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>>45964357

The vast majority of the next few days are spent alternatively in transit and buried in research. You test your new Recall totem by willing yourself across the aether to Eluneia. Once there you drop in on Tybald and Jun, checking up on your friends and alerting Tybald to the meeting you have planned a few days hence. He agrees make haste for Grisoch under the pretense of a hiking trip abroad. You tell him Jun is invited, but he doubts she will be able to attend. Her familial duties to the city keep her well occupied.

Your research bears unexpectedly succulent fruit. Your primary avenues are into two topics: The seal currently nested in Elana's eyes and the rumors and patterns of the Tyrant Wyrm. For the former you ensconce yourself in Ayren's library, poring over any notes that seem like they could date back to your early childhood. The oldest, dustiest shelves in the library are raided to little avail until Amal uncovers a thin leatherbound journal tucked away atop one of the taller shelves.

You learn that the seal is powered by a number of totems scattered around the village and a not insignificant reservoir of Ayren's personal spiritual power. Insured to work in the event of his demise, the totems maintain a sympathetic geomantic seal over the whole of the Grisoch area that coresponds with a small totem implanted beneath Elana's skin shortly after her birth. Disruption of any of these piecemeal could prove disastrous, but by bringing Elana to the totems scattered abroad and working with her to destabilize the lingering magics you could theoretically degrade the seals at a safe pace, allowing her to come to terms with her abilities on her own terms.
(cont.)

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>>45964373

Your research into the Wyrm is primarily worked from Azeo Sicros. Hesheza Zahn brings you higher in the fortress than you have ever dared tread, revealing to you one of his most treasured tools: An array of crystalline panes and ley-line focusers not dissimilar to the chamber in your meditations. The Occularum is one part scrying lens, one part spiritual focusing chamber. The use of it is incredibly taxing—you nearly pass out the first time Zahn attunes you to the periphery crystals—but it allows you to throw your perception far and wide in search of traces of your quarry. Through the Occularum you learn that the Wyrm still roams the far-flung deserts of Asolaria, though the meat-poor climate of the dunes seems to be agitating it to head elsewhere.

So entranced are you by your research, you nearly forget about the meeting you yourself have called. Boand gently pings the Whirlpool Pearl, speaking through the nacre to inform you that Saeri and the Pointsmari surveying drones have made an appearance to the northwest. You ride out to meet them atop Auspicious Rest. The drones are spirits—a pair of mushroom-ridden earth spirits and a trio of hulking metallic machines whom you can only assume are a set of the Iron General's proxies. Saeri is overjoyed to see you, flinging her arms around you the instant you settle to a stop.

The next day sees the arrival of Tybald from the Brush, escorted by a nervous Siperco to the gates of the village. Clad in all the regalia of the Hawk but his suffocating helm, Tybald stands out nearly as badly as Saeri does in your humble village. You quickly arrange lodgings for them in one of the few unoccupied homes at the edge of town, installing totems as best you can to make their brief stay a comfortable one.

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>>45964395

Though you had your doubts he would manifest, Avasi does make a return on the agreed-upon date. He streaks through the sky overhead, clad in a corona of whistling sunfire, before making an ostentatious landing on a nearby peak. With Tybald, Saeri, and Quinn in tow you ride out to meet him. He not-so-cordially refuses to join you within the walls of Grisoch, opting to wield the holy edge of Illithuvia with an immaculate craftsman's arm to carve out a temporary shelter and planning chamber in the side of one of the Ikrin peaks. Quinn and Tybald are impressed, while Saeri seems to be disappointed that such power would be squandered so wastefully.

Your planning meeting is less a strategy discussion and more an information-pooling exercise. Avasi is able to contribute a shockingly detailed history of the Wyrm's movements over the past few months, tracing a map for your of the kingdom of Asolaria. You reveal the plans you have crafted with Zahn's help: A ballista of grand scale, capable of firing bolts of spiritually-nullifying crystal at breathtaking speeds over the distance of nearly a mile, though only truly accurate within half that distance. Requiring tendons and sinew from a dozen dangerous beasts, wood from the heart of trees only present across the veil, and a significant stock of null-aspected crystal, the designs are ambitious. Still, Zahn is confident that piercing the Wyrm's hide with at least two bolts of null-aspected crystal will be enough to suppress its murderous aura and hypernatural resilience long enough for the three of you to work in concert and slay the beast.

Saeri offers Pointsmar-produced alternatives to the inner mechanisms of the ballista, while Avasi volunteers to serve the inenviable role of the hunter for the sinew and reinforcing scales of several shallows-dwelling oceanic predators.

aww yiss

Totemist Quest

File: Grisoch Map 1.png (2.54 MB, 1310x1038)

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>>45964424

With your roles and goals for the next meeting one month hence set, the four of you go your separate ways. Though the meeting began tense you part unified by a sense of dedication to a singular purpose: cleansing the face of the earth of a blight long left unchecked.

The remainder of your free time is filled with training. You run Quinn ragged with a well-remembered mixture of grueling physical tasks and punishing spiritual focusing sessions. Terra's studies progress well--you begin to suspect she knows the lower order of spirits better than you do at this point--and you begin her physical training as well, sending her off to observe and spar with the Slayers' apprentices.

You manage to squeeze in a little training and experimentation for yourself as well, of course.

> CHOOSE ONE FOCUS.
> CHOOSE TWO BINDINGS.

> Osyki's favor with the Denizens of the Brush has improved!
> Osyki's favor with the Wyrmslayer Coalition has improved!

---

You are Osyki, journeyman Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. Beset by the myriad tasks than fall under your purview, you do your best to prepare for the slew of battles that are soon to come.

[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem

>HTML Bindings Spreadsheet (Hover for descriptions!): http://zamubafoo.github.io/
>The Cast Thus Far: http://pastebin.com/VsJpEUx3
>Binder's Log / Misc Inventory: http://pastebin.com/XvvRSk4W
>Transformations and Unions: http://pastebin.com/0v9XMEv0

>Ask: ask.fm/DiarcaEXE
>Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest ]]

>>45964450
Did we plant the fucking swamp seed yet?

>>45964450
ROCK TURTLE

BOLT THROWER
SWORD

>>45964450
Sirens heart
Paintbrush
Lantern

>>45964450
>Wyrmslayer Coalition
I like that, that sounds pretty awesome. We should form a band when we're done here, the name is metal enough.

> CHOOSE ONE FOCUS.
Deep Siren
> CHOOSE TWO BINDINGS.
Journal
Key

Let's do something weird and unexpected with our totems, see if it does anything interesting.

>>45964639
Why don't we try some new objects for binding if you really want to get creative?

>>45964450
>Siren's Heart
Sword and boots

>>45964395
>You ride out to meet them atop Auspicious Rest.
That's one way to make an impression. Showing up riding a winged golden disc definitely sells the "mighty sorcerer" angle. And here I thought Auspicious Rest would be redundant with all our other mobility totems. I can't believe I neglected the vital "swag" factor.

>>45964450
Swamp Ykree
Pants
Bolt Thrower

>>45964450
Nice map. Looks good.

>>45964450
>http://zamubafoo.github.io/
Crystal Scale
and
Shield
Key

>>45964450
That is indeed a cool map

>>45964450
shiet mang, map looks dope as fuck

>>45964901
Oh man, I totally missed that. That map's awesome.

>>45964777
What loadout could we run to maximize our swag factor?

Why is Modi's binding so much different than the others? He's an avatar right? The avatar of hunger worked just like the others. But Modi's spear doesn't seem to be altered by his spirit and we can't take him out of it.

>>45965227
Ayren magic.

>>45965227
There were some hints way back when that Modi isn't actually bound to the spear but instead is in a situation more like enshrining. He's confined to a specific area, but within that area is free to work his powers. It's just that his enshrined territory is defined as an object rather than a place.

>>45965298
Does that mean we're part of his enshrined territory too then?

>>45965345
I think things in contact with the spear count, like when he made a golem body out of rocks to fight that first Magus Splinter. Though full integration seems to require him to physically bleed the spear's structure into Osyki's, joining them together by extruding wires from the spear and inserting them into his flesh. Possibly the golem had threads of metal running through it, too, and we just didn't notice at the time

> [[Binding Discovered: Horizon Kyklos: A jagged crystal short sword mounted to a bone handle. Four crystal studs charge when the blade strikes a solid object. Slashes and stabs with a partially charged sword electrocute the target, while a fully charged blade is capable of emitting tearing waves of electric force.]]

> [[Binding Discovered: Core Skewer: A broadsword crafted of onyx and chitin. Excels at parrying. Rapidly heats on contact with blood. Once fully covered in viscera the blade splits into two to emit a rod of contained elemental fire.]]

> [[Binding Discovered: Vulcanis Clavis: A ruby key that glows with inner light. Inserted into an open flame it can 'unlock' the fire, causing it to rage wildly out of control while rapidly consuming its fuel, or 'lock' the conflagration to extinguish it immediately.]]

> [[Binding Discovered: Twin-faced Hero: A unique two-chambered bolt-thrower. Bolts launched through the leftmost chamber are coated in a toxin that rapidly induces exhaustion, while those fired from the rightmost chamber wind through the air in a serpentine fashion, easily striking around most forms of immobile cover.]]

> [[Binding Discovered: Resonanta: A targe crafted of gleaming blue-green crystal. Impacts against the surface of the shield reverberate into the bearer, enhancing the power of their movements while the shield still rings.]]

Of course, you haven't forgotten the most potent tool at your disposal. After your disastrous failure at honing Hunger it took some time to work up the courage, but with Zahn's encouragement you returned to the Hall of Reflection.

The trial was difficult, but by no means as difficult as your last trip. In the end, you emerged victorious.

> CHOOSE ONE BINDING TO HONE.

[[Apologies for the delay. Computer has been losing power randomly.]]

>>45965540
Elder Turtle. Let's upgrade him from a mutant Rock Turtle to a full-fledged Thunder Turtle.

>>45965540
Cordia. I feel like we would get huge bonuses due to our good relationship.

>>45965540
Let's try Tryd

>>45965540
Cordia
If it was up to rolls I probably wouldn't risk it, but if it's an auto success I say hone what has always been are most useful spirit

>no paintbrush binding

>>45965540
Cordia

>>45965540
Elder Turtle

>>45965540
Rock turtle since we use him so much
Or tryd could be a really good choice. He seems to actually be happy when we utilize him for what he's good at instead of just a messenger. We've got a deep personal relationship with him and I think improving him would lead to really good results.

>>45965540
>Elder Turtle

>>45965540
Cordia

>>45965691
We only really use him in our boots though

>>45965540
Cordia

>>45965540
Tryd

>>45965783
Still, he rarely comes out of our boots and Boots+ would be good for us probably.

>>45965540
>Elder Turtle

>this blatant samefagging
I remember when this playerbase used to be cool.

>>45965783
Since Osy 1st discovered the boots, we've build him to be a hard hitting, higly moving character. So far there hasn't been that many binding that gives the same mobility buff as the Turtle.

>>45965540
Elder Turtle.

>>45965540
>Elder Turtle

>>45966035
Yeah this is kind of shitty but honestly I'm really leery about honing in general, since even if Hunger was a bad choice, it is still very dice heavy, and we'd be fucked if any of these three get damaged.

[[It was a close vote. I cut off the votes at twenty minutes. Worry not--if your favorite didn't get picked there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.]]

Though the crushing depths and the nightmare memories of the [[Hall of Reflections: Buried Repose]] nearly overwhelmed you, in the end your bond with Cordia was powerful enough to overcome the obstacles the hall imposed on you. You delved into a deep chasm, dodged your way through a collapsing cavern, solved a puzzle involving bouncing off of enormous mushrooms in just the right order, and finally faced down wispy memories made solid by a nightmarish crystalline eye at what seemed to be the cold core of the world. The distant rattling of massive chains was omnipresent.

The fight took all of your skill and a fair bit of improvisation. You vanquished the last scaled invader while clad in armor forged of Cordia's faith in you.

When you emerged, Cordia was different. The Sealed Earth Sphere pulsed anew with complex runes and a nimbus of pale green power. Cordia herself was much altered when she manifested. It was clear your honing had overwhelmingly improved her aspect of...

> Earth
> Defensive Power
> Lingering Darkness
> Split between two aspects (which?)

>>45966130
Literally everything we do as a totemist is risky in some way anon. I want this scared of everything meme to end.

>>45966157
> Defensive Power
Rad.

>>45966157
>> Earth
>> Defensive Power

>>45966157
>> Defensive Power

>>45966157
> Earth

>>45966157
>Earth
What she does best, but also kills us
>Defensive Power
Useful, but not all that special
>Lingering Darkness
Ominous, kind of mystery boxy

>>45966157
> Defensive Power
> Earth

>>45966157
>> Earth
>> Defensive Power
Both very useful

>>45966157
> Defensive Power
Seems like Cordia wants to protect us above all else, she would likely appreciate it.

>>45966157
> Lingering Darkness
Morbid curiosity!

>>45966157
>You delved into a deep chasm
Fuck yeah, best girl finally won the Osykibowl

>>45966157
>> Earth
>> Lingering Darkness

>>45966505
>fucking a rock
RIP little osyki

>>45966157
> Lingering Darkness
Some of her bone warden bindings were pretty useful.

>>45966157
>> Lingering Darkness

>>45966157
>> Earth
>> Defensive Power

File: Boand.png (1.8 MB, 1000x1379)

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When you called to Cordia she answered in a new form. Though the contours of her malachite-jade body remain the same, she is accompanied by a trio of rapidly rotating discs of black stone. These discs orbit her in perfect synchronicity. Her eyes burn alight with green-white power now, and the ground beneath your feet trembles when she speaks. It seems the honing has helped to reinforce Cordia's sense of humanity as well—her facial expressions are much better developed. Where before her visage was a statue given life, now one could be forgiven for mistaking her for a vibrantly painted human being.

With the whirlwind tour of the previous weeks behind you, now only one major item remains to be crossed off your list before you begin to work in earnest on learning to enshrine a Guardian Spirit. You have accessed the network of Recall to pull yourself to Eluneia. With the majority of your panoply in tow you have exited the city, walking to the banks of Boand's new river. She awaits you there, combing her hair with a familiar pearl-handled brush at the surging banks. The world around the river seems to be much more vibrant since you bequeathed the river unto her—the grass grows taller, the river runs faster. Another pale form darts to and fro beneath the rolling depths of the river's surface—the shape seems into imply another water spirit, but it moves too quickly to be entirely certain.

Boa flashes a radiant smile up at you as you approach. A column of water rises over her tail, leaving behind a pair of shapely legs as it recedes.

“Ready?” she says, climbing to her feet. “The delta is a ways south of here. I think it should be perfect for the Mother's seedling.”

You heft the squishy ball of mud and roots in your hand. It pulses like a beating heart in your grasp.

> Ready as I'll ever be. Who's your friend?
> Are you sure you want her as a neighbor?
> I'm having second thoughts. Maybe I ought to dump this far away from civilization.
> Write-in

>>45966848
> Ready as I'll ever be. Who's your friend?

>>45966848
>> Are you sure you want her as a neighbor?
While I would like to learn more about Boand's contacts, the potential relationship Boand might have with the Swamp Mother is more important.

Also, now that Cordia's form includes those discs, I wonder if Gnome Guard will split the mirror into three?

>>45966848
>> Ready as I'll ever be. Who's your friend?

Shes not great, but due to the fact that shes a spirit that can be negotiated with, shes automanically about ten steps above average.

>>45966848
> Ready as I'll ever be. Who's your friend?

>>45966848
> I'm having second thoughts. Maybe I ought to dump this far away from civilization.

>>45966848
>> Ready as I'll ever be. Who's your friend?
>> Are you sure you want her as a neighbor?

>>45964513
Seriously, this

It's important and we keep forgetting.

>>45966848
>> Ready as I'll ever be. Who's your friend?

>>45967226
We are literally doing this right now.

>>45967226
>>45966848
just

>>45967248
Yeah I hadn't refreshed the page, my bad

“Ready as I'll ever be,” you declare with a kind of resigned grace that only a man making up for a forgotten commitment can muster. “If I don't get this in the ground but quick I think the Eluneian road project might end up mired in delays, and I need reliable ground transit if we're going to open up serious trade negotiations when Pointsmar finally makes its landing.”

Boa nods sympathetically. While you stow the root ball she pulls what appears to be a thick wool tunic from the river. After shaking it off once or twice she pulls it over her torso. Catching your curious glance, she shrugs.

“Some of the hill spirits around here will take any excuse to get handsy,” she tells you. “No sense in giving them incentive.” She buckles a thick belt round her waist, pulling the tunic taut over her form and somewhat ruining the frumpy look the tunic was likely meant to evoke.

“...Right.” Deciding to pick your battles, you gesture to the river. “Who's your friend?”

Boa glances over her shoulder into the water. “Ah, just a visitor from downstream. I'll introduce you when we get back.” She waves at the figure below the turbulent surface, then turns on her heel and leads you south along the riverbank. It would almost certainly have been easier and faster for her to swim upstream, but you get the feeling that Boa is enjoying herself as she walk side by side with you over the hilltops.

“So, tell me about where I'm dropping the seed.”

Boa draws a triangle in the air. “A number of rivers branch out of the Mother's swamp,” she explains. “Tributaries that flood their banks every summer when the rains come. There's a delta a little ways southwest of my river that has a nice, juicy patch of fertile soil. It's a tributary from her swamp, so the ley-lines should be arranged in a way that makes it easy for her to connect the two territories."

>>45967693

"Plus, it grows her -away- from Eluneia and the rest of civilization so we don't need to worry about her stealing favors from any of the local lords.”

You nod. “And the Land Guardian is fine with this?”

Boa shakes her head. “I honestly doubt he knows. From what my new friends tell me, the Guardian of this area owns such a wide swath of territory that he rarely manages to make it out this far. He's got reign of the land from here to the Twil. Some kind of deal he worked out with the spirit everyone in the city worships. By the time he catches wind the Mother should be firmly established, and I think we both know she's way more trouble than it's worth to uproot.”

You nod. “Very true.” You open your mouth to continue when a truly revolting smell drifts past your nostrils. Gagging slightly, you clamp a hand over your mouth and crane your neck around for the source. Boa puts her fingertips to her temples, sighing.

“See?” she mutters, gesturing to a pair of figures cresting the hilltop. “Just the worst.”

The encroaching figures quickly resolve themselves into a pair of overlarge humanoids. One is the color of dying grass with sparse spiky hair dotting his torso and head. The other is rotund, short and squat though his arms bulge with ropy muscle beneath mud-brown skin. Each of the pair wear crude wooden masks to cover their faces—at least that is your impression before the masks begin drooling and speaking.

“Welcome back, my little Naiad,” the rotund ogre croons in a simpering tone. “I knew you'd come crawling back.”

The taller oni grunts in agreement. “And you brought a snack. How kind. You know how I love young meat.”

Boand shoots you an impatient glance. “Totemist, meet Anid and Onid.”

> “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.”
> “Charmed. Now, out of the way.”
> Begin equipping battle bindings.
> Write-in

>>45967746
> “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.”

Let it never be said that they weren't given a chance.

>>45967746
>> “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.”
Give her the 'look', that one Ayren had 5 mins after meeting a new spirit. The one that said, "oh yes, they'll make a rather nice new totem set upon my fireplace"

>>45967746
>“Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.”

>>45967746
> “Charmed. Now, out of the way.”
Step off, she's spoken for

>>45967746
> “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.”

Silently ask Boand if she wants them made into hats

>>45967746
>> “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.”

>>45967746
>> Begin equipping battle bindings.
Idk why we would bother to talk with them since Boand wants them to go the fuck away. Just be threatening and keep on doing something better and more important than them.

You surprise everyone present by flashing the pair of spirits your most charming smile. “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen,” you declare. “I didn't realize I would have the pleasure extended company on this little stroll.”

The wooden masks swivel away from Boand to stare down at you. Even the shorter of the pair stans head and shoulders above you, staring down at you from past his impressive gut. You lean on your spear, gesturing amiably to them.

“Boand was just taking me on a tour of your lovely hills here. I have to say, I am impressed. Such wide, rolling pastures.”

You turn your back to them, sweeping your arms out over the pastoral landscape before you. “Just think! With the right preparation you could use these fertile fields to feed a whole civilization!” You watch Boand as she stares at you incredulously for a moment. The expression on her face reads confusion, but not worry. The two brutes behind you are still dumbfounded, then. You imagine they spend the majority of their time that way.

Turning back to them, you lean casually on Modi's spear. “But I'm being rude. My sincere apologies. Anid, Onid,” you say nodding to them in turn, “My name is Osyki. I'm the Totemist around these parts. Among my more important duties is brokering agreements between spirits. So, in the interest of saving everyone involved a whole lot of time and potential lacerations...”

You gesture back to Boand. “How can we help you?”

Anid burps. Onid, scratching at his patchy hair, squats down on his haunches to examine you.

“You talk a lot for meat,” he says.

“I get that a lot,” you reply with an easy smile. “You've already met my river-bound companion, I assume?”

Onid nods. “Little Naiad comes traipsing through our hills last week. Does not stay, enjoy famous Onid hospitality.” He grins a mouthful of polished iron teeth. “Onid knows how to treat water girl."
(cont.)

>>45967746
> “Charmed. Now, out of the way.”
Guys, she dresses like that for her own reasons, it's not because she wants your attention.

>>45968622

You pat his wooden visage amicably. “I have no doubt. Unfortunately we seem to be at an impasse here. We've a prior engagement to attend to to the south of here. I'm sure we'd be pleased to stop by again and take advantage of your hospitality on the way back, though. How does that sound to you?”

Onid rubs his chin contemplatively. Anid chimes in, “This smells like a trick.”

You shake your head. “No tricks! We'll be back for you, my rotund friend. I just have something to take care of first, and I need Boand's assistance for it.”

“Hmmm...”

> Roll 1d100
> Attempt to convince the Hill Spirits to let you pass.
> Strike while the pair of them are distracted.
> High-tail it while they bicker.
> Write-in

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>45968657
> Attempt to convince the Hill Spirits to let you pass.

>>45968136
They seem like the sort to react to threats with violence, and that would lead to their swift and ignoble end. I mean, it's no skin off our back but I figure if we can avoid a conflict with the local spirits, then we probably should.

Unless they're bothering Boand too much, in which case we should crater them.

>>45968657

[[Apologies if this is unclear formatting--please roll and make your choice. All three options will require a roll.]]

>>45968688
No, it was clear enough. Don't worry.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>45968657
> Attempt to convince the Hill Spirits to let you pass.
Welp time for bad times.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>45968657
> Attempt to convince the Hill Spirits to let you pass.

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>45968657
>> Attempt to convince the Hill Spirits to let you pass.
Ayren must be ragin' like a mofo in the afterlife

>>45968673
We also just incapacitate them. I really don't think Boand appreciates giving them attention. Thats what they wanted and what she wanted to avoid. If we make it clear that no shit will be tolerated, it might be better than making sure that she has to lie to them every time she passes by again. That would be irritating.

Like, they make her uncomfortable to the point where she dresses differently (which I don't think she really does for anything) and we are indulging them.

>>45968914
Some hill ogre dudebros hitting on his waifu, and his apprentice is trying to be reasonable with them. Yeah, Ayren wouldn't like that.

>>45968954
>[muffled REEEEEEEE in the afterlife]

>>45968954
Ayren died before he gave this most important piece of wisdom to his apprentice.
>One day you'll have a waifu, and some spirit will try to muscle in.
>Don't try to talk with 'em, just shoot them in the dick.

Who is better: Boand or Cordia?

>>45969437
Cordia. She seems like our most closely bonded spirit.

>>45969437
They are both great in their own way, it's not a contest. I'm just happy to have them both in Osyki's life.

>>45969437
Boand a best, always and forever

>>45969437
>our masters sloppy seconds
>spirit we saved from a horrible fate, gave bitching earth powers to, and won't leave our side no matter what
hmm tough choice

>>45969437
Both are shit. Jun is mai waifu.

>>45969580
oh god i hope cordia never had sex before becoming a twisted horror and then an earth elemental or that comment would be really awkward, huh?

>>45969630
Less awkward than the puns that are now blossoming in my mind playing on terms like "boning" or "rock hard".

>>45969437
Boand is GOAT.

>>45968657
Let's just bind them both. Then we can dual-wield some bitchin earth hammers.

I'm trying to be interested in Elana for Osyki's sake but I just can't do it

>>45969762
That would be pretty cool actually.

>>45969792
I know what you mean. Boand and Cordia are both just more interesting, followed closely by Saeri.

>>45969580
It is pretty cool how she used to be a human. Does she remember her past life at all?

>>45969995
She's implied that she does. But she also doesn't want to talk about it because it brings up bad memories of how her village was destroyed, so we avoid the topic. I hope her memories of it don't fade as she becomes more and more of an Earth spirit. Between changes in spiritual makeup and a lack of reminders, she might forget about it.

Speaking of how Cordia's village was destroyed, what little she had said of it was that it was done by reptilian humanoids. The only local humanoid reptiles we know of are the Mother of the Swamp's soldiers. We really should investigate that at some point.

>>45969995
She's never talked to us about it.

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> 92

Anid and Onid put their heads together, quietly forming a two-man huddle in the valley between the hills. You can hear the general tone of their conversation if not the words—Anid is opposed to letting you leave, while Onid is clearly angling to get something out of you in exchange for your departure. You smile at Boand as they deliberate. She rolls her eyes, folding her arms over her chest and looking pointedly away from the leering masks that occasionally pop up to glance in her direction.

Eventually, the hill spirits come to a consensus. The separate and Anid, being the wounded party in the debate, approaches you to pronounce his verdict.

“You go now,” he says magnanimously. We wait here for you to come back. If you don't show, we come looking for water girl. Then we go looking for you.”

You nod. “More than fair. Thank you for your time, gentlemen. Boand, shall we?”

She strolls on ahead of you, refusing to make eye contact. You give Anid and Onid a friendly wave before jogging on after her.

“That was diplomatic of you,” she says as you catch up. Her tone threatens to bring on winter early.

You shrug. “I'm not in the mood for a rumble right now. Besides, my job isn't to attack spirits, Boa. They may be less than pleasant to look at—“

“Or smell,” she interjects,

“-But if I went around brutalizing every podunk hill squatter who looked at me sideways I'd be a bully. Everything doesn't always have to end in me carving binding ruins into someone's throat and screaming primal oaths into the night sky, right? They're harmless. If they try anything on our way back, I'll convince them that it's in their best interest to treat you with respect.”

“And if you can't?”

“Then I'll have to do things the hard way. But diplomacy should always be our first recourse.”

She huffs, agitated. “You don't need to tell me that, Osyki. I'm your primary source of diplomancing.”
(cont.)

>>45970096

She doesn't seem to find that as funny as you do. Still, it's difficult for her to stay angry while walking the sun-dappled fields with you. By the time the river delta comes into view, she's ceased pouting almost altogether.

“That's the spot,” she says. “You good to go?”

“I think so,” you say. “Not sure exactly what I need to do, though.”

“I'd just bury it in the silt. Let the Mother take care of the rest.”

“Fair enough.” The two of you walk down to the muddy riverplain. A short hop places you on the silty delta, and a few minutes work sees the seed properly buried. You can feel the geomancy of the area shudder as the nearby ley-lines bend inward toward the seed. Already, a tiny brown-white sapling (or is that a spore?) winds its way skyward.

“Mission accomplished. That was easier than expected.”

“It was a day-trip to plant a seed,” Boand says with a shrug. “Not everything has to end with primal screaming, right? What's your plan from here?”

> I need to get back to Grisoch. Elana and I have a trip planned.
> I'm headed to Eluneia. I need to check in on the status of my proposal to the lords there.
> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more.
> I'm headed to the mountains. I need to get a spirit to enshrine in the mines or the fields.
> Write-in

>>45970132
> I'm headed to Eluneia. I need to check in on the status of my proposal to the lords there.

>>45970132
> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more.

>>45970132
> I'm headed to the mountains. I need to get a spirit to enshrine in the mines or the fields.
Village safety is the first priority

>>45970132
> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more.
Been a while since we just went exploring.

>>45970132
> I'm headed to the mountains. I need to get a spirit to enshrine in the mines or the fields.
The stuff in the drawers tend to be good and useful -- even if we can't find a behemoths vital spark in this next drawer, we can probably make use of whatever's in the drawer anyways.

>>45970132
could we get boand to be our village guardian

>>45970319
No. Enshrining ties them to their new territory, Boand likes to travel too much to agree to that.

>>45970132
> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more.

>>45970344
i mean circling our village with boand and enshrining her to the general lakelike area

>>45970132
>> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more.
Make some spirit friend maybe? Could word towards networking and finding new spirits to bind/enshrine. Especially if the guardian of this land is absent most of the time, there might be some pretty neat individuals around.

>>45970132
>I'm headed to the mountains. I need to get a spirit to enshrine in the mines or the fields.

>>45970132
>I'm headed to the mountains. I need to get a spirit to enshrine in the mines or the fields.
Maybe a less dumb hill spirit could do it? The village is sort of hilly isnt it?

>>45970132
> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more

>>45970590
We can do better than that anon.

>>45970622
A big fuck off oni would make a grand guardian.

>finally get our massive to do list in order
>fuck around in the wilderness instead
brilliant

>>45970132
> I figured I would explore a bit further in this region. Fill out the map a bit more.

>>45970672
Did you miss the part where we crossed off most of the list? Or the part where we are out in the wilderness crossing off the rest?

>>45970672
This is how Osyki pampers himself.

>>45970648
For anyone it didn't chase off, sure.

We should've snuck past, it would've made for a more fun chain of events, but we're going to end up probably fucking with those spirits heavily and using our silver tongue to the point that, by the time they catch on, they'll be completely marginalized.

>>45970774
I think they are already fairly marginalized.

>>45970132
> I'm headed to the mountains. I need to get a spirit to enshrine in the mines or the fields.

>>45970814
We have a phrase for the property they own, we call it prime florida real estate.

>>45970911
Is the joke that all florida real estate is the same?

>>45970962
Its a joke that prime florida real estate tended to be in the middle of the fucking everglades.

>>45971065
Oh I get it now. Their homes are going to be swamps soon. Well at least they probably wont smell worse.

>>45971065
>>45970962
Rather, it was advetised as prime florida real estate and was land that would literally require you to traverse miles of hellish swamp to get to, making the land, despite its paper value, completely and utterly worthless as nobody can fucking get to it.

>>45971125
Was a bond villain selling this land or something?

>>45971158
Well, the originator was Charles Ponzi, so sort of?

[[Sorry folks. Computer trouble persists. Writan'.]]

>>45971833
It's cool. I'm pretty sure we're all more than willing to wait. Thanks for the notification, though, saves me the trouble of firing up the old summoning circle.

You glance out at the seemingly infinite expanse of the plains around you. You -should- probably head to Eluneia to check in on the trade proposal, or maybe return to the mines to hunt for more null-aspected crystals. You know that those would be the responsible decisions. Still, this is the furthest afield you've been in some time. With your newfound access to the Quick Recall travel system, you can be in Eluneia or back to Grisoch with a few minutes of concentration. That newfound freedom is exhilarating—you're contemplating spending some time to craft another Recall totem to carry with you as a checkpoint of sorts for your exploration.

“I figured I would explore a bit further in this region,” you tell Boand. “Fill out a bit more of the map. I'm working off the old one Ayren left behind for me, and there's not a lot of detail filled in for the southeastern reaches here. Maybe I can manage to find a new focus along the way.”

Boand raises an eyebrow. You're not sure exaclty what's going on with her expression. “Sure, sure,” she prompts. “Wander out a bit, fight some indigenous wildlife, stumble headlong into some ancient ruins. Sounds fun, right?”

“R...right?” The hair rises on the back of your neck. This sounds like a trap.

Boand nods, waving her hand airily to dismiss you. “Sounds like fun. Have a safe trip.”

You nod, placing a hand on your hip. “Yeah, that's the idea. You know how crazy this past week has been.” There air around her is still tense, so you venture: “Did you want to come with me?
(cont.)

>>45972291

She makes a show of considering that, tapping her forefinger against her chin. A cloud passes in front of the weak autumn sun overhead. You can see the cloudshadow rolling across the hilltops toward you. “Oh, sure!” She exclaims with what you're now sure is false excitement. The hillside behind you goes dark. “I'd love to! Because if there's one thing I love more than getting cornered by slobbering hill spirits, it's getting myself knowingly into dangerous situations.” Her expression falls, the thin veneer of false happiness crumbling to reveal irritation. “Did you forget about tweedle-dee and tweedle-dipshit back there, Osyki? They're waiting for us because you didn't want to put them in their place, and now if we don't head back that way they're going to pay a personal visit to my river.”

“Aren't you all kinds of amped up when you're in contact with your domain? You could probably take them.”

“That's not the point! I'm not a fighter, Osyki!” She blows a stray lock of hair from her face.

> You're right. Come with me, and on the way back I'll make sure they know to steer clear.
> That doesn't really sound like my problem. Besides, can't you just blink back to your domain from here?
> Come on, Boa. By the time you head that way they'll probably forget what they had for lunch, let alone our agreement.
> I'll escort you back first.
> Write-in

>>45972319
> You're right. Come with me, and on the way back I'll make sure they know to steer clear.

>>45972319
> I'll escort you back first.
Damn diplomancers not thinking ahead. Let's go rough em up or bind them

>>45972319
>> I'll escort you back first.

>>45972319
> I'll escort you back first.

I know Boand wouldn't be happy about it, but binding those two would be pretty neat. Matching sword/spear/hammer and shield/off-hand weapon would be sweet.

>>45972319
> I'll escort you back first.
> Write-in
"Look, I'm sorry. I've clearly underestimated how uncomfortable they make you. We'll go deal with the problem, make sure they don't bother you in the future, only then will I pay any attention to anything else."

>>45972319
> I'll escort you back first.
Well, if she's that concerned about them, let's help her out with them.

>>45972319
>> I'll escort you back first.

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>>45972319
Diarca, what the fuck. We literally just made that deal with them. You didn't even bother putting "Go hold up our end of that bargain we were literally just talking about" in >>45970132. By every indication she was asking what we planned to do AFTER our immediate agreed-on occupation, which was already a given.

Are you seriously trying to make us look like an Alzheimers patient? This is a FemCOCK-tier asshole oversight. I expected better from you.

>>45972508
Seconded, but also advocating binding the onis

>>45972552
>Our teenage boy character can never be anything less than totally socially competent

>>45972552
Agreed. I took it as a given that we'd deal with them before doing anything else. We don't leave our friends in the lurch like that, having to deal with unpleasant things on their own.

>>45972552
While it was kinda shitty, I feel like Osyki didn't really notice the effect they had on Boand and barely even considered them a threat, so it makes sense he disregarded the deal enough to forget it.

>>45972596
There's a pretty big fucking gap between "never fucking up" and "forgets deals made with twelve foot tall Ogres minutes after making them." This is basic competence as a fucking human being.

>>45972552
Am I the only hone who thinks this is more Boa overreacting to Osyki not defending her honor than it is Osyki being a pants-on-head retard?

>>45972685
Cant she teleport now anyway?

>>45972650
We did all vote to prance around in the wilderness. There was a write in option and since we dealt with the spirits on the way to the planting ground, it makes sense that we could fulfill our bargain by returning to Grisoch. Since we said we would head back that way and all and it's impossible to take the same route back and miss the people who are waiting for us.

Are we upset because WE forgot about the deal with the spirits or because Boand has some autonomy?

>>45972685
I think it's probably a little of both. Osyki underestimating the problem and Boand overestimating it.

>>45972724
I thought we were just going to blow those guys off and leave anyway.

>>45972724
>We did all vote to prance around in the wilderness
I don't know about you but I voted under the assumption that "honor our deal" was an unspoken component of any option.

>>45972319
>> You're right. Come with me, and on the way back I'll make sure they know to steer clear.\

We'll put on our calm face up until we sucker punch one for going too far.

>>45972773
I mean, exploring the wilderness in the opposite direction doesnt really lend itself to "and also keeping that bargain".

I sort of felt like it would be dealt with after we explored, but again, there's only an issue right now because Boand doesn't want to go with us to do our thing before she can go home unmolested.

I 100% think that Osyki would complete the bargain after his prancing BUT Boand didn't appreciate the fact we bargained with them at all AND she has decided to go home now rather than later, which will sort of complete the bargain conditions since Osyki bargained for the both of them.

It super easily fixed by going "oh shit, lets fix that now then so you dont have to worry about it" and coming back to explore another day (since exploring wasn't even on the list of the many things we need to do).

I think we all just assumed that Boand would go with us, but she's upset and doesnt want to trudge around in the mud all day.

>>45972971
People are taking this very seriously arent they. Cant she just warp back to her river while we fuck about? Its not a big deal either way.

>>45973035
>Cant she just warp back to her river while we fuck about?


>They're waiting for us because you didn't want to put them in their place, and now if we don't head back that way they're going to pay a personal visit to my river.”

>>45973079
Big problem for her when she could just wait in basically a different country. We never said when we were going to go back to those guys anyway.

>>45973146
>These guys have been stalking me outside work, so I guess I'll just stay at home forever

>>45973342
Or, you know, until we meet them on our way home later today.

You place both hands on Boand's shoulders, momentarily arresting the angry momentum she's beginning to build and grabbing her attention. There's an unhappy vein pulsing on the side of her head. You'd better talk fast.

“Hey, hey. Come on now. At no point was I going to leave you to deal with those two by yourself,” you tell her. “I figured you were asking me about my plans after we had dealt with them. I'm sorry I wasn't clearer.”

She doesn't seem to believe you, judging by the impressive pout she begins to work up. “You told me I could take care of them myself.”

“No,” your clarify, “I told you I was sure that if necessary you could hold your own against them. Why would you assume I'd plan to throw you to the wolves like that?”

“You didn't seem to be doing a lot of defending me earlier.”

“I wasn't under the impression you were a lady in need of defending,” you tell her. “You're far and away the most self-sufficient and well equipped person I deal with on a regular basis. But--” you put your hands up placatingly, “I can see why you would get the impression that you did. I'm sorry I came off that way.”

The look of irritation drains slowly but surely from her face. By the time the last of the pent-up anger drains away she looks merely contemplative instead. She picks idly at the fabric of her tunic as she talks.

“It's fine. You—I do know better than that. I know you're not an asshole, Osyki.” She glances up at you with those big blue eyes. “It's just the kind of thing I would expect from Ayren. He was pretty good at ditching me when duty called on very short notice. I shouldn't have assumed.” She breaks eye contact, staring down at her nails instead.
(cont.)

>>45973524

You shrug. “Communication's a fine art. Let's get you past the blockheads and back home, shall we?”

She shakes her head. “No, I think maybe a walk would do me some good. I can trust you to keep me safe, after all. Right?”

You nod. “'Course.”

“Maybe I will come with you, then.”

“And if the ogres show up at your river when we get back, I'll just clarify where they stand with you. Privately.”

She runs her fingers through her hair, glancing up at you again. “You know they're probably going to end up in your bag of tricks if you do that, right?”

“If that's the way things work out, so be it.”

With your water spirit settled, you glance around to pick a heading.

> Follow the river past the delta. You may find another town.
> Head east toward the coast. There were a number of ruins on Ayren's map at the waterfront.
> Head southwest toward Eluneia.
> Take to the skies and see what kind of interesting sights you can spot from on high.
> Write-in

>>45973554
>> Head east toward the coast. There were a number of ruins on Ayren's map at the waterfront.

>>45973554
>Head east toward the coast. There were a number of ruins on Ayren's map at the waterfront.
I imagine going near the coast to be a bit like skirting around Chernobyl without radiation gear.

>>45973554
> Take to the skies and see what kind of interesting sights you can spot from on high.
Cue romantic scene with boand

>>45973554
> Follow the river past the delta. You may find another town.

>>45973554
>“You know they're probably going to end up in your bag of tricks if you do that, right?”

I was in favour of that anyway.

Win-win as far as I'm concerned.

> Head southwest toward Eluneia.

Maybe Boand would like to see the city? I mean, it wouldn't be a long visit, but you know.

>>45973617
It's not that bad. The sea is dangerous, but Diarca's mentioned that near the shore it's only a bit worse than it is on land. Taking a walk down by the beach should be fine.

>>45973666
Outside Chernobyl isnt that bad either. Lots of wildlife.

>>45973694
That's fair. Outside the dome itself the radiation has fallen to safe levels. But I don't think that's what that post was meant to imply.

>>45973554
> Head east toward the coast. There were a number of ruins on Ayren's map at the waterfront.

>>45973524
>“It's just the kind of thing I would expect from Ayren. He was pretty good at ditching me when duty called on very short notice. I shouldn't have assumed.”
Ayren "I'll bind them, I'll pum them then I'll ditch them" Overwake

>>45973554
>> Follow the river past the delta. You may find another town.

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2.86 MB WEBM

>>45973694
Yeah. If you were expecting a wasteland, it really jumps out at you.

>>45974517
Sometimes I think I should play that game. Then I remember that I like to sleep at night.

>>45974613
Nah mate, the scary parts got nothin' on the grenade spam, you'll rage more than be scarred.
>You won't know true rage untill you reach the construction site in Limansk.

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[[Okay. Calling it early to deal with my computer troubles. I'll pick this back up in the morning assuming I haven't fried my motherboard by then. Sorry for the delay, folks--thread is on hiatus for the time being.]]

Are we alive? Everything okay there, Diarca?

>>45975469
Probably for the best if you're having PSU issues.

>>45975469
thanks for running

>>45975469
Thanks for running, Diarca. See you next time.

>>45975469
Thanks for running what you could manage. Good luck with your computer.

Didn't we get a marble/stone from Caethos? I vaguely remember that, but I don't remember what we did with it.

>>45977557
Mirror, that looks like his head.

Creepy and properties are unknown, so we haven't done anything with it yet.

Say, if we do end up feral binding the two hill spirits, does anyone else think they might be good candidates for enshrining as a guardian spirit? They're unpleasant, but we have some options to change that, right?

>>45979864
Maybe if we put them up in the mines. Putting them in the fields or village would leave them too close for Boand's comfort.