Events Summary:

You've met the brilliant and ambitious Duke Vellik, ruler of Kelvere, who aims to reshape the political landscape of the world to suit more liberal, tolerant ideals. You've promised him friendship, if not permanent commitment to his ideals.

By consuming the magical dynamo power core of one of the duke's airships, you were able to defeat and ultimately consume the angel Raziel, who suddenly appeared with a comrade, Auriel, while you were speaking with the duke. Using the power of his soul, you realized Supersonic flight and retreated from Auriel back to Jacob's Field.

In Jacob's field, you learned that the occupying Kanians have noticed the great source of spirit beneath the town, but have been unable to access it. You also learned more of Abigail's past, and her parents, specifically her father. You believe there may be a connection between Abigail and the ruler of Archon, the archmage Yi Fang. While waiting for Sir Flint to meet you, you ate the Kanian's food supplies and put the fear of the shadow into a few of their men.

Flint eventually arrived at your meeting point - with a plea for aid from the duke. Lord Nulis Vin, ruler of Kan-Abar, has launched a surprise attack on Evinbrook using the power of a Demon Lord to hide his army's movements. Flint convinced you to return to Evinbrook and fight for Kelvere - despite the fact that the angel Auriel is still there.

You've just arrived back at Evinbrook, and the battle is in full swing. An airship of the Ring City, the Velarion, is fighting alongside Evinbrook, but its engine has been damaged. After a lengthy battle fought alongside Flint, the duke, and a mysterious woman you met on the airship, it seemed you were about to restore full power to its weapons, but another foe has appeared to stop you.

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>mfw Shadow Quest is back

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Okay, I guess.

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Ability Tree

GREEN abilities have been unlocked and learned.

BLUE abilties are unlocked, but are not yet purchased.

RED abilities are revealed, but locked due to prerequisites.

UNDERLINED abilities are active-use, as opposed to passive.

Unlocked Ability Descriptions Located in the following Pastebin link (full list in progress):

http://pastebin.com/7ay2GPYj

Books the Main Character has read can be found here: (in-progress)

http://pastebin.com/i0zjDPpS

Read through the archives last night.
New favorite quest.
And you used my One Throne pic for that critfail!

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Current Statistics:

HP: 17/25
Mana: 0/4
EXP: 1
Humanity: 24
Temerity: 17

Party Members:

Sir Donovan Flint - a knight of Dobshire, of Arland, and fourth son of the lord and ruler of Arland.

Duke Vellik - the ruler of Kelvere. A brilliant politican and powerful Lightning mage.

Summoned: Wisp - a shadowy wisp. 2 base shadow attack. 1 mana per order.

Equipment:

Utility belt with purse

Inventory:

Shadow Sword Shard
Spirit Sword (with Flint)
Fancy Sun-Moon Key

Current Location:

Kelvere - Evinbrook

---

Basic Battle Options to keep in mind during fights (it would get tedious to list all of them every time):

-Physical Attack
-Shadow Attack (requires light source!)
-Magic Attack
-Defend
-Dodge and Counter
-specific ability (Battle-specific abilities activate same-turn; others burn a turn to activate)
-Flee (dodge check if enemy attacks)

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>>24517289

Do we really look that scary op? I always thought of us like pic related.

>>24517361
Bro, we CONSUME people.

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>>24517336

I love the One Throne pic.

----------------
----------------

>Last time...

After a chaotic battle, you've finished off the demons in the engine room.

The duke sidles up to you and Flint, watching the woman carefully. <She aims to fix the engine,> you explain. <She killed the wyrms.>

"...who are you?" The duke demands.

"A servant of angels," the woman responds. "For now, a crew member. If you can do anything about the core, lightning mage, I suggest you do it before Lord Vin asks the Demon Lord to stop conserving mana and annihilate the ship entirely."

The duke considers the woman carefully. He narrows his eyes, but says nothing. You wish you knew what he was thinking.

>pictured: mysterious woman

>>24517341
>Party members:
>Summoned: Wisp
Wait what- didn't that one satyr unsummon our wisp last thread?

>>24517378
And we're friends with an adorable little girl and a paladin of the light...

>>24517361
We've gotten scarier over time.

>>24517399

A roar snaps everyone's heads toward the door of the engine room.

A wyrm clambers in - so big you're surprised it fit through the halls. It rises up on its haunches. It's an intimidating beast, 7 feet high and 10 feet long, almost like a miniature dragon. It opens its mouth in a low growl. Fire and shadow twist in its jaws.

"Buy time!" the duke shouts. He runs toward the dynamo.

What do you do?

>take point while Flint and the woman distract it from the sides
>hide in Flint's shadow, play support
>hide in the woman's shadow, play support
>take wing, harass the dragon from above while they attack on the ground
>go with the duke, try to help get the engine up faster
>some other strategy

------------
------------

>>24517361

You've been both. I always imagine you as an amorphous blob most of the time. During the eclipse/supersonic, you look more like the demon.

With mimic, you can hold whatever default form you choose. We haven't really specified anything yet.

>>24517399
We should talk to Flint to see what he knows, as the Duke might be a bit preoccupied. Might as well ask him if he would accept us as a fellow knight of that order he's fixing up as well. I want another option to being the Dog of the Duke...

>>24517401
>>24517401

Sorry, didn't edit the copypasta. This anon is correct; you have no active summon.

>>24517442
Flint's shadow, as support.

>>24517442
>With mimic, you can hold whatever default form you choose.

Does this include inanimate objects, such as an airship or ballista bolt?

>>24517442
Hide in Flint's shadow, support with shadow attack.

>>24517442
>go with the duke, try to help get the engine up faster
And then when it looks like all hope is lost, we CONSUME the dynamo.

>>24517442
>With mimic, you can hold whatever default form you choose. We haven't really specified anything yet.

I always imagined us as a vaguely knight-shaped figure, based off of our love of JUSTICE!

>>24517491
>an airship or ballista bolt?

An airship, no. You can only stretch to 3-4 times your size...think like a ship's sail. But you'd be thinner, then.

You could take the form of a ballista bolt, or another relatively sized inanimate object. Earlier you mimicked a tree before attacking a pair of lumberjacks.

>>24517442
We need to keep an eye on Flint. Be his shadowbro and watch his back!

>>24517442
Flint probably needs the most help. Ninja lady seems more than able to take care of herself.

>>24517528
>I always imagined us as a vaguely knight-shaped figure, based off of our love of JUSTICE!

no comment

>>24517572
>>24517556
>>24517502
>>24517470

Alright. Roll 1d100 for your supportiveness.

Rolled 34

>>24517603
Rolling

I've been thinking about the shadow mage woman... wouldn't it be a kick-in-the-ass if she turned out to be the 'Black Lady'?

but what are the chances?

Rolled 29

>>24517603
>Time for 1s

>>24517442
Flint, so that while we fight together, back to back, we can say, "Flint, if we ever make this out alive, I'm joining your Light-damned knight's order, and you don't get to say otherwise!"

Rolled 40

>>24517603
In the name of all the clubbed seals in history, let these dice roll well!

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Rolled 75

>>24517603
Rolling

On an unrelated note, kinda what I thought the eventual us + Abigail looks like.

Rolled 86

>>24517603
Fuckin' penguins can eat the corn from my shit!

Rolled 71

>>24517603
Please.

Rolled 93

>>24517442
So rolled it cannot be more rolled

>>24517685
Disgusting, but effective!

Rolled 47

>>24517603
>rape

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>>24517589
HA!

>>24517681
>>24517685
>>24517707
>>24517711

IT'S GOOD!

>>24517653

You hop into Flint's shadow, sending him an impression of his shadow growing and moving on its own to fend off attacks.

Flint has confidence in your ability, and he takes point against the wyrm. "Try to get behind it!" He shouts at the woman.

The woman runs for the wall of the engine room without acknowledging Flint.

The giant wyrm lowers its mouth and unleashes its breath. A roiling pile of flame and shadow tumbles toward you, catching Flint by surprise.

He raises his sword, almost as if to cut the blackened flames. It glows bright -

- but his magic stutters. The parasite twists hard on his soul.

You grab your friend around the waist and drag him sideways. The fire twists over the both of you. Flint escapes with some singed hairs, but you take a portion of the attack. Luckily, the dark magic seems to slide off you...

Flint settles back into a combat stance. He wraps his gauntlets tight around his hilt and sets his stance. You can see the frustration building on his face.

>you've taken 3 damage (14/25 HP)
>you've gained 1 HP from regeneration (15/25 HP)

You send Flint an impression of confidence, and his sword buried in the wyrm's head. He nods, and takes a widened stance.

Flint lunges forward, pulling you along in his shadow. The wyrm's right claw lashes out to intercept!

Roll 1d100 to defend Flint!

Rolled 19

>>24517821
FUCK ORCAS IN THEIR BLOWHOLES!

Rolled 73

>>24517821
dice for the dicegods!

Rolled 1

>>24517821
Rolling for great evil!

Rolled 7

>>24517821

>"Flint, if we ever make this out alive, I'm joining your Light-damned knight's order, and you don't get to say otherwise!"

This is really reaching.

You have not established yourself as the lawful good paladin-type. You started somewhere closer to neutral and I'd say you're reaching for lawful neutral. Even if the shadow felt this way, he wouldn't put it like that, not by a long shot.

I like creativity, but we have to keep things consistent or the story just takes a belly-flop.

>>24517681

Cool image. I might colorize that in photoshop and use it later...

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Rolled 100

>>24517868
Buwahahahahah

Rolled 88

>>24517868
WHYYYYYYYYY???

Rolled 48

>>24517821

Rolled 8

>>24517868
/tg/'s trolltastic dice gods strike again...

>>24517884
Nigga wut

>>24517868
so we fail
>>24517884
and some how save it kinda

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>>24517868

>>24517884
>>24517868
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?

>>24517884
Praise the shadow!

>>24517868
>>24517884
Goddamn it Dice Gods.

>>24517884
>>24517868
>1
>100
Oh god wat?

Rolled 6

>>24517884
Please dear gods, have mercy on these humble servants of yours, so we can continue to worship you !

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>>24517884

I guess it was bound to happen at some point.

>>24517926
Now they're just fucking with us.

>>24517884
God I love that gif

Rolled 60

>>24517821
Save

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>>24517884

>>24517936
SHADOW MASTER, THIS NEXT BIT HAS TO BE BOTH FAIL AND WIN AT THE SAME TIME. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

>>24517997
>Shadow jumps at the wyrm
>Gets eaten
>CONSUMES THE WYRM FROM THE INSIDE OUT

>>24517868
>>24517884
Well, okay then I guess.

It's all going to go catastrophically right?

>>24518021
That makes me wonder if there's an ability that let's us ink into a person/monster and wear them around like a meat-suit.

>>24518021
>Wyrm ets Flint and Shadow.
>Shadow spikes wyrm in the neck, Flint slices head off.

You strike upward with your shadows, aiming to deflect the heavy arm away from Flint -

- but your aim isn't center! The massive claw slides off your shadow spear easily, still heading straight for Flint! It slams into his side, rending his armor, and sending him tumbling across the floor.

But before the wyrm can follow up, it reels backward in pain. The woman is on top of it, jabbing her knives into the back of its neck! It shakes side to side, trying to throw her. She grabs on to one of its spines and holds on for dear life.

Flint stands. His chest plate looks like it's been torn apart by giant can-openers, but he's blessedly unharmed. Light flickers on the enchanted armor, then dies. He snaps the leather straps holding it in place and lets it fall to the floor. "...I'd cut myself up if I kept wearing it anyway."

You send him a brief impression of the next attack cutting his chest...and a sense of worry.

He bends his knees. "Look at the positives. Now I've got more freedom of movement."

His words don't inspire you with much confidence.

>you've gained 1 HP from regeneration (16/25)

Flint is eyeing the writhing wyrm, looking for an opening. The woman is still hanging on, but she can't do anything else without being flung across the floor.

What do you do?

>let Flint find his opening, continue to support
>split off and sprint in for a physical attack. Get its attention off the woman
>try to help the duke
>suggest a specific strategy to Flint
>something else

>>24518104
>try to help the duke
To put us closer to that tasty tasty dynamo

>>24518086
>>24518021

Come now. That's more like a 100, not a 1 saved by a 100.

>>24518104
Split off and move in from the side to strike.

>>24518104
Suggest that we buzz around the Wyrm's head and try to blind it with our spears, while Flint tries to gut the thing like a fish.

>>24518164
A man can dream, Shadow Master. A man can dream...

>>24518104
I'd say we flank the wyrm and go in for a physical attack from the side.

>>24518104

Flint distracts the wyrm by throwing its armor at it head while w help the shadow lady.

>>24518104
Zip under the wyrm and gut it like a fish

>>24518172
>>24518191
>>24518217
>>24518223
>>24518227

You send an impression of Flint throwing his armor at the wyrm to distract it while you dart in to do what you can - either trying to blind it or attacking its underside.

Flint's face goes blank. And slowly, he grins.

"I'll do the blinding! Do as much damage as possible!"

Roll 1d100

Rolled 92

>>24518277
We can do that

Rolled 65

>>24518277
Cmon dice, let me roll two 100s in succession

Rolled 89

>>24518277
(t)rolling.

Rolled 63

>>24518277
Come on! Let's hate seals together!

>>24518329
>>24518288
>>24518321
Bueno.

Rolled 51

>>24518288
>>24518321
>>24518329
Looks like we're good.

We should probably try to CONSUME the wyrm before the dice decide they hate us again.

>>24518358
I think at this point it's a given that we consume all our fallen enemies.

>>24518358
Yes, and quickly, too, before the bastard disappears...

>>24518372
Should we pick up viral and iron stomach soon to aid in the CONSUMPTION?

You split off from Flint and head for the worm.

Flint grabs his plate mail...

...and it glows a bright, golden white! He grunts, then hurls the armor up at the wyrm!

The wyrm's head twists from side to side as it tries to shake the stubborn woman off its back - and the plate mail connects squarely with its eye! On contact with the demon, the mail shines even brighter, then flares over the entire room! You're forced to shield your eyes. The wyrm rears back on its hind legs, pawing the air in a panic.

You're underneath it. You slam your Fist into the underside of the demon, punching through its scales and carving a rut through its muscle. Blood gushes out in a torrent. The wyrm roars in pain.

It's moving, turning around your head! Tree-trunk legs stomp around you, trying to smash you.

Roll 1d100

>>24518388
Viral might be cool, both for the added regen from CONSUME and spreading shadowy disease among our enemies.

Not sure about Iron Stomach. We don't really had cause to eat rotting corpses.

Rolled 44

>>24518422

quickly inside the gashes

Rolled 37

>>24518422
Enter the dragon's wounds via ink, consume from within. Do it!

Rolled 23

>>24518422
Jump up inside it and CONSUME it from within!

Rolled 73

>>24518422
Rolling.

Rolled 90

>>24518422
Crawl up inside it

>>24518432

Yeah, Iron Stomach seems a bit underpowered for the cost; all it does is protect you from ailments. They're bad if you get them, but I haven't really thrown much in the way of that at you yet. I think I'm going to lower its EXP cost some time soon.

>>24518486
>>24518466
>>24518463
>>24518446

Shadowmind.

Rolled 83

>>24518501
CONSUME

>you've gained 1 HP from regeneration (under the wyrm, in its shadow)

>17/25 HP

The clawed feet stomp around you, but the wyrm is injured, blinded, and confused. You flit between the feet with ease.

The gash you've made in its scales catches your eye...

...you Articulate your limbs and grab into the sides of the tear in the flesh. You can see the injury already beginning to regenerate...

That won't last long.

You pull, throwing all your strength into the act. The scales begin to peel back with a long, sickening rip. The wyrm thrashes from the excruciating torture of having its skin ripped off its muscle.

You turn to ink, and pierce through its flesh...

Where guts and organs should be, fire and shadow rage inside the demonic creature. It's a shell of something real...a terrible sort of half-existence, part magic, part flesh. You grab onto that energy nonetheless, ripping and tearing at it - and your shadowy form can indeed touch it, rend it just like any other thing you've encountered.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 98

>>24518570
WE MUST EAT!!!

Rolled 100

>>24518432
I'm still in favour of getting Claws and then Lash so that we have a mid/long range physical attack.

Rolled 61

>>24518570
FUCK IT UP DOGSHIT SIDEWAYS CONSUME

Rolled 90

>>24518570
Omnomnomnom

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>>24518586
>>24518581

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>>24518586
>100
All glory to the shadow!

This creature's CONSUMPTION will truly be a masterpiece of suffering.

>>24518586
>>24518581
I love you guys

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>>24518603
>>24518586
>>24518581

Are you ready?

Rolled 34

>>24518581
>>24518586
>>24518606
Huehuehuehue that wyrm done got slurped

>>24518586
>>24517884
Dear gods of shadows and dice, what the fuck is going on in this thread?

Rolled 96

>>24518626

MY BODY IS L@DY-I mean READY!

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Rolled 61

>>24518626

>>24518586
Oh god, this is gonna be like that last guy we tried to ink+CONSUME.

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>>24518586
Oh my god my first 100

>>24518620
This kills the dragon.

>>24518626
I'm tingling all over.

>>24518626

my body is ready for impending awesome

The energy claws back at you, and you tumble inside of it, warping, Inking, fighting a strange back and forward with pure energy in a sort of territorial tug-of-war.

Something strikes you as odd.

This isn't an enemy.

It's a feast.

You.
Must.
CONSUME

You spread like a blot of ink dropped in water, in all directions, absorbing the energy as it tries to attack you. As you consume it, it stops, then tries to flee, pressing to the edges of its fleshy container. You're sure its aware - yes, this energy is the wyrm itself.

You can feel its terror.

You show no mercy.

You suck it down like a man sucks meat from a lobster tail, and soon, you're at the edge of the wyrm itself. You devour its flesh, starting from its head, then work your way down its neck like a unified swarm of locusts picking a corpse clean. Your body wraps it like a cocoon, turning around its scales and claws and breaking them into viscous energy ripe for absorption.

When you are done, you rest on the floor where the wyrm stood, a simple shadow. Nothing remains of your enemy.

>you have gained 9 EXP (total: 10)
>you have gained 3 HP (20/25 HP)
>you have gained 6 temerity
>Humanity: 24
>Temerity: 23

Flint stares at you, stunned. His mouth is slightly open. His sword is loose in his grip, touching the ground. "Dear spirits."

The woman is hanging off the edge of the wall. She hops down and crouches on the floor. Her eyes don't leave you for an instant.

<You excellency. The engine?>

The engine coughs, splutters, and roars to life even as you speak. The shadow over the dynamo is gone, and roiling gold lightning crackles and spins in the center of a cage of moving pistons and steel. The duke waltzes out from behind the intricate contraption. "Online. We need to get up to the control room so I can coordinate with the crew." He glances at the woman. "I thank you for your efforts. Can you guide us to the control room?"

>con't
You pause. The Velarion is running smoothly.

>>24518810
Buy Claws and Lash.

>>24518810

"...the engine is running. My work is done." The woman glances at you for a moment. "But I will take you to the bridge."

You pause. The Velarion is running smoothly...

...but you wonder if the duke appreciates exactly what happens when you consume a dynamo.

Perhaps you should enlighten him?

>explain to the duke about what happened on his airship, suggesting you repeat that scenario
>say nothing. The airship is working again, and trying to consume the engine might provoke the woman...

>>24518839
Second

>>24518839

I'm ok with this

>>24518810
Beautiful.

>>24518841
Keep our dynamo powered slaughtering to ourselves. That's a trump card

>>24518841
>say nothing. The airship is working again, and trying to consume the engine might provoke the woman

We can always go back and eat delicious dynamo, but for now let's keep our hand of cards hidden from potential enemies.

Rolled 50

>>24518841
>>say nothing. The airship is working again, and trying to consume the engine might provoke the woman...
>>24518839

and sure

>>24518871
>>24518870
Hivemind card metaphors

>>24518841
Explain to the duke, but suggest leaving that as an absolute final option, only to be used if everything else is lost.

>>24518856
>>24518846
>>24518839

can't buy lash it's in the red

>>24518841
Say nothing. Consuming the dynamo only provides a temporary boost, while the Velarion can keep fighting for a long time if it remains intact. We might need to CONSUME the dynamo as a last-ditch effort to destroy the Demon Lord, but we don't need to tell anyone about that now.

Buy viral to aid in the CONSUMPTION

>>24518894
Yeah, it requires Claws.

We're trying to get both, which is a total of 5XP. Well worth it, in my opinion.

>>24518841
Don't tell the Duke about consuming the dynamo. He still doesn't know what happened on his airship and will as likely as not blame its destruction on Raziel.

I don't know how he'd take it if we admitted to consuming it for power.

>>24518839
We can go with this.

Also, let's stick that last five into Shadow Power, because we sure as fuck want whatever's right beyond that.

>>24518906
I would also like to buy viral

>>24518841
I don't advocate CONSUMING -this- dynamo, as I doubt it will give us the strength to take on a demon lord plus a whole army. Yes, the last one let us fight Raziel on even terms, but he was just ONE lone angel. In any case, since we're on the subject of dynamo consumption, we should apologize again for eating the last one.

>>24518921
True.

Claws, Lash, and Shadow Power, for an all around physical boost.

>>24518894

Purchasing Claws would complete the prerequisites for Lash, and allow you to purchase it.

Also, seems like people want to keep the dynamo-consuming thing a secret.

If you want to second these decisions, respond to this post with the affirmative or write-in edits.

>>24518921
>let's stick that last five into Shadow Power
Seconding.

Shadow Power sounds glorious.

>>24518921
Seconding shadow power
Subject nessofo

>>24518939
Don't mention it here though. We don't want the information to get out.

We can apologise to the duke later, when things are more secure.

>>24518936
>>24518921
My vote goes for Viral and Shadow Power.

>>24518956
>the affirmative

>>24518956
Affirmative. Let's keep that one close to whatever we have that qualifies as a chest.

Also in favour of Claws, Lash and Shadow Power.

Rolled 20

>>24518956
claws lash and shadow power.

>>24518956
Affirmative. Would also like to grab the first level of wind resistance since we're probably going to be doing a fair amount of flying, but not sure what other anons think about that at this time.

>>24518989
>>24518979
>>24518974
>>24518975
>>24518968

+shadow power

Ok, one moment...

>>24518956
affirmative
let them think that the angel chasing us did it.

>>24518956
keep quiet
lets ask if everyone is alright and tend injuries

>>24519008
That's a pretty good idea. Next upgrades we should probably get are magic power and wind resistance.

>>24519022
>>24519050
second, see if there's anything we can do for armor for Flint/agree, on wind resist and magic power

>>24519015
And claw and lash?

I had a dynamo making theory.

What if they're mana pools that have been forced into the whirling shape; given order?

inb4 SM says >implying

>>24519085
Yeah, we had 10xp to spend. And we did.

>>24519109
>implying he would imply your implying and not my implying my implying of his implying of your implying

>>24519109
Sounds about right. Though I'd guess there made from scratch, not modified from natural formations.

>>24519109
That sounds like a good theory, except both cases of the mana pools that we've seen have been isolated to the Patron Elementals, or Elemental Lords, or whatever the fuck they're called. We need SM to tell us what they were definitively called. Anyways, there are probably only 8 of them, and they are probably were where the elemental lords were born.

>>24519109
>>24519158

That and we could CONSUME the dynamo, but not the mana pool...

>>24519149
Well that just cleared up an entire string of implications that were about to be implied by master implcation impliers that have experience implying that great statements by great staters were great impliers' implications.

>>24519158
I remember either Flint or the priest (Johnathon?) saying that they were worried about the whole town turning into a mana pool. So new ones have been created.

>>24519177
And the dynamo can power an airship, but not a mana pool.

Processed food is easier to eat.

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New Tree!

Purchased: Shadow Power, Claws, Lash

Revealed:


>Shiva - You can become a tangle of claws and whips, striking the enemy from a dozen directions. This greatly boosts the accuracy and armor piercing of physical attacks.

>Shadowrage - Unleash the full might of your shadowy aura, gaining a huge bonus to shadow power. However, with your aura on the offensive, you're vulnerable to magical retaliation.

>Barrier of Darkness - Boost your physical defense, and gain a small boost to all magical resistances.

>Twisting Gloom - Your shadowy aura moves with a will of its own to protect and hide you. You gain a small defensive and stealth bonus, and are less susceptible to surprise attacks.

>Dark Blizzard - Summon a furious hail of ice crystals hardened and sharpened by shadow magic to engulf your foes. (costs 14 mana. Ranged area of effect. Moderate base attack with large chances to stun, disrupt, and freeze enemies)

>Pure Darkness - You can now use your shadow without a light source. Shadow attacks from stealth are just as strong as normal.

>>24519200

>0 EXP

>writing...

>>24519200
>Pure Darkness + Doom Aura
hnnnnnnngggggggg

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>>24519200
>Shiva
dear god

>>24519309
Huh, did not realize shiva was a passive ability 'til your post. That price tag makes much more sense now.

>>24519309
I gotta say, Shiva looks fuckin' brootal.

>>24519196
I just saw the mana pool comment of Flint's. Count on me to miss one of the most important threads. That whole comment of his explains how sentient spirits like us are formed, and how the pools were originally formed. However for something to make one or the other takes a MASSIVE amount of magic, honestly probably more than the 100 exp we temporarily gained from the dynamo.

>>24519449
However, I bet mana pools are vital to the construction of the dynamos.

...you turn away from the dynamo's lingering pressure. It isn't going anywhere.

Power surges through the engine and down through the ship...the steel beneath you rocks and shudders periodically.

"We're firing again," the duke says. He glances at the woman. "Lead on."

She jogs ahead, and you all follow behind at a brisk pace. You glance at your friends. <Are either of you injured?>

"My arm doesn't work too well after that cut, but I'll live until we get to one of my healers," the duke says.

"...probably bruised a rib or two," Flint says. "Nothing major."

"I notice you lost your chestplate."

"Casualty of the fighting."

The duke nods. "We can substitute it with something, once we're back on the ground."

The uniform halls of the airship change as you ascend the stairs. You reach a wider, longer hall with several doors leading off it to either side. The steel there is bent and twisted, blackened in places. On the other side is what appears to be a ramshackle barrier of metal seemingly grown out of the airship's corridors.

"Who's there?!" calls a voice from across the room.

"Duke Vellik, and allies!" the duke calls. "We just came from the engine!"

A head pokes out from behind the barrier. "The duke himself. Well. Come along, then!"

The woman trails behind the group as you march forward. You keep an eye on her...her forms grows steadily more indistinct, hazy.

"...feeling shy?" the duke asks. He hasn't missed her reticence.

"I keep my own company," the woman replies shortly.

"You could at least give us your name."

The woman is silent.

The duke shrugs, then turns away. "Shadow, stay close. I'll give you a bit of shelter. Though...if Auriel is around, we'll probably not be keeping you secret long."

You hop into the duke's shadow and go still.

You reach the barrier. You can feel another lightning mage. He focuses, and magic bends the metal out of the way. The duke waltzes into the control room, a curious Flint and silent woman trailing.

con't

>>24519409
>>24519231
>>24519309
So how long do you suppose it will be before we become so gruesome and obviously evil in combat that Flint will no longer allow us to fight at his side?

>>24519495
Power is power - nothing more, nothing less.
So long as we act in a manner that benefits innocent people and friendlies, more power merely means that we can achieve a better result for everyone.

>>24519495
its not the affinity or the look of the man, its the actions he makes that make him good

I fully expect us to be sprouting dog heads and snapping jaws full-blown Alucard-style fairly soon.

The airship's command module is a strange blend of magic and technology. A glass view port encompasses nearly half the room in a sort of dome. A huge gaping hole is open to the air, a tear in the glass like a wyrm came and took a bite out of it. Magic hums around the opening, preventing air from coming inside.

Below, the battle is unfurling. The duke quickly makes his way out onto a long deck of steel set over the glass.

In the airship's absence, the battle hasn't gone well. Kelvere's lines have been pushed back to the brink of the last fortifications before Evinbrook castle. The Kanian armies press against the Kelvere soldiers in a long line, and their efforts have bent the defenders inward, encompassing them in a U-shape. Their core is still surrounded by that fog of shadow.

Mages exchange blasts of magic. Some are deflected or reflected off shields of energy. Others are blocked by rising tides of water and rock. It's like watching the earth fight with itself.

You can rather make out the core strategy from your vantage point. Each squadron of soldiers is assigned a core of mages that protects and defends it, while the soldiers themselves protect their magical support.

<What are you thinking?> you ask the duke.

"...what aren't I thinking." The duke's gaze lingers on the battlefield, then he looks back to Flint. "This is not good."

A star of light makes you flinch.

Auriel cruises down level with the hole in the airship, directly in front of the glass plate. She raises her sparkling blue sword of light, and levels it at the enemy lines.

The control room bursts into activity. Men and women in crisp white uniforms work manual controls with levers and knobs. You can feel the flow of Lightning within the airship redirect itself...

con't

...a hail of light and lightning rains down on the Kanian front line from the underside of the ship. The mages don't stand a chance against the concentrated power. A gaping hole is blasted in their forces. You can hear the roar of the Kelveren rally even from this high up as they push back, gaining lost ground.

"Recharging!" shouts a man at the front of the controls.

A missile of darkness spears out from the cloud of mist. Everyone in the room automatically flinches back at the power cruising straight for the glass wall...

Auriel flies out to meet the magical attack. Her sword glows bright, brighter, extending and lengthening nearly five times its size. She swings, hard, and cleaves the missile in two. The darkness explodes to either side of her, and she flies back toward the airship, smoke trailing from her form - though she seems unharmed.

It isn't long until she flies directly into the hole in the glass. She alights hard on the steel. "Duke! You did it!"

You're surprised. When she's happy...she doesn't seem all that bad.

The duke smiles. "Naturally. But we're not firing very fast."

"Report," Auriel says sharply.

"Critical damage to three of the energy converters," a man says from a console. "We can barely crawl, and the main gun's going to take twice as long to charge even with all power diverted there."

Auriel takes a deep breath.

Then she pauses. Her glances left, then right.

Then straight at you.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 8

>>24519729
Diplomacy's gotta work this time right? RIGHT?

Rolled 46

>>24519729
damn it

>>24519750
Damnitall

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Rolled 93

>>24519729
Oh boy, here we go

Rolled 88

>>24519729
...

Rolled 77

>>24519729

Rolled 7

>>24519729
IT BEGINS...
Again.

Rolled 25

Oh please

Rolled 33

>>24519729
ANUS UNPREPARED

Rolled 78

>>24519729
I kinda want a 1. Y'know? Just to see what happens.

A decidedly mediocre crop of rolls. I suspect we should have stayed back out of view with the shady woman.

>>24519729
>>24519750

>inb4 we are forced to CONSUME another angel

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Rolled 42

>>24519806
>implying we weren't going to do it anyway.

>>24519750
>>24519758
>>24519762

>>24519750
>>24519758
>>24519762

Ok, now roll 1d20

>>24519797
Oh. Hey ChaosAnon-kun. Haven't seen you in awhile.

Rolled 9

>>24519823

here we go

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Rolled 10

Rolled 14

>>24519823

Rolled 19

>>24519823
!

Rolled 19

>>24519823

Rolled 37

>>24519823
This...is going to hurt, isn't it?

Rolled 20

>>24519823
Please, please let Auriel be the practical sort and not jump into fighting us above everything else.

>>24519848
>>24519852
Thank you based dice gods.

Rolled 16

>>24519823
>rape

>>24519856
BOOSH

>>24519823

Oh Boy, here it comes

>>24519855
Wrong dice, doesn't look like I need to roll at this point though.

>>24519856
All hail dice gods

>>24519856
>>24519856
>>24519856

You'd better thank an anon for saving you.

Rolled 2

>>24519856
Fuck you I want the 1

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>>24519856
I know that this crit probably isn't that effective, but god damn do I want to use this gif.

Oh God, we're fucked, I know yet.

PLEASE BE COOL ANGEL LADY.

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>>24519823
My body isn't ready

>>24519894

close, but no cigar

>>24519880
>saving

Ok, if she's ever injured in combat we need to eat her

>>24519894
So you want the duke to fry? I really must ask why?

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>>24519894
>Fuck you I want the 1
Stop that

Rolled 4

>>24519908
Agreed.

We. must. CONSUME

>>24519894
Oh, a failer, how adorable.

>>24519916

come on guys lets not make this into

"CONSUME ALL WHO OPPOSE THE SHADOW QUEST"

Auriel dies when we get the chance.

>>24519939
Why? She'd be worth some good ass XP

>>24519939
How about CONSUME ALL WHO TRY TO KILL US REPEATEDLY.

>>24519943
for what, getting mad when we consumed her comrade and completely missed us with all of her attacks

>>24519943

how about we react with lethal force and CONSUME only if she attacks us

a fair compromise right

>>24519954
she attacked us once, and tried to stop Raziel the first time

>>24519943
Only if she actively tries to kill us.

Which is fairly likely, really.

>>24519950
>>24519943

Stop that. Light isn't the enemy, dickwaffles are. Raziel (excuse me, I mean Dickiel) was a dickwaffle. He deserved the CONSUME. Auriel is pretty level headed, except when fail diplomacy checks. Then she isn't. But I can forgive her for that, as she otherwise seems a bro.

Auriel steps forward...her hand flinches to the hilt of her sword...

The cloaked woman butts in front of the duke, throws you an subtle glance, and strides up to the angel.

You note that the way her shadow falls intersects with the duke's...

"High one. The engine was restored without problems. Do I have another assignment?"

Auriel blinks. Her face twists as if she's smelled something bad, then sighs. "You are to seek and kill enemy mages in the lines. Use your magic to glide down. I've much to speak of with the duke." The angel glances at Flint. "Sir Flint, I see you've lost your armor? We can replace it."

Flint doesn't miss a beat. "I wouldn't want to impose, highest."

"It's no imposition. Arland's royal family demands more than casual protection." She throws a pointed glance at one of the crewmen, and he scurries off. "What happened down there?"

Flint launches into a detailed and shadow-less version of the battle, mostly using the woman as a substitute for your actions.

The woman pauses a moment longer...

Auriel glances away from Flint and squints at the woman. "Get going, now."

What do you do?

>slip into the woman's shadow and escape
>wait in the Duke's shadow; you want to listen in on this conversation
>some other strategy

>>24519990
>>slip into the woman's shadow and escape
send impression to Flint and maybe Duke that we'll go see what we can do in the battle

>>24519990

Hide in the lady's shadow, we should probably GTFO while we still can.

Maybe we learn more about shadow lady in the process.

>>24519990
>>some other strategy
Take the dynamo. Then we take the angel.

With any luck, we can contain more of it's power this time.

>>24519990
>wait in the Duke's shadow; you want to listen in on this conversation
Let's see if we can show Auriel that we aren't the monster that us eating Raziel made us out to be.
Also, we are in Flint's shadow, not the Duke's.

>>24519990
No point in provoking Auriel for the moment. Let's go down to the battlefield and get our murder on.

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>>24519990
>the woman throws you an subtle glance

>>24519990
does the sky sever only attack us or an area around us?

>>24519990
>>slip into the woman's shadow and escape
Yes

>>24519990
Get the fuck out of dodge. If we linger eventually she will spot us.

>>24519990
>wait in the Duke's shadow

Auriel's not stupid enough to try and wreck her own airship in a battle. I think we might be able to get away with this.

Also let's file away Auriel using Shadow agents and her reaction to us accusing her of hypocrisy earlier under "Interesting Things to Remember".

>>24519986
>>24519977
>>24519963
>>24519984
She's already actively tried to kill us. She's hostile to us, we'd be well within reason to be hostile right back.

>>24519990
I'd like to listen to their conversation.

>>24520036

see

>>24519494

>The duke shrugs, then turns away. "Shadow, stay close. I'll give you a bit of shelter. Though...if Auriel is around, we'll probably not be keeping you secret long."

>You hop into the duke's shadow and go still.

>>24519990
Let's help take out some mages.

>slip into the woman's shadow

>>24519990
send impreesion of us dropping down and doing what we can to aid the failing Kelvere lines

>>24520063

how about when we don't need her help to defeat a giant demon thing

>>24519990
stay in dukes shadow

>>24520066
I meant that we should hop into Flint's shadow. Although I just now realized that Auriel didn't see us, and the shadow lady tried to get us out of here. Is it too late to retcon?

>>24520063
Admittedly at the time we had just finished painfully eating the soul of her comrade.

>>24519990
>Slip into the woman's shadow.

>>24520107
I only just now got my shit together and understood what was going on. Yes let's get in shadow lady's shadow before shit get's crazy.

>>24520118
Well, she did refuse to let us go in exchange for setting him free.

>>24519990
Give the woman an impression of thanks for the save, and slip into her shadow. We can reveal ourselves in the battle later if need be, and hopefully Auriel isn't stupid enough to frown on an obvious ally.

>>24520104
When we get the chance.
>>24520118
No, we did that after she attacked us.

>>24519990
>slip into the woman's shadow and escape
We should get out of here before Auriel decides it's shadow hunting season again.

>>24519990
Lets go with the lady, but send Flint an impression that we're going with her.

>>24520043

It attacks anything that has been separated from the ground (flying) for more than about a minute or so.

---------------
---------------

10 slip away

3 linger in the duke's shadow because
>>24520107
changed his vote

Locked in for slipping away. Writing...

>>24520142
to be fair, she powered up her sword, THEN we ate hi, then she attacked

>>24520163
>It attacks anything that has been separated from the ground (flying) for more than about a minute or so.

I think the question was about the nature of that attack; barring us using our abilities as a shadow to shield someone we're carrying, is it targeted only at the flier or is it a small area-effect around them?

We could use the latter to our advantage.

>>24520164
She went all hostile on us, so we ate the hostage and went all hostile right back at her.

>>24520180
my thoughts exactly, does the wind target us precicly or is it a wider area sorta wave/blade thing

>>24520192
still proving we made the first move before she struck and missed. and if she had been more committed to hunting us down than she would have risked the sky sever instead of only just keeping on our trail

Out of curiosity, Shadow Master, you said that the skysever wiped out all the flying birds, wouldn't that mean that it in turn wiped out a lot of fruit bearing plants which rely on birds to spread, which in turn would have starved a far wider range of animal life which relies on said species of plant?

With the shadows crossing each other, you don't even have to move. You subtly -shift- from one to another.

The woman is off with a leap. Her aura allows her to cruise out the hole in the glass, and then she drops precipitously. A buzz of lightning passes over you as you drop through the magic shielding of the airship, but it doesn't seem to mind things leaving as much as things going in.

It's a bit of a trip back to the ground, and she isn't aiming to land right in the middle of enemy territory.

You send her an impression of gratitude for her help. She doesn't respond.

<What's your name?>

<I cannot tell you. What is yours?>

<...I am simply called Shadow,> you say. <But is a name so important you can't speak of it?>

"It isn't important," she says. "I can't speak of it."

<Why not?>

Her mouth twitches, but her throat works, and she chokes the words off. She swallows, and remains silent.

You're drifting slowly toward the east end of the Kelveren lines...

What do you say to the woman, if anything?

>write-in

>>24520227
She broke negotiations, obviously with intent of hurting us. That's hostility.

>>24520227
I have a feeling our unique body leaves us less susceptible to the sky sever, we are less tangible, her wings can be ripped off

>>24520202
>>24520180

Each individual is attacked. You can, however, use your power to protect anything you're carrying.

Note that the more you protect in this manner, the more hits you have to take.

>>24520243

<You are not a willing servant but a slave>

<I feel sorry for your position>

>>24520243
<I apologize if this is a touchy subject, I realize after my actions in the engine room you must find me awful>

>>24520243
Stoic silence.

Mentally prepare for all the RIPPING AND TEARING that is about to happen.

>>24520243
humm. do we see anything on her soul or a spell on her? we might be able to break it after this battle

Rolled 19

>>24520243
<I am not your enemy.>

>>24520243
<How does a shadow mage come to be a servant of an angel?>

>>24520243
For another time then.

Our assault begins, lead onwards to where our efforts will bear the most fruit.

>>24520284
>>24520304
these/second

>>24520243
<I would not have expected the angels to accept a shadow mage as one of their servants>

Make it clear that it's a question

>>24520277
I like this

>>24520304
Sure, this one.

>>24520243
<Perhaps all humans carry secrets. My apologies for asking, but know I am on your side and will assist you.>

>>24520314
i'll third
>>24520277
>>24520316
and some combination

>>24520243
I think she might be speaking literally; perhaps she really can't speak it, rather than that she won't.

<I think I may have misunderstood. Can you literally not speak of it? What could cause such a thing, if you can say?>

>>24520241

Yes.

The ecosystem was damaged by the Sky-Sever; it resulted in exactly what you've stated. This didn't spell doom, but did harmfully decrease the genetic diversity of forests. The Spirit Blight circa 560 A.E. (After Elementomachy) unleashed by Archon upon the Empire of the Light took advantage of this to wipe out huge amounts of forestland in an attempt to cripple their economy. That's why there aren't any forests south of the Great Forest, aside from the swamp, but that region resisted the blight better as it still held different species of trees.

The angels responded quickly, however. Earth and water mages, which had been greatly suppressed and controlled in the empire, were brought out en-masse to turn the decaying forests into farmland around The Tairns. This provided the foundation for Arland's population growth and eventually rebellion against Archon.

As a result, earth and water mages are not as openly despised and hated as are shadow and spirit because they find practical use. People see earth mages helping farmers and don't feel bad about it. People see water mages healing people and are willing to look past old memories.

Shadow and Spirit are pretty much synonymous with boogiemen, necromancers, vampires, undead, etc.

Well, that's enough for one post.

>>24520375
I see.

You've really thought this through, or you're very good at making up historical facts on the fly.

Either way I'm impressed.

>>24520420
I'd be inclined to believe the latter, since Shadow Master seems quite capable of playing Xanatos Speed Chess, but someone in a previous thread pointing out that in our memories of the dragon and the elf, there were birds.

>>24520375
>implying SM hasn't written backstory for everything and isn't a god damn mastermind

>>24520375
so we ARE the boogieman, it all makes sence now

>>24520444
>What if that memory was from before the Skysever.

>>24520444
>>24520420
It's probably some combination, which is how every good DM/GM/QM does it.

>>24520243
It seems that everyone has very similar responses to this. I like that. I like that out of this marble block that was possibility, our character is finally showing through the sculpting.

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>>24520463
>>What if that memory was from before the Skysever.

-----------------
-----------------

<I'm surprised the angels have a shadow mage as a servant.>

The woman says nothing.

<I think I may have misunderstood,> you continue. <Can you literally not speak of it? What could cause such a thing, if you can say?>

The woman says nothing, and makes no indication either way. She doesn't even look at you.

You feel confident in your assessment. <You are not a willing servant, but a slave.>

The woman's throat convulses. She looks at you. But she says nothing.

You bend your senses toward her...but you feel nothing. No locks or chains, no light holding her back. She feels...

...empty.

Like a demon.

The thought bothers you in the extreme.

You're approaching the ground rapidly. You glance at her. <You can't tell me your name?>

Her lips snarl back over her teeth. Breath forced out her mouth stops, stutters. But she says nothing.

<Know I am not your enemy.>

"This I can acknowledge," the woman says. "How will you fight? I would know before we land."

Well...

>support the woman from her shadow
>stay separated and distract the foes she fights
>take the lead, have her support you
>you fight from the air and spot targets, she fights on the ground
>some other strategy