the moment, so what's the problem?"

>>20469329
Will up a table, 2 chairs, dishes, and tea.

<Very little. Although I I feel very honoured that you're going through what I am sure is a lot of trouble to reach me.>

>>20469329
"Not a thing. Who are you, again?"

"Very little." You say, willing up a table, two chairs, and ready made tea, already steeped. "I do not know a lot about demons, and even less about the Arakoatoa. Who are you, again?"
<An interested party.> She said, and sat on the other end of the table. She didn't touch the tea- apparently trying to leave as little a mark on the environment as possible. She hesitated a moment, and spoke.
<The Arakoatoa are a people. A powerful people, who have given up their physical forms for more power. More magic. They had transcended beyond physical forms, and moved to a world where they could not disturb the living- a world of crystal, and light. And for many years, they lived in peace.>
She paused, as if waiting for a response.

>>20469441
And then the ancient evil awakened?

>>20469441
Its decided wer will become stronger than Arakota and then fuck everything up

>>20469441
"Presumably something ended that peace. At a guess, are demons a..splinter, shall we say, of the Arakoatoa?"

>>20469441
"Sow hat happened to end it?"

>>20469480
I don't think we can channel meta-knight in our dreams.

Although, if he just casually floated by and tossed that out there, without anyone noticing, that'd be hilarious.

"Presumably something ended that peace. At a guess, are demons a..splinter, shall we say, of the Arakoatoa?"
Slowly, she nodded. <Magic started. . leaking out, into the void.. into the gaps between the worlds. You have been there. You have seen the things that are not colors. That is where magic went, and the Arakoatoa were destined to a long, and slow death. As it is, that is not what happened. A schism happened, and the Arakoatoa were split into two forms. One, were the true transcendants. Ones without form- raw magic and souls. Living ghosts, in a way, filled with joy and happiness. . and the Demons. Mindless beasts with just hunger and passion. You have seen what emotions can do to magic.> she said, and a small wrath elemental appeared in her hand- you can tell, from here, that it's but an illusion. <The demons were beasts without minds. Just bodies and emotions. soulless, feeding on the races of other worlds. Your mother chose to do something about it. She wrapped a living form around herself. She chose to save Arcturus from her old friends and family. And she did, for a time. And then she died.>

>>20469570
Yay we are Arakota descendant
Now bind our soul to our magic
We will sacrife body when we get old

>>20469570
"... How do you know this?"

>>20469597
Not sure i think something about her knowing what arakota is and knowing our mother is one....
Maybe its arakota?

>>20469570
"And you are, presumably, one of my maternal relatives?"

>>20469570
So what was the point of that?

>>20469570
Doesn't this basically make Ishelda a demi-god?

>>20469675
They arent gods they are magicial being we arent going to get anydivine points from this

"... How do you know this?"
"Wheels within wheels." She said, speaking with her lips the first time. Her voice was chillingly familiar, but you can't tell where from. <The orcish tower of history. You've seen it, yes? You've *felt* it, yes? Divination magic is some of the strangest, and the most powerful. Magic has many sides- many instincts, and tendencies. It is a madman with a hundred personalities. If you are lucky, the most wild of those beasts- divination- will obey you, as it did for me.>
"And you are, presumably, one of my maternal relatives?"
<No. Not maternal, to say the least.> She said. <Meanwhile, on the Kalak homeworld...>
She waved her arm, and the sky turned a violent purple, as the stars got brighter and more piercing- mountains sprouted in the distance, and you can faintly see some flying figures.
<Azariel the Eighth was charged for murder by the marble council. It was not his doing.> She said. <He created something. . monstrous, with his 'Passion', and it got away from him.>
The sky lit aflame.
<The demons arrived, ever hungy, and Azariel knew what he must do. He tore off into another world, sacrificing the lives of many other prisoners in the endless monolith, stealing eggs as much as he could.>
"What is the point of this?" You ask, finally, trying to ignore the way the heat baked at your skin.
<Evening the balance. Things must be balanced, and so you must know what I have taken many cycles to know.>

>>20469701
"And what is that?"

>>20469701
>The Void Queen's stealing all our good scrying rolls.
Bitch. They would have been useful, you know.

rolled 87 = 87

Rolling to lay curse on all the demons so they will randomly change into astral fire

"And what is that?"
"The gearworks has three functions." She said. "And it can only be accurately used by a being with sorcery. One function is to serve as a source of magic- for now, and for all time. It tears magic from the void- from the gaps between the worlds, and brings it back. It is in this world- it is why talents and sorcery are so powerful. A second function is to restore something that has been lost. It can raise the dead to true life, it can restore something that has been sacrificed, it can bring back something . . It can bring back something that one once discarded. And the third. . .>
Suddenly, the sky cracked open.
<It seems you're waking up.> She said. <Good morning.>

And then, suddenly, Grayson shifted behind your back. You still feel the baking heat and the taste of tea on your lips.

"Lady." Leon said, holding out his hand to pull you up. "It seems we've arrived. The ogrish city is aflame."

>>20469814
"Thank you, Leon. Have any survivors been spotted?"

>>20469814
"Well, that's not a good sign."

Try to contact Feegul via ring.

rolled 11 = 11

>>20469814
Summon water elementals.

>inb4 the city burning is a good thing.
>in that case make t fire elementals.

rolled 7 = 7

>>20469814
Summon water elementals.

>inb4 the city burning is a good thing.
>in that case make t fire elementals.

>>20469890
It seems like we should simply ask Zeke to summon some rain.

rolled 26 = 26

>>20469890
>>20469907
I guess the dice dont want water elementals.

I do so Imma try again.

>>20469890
>>20469907
Good job elementals are a signature spell and we don't need those horrible rolls.

>>20469915
We could?

rolled 88 = 88

>>20469915
And help him out, there is a whole city to cover.

"Thank you, Leon." You say, and he pulls you to your feet. You stare out over the balcony, and you see the vaguely familiar domes of an ogrish city, flames tearing up into the sky. The smog is impossible to see through with any accuracy. "Have any survivors been spotted?"
"We're looking, but we can't see anything."
"Keep looking- that's not a good sign. I'll contact Feegul."
He nodded, and you closed your eyes, seeking something to the south, it seems.

"The cities of Ozdradesh and Felhugjh have fallen." A thick, ogrish voice is saying- the same one from last time. "Velghusjhak is soon to follow."
"Velghusjhak is likely where boss'll end up." Feegul said, looking down at the map. Through his eyes. . you see the continent in it's full splendor. "Is it evacuated?"
"It is. . on Skerghaul's orders. He is the only seer we have- he said something will happen there." The ogre said.
You pull out of the ring to hear someone calling.
"I see something." Fellwind said, peering down. "There, in the smoke."

Stepping out of the smoke was something large- a bovine head, with long, curved horns, built on two powerfully muscled hooves and two corded arms holding a massive bone axe.

The twelve foot tall minotaur, knotted and mangled fur covering it's entire body, ignored the flames, and stretched his whole body back, holding the axe behind his head. .

And then he threw it at the Jormungandr- Dire magic suffused the axe, and it seemed to grow larger, and more menacing.

>>20469928
The dice determine the EFFECTIVENESS of signature spells. They are guaranteed to be cast successfully, but might not have an effect on the target.

>>20469987
Evasive maneuvers, everybody grab on to something.

File: 1345921360310.png-(112 KB, 520x520, Ogre Lands.png)

>>20469987
>Forgot picture. Whoops

>>20469987
Block it with Rikar. Instantly stopping all momentum no matter how big the weapon is is awesome.

rolled 88 = 88

>>20469987
Go evasive, but bolster Jormungandr's shields, as well.

>>20469987
Just saying but whoever she was, she was an Arakoatoa.
Any chance we could contact the King?
And is the Tower still standing?

rolled 40 = 40

>>20469987
Oh, cock. Rollan for deflecting the axe.

rolled 42 = 42

>>20469987
"Ell, evasive maneuvers!"
Move the axe so that it hits the minotaur instead

>>20470031
This.

You reach out with a single hand, and touch the control crystal- The entire ship jinks away, as you pour energy into Jormungandr's shields. The axe deflects off of the shield, and you take a minor hit to your stamina, but it goes flying off.

"We've got hostiles." Ell said.

And that's when the ogres made their move. The barreled out of the smoke, enormous swords in their hands- you notice that all of the ogres had pale yellow skin, were very broad shouldered- but none of them had the same amount of horns or eyes. Some had three horns, some had one, and you can see at least two ogres with entire crowns of horns, They leap upon the single minotaur, swinging with their blades, axes, and spears. Strange- the ogres are large, but the minotaur, even larger.

And in response, it roars. . and you feel the strong presence of dire magic. The minotaur swells, chitinous plates bursting out of it's skin. As you watch, it picks up an ogre, and starts flailing it, as if it were a weapon.

"North!" One of the ogres called to you. "Follow the coastline north! They wait!"

>>20470102
Welp, let's get a move on then.

rolled 39 = 39

>>20470102
Teleport to ogres onto our ship. If that doesn't work, engage the beast.

>>20470102
Counter dire magic with dire magic - it's bear-drop time again.

rolled 60 = 60

>>20470102
Rollan for ramming that muthafucka

>>20470102
Very well then. Northwards then.

rolled 70 = 70

>>20470102
Leave an earth elemental to assist with the minotaur as we go

"Engage the beast." you tell your crew, and they nod. the archers draw back their bows, and fired, their arrows plinking against the beast's chitin.

"Ishelda, you've never tried these things out even once, have you?" Ell asked, and put his hands on the Jormungandr's control crystal.

The entire ship shuddered, and shook- and then the world exploded as spears of light and magic tore into the minotaur, shattering his chitin and setting his fur aflame. He roared, and the entire world seemed to shake. .

And in response, Ezekiel tore a star out of the sky, and with trembling, incredible, unstoppable force, it tore through the sky, toward the minotaur.

And then the minotaur caught it.
The beast's massive hooves screeched across the ogrish roads as it slid back. It raised the massive, spellwrought stone in the air, and started to throw the meteor back-
When three spears tore through it's back- the work of the ogre warriors. They quickly put the minotaur down, and cheer.

"Now." you say, touching the control crystal. "We go north."

>>20470179
Northward, ho!

>>20470179
[x] go north
>watch the meteor explode and take out all the ogres who are gathering around the corpse as we leave

>>20470179
"Zeke, I'd rather you not taking stars from the night sky, it'd get rather dark without them."

>>20470206
Oh, god. I hope not.

With a clench of his fist, Ezekiel unconjured the meteor, and sighed. "I guess I won't be able to use those, then." He said, looking down at the ogres. "What *was* that thing?"
"Minotaur." Belethor said. "They're not from this world. Not normally."
Kaliel's eyebrows met. "How would you know that?"
"My people." He said. "We're not originally from here- When we first arrived, the lizardman empire was still in full swing, so we tried to get across the sea, and settled in Sosaria. Minotaurs are a story from our world- I read a lot of the old records."
"And it used dire magic." Ell said. "I distinctly saw it. It was. . enhancing the beast inside of itself. It did the same thing to the axe."

>>20470260
"Grayson, any idea what that was about?"

>>20470260
"Yes. It was... interesting. I wonder if Rikar(Fellwind?) could do that."

Skerghaul

"Yes. It was ... interesting. I wonder if Fellwind could do that."
"I couldn't." He said. "It might be the same type of magic, but it's completely different; and I can't control it."

"Grayson, any idea what that was about?"
"They did what I do." Grayson said. "But they abuse it. I know no more."

>>20470295
I don't think Fellwind wants to enhance the beast inside him.

>>20470338
>I have GOT to stop keeping my notes in the same window as my posts. Goddamnit.

>>20470338
"It's fascinating, Grayson. You have the strangest intuitive knowledge, but never have the details pinned down. I suppose it's more fun that way. Shall we meet the Ogres, then?"

>>20470338
What do you mean by abuse it?

>>20470367
Yeah, you really should. It's not like it's hard to open two windows. So what's a Skerghaul?

>>20470391
Probably an ogre.

"What do you mean by abuse it?"
"That weapon." Grayson said. "It is not living- but they made it act living."
"It's fascinating, Grayson. You have the strangest intuitive knowledge, but never have the details pinned down."
"Because I am a bear." He said. "We aren't detailed things. We enjoy food and sleep. Sometimes honey."
"I suppose it's more fun that way." You say, and shrug. "Shall we meet the Ogres, then?"

"I'd probably best get on Sparrow, then." Kiyara said. "We brought it here for a reason."

While you travel, Kiyara's gauntlet slowly directed Sparrow until it was alongside the moving ship, moving at the exact same rate. . and then she leapt over, locking her gauntlet into some of Sparrow's machinery. She gave you a thumbs up, and peeled away.
<I still have a ring, though.> She said.
"I'll stay out of my golem armor for now." Ell said, shoving the thing near the control crystal. He cupped his hand over his mouth, and called something in elvish out to Kiyara. She gave him a grin.

Soon enough, following the coast, you ran into a large, ogrish tower- it was strange, you hadn't seen any towers in the city, even ruins of one. . and had a place for airships to dock. You see Ogres in formation below the tower, practicing with long spears and halberds- you see discarded swords and axes sitting, unused, in piles.

>>20470478
Well...dock, I suppose. But have Sparrow keep station for now.

>>20470478
Either those weapons are useless against whatever the ogres are fighting, or they're out for reinforcements to pick up.

>>20470556
Probably useless. The ogres before used spears, and you don't really want to get to close to something like a minotaur.

Slowly, you come into dock.
<Keep station for now.> You tell Kiyara, and she nods.

the moment Jormungandr stops moving, doorway into the main tower- which goes a lot higher than just the port, you see- opens, and a one-eyed Ogre stepped out, two long horns bending backwards. His eye was milky white, and you got the impression he was blind. You've. . seen this face before. He was shorter and thinner than most of the ogre warriors you saw before, and had ritualistic blue tattooes covering his arms and head.
"Welcome, Ishelda. You've arrived at Bastion. We have food and supplies for your companions ready."

>>20470604
"Thank you, that's ver... Wait. You're the seer I saw, when I tried to divinate the source of magic on this plane. How did you get into my visions, seer?"

"Thank you, that's ver. . " You pause. "Wait. You're the seer I saw, when I tried to divinate the source of magic on this plane. How did you get into my visions, seer?"
"I don't know." He said. "There's many things I don't know." He bowed. "My name is Skerghaul, but you can call me Sker. I am currently the only ogre in these lands who has the talent to see into the future. I cannot control it. You are no doubt curious about various things- I will answer, if possible."

>>20470702
"I do, but I'm not certain there's time for most. For one; what's happening here? The entire continent seems to be at war. Creatures of myth are coming to life. The entire world is becoming filthy rich with winds of wild magic. I have the vaguest ideas of the source of these troubles, but I'm only half-certain as to what's going on."

>>20470702
"Thank you. Would you like to try some of my tea, while we talk?"

Is this possible to bind our soul to void?

>>20470775
Why would we even want to do something like that?

>>20470803
Why not?

"I do, but I'm not certain there's time for most. For one; what's happening here? The entire continent seems to be at war. Creatures of myth are coming to life. The entire world is becoming filthy rich with winds of wild magic. I have only the vaguest ideas of the source of these troubles, but I'm only half-certain as to what's going on."
He tapped at his lip, and then nodded.
"The entire continent is at war." He said. "The southern islands are safe, though, and your kobold friends are there, bolstering the ogres there to keep them from getting to our women and children. The minotaurs tore through a portal . . several months ago- and it's just been getting wider as time goes on. They're here to pillage and eat, and they're more powerful with their magic than we could have believed. Their talents revolve around making themselves stronger, more beastial. I believe they have a warchief from my scrying, but I can't pin down exactly where he is. However... I did get a moment from the past, several weeks ago."

He reached down into a cabinet, and pulled out a long scroll, and handed it to you. You roll it open- and you see a sketch of someone with their hair flowing behind them, a glimmering portal making them little more than a silhouette.

"Whoever this person is.. they opened the portal here." He said. "They brought this. . onslaught upon us."

>>20470848
"A warchief... Do you think they're accepting honourable duels for the position?"

>>20470848
"Do the minotaurs at least have a basic form of intelligence when not berserking? I might be able to reason with them. Might. They have a central leadership after all."

"Do the minotaurs at least have a basic form of intelligence when not berserking? I might be able to reason with them." You say. "Might. They have a central leadership, after all."
"I. . don't know." He said, shaking his head. "They sometimes act like it- or, in the case of the kobolds, completely ignore them- but when it comes to ogrekind, they attack relentlessly, and without reason. They have most of the mainland- this northern corner of the mainland, and the southern islands are all that's left of us. We still have Sgragog riders, to deliver messages, but In a few weeks, if not stopped, the minotaurs will start to kill the last of them, and another species of creatures will go extinct."

>>20470950
"Do you have any idea how the subjugated territories are being used? Do they take prisoners? Work the land? Repair infrastructure? Anything other than marauding and advancing for more marauding?"

"Do you have any idea how the subjugated territories are being used? Do they take prisoners? Work the land? Repair infrastructure? Anything other than marauding and advancing for more marauding?"
"Yes to the first two. They keep the kobolds as pets, or something similar, and the kobolds have taken to calling them the 'big bosses'. They took our cattle, and started having the kobolds take care of them." He said. "In none of my visions, however, have I seen them rebuild anything they've destroyed. They live in caves, ruins, and out in the outdoors, and they don't seem to care."

>>20471027
"Oh my, that sounds terrible. Do you have an idea what we might do to stop them? The way of closing portals I know bears a terrible price."

"Oh my, that sounds terrible." You say. "Do you have any idea what we might do to stop them? The way of closing portals I know bears a terrible price."
"I don't know how." Sker said, grumbling. "Damnit, couldn't any of the seers in the past given us any information?" He sighed, and sat down, clenching his fists. "If only they'd seen this- then they could help."
"I don't even know if you're going to be relevant or not." He said, sighing. "I just saw you arrive at the burned city a few weeks back, so I made preparations."

We should challenge warchief to duel, win, then grayson challenge us and lose.
Of course, somehow without dying.

>>20471110
There was an Ogre seer on the other continent a long time ago, Triune, who apparently saw me coming. Do you know anything about him?

Do you know anything about the Gearworks?

>>20471110
"Believe me, I know from experience the strains of divination. It sounds like they're a rather minimalist culture. Somewhat admirable. I doubt the Kobolds will be harmed, aside from their songs being silenced, terrible as that is- it's in their nature to submit happily to the toughest, biggest foe around and join forces with them- but the minotaurs are committing genocide and trampling all civilization in their path without reason. That's already happened at least once to this world, when the dragons had to die to lock the demons down to one planar gate. I'm not going to see it happen again. From what I know of age-old history, Ogrekind has done some terrible things in the past, but no one deserves such a fate as to see everything they know and love die out for naught. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, Skerghaul. Hopefully without further bloodshed upon other side."

"Believe me, I know from experience the strains of divination." You say, sitting next to him. "There was an ogre seer on the other continent a long time ago. Triune, who apparently saw me coming."
He froze.
"Do you know anything about him?"
"He's my ancestor." He said. ". . What happened? He . .saw you coming?"

>>20471355
"City and loads of gold, with a welcoming note."

>>20471355
"He left me an enormous mountain of riches. I don't know much more, but you could ask my friend Raziel, she's an archeologist well-versed in the old ogre culture to the east."

>>20471355
I went to his crypt and the doors opened for me by themselves, and inside was a load of treasure and a carving saying "this is for you, silver-haired human". It was freaky.

"He left me an enormous mountain of riches, and a welcoming note, encouraging me to found New Arcturus. It said 'this is for you, silver-haired human'. It was freaky." You say. "I don't know much more, but you could ask my friend Raziel. She's an archeologist, well-versed in the old ogre culture to the east."
"Silver hair? Not important. So that's where the money went. . " He said, mumbling to himself. "Triune likely had a reason for that." He said, standing. He started pacing. . "He invited you to create your kingdom, correct?"
He doesn't wait for you to respond.
"Then. . he left something else there. Or he left a spell. Or something." He said, pacing. "Or anything. I don't think we have enough time to go back there and scry into the past. . "

>>20471440
"You can come with me once we've dealt with this continents problems, if you want to."

>>20471440
My airship can go quite fast if it needs to, but you're probably needed here. We'll have to solve this thing with the minotaurs first.

"You can come with me once we've dealt with the continents' problems, if you want to."
"Of course." He said. "I assumed I was- that's why I already prepared for my departure. But . . "
His head rocked back for a moment, and his blind eye. . opened, and you feel a strong torrent of strange, alien magic rush through him.

"They're coming." He snarled, and ran to one of the windows. He tore a loud horn out from the satchel on his hip, and blew. The soldiers below, quickly started strapping on their armor, taking up their halberds and spears again. It looked like the entire tower unloaded, as ogrish soldiers poured out of the garrison.
"I ask you, here and now." He said, turning to you. "Assist us, please. They're coming from the south, and your crew is all made up of wizards- we have no magi, left- not after Genchagh died."

File: 1345929522235.jpg-(59 KB, 525x235, zulu-dawn2.jpg)

>>20471540
"Of course, it's an honor to fight by your side."

Time to show those savages what proper Arcturian soldiers are.

>>20471540
"Of course. How long do we have to prepare?"
<Enemies incoming, all fighters get ready and go down to ground level please.>
Those cannons were great and we're the only one who can fly the ship apart from Ell who will want to test his golem suit, so it looks like we're air support.

rolled 84 = 84

>>20471540
Empower the ogrish troops, cast a spell to inspire them and strengthen them.
Neil Armstrong just died today. I am sad.

>>20471540
Of course.

"Zeke, get ready to order up some meteors. That explode on command, preferably, so they'll be holding them when they go boom. Ell, take us South, and be ready on the cannons."

rolled 27 = 27

>>20471540
"Absolutely. Ell, do you think we can use the Jormungandr's crystal foci to magnify my magic? I have a plan to thwart the minotaur's charge near-effortlessly."

We took Manipulate Magic as a sorcerous Talent back in SCQ Chapter 1 for a reason, and yet we hardly ever use it. We've got inherent, instinctual mastery over manipulating preexisting magic, in addition to our sorcery. Rolls to use that ability are pretty much just icing. We can twist the minotaur's dire magic, horribly, making it go haywire. Their muscles wilt and grow weak or gigantic, cramped and unusable, their chitin-armor heavy and brittle, joints calcifying, etcetera. It's an absolutely horrific thing to do, to make their own bodies betray them, but so is what they're doing to the ogres.

rolled 78 = 78

>>20471643
Actually a really good idea, but I'd recommend saving it for when the minotaurs show up. We need prebattle magic.

Rolling to summon up some barriers for Ogrish troops, walls with slits in them to poke spears through and stab at things.

>>20471666
<All hands on deck, prepare for combat. Except Fellwind. You go and help the healers.>

"Of course- it's an honor to fight by your side." You say. "How long do we have to prepare?"
"An hour, maybe less. They're stampeding here." He said, leaning out of the window. "Sgragol Kchacklaj!" He called.

Out of the top of the tower. . something enormous leapt out- a beast that, at first, looked like a long, furry tail with massive wings- but you see two tucked legs near the rear, and six eyes on it's head. It clings to the side of the tower, staring up at the seer. He patted it's head absentmindedly, and then scrawled something out in runes, and slid it into a pack on the beast's head. "Go to the Valjssak. Be careful." He said, in low, slow words. Eager to please, the great beast nodded, let go of the tower, and darted toward the south, it's heavy wings thudding.
It was so fuzzy, and you couldn't even hug it. But this isn't time for that.
<Enemies incoming.> You say. <All fighters get ready and go down to ground level.>
<Of course, Lady.> Kristoph said. <Leon and the prince are coming with me and the knights. The archers are taking up the towers.>

<What do you want us to do?> Raziel asked.
<Zeke, get ready to order up some meteors. Ell, take Jormungandr south, and be ready on the cannons.>
<Yes ma'am.> Ell said.

You reach out with your magic. . and with strength you hardly knew you had, you tear the very stone out of the earth, creating short walls- not enough to stop a charge entirely, but enough of a barrier to have *some* fortification.

<To use my power, I'll have to go down there.> Kaliel said. <Take care of my squirrel if I die.>

>>20471643
...that's not a bad idea, actually. Assuming our range can be amplified. Because 'touch' range with a Minotaur is a Bad Place To Be.

rolled 17 = 17

>>20471703
<Raziel, there should be plenty of dead around here. Do you think you could summon your dragon and round up some reinforcement?> Meanwhile, do >>20471621.

>>20471703
><To use my power, I'll have to go down there.> Kaliel said. <Take care of my squirrel if I die.>

<What do you intend to do?>

Have somebody watch over her, she's never been in combat.

>>20471703
Kaliel, don't die. Be careful.

Kristoph, Leon, KNIGHTS. You are to protect this girl from harm no matter what. Should the legions of hell themselves march towards her you shall stand between them. Do you understand?

>>20471703
>Ell, take Jormungandr south, and be ready on the cannons.
B-but golem suit! And can he hold out on his own against a whole herd of them doing that axe-throwing thing? Why are we sending him out towards the enemy?

<Raziel, there should be plenty of dead around here. Do you think you could summon your dragon and round up some reinforcement?>
<I'm. . not sure.> Raziel said. <I could summon my spectres and the dragon, but I'm not sure how the ogres will react.>

You reach out with your remaining power, funneling power into the ogre soldiers, and into your own soldiers, and even into the archers in your tower. You make them. . stronger, faster, healthier. .

Using your power makes your lungs struggle to breathe, and you almost lose your balance, as your muscles start aching.

<Kaliel, what do you intend to do?>
<I just have to touch them.> She said. <I have a. . a feeling.>
<Kaliel, don't die. Be careful.>
<Kristoph, Leon, Cerulean knights. Protect Kaliel from harm no matter what.>
<Yes, lady.> Leon said. <I swear by it.>

<Found em!> Ell said. <I'm coming back, seeing if I can thin their numbers as I retreat. Estimated. . .twenty minutes.>

You look out to the troops. You did make them stronger. . but you can't inspire them with magic. You have to inspire them with. . words.

>>20471831
Screw this better eat some ambiet magic or something

>>20471831
Ok...
"The protagonist's party is with you now, so you're not going to lose. It's just a few big cows, don't sweat it."

>>20471831
Ask the seer to give us a brief overview of things seen as desirable characteristics in a person and warrior in ogre culture.

Wouldn't want to give a speech that only motivates our soldiers, but has some kind of negative effect on the ogres.

>>20471831
Men, the hordes of the enemy come. They fight for nothing more than destruction while we fight for our homes. And this is why we will win, we will never stop fighting because we hold the line. We hold the line against this senseless destruction and we tell it that it goes no further.

You are not alone in this fight, knights, magicians, elementals and even the spirits of your ancestors and the spirit of a mighty dragon shall fight along your side.

For Velghusjhak!

>>20471890
That sounds like the meta-archer talking.

"We'll save that as an ace in the hole, then, Raz."

>>20471831
"Men, elves, ogres, lizardfolk, kalak, kobolds all! On this day, we stand once more against foreign invaders, from planes beyond our own! On this day, we stand against a maniacal force that would see everything before it destroyed, simply because they could! On this day, we stand against one of the very banes of civilization! Barbarism given form! In the past, this world has stood against worse. Devils, demons, diabolical creatures that eat planes from the inside out! And we crushed them, for centuries, even handicapped by disunity, kept at bay by the great Wall of the Hob, before finally shutting them out forever! And now we stand against a bunch of pitiable pretenders to that throne, a bunch of simpering, mutant CATTLE who think themselves devils! And here, where we make our stand, is where we say 'NO.' We will not let them sully our world with their mindless savagery! We will not let them harm our homes, our loved ones, our cultures any longer! We will stop them, here and now, and break them under a plow of iron and steel and blood, or herd them back to the hell from whence they came! Are you with me?!"

"Come on, as if this'll be any issue." One of the archers say, from the level below you. You hardly hear him, so you don't pay much attention. "I mean, we're the protagonists- of course we're going to win."
"Well, if you say so." His buddy responded. "I mean, what could go wrong?"
"Oh, goddamnit, we're all going to die." The archer responded. "Did you have to ask that?"

"Men, elves, ogres, lizardfolk, kalak, kobolds all!" You call, amplifying your voice with a small spell. "The hordes of the enemy come. On this day, we stand once more against foreign invaders, from planes beyond our own. On this day, we stand against a maniacal force that would see everything before it destroyed, simply because they could! On this day, we stand against one of the very banes of civilization! In the past, this world has stood against worse. Devils, demons, diabolical creatures that eat planes from the inside out! And we crushed them, for centuries, even handicapped by disunity before finally shutting them out forever! And now we stand against a bunch of pitiable pretenders to that throne, a bunch of simpering, mutant *cattle* who think themselves devils! They fight for nothing more than destruction, while we fight for our homes. This is why we will win." You say. "We will never stop fighting, because we hold the line. We hold the line against this senseless destruction. . ."
You pause, for dramatic effect.
"And we tell it it goes no further."

The cheering is almost deafening.

Exabyte would harvesting faith and conwerting it into magic work?

>>20472068
Yeah bitch, that's some pro queening right there. Now slaughter the cattle.

rolled 53 = 53

I bet minotaur bar-b-q would be delicious...mmmmmh...

>>20472182
That is barbaric and wrong and why is my mouth watering?

The stampede of minotaurs is enormous in size- not because of their numbers, but because of their height- all corded muscle and matted fur, bone weapons of all sorts in their arms, dire magic sparking through their weapons as they grow in size and complexity, the stampede growing exponentially, white sparks dancing from minotaur to minotaur.
The ogres stand, spears in hand, ready for the minotaur onslaught, enheartened and enboldened. .

But not ready enough.
The first line is crushed, mercilessly, by the unstoppable rampage of the minotaurs. The great horned and hooved beasts all but ignore the spears, letting them pierce through their flesh as if they didn't care, white sparks dancing from their wounds. The wall is but a small stepping stone- the first row of Minotaurs simply kick their way through, and bring their weapons down. The enemies' momentum is stopped, but the ogres' first line is already broken.

Far below, you see Belethor draw a large, steel crossbow, and fire it- the weapon tears through one of the minotaurs' heads- and it collapses. Kristoph reaches toward the largest, blade in hand- and you watch the minotaur shrink, the beast's dire magic leaving it.

rolled 59 = 59

So lets take concept of death and make it into goddamn gauntlet to wear for us.

rolled 6 = 6

>>20472242
Nah, VQ'd steal it one way or another I guess.
And it'd be uncouth, and unfitting for us.
But yeah, let's whip their scrawny arses and use their Dire Magic against them.

rolled 84 = 84

>>20472229
Turn their Dire Magic against them.

Summon up hordes of elementals from the ground, turn the very battlefield against them.

They messed with the wrong queen.

rolled 36 = 36

>>20472282
Thats not how you convert mnotaurs dire magic into one we can use and then absorbing it

rolled 32 = 32

>>20472229
MANIPULATE MAGIC. We can't outright nullify their shapeshifting like Kristoph, but we can twist it. Turn the minotaurs into masses of twisted, flailing, ineffectual limbs, gnarled bones, flesh peeling off into harded chitinuous plates, and turn the shoggoth-taurs back against their kindred in a tide of unwilling flesh and dire magic gone horribly wrong.

"Ell, get close to the tower." You tell him. He nods, and Jormungandr sidles up next to your window.
"What are you going to do?" The seer asked.
"This." You respond, and touch the corner of Jormungandr. You feel your control reach through the ship, load into the cannon, and then leap out ward at the minotaur army. .

You pant, and pull back. You just don't have enough reach.
You bite your lip. . and bring the earth up around them. Golems pull their way out of the ground, barrelling into the minotaurs, slowing them down and choking them up, making mobility for the cattle all but impossible. The strain makes sweat bead on your head and start dripping into your eyes.

Zeke suddenly starts. . .cackling. You turn to him- he's standing at another window, hands pointed out. . and his talons are twitching, smoke lifting from under his robe, and small holes charring in it, small flames starting. . and his laughter gets louder and more boisterous, maddened, until he's almost coughing. Magic coils up inside of him, almost. . puppeting his body- but magic can't do that on it's own, can it?

>>20472354
YES IT CAN! It's the passion-madness-THING that Kaliel was talking about!

...this could be good or bad. I'm torn on whether or not we want to stop this.

>>20472354
I think that this is the "Passion" thing that they were talking about.

Keep a close eye on his magic, if I'm right he's going to blow the living hell out of the cows. If the magic he's using gets directed at our own we'll shut him down.

>>20472354
Keep a close eye on him, the moment anything goes wrong intervene by trying to copy the effect Kristoph has on magic.

>>20472354
"Zeke. Please. Try to point the magical passion-berserkergang carefully. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

As you watch, the clouds part. . and above that was a layer of flame.
Like your dream this morning.

He suddenly shoots both hands straight up, still twitching, and then there's the sound of something enormous shattering. He tore his hands straight down. .
And meteors started tearing out of the sky.
Hundreds of them, slamming into the ground. Everything starts rumbling, and one of Zeke's talons literally snap by twisting backward. The minotaurs stopped their advance completely, trying to catch the meteors- and failing, as they burst into. .
Hellfire.
A screaming, moaning and melting minotaur crawls out of the flame and smoke. Zeke cackles again, and points at the minotaur with his broken, twisted talon A meteor smashes into the minotaur, putting it out of it's misery.
His twitching increased, and something in the back of your head starts buzzing, as the magic increases. . and starts building up to something. .
And then Zeke collapsed, and the magic let go.

The ogres cheered, and charged, fighting back against the broken and shaken minotaurs. You see Kristoph finish slaying his own minotaur, and you see Leon translocate onto another 'taur's back, putting his shortsword into the back of the beast's neck.

Grayson paces from behind you- he'd insisted on staying here.

>>20472495
Help them finish them off by making sure our elemental forces completely cut off any retreat for them.

None of the cows shall live past this day.

>>20472495
Check on Zeke. Concerned queenly hug is not optional.

>>20472495
Fire dem cannons.
Fly to the rear and blast any of them that try to run.

>>20472495
Get Zeke to Fellwind. He is NOT in good shape.

Also, if we can manage to multi-task it, have the elementals mop up any stragglers.

rolled 63 = 63

>>20472495
Make sure Zeke is okay. Don't try and revive him to consciousness or heal him at this moment, he might be magically volatile. Then, more golems. At the minotaur's back-lines. Box them in. Either they surrender, or they get massacred.

>>20472495
Check Zeke, the fuck was that?
Also a quick check to see that Kal's alive.

>>20472595
Seconded.

"Well, whaddya know. Deus ex machina saved us. Pfft." The archer from below said.
"I don't even know what you just said, man."
You pay them no attention.

The minotaurs, over half of their army decimated, quickly halt, and start making their way back south-

Just to be stopped by the suddenly-materializing spectres, as they burst into being. Raziel's totem-summoned ogres charge, ignoring the minotaurs' weapons as they bring their own conjured versions down on them, fighting only as the dead can- physical one moment, and ethereal the other.
The ogres cheer again as your golems assist the spectres, and the minotaurs are quickly put down.

That done, you let go of the spell and run to Zeke. He's asleep, but his talons are all dislocated- all of them, and you think one or two of them are broken. You give him a hug, and while you're there, you check on his magic- And he has none. None left, after conjuring all of those meteors.

"Ishelda, step aside." Fellwind said. He knelt, pulled back his sleeves, and then started whispering something- a spell. Conjured braces twist his fingers back into position, and then Fellwind starts casting multitudes of small, simple healing spells.

>>20472626
"Is she going to be okay?"
Also check the little one

>>20472626
Ask if he'll be all right, or if there's anything we can do. Failing that, check up on everyone, particularly Skerghaul and Kaliel.

>>20472626
Careful with dem hugs. zeke's attracted to humans, remember. don't want another addition to the shipping wall

>>20472626
By none left does that mean his magic is dead or he just needs to recover?

Rik, is Zeke going to be okay?

Open communications check up on people, especially Kaliel, see if she's alright. I'm not that worried about our knights.

>>20472673
He's already on it, I think.

"Is he going to be okay?"
"He'll be fine." Fellwind said, and put a hand on your shoulder for a moment. "If he'll still be able to cast.. that's questionable. I just need to make sure his hands heal up.. or whatever kalak have for hands- it's his best chance."
"Anything I can do?"
"You look tired." He said. "Just go rest, or check on someone else. I have it handled here."

You make your way down the tower, where the rest of the still living ogres are healing up, and getting bandaged. You find Leon standing there, a long scratch in his arm. He waves.
"Where's Kaliel?" You ask.
"Right over there, Lady." He said. Kaliel's sitting on a bench, away from the bustle, hugging her knees.

"They killed Fenrir." She said.

>>20472715
Hugs.

>>20472715
"Have Fellwind look at that once he's done with Zeke. You fought well."

And then get over to Kal.

"I'm so sorry." Hug her. "Is there anything we can do? Save his mind for a new body, perhaps?"

>>20472715
"Oh no!"

Remember, girls want sympathy, not solutions.

"Hugs!" and put yout hands down her pants.

>>20472715
Sit down next to her, hug her.

Kaliel, the sad truth of the world is that things die. I know you miss him, and it is right to miss him. But as long as you remember him, all the times he made you happy then he can live on in your heart. He surely died protecting you, and that is the most honorable death he could have had.

I'm just glad you're okay.

>>20472715
Give her a hug. Keep hugging until either she starts to look better or someone needs us for something.

>>20472715
So make another one, for fuck's sake. You can even give it the same mind. Plenty of actual people died here today. Oh wait, I mean "Oh no, I'm so sorry!". Try to sound sincere.

"Have Fellwind look at that once he's done with Zeke." You say. "You fought well."
"Yes, lady." He said, and nodded. "Erm, Ishelda, I mean."
He bowed, and made his way upstairs.

You give Kaliel a hug, and she returns it, not meeting your eyes. "I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do?"
"No, there isn't." She said. "He was just an animal, anyway. I could make another just like him."

>>20472796
"If you're this broken up, he wasn't 'just' an animal. I understand."

rolled 97 = 97

>>20472796
"Don't be dismissive of your feelings out of hurt, Kaliel. It won't be the same. Fenrir was special. But... Making a little brother for Fenrir is probably the best way to honor his memory."

>>20472796
"That's not the same thing and you know it. You can get a new pet, but it's not the same pet."

More hugs. She's got to face this, and might as well be sooner rather then later. I don't want her going all crazy again.

rolled 23 = 23

>>20472796
"He wasn't just an animal. He was Fenrir, the Destroyer of Worlds. And he's dead. Would you like to have a burial, along with the others who have deceased, or a private one?"

>>20472796
"He was someone you cared for. It's right to grieve for your friends, and from what little I saw of the two of you together, you were very close friends."

>>20472796
No two animals are exactly alike Kaliel. You know that. He may have been "just an animal" but you cared for him nonetheless.

But even though you know you could make another who was similar, do you really want to?

"If you're this broken up, he wasn't 'just' an animal. I understand." You say. "Don't be dismissive of your feelings out of hurt, Kaliel. It won't be the same. He was someone you cared for. It's right to grieve for your friends, and from what little I saw of the two of you together, you were very close friends."
"I made him back at the tower." She said. "He was the one your got upset at me about, two years ago, because of the way his eyes looked. He was old, as a construct got."
She shrugged, and took a deep breath.
"I'm going to go back to my cabin. There's a lot more *real* things that died today. Like the ogres- I should be feeling bad for them, not one of my monsters."

A thought occurs, instead of romancing one of the boys or one of the girls with their multitude of issues, why don't we just get Kaliel to make us a waifu?

>>20472866
"Please, never call them monsters again. They're your creations, and I know you spend a lot of loving, hard work and on every single one of them. Don't let people tell you anything else."

>>20472871
Genius.

>>20472866
Kaliel, you feel what you feel. You shouldn't worry about how you should feel, if you grieve for your friend then grieve.

Fenrir wasn't a monster, just because you made him doesn't mean he's a monster. I met him and he was an animal, a pet, a companion.

If you ever need to talk I'm here for you.

Give her one final squeeze in the hug and ruffle her hair before she goes.

>>20472866
"Can you use your power to heal the wounded? If you still have energy to spare, of course."

Maybe getting her out and about would help.

You know, one of the things I love most about this quest is the interaction with characters and how everything has unfolded so far. What I've only just noticed, while wondering about the waifu wars, is that Ishelda has slowly gone about forming a new family and a new home despite losing everything. She's taken this caring motherly role, always checking up on everybody and making sure all's well, enduring rough patches and bottling up her true feelings for the benefit of others. I can't work out whether this is all out of mental instability and driving need to replace her family, or genuine kindness.

Personally, I'm waiting for the former. The day when Ishelda loses someone else close to her is the day she snaps for good - that's why I feel romance isn't a route we should go down.

rolled 47 = 47

>>20472866
"Kaliel. I was mad because I was afraid. Back then, Fenrir was a puppet, and you did your best to make him look terrifying; I thought you'd made him into a monster, not just made to look like one. Still, I trusted you, since you didn't force him to feel anything. He was just an extension of yourself in a seperate body, not a constructed slave. But you made him more after that. You gave him a mind. You gave him the ability to feel and think. His form was strange, but he was a loyal, noble hound at heart. And he died like one, protecting that which he cared for, that which he was loyal to. He wasn't a monster, Kaliel, he was a living being, and as much a casualty as any on that battlefield. We shouldn't mourn him too hard- I doubt that he'd have liked to see you like this- but neither should we forget him as 'just an animal.' Your creations are a beautiful thing, Kaliel. You create and shape life. Don't you ever discount the value of that."

rolled 77 = 77

>>20472935
It's also funny how the BBEG was accidentally created...

>>20472935
Thats why we just build ourselves a lover. Kaliel can make the body and we can elemental up the mind. It's a flawless idea!

>>20472935
We all know that this will end with some sort of immortality anyway.

>>20472935
>the whole 'adventure' was actually Ishelda's tormented subconscious mind guiding her into recreating her old life
>new family
>new status (a Queen, just like she should have been)
>new home, even named after old home

This is taking a turn into Nopeville.

"Kaliel, you feel what you feel. You shouldn't worry about how you should feel, if you grieve for your friend then grieve." You say. "Fenrir wasn't a monster, just because you made him doesn't mean he's a monster. I met him and he was an animal, a pet, a companion."
"No, he was a monster." She said. "He was made for war. he served his purpose. He was a living, breathing weapon. That defines a monster pretty well." She sniffled. " I'll still miss him, though."
You give her another hug, and ruffle her hair. "If you ever need to talk I'm here for you."
"I. . just want to be useful, right now." She said. "Because I wasn't at all, earlier."
"Can you use your power to heal the wounded? If you still have energy to spare, of course."
She nodded. "I couldn't touch a single minotaur." She said. "I have all of my energy."

She got up, and entered the bustle of the injured ogres, and put her hands on one, spitting out a few words in ogrish. The ogre nodded, patted her head with his remaining arm, and she whispered a spell, his other arm sprouting from his torso as he groaned with discomfort.

>>20473059
Create an item that allows Kaliel to use her powers of a longer distance later on.

>>20473059
"I wonder Kaliel, is it possible to regro them different arms? Stronger, tougher or faster ones?

What about claws or wings?"

>>20473059
Okay, check on on Leon, Kristoph, Belethor and the rest of our knights.

>>20473059
Observe the wounded, become remorseful, think about how we could have been better. This is war, we're the (hormonal) little girl, we have a shit ton of rresponsibility and lives riding on us, and the weight of that should be taking its toll any second now.

>>20473113
It'll take its toll, but not in public, never in public. For now we choke back our tears, we're a Queen.

When we cry, when we berate ourself for not doing better, we do it in our room, stifling the noise of us weeping in Grayson's fur as for a few minutes of sadness we're a young girl instead of a queen.

>>20473113
We've killed heaps of things before, and had people under us die or be injured. We're not responsible for the ogres, they were under the command of their own general. We only need to get all miserable if our own soldiers die.

"I wonder, Kaliel, is it possible to regrow them different arms? Stronger, tougher, or faster ones? What about claws or wings?"
"I could, but in that case." She said, as the ogre lost consciousness. "I might as well just shapeshift them- it's . . kinder to restore their bodies to what they were."
She shrugged, and stared down at the ogre. . and then patted his head twice and moved on.

You look out to the bustle- You see Kristoph, banging a knight on the shoulder and congratulating him for a good job, you see Belethor speaking to the rangers, and you hear the words 'group tactics' and 'cohesion' a lot, and then you look to the medics, patching up the dozens of injured ogres, in a hurry. .
It reminds you, quite a bit, of the aftermath of one of the larger battles, back home. But back then, you were just a little girl. .and this time, it's all on you.
There are more dead ogres outside then there are here, injured. Could. . could it be your f-
A three-eyed ogre, with a single broken horn and brand new scars covering his chest held up a hand, and motioned for you to come speak to him.
"So." He said, in ogrish. "You are the magus girl. Thank you."

>>20473135
We should probably apologise to Grayson at some point for that. Loyal bro he may be, but Ishelda seems to use him as an improvised tissue a little more than he might be happy with.

>>20473223
Indeed, I am Ishelda. An who might you be?

>>20473223
"You are welcome, but so few of you made it through the battle. I am sorry for that."

Couldn't we just take them to the other ogre stronghold to the south?

>>20473225
Nah, he likes sleeping, I'm sure he likes having a tiny little hot water bottle to heat up his bed as well.

>>20473223
I am the Queen Ishelda, please just call me Ishelda.

It was my pleasure to help, I wish I could have done more. I should have done more.

What is your name?

"Indeed, I am Ishelda. You are welcome, but so few of you made it through the battle. I am sorry for that."
"Few? Hahaha." He started chuckling, covering his eyes with an arm. "I thank you because you saved so many of us. Yes, some died, but not many. Less than we should have, even with your help. You, little girl, could have run. Saved your men from getting hurt. Let us die- We still would have won, but with many less survivors. That is why I thank you. Skerghaul was right."
He reached into his pouch, and pulled out something, closed in his fist. .and then he dropped it into your palm. A small whistle, it looked like, and it had a spell on it you couldn't discern.
"This will call my Sgragol, if he still lives. Use it if you ever need help, or if your flying ship is not enough. His name is Krakachak. Take it freely."

>>20473338
"Thank you. Could you tell me more about the Sgragol(s?)?"

rolled 57 = 57

>>20473338
"You mean the odd, fluffy wyverns? Aren't they precious to your people? Don't you need what few are left to fight the minotaurs? There must be more of them after all. That one herd can't have been the whole army."

>>20473338
Thank you. It means much to me.

But today's victory is of no great import if the portal is not closed and the minotaurs not utterly destroyed.

Do you know where their leadership is? Where the portal is?

>>20473338
What's a Sgragol? Are the Sgragii your couriers?

>>20473338
We have a whistle that summons fluffy. This is the most awesome gift ever.

>>20473338
"Do you mind if we test it?" Blow that whistle.

And see if we can copy the spell on it, so we can cast it if we are in a pinch and can't get to the whistle itself.

"Thank you." You say, looking down at the whistle. "Could you tell me more about the Sgragol?"
"Somewhere to the west of here, there is a mountain." He said, waving his arm. "The Sgragol were born there- they are very large beings- peaceful, and calm. Nothing hunts them, and so they are calm, and they love everything they see. You saw one before."
"You mean the odd, fluffy wyverns?"
"I mean those." He said. "We do not tame them- they aren't our pets. They are our friends. They say it's bad luck to use a sgragol for war, and so we do not. I recommend you do not as well."
"Thank you." You say, putting the whistle into one of the pouches on your armor. "It means much to me."
"Krakachak will be glad to meet you." He said.
"But. . today's victory is of no great import, if the portal is not closed, and the minotaurs not utterly destroyed. Do you know where their leadership is? Where the portal is?"
"I do not, sadly." He said. "But one of the magi should know, if they still live."

>>20473397
Barely withhold a squee (Marigold's influence there), thank him profusely, and be substantially cheered up. How long has it been since we last got an honest, no strings attached gift, especially one this meaningful?

>>20473451
I swear that I will not let the Sgragol die.

Where would I find one of the magi should they still live?

>>20473451
OH MY GOD

LETS GO TO THAT MOUNTAIN

AND HUG THE FLUFFY WYVERNS.

>>20473451
New fluffy companion, is it? I wonder how Grayson will feel about that.

"Where would I find one of the magi, should they still live?"
"Let no one of my kind- except for the seer know this. There is a second Bastion." He said. "Warded behind powerful spell, and arcane enchantments. Because of it. . I have another gift for you."
He reached into the pouch again. . and pulled out a small, clockwork key. You can't feel any enchantment from it, at all.
"At the top of Sgragol mountain, speak your name. If you carry this, the magi will let you in."

>>20473540
"Who, exactly, are you?"

>>20473540
Clockwork key?

"Do you know of a device called the 'Gearworks'?"

>>20473540
Thank you.

Who are you?

Do you know anything of the Gearworks?

"Thank you." You say, examining the key. "Who, exactly, are you?"
He grinned. "My name was Triune. You're doing good work."
And then he vanished.

>End of thread.
>Sticking around to answer questions!
>My twitter is @futureexabyte. Whee!

>>20473552
Eidolon. The answer is always Eidolon.

>>20473686
I figured out how to appease all the waifufags.

Harem end. Tell me it's canon.

>>20473712
I'm so glad we've managed to stay clear of that for the last 2 or 3 threads.

>>20473686
Voting Triune for husbando. He gives us piles of gold and fluffy pets.

>>20473712
Nah, better solution over here: >>20472871

Also Void Queen best waifu.

>>20473712
>>20473712
>It's not. If you try, there will undoubtedly be issues between Leon and Belethor, and issues between Zeke and Raziel. And issues between Kris and Leon, and issues between Kris and Raziel. Just. . issues all around.
>Also, other issues elsewhere.

>>20473686
I guess we should go find the blind seer again and tell him his ancestors haven't stopped meddling.

>>20473742
So what you're saying is that we can probably get two or three without issue. I see.

>>20473778
>If you can resolve interpersonal issues and jealousy and stuff like that, feel free. Not gonna be easy.

>>20473742
Politically speaking Belethor is the most solid choice, though he might rankle a bit at us taking him as Prince Consort instead of King. He's also an interesting fellow.

But I'm waiting until we have all the options before making a decision.

I could see Grayson, Belethor, Raziel working. To fulfill our fluffy loyal needs, political clever needs and girltalk/lesbian needs all at once.

But honestly I don't really see harem end as an option that really suits Ishelda.

>>20473742
How would Raziel feel about Ishelda and Zeke, I wonder?

>>20473742
But what if we just reached out and... removed those issues? They don't need to think about trivial stuff like that.

It's not a bad end if it's also a harem end.

rolled 8 = 8

Grayson's also a prince.

>>20473806
Yeah, but he doesn't exactly understand it.

Like pretty much anything. He's the I-can't-explain-it bear.

>>20473686
Did Jeanne fight in this battle?

>>20473792
TBH, I agree, harem end is a poor end. But I do think Ishelda should end up with someone she actually likes. Mostly because Ishelda casts from emotions, and so any political thing i just know will end horribly for everyone involved, and everything within 8 miles at the time. Of course, if Belethor is actually interesting, then he's a possibility.

I am waiting on the last two character intros before I make a final choice, but so far I'd have to say the best choices are Raziel, Leon or the VQ

>>20473802
There is a line. You just took a running jump over that line and then kept on running.

It'd be terribly impolite to fuck with the minds of our friends like that.

>>20473823
She didn't. she, like Grayson, stayed in the tower to protect the casters if the warriors fell, or if the minotaurs got past.

>>20473823
The list of things Jeanne has punched:

[ ]Humans
[x]Demons
[ ]Fellwind
[x]Minotaurs
[ ]Ishelda
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]Dragons

We can do this guys.

>>20473792
>he might rankle a bit at us taking him as Prince Consort instead of King
Why? That's just how the titles work. If his ego is really that big he can be a King Consort if he wants.

>>20473845
Mark Humans and Fellwind on that list, so it's more accurate.

>>20473832
>It'd be terribly impolite
But what if we just reached out and... tweaked everyone's definition of 'polite'?

>>20473863
There's a difference between Prince/King Consort and King.

As Consort he's recognized as our husband and my hold other titles as well but he does not have the authority of King. The title of Prince Consort does not carry with it any political power. He might be granted the title of Duke or something like that in addition to this and his position in Sosaria.

Himself being a Prince from another nation this might annoy him some as we would have far more political power in New Arcturus than he does.

>>20473941
Which is the entire point of making whoever we marry "consort" Ishelda wears the pants in New Arcturus, and there will be no loopholes to allow the situation to change.

>>20473941
But that's how it works. You never get to be a proper king just by marrying a queen. And if he didn't marry us he'd have even less power. I don't see the issue.

I would like to thank all of you anons for moving the whole waifu discussion to the after-thread party. Doesn't muck up the thread any more, I don't have to read it.

>>20473974
We've been surprisingly civil about it.

>>20473988
Quite so, although magical girl noir has lowered the bar for what constitutes a civilised waifu discussion quite a bit.

To be honest, I think it's too early for that. All the characters introduced since thread 41 didn't really have the chance to shine, yet.

We haven't really seen them act in a variety of situations, and they only had a few lines and at most a single scene dedicated to them.

>>20473952
>>20473963
True, he is the second son so he isn't set to inherit anyways. We can probably smooth over any ruffled feathers if he gets annoyed about it.

It's probably be considered mean if we started giggling if he asks if he gets to be king.

>>20474026
I think it also has to do with good characterizations, and the fact that many of us have more than one waifu that we think is good.
Personally my waifu/husbando list goes like this:
1. Grayson. Has shown no interest in Ishelda. Unlikely to happen.
2. Raziel. has shown subtle interest in Ishelda. If romance happens it will evolve from close friendship. Much more likely than Grayson.
3. Any other option. I'm pretty much neutral to all of them (In the waifu sense.).

>>20474063
Yeah, I don't think there are any characters that I'd actually be unhappy with winning. I'd say Leon's the worst choice at the moment, and he's still decent.

>>20474124
I don't think Leon is a bad choice, as such. He seems like a nice guy, and he's pretty skilled at both magic and swordplay. But he's nowhere near as interesting as the other, for instance Kaliel. Who is completely bonkers.

>>20474176
He didn't say Leon was a bad choice, just the least good of the current options.

File: 1345967622233.jpg-(966 KB, 1024x1598, 1328426786846.jpg)

>>20474032
"Miss Ishelda ma'am love please could I be king please?"
>Isheldas face when