>>46136044

Tawn himself was busy for most of your restful day, hastily scratching out letters and riding between outposts. Securing troops, he told you later, to occupy the mountain ruins. While the hillfolk are scattered, you've got a rare chance to study the place fully – an opportunity that Tawn was evidently unwilling to waste. According to the scouts he contacted, the hillfolk have split into countless smaller bands, surfacing all across the central mountains.

So be it. You share his desire to study the ruins, but you don't want to buy that opportunity with genocide. When the hillfolk return to their ancestral home to find it full of soldiers and scholars – the meek men they have been raised to despise – there will be trouble. It might not come to violence, though, if the clan can be guided towards a more enlightened future. Such a thing is possible – as the young tribal currently sharing the temple with you can prove.

Alk, having turned his back on his clan in the face of impending sacrifice, has spent almost the entirety of the past day reading, his attention focussed on whatever intact books he can find in the temple. He reads slowly, and with signs of difficulty, but he has a kind of desperate persistence that you can't help but admire. His clan are no friends to the written word, instead carving their dubious wisdom into both stone and flesh. The flowing ridges of scar tissue visible on his arms are testament to that barbaric practice.

The same kind of curving lines, you muse, that decorate the mysterious lens – perhaps the boy, with his growing knowledge of words and letters, can offer some kind of translation. Then again, when the situation with the hillfolk is so sensitive, do you really have time to focus on academic whims?

>Consult Alk about the lens
>Speak with Tawn about the hillfolk situation
>Return to the Nameless Temple with Alk
>Other

>>46136048
>Consult Alk about the lens
>Speak with Tawn about the hillfolk situation

>>46136048
>>Consult Alk about the lens
And that tingling possessiveness

>>46136048
>>Consult Alk about the lens
>>Speak with Tawn about the hillfolk situation
No leaving the job half done.

You've got no intention of leaving this job half finished, leaving the rest of it in Tawn's hands. First, though, you want to see what Alk can tell you about this lens – and the strange effect it had on you. It's a relic of his people, after all, so they might have some kind of explanation for it. Oral history can be a powerful thing, handing facts down to the next generation in the guise of legends. You call out the young tribal's name softly, and he pulls his head out of his book to glance across at you.

Alk, you ask, what can he tell you about the lens you took from the ruins? Does it have some special meaning to his people?

“God handed it down to us,” Alk says promptly, “It was within the brass god, waiting for the touch of our torches. When we saw the light, we knew it was a gift from above.”

So it's definitely associated with Titanos. What about the strange possessiveness that you felt when you touched it, does Alk know anything about that?

“The king would not suffer anyone else to touch the treasure, only to light fires around it. To break this law was to lose a hand – and he was the one to take it. The king had little mercy for those who broke his laws,” Alk pauses for a moment, “He said the treasure taught us our ways, the ways to live by strength alone. The markings, you see? This one...” Alk points to a curved line, “This means “hunt”. This one here means “hide”.” Fumbling with his unfamiliar clothes, Alk exposes his chest and the scars lurking there. The symbols are the same, just as you thought. “We were marked to teach us God's ways.”

The king, then, also felt compelled to keep the lens close. Why were you two effected, but not Tawn? The answer, you suspect, will lie with the man himself.

[1/2]

File: Tawn.jpg (194 KB, 1066x1599)

194 KB JPG

>>46136287

You find Tawn outside, directing the movements of his newly arrived troops. All of a sudden, the town seems like a busy outpost – or, worse, a military encampment. You knew he was sending for reinforcements, but you never expected to see so many of them. When the Imperial agent is finished ordering a pair of slovenly looking soldiers back to their post, you approach him and offer greetings.

“Ira,” Tawn replies, “You look much better now.”

You feel much better now, you assure him, ready to face whatever comes next.

“I'm glad to hear it,” Tawn laughs once, but soon his face hardens into a serious mask, “About that. I know you were hoping to solve this without calling in the army, but the situation has changed. Without a leader, the hillfolk are unpredictable. All it would take is one warrior aiming to put on a show of strength, and we could be faced with an attack. We need these troops here, to defend the town as well as to hold onto the ruins. Without their ancestral home to rally around, I'm hoping that we can keep the hillfolk divided.”

Alk, you notice, seems understandably uncomfortable with this line of discussion. Even if the boy has no particular love for his people, it can't be pleasant to hear Tawn speaking about them as if they were enemies – or, worse, vermin.

“I've sent word to the capital and the temple city, asking them to sent whatever scholars they can,” Tawn continues, “We should take advantage of the opportunity. Do you want to go in as well? With your friend here, we might have a good chance at translating some of these carvings.”

>Send the soldiers away, Tawn. This isn't how I want to do things
>I agree, we need to seize this chance. I want to examine the ruins myself
>I think we should leave it to the experts. I'll send word to the Nameless Temple
>I've got another idea... (Write in)
>Other

>>46136374
>>I think we should leave it to the experts. I'll send word to the Nameless Temple

>>46136374
>>I think we should leave it to the experts. I'll send word to the Nameless Temple
>>I've got another idea... (Write in)
Couldn't we just ask Titanos himself about this lens thing?

>>46136374
>>46136465
This plus try not to start something Tawn. Simply kicking the ass of a few would be "kings" should keep them from attacking.

>>46136465
Adding to this. We should ask Tawn if he felt anything strange when he touched the lens.

You should probably leave exploring the ruins to the experts, you decide, to those who have dedicated their lives to the scholarly trade. Their efforts would prove better than any of your fumbling attempts at studying the ruins. While Tawn was right to send word to the two cities, he missed one other source of information – the Nameless Temple itself. You'll send word immediately, and it'll be up to them to dispatch the appropriate response. Besides, you add, the Mentor deserves to know that Garl has been avenged.

“Of course,” Tawn nods, “I'll be happy to keep an eye on things here while you send word. I don't think the hillfolk are ready to make a move yet, but...”

Tawn, you interrupt, you don't want him starting a war over this. If the leader of one of these smaller groups starts to call himself a king, defeating him should demoralise the others and put down any further attempts. What you don't want to see, though, is a massacre. Hunting these people down won't help anyone.

“I understand that,” Tawn replies quietly, “But I have my orders – new orders. For now, I am to protect this town, by any means necessary. I like to think we trust each other, Ira, but you know that I cannot disobey a direct order. For now, though, I'm here to lead the defence – nothing more.”

Good to hear. Before you leave, there was one thing you wanted to ask him. When he touched that lens, did he feel anything strange? A sense, perhaps, that he didn't want to hand it over? When Tawn gives you a strange look, you explain the odd sensations you were gripped by. Do any of them sound familiar?

“Nothing of the sort,” Tawn shakes his head, “I wonder... I have little in the way of a connection with Titanos. You, on the other hand...”

[1/2]

>>46136632

An interesting idea, you think to yourself, and it might explain why the king shared your possessive nature. If his acts of sacrifice had forged a kind of bond between him and Titanos – a twisted, perverted kind of bond – then you share a vague connection. As theories go, it's not the worst you've ever heard, but you would like a little more proof – and you know just the way to get it.

You'll take the lens to Titanos himself, you suggest, and ask him about it.

“Is that... wise?” Tawn asks, a note of alarm entering his voice, “But, I suppose you'd be the expert in such matters. It does seem like the most obvious source of information, even if the idea of demanding answers from a god strikes me as... dangerous.”

You've dealt with Titanos before, you tell the Imperial agent with a shrug, and he isn't so bad. You just need to ride over to the nearest outpost to send your report back to the Nameless Temple and then you can start the hike. Perhaps-

“I cannot,” Alk says quickly, “I dare not present myself before God. He is the god of the strong, and I have spent too long among the meek. He would see my blood spilled before we would exchange words.”

This strange, primal interpretation of Titanos again. Titanos the conqueror, not Titanos the protector.

>It's your choice, Alk, I won't force you to do anything
>You're wrong. Titanos never wished for human blood to be spilled
>Why not show him how strong you are, then?
>Other

>>46136729
>You're wrong. Titanos never wished for human blood to be spilled
Take a chance. Come with me and see for yourself.

>>46136729
>>You're wrong. Titanos never wished for human blood to be spilled
Alk the gods are a reflection of the people in their domain. I've spoken with Titanos, he has no desire for human blood. Still it is your choice.

>>46136729
>>You're wrong. Titanos never wished for human blood to be spilled
>>Why not show him how strong you are, then?
Staying behind and hiding here would be meek.

He's wrong about Titanos, you tell Alk, his god never wished for human blood to be spilled. The gods, you continue, exist as a reflection of both their people and their domain. You've spoken with Titanos – the god himself, and not someone claiming to speak for him – and you know the truth. The human blood that was spilled in his name tainted Titanos, a slow poison that build within him. Now, with the hillfolk and their rituals put to a halt, Alk's god will return to his older self for good.

The choice is his, of course, but he should take a chance and see for himself – make up his own mind, rather than listening to either you or his old king.

“But... I am meek...” Alk murmurs slowly.

Staying behind and hiding himself away, you correct the boy, would be meek. Why not show Titanos how strong he really is by presenting himself, unafraid, at the temple itself? Something about that idea must appeal to Alk, because a daring light starts to creep into his eyes. As it hardens into a firm resolve, he nods his head.

“I will do this,” he decides, a slight waver in his voice standing as the only sign of anxiety, “I will show my face before God, and I will accept his judgement!”

That's more like it, you reply as you clap a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder, that's the kind of bravery that a god really respects. It's not about something as base as spilling blood or acting tough – it's facing his fears, and overcoming them.

“I will wait for you,” Alk states, “At the foot of the mountain. When you return, show me to the summit. I have never seen this temple with my own eyes – is it... grand? Garl spoke once, of all the grand temples throughout the world.”

Hardly as grand as a giant brass idol, you think to yourself, but less tyrannical. Promising that Alk would see it for himself, you head off to find a horse. You've got a message that needs delivered.

[1/2]

>>46136729
>You're wrong. Titanos never wished for human blood to be spilled
>Why not show him how strong you are, then?
Strength of body is one thing, but the strength of the mind and will are what truely matters. With what he's done, he has shown he has the strength of will and mind. He just needs to show it off more.

It's not just battle, as Tawn would be affected. It can't ONLY be connections with Titanos, could it? Maybe it's scars, does Tawn have any?

>>46137028

Compared with the bustling Foothills, the closest outpost town seems almost deserted. The soldiers garrisoned here, of course, have been moved. Even so, there is a remarkable lack of anyone about. Perhaps they've sensed trouble and returned to safer areas, ones more distant to the looming central mountains. Or perhaps, you consider, nobody lives out here these days. With the Emperor seeking manpower for his mines and construction work, whole towns have been emptied.

Thoughts of Pit Progress, black things, nag at you as you return to Foothills. Your message was a simple one – Garl has been avenged, but the situation is not yet resolved. Those willing to brave danger in order to study the ruins, you added, should come with all due haste. A shame, you think as you ride away, that Howa couldn't come out here. This kind of academic work would thrill her, and you wouldn't mind having another friendly face around.

Well, no point complaining about things that can't be changed now. You'll see about bringing her back some sketches of the carvings.

True to his word, Alk is waiting for you when you return to town. He looks nervous, as if his resolve has been shaken by your brief absence. He's not changed his mind, you ask, has he?

“There were fires up in the hills,” he whispers fearfully to you, “Signal fires, one group sending messages to another. I... never fully learned the signals, but I think they seek to gather. The mountains will be dangerous – perhaps we should turn back?”

>I'm not afraid of them. We press ahead
>It's not worth the risk. We'll wait and see what they do
>I'll gather the troops and break up this gathering before they can grow too strong
>Other

>>46137143

>Tawn has no scars, actually. He's quite vain

>>46137143
It could also be caused by the lingering "taint" left by those otherworldly entities/nightmares.

>>46137163
>I'm not afraid of them. We press ahead
If they want to hear it from Titanos, they'll get it. They deserve that much, after all this.

>>46137163
>>I'm not afraid of them. We press ahead
They gotta still be hesitant to fight the one who killed their leader.

>>46137163
>>I'm not afraid of them. We press ahead

>>46137163
>>I'm not afraid of them. We press ahead
"Gathering" doesn't necessarily mean they're going to attack.

>>46137163
>I'm not afraid of them. We press ahead
If we keep a brave face they probably wont bother us. Besides, I trust Tawn to do his job.

You're not afraid of them, you growl, you're going to press ahead. They won't move against you so soon – not when you killed their leader so recently. If they end up following you all the way to Titanos' temple at the summit, they can speak with their god personally. Perhaps then they might realise their error – at last.

“I will follow your lead,” Alk says after a heavy pause, his voice hushed, “You are correct. Perhaps they are just gathering to seek comfort. You've seen our worst, outsider, but my clan was close – we were a family. To be parted and scattered like this, in a way not of our choosing, will be troubling to many. I... I hope there will be no violence. I will do what I can to read the signals and translate them for you.”

Good, you tell the boy, that will be a great help. For now, though, there's little reason to delay – Titanos awaits.

“He does,” Alk agrees, although he sounds considerably less enthusiastic about it.

By your choice, you march in silence. Best to keep aware of your surroundings, you decide, and avoid an ambush if possible. These mountains belong to the hillfolk – they'll have the advantage of moving about on their home territory. Even with their network of tunnels and the ruins taken from them, they will know the place far better than you ever could. After stomping across mud, hardy weeds and barren rock for perhaps an hour, Alk tugs at your sleeve to get your attention.

“That fire there,” he murmurs, pointing to a distant ridge – a tiny spark flickering atop it. You've got to admit, the boy has fine eyes. “That's... a hunting signal. You see, the smoke there?”

It looks, you remark, exactly like smoke. There are subtleties to these things, you realise that, but still. What kind of hunting signal, anyway?

“Prey sighted,” Alk whispers after a moment.

[1/2]

>>46137468
Can we make a quicksave here please?

>>46137468

Pressing on regardless, you can't deny the foreboding weight that descends upon you as you continue up the mountain. The summit, you recall, is a lifeless place – flat, and with little in the way of cover. There won't be anywhere for the hillfolk to hide up there, so any ambush will likely come before you reach that point. Putting on a brave face – a show of strength, you figure, would deter a casual attempt at attacking – you urge Alk to follow close as you walk. He obeys, his keen eyes constantly scanning the terrain for any new signals.

His clan, you ask softly as the summit enters your view, how do they usually hunt?

“Bows and thrown spears,” Alk replies, his voice equally hushed, “Slings too, sometimes. Our best hunter could put a hole in a goat's skull from many paces away, with just a sling bullet.”

And you could put a hole in HIS skull, you think, with a bullet of your own. The thought brings a cold smile to your face, your hand slipping down to brush against the butt of your pistol. It might not have the range of a rifle, but it gets the job done fine enough. There, you say aloud to ease the tension, that's the temple up ahead.

“I see it,” Alk confirms. Of course he does – he probably saw it long ago. If he has any comment about it, about the lack of any giant brass statues, he keeps it to himself. “We come without an offering,” he says suddenly, “God will be angry with us. He will-”

You bring faith, you correct him, and humility. That's all the gods really want, not-

Before you can say anything else, a stone shatters at your feet, quickly followed by two more. Sling bullets, sent from close by. As you're turning to seek out the enemies, a sharper sound cracks out – a gunshot.

Hillfolk don't use rifles.

>Retreat into the temple
>Try to hunt down the gunman
>Other

>>46137543
>Try to hunt down the gunman

>>46137543
>>Try to hunt down the gunman
Tell Alk to get inside, Titanos will protect him.

>>46137543
>>Try to hunt down the gunman
>>Other
This guy could be a cultist. Send Alk into the temple while we go after the shooter.

>>46137543
seconding >>46137580

>>46137491
Titanos disapproves

>>46137543
>the gunman

Am I wrong in assuming there are 3 gunmen (well one gunman and 2 sligmen) ?

Surely chasing a gunman, in the dark, on top of a mountain, while his 2 slingbros pelt us doesn't seem to be the greatest of ideas

I don't know about that guys

Moloch, does the running spell make us avoid terrain problems or can we end up falling into a pit / bumping into a loose rock and violently falling on the floor / etc?

>>46137696
The gunman didn't shoot at us. We just heard the shot. It might be a cultist deliberately trying to stir things up or a soldier fucking up.

>>46137696

>Towards the Great Land is essentially a speed boost. We still run, but at a greatly increased pace. So, we would still be vulnerable to pits or traps. It's not uncontrollable though, so anything that a human could normally move over without falling is still safe.

>And yes, there are three of them, one with a rifle and two with slings

Get into the temple, you shout to Alk, and do it now!

Whatever fear Titanos might inspire in the young tribal, it's nothing compared with the fear of catching a bullet in the back – whether it be a stone from a sling, or a lead slug shot from a rifle. Scrabbling on the loose stones, he breaks into a run with the temple as his destination. As he ducks and weaves, rushing away, you focus on the ridge behind you. From the angle they attacked at, there was only one place the shots could have come from. Turning, crouching low behind what little cover you can find – a broken spire of rock, conveniently chest high – you look up at your attackers.

Three of them – two armed with slings, and one with something that isn't quite a rifle. The pair of sling wielders are already retreating, whooping and cheering at the fact that they slightly inconvenienced you. The last one, however, lingers on the ridge for a moment longer as he watches you. Bare chested, with his face hidden behind a wooden mask, his stance suggests arrogance and pride. It's only when he's certain that you've seen him that the gunman turns and strides away, presenting you with his unguarded back as he vanishes behind the ridge.

Was that it, then? A warning, just a reminder from the cult that they have their eyes on you? As you're starting to rise from behind your cover, you pause. Your first thought was to capture that gunman at all costs, but you force yourself to reconsider. It could very well be a trap – either to lure you into an ambush, or to separate you from Alk. But, if you just let the gunman – and whatever information he might hold, walk away...

>Chase after the gunman. He has information you need
>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks
>Other

>>46137809
>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks.
Rather not walk into a barrage

>>46137809
>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks
Ehh. This smells way too much like a trap. Lets just head back to Titanos for now, see if anything comes of this later.

>>46137809
>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks

>>46137809
>>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks
Seems to me like they were trying to distract us and stop us from speaking with Titanos.

>>46137809
>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks
If they think that makes them superior.....wow.

>>46137809
>>Let them run. You're not falling for their tricks
Info from a mook is not as important as stabilizing the area. Honestly, I am starting to think Alk could serve as a potential head priest for Titanos. Mix the old with the new and serve as a bridge for the less extreme mountainfolk.

Hissing out a low curse, you drop back behind the rocky outcrop and force yourself to calm. It's too much of a risk, chasing off after them with no idea of what might be waiting for you. This was a trick – either trying to lure you into an ambush or to distract you from speaking with Titanos. They must have a good reason, then, for wanting to keep you from speaking with the god of this mountain. All the more reason to let them run and focus on the more important things.

When you're certain – as certain as you can be, at least – that the hillfolk and their masked ally are gone, you rise to your feet and hurry to the temple. Nobody shoots at you as you finish the last stretch of your journey, so they must have retreated. You'll need to watch your back on the down from the mountains, but that's something to consider later. Now, you've got Titanos to speak with.

“They were here for me,” Alk murmurs as you enter the temple, his voice coming from behind you. Barely daring to step inside the structure, Alk had flattened himself against the inside of the near wall, so much so that taking a single pace forwards was enough to put you ahead of him.

Why, you ask, is he so certain of that? Those sling bullets were aimed at you, not him.

“The clan holds us all close,” Alk reminds you, “And punishes those who break away. I turned my back on them, and now I will never be safe.”

The boy is letting his fear and paranoia get to him. It's possible that this was a warning, masquerading as an assassination attempt, but you're certain that you were the target. Even so, you know that convincing the boy of that would be no easy task – and you've got better things to do with your time. Merely shrugging and urging him to silence, you turn your attention to the temple altar.

[1/2]

File: Titanos.jpg (108 KB, 743x1076)

108 KB JPG

>>46138086

Now, with the benefit of seeing both shrines – the sanctified temple at the summit, and the bloody altar in the depths of the ruins – you can see alarming similarities. They both have a stone altar, both stained with differing kinds of blood, and a figure looming over them. In the ruins, there was the great brass idol. Here, there is Titanos himself. The god waits, only the faintest flicker of blue light in his eyes to indicate life and awareness.

With a backwards glance to ensure that Alk is following you, you approach the altar and Titanos himself. Bowing before the god, you wait to see what kind of reaction your presence will get.

“Wanderer,” Titanos rumbles eventually, his voice causing Alk to yelp in fear. It seems to come from all around you, as if the mountain itself was addressing you. “I have sensed great change recently. It seems that fate follows in your footsteps. Wherever you tread, Wanderer, events conspire to reach new significance.”

That's not the first time you've been told that. It might even be true. However, you say aloud, that is not why you're here. You came seeking answers.

>What is this crystal? The hillfolk claim it was found within a brass idol of yours
>Tell me about your city, the one that has been uncovered
>The hillfolk have grown wild and primal in their face. Can you command them back into line?
>This is what I came to ask you... (Write in)
>Other

>>46138184
>Explain recent events
>Tell me about your city, the one that has been uncovered
>What is this crystal? The hillfolk claim it was found within a brass idol of yours

Then
>The hillfolk have grown wild and primal in their face. Can you command them back into line?

>>46138223
>>46138184
Seconding this

That pic tho, isn't that bad-guy Titanos ?

>>46138184
>What do you know of the hillfolk? You purposely did not mention their blood sacrifices, no? Do you feel that they must not change their ways?

>What is this crystal? The hillfolk claim it was found within a brass idol of yours
>Tell me about your city, the one that has been uncovered

>>46138184
>>Explain recent events
>>Tell me about your city, the one that has been uncovered
>>What is this crystal? The hillfolk claim it was found within a brass idol of yours

This is important, but let's try not to push the mountain people too much. Drawing titanos out could work for what they desire, to make him the conqueror than they want.

>>46138184
>>46138223
this

>>46138303
Titanos didn't know about the blood sacrifices. Moloch mentioned that at the end of last thread.

>>46138280

>Unfortunately, I don't have a good picture for a more benevolent Titanos.

You're not surprised, you begin, that Titanos has sensed great changes. His high priest was murdered, and that was just the start of things. From there, you go on to explain everything that has happened lately, starting with your investigation of Garl's death and finishing with the new influx of soldiers. Little wonder, then, that things are uncertain at the moment.

“Yes,” Titanos says slowly, “I sensed a... waning, of sorts. I did not realise what it signified at the time, but what you say rings true. I have grown distant, of late – as my priest grew distant from me.”

At least Garl had a good reason for not making the trip up the mountain. He was an old man, and badly injured. Sighing, you ask about Titanos' city. Recently uncovered, you've only just started to delve into its mysteries. Is there anything he can tell you about it?

“It was not always here,” Titanos rumbles, a fond note of nostalgia entering his voice, “Once, it lay beneath the sun and the open sky on the western shore of this land. Yet the people there grew faithless – hostile even. They took my blessings for granted, and so I swept up my city and moved it here, to the harsh and distant mountains. It was safe here, beneath layers of rock and stone. Safe from both prying eyes and those who would seek to topple my idol.”

Not even gods, you think, are beyond fear and uncertainty. He moved the city here, you muse, and eventually it became home to the hillfolk. They were making offerings of human blood here – did he really know nothing about it?

“It was not in my name that they spilled blood,” Titanos growls darkly, “And yet it stained my name regardless. I felt the slow rage growing within me, although I did not know the cause. Now, I do – they must be made to change their ways.”

[1/2]

>>46138530

Something about the cold way he announces that chills you. Made to change their ways, you repeat slowly.

“They have perverted my faith, and brought about the death of my high priest,” Titanos rumbles, his eyes flickering briefly from blue to a deep, bloody red, “As they have killed, so shall they be put to death. In my name, they must be dashed against the stones, and their blood fed to the idol they claim to worship. They must-”

Silence, suddenly, as the god forces himself to stop. With a low, animalistic groan, the red taint seeps out of his eyes and they return to blue. “I apologise,” the god growls, “I am still... affected. My judgement is impaired.”

Perhaps, you suggest lightly, it would be better if he commanded the hillfolk to change their ways. They would listen, you're sure, to a direct commandment from their god. Simply resorting to violent punishment would only stain the god with more blood. Titanos, bowing his head, falls silent for a long moment as he considers the idea. As the silence draws out, you begin to grow concerned. Titanos seems more... temperamental than you expected.

“Yes,” Titanos rumbles eventually, “I will bring them into line. If strength is what they respect, I shall show them strength. Let them gather at the foot of their brass god, and I shall show them the truth. I will guide them, Wanderer, with the hand of a stern father.”

That sounds... ominous. Seeking further answers, you produce the crystal lens and hold it out to Titanos. What can he tell you about this?

“That,” Titanos declares, the word flat and cold. He says it, once and once alone, and then falls silent once more.

[2/3]

>>46138749

“Remove it from my sight,” the god eventually adds, “And do it now.” As the words fall from his mouth, you see traces of red once more slipping into Titanos' eyes. Something about this lens, you realise, has a great and terrible influence on the god. Why, though, and what power does it hold over those connected with the god?

It's only when the crystal has been concealed once more that Titanos seems to relax again, cool blue reclaiming his eyes.

“You have served me well, Wanderer,” the god says slowly, “But this is not something I wish for you to pursue. I will take care of my wayward children, and I will watch over my city. These are not tasks for you or your kind. Will you leave this matter in my hands?”

It sounds, you think as you lower your hand to your sword, as if he isn't giving you much choice.

>Agree to his terms. His mountain, his rules
>Disagree. He is not fit to decide this
>Ask a question. There are facts you need to know (Write in)
>Other

>>46138874
>Ask a question. There are facts you need to know (Write in)
ask him if the destruction of the lens would aid his recovery and purge some of the primal influence

>>46138874
>Disagree. He is not fit to decide this
Can't let you do that dave

>>46138926
>>46138874
That and
>Introduce Alk
Meeting a more rational member of his wayward children might give more perspective for him or temper his judgments.

>>46138874
>>46138926
>>46138955
this

>>46138874
>Other.
I think that while he can likely handle it, there should be someone by his side to help keep him grounded. He does need a new high priest after all.. so why not Alk? Garl did teach him some ways, he knows of the mountain folk ways as well. With proper training, understanding, and a bit of time, he could serve as a bridge. A strong hand can harm, but it can also guide and uplift.

Would destroying the lens aid his recovery, you ask slowly, and purge him of this creeping primal influence?

“You could not destroy it,” Titanos growls, with a strange note in his voice. A weary note, tinged with a kind of disgust. Almost... shame. Could it be that Titanos is ashamed of the deeds that have been done beneath this mountain, and the disc offers some reminder of them? Or... could there be something deeper at work? “Try, if you must,” the god adds, “That is no mortal crystal. There is no force in this world capable of shattering it.”

That's... strange. You're not sure if you want to test it out for yourself, for risk of destroying an item of some significance. Putting the issue aside for now, you decide to try out a new approach. Glancing back at the boy you came here with, you silently urge Alk to step forwards. This boy, you declare, is one of Titanos' worshippers, one of the wayward children that the god spoke of. Yet, he was no mindless barbarian – he wished to learn, to accept the knowledge that Garl Yamada offered. He could stand as an example, a bridge between the two faiths.

Titanos doesn't answer this, but the horned god tilts his head slightly and looks upon the boy with curiosity. Gods, you continue, need their priests – to keep them grounded, and to stop them from growing distant. He would need training, yes, but he would serve as an ideal representative for Titanos – one that could appeal to both branches of the faith.

You expect loud denials, from both Alk and his god. Instead, the boy remains cautiously silent. He's considering your words carefully, and he doesn't seem to dislike their implications.

[1/2]

>>46139224

“Has he the strength,” Titanos asks eventually, “To be the leader his people expect?”

He had the strength to come all the way up here, you point out, and face a god that he had good reason to fear. He expected judgement and punishment, and yet he came up here regardless. He went against the mood of his people to learn from Garl, even though he knew the terrible risks it entailed. Perhaps he is not yet ready – but there would be nobody better suited to the job.

“Yes...” Titanos muses, “I would give him my blessing, that he would spread the word among his people. They need guidance, and he could be the one to grant it to them. Tell me, boy – would you take this task upon yourself?”

Alk, quietly terrified but somehow maintaining a kind of dignity, looks over to you once more.

>Encourage him
>Urge caution
>Remain silent
>Other

>>46139360
>Small, but encouraging nod.

>>46139360
>Urge caution
god damn what a pussy
maybe he's the wrong choice

>>46139360
>>46139381
A small smile, a small nod, and a gentle push. With all thats happened, he has a right to be spooked. He just needs a push to come to the right decision.

>>46139360
>Encourage him

>>46139419
You'd be scared too if you were raised like him and came face to face with the God you were told would kill you for being 'meek'.

Yet in spite of all that, he is still here giving this consideration.

L2Empathy.

>>46139360
>Remain silent
Nope. This is the moment of truth for him. If he cant step forward and accept on his own. He's not fit for the job. C'mon Alk. I believe in you kid.

>>46139360
>>46139381
this

Fear sharpens the mind, quickens the hand and strengthens the arm. A true man does not lack fear, he conquers it and adds it strength to his own.

>>46139470
lol
more like I'd slap that god in the face with my dick

>>46139508
#LivinOnTheEdge

This is his choice to make. He's afraid – and understandably so – but he hasn't run away yet. This final step is one he needs to take on his own, you can't be the one to push him into this. Still, as you return his gaze you can't help but give him a slight nod, barely even twitching your head.

That's all it takes.

“I'll do it,” Alk says, speaking in the careful tone of someone keeping a tremor from his voice. Taking that fear burning within his breast, he forces it into a desperate confidence – the strength of a man facing his last stand. “My clan deserves a second chance. I'll be the one to bring it to them. If I have to talk to every one of them, one by one, I'll do it. We won't be wiped out... but we won't live as barbarians either. Not any longer.”

The more he speaks, you notice, the more he seems to believe in his own words. By the time he's finished, you see a bright spark in his eyes – the light of genuine inspiration. It was looking uncertain there, you admit privately to yourself, but he really pulled through.

“Fine words well spoken!” Titanos booms, his rage and wrath forgotten as he allows a note of humour into his voice, “Men should fear their gods, but that fear should never conquer them – as it has not conquered you! I will take you, boy, to be my new priest. Spread the word to all of your clan, and offer them this as proof of your word.” Leaning down, looming over Alk, Titanos offers his hand. Within that great palm, a white light forms – a spell, for Alk alone. When the boy touches it, shuddering as the magic enters him, the ground trembles.

A simple trick, you realise, but one perfect for convincing the superstitious hillfolk. Would they really refuse someone whose word could shake the ground beneath their feet?

[1/2]

>>46139772

“Stay awhile, child,” Titanos rumbles as the mood eases off, “I have much to teach you. Say your goodbyes – it may keep you some time.”

“Looks like I won't get to see your temple after all,” Alk remarks sadly, regret warring with lingering pride on his face, “I wish I could have. Garl wrote about it, and it sounded amazing.”

He might still get the chance, you say with a shrug, eventually. Once he's been given his new teachings, though, what does he plan on doing? Is he really going to speak with his clan one by one?

“If I need to,” Alk nods with a decisiveness that is almost convincing, “I'll gather some, just a few, and I'll get them to listen. I'll bring them here, if I need to. Once I've got a few people behind me, it'll get easier. It won't happen quickly, but... but I really think I can do it.”

So do you, you tell the boy. After all, he had a good teacher.

“Garl was a good man,” Alk agrees, nodding solemnly, “I wish I could thank him for the things he taught me. But... I don't want to linger on the past. What are you going to do now?”

>My business here is done. I need to return to the temple
>I'll be sticking around a while. The ruins here have me interested
>Other

>>46139901
>>I'll be sticking around a while. The ruins here have me interested
We can study up and see if we can divine what the fuck this disc is since Titanos doesnt wanna talk about it. The Nameless Temple's people will be here soon anyway,

>>46139901
>I'll be sticking around a while. The ruins here have me interested
Suppose it can't hurt. Might find something of use.

>>46139901
>My business here is done. I need to return to the temple

>>46139901
>>I'll be sticking around a while. The ruins here have me interested
We might not have long left to study them.

>>46139901
>>My business here is done. I need to return to the temple

>>46139901
>My business here is done. I need to return to the temple

>>46139901
>>My business here is done. I need to return to the temple

>Looks like returning to the temple wins this vote. Writing the next post now.

Your business here is done, you tell him, so you need to return to your temple. It's a busy time, and you don't have the luxury of waiting around here for a few more days. Besides, you add, there might be something back at the temple archives that might be able to shine some light on this strange disc – you'd really like to know just why Titanos had such a hostile reaction to it. You mention that last part just as you're leaving the temple, and it's only once you're outside that Alk speaks up.

“Can I... take a look at it?” he asks, “I got an idea.”

Shrugging, you hold it out to him – holding tightly onto it, you realise, as if warding against him snatching it from your hands. Alk doesn't even try to touch it, merely bending down and staring hard at the patterned crystal. Just as you're about to ask what he was looking for, he speaks up.

“There,” he says, pointing at a particular scrawled line, “In the top there. I knew something wasn't right when I saw it before.”

No, you ask, what's not right about it?

“That's meaningless. All the others mean something,” Alk nods firmly, “Yes, that's it. It's just a line.”

He really thinks that's significant? It could just be a flaw in the crystal, or any number of other things. Still, he might have a point – it's the closest thing to a clue you've got so far. Thanking Alk for that last piece of advice, and offering him the best of luck on the task ahead of him – you don't need to warn him about the scale of the task, he knows that all too well – you prepare to descend from the summit.

“Be careful,” he warns you as you're walking away, “There might be dangers lying in wait.”

So what else is new?

[1/2]

>>46140253

If you were being stalked by that masked rifleman as you descend the mountain, he covered his tracks well. Nobody took a shot at you, and you were never aware of anyone tracking you. Of course, that doesn't prove anything – the point of shadowing someone, you think bitterly, is to stay out of sight. A nice bit of fuel for your paranoia there. Arriving back in town, you see Tawn as busy as ever, ordering troops about as they erect crude huts and shelters.

“We could be here long term,” he complains, “So the town needs to expand. I just hope these will last out until we can get something more comfortable in place. Oh well,” he shrugs suddenly, “I won't be staying here. Direct orders, they came in a short while ago.”

He's needed somewhere else?

“As a matter of speaking,” Tawn nods, leading you away from the various soldiers milling about, “Remember what I told you when you arrived, about a man approaching officers with all those strange questions? Well, there's a plan to investigate this further. You remember Musari, right?”

An officer in the Imperial army, you nod, one with a fairly strong faith.

“He was approached,” Tawn confides in you, “And he was, put simply, drunk at the time. Some of his answers encouraged the stranger, so they might be meeting again. This might be our chance to grab the bastard, and a solid link to the cult. Good news, right?”

>Are you sure Musari is reliable?
>Keep me informed. I want to be a part of this
>Good luck, but keep me out of it
>Other

>>46140428
>Are you sure Musari is reliable?
>Keep me informed. I want to be a part of this

>>46140428
>Are you sure Musari is reliable?
>Keep me informed. I want to be a part of this

>>46140428
>Keep me informed. I want to be a part of this

The first question that comes to your mind is a simple one – is he certain that Musari is reliable?

“Well, no,” Tawn admits, “I did a little digging after we worked together on the Miura affair, just to make sure I knew who I'd been dealing with. He's been written up for insubordination more than once, and he has a history of complaining about his faith keeping him from being promoted. We suspect that he was approached for those same reasons – he's exactly the type to defect, and the type that this cult would focus on.”

You never knew he had history, you mutter, but it makes sense. How are they handling this?

“We're taking it slowly – very slowly,” Tawn glances around as he tells you this, as if suspecting that any passing soldier could be an enemy spy. A realistic fear, you realise with a shudder. “Musari arranged to meet up with this stranger again, so we're going to see how things develop. Maybe it IS just an innocent attempt at rallying some stupid protest group within the military, but I'm not convinced. We need this lead – and we're damn well going to get it. What do you say?”

You're in, you tell him, you're going to want him to keep you informed. The cult is your enemy as well, so you deserve to be a part of this.

“That's what I thought,” Tawn claps you on the arm, “Good man. I'll see to it that a message is sent your way when we know more. Fair warning, though – we won't be able to delay things once they're in motion. We get one shot at this, and one only. If the cult learns that we're onto them, they'll retreat again, like always.”

>I'll be ready. Count on it
>If I can't make it, move without me. This is more important than one man
>I need to check something... (Write in)
>Other

>>46140771
>>I'll be ready. Count on it

>>46140771
>I'll be ready. Count on it

>>46140771
>>I'll be ready. Count on it

>>46140771
>>I'll be ready. Count on it
It'll happen when we're busy with something else. Count on it.

>>46140771
>I'll be ready. Count on it

You'll be ready, you promise, he can count on that.

“Good, I'm glad,” nodding, Tawn gives you a relieved smile, “I'd feel better having you there. Well, things are still uncertain at the moment, but I'll keep you in the loop. Between you and me, I think Ra will be happy to have you in on this as well – he specifically gave me permission to share this information with you. Enough of that, though – you're heading back to the temple now, aren't you?”

That, you confirm, was the plan. You've got some research to do, and you'll need to give the Mentor your report. He likes to hear it face to face, even if you sent him a written copy.

“Safe travels, then,” Tawn pauses for a moment, “I hope things are well at the temple. I've heard rumours.”

You're sure he has. Ra almost certainly has someone within the Nameless Temple, feeding information back to the spymaster who can then leak it out at his leisure. When Tawn says “rumours”, you know exactly what he really means. Covering up your faint grimace, you assure him that all is well and then make your exit. You can only hope that your words won't turn out to have been lies – the situation had been anything but “well” when you left.

Riding hard, and stopping only for the shortest breaks you can get away with, you make all due haste back to the Nameless Temple. At the very least, it's still intact when you arrive – no smoking rubble, and no rioting apprentices. Not that you expected any, but... still. It's good to see everything in order. As soon as you step foot inside the building, though, you are handed a message. The Mentor needs to see you, it claims, at the earliest possible convenience.

Following orders, you make your way to the Mentor's chambers and present yourself. Strangely, the Mentor waits for you to make the first move.

>Give your report as usual
>Show him the lens
>Inquire about the apprentices
>Other

>>46141315
>Show him the lens

>>46141315
>Give your report as usual
Then
>>Show him the lens

>>46141315
>>Give your report as usual
>>Show him the lens
In that order. Business comes first.

>>46141315
>Give your report as usual
>Show him the lens
>Inquire about the apprentices
In that order

He urgently called you here, you think to yourself, but there doesn't seem to be any reason for that. You had been expecting questions as soon as you arrived, important matters that needed resolving – the kind of dangerous business that you're usually given. This... silence bothers you. Business as usual, you try to convince yourself as you give your report. First, you reiterate what you sent away in your written report. When you mention the fact that the king seemed to have a primitive form of temple training, the Mentor stops you.

“You're certain of that?” he asks politely, “Absolutely certain?”

There were differences, you point out, but the similarities were so close as to be nearly identical. If pressed to give a definite answer – yes, you were certain.

“I see,” the Mentor mulls this over, “Continue, please.”

Irked by the interruption – and the lack of an explanation behind it – you pick up with the details following your report. When you finish on the note that Alk has become the new priest of Titanos, the Mentor's face lights up.

“Excellent work, Ira!” the old man exclaims, “I'm sure Garl would agree, the boy sounds like a worthy successor. I'm very glad that you were able to solve this dispute – there may yet be a way of bringing the hillfolk closer into society. Was there anything else that you found, there, in those ruins?”

There was, you answer, there was this strange lens...

The Mentor's face falls, his good cheer withering away in an instant. It is as if he just heard some terrible news, you realise, that he had been expecting for a long time. He knows what this lens is, doesn't he?

“I do,” the Mentor nods slowly, “And I know that asking questions about it can be very dangerous. That lens is a relic from a much older time. We should speak of it, but... later. If you had anything else you'd like to know first, please ask it of me.”

[1/2]

>>46141739

It must be a serious piece of business, then, this lens. You want to know about it, of course, but there was one other matter you had been planning on asking about. The situation with the apprentices, you ask, how is that progressing?

“I feel like I have made progress,” the Mentor says, relieved to be moving onto safer ground, “I spoke with many of them, face to face and one on one. Most of them were merely restless, desperate for a way to burn off their youthful energies. In my day, they would brawl amongst themselves, but... times have changed. There are a few who are truly devoted to their troublesome cause, but they are a minority – far less than we feared.”

That, at least, is good news. What does he plan on doing about those... troublemakers?

“I gave them a choice. They could remain here, but only if they kept their views private. They will not plot or scheme against this temple while they remain a part of it. If they did not like that offer, they were asked to leave,” the Menor smiles sadly, “Only one left. I regret this, but I had his name passed onto Ra. He can decide how to handle the boy. Now...”

The lens.

“Yes,” the Mentor bows his head, “I will not tell you everything – some things, I believe, must be seen for themselves. However, I can reveal certain facts. However, this is a dangerous path to walk down, and it could break a stronger man than you. Ask what you will, but keep that warning in mind.”

>What is this lens?
>Are there others?
>Do these markings have a meaning?
>Why are they so dangerous?
>Tell me about this... (Write in)
>I don't want to know. It's not worth the risk
>Other

>>46141865
>>What is this lens?
>>Are there others?
>>Do these markings have a meaning?
Alk pointed out a meaningless mark.
>>Why are they so dangerous?

>>46141865
>>What is this lens?
>>Are there others?
>>Do these markings have a meaning?
>>Why are they so dangerous?
All things we need to know.

>>46141917
This

First off, you start with the most obvious question – just what IS this lens?

“A map,” the Mentor replies, “One third of a map. The lens itself is a kind of divine crystal – a kind of permanent, eternally fixed manifestation of Titanos. But, the object itself is meaningless, it is the information it is the key to that is the real treasure – and the real danger.”

One third of a map, you repeat, so there are two others.

“Correct,” a faint smile flickers across the Mentor's face, “As this was associated with Titanos, so too are the others associated with Selene and Nodens. The three great gods of Tenngaru – each possessing an idol, and a lens that is hidden within. Selene's lens is hidden deep below Garuna, in the ancient catacombs of her city. The final lens... I cannot say. Lost for all time, I hope.”

So if this lens is a third of a map, you think aloud, these markings on it must have a meaning. Alk said one of them was meaningless – what significance does that hold?

The Mentor actually laughs at this, although it's a laugh tinged with bitterness. “His information is not quite correct. There is only one marking on that lens that has any meaning at all. That “meaningless” mark is a key, a point to line up all three lenses correctly. When all three are properly aligned, those markings form the map itself – leading to their eventual destination.”

But why, you ask, are they so dangerous? Just what is this map pointing to?

“The truth,” your ancient teacher says sadly, “Something that few men can accept – and that, Ira, is all I can tell you.”

The truth, you murmur to yourself, has the Mentor seen it?

“I'm sorry, Ira, but I must rest,” the Mentor avoids answering, but that alone is enough of an answer, “You deserve a reward for your work, of course, but I must ask you to wait. Tomorrow, please.”

>Very well. I'll leave you for now
>I had some last questions... (Write in)
>Other

>>46142304
>Very well. I'll leave you for now

>>46142304
>Very well. I'll leave you for now

Who wants to bet this lens is part of Steel Ring's goal?

>>46142304
>>I had some last questions... (Write in)
"Why am I compelled to hold onto it? I figure it has something to do with my connection to Titanos."

Then
>Very well. I'll leave you for now

>>46142304
>>Very well. I'll leave you for now
Any place we can leave the disk to make it as hard as possible to steal?

What if this group is trying to find the location?

>money on the map leading to Nyarly's jail.

>>46142485
Or well all that 'Sorcery' knowledge Howa was talking about.

Also pretty sure Nyarly isn't in this, unless you are thinking that there is potentially a Nyarly-like god locked away.

When you first touched the lens, you mention, you felt a strange compulsion to keep holding onto it. Even now, you still feel reluctant to discard it or even hand it over to someone else. As you understand it, this was something the king of the hillfolk also experienced, but Tawn was unaffected. There's something significant here – could it be your connection to Titanos?

“A correct guess,” the Mentor nods, “I could not say exactly why though, save that it makes it more difficult for any one person to obtain all three lenses. Selene's priestesses treasure her lens, and guard it very carefully. While the king of the hillfolk did not understand what he possessed, he guarded it just as well. A defence mechanism, perhaps.”

Is it possible, you ask, that the cult is trying to recover these maps as well? Could they be after this... truth?

The Mentor hesitates. It's a brief thing, lasting little more than a second, but it was definitely there. A pause, a moment of uncertainty as he weighs up exactly what to tell you. “I cannot say for certain,” he says eventually, bowing his head slightly, “Their motives remain unknown to me.”

A lie. Is there any place suitable for storing this lens, you ask with a kind of lingering bitterness, some place where it would be difficult to steal?

“Keep it on you at all times,” he suggests, “Trust yourself with it, and no others. That is the best advice I can give you.”

Then that's what you'll do. Bowing, you thank the Mentor for his time and take your leave.

He LIED to you.

>That's a good place to stop for tonight. Next thread on Tuesday, and I'll stick around for a while in case of any questions

>>46142636
Ruh roh.

If I had to guess the Mentor was part of the group that buried some of the bad shit years ago in the Age of Mists or whatever. Sorcery and the like.

And now all the shit is getting uncovered again.

Thanks for running Moloch.

>>46142636
Oh boy
Thanks for the run. Now I'm really interested. I can't think of a reason why the Mentor would lie to Ira about anything really.

>>46142710

That certainly sounds like a plausible theory, doesn't it?

>>46142794

Sometimes, people can lie to protect someone from a harsh truth. Then again, they can also like to protect themselves!

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>Ira and Tawn by the end of the quest.
>THEY PLAYED US LIKE A DAMN FIDDLE

>>46142854
Oh yeah Moloch you said you had other projects coming up.

Starting another quest?

>>46142927

And Ira might never even get the chance to find out who "they" are!

>>46143074

It's not another quest, but I am planning on doing a little extra writing. A web serial, or that kind of thing. Mainly because I had some ideas I wanted to explore, but I know they wouldn't really suit the quest format. It might work, or it might not - I'm eager to try it out regardless. I'm also playing around with the rough basics of an RPG system based off Sleeping Gods. Again, early days on that front.

I do know what quest I might run when Sleeping Gods is finished, though!

>>46143131
>I do know what quest I might run when Sleeping Gods is finished, though!
What is it? Or are you keeping that close to your chest for right now?

>>46143086
>You're face to face with the god who rused the world.webm

>>46143174

I'm thinking it's going to be something cyberpunk. I also had a certain amount of material prepared for a Neon Genesis Evangelion quest, but that's going to be put on hold for now. I was never certain if I was going to run it, either way.

>>46143236
Shin Evangelion Tensei quest when?

>>46145018

I'm interested as to how that might work, actually. The Eva units as massively scaled up versions of the Demonica armour, perhaps?

Originally though, it was going to have a vague Norse theme replacing the Christian motifs of the original. Angels were replaced by Jotun, for example.
As for when, it might still happen eventually!

File: Kaneko Evangelion.jpg (193 KB, 594x853)

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>>46145018

>>46145134
I want an SMT game or quest that has Asgard as an area you can go/get trapped in.

For as much screentime as Thor, Loki, and Odin get in sidequests their whole culture/religion isn't really touched on as much as I would like.

>>46142636
>He LIED to you.
THE RIDE HAS BEGUN.

So are these lenses linked to those gauntlets from before? Is it hidden within them, or would we need to wear the gauntlets to pull out the lens if we DO find it?

>a kind of permanent, eternally fixed manifestation of Titanos
that's prime material to put right in front of your heart to stop a bullet, right there.


>>46143236
>cyberpunk
.....yes please. We have an odd lack of cyber-related stuff, particularly cyberspace.

>>46145358
Was thinking of this

How big is the lens exactly ? Shouldn't be too hard to sew heart pocket to put it in

>>46145236

I'll admit, it was an area that I never really touched on when I was running Devil Summoner. I had a few ideas, but they were never very central to things. It is a shame though - I think there's a lot of good material to use.

>>46145358

I can confirm that the Nodens' lens is not linked with the golden gauntlets. I've got a few surprises in store for that part of the story though!
And I never thought of using one of the lenses as armour. It would work - they're pretty much invulnerable!

On the cyberpunk front, I can't really promise anything yet. I don't want to plan too much out in case things don't really click.

>>46145448

The lens is about 6 inches across. Not huge, but it would cover a vital organ

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>>46145136
Fuck, this is great! I've never seen this before, thanks anon.

>>46145513
I'm personally about even between a new Devil Summoner with Norse stuff and a prequel London with all the parents-to-be plus a few more characters.

>>46145513
>It is a shame though - I think there's a lot of good material to use.

-Gathering Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld to make Norn
-Saving Odin from Fenrir and maybe getting Sleipner - his eight legged steed as a reward.
-Saving Baldr from Loki's mistletoe bullshit.

That's off the top of my head.

>>46145609
>a prequel London with all the parents-to-be plus a few more characters.

Dunno if that would make much sense.

Unless instead of a prequel, it takes place in another cycle - the third one in this case, and the catastrophe just so happens to happen when Lydia and the other's are in college.

>>46145609

Why not both?

>>46145657

There's definitely enough material about that it would be, ultimately, more than just side-quest material. Really though - I probably shouldn't plan too far in advance for this kind of thing. I should focus on the task at hand!

>>46145747
yeah, that. Been a while since I suggested it, so I forgot a few details.

File: DSQ Timeline maybe.png (21 KB, 1170x952)

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>>46145915
I made this real quick. I think it would look something like this.

>>46145986

That's the framework I would probably use in an entirely hypothetical maybe third Devil Summoner quest, yes.

>>46146120
It'd be a fun short quest for the World of Transition that leads into the Third Cycle if you did that one:

'Super prepared by the Trio' soldiers win the Transition world in a couple days idea. That have goddess waifu wars amongst themselves.

Entirely hypothetical of course.

>>46146278
>super prepared soldiers that have waifu wars
So the readers/players of the quest?

>>46146745
>us
>super prepared
>soldiers
one of these is not like the others

>>46146845
With waifu goddesses, anything is possible!

>>46146745
That's if we even play as a soldier.

>We just play as Undine watching the fights and giving the play by play to the goddesses since they are stuck in the White void.