rolled 3, 2, 3 = 8

Morning has come and gone. At Kel's insistence, you settled down for some rest, but your restless sleep did little to soothe your fatigue. You're starting to wonder if you'll manage to see the end of this war. At every turn, the Forusians pull something new, keeping you guessing. Every day, every attack, things get harder. Behind every wall you knock down, there is a new monstrosity, just waiting to take your head off. Discouraging, to say the least.

At least you managed to keep Kel safe, despite everything. His armor held up well, as did your shield. Tungsten-Ceramic may not be as strong as Magma Steel, but it's strong enough. The alchemists are having trouble copying it, despite the fact that they have far greater knowledge in their field and have been practicing for much longer than you have. They marvel at how easy everything seems to be for you.

Everyone has been resupplied, patched up, and re-organized. You now have ten giant potions to fall back on, but you're down to four batarangs. You've been told that the remaining seven fortresses are blocking out scrying and communications within five miles, and are surrounded by fog, though they seem to be silent at the moment. The Forusians appear to have withdrawn completely, though no one knows their destination. The gods have called a conference, graciously including you in the link. You see them, all of Ilian's friends and allies, hovering about an ethereal table, deep in discussion.

Since that pic is from fantasycraft and you defiled it with color, this thread is now about fantasycraft!!

rolled 5, 6, 4 = 15

>>9672535
One of the brother hunters scoffs.“I know the Forusians favor human-wave tactics, but this is excessive, even for them. Wasteful.”

Felion is next to speak, his simple robes broadcasting his humility in the face of his well-armored compatriots. “Agreed. They seem to move with no clear purpose. They have no visible chain of command in this theater. It would suggest incompetence, at the very least.”

“We can't come to that conclusion. Not yet. So far, they have shown some measure of restraint, which is unusual,” responds one of the others. “They have also given us a taste of what they have been holding back. What of their hand remains to be played?”

Ilian sinks his chin into his hand, tapping aimlessly. “Nothing about this adds up. They have confined themselves to a relatively small area, made pinpoint attacks on nine separate locations, and chosen retreat over reinforcement. Much of their forces are still unaccounted for, and the sudden appearances of increasing amounts of siege indicate that they have plenty in reserve.”

“What are they here for?” asks another of the brother hunters, “They 'ported right over the lines, invaded the Western edge, practically wiped the board unopposed. If they had consolidated their forces, pressed on... they could easily have taken the capital sector.”

Oplace, god of wine, reclines, laughing derisively. “Ah, but what do we know of Perin's motivation? There is much that we are not privy to, much that we cannot see, even from our lofty perch. Is there anything to offer besides idle speculation?”

You should have eneded this quest when the giant died and started up a newquest . Now she's just another Mary Sue.

rolled 2, 4, 2 = 8

>>9672554
Felion steeples his fingers. “At the moment, there is little we can do with such limited resources. We are but a few among very many, already at the limit of our power. If, as some suggest, we face the mask of the Bleeding Sun, it can only get worse.”

At this point, the conversation dissolves into several different tangents. The gods argue amongst themselves, and you catch only a bit of what they're saying.

“There is no way Perin could be this unprepared. Intelligence must have had forewarning. The Conclave must have the power to deal with this. Yet they do nothing.”

“Perhaps they're waiting for us? No use expending their valuable resources if this motley assortment can handle it anyway.”

“Ha! It's just like them, isn't it? Bloody money-grubbing bureaucrats.”

Ilian sighs, turning to you.

“Maya, you're pretty much the best we've got. No one else is worth dirt against those blasted towers. You've got the skills, and the power, and a mind from a world of wonders, to boot. What do you think we should do?” After a brief moment, he smirks, tilting his head to one side. “Gods asking mortals for advice... Oh, this is a peach, isn't it? It'd be great if any of us had more than a little combat experience.”

rolled 3, 6, 1 = 10

>>9672556
I had that option. Most wanted me to continue.

rolled 5, 5, 1 = 11

>>9672554
>“Ah, but what do we know of Perin's motivation?

Did you mean Forus? Also, yay Frost Giant quest!

>>9672525
Alright, FG quest. I've got some plans. Incoming

>>9672556
shut your whore mouth, you double faggot

rolled 4, 1, 2 = 7

>>9672746
No, he means Perin. He's suggesting that you know as little about Perin's motivation as you do about Forus's.

>>9672746
No, I think he meant Perrin. They're acting a little cagey.

Have I already told you my awesome plan to deal with the monstrosity that drove us back?

IIRC it has huge mouth full of teeth.
Summon boulders, put timed ice grenades in them and throw bunch of boulders in it's mouth.

>>9672780
Oh. Well that is quite unsettling. Also, I'm confused, what happened with working on the living siege engine? I remember reading last thread that work had stalled or something.

>>9672568
Where in the world was the far end of their port? Such distance suggests many of their resources are hidden in a distant place.

In any case, when they summoned their latest champion, all of the Forusians retreated. That suggests that they had no control of it at that moment. I don't know their intention's, or Perrin's, but they might need some more time to control their latest summons. You said the fog was around all their encampments?

I believe the Forusian's want to open portals all over the Perin to summon bunch of monstrosities just to fuck it up. Maybe it's their last, desperate act. They are losing but want to take us down as well

>>9672568
Because, if they all have that same fog, that may mean they've all summoned the same kind of forest god. On earth we'd call that a Shoggoth. Mythical of course, but amorphous and nearly invulnerable to physical attacks. What do you know about these things? I mean the forest gods, not Shoggoths...

rolled 5, 3, 2 = 10

>>9672858
An interesting plan, making maximum use of shrapnel.

>>9672861
It has become clear that creating a full, living siege being, complete with magical foundry, weapons, etc. entirely from scratch is far beyond the pantheon's power and expertise. The forge god is working on creating a basic 'frame' that Erivrus can inhabit, and adding the rest on later. Even so, it will be very costly, in terms of energy.

>>9672869
The origin point of the attacking force is unknown. The fog is present at each of the seven fortresses, extending past the anti-scrying fields.

>At least you managed to keep Kel safe,

>Durr hurr, let's port kel and hug, derrr
>derp, let's hug kel, berr
>hurp, hug kel, durr


Thank you, the one hug obsessed asshole from the previous thread, now we have a deadweight to haul around. I told you to leave him where he is, don't come crying when he dies.

I just finished reading the Evil Quest archive

Now it's hard to get out of that mindset

rolled 2, 4, 4 = 10

>>9672916
“By all accounts, they resemble creatures of nature,” says one of the 'plant' gods. “But they do not respond to our calls, and they do not act in a consistent manner. That may be because they are from a place so far outside our control.”

Felion looks up. “In the end, we know very little, beyond the fact that they were summoned by agents of Forus.”

>>9672965
>An interesting plan, making maximum use of shrapnel.


Yep, let that thing swallow them and then, BOOM, STOMACH BLAST!

>>9672965
Ah, okay. I'm still hoping he comes out looking like that picture.

>>9672980
>Dead weight
>Killed 2-3 trolls with crossbow bolts to the eye
>Is a damn fine shot and very capable
>Judging usefulness in comparison to us, a Frost Giant with shitloads of magic

Maybe they didn't summon those thing at all the fortresses? We could attack another one maybe.

Also, when Forus first attacked they used summons but after they conquered, the summons were gone. Maybe they don't last for long?

rolled 2, 5, 6 = 13

>>9673079
Various alternate forms have been discussed. The one you described is bipedal, with a hunched back loaded down by factory structures. A fearsome image, perhaps, but slow, lumbering, and potentially unstable. It has been suggested that a spider-like frame would be more stable.

>>9672916
'sighs' Would the mages be willing or able to use tower shields like I do? It seems that their magical shields need backup. I don't want to lose more of them than neccessary. Or perhaps each mage could have a companion soldier holding a tower shield for them? Honestly, I'd like them all along so that I don't get overwhelmed during the attack.


Do you understand the towers any more after that last failed attempt? The gauntlet didn't work. Maybe I could get teleported inside the tower? However, I think they might be done with the towers already......

In which case our focus should be on the forest gods. My idea is attacking them with ice and fire at the same time. I've an ice spell that gives the target ice that spreads like fire. That and thermite (give thermite formula) should be too distracting to handle.

>>9673079

With the power we have now we could destroy 2 dozen trolls in a blink of an eye. While he's very awesome for a human he's no match for what we had to battle for last sessions. Now we have to keep looking out for him as not to lose one of the oldest friends we have.

Isn't the majority of Perin's forces in Forus, making the final push to end this war?

It's possible that Forus was much more powerful than Perin and the gods allied with Perin thought, but it seems more likely that Forus made a deal with something out of desperation. The shoggoth or whatever this thing is.

The Forus forces here are likely here to hold up their end of the bargain for the shoggoth, and to open up ways into Perin for it. The shoggoth, in return, helps them keep the Perin forces in Forus occupied.

rolled 5, 6, 4 = 15

>>9673126
All of the fortresses are surrounded by fog and covered by an anti-scrying field. You would be 'porting in about five miles out, and you couldn't be extracted until you got at least that far, if something went wrong.

Either that, or the summoned beings were recalled when they were no longer needed.

Maybe we should hook up with the Conclave and ask what's what? Maybe they can give some insight

Use the twins from the village if there is any need.

>>9672965
What's the timeframe on having Ervivrus available as a weapon? If it's more than a month, I say we go with a different plan: is there a way of attaching him to ourselves as a guardian spirit (like in Artesia?)

>>9673219
The conclave isn't cooperating with the gods. I guess we could try, but will they talk to us?

Open up a channel to speak with the conclave. If need be we could attend a face to face meeting. We need better (or, really, ANY) coordination with Perrin. As of now we're acting on our own.

>>9673175
Then you might as well say that all the other soldiers are dead weight. It' not like we're going to take him into battle with us; like the gods said, we're preetty much the only ones right now with the raw power necessary for this.

And I've been thinking, why not try to contact the forest monsters? They seem mildly intelligent, if we could get them to ally with us, it would be nice.

rolled 5, 5, 3 = 13

>>9673149
The mages could be issued shields, or stay behind others with them, but the enemy tends to concentrate fire on casters. Of course, if the enemy is no longer ranks of men, this is a moot point.

The gods don't have much more information on the towers. Felion can't explain why the gauntlet didn't work when in contact with the tower; he was quite sure it would.

Your thermite formula is accepted, and its qualities are of great interest to the gods. They're not sure ice would be all that useful, but creatures of nature do tend to be composed of flammable materials.

what was thermite again?

Can we get a map displaying all forts that have been attacked, which were taken back or surrendered, which remain held?

Among those taken back or surrendered, did any seem more or less freely given back than the others? were one or two of them tooth-and-nail?

Have a feeling they need a few of them for something conjurative, but others were a feint to obscure their true needs.

We need a coup de grace/magic bullet.

>>9673318

Thermite is a pyrotechnic composition of a metal powder and a metal oxide, which produces an aluminothermic reaction known as a thermite reaction. Most varieties are not explosive, but can create short bursts of extremely high temperatures focused on a very small area for a short period of time.

Thermites can be a diverse class of compositions. The fuels are often aluminium, magnesium, calcium, titanium, zinc, silicon, and boron. The oxidizers can be boron(III) oxide, silicon(IV) oxide, chromium(III) oxide, manganese(IV) oxide, iron(III) oxide, iron(II,III) oxide, copper(II) oxide, and lead(II,III,IV) oxide.[1]

The most common thermite is aluminium-iron(III) oxide.

rolled 4, 5, 3 = 12

>>9673195
The majority of Perin's forces are in Forus, yes, but a sizable portion was recalled to deal with the invasion. The push to the capitol has stalled, though the enemy has made no counterattack there as of yet.

>>9673219
>>9673263
You'll see if you can get a line in to the Conclave. Hang on.

>>9673232
The timeframe will have to be less than a month, or it'll get very, very difficult to reincarnate him. The plans for the basic form could be ready in a week, maybe less, since the forge god is rushing it as much as possible without compromising the whole thing.

>>9673270
They are not responding to the nature gods, and, because of the field, more direct communication would have to be done face-to-face.

I propose we deal with that monster thing somehow. It should be alone now, rummaging the neighborhood. If shit hits the fan, we can port out.

DM, can you describe the monster that we couldn't defeat again?

You know, a gun type nuke isn't *that* hard to make. With alchemy and divine help it should be possible to make a superweapon.

>>9673361

Could the gods make a smaller frame for Erivrus something closer to an apc rather than the golem?

rolled 4, 1, 2 = 7

>>9673361
Ilian attempts, at your request, to put you through to someone close to the Conclave. Understandably, the organization is very secretive, impossible to contact directly by most means. It takes several minutes for him to find a mark near enough.

The Conclave is in closed session, locked up in their temple like the Lord in his manor. They are communicating through messengers only. Since Ilian has some pull within Intelligence, he could get a priority message in fairly quickly.

Anything specific you wish to say?

>>9672568
>they want combat experience

ask the gods why can't they 'possess' someone or create temporary bodies for them to use and help us in battle

>>9673441

Dunno, I just wanted their insight. Maybe they found the way to deal with it or something. Or know what the fuck Forusians are doing, their goals, etc.

rolled 3, 1, 2 = 6

>>9673232
Erivrus has many options, some of which involve being transformed into a spirit. He could very well become a guardian attached to you.

>>9673344
I'll get you a map in a moment. There was nothing to indicate that any fortresses were part of a feint.

>>9673422
It is a long, worm-like creature, resembling those from Dune. Its skin is jet-black, springing into long, thin tendrils at intervals. Its mouth extends across the whole of its front, a circular portal that is ringed with teeth and travels farther than you can see within the beast. It has three eyes in a triangular cluster on its 'back', near the mouth, and might have more.

>>9673441
>>9673496

Or maybe they can hatch up a better plan for us?


Anyway, I'd like to stay more, DM, but it's way too late (as always). Looking forward to see what will happen wit hthis session.
Don't get us killed, bros!

>>9673361
That sounds fine. If we need to kill them, we'll probably need to get close-ish for that too, so either way we'll be fact to face.

>>9673424
It is when you only skimmed the schematics for how to make it and that was over a year ago and you've forgotten most or all of it. We are not a walking, talking version of wikipedia. There are things on there that we might not have looked at. And even if we have, we might not know how to make it, and with a nuke, even a small one, I don't think we should try unless we're 100% sure.

>>9673441
Forus has summoned forest deities at occupied fortresses .stop.
Continuing with assaults against occupied fortresses .stop.
Inquiry: are there higher priority targets? Repeat: Are there higher priority targets? .stop.
Very hard pressed, victory uncertain. Reinforcement and coordination requested .full stop.

(telegram style)

>>9673441

Forus has started throwing magic far outside their domain around.
They're hitting us with creatures of the woodland and forest.
At the moment it appears I am the only being capable of stopping these abominations from eating your country from the inside out.
And you FUCKS haven't told me what's going on.
If you don't start giving me information, immediately, I'm not going to be able to save your world, and I might not find it in my heart to even try to save a nation that refuses to save itself.

rolled 3, 6, 1 = 10

>>9673433
Much more easily, yes.

>>9673480
Possession, or puppetry, is not easy, is very energy-intensive, and tends to do bad things to the subject's mind. As for godly avatars, those they know how to use are very limited in power, and manifesting on the surface would remove their ability to teleport large amounts of people across great distances, among other things.

>>9673577
>It is a long, worm-like creature, resembling those from Dune. Its skin is jet-black, springing into long, thin tendrils at intervals. Its mouth extends across the whole of its front, a circular portal that is ringed with teeth and travels farther than you can see within the beast. It has three eyes in a triangular cluster on its 'back', near the mouth, and might have more.
My mental image is like a cross between this and a shoggoth right now. Would that be accurate?

rolled 5, 3, 1 = 9

>>9673496
Acknowledged.

>>9673592
See you later.

>>9673656
>>9673668
Got it.

>>9673270
I'm not saying the soldiers and mages are dead weight. They help us focus our energies on the main target where otherwise we'd be struggling to survive. I've thought that we should try doing a raid unaccompanied, but then I get flashbacks to previous solo missions.....

Will Erivrus be able to inhabit a more "normal" body once the war is over? I'd hate to have him stuck as a walking war machine, especially the whole "living siege engine" thing likely came about as a direct result of our thoughtless advice to "take whatever form would best aid the war effort" or somesuch.

Can we get our shield enchanted? Maybe something to make it less brittle, or to further enhance its resistance to fire?

Fuck ya FG quest!
>_> tobad i have to leave now.

have fun everyone, and have a good weekend subpro

>>9673804
Also we should acquire more potions and batarangs if possible.

rolled 5, 2, 3 = 10

Here is the map. The green dots are fortresses currently under friendly control. The red dots are fortresses where the towers activated successfully, summoning the forest creatures.

>>9673716
Pretty much, yes.

>>9673776

The current plan is for him to be a Medium-sized warforged that uplinks into a spiderbot the size of a Titan.
With flamethrowers.

Imagine it. A spider with the firepower to wipe out an entire castle in a single shot.
"That's no mountain. That's a Cyber Paladin."

The spider is an accessory, the pilot could easily be human-shaped, like if a mecha were piloted by C-3P0.

>>9673859
hi pipboy

>>9673859
You mean the retaken fortresses? I assume the fortresses they failed to take are further to the south.

rolled 1, 3, 4 = 8

>>9673776
He should be able to transfer to a different body. This will be much easier once the war's over.

>>9673804
Yes, you can. It will have to be a low-level one, since the gods are very wary of power requirements. The shield is not all that brittle, due to its interconnected structure, and to the fact that you were able to alchemize tungsten of extreme purity.

>>9673809
Bye. Thanks for being here.

>>9673839
At the next possible opportunity, you'll see about it.

>>9673940
Is there a list of available shield enchantments we could get, or is it pretty much "roll your own"?

Huzza! Frost Giant quest!

I suppose we'll have to construct a super weapon to defeat those THINGS that were unleashed last time.
I vote Death Ray over nuclear warhead. Radioactive fallout is bad.

(No Zeonquest again this weekend?)

>>9673940
If we've got some time before the next battle, can we go about trying to make some more alchemized armor for the other troops?

rolled 1, 2, 6 = 9

>>9673917
The Forusians failed to take one fortress, and another was reclaimed. They only mounted attacks on nine of them, all others remain intact. It should be noted that all of these fortresses are for internal defense; the border line is untouched.

>>9673656
>>9673668
>>9673496
>>9673592
Message sent. With any luck, the messenger communicate to the Conclave your thoughts and requests, though the response is anything but certain. If all goes well, however, they will be appraised of your situation within the hour, and hopefully, they won't take too long to send back.

Well then, I guess if all the information-gathering and weapons-prep is done, we should make and adjust lenses for the arc-lamp we made, to get that +1 to lightning dagger attacks thing.

I think the Mad Scientist's proposal said it would probably take a month or so of trial and error to get it just right, since Maya can't just look up the formulas and refractivity of the lenses and all that.

>>9674001
>I vote Death Ray over nuclear warhead. Radioactive fallout is bad.
It's not either-or, you know.
The death ray is an augmentation to give a circumstantial bonus to the daggers, which are a weapon that we already possess.
You should probably think of it less as a weapon itself and more as a heavy bonus that can be applied to a weapon we already own and frequently use.

>>9673940
So, any response on our messages to the conclave? Or just dead silence?

If nothing, then we should gear up for a small-party raid. We want tough-ass mages with a soldier paired up for every one. Tower shields on the soldiers. The ones that come along must understand that this time we're placing first priority on killing the enemy and second priority on protecting them. They're along to distract/preoccupy Forusians encountered.

After we've started organizing the thing, we need to start producing iron oxide and aluminum powders for the thermite. Harmless by themselves....but with a phosphorus detonator.... We'll ask for help testing and refining it.

On the mission, we won't carry all the thermite ourselves- others will carry about half of it. Should help keep off pesky shoggoths etc. That way we can safely drop the thermite we've got if we need to, and still have ammo.

rolled 2, 4, 2 = 8

>>9673991
You can specify certain effects, and the gods will try to accommodate you. You could get a miniature light-field, a permanent cold aura, a charm to maneuver the shield to block incoming shots, or any number of things, really.

>>9674003
Yes. At current, there are no further attack plans. Ilian awaits further input on the matter, but right now, he wants to send a few scouts in to see exactly what has to be dealt with.

>>9674048
You can attempt these projects at any time. Just tell me which one.

rolled 5, 3, 6 = 14

>>9674109
It'll take at least an hour for the message to arrive. You can spend that time however you wish.

So. Thermite? Armor? Enchantments? Lenses?

>>9674147

I vote Thermite.
The thermite is of immediate and powerful benefit to our arsenal, and fulfills a role that we currently have left empty.
The enchantment would be weak and would merely augment an item that already fulfills it's purpose very well.
Same with the light gun.
The armor for the men should be our second priority, but we don't really know if it would do any good since we're fighting a forest shoggoth, not fire mages, and they already have armor that resists impact damage and such. It would help, but it's role is already at least somewhat occupied.

>>9674128
Remind me what a "light-field" is... Was it the thing that turned projectiles passing outwards into glowing missiles of death, or was is the thing that blocks incoming shots? Or was it the same thing that did both?

>>9674030
Umm, that's a retcon if I remember correctly.

"There were thirteen Forusian groups, originally. Five were repulsed, and disappeared into ash clouds."

>>9674219
Wait, why are we fighting the shoggoth? I thought we left it behind when we teleported into the last tower. Do we have any reason to believe we'll be facing it again?

>>9674147
Just ask for a minor enchantment to improve its durability.

We spend the time working on thermite. Need doing. Shoggoth's gotta get a burning sensation soon.

rolled 6, 5, 4 = 15

>>9674219
Very well. You will attempt to make thermite.

Email field: dice+1d20 for alchemy. Result determines quality.

>>9674253
It does both. The field would extend a short distance over the shield's top edge, so you could fire your crossbow through it.

>>9674255
You are correct. I'm having trouble keeping my numbers straight.

>>9674327
Wow, that sounds awesome. I vote we ask for a miniature light-field for our shield.

rolled 1 = 1

>>9674327

ROLLAN FOR THERMITE

Hopefully we don't blow ourselves up...

rolled 18 = 18

>>9674327

Soon we will be able to make fire puns in battle just as we do with ice.

rolled 19 = 19

>>9674327
Making perfectly safe (safe seperately) components of thermite

>>9674378
Goddamit. Well, it's just alchemy, we can try again.

>>9674378
>1
Yeah, it's Frost Giant Quest alright.

rolled 13 = 13

>>9674327

>>9674378

rolled 5, 2, 1 = 8

>>9674286
Several were summoned by the Forusians. They currently occupy seven fortresses.

>>9674306
>>9674354
The shield will get a slight durability boost and the miniature light-field, if that is acceptable. Be advised that the shield will be relatively weak, and will fail quickly under intense fire.

>>9674378
>Hopefully we don't blow ourselves up

Yeah.

What is the terrain along this internal maginot line like? Hilly? Mountainous? Canyons?

Specifically, are these forts anywhere near a fault line?

>>9674424 Be advised that the shield will be relatively weak, and will fail quickly under intense fire.
I assume you mean the shielding effect from the light-field, not our shield itself...

>>9674424 >Hopefully we don't blow ourselves up
> Yeah.
FFFFFFFF

>>9674410
i lol'd

rolled 1, 3, 5 = 9

>>9674378
You disengage from the pantheon's link, after requesting the enchantment for your shield. It won't be much, but every little bit helps.

After finding a suitably out-of-the-way place, you crack your knuckles and press your hands to the ground, hoping that your attempt to create explosives isn't automatically doomed to failure.

>1

The dirt sparks with green and gold, sinking into a depression at least a foot wide as a thick, reddish liquid bubbles up from the surface. The liquid collects in the basin, forming a pool of iron oxide that glows faintly orange. A large bubble forms, bursting before you can get clear, splattering you with molten iron.

Thankfully, the Magma Steel protects you from the heat.

rolled 4, 4, 6 = 14

>>9674426
Slightly hilly. There are no known fault lines in the area, nor is there anything notable about the fortresses themselves.

>>9674453
You assume correctly.

>>9674530
>nor is there anything notable about the fortresses themselves.

Other than all being targetted by the enemy for their apparent strategic value relative to a currently unknown goal.

>>9674514
How about transmuting the elements directly. Would that be easier?

>>9674514
Well. That was a bust. Try one more time, then try to make some armor?

rolled 3, 5, 3 = 11

>>9674560
Yes, other than that.

>>9674578
Do you mean your 'ice to metal' trick, or something else?

>>9674612
We can transmute the dirt to the appropriate elements. Is that easy or hard?

rolled 1, 4, 6 = 11

>>9674593
Sure. Roll again.

>>9674619
Since your alchemy pendant is no longer operable, it's harder, but fairly easy, compared to making tungsten-ceramic.

rolled 7 = 7

>>9674639
>your alchemy pendant is no longer operable
Infinite transmutation WAS a bit game-breaking, but I guess this means it'll be a long time before we can make radiation shielding, much less safely make a working nuke.

>>9674639
Wait, what happened to the pendant? I thought it just had to recharge between uses.

>>9673577
>It is a long, worm-like creature, resembling those from Dune. Its skin is-

SAY WHAT!?!

>>9674718
Walk without rhythm! WALK WITHOUT RHYTHM!

rolled 6, 2, 3 = 11

>>9674668
Scraping a bit of the iron off your armor, you lament your bad luck and try again, calling upon your sizable reserves of power.

>7

The earth yields a small cube barely the size of an apple, composed entirely of rust and aluminum. Its surface flakes when you pick it up, but it doesn't crumble, melt, or blow up, so you think you managed to do it right this time. You've made thermite.

Orders?

>>9674689
That's what you were told, but there's no way to know if that's correct, or how long it will take.

>>9674787
Ahh, no I was thinking we'd make the components seperately then combine them... oh well. Let's have someone with fire talent light this thing off. If it doesn't work try again. We're still waiting on the message.

>>9674787

I think we ought to test this bastard out.

Put it on the ground and light it up.
We'll need somethign that gets above 2000 degrees to ignite it, but we'll want to see that it ignites before we go through the effort of making chemical triggers for our next batch of incendiaries.
So I think zapping it with the lightning daggers ought to do it.

We should watch it burn and make another one if it goes well.

>>9674743
GET OUT OF MY MIND!

rolled 1, 5, 2 = 8

>>9674843
>>9674848
Consensus requested. You could trigger it with a bit of magnesium, if you want. Creating the small amount required would be easy, so no roll.

>>9674877
>no roll to create very small amounts of a metal you've never worked with before
Let's make gold and platinum coins!

>>9674877
Yeah, but then what will we light the Mg with?

rolled 3, 3, 5 = 11

>>9674904
That is thoroughly within your power, actually.

>>9674924
Magic?

>>9674926

We are going to rape this economy SO hard when the war stops.
By the time we're done, it will be 500 gold coins and a large ruby for a loaf of bread.

>>9674877
Thermite is... it's very dangerous and explosive. IF we test it, we should try to make a long fuse and set it off from a long distance, even with just the small brick that we have.

>>9674924

Lithium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, cesium, and/or francium?
Which we can light with atmospheric water vapor, or spit if that doesn't take.

>>9674926
Wait, so why hasn't this country's economy been raped by alchemists already?

rolled 5, 5, 5 = 15

>>9674924
Fire. Magnesium burns at a high enough temperature to ignite thermite, but it does not itself require extreme temperatures to light. Using it, you could create a fuse.

>>9674954
It is easy for skilled alchemists to create many basic elements and compounds, and yet this nation's economy relies on metallic coinage. Why do you think that is?

>>9674965

Iron rust thermite. It's only going to be explosive if we made it wrong. And looking at our super-awesome high rolls
>1
>7
there's NO chance of THAT, right?

>>9674954
We've been doing that already with all the haggling Bem's been doing, and with all the gems we got from the demons.

>>9674965
Thermite is not very dangerous and is nonexplosive in most mixtures. It's a fire that doesn't stop burning, and it burns very hot.

>>9675005
>It is easy for skilled alchemists to create many basic elements and compounds, and yet this nation's economy relies on metallic coinage. Why do you think that is?

Because as long as he money itself is still made out of a valuable metal the currency doesnt really inflate. Modern inflation really went our of control with the advent of printed paper money.

rolled 1, 1, 1 = 3

>>9675056
An interesting conjecture.

>>9675097
The bottom line is, you don't really know. Though you would probably find out quickly if you tried to use your powers as a mint.

>>9675005
Because most alchemists are under the gov't control, giving it the power to inflate the money supply without having to resort to paper monies?

>>9675110
lol divination and forgery charges.
I bet "real" coins of that denomination contain some type of anti-counterfeiting ward, kind of like those paper monies that you can hold up to the lght and see a watermark hidden inside the paper. Pass the coins under an enchanted glass and the ward shows?

Well, let's make a clearing for the thermite and light this shit with some magnesium!

rolled 3, 3, 1 = 7

>>9675144
You clear a space for your thermite cube, making sure that there is nothing in the vicinity that could easily ignite, and digging a small channel to contain any molten metal. After that, you create a long, thin strip of magnesium, and arrange it as a fuse. By the time you're done, a small crowd of soldiers has gathered to see what you're doing now.

With a glimmer in your eye, you ask one of the mages to light the fuse, which he does, sending a small spark from his fingers while leaning as far back as possible. You warn everyone to shield their eyes as the fuse runs out.

The little cube ignites, flaring suddenly into an extremely bright light, sparking slightly. You cover your face with your gauntlet, backing away, to a chorus of oohs and ahhs from the soldiers. The mage hides behind you as the reaction runs its course, filling the channel with a tiny bit of liquid metal. Everything went better than expected.

>>9675143

Maybe we wouldn't make them look like real coins.
Maybe we could put our face on one side, with the words "fucking awesome" printed in big Roman letters on the back?
Making Dreamwood Dollars would help turn Dreamwood into a nightmarish theme park dedicated to and reliant solely upon Maya for it's economic stability and wellbeing.
We could be like some sort of horrible sadistic 19th-century industrialist, all we'd need is the tophat!

>>9675264
That doesn't sound very nice...

>>9675144
Indeed. Get the assistance of someone with some experience with fire and light it up.

>>9675278
It's really not.
But VERY profitable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_scrip

>>9675256
Alright, if we've got some time make more. Have any available alchemists help however they can.

>>9675312
What are we planning to do with the thermite, exactly? Ask the monster politely to stand still while we light it beneath him?

>>9675349
No, we'll be making thermite grenades now. When they impact the Shoggoth forcefully they'll begin to burn. I'm assuming a white phosphorus detonator- as soon as its containment breaks and it's exposed to the air it'll light it right up. With that in mind, the thermite grenades should be on an easy-drop bandolier.

>>9675349
We make thermite grenades. It's not like the magnesium fuse would go out just from them being thrown.

>>9675349
Put it all in a container with thin walls. Thermite doesn't use atmospheric oxygen, all transferred oxygen comes from the rust, so it doesn't need to be exposed to open air to light up, it just needs to be triggered.
Light fuse, throw incendiary, burn shoggoth, receive victory, get a life-sized statue built in our own honor at the capitol.

>>9675368
Either this or there will be a time-delay fuse. We're good at chucking stuff, remember? At the same time we will gift the shoggoth with patches of spreading ice.

>>9675368
In that case, would the Thermite stick to it at all? Otherwise it's just going to move away from the heat, most likely in our direction.

rolled 4, 2, 1 = 7

>>9675312
Roll 5d20 for alchemy. Multiple batches, result determines quality.

Well. Shall we make more thermite or try making some armor?

>>9675375
1 shoggoth is not a victory. Hopefully we'll get to pound the Forusian garrison and get more intel on what they're up to. If not, it's rinse, repeat and move on to the next fortress.

rolled 5, 3, 3, 3, 14 = 28

>>9675403

>>9675403

rolled 8, 8, 16, 3, 16 = 51

>>9675403
Let's make thermite.

>>9674378
>>9675436
I AM GOOD AT ROLLING

>>9675436
gosh-darn it. Now we've gotta work at it some more. Most of those are bad.

>>9675400
We only need the ignited thermite to touch it. If it is at all plant based it'll catch fire from the intense heat and burn out of control.

rolled 14, 8, 9, 6, 13 = 50

>>9675403

>>9675480

Well, actually, living plants are full of water, so if the initial contact isn't large enough it might catch fire in a very small area and then go out.

If it's full of water, though, that means we're golden. Because if it's full of water we can freeze it to death, and if the water doesn't freeze that means it's probably way, waaaaaay too full of electrolytes (nutriends and sugars and acids and such, like normal trees and plants) and thus it would be decent conductor, so our lightning daggers should work since it isn't resistive enough to not provide a good path to the ground and it isn't going to be covered in a protective Faraday cage since the conductive electrolyte-rich water will all be internal.

rolled 5, 1, 1 = 7

Time for the real show to begin. Without your pendant, and with your limited experience, creating thermite is a rather trying affair. But you have plenty of time to make mistakes, and you can always chug a potion if you're feeling out of it, though you've been warned that overuse makes them less effective. Hopefully it won't come to that.

>5,3,3,3

The first four attempts result in, to put it plainly, absolute shit. You make another small cube that promptly splits into shards, and three small pools of assorted common metals. The soldiers cheer you on, repeating 'Try Again! Try Again!' after each of your failures. You hope that doesn't become your nickname.

>14

Finally something you can work with. Two cylinders, about the size of drink cans, rise out of the ground in a flash of color. There are small notches in their tops which could accommodate a fuse, and they are of noticeably higher quality than your first product. A few of the men start clamoring for another demonstration.

>>9675619
Alright, lets change tact for a bit and make some armor.

rolled 1, 5, 2 = 8

>>9675619
It's been about fifteen minutes. You can keep doing what you're doing, switch to something else, or line up a bunch of projects, timeskip, and roll in bulk.

>>9675619
Make a fuse and try one of the grenades out. Create another batch, a good one this time. Is it possible for a real alchemist to help provide the control if we provide the power?

>>9675619
>> Overuse makes healing potions less effective

Oh heck. I was afraid of that. We've got some mandatory rest-time comiing up I'm afraid.

>>9675646
Make more thermite (10 grenades?), timeskip to any message response or significant event.

rolled 3, 5, 3 = 11

>>9675643
Very well. Roll 5d20 for alchemy, same pattern as before.
We'll see what happens.

>>9675663
It is possible, if the casters involved have knowledge of channeling. It's a rather obscure skill, and, though you learned it once, you haven't practiced it much since your reincarnation.

rolled 14, 8, 17, 13, 18 = 70

>>9675734
Transmute, transmute, transmute the Thermite!

>>9675802
Huh.... I guess Bards aren't useless after all...

rolled 6, 4, 1 = 11

>>9675802
That's the armor roll. Roll another 5d20 for alchemy, quoting this post. Timeskip will include testing.

>>9675802

Looks like this quest's about to heat up.

rolled 10, 5, 16, 17, 11 = 59

>>9675825

>>9675825

Theoretically, we never said this was called "THERMITE," right? Just brought up the idea of alchemizing up metals as an incendiary?

What if we called it "PROMETHIUM" instead?
And proceeded to use it to slay demons, mutants, monsters, blasphemers, and the zealous followers of false or evil gods?
And got it blessed so we were, technically, smiting demons, heretics, traitors, and vile xenos alike with HOLY PROMETHIUM?

Just a thought.

>>9675886
I second this.

>>9675886
>>9675924
Promethium is a liquid. Thermite cannot be fired from a flame thrower type device.

>>9675802
Yay, better armor for the troops! And >>9675863 is pretty good too!

>>9675963
Isn't thermite supposed to be powdered this and that? Same premise as a sandblaster. Except maybe you then get fire AND abrasion?

>>9675963

You know that. I know that. But these people? They don't know that. We could make a sex toy called a Promethium and they would see nothing wrong with it.

>>9676027

Yes, it's powdered, but the rust powder and the aluminum powder have to be in physical contact or the oxygen cannot transfer from the one to the other and thus the reaction cannot occur.

No sandblasters, unfortunately.

rolled 4, 2, 5 = 11

Maybe you should consider becoming a full-time alchemist. There are plenty of possibilities, after all, and if you want to revolutionize the world, it helps to have the right tools. For now, you'll stick with making plentiful suits of armor and vast amounts of incendiaries, and see where that gets you.

>14, 8, 17, 13, 18

You manage, with some effort, to create a sizable amount of tungsten-ceramic, shaping it into various pieces of armor as you go. Your head starts to hurt partway through, so you take it slowly, fashioning simple components. The end result is three full suits, one suit missing a helmet, and five pairs of gauntlets. Some are a bit thinner, some more durable, but all follow the same general pattern, sporting the marathon symbol somewhere on their surface.

>10, 5, 16, 17, 11

Following that, you return to thermite-crafting, pulling four more of those cylinders out of the ground, along with another crumbling cube, and four cylinders of noticeably higher quality, with an internal structure you think is porous. Settling against one of the fortress walls for a rest, you generate another fuse, nearly finishing your energy reserves, and stand by for testing.

>Continued

>>9676075
drink a pot

>>9676051
Hmm... Our thermite grenades... are they a homogenous solid? Couldn't we grind it up into a powder and still have aluminum/iron oxide bonded, albeit in smaller particles? (which in turn might be more explodey due to increased surface area, like a silo full of grain dust exploding?)

>>9676117
No, no need to use those outside of combat.

rolled 4, 4, 5 = 13

>>9676075
You select one of the lower-quality cylinders, and have the mage from before set it in the 'testing range', light the fuse, and get out of the way. The result is an extremely bright light, with a few sparks, and an immense outpouring of heat capable of burning through nearly anything. In a little bit, the mixture burns itself out, leaving nothing but molten iron and aluminum. You feel considerably drained, but this success is encouraging.

No more than a minute later, you receive a call from Ilian. The Conclave got the message, and apparently, they thought it warranted their attention. One of their messengers is offering you the opportunity to speak to a few of the members directly.

>>9676075
Ask about the signs of incipient healing potion overuse. And how permenant the effects are.

>>9676156
Good, let's get on the call. Before we do, ask the officers/ranking mages if they have ideas on topics we should raise.

>>9676156
Pfft, who need the Conclave? We've got THERMITE!

rolled 3, 6, 3 = 12

>>9676136
They are, though your newer ones are more like a powder contained in a thin shell. You could grind or crush them to produce that effect, yes.

>>9676157
The more you rely on magical healing, the more energy it takes to achieve the results you want. In serious cases, the immune system can shut down completely, and the body will stop repairing itself. Initially, you'll fatigue more easily, take longer to heal, and benefit less from each potion. You will also feel an increased need to use potions, the beginnings of addiction. These conditions rarely become serious, because healing potions are not usually available in large enough quantities.

>>9676156
In person?

>>9676212
Alright then, let's hold back on using them too much. Also, talking to the Conclave sounds good. Might as well ask them why they didn't stop the ice demon before it got to the city.

rolled 2, 1, 4 = 7

>>9676170
Nearly everyone suggests that you request support and reinforcements. Other preferences are for better intel, better equipment, and siege engines.

As the new commander put it, "Tell 'em to stop dragging their asses and start acting like they give a damn!"

>>9676246
Distance link, sound only. The request for a face-to-face meeting was ignored.

>>9676212
And how permenant are the symptoms?

>>9676287
Sound only, you say?

rolled 1, 6, 1 = 8

>>9676306
They fade with time, unless serious damage is done. If it gets to the point where you cannot heal naturally, reversing the damage is usually not possible.

Standby for link.

rolled 6, 6, 6 = 18

>>9676364
You re-enter the link with the pantheon, and the gods fade quickly into the distance as Ilian connects you with the Conclave. He informs you that they're very powerful mages, with mostly unknown capabilities, and it'd be wise not to antagonize them.

Ilian's face disappears from your sight, replaced by an all-encompassing blackness that is sooned filled by chattering. After a moment, it consolidates into one crystal-clear, female voice.

“You are Maya Terrasdottir, citizen of Perin. Once attached to the Fairnest Garrison, responsible for granting freedom to the frost demon, a 'multi-chancer' oh so helpfully reincarnated after an untimely death, and current unsanctioned defender of the Western border.”

The link wavers. You hear a sound like branches rustling in the wind.

“We are aware of your situation. You desire support and information, which we can provide. However, we are bound to a code, one which we will excuse you for being ignorant of. Any aid we grant you will be substantially limited, unless you reaffirm your military contract. If you do so, you will be placed under our authority until such time as the immediate threat has been dissolved.”

A pause. You feel like this person would put your head on a pike if they could lift it.

“We await your decision.”

>>9676532
I have but one question, do you guys at least have an idea of what's happening to the towers and what are Forus' plans ?

>>9676312
Text only.

rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12

>>9676561
There is another pause, and you can hear the rustling sound again. The voice that responds is slightly different, more pleasant.

“We know a great deal, but Forus's plans are, as always, mostly incomprehensible except in hindsight.”

>>9676532
There is an extreme lack of trust coming down this phone-line. And dare I say it, a hint of malevolence from Perrin high command.

"I need more information. What is my obligation?"

>>9676532
"Whar is the immediate threat? And would this be limited to this immediate threat, or would the contract be extended to include any other immediate threats that pop up after this one? Lastly, could you send aid not to me, but to the military forces who are here currently?"

>>9676532
Tell me about this code of yours.

>>9676532
That sounds fair, provided they dont intentionally try to get us killed. Kel doesnt have to be under their command though.

>>9676532
If you think the Forusian incursion is a sufficient threat, then bring force against it. If not, let it lie. I've given you the information I have.

rolled 1, 4, 2 = 7

>>9676623
The first voice returns, sounding even more malevolent than before.

“Your obligation, as stated, would be to follow our orders without question. You were under Ceril the Hawk. You know what military service entails.”

>>9676626
“The immediate threat is the group of enemy forces and associated constructs, summoned or otherwise, that inhabit your area,” responds a third, dry voice, “You contract terminates upon dissolution of this threat, or upon the threat's departure from Perinese territory.”

The second voice chimes in jovially: “Aid has already been dispatched, and has been traveling for several days now. Unfortunately, we are somewhat more... confined by distance than you seem to be.”

>>9676648
“It is the code of the Conclave. The relevant part forbids us from extending certain services to non-military, non-nobility, and especially non-citizens.”

>>9676807
Technically, it's not aid to ourselves. We would simply be assisting the forces you bring against a threat to yourselves.

rolled 5, 3, 6 = 14

>>9676691
“We are in the process of 'bringing force', naturally,” says the first voice, with audible distaste, “We do not charge headlong into the pillar of flame, waving swords about. We bring the river.”

>>9676849
"Your logic is impeccable," says the third. There is no further response.

>>9676807
>and especially non-citizens.”

>>9676807
"Interesting. Well, I do have to wonder why you haven't been sending more reinforcements or supplies to help your own men, but who am I to question your ways? Well, this bears thinking upon. Need I answer immediately, or might I talk to some of my friends?" (Hretmar and Ilian, and the others)

This might not be too bad of a deal, considering they'd be willing to have us around only as long as the Forus forces are around. Still, consult our bro network for opinions.

>>9676882
> Need I answer immediately, or might I talk to some of my friends?" (Hretmar and Ilian, and the others)

Seconded

rolled 5, 6, 5 = 16

>>9676882
"Talk to whomever you wish," the second says happily, "We will eagerly await your response." The rustling returns for a moment, and then ceases abruptly. The pantheon fades back into view.

"...so?" Ilian asks, making an inquisitive gesture.

You tell the gods what you've heard from the Conclave. Most of them seem to think that the government is being as reasonable as always.

"Accept," says Felion, "We stand to gain much from this arrangement."

"And we'll back ya if it goes south!" shouts the forge god.

Hretmar shrugs. "MUST IT BE YOU WHO DOES THIS?"

Ilian slaps him on the back. "Motives, man! They've always got something up their sleeves. You think it's normal for one person to be caught up in all of this stuff?"

>>9676877
"Fine. Name the captured fortress that is most crucial to your efforts."

>>9677014
Is there some lawyering trick I can use? What condition should I add? Something about no suicide missions?

Y'know Illian, that's something I've been asking myself lately

rolled 6, 2, 5 = 13

>>9677026
You will ask this once the link resumes.

>>9677068
Hretmar wants a reasonable time limit on the contract. Ilian thinks they should be willing to talk to you whenever you want, for updates and such. Felion thinks it'd be reasonable to make sure that they'll treat you as the asset you are, not a disposable tool. Though he doesn't know exactly how to go about that, or if the government would honor that, anyway.

>>9677106
"You certainly are special. Pulled from another world, awesome magical skills. One in a million, that's for sure."

>>9677014
"Well, I trust you guys. I still don't understand why they'll give support to us if we join, but they haven't sent any aid to their own men. Seems like a trick. But if I don't accept, we'll be just as bad off as before, if not worse. I suppose I'll go for it."

rolled 2, 5, 1 = 8

>>9677186
"If they truly are limited by distance," Felion advises, "They would have no choice but to send what is available."

You are going for it, then?

>>9677225
Make certain that we will be ending the threat, so that we don't end up following their orders that we must instruct them in all the knowledge we bring from our world while others fight and die in their masses.

mmm, my favorite quest thread.

"The end terms of this contract of theirs sounds alright by me, to be honest. Quite a bit more straightforward than dealmakers back home. But, I'll agree that there needs to be a reasonable time limit, should this get dragged out. Not that I'd stop defending the those who can't after that point, mind you."

>>9677177


I suggest entering a stipulation that allowed for the pantheon of gods to either end the contract prematurely, or to temporarily supersede the orders of the conclave if they are in need of our skills, as I suppose we are their best champion now.

>>9677325
>>9677332
Maximum of 1 year say?

rolled 4, 5, 4 = 13

The link resumes, the gods fading out as before. You are greeted by voice number two, thankfully.

“Ready?” it asks, accompanied by a soft, unintelligible whisper, “Have you consulted others?”

You tell the Conclave your conditions, most of which they accept. Your contract will be limited to a period not exceeding six months, though you will be obligated to listen to (but not necessarily accept) their proposal if they want to extend it. You will be granted an incantation for priority communications to the Conclave, which you may use at any time. In return, if the Conclave contacts you at any time, you must respond. You will be considered a significant asset, and treated as such. You will be used as a warrior, not a well of information.

As for allowing the pantheon to dissolve the contract, or supersede Conclave orders, denied.

Per your question: “For our current purposes, all captured fortresses are considered equal, except in terms of distance.”

>>9677378
I would rather not have a time limit, and rather have the gods able to just void the contract. Reason being now that we have quite a bit of power, even if the conclaves intentions are nothing but benevolent, they are still gonna use Maya a much as they possibly can for as long as they can.

>>9677225
I'll place good conditions then. I'll have to be able to keep contact with you guys, and no suicide missions. I want a rank with decision-making ability. I've been organizing raids out here, I'm not about to be in a position of no responsibility when I'm obviously handling so much raw power.

What do you guys think of those conditions?

>>9677225
Yes, but try to work in the conditions the gods thought of here: >>9677177

>>9677418
Okay then, how about rank?

rolled 6, 4, 6 = 16

>>9677378
The Conclave obviously doesn't think it should take anywhere near that long.

>>9677419
They refuse to agree to this, as it would, essentially, make the contract meaningless.

>>9677427
No suicide missions, confirmed, though this obviously doesn't preclude them from being difficult. As for rank, do you desire an officer or non-commissioned one?

>>9677418

"I see. So, if I'm right then, the plan is to have two re-taker forces meet in the middle?"

>>9677481
What is their chain of command like? I know there is the military, and the conclave. Are they separate entities or something else?

Additionally, are their nobles in the military? Are nobles considered military or prevented from being part of the military because of a conflict of duties or something?

>>9677481
Commissioned. We've been leading raids out here. We're not going to be just a weapon. We'll be much more useful interacting than simply acting.

>>9677558
I am thinking of commissioned as well, but I wanna see if that would interfere or not with our aims of becoming a noble and getting a title.

>>9672522
ｈ T Ｔ Ｐ : / / 8 8 . 8 0 . 2 1 . 1 2 / w ｉ ｌ ｌ Ｎ O t ｓ ｔ O p U Ｎ Ｔ i ｌ t H ｅ I Ｌ L E g a L s Ｉ T ｅ 4 c ｈ ａ N I s Ｇ o n ｅ F r o ｍ ｔ h Ｅ i Ｎ Ｔ E Ｒ ｎ E t ｃ O m p Ｌ Ｅ t E l Ｙ A ｎ ｄ F o Ｒ E Ｖ E R

rolled 1, 4, 6 = 11

>>9677520
"Incorrect. The army divisions currently en-route will sweep the countryside from the border onward, before converging to take the fortresses in turn."

>>9677538
The Conclave is part of the government, but a bit loosely organized. It commands various mage elements within the military and elsewhere. In a pinch, though, the chain of command recognizes the regular military as having precedence.

There are nobles in the military. Some military ranks come with a title or require one to be a noble before moving up. There is no conflict of interest, as nobles are considered subservient to the Lord and to Perin's well-being in general.

>>9677481
What is the difference? What are the pros and cons of each?

rolled 1, 4, 4 = 9

>>9677558
As a commissioned officer, you will be afforded the grade of Captain. This rank will apply only while you are under contract, though it is otherwise identical to a standard rank. Once you link up with reinforcements, you will be granted command of a military element suited to your task.

>>9677569
It will not interfere. In fact, if you perform well, it might ensure that you get one.

>>9677643
Ok, one last question. The rank of captain is for the military, and is not a part of the conclave, although we would be directed by the conclave, correct?

rolled 3, 2, 3 = 8

>>9677619
Commissioned officers hold command positions and are always above non-commissioned troops. In the upper ranks, they are generally somewhat farther behind the lines, but not always. Non-commissioned officers handle most tasks that higher command positions don't. They are responsible for individual squads, and the highest non-commissioned rank is responsible for up to 20 five-man squads.

Officers get more respect, and more opportunities for advancement. Non-coms, as the bottom rung, get plenty of leeway in certain situations, and are almost always at the front of the line.

>>9677736
Commissioned then. We'll always have the leeway to put ourselves on the front.

>>9677736
>>9677608
Let's go for Commissioned.

rolled 3, 3, 6 = 12

>>9677619
For your purposes, being a commissioned officer is probably the best choice, as it will give you command, and keep you farther from the line of fire, not to mention heaping more glory on you.

>>9677679
Correct. You would not be part of the Conclave, and if it came down to it, you could be directed by higher military command instead. The contract would not be affected by this.

rolled 5, 2, 3 = 10

>>9677766
>>9677767
Done. Once you accept the contract, you will officially be a Captain. Word will be sent to all the friendly units you are likely to encounter. You are, after all, unmistakable.

Anything else?

>>9677772
Alright, I vote for commissioned as well.

>>9677803
Ask what aid they'll be sending. In addition to what they've already got on the way, since they said that they would send us stuff specifically if we accepted the contract.

>>9677803
Are we to continue raiding for now? What else can you tell us now that we've accepted?

>>9677872
And if they have any idea what the heck those things currently holding the fortresses are.

rolled 2, 2, 4 = 8

>>9677872
Information, as much of it as you can use (and isn't classified), as well as certain support elements which don't require teleportation, like scrying links, channeled spells, spirit scouts, and the like, as the need arises.

>>9677959
>>9677962
Hang on.

rolled 2, 5, 2 = 9

The magic words. “I accept.”

“Excellent.”

The blackness blinks away, becoming a vast field of twinkling stars, then a small farm in a bustling village, and finally an unchanging blue background. Streams of runes flood your consciousness, none of them readable. You feel the three voices return, as bright orbs hovering in front of you, a triangular formation.

They speak as one. “Your orders are to journey toward the nearest hostile fortress, alone and on foot. Teleportation is expressly forbidden. All the information you require will be provided.”

>>9677959
>>9677962
The towers are summoning tools, and are themselves summoned. Through rituals unknown to the Conclave, they open ashen portals to another place, which is located on this planet, though the exact position is not known. The tower rituals draw beings from this place through the portals, closing the way behind them. The purpose of this is not known, but the beings have been identified as hybrid elementals, creatures consisting of melded Earth and Air, taking varied forms. They are vulnerable to fire, but capable of regenerating rapidly and changing their physical bodies without warning.

>Continued

>>9678143
>alone and on foot. Teleportation is expressly forbidden

>>9678143
Oh hey, three glowing orbs, where do I remember that from?

rolled 1, 2, 5 = 8

>>9678143
The fog generated by these beings is known to have unsavory effects on the minds of humans and Ulls. Bira are notably unaffected. The fog causes hallucinations, sensory degradation, and eventual unconsciousness after prolonged exposure. Troops succumbing to sleep inside the fog do not awaken. As long as the beings generating it remain, the perimeter of the fog will expand at an increasing rate without any known limit.

The effects of the fog on Frost Giant are not yet known. You are to enter the perimeter of the nearest accumulation, but remain outside the anti-scrying fields. The Conclave will monitor the effects, and, if they are sufficiently mild, or can be easily countered, you will be tasked with destroying the elementals.

>>9678225
I suspect the teleportation magic may be able to be tracked. If not, yeah that's fuckin' nuts.

Probably tamed by fire as a defense against us. Most of our magic is ice-based, so they seem to be just about perfect for the anti-Maya role. Minus, of course, our ion gun and thermite blocks.

>>9678243
facepalm.jpg

Oh great. We're a Test Subject...

I wonder if we could use alchemy to transmute their structure, as they are hybrid beings.

rolled 6, 3, 4 = 13

>>9678249
Yes, it can be tracked, and the brand of teleportation used by the pantheon is not totally instantaneous; it requires a build-up of magical energy in both the origin and destination, giving about fifteen seconds of forewarning.

rolled 6, 2, 1 = 9

>>9678305
Alchemy can be used to transmute nearly anything that isn't magically shielded.

Ask if the effects of the fog are magical in nature, as in just by being in it, or if they know if it's by inhalation, or even if they know?

If it's by breathing it in, I seem to recall some anon mentioning we could probably make simple carbon-filter breathing masks pretty easily.

rolled 5, 4, 3 = 12

>>9678335
A combination of the two. An experiment performed earlier involved several humans and Ulls carrying enchanted items that removed the need to breathe. The progression of symptoms was slowed, but not stopped.

rolled 2, 1, 5 = 8

At your usual speed, you can make it to the nearest fortress in four or five days. Due to time constraints, your arrival should come about in Saturday's session.

Questions? Orders? You have plenty of time to prepare, or work on your many projects. Since you're so fatigued, you should get a good night's rest before embarking.

Actually... wait...

How easily could we kick up a dust storm and how big would it be and how long could we maintain it/move it?

>>9678493
Yes, these creature, have they shown any signs of intelligence? So far, all we know is that they don't respond to plant god, but since they are a hybrid, perhaps an earth and air god should try together to communicate with one.

>>9678529

OH, I see your reasoning for this. Saturate the air with other particles for the fog to stick to and fall back down to the ground.

>>9672523
Ｉ A L Ｒ Ｅ A ｄ Ｙ R Ｅ a ｄ T Ｈ I S Ｏ ｎ ｈ t ｔ ｐ : / / 8 8 . 8 0 . 2 1 . 1 2 / ｓ Ｅ V Ｅ ｒ a Ｌ ｄ a Ｙ s Ａ Ｇ O

>>9678561
Yeah, the fog has been identified by the Conclave as the big problem. Even if the fog doesn't react naturally, hopefully we can at least be disruptive to it and weakn it.

Maybe think up a few ways to attack the fog?
What do airports and harbors do?

rolled 6, 1, 6 = 13

>>9678529
>>9678561
You have very limited skill with air magic, mostly using it to augment your 'hailstorm' attack. If you want to clear the fog, it would be much easier to use your cold aura.

>>9678548
They have never responded to communications with anything beyond aggression or indifference. They are believed to be intelligent, but no one has found a way to talk to or reason with them.

You switch back to the pantheon link for a moment, and ask if the earth gods and the air gods could try to contact one of the hybrids. After a few minutes, they respond that they got nothing, except for one. Helia, a goddess of stone, received a brief 'scratching' sound, but all further attempts met with failure.

>>9678643
Maybe next time we talk to the conclave, suggest it anyways. :/

Maybe they can do biggity sandstorms and then hit a fort with a wave of skirmishers.

>>9678643
Curses! Why can't we all just be friends?!?!?!

>>9678643
Also, from the stone? Could there be part of them underground?

rolled 2, 4, 3 = 9

>>9678663
You suggest it, after resuming the Conclave link. Going back and forth like this is beginning to wear you out.

The response is a bit predictable: "Your current mission is to ascertain the effects of the fog on your mind. Clearing the fog would be counterproductive." There is a brief rustling, and the voice changes. "It shouldn't take more than an hour or two. After that, we'll consider how best to defeat the enemy."

>>9678665
Because.

>>9678689
Possibly. The two hybrids you've encountered did rise from the ground, and the latest one remained mostly underground while you were there.

>>9678768
Ah! Then maybe we should try to listen in from underground. It's possible that it speaks using tremors and ground pulses, produced via the parts hiding underground. Could Helia (Coulda sworn I've heard that name before) try listening for that? Maybe see if there's a pattern?

>>9678894
SHe probably can't listen for it as we'll be in the no-scry zone.

rolled 4, 5, 1 = 10

>>9678894
>>9678924
Listening for vibrations would involve scrying, which cannot penetrate the field unless involving a serious amount of power. Evidently, the creatures are able to sense incoming communications to themselves and open the field to let them through, otherwise Helia would have heard nothing.

>>9678894

>>9678983
Ah. Perhaps she could try creating some tremors to try and get it's attention?

rolled 1, 5, 5 = 11

>>9679008
>get its attention

I can't see how this could end badly.

Yes, she could generate localized tremors outside the field. Do you want her to attempt this?

>>9679034
Well I mean, right now, the territory is under enemy control. If it moves, it might come out of the anti-scry zone, where we can try to listen to it and scry and stuff. I really *can't* see what could go wrong, since it would only know that there were tremors, not from where the are coming from. Might be best to try on one of the center fortresses, where the only thing around is other captured fortresses.

Negative. Stick with the conclave's plan. This is something we should find out for ourselves anyway.

rolled 2, 4, 1 = 7

>>9679097
The creatures are the source of the anti-scrying fields. If they move, the fields move with them.

>>9679099
This. We dont need the conclave trying to execute us for treason or whatnot.

rolled 3, 6, 6 = 15

Well, if there's nothing else, I'll see you tomorrow. Sorry nothing much happened this session.

>>9679338
That just means we can get right down the the action tomorrow. (hopefully)