File: 1355271140653.png-(258 KB, 300x400, Wizard X.png)

Your Wizard appears, but somehow ... wrong. Malformed and eerily shaped, eyes two burning holes of absence in creation. His face warps and flickers, shifting like smoke in rain, but the two portals to a terrifying, featureless plain of endless white are clear as crystal.

"It knows you in all your works and ways. You know it, as well. All know it, and it knows all who have lived, are living, and are yet to live."

File: 1355271179644.png-(267 KB, 300x400, Steward X.png)

Your Steward arrives, her once serene face a twitching, occluded mask basking in the light beneath a bleeding sea.

"It knows the lives you have prolonged, and the lives you have cut short. It knows the fields you have plowed, and the fruit that you have allowed to wither on the vine. It knows the way, and is the way. It is the portal, and it is the passage."

File: 1355271217088.png-(210 KB, 300x400, Oracle X.png)

The Oracle bleeds forth from oblivion, her hair trailing behind her like pale willow leaves, gently stirring in the chill breeze, only to whip into a wild frenzy that lasts for long, palpable moments.

"It is the end. It is the ur-flesh. It is the red entrails of the yawning void, the dread sentience that peers from every mote to remind the mortal eye that there are other presences at watch in the world of the beating heart. It is the yawning void and the endless creation that waits behind the mourning veil."

File: 1355271256154.png-(227 KB, 300x400, Necromancer X.png)

The Necromancer coagulates out of the folds of his own robes, a bright, flickering mass of folded cloth and hungering energies that snake and shift along the ground and at his mantle. The book oft-carried between his arms leaks blood rather than dust.

"You are the other here. All depart its realm. Few arrive. It has known you, and knows you, but your presence is an aberrant thought amidst the fire of its hearth, and its fire warms none."

>>21999263
MORS
YOU'RE BACK

File: 1355271291021.png-(257 KB, 300x400, Dictator X.png)

Your Dictator sighs, the noise shuddering the stones as the coils thrash, immeasurable and yet equally difficult to squarely contain within the constrains of the eye. Fluttering pages dances behind his every word.

"Its hearth was meant to be warmed for you, nameless thing. Soothsayer, liberator, healer of the ill and the ill-minded. So many lives you have claimed under your benevolent hand. It is curious about you. A nameless thing, given the power of having no name, and yet so rakishly craving to earn the name of another. It is most curious about you."

File: 1355271411743.jpg-(157 KB, 300x400, Captain X.jpg)

The Captain emerges, and amongst the flickering, indistinct mass of his visage you can discern the flat, dispassionate mask he wears in battle. It is crying steaming tears from within the white voids of its gaze, though not a single sob marrs his speech.

"It will reward you. You are a powerful thing, and if events come to pass -- events presently unknowable to your mind -- it will desire favor with you, in time. It resents this, but knows you. Knows who you were. Knows who you are. Knows who you will be, across all the many different horizons that your days may take you toward."

File: 1355271462036.png-(236 KB, 300x400, Black Thane X.png)

The Black Thane is at your side. A mortal face flashes across his skull for the barest hint of an instant. There is snow on his mantle and on his helm, and mud cakes his legs. His sword is in the gauntlet of his hand, pointed downward as if too heavy to lift.

He is silent, but stares nonetheless with his empty, burning eyes.

File: 1355271560479.png-(239 KB, 300x400, Oblivion 2.png)

The assembled seven arrays itself around you in a dizzying, macabre parody of your inner court.

"You have seven faces with which you meet the world. This endears you to it. Seven is a number it holds in praise. Seven is the number of beginnings and the number of endings. Seven is the numeral of despair and of surrender to fate's whim. It is gladdened by your love for this number, and so in kind will offer you seven faces. Seven names. Seven favors to request of it. As a sign of its good will, I return time to you, if not space or season."

>It is the 304th year After Unification.

You hear a young woman singing mournfully in the distance, but it quickly fades.

File: 1355271609925.png-(256 KB, 300x400, Wizard X Bias.png)

>>21999404
"This face is Bias. I have knowledge of the evil in men's hearts, and the darkness behind every pure intention. I know the last hope and the first despair of mortals, and read the vices and ills of the soul as easily as a butcher knows the steer. If you call my name, and know it to be mine, I will show you the black secret of any soul."

>Bias can be invoked. He will reveal to you the lowest moral depths of a single mortal.
>This favor can only be invoked once.
>The price of this favor is unknown.

File: 1355271661509.png-(264 KB, 300x400, Steward X Solon.png)

>>21999404
"This face is Solon. I know the wisdom of the stayed hand and the cautious word. I know the held tongue and soothe the incensed heart with my word and will. If you call my name, and know it to be mine, I will stay the hand of any mortal you see fit, if you fear they may be acting out of haste or hatred."

>Solon can be invoked. She will cause any one mortal to act rationally.
>This favor can only be invoked once.
>The price of this favor is unknown.

File: 1355271714097.png-(209 KB, 300x400, Oracle X Periander.png)

>>21999404
"This face is Periander. I know the horizon that lies behind you and those with lie before you. The latter is not for any soul to behold; this is the way of things. However. If you call my name, and know it to be mine, I will show you the horizon that lies behind one of the seven faces through which you see the world."

>Periander can be invoked. She will reveal a pivotal event in the past of any one member of your inner court.
>This favor can only be invoked once.
>The price of this favor is unknown.

File: 1355271776806.png-(226 KB, 300x400, Necromancer X Chilon.png)

>>21999404
"This face is Chilon. I know the desires of the heart that are made in flawless yearning, rather than in base hungering. I hear the wishes made at the burial mound and at the third star, and all those inbetween. If you call my name, and know it to be mine, I will use my power to attend to one of these pleas, a wish from the mind of one of your seven faces."

>Chilon can be invoked. He will grant an unspoken wish of any one member of your inner court.
>This favor can only be invoked once.
>The price of this favor is unknown.

File: 1355271810967.png-(253 KB, 300x400, Dictator X Pittacus.png)

>>21999404
"This face is Pittacus. I know the crop by which the mortal soul drives its steed. I see the the fork in the path, and know which of the way once split in twain will lead to calamity, and which will avoid the disaster. If you call my name, and know it to be mine, I will reveal to you any storms that lie waiting along your course."

>Pittacus can be invoked. He will indicate any orders given during the season that shall result in disaster.
>This favor can only be invoked once.
>The price of this favor is unknown.

File: 1355271846678.png-(258 KB, 300x400, Captain X Cleobulus.png)

>>21999404
"This face is Cleobulus. I know the raised voice and the firey heart. Sweat and tears are my blood and bile. The furnace of anger in the minds of mortals, and I swallow its all-consuming flame as cool, clear water. If you call my name, and know it to be mine, this fire will be sown in the heart of one whom you wish to see insensible."

>Cleobulus can be invoked. He will cause any one mortal to act irrationally.
>This favor can only be invoked once.
>The price of this favor is unknown.

File: 1355271920373.png-(235 KB, 300x400, Black Thane X Thales.png)

>>21999404
The Black Thane stands in silence, icy cloak shedding a small cloud of fresh snowfall that is quickly replaced. He speaks to you, not in your mind, but with the unfamiliar voice of a living man.

"This face is Thales. I know you, and nothing more."

You feel the cold wind vanish. The chill breeze buffets you no longer, and you are left utterly without sensation.

"If you call my name, and know it to be mine, I will guide you to the understanding of who you were while your heart was more than a rose. This favor comes with a warning; call upon it too early, and you will be unable to do to what you must. Great swaths of your numberless paths will be smote before you. Call upon it too late, and every single one of them will cease. Your future will be undone, never to be written or spoken from father to son."

>Thales can be invoked. He will reveal your identity.
>This favor must be invoked.
>The timing of this favor's invocation will heavily affect the conclusion of (Dead) King's Quest.

File: 1355272027869.png-(228 KB, 300x400, Oblivion 3.png)

>>21999424
>>21999440
>>21999457
>>21999472
>>21999486
>>21999497
>>21999512
The realm shudders as the seven stand assembled, solitary, waning figures in the callous and calamitous shade of the strange, flickering geometry. The sword in your hand burns.

>You have met the Ur-Flesh.
>You have met the Outer Court.

"Tell it. Tell it what you believe you have done. Tell it what you believe will survive beyond you, if you were to stay here. Tell it why you are meant to return, crownless king."

A light flashes in the distance, growing larger.

"Tell it what the lifeless living has learned. As a gesture of its good will, it returns season to you, but not yet shall it relinquish the realm of the living."

>It is the 304th year After Unification.
>It is winter.

[ Alright, and a brief rest to see if a year and a half is too long for anyone to give a shit anymore. ]

OH SNAP MORS!

Fuck yeah, (Dead) King's Quest returns!
Also what the fuck is going on here?

File: 1355272766619.png-(427 KB, 533x400, [Outer Court].png)

>>21999661
>You are presently in an unknown realm, either held captive by or holding an audience for an unknown entity you know only as the Ur-Flesh, presented with seven favors from servants or aspects of its existence who collectively call themselves the Outer Court.

>The Ur-Flesh, either amused or offended by your presence, entreats you to explain why you would care to return to the land in which the last you remember is being handed the sword of surrender by the High Captain of Zlatan, a sword still clasped in your skeletal fist.

>>21999579
Questfag, you have just won my interest. I'm reading the old threads now. Proceed.

>>21999535
Holy, shit, you really put some thought into your epic return man. What shall we do?

Holy shit.

This was the most awesome intro I have ever read in my life.

Guess I'm not gonna get any sleep tonight either, ha.

>>21999730
"It is my duty to the living ones. They believed in someone that wasn't me, begged for him to save them. I wasn't the one they called out to... But i wished to be. I yearned to be him, for otherwise i would be nothing. They gave me meaning, filled my inner void. In return i shall grant their wish for salvation."

>>21999730

My country needs me. My subjects need me. My court needs me. Even my Thane, as fleshless as I, needs me.

Through them I have gained purpose and even joy in unlife, and though I can not be certain, I'd wager that even more of the latter than I have known while I still had flesh and a pulse.

Not until I am certain that someone worthy, someone capable of matching the trust and will of my people will succeed me can I stay here.

Don't cut yourself on that edge, OP.

File: 1355273465060.png-(262 KB, 300x400, Steward X Salvaton.png)

>>21999839
"Salvation," Solon echoes.

"Their salvation, then, was to have full bellies and pockets of coin, peace and old age. Is this salvation? Whose loss was your gain? In time, a maligned populace may have striven to revolution and upheaval. Perhaps you were the cat o' nine, returning them to the lives they were given instead of letting the walls of offal rot around them."

She points at you, fading away.

"By giving hope, remember how you weaken."

Solon is gone, leaving the other six behind to face your arguments.

>Solon has spoken, and is unavailable.

>>21999730
there is work to do and I have been intrusted to do it

File: 1355273755212.png-(254 KB, 300x400, Dictator X Need.png)

>>21999891
"Need," Pittacus repeats.

"You speak of the necessity by which your presence ruled them. You came to them in the darkest hour, and by the nature of that time you supposed the only hand that could guide them was yours. Look at whose face I wear. Could he have led them? Could Solon's face? Were they given the chance to, instead of languishing for want of a sovereign?"

He points at you, fading away.

"By giving rule, remember how you restrain."

Pittacus vanishes, leaving five members of the court behind.

>Pittacus has spoken, and is unavailable.

>>21999929
whoops. Was this good or bad? I think we should try >>21999891 now.

>>21999929
Shit.

I was thinking that during the previous run. I was hoping to step off the throne once we dealt with the neighboring countries and stuff... You know... leave life to the living to live as they please.

But then again... then again, it was their choice to ask for our help. Should we have turned a deaf ear? They chose to be lead. And so with that trust we lead, until it is time for us to pass on the reigns. Or burn them I don't know yet.

File: 1355273983562.png-(261 KB, 300x400, Captain X Work.png)

>>22000014
"Work," Cleobulus weeps.

"Do you hold the reins of the world? Do you shoulder the weight of its people? Or do you simply crave your presence to be as the fulcrum of creation, all things measured by their influence as it crushes your mantle, until you can better not a single soul?"

He points at you, fading away.

"By giving work, remember how you sacrifice."

Cleobulus melts away into nothingness.

>Cleobulus has spoken, and is unavailable.

"I am nothing, I know. I am given something, and I cherish it. It was not the name, nor the title, nor the power. It was the responsibility, the duty, the purpose."

"I was intrigued, as you all are now with me."

"I invite you to see, and to revel vicariously in their lives. And their demise. As sure as I know that I give hope and salvation, benevolence and healing, I know I bring also with me death and decay, stagnation and loss."

"As any living being would. "

"What a wonder is it not, for one who cannot quite be called living anymore?"

> YAY! Here for the re-beginning!

>>22000078
"Purpose"

>>22000078
Fear. I fear the end. I still don't quite remember what lies on the other side of death... I only know that i don't want to know. I am not ready yet.

File: 1355274271751.png-(226 KB, 300x400, Necromancer X Life.png)

>>22000057
"Life," Chilon moans.

"Is all life sacred? Is not the black soil of death and decay what issues forth the richest splendor of vitality, as ill times are what makes mortals of the highest valor? If you stay, when will they learn to remain on their own? If you depart, when will they cease their mourning of you?"

He points at you, fading away.

"By giving health, remember how you sicken."

Chilon is gone is a sweep of his robes.

>Chilon has spoken, and is unavailable.

"I wanted to know. To see. To feel. To understand."

File: 1355274527716.png-(210 KB, 300x400, Oracle X Purpose.png)

>>22000093
"Purpose," Periander sighs.

"How shall you fulfill a purpose that is unknown to you. Perhaps your place in this realm is to be the one thing that has no purpose. The untethered and untamed, able to help and heal at your whim without regard to destiny. Perhaps I am lying to you, and you have no future. Perhaps I am lying further, and your destiny to defy it."

She points at you, fading away.

"By seeking fate, remember how you languish."

Periander takes a slow breath, dissolved as she does so.

>Periander has spoken, and is unavailable.

> Note to others, give reasons as opposite or as allied with the Inner Court's purpose or function.
> Or something in tangent to the Outer Court's.
> Gotta go.
> Can't post more.

> Get'em, Mors!

>>22000146

Time must be given for life to unfold. I have only given them that time they deserve. Peril can be found at my side, even now, as much as I would rather it not be. People chosen by fate will encounter strife, despite my intervention or not.

I give them time to learn, to live, to get stronger, time to inspire others, time to love.

In due time, it ends all the same, death will take its toll, and so life will spring up in its wake.

"Legend. They see me and rejoice to know that their history walks amongst them. Those who would despair at a past lost and forgotten take heart to know the future is worth creating, a future worth fighting for.

I may not be their Duke reborn...but I can be their Duke."

File: 1355274773897.png-(252 KB, 300x400, Wizard X Understand.png)

>>22000190
"Understand," Bias cackles.

"Will understanding bring you closure? Bring you comfort? It is possible that the glimmer of understanding you have now is merciful, that beyond the threshold of what you concieve will destroy you with the despair of it. Or, perhaps I decieve you, and with one mote of wisdom you would laugh at me for these lofty words."

He points at you, fading away.

"By seeking knowledge, remember how you tempt."

Bias disappears in a clap of thunder.

>Bias has spoken, and is unavailable.

"Identity"

>Civil Procedure final tomorrow
>REALLY need to study
>Mors is back!

Welp. Guess the studying isn't happening. There's always Torts and Crim Law, I suppose. Glorious to have you back, Mors.

File: 1355275188705.png-(232 KB, 300x400, Black Thane X Time Fear Legend.png)

>>22000234
>>22000236
>>22000145

Thales remains, silent as you offer words. He repeats slowly as they echo from your skull.

"Time."
"Fear."
"Legend."

The undead warrior cast in the image of your most loyal guardian, the servant who assured you of his love before meeting an enemy's lance, gazes upon you with a mortal face.

"These three."

"These three words will be the essence of what lies before you. They will test you each in turn, and at varying intensities, but if you persist through these trials, there are no words on the mortal tongue for the bounty that lies at your feet, and the shadow you cast across the world. All that remains, nameless king ... Is to discover what will grow in it."

Thales points his sword at you, fading away without a parting word.

Thales is gone, and the whole of the Outer Court with him.

>Thales has spoken, and the Outer Court has been heard.

Well that was odd.

>>22000447
You mean, that was awesome.

>>22000447
You know, a blood elemental of spring just flooded the battlefield after surging out from between our dead bones.

...

Though, I guess this does at least tie with it on the weirdness level, just not as hectic.

Also, if what you have done here really ties into the plot as much as I expect it does, you are the greatest quest guy ever, Mors.

File: 1355275556109.png-(246 KB, 300x400, Oblivion 4.png)

>>21999929
>>22000020
>>22000078
>>22000146
>>22000202
>>22000271
>>22000404

Slowly, the chaos above your heard wanes, shrinking backward, withdrawing into whatever indescribable homestead it emerged from. The gleaming black appointments of the dark throne begin to melt and spoil.

"Its curiosity has been answered by your conviction. It will withhold its appraisal of you for now; this is not for you to know. It will watch you, and its Outer Court will favor you if asked, as it follows the trail behind your feet, whether it be blood or roses."

You feel the whole of existence shake around you. A whine grows in your skull until the shrill strength of it twists into a soul-splitting agony. You imagine a key turning in a rusty lock.

>The Ur-Flesh has released you.

File: 1355275610717.gif-(12 KB, 250x242, flipping the fuck out.gif)

Hory shet, Dead King's Quest is back! Mother of God! I thought that you were as dead as our king.

Well, we'll have an interesting talk with the necromancer at least.

Maybe. Should we keep this to ourselves?

>>22000557
I think we should ask him to research the urflesh. No closer details.

File: 1355275865317.png-(276 KB, 300x400, Witch X.png)

>>22000518
Suspended in the void, sword in hand, robe hanging still from your bones, all sound and matter ceased beyond yourself. Gone is the throne room, gone is the Ur-Flesh and the Outer-Court and the distant noise.

An eighth figure descends before you, a malformed twin of the Witch. It is different from the Outer Court, though; it has eyes. Around its visage is a bright, warm window through which a very human, very living gaze peers into the void. The eyes widen as the Witch nears you, and her hand reaches out to your hand.

The heat scalds you as she slowly peels your fingers free of the hilt, one by one, the Wizard's voice echoing around you in strange, unearthly exultation, the same tongue you heard graze your skull as the golem was summoned to your aid.

The Outer Court and the Ur-Flesh is most probably those who dwell beyond the veil of death or IS death themselves.

Probably a given.

Now we wait for when the Duke wakes up.

>>22000625

Wait. Waitwaitwait.

They gave us... a poisoned sword?

These guys really take their banner seriously.

>>22000625
Let go of the sword?

>>22000652
That's... Probably an exorcism sword or something, but... Damn.

>>22000625
Also, concerning symbolism, does this mean we can't trust the actual Witch?
Or she is of a different purpose that our Inner Court?

This Witch smells of life. Interesting.

>>22000724
She is the real witch trying to magic us back to "life", probably.

>>22000724
Dude, This is the real Witch reaching into the void to save us.

>>22000630
I don't know, I think they might be a bit more Cthonian than that. If so, having the Necromancer look into it too deeply might end kind of badly. Like "crossing the streams" badly.

>>22000652
>>22000682
Not sure, the sword might have been a legitimate offer of surrender, and the Ur-Flesh picked a really weird time to contact us. They're Outsiders, so who knows why they thought this timing would be convenient?

File: 1355276305445.png-(260 KB, 300x400, 304 1 Winter.png)

>>22000625
Your hand releases the sword.

>It is the 304th year After Unification.
>It is winter.

You awake.

You are surrounded by glass, glass buried in a field of white. You hear the subtle whisper of wind. The sword of Zlatan is lying atop you, the hilt sizzling. You feel foul energies escaping from it, whatever curse it held on you broken as your fingers of bone shake. A black silk funeral robe is laid across you.

You are too weak to move. Too weak to speak or turn your head. You sense a mind nearby, in flagellant throes of deepest shame.

>>22000767
>>22000768
Okay, maybe you guys are right about the sword being a trap. Nevermind.

>>22000768
Tell the Thane we are alright.

>>22000768
Mind speak to the Thane
"...That was very odd."

Well we're alive.

Sort of.

Oh shit is that Thane? Man...he must have killed EVERYONE when we went out. Hope the Captain is okay.

>>22000768
Zlatan...

Treachery at all front?
They really have no honor. Must have really despised the reanimated Duke.

>>22000768
"You have fulfilled your duty, noble Thane, though you think it not. Your rest has not yet come, though, so closely entwined are our fates.

I have returned."

File: 1355276991219.png-(226 KB, 300x400, Black Thane 1.png)

>>22000768
All at once the sense of despair lifts, wholly absent.

The first thud is soft. Distant. The second rattles the glass enclosure, making the layer of soft, almost glowing snowflakes jostle and stir. The third is accompanied by the sight of a gauntlet driving downward through the snow, inches from your immobile skull.

The glass cracks on the next blow. And the next. Spiderweb lines of stress split through the shining field of your crystalline coffin. With a great shattering shards of it scatter, the gauntlet gripping you by the ornate jewels around your neck as if they as worthless as twine, hauling you upward into the fresh, open air. Strength surges back into you as the bounteous energies of the world fill you as breath might invigor the living.

"You live," the Black Thane quietly says into your mind, standing at the side of an immense gilded ceremonial coffin that he has destroyed like kindling. You lay on an altar in the midst of the garden, strewn with broken glass, a headstone declaring;

HERE LIES
HOLY DUKE LIUVA III

GIVEN TWO LIVES
GAVE BOTH TO OTHERS

The snow continues to fall. Behind the Black Thane is the shape of his knees in the ground. Not a single flake of snow disturbs the muddied impression. His cloak and shoulders and helm are covered with leaves and snows and dirt, his sword lying forgotten on the ground.

"They will have to change the headstone to read 'three,' my liege."

He pauses.

"That is a jest."

>>22001012
Thane you glorious bastard. This is so awesome.

>>22001012
"My most loyal servant, how good it is to see you again, and joking too? Truly this is not the same world I left.

Tell me, where are we? What has happened?"

"Most amusing."

"Tell me, my thane; do I need to awaken, again? Or has my rest been a peaceful one?"

Welcome back, Mors.

>>22001012
"No, no, I rather like it. When I die again, change it by all means. Perhaps we can keep a tally of how many times a man may die."

>>22001012
...
He's improving.

I have never been happier to see you Thane. Status report. Now. And dust off yourself.

>>22001012
Hells yes.

File: 1355277530624.png-(150 KB, 300x400, Tautila.png)

>>22001051
"We are in the garden of the ducal castle of Tautila, to which your supposed remains were returned when you fell after receiving the sword of Zlatan in surrender."

He gently lifts the sword by the blade before snapping it in twain over his knee and heaving both halves overhand. They travel for quite some time before leaving sight as they pass over the garden wall.

His hand holds yours, helping you step down from the waist-high altar upon wish a multitude of wilting roses have been laid. The Black Thane retrieves his sword, leaving behind another clean, bare shape in the ground where snow never fell. Dried blood absolutely cakes the blade, and you become acutely aware of similar gore staining the Black Thane's limbs. Grisly splinters of bone are embedded in the chain of his armor.

"You have slumbered for a season. Your court is preparing to commence its first meeting in your absence."

DEAD KING QUEST

>>22001177
"Lead me to them, friend. I need to know what has transpired in fair Tautila during my sleep."

>>22001012
"perhaps. now tell me what is there to do?"


fuck this was the best ever!!!

>>22001177
Hmm.

I'm almost tempted to suggest observing the meeting somehow without interfering. I want to know what they'd do.

>>22001177
"I will not enter. I am dead, remember? Go forth into the court, and show me what they can do in my absence."

>>22001177
"...I wonder. Should we leave them to it, Thane? I do wish to see how prepared they are in my absence, for I cannot lead them forever. They will need to prepare for my final parting, and now is better a time than any other I can think of."

>>22001222
Another temptation is if anyone says "My Liege! We thought you dead!... again!"

We reply "You know what they say, you can't keep a good dead man down".

>>22001177
first make them flours bloom and fill our selves with the rose flesh we normal ware.

>>22001177
Observe their nature when rule is given to their hands, so that we may know their true hearts.

>>22001222
>>22001238
Oh, I quite like that plan. The Ur-flesh was by no means benevolent, but they didn't seem malicious, either, and I got a very "three spirits shall visit you in the night" vibe from them. Maybe we should listen.

>>22001293
>>22001216
Please, gentlemen. Grammar and spelling, grammar and spelling. Don't let your haste and excitement override your faculties.

>>22001322
My girlfriend just dumped me so now all I can do is take solace in that Mors came back. I'd only be happier if Iron Quest got a finale after so long.

File: 1355278280674.png-(431 KB, 533x400, [Inner Court].png)

>>22001309
>>22001228
>>22001238
>>22001222
>>22001301

You bid the Thane to attend without you. He obeys immediately, though you sense his trepidation.

He ascends the steps, and as you once did while he fought to slay the Wizard of Zlatan at their castle keep, you perceive the world through the Black Thane.

He walks up the stairs and through the castle doors from the garden, servants ducking from his path and regarding him with a mixture of awe, terror, and confusion. Some have an expression of relief.

When he enters the court, the six assembled there are silent. The Black Thane walks to your empty throne and stands, on the opposite site where the Dictator has taken his lesser throne to the right as Tautila's ruler in a Duke's absence.

"I wait for my next liege," the Thane declares, flatly. No one argues.

While he's doing that, we need to tidy up the mess. Our Thane does tend to be delightfully enthusiatic, after all.

And the place could do with some light...

HOLY SHIT IT'S BACK

I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD COME BACK

ARCHIVE IT NOW

>>22001429
>"I wait for my next liege,"

Hmmm... I wonder if that could give us an opening of sorts? We need to reveal the truth eventually. (I assume Mors will determine how long we have before that particular hammer gets dropped.) Right after our resurrection may not be the time, unless we pepper it with a lot of "enlightenment gained from my second death" talk, but it may help us to start dropping hints, maybe speaking to individual court members in private about it. Necro and Oracle already know, but maybe Stewardess would be a good candidate. She trusts us deeply, her romance with Necromancer would be helped if he didn't have to keep that secret from her, and she's bright/empathetic enough that she may be able to tell us how we could reveal the truth to the others.

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>>22001429
They do not protest to the Black Thane's presence. In fact, his place at the side of your throne seems to comfort them from whatever sense of dread appears to weigh them.

The High Captain of your armies approaches the grand table.

"One act of justice, and all the old grudges of the duchies spill forth into the light. I did not think I would live to see the day. I always thought this would fall to my son, or his. Or his."

On the table is spread a map.

>>22001534
I just wanted to see this meeting. We can't exactly hide this for long, what with the grave being busted open.

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>>22001546

>Heva is at War.

[ To be continued. ]

Let's wait until they're done speaking, all of them done speaking, before returning into the chambers ourselves. Give us a chance to see how they've developed. A season without us may have given one or two delusions of grandeur. We weren't the duke before, but we sure as hell are now. And they're not going to forget it.

>>22001563
well fuck
>>22001582
Oh.

Oh well. I guess I will sleep then.... maybe a bit later.

>>22001559
Oh, of course not, that's not what I meant. Obviously we'll reveal that we're still kicking. I mean the whole "we're not really the old Duke" thing.

Thank you, Mors. Seems a bit short, but very intriging.

Dead King's Quest lives again!

>>22001619
Oh, I see. I'm sorry, it's just that we currently had two secrets running, and I was only focused on one of them.

>>22001652
This. After this start I just want more.

But considering you probably now have to mold whatever story you have planned around the answers given above, I can see you don't want to rush headlong in.

>>22001686
Plus, I think our decision to spy on the meeting rather than participate as usual screwed whatever plans Mors had for the dialogue and writing. Keep in mind how much time from each court session was spent bickering amongst ourselves about what actions each member should take. He probably expected that to take up the time, and has to rewrite everything from the briefing, and come up with his own assignments for the councilors.

In any event, it's really good to see you back, Mors! I don't know the details, but I heard some pretty massive shit got shoveled into your life. I'm glad things have started getting better for you.

>>22001890
[ Don't worry. I was planning to end it with the revelation of war even if you guys wanted to attend; I actually didn't expect everyone to think about going hands-off, but I like writing this for how you surprise me. I wanted to get the Ur-Flesh and Outer Court concept, as well as the return, into a session of its own, to start fresh with picking up back in Tautila next time. ]

Please would someone archive rhis. Can't see straight.

Probably with Dead King Quest resurrection or somethinf

>>22001946
Makes sense. Everything in this update was a really major revelation: DKQ is back at long last, a group of Outsiders have Taken An Interest (never a good sign), we're back from the dead, and our entire nation is about to reenact the War of Five Kings. Nobody can keep that level of majorness going for a full-length thread. Good to have you back, man.

Speculation time!

The oracle is connected to the Ur-Flesh, or at the very least she can gaze into a similar realm to see her visions.

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>Dead Kings Quest continuation!
Oh fuck, I'm late!

>>22002031
[ See, this is different though, 'cause ...

... 'Cause. 'Cause there's -six-. ]

Here's my take on what our long term plan should be. We end the war as best possible, make sure the country set on the right direction then we name a living successor and we left the burden of duty to the living once again.

>>22002156
Not when we're through with them!

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Just in case you're still here mors, I want you to know that even though I'm late to the party, your writing is as magnificent and grammatically beautiful as ever. My only regret is that I wasn't able to attend sooner.

I sincerely hope I am able to participate in the next thread, if you would have it.

>>22002429
[ I very much appreciate it, and the more the merrier. ]

>>22002210
How about setting up an institute of a crisis ruler? Like the Greek Tyrants or Roman Dictators.

Basically, leaving each province to govern itself, with hands-off central government dealing with things like arbitrating border disputes, enforcing peace and determining guiding legal principles, until an emergency arises, when a single, preselected (say, the King-in-Roses) individual gains absolute powers for a set period.

If we enforce this with magic, we can avoid the corruption issues while reaping the benefits of a strong central government.

>>22002156
...oh dear.

Tautila (nor Zlatan, if may reading of the map is correct) really shouldn't be contributing a King, so we hopefully wouldn't be too damaged by the war. Though our neutrality have annoy the other dukedoms... (A more horrible thought would be the reactions - the opportunistic urges - of Heva's neighbors...)

Also, may we have a forecast on when the next session shall occur?

>>22002566
[ I'm trying to stick to one a week, rarely two. I can't say when it WILL happen, but I can say it -won't- happen Thursday through Saturday. I know that only eliminates half of the week, but it's the best I can really do for certain. ]

>>22002618
Eh, a forecast is totally allowed to be vague as all hell and entirely wrong. 'S why it's a forecast.

Still. I am just happy that you came back (and didn't die from some horrible disease).

>>22002618
Mors, I can't believe I missed the first new thread. But I'm not that upset, because your words are so damned lovely to read. The Ur-Flesh and the Outer Court are brilliant, by the way, as is the time-skip. Throws us off, gives us new ideas and directions. Absolutely marvelous.

>>22004250
[ Happy to hear it. Just keep in mind that this isn't a Rip Van Winkle situation, Winter is the first season of the year; only a season has passed since the battle of Zlatan Castle. ]

SQUEEEE!!!

I was out at a concert so I missed the thread but I can't wait for next time. It's good to have you back Mors.

>>22005603
Of course, my fine fellow! I understood that from the get go. I remembered that we were in 304 AU when we went to war with Zlatan. Glad you're back on your feet.

Oh my god i'm so sad I missed this! Its like a Christmas present come early.

The only way it could get better is if Deity Quest revived too!

Bump because I just read the entirety of the archived threads for this quest and it is possibly the best quest on /tg/.

Holy shit, it's the only quest on /tg/ written well enough to inspire mining Shakespeare for dialogue to paraphrase. I mean steal from.

Welcome back, Mors!

why am I always late to these ;_;