You are Osyki, journeyman Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. You've returned from first contact with a group of outside humans, and after unleashing a truly fearsome display of elemental might, you've won their respect and trust. For the next few days, you have nothing but your own agenda to see to... whatever that may be.

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

The Cast Thus Far: http://pastebin.com/uwRsEHcX

Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest]]

[[ Updated Cast So Far / Binder's Log: http://pastebin.com/2ZCnw8xc ]]

>>25661194
When are we do to visit the Emperor?

>>25661185
Hmm, we haven't seen Sylviannis for a bit and honestly she'll probably be the easiest one to get on board. And she's the easiest to find and get to. So if we're going to see one today we should start with her.

About how long would it take to whip up one of the Totem's of Energy?

>>25661298

> You've not set a specific time to see the Emperor. Your previous interaction with him was cordial, if strained.

[[ Nice to see you, Doctor. I'm enjoying Akuma Quest very much, when I can catch it. ]]

>>25661333
Oh, and adding to my post here, if we go out to see Sylvia we might be able to get started on our harp lessons.

And if we go we should leave a note for Quinn since we told him we were likely to stay here and research stuff or visit Elana so wandering off randomly to visit Sylvia would be rude if we didn't leave a note.

>>25661378
The Doctor isn't the one who runs Akuma, he's a participant in it among other quests though..

Agreed on the energy totem. If we're going to be doing a lot of stuff, it makes sense to get the thing that lets us do MORE stuff first.

>>25661333
I'd think we'd start with Lady Boa first, wouldn't we?

Like ask if anything terrible happened in the... day or so we were out?

>>25661480
Well we could stop by and visit Boand for various reasons, she's a nice girl, information from her is useful, and we'll owe her time in her pool for the foreseeable future, but she isn't one of the Land Guardians, she's a lovely lady with a lovely pond, but we don't need her permission for setting up roads and trade settlement.

>>25661570
Yeah but she could tell us how open Sylviannis would be about the road. Test the water before you jump in, eh?

>>25661378
Wrong Doctor. I ran Demi quest.

>>25661672
Shouldn't we just ask Sylviannis about that? My vote is to go talk to her.

You scribe a quick note to Quinn, informing him that you'll be in the forest for the foreseeable future, and to look at Boand's pond should he need you urgently. You pack up your usual kit for excursion outside of the village, (rope, pitons, rations, etc.), and, shouldering your spear, head out the door.

Clasping your hand to the Link Pearl that hangs from your neck, you send a missive to Boand as you make your way to her pond, informing her that you're on your way to see her, and to expect you.

"Wait just a moment!" comes the excited reply. "I'll come to you."

You glance down at the creek and see that, in fact, the recent rains have funneled waist-deep water into the trench you've dug between the mountain and the pond. In a few moments the water ripples, surging upward to form the shape of Boand just within the gates of your village.

"Well, well." she says, twirling a lock of blue hair as she stares up at you from the channel. "Shall we take a walk together, Osyki?"

She seems endlessly pleased by this development.

>>25661764
"So, enjoying your new creek?"

>>25661764
Give her a grin "I'm not sure Boa, does this count as me spending time with you for the purposes of our little arrangement? Or do I have to go swimming for that?"

Then start taking a walk with her.

"It is an interesting development seeing you here, do you like your new creek?

I can't even get away from you by coming to the village now. Are you going to visit often?

So, I was planning on visiting Sylvia, I have some things to discuss with her concerning roads and trade, I was wondering if you knew where she was and if she was in a good mood of late."

>>25661764
"Of course, Boa. Have you seen the highlands yet? There are some lovely views available from up there. Not to mention some excellent ponds that I believe this new creek runs through on the way down. No sapient water spirits up there yet, so you'd have ample excuse to claim new territory for yourselves before the prices go up on the new land."

You grin at Boand, gesturing for her to accompany you down the stream.

"So," you say with a cheeky grin, "Does this count as spending time with you for the purposes of our little arrangement?"

Boa scoffs. "Hardly. I came all the way over here to see you. If anything, I should charge you extra for the grace of my company."

You both share a laugh at that.

"So, this is an interesting development. I can't even get away from you by coming to the village, now."

Boa chuckles. "Pretty soon I'll convince Quinn to put a channel into your workshop, and then you'll really never be rid of me."

You pale slightly at the thought, shaking your head. "That's all I need, to wake up half-drowned in my own workshop."

"So what did you need, Osyki? Or were you just coming to work off some time?"

You shake your head. "More consultation, as usual. Specifically, about Sylvia. How's her mood today? I need to negotiate with her regarding some roads through the forest."

Boand shrugs. "She's been a bit of a recluse for the past few days, so your guess is unfortunately as good as mine. I think she's been taking some time to recuperate. That fight with the Splinter took more out of her than she'll let on to anyone, you know?"

>>25662109
"Understandable. That thing was damn powerful. Plus she had to shore me up so its poison didn't kill me. But I suppose she can't risk showing weakness. Even if she and the Swamp Mother are on slightly better terms now, I'm sure there are a thousand other threats and competitors to her authority. Speaking of which, do you know anything about this iron spirit that's after the Stone Emperor's title? Because I'm going to need to negotiate with the Emperor at some point, too, and I'd like to be able to trade favors for favors."

>>25662109
"It took a lot out of everyone, if she wasn't there I wouldn't have made it. And she can't exactly show weakness in front of anyone, politics and all that.

Maybe I'll get my harp lesson today, I've wanted that for a fair while."

>>25662109
How much time do we owe Boa at this point?

"Hmmm, at least she isn't confirmed to be in a bad mood. It's understandable that she is taking time to recover, that guy was tough"

>>25662304
A lot, and I mean a lot. We owe her time for our entire time in the swamp as we kept communication open between us and her, and she kept us in communication with Sylvia during our entire trip there.

So days, we'll pay it off eventually, maybe.

>>25662335
We probably should start paying it off sooner rather than later. Not all at once, but just little bits and pieces here and there just to show that we haven't forgotten.

You nod. "Totally understandable. If it weren't for her help, I wouldn't have made it out of there either. But I suppose she can't risk showing weakness. Even if she and the Swamp Mother are on slightly better terms now, I'm sure there are a thousand other threats and competitors to her authority. Speaking of which, do you know anything about this iron spirit that's after the Stone Emperor's title? Because I'm going to need to negotiate with the Emperor at some point, too, and I'd like to be able to trade favors for favors."

Boand considers this for a moment, floating effortlessly down the creek. "I've heard whispers from my little birds. Rumors, here and there. Troubling news, though I'm not sure exactly how much of it is true, and how much is just hyperbole."

"Well?" You ask, eyebrow raised. "Spill."

She sighs. "Alright, but you owe me something nice for this. Rumor has that the land on the other side of the Ikrins used to be a lush tropical jungle before this spirit rose. This Iron Tyrant has apparently razed the forests. There's nothing left beyond the mountain but blasted plains and smoke. Why, I'm not sure."

You near Boand's pond, and she slips down the small waterfall into her home. At once, a radiant glow seems to return to her.

[[ Apologies for the delay. Internet decided to cut out suddenly.]]

>>25662848
"That doesn't sound good. Especially for the forest and swamp if he manages to take over the mountains. Still, it is more than I knew before"

>>25662848
I suppose we can stay for a bit before we go to Sylvia.

Start stripping and then jump in.

"You look more glowy and radiant in your pond, interesting.

As for the jungle, that's rather concerning news, I don't want that to happen over here. Any details beyond that? Any theories or conjecture you managed to put together?

Still, better to know something bad then not to know it, I'll think of some way to make it up to you."

After swimming around for a bit.

"Oh, thought you should know, negotiations went well, assuming talks with the Guardians go well we'll have a trade route up and going in no time."

>>25662848
"While that sounds really bad, it's kind of nice that things are apparently so clear-cut.

I'd better better get to putting a stop to him."

>>25662848
Alright, I suppose we definitely need to back Emps now, given our close ties to the swamp and forest. Can't have some asshole burning it all down.

>>25662848
"That...is not good. I'd heard that the other side of the Ikrins was a desert, but I assumed it was naturally so. I'm going to need to figure out that ritual Master Ayren left me for fast travel soon, so I can head out and check on that myself. Well, add another thing to the 'Potentially Catastrophic Threats' list. I'm up to what, four now?"

Looks like we need to learn a way to more easily access the spirit realm so we can use Ayren's shortcut ritual. That requires a marked beacon to locate a destination and an air spirit to ferry us, right? So that's three new items to add to the priority list. Then we can take a few days to check out the other side of the mountains and portal back home quickly.

You grimace. "That's bad news, but at least I'm aware now," you say, stripping down to your swimwear. "I thought the far side of the Ikrins was naturally desert. Given my alliance with Sylvia and the mother, I suppose this makes investigating this Tyrant more of a priority than ever. I'm going to need to figure out that ritual Master Ayren left me for fast travel soon, so I can head out and check on that myself. Well, add another thing to the 'Potentially Catastrophic Threats' list. I'm up to what, four now?"

Boand raises an eyebrow, miming counting on her fingers. "Something like that. Work's never done, eh?"

You shake your head, diving into the pool. "Indeed it's not."

You spend some time with Boand in her pond, not chatting much as your float lazily together in the mid-day heat. After nearly an hour passes, you haul yourself out of the pool and dry yourself.

"I may be back after I track down Sylvia," you tell her with a smile. "Thanks for the info, as always."

"Safe travels, Osyki." she says with a broad smile.

After dressing once more, you forage off into the brush. You think you may know where Sylvia is.

>Roll 1d100 for locating the Land Guardian.

Rolled 73

>>25663242
Searching time

Rolled 27

>>25663242
Rolling.

Rolled 64

>>25663242
rolls

>>25663242
In her cave, duh.

When in doubt, just follow the harp music

>>25663258
>73

You travel through the deep forest, weaving your way down familiar doe trails and through the hanging vines until you stand at the mouth of a cave. Soft music trails from the entrance, and your find yourself entranced by the melody. Stepping inside, you slide gently down the slope of the cave until you reach its level, if damp, bottom.

Sylvia sits on the mossy outcropping at the base of the cave, strumming at the radiant green harp in her hands. Motes of glowing light dance in mystifying patterns around her as her nails glide across the strings, sending watery patterns dancing across the walls of the cavern. You stand quietly at the edge of the cavern until she ends the last wavering note of the song, gently laying the heel of her palm against the crystalline strings. Her face seems drawn.

"What do you need from me, Totemist?" she asks, her voice heavy.

>>25663566
As of now, harp lessons and information. The tyrant on the other side of the mountain has me concerned. Hearing that he reduced what was once lush and green to burnt sand is not good news. What do you know about him? If I am to deal with him, the more information I have the better. Additionally, my village would like to construct a road to join us with another civilization. We desire not to offend you with such a construction. Would you grant us the blessing to do so, or tell us what we might do to receive such a blessing?

>>25663566
"My pardons for disturbing you, but I bring news from the humans I met beyond the swamp.

While there is nothing definite yet, it seems as if they are amendable to the village joining their empire, thus requiring a road to be built at some indefinite point in the future.

I wish to know what conditions I can fulfill to make such a thing acceptable, and if there is any course the road should take to minimize damage to your land."

>>25663638
Maybe a bit more deferential?

Not sure if she's in the best of moods.

>>25663566
"It's good to see you again Sylvia, your playing is lovely as always, though you look tired.

My visit has a few purposes and I apologize if I came at a bad time.

First, and perhaps most boring, has to do with the men from beyond the swamp. Negotiations with them went well, and they're interested in opening up trade with my village, and I came seeking your blessing for their passage and to know your terms and requests for the privilege of building roads through your forest.

Also, while you may already know this, news of the Iron Tyrant has weighed on me, apparently he turned vibrant jungle into plains and smoke, and I would like to avoid that happening here. Do you know anything of the Tyrant? Or have any thoughts on how to stop him.

The rest of my reasons why I came here are to see you again, see how you were doing, spend some time with you, and if you are willing I'd like to start learning to play the harp."

>>25663698
That sounds good.

(This looks beautiful. I will read up on the backlog when I can, but could someone give me a rundown of what's happened so far?)

>>25663873
Did you read >>25661194 and the pastebins?

>>25663900
Like not sure how best to summarize it.

We're pretty much the shaman of an isolated village, our role is general emissary between humans and spirits as well as doing things ordinary people can't, like fight monsters.

Our magic works by forming magic items, either minor ones called totems, or potent weapons that are made from the monsters we kill and bind their souls.

>>25663698

You sit down on the rock across from her, inclining your head deferentially. "It's good to see you again Sylvia, your playing is lovely as always, though you look tired."

She stares at you, and you get to your point.

"My visit has a few purposes. First, and perhaps most boring, has to do with the men from beyond the swamp. While there is nothing definite yet, it seems as if they are amendable to the village joining their empire, thus requiring a road to be built at some indefinite point in the future. I came seeking your blessing for their passage and to know your terms and requests for the privilege of building roads through your forest."

Sylvia sighs, cradling her head in her hand. "And the other reasons?"

"The tyrant on the other side of the mountain has me concerned. Hearing that he reduced what was once lush and green to burnt sand is not good news. What do you know about him? If I am to deal with him, the more information I have the better."

You can see Sylvia's expression drop further.

>1d100+5 for Diplomacy.

[[ Work just called me in for an hour or so shift. Feel free to discuss further plans for the session while I'm gone; we'll be going all night on this one if you're all up for it. ]]

>>25663925
I guess right now we recently had contact with other humans who apparently have an empire of some kind, and are looking to join because the village needs new blood and ideas to avoid stagnation.

Rolled 31 + 5

>>25663929
Osyki the Silver-Tongued!

Rolled 97 + 5

>>25663929
Let us see if that silver tongue will return

Rolled 74 + 5

>>25663929
Silver rongue

Rolled 48 + 5

>>25663929

"...I can come back later."

>>25663951
Yes

>>25663951
Like I said before, the dice gods actually seem to like this quest.

>>25663929
>we'll be going all night on this one if you're all up for it.
Hell yes.

>>25663966
I know! It is the weirdest thing! All other quests end in horrible nightmare because of low rolls, but in this we seems to actually have decent rolls.

>>25663873
A lot of stuff. We've negotiated with spirits, trained and learned with our Cotemist and Apprentice, wooed a girl, protected our village from various threats.

We bind spirits to gain their power, we're the bridge between the world of man and the world of spirits, and we prepare for situations.

Oh, and our first fight was with a fucking huge turtle that could shoot lightning. We used a chisel to hammer the symbols of binding into the ground, lured the turtle into it, used a hammer to drop stalagmites on it from above, surfed one of the stalagmites we dropped onto it, gouged its eyes out with our spear, avoided the lightning it shot from its horn, all while staying on top of the turtle, and killed it by ripping through the eye tissue with our ritual knife, using a hammer and chisel to break open the skull from inside its empty eye socket and stabbed it in the brain with said knife in order to bind its spirit to part of the horn. We now have its spirit in a pair of boots that let us make absurd jumps and kick things in the face with lightning. If this doesn't interest you I don't know what to say.

Just read the archives, it's worth it.

>>25664133
>We bind spirits to gain their power, we're the bridge between the world of man and the world of spirits, and we prepare for situations.

(DAMN. Well I'm onboard. I'll start reading and try to contribute what I can)

>>25663951
Woo! Best negotiator.

Okay, so we seem to be doing pretty well with Sylvia so far. After we deal with the high-priority tasks that need to get done we can chill out with her some, discuss less stressful things, maybe learn some harp, enjoy her company, get to know her better, if she seems interested we can tell her some stories of our adventures and snazzy fights. She needs a chance to relax, she's tired as hell.

After we're done with Sylvia we should look into the Energy Totem before we head out to try to talk to the Stone Emperor or the Mother in the coming days. They're both long arduous trips and I'd like to make it easier on us before we go out.

Also, some study time with the Amal Journal would be good, if there are sections that we don't understand as well as we'd like we can get cross references and see what Ayren was thinking at the time of writing it which'll help our comprehension.

>>25664357
Feel like she probably wants to be left alone right now, since she clearly has a lot of healing to do.

Maybe we should ask if there's anything we can do to expedite her recovery?

>>25664477
Yeah, she doesn't seem in a chatty mood. Asking if there is anything we could do to help wouldn't be a bad idea.

>>25663873
Think Monster Hunter mixed with Werewolf. Kill huge ass monsters, use pieces of them to craft magic items, and play politics with nature spirits.

>>25664528
If there's anything we can do to make her stronger or feed her power, we should at least offer. She did a LOT for us.

>>25665245
Well, expanding Boa's domain strengthened her. Perhaps we could do the same with the forest? Spread fertility totems throughout the region to enhance the growth of the trees, that sort of thing? As I recall the Splinter of the Magus burnt a fair amount of her forest down, and she's focused a lot of her energy on repairing it. Taking some of the burden of that off her would go a long way towards improving her mood, I think.

>>25665473
And, maybe spreading seeds from her forest to the scorched wastes on the other side of the mountains once we've dealt with the iron spirit?

>>25665548
I like that idea. I like that a lot. Provided that the wastes aren't so desolated that they can't support life anymore. If he's an iron spirit that leaves destruction in his wake he's probably associated with strip mining or some such similar method. In which case it would take a lot of work to recondition the soil. Still, a nice long-term goal.

Oh shit I'm late!

>>25666041
It seems like Diarca's shift went on a bit later than he anticipated so you're fine.

File: 1372300400046.png-(437 KB, 800x800, Summoning Diarca.png)

437 KB PNG

DIARCA I SUMMON THEE! CAST OFF THE VILE CHAINS OF WAGE SLAVERY AND RETURN!

>>25666838
I was just thinking of doing that.

Brings back good memories.

>>25666838
Vague chanting in the background ensues.

>>25666885
It really does. He's a sleepy bastard he is.

>>25666911
He got me so worked up with all that talk of being up all night long. Curse you strange meds that cause Diarca to randomly pass out on the keyboard! (or work, but that is less fun to curse at)

>>25666974
Technically he just talked about duration instead of frequency.

>>25667033
Logic, my old foe! We meet again!

>>25663951

You raise your hands in a placating gesture as you see Sylvia's face drop. "My lady of the Forest, I know that you are tired. Regrowing the forest from the attack and recovering while putting forth a brave face for your people is admirable, and I understand the rigors of leadership." You lean forward, resting your hands on your knees. "I don't need any answers from you immediately. By all means, take your time. I still need to confer with the Mother and the Emperor in regards to the road, and I certainly don't plan on charging off and headbutting this Iron Tyrant. I only ask that you consider what I've asked you."

You recline, resting your head against the cool rock wall. The moss cushions your head as you lean. "For now, I'd love to just spend some time hear, and listen to you play. And, perhaps, take you up on those harp lessons?"

Finally, a smile breaks Sylvia's face. She gestures in the air, producing a smaller harp of stone and moss for you to play.

"Watch my fingers, then repeat," she says in a no-nonsense tone. "I'll go slowly, so pay attention."

>1d100 for harpan'

[[ One hour, they say. Super easy, they say. Never trust a co-worker, I say. ]]

>>25667077
Haha! The image still works!

Rolled 84

>>25667077

Rolled 67

>>25667077
"I'll do my best, please forgive me if I am slow in the learning, I am not that experienced in music."

Rolled 68

>>25667077
Music!

>>25667085

[[ Never doubt the circle, Anon. ]]

>>25667085
Holy shit that has worked a scary amount of times.

Rolled 86

>>25667077

>>25667107

Learning the harp is slow progress, especially with no idea of what notes are which, but you follow the deft movements of Sylvia's fingers as best you can. After a few initial stumbles, you are playing along as accompaniment to Sylvia's wandering, flowing melody. You pick out a simple complementary tune and change it up every so often to match her switches in key and tempo. You stumble here and there, but the harp in your hands seems to shift to better accommodate you after each slip-up.

"Very good, Totemist," Sylvia says as you play. "You know, I was not always a harpist. The violin was my true love, once. I would play to the forest for days and weeks on end, blooming the flowers and growing the shrubs with a single note."

>>25667299
If you don't mind me asking, my lady, why do you now play the harp instead?

>>25667299
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you change instruments?

And why is it that I have always found you playing within caves, instead of among the trees, flowers, and shrubs?"

"Is that so?" you ask, still doing your best to play along with Sylvia. It's difficult to keep up and hold a conversation, but... no way to learn except by doing, right? "If you don't mind me asking, why do you play the harp instead now? And why is it that I've always found you playing here, rather than among the trees and shrubs?"

Sylvia smiles a sad smile, and the song she plays changes to a slower, melancholic ode. "I play in this place to enjoy myself without disrupting the forest. When I am here, my actions have a much lessened effect on the plants above. Were I to play again among the trees and shrubs, a single mistake could ruin the flow of life through the forest. It is too much pressure for daily practice. As for the violin..."

She sighs, and the song peters to a lingering end.

"I was bested once in a contest with the violin. As part of the agreements for that contest, I am only allowed to hold the instrument in the times of greatest need. Any other contact with it, and I would forfeit my right to rule over the wood."

>>25667492
"I find it hard to think of any who could even match you in music, let alone best you in your instrument of choice.

Would I be prying too much if I asked to hear this story of your violin contest?"

>>25667537
Second.

>>25667537
Sounds good.

>>25667492
"So playing musical instruments is not purely a recreational interest, but also a means of focusing your power?"

>>25667537
Twenty bucks it was our teacher.

You scoff. "I'd be hard pressed to think of any who could even match you in music, let alone best you in your instrument of choice." You place the stone harp beside you, steepling your fingers. "Would I be prying too much if I asked to hear this story of your violin contest?"

Sylvia looks to the ground, her mouth a hard line once more. "Perhaps another time, Osyki. For now, I would appreciate the chance to recuperate privately for a time. Thank you for stopping by. I will contact Boand when I have answers to your queries."

You nod, rising to your feet. "Thank you for seeing me, Sylvia."

As you turn to go, you hear Sylvia call after you. "Osyki!" she says, "Don't forget your harp!"

You turn to find the stone harp protruding from the wall beside you. You crack the instrument off of the wall, tucking it under your arm. "Thank you," you say with a smile.

> Where to, Totemist?

>>25667492
Sylvia went down to Georgia?

>>25667762
ok. we are binding the scale to this thing asap

>>25667762
Hmm... off to see the swamp mother. I think we're going to need to get much more involved with the Stone Emperor than with the swamp mother.

>>25667762
Maybe check up on Elana?

She and the healer probably have a scolding for us regarding Terra getting burned.

>>25667830
It's late, we've had a long day, we can visit her another time. Besides, I want the personal travel totem done before we go out on another long trip.

>>25667762
Let's head home and check on Terra, see how our little Apprentice is doing.

>>25667830
Like just to say that at some point in the future, it seems likely that we're going to want to build a road?

Also a good idea to check how many Basilisk Wyrmlings are left, and maybe offer to finish the job if we got most of them?

Depending on how many are left, we could retrieve our master's body for a funeral or whatever.

>>25667827
Earthen spirit of sound bound to a earthen instrument crafted by a major spirit? Yeah, that's got to have some power behind it.

Speaking to the Swamp Mother or Stone Emperor would require too much time to get done today, so let's head home and work on that energy totem. We'll need it if we're going to get through the swamp again. Cordia's an Earth Warden now. She can't help us by stopping our breathing. It's going to be a hard trip. And maybe we can think of something to restrict the Cloudwalker's Stride so we don't electrocute ourselves in the water this time.

>>25667942
Yeah that's a good point, we're going to need to learn an effective way of traveling.

File: 1372303814830.jpg-(20 KB, 567x462, kung_fu_hustle_harpists_attack.jpg)

20 KB JPG

>>25667827
>Pic related

File: 1372304041743.jpg-(56 KB, 472x581, King_Road_Drag.jpg)

56 KB JPG

>>25667933
Well, we have an Earth Warden in the form of Cordia, so we can presumably shape the earth for a road pretty well. I'd suggest binding her to a split road drag (pic related) to grade the earth, and maybe a binding to a plow to make drainage ditches to either side. If we want to get really fancy we can try to pave it using water-bound macadam, which is well within the technological capabilities of our village. It's just rather labor intensive, though having earth magic could help with that. But if we did that we'd have an excellent road that would stand up to any wear it could expect to face, short of monster attack.

>>25668102
We'd need to figure out where the road goes first.

Maybe when the time comes, have emissaries from our village, the swamp, the forest, and that moon empire meet and look over the map, to try to find a route that is acceptable to all parties?

But I'm pretty sure that is at least five threads away.

>>25667866
We haven't seen Elana in a bit. Wouldn't be a bad idea to check up with her.

>>25668292
We should check on Elana, and Aurora too.

As you surface from the cave, you realize just how long you spent playing the harp with Sylvia. The wood around you is dark, lit only by the faintly luminescent Aminycia mushrooms. Overhead, the stars twinkle and shine past the canopy of the wood.

The light of the slowly waxing moon shines faintly down on you.

As you trek home, you notice an itching under your skin. Though they eventually faded once you reached the village, the blocky green runes that burn under your skin still have not extinguished. Something is brewing in your veins, and in your spiritual channels. As you approach the village, you notice that your vision is tinted ever so slightly green.

That same strange cloud hovers over the peaks of the Ikrens, shrouding the sliver moon in shadows.

> Return to your workshop to work on the Totem of Energy?

>>25668817
Go for it. Strange runes or not, that totem would be quite helpful

>>25668817
Yeah that sounds good.

>>25668817
Yes. The earth energy cloud is interesting, but we're not going to go traipsing up the mountains this late at night.

>>25668817
If it's not too late check in on Terra, she might still be up, but other than that get work done on the Totem.

>>25668817
I think soon we should start investigating the basilisk area. We've put it off long enough. Obviously not tonight though

>>25668817
Make it so.

Also, >>25667827 needs to happen.

You amble back home, your joints a little stiff from your long day of work and training. Settling into the workshop, you pull the notepage over and look over the design for the totem. Quinn is slumped over at the desk, totem components arrayed before him. His soft snores fill the workshop.

The totem is simple in design. Some insect parts, a few sprigs of Flyleaf, and the basic shell of the road-paving totem combine to make a very comfortable insole. The only tricky part is the actual ritual of binding itself; unlike other totems, which require an incantation and a surge of spiritual power, this particular totem requires you to run for three miles without stop.

>>25669470
Equip our gottagofast trousers and we'll have that shit sorted in ten minutes flat.

>>25669470
Seconding the superfast pants. Let us move with unseemly haste!

>>25669470
Are we allowed to cheat, or is it important we follow the spirit of the totem?

And how tired are we right now?

Might be a good idea to do that bright in the morning.

>>25669527
Seems like a plan.

>>25669575
Thirded

>>25669470
We can put on super fast pants, Lightning Boots if jumps count, if jumps don't count but Golem Rising shoes to count we can put those on instead.

Ordinarily, crafting this Totem would be an arduous task, and certainly not one to be attempted late in the evening whilst tired from a long day's work. You, however,have just the tool for the job. You pull your Raptor Bone focus from your pack, pressing it to your leg and binding it. The Velociraptor Greaves fill you with newfound energy, and you take to the streets.

>1d100-5 for perception.

Rolled 37 + 5

>>25669985
Gotta go fast!

Rolled 52 - 5

>>25669985

Rolled 37 - 5

>>25669985

Rolled 55 + 5

>>25669985

Rolled 86

>>25669985
ROLLAN DICE

>>25670014
>>25670050
>>25670076
We really gotta pay more attention.

Rolled 45 + 5

>>25669985
do the rolls with minus count?

>>25670116
No time for that while we are going fast.

>>25670050

>47

Your circuit of town is uneventful. You run a lap and a half through the streets of your village, weaving in and out of buildings. As you loop back to your workshop, your Totem glows, and you stumble to a halt.

> [Totem Discovered: Surestep Soles. Buoys the wearer's steps, easing the burden of traveling by half. ]

>>25670377
Woo!
I bet we go to sleep and get ambushed by evil spirit things.

>>25670377
Neato.

>>25670377

Since nothing is obviously amiss right now I say we hit the hay.

>>25670377
Woo! I think we should take Quinn, pick him up, tuck him into bed, and then go to sleep ourself. Sleeping on the desk is not fun when you wake up.

>>25670377

As you enter your workshop again, you feel the intense need for sleep wash over you. Now, more than before your run, you could drop into bed and be out like a light without a second thought.

And yet...

The burning runes. You can feel them still, beneath your skin. They itch and burn, and with every flex of your muscles or expenditure of spiritual energy the itch grows even worse.

It is troubling. Perhaps a night's sleep will alleviate it somewhat, though?

> Sleep
> Meditate
> Research

>>25670701
Research. See if we can find anything about the runes.

>>25670701
>Meditate
On the runes.

>>25670701
meditate

>>25670701
Take Quinn, get the guy in a better sleeping position than slumped on a desk, and then Research, Amal is part of the Journal, ask him about this sort of phenomenon. We'll mediate on it afterwards.

>>25670747
This a thousand time this.
Maybe it's due to the harp playing with Sylvia. incoming daily harp training to handle the elemental earth energy.

>>25670747
Yeah that sounds good.

I mean with everything our master has seen, he must have experienced something like this, or at least seen it, right?

>>25670747

You stare down at your arm, tensing and untensing the muscles in your forearm. Each time you do, you can see a flare of verdance from beneath the skin. This, you decide, is an issue that supersedes sleep.

You slide Quinn out of his chair, lugging him over to the bed. He'll be spending more time asleep than you will tonight, you decide, and he ought to be comfortable.

You clasp your Amber Charm necklace, pressing it into Ayren's Almanac. Flipping to the first page, you murmur to the book.

"Amal, any idea on these runes? They're beginning to become a nuisance."

There's a moment's hesitation before Amal writes in his response.

"Bind me to Ayren's compendium of illness in the spiritual world," he replies. "It may yield some results."

You pour over the library until you locate the tome in question, then bind Amal to it. While he works, you close your eyes, slipping into a familiar pattern of breathing.

In. Out. Wait. In. Out. Wait.

The night grows still around you.

Everything grows still.

>1d100

Rolled 84

>>25671484

Rolled 23

>>25671484
Oh great dice gods, favor me this day!

Rolled 40

>>25671484

Rolled 14

>>25671573
Disregard that, it's a d20

File: 1372312736035.jpg-(408 KB, 800x600, BSO Temple island.jpg)

408 KB JPG

You find yourself staring up at a massive stone pillar. It reaches into the sky, seeming to nearly touch the sun above you. Carved into its length are several stories, written in pictographic script. They are stories you have read before.

You turn to find yourself in the sky. The ground beneath your feet feels hard, and unyielding. Behind you, past the pillar, a grand temple awaits. To your left, a blooming garden wafts sweet scents your way from a few islands over. To your right, a shining crystal impales another island, which rotates in place.. In front of you is the expanse of clear blue sky, and a long, long drop.

The sky overhead is dark. The sky below is green.

>>25671893

lets check the other island

>>25671893
I think we should check out the temple, seems most likely place to find the problem.

>>25671893
Been a while since we've been here.

I say visit the garden, if this has to do with earth that seems like a very earthy place.

Rolled 55

>>25671893
Temple then garden.

>>25671893
Temple first I guess, since that's the control station.

That other island seems most suspicious though, specifically the shining crystal.

You walk past the monolithic pillar, paying its runes and inscriptions no mind. The temple is where you spend most of your time here, and with good reason. Its oracles are sound, and its pools refreshing. Or at least, they were.

Now, green fire lines the halls.

You climb the ascending steps to the entrance carved into the temple's side, about halfway up its height. The cool, damp air soothes your frayed nerves, carrying on it the smell of wet earth. The hallway splits into two familiar paths, and you know that they will split again. You haven't time to visit more than two rooms here before you know you must move on.

>[ ]Visit the Library.
>[ ]The Wading Pools are our destination first.
>[ ]Peruse the Hall of Vision.
>[ ]Descend into the Core. (Consumes both destinations)

>>25672269
>[ ]Descend into the Core. (Consumes both destinations)

>>25672269
Core.

>>25672269
Core it seems.

>>25672269
core

You take the rightmost turns in the temple, following the hallway to the long, spiral descent into the core of the temple. From the top of the widening spiral you can see the raging emerald fire below you. It paints the walls deeper and deeper as you walk the long circuitous route, your hand tracing the only slightly unfamiliar wall to your right. As you reach the very lowest level your vision is tinted the color of the deepest forest leaf.

It is hard to breathe.

You step through the massive archway, its double doors long since destroyed. There rotates the Core, a beating pulsing orb of power. Thin tubes of silver feed into its sparking surface, stabilizing and containing the arcs of energy that spill outward. A long shaft of green light impales the core from top to bottom, a pulsing spear of radiant instability. The walls are covered in blocky, green runes.

Your control is oppressive. You must learn to judge wisely.

>1d100. One of the first five rolls must beat 60.

Rolled 63

>>25672516

Rolled 93

>>25672546
One and done, baby. One and done.

>>25672516

Rolled 78

>>25672516

Rolled 84

>>25672516
Here goes nothing.

Rolled 7

>>25672516
Rollan dice.

>>25672583
Damn it! We almost had all five rolls above 60.

>>25672546
>>25672559
>>25672568
>>25672573

> [[ This fucking quest, I swear. ]]

You extend your hand. Your mind is open. Your will is gentle. The raging green fires in the room quell, then gutter to embers. The shaft of green light flares once, then recedes into the core. The room fades from aggressive green to serene silver. Something within your mind clicks.

---

You find yourself staring up at a massive stone pillar. It reaches into the sky, seeming to nearly touch the sun above you. Carved into its length are several stories, written in pictographic script. They are stories you have read before. The script glows with a soft silvery light, and you feel more in control.

You turn to find yourself in the sky. The ground beneath your feet feels hard, and unyielding. Behind you, past the pillar, the doors of the grand temple are sealed. To your left, a blooming garden wafts sweet scents your way from a few islands over. To your right, a shining crystal impales another island, which rotates in place.. In front of you is the expanse of clear blue sky, and a long, long drop.

The sky overhead is gloomy. The sky below is green.

>[ ]Garden
>[ ]Crystal
>[ ]Pillar
>[ ]Jump

>>25672658
[X]Garden

>>25672658
>[ ]Garden

>>25672658
>Crystal

That's new isn't it?

Rolled 66

>>25672658
Crystal, no choice

>>25672658
jump towards the other island,

>>25672658
crystal

You head to your right. The crystal that impales the island glows with green light. The air seems thick here, heavy to breathe and difficult to walk through. Your reflexes are dulled. The world is stagnant.

The land seems to be breaking up here, fragmenting. Boulders occasionally break away from one another and collide in slow-moving avalanches. It may be dangerous to walk.

You feel a bit rushed.

>[ ]Take your time. No need to be bludgeoned.
>[ ]Let's move. Strain against your restraints.
>[ ]Meditate on your progress thus far. (Does not advance)

>>25673007
>>[ ]Take your time. No need to be bludgeoned.

>>25673007
>[ ]Let's move. Strain against your restraints.

>>25673026
This.

You defy the feeling of being rushed. Taking your time, you respect the laws of this place. In doing so, they respect you. Though it takes you a long time, you manage to walk in a straight line through the rocky debris.

You step onto the circle of light surrounding the crystal. The ground is strange here, hard and smooth like glass. The crystal is silent. You can see cracks lining its surface, and a deep emerald radiance shining from within.

Your skin burns in its presence.

>[ ]Shatter the crystal. Imperfection is death.
>[ ]Mend its cracks. This will not do.
>[ ]Uproot the crystal. The worthwhile stuff is beneath.

>>25673216
[X]Mend its cracks. This will not do.

>>25673216
Mend the cracks like a totemist should

>>25673216
>[ ]Mend its cracks. This will not do.

>>25673216
>>[ ]Mend its cracks. This will not do.

>>25673216
>Mend the cracks

You fix the crystal.

At least, you try.

The cracks are deep, and hot to the touch. Your senses are fogged, and your chest hurts from the effort of drawing breath.

But maybe, just maybe, you can remember the old tune.

Now, how did that first note sound?

>Roll 1d100. One of the first five rolls must beat 65.

Rolled 74

>>25673428

Rolled 65

>>25673428

Rolled 50

>>25673428

Rolled 19

>>25673428

Rolled 19

>>25673428
Humming time go!

>>25673447
>>25673503
>>25673509
>>25673536
>>25673562
Not as good as last time, but good enough.

>>25673447

>74

You start from nothing, and work your way up. A hum here, a whistle there. All at once, a harp is in your hands, and the crystal knows the tune. Each note seals a crack, each chord a rift. Eventually the green fire is sealed inside again, and you can see yourself smiling in the mirror-like surface of the shard.

Your wrists feel unshackled. The glass beneath your feet cracks twice.

---

You find yourself staring up at a massive stone pillar. It reaches into the sky, seeming to nearly touch the sun above you. Carved into its length are several stories, written in pictographic script. They are stories you have read before. The script glows with a soft silvery light, and you feel more in control. Blades of real grass sprout around the base of the pillar. You feel unchained.

You turn to find yourself in the sky. The ground beneath your feet feels hard, and unyielding. Behind you, past the pillar, the doors of the grand temple are sealed. To your left, a blooming garden wafts sweet scents your way from a few islands over. To your right, a shining crystal impales another island, which pulses with a gentle silvery light. The cloud that envelops it shines like the night sky. In front of you is the expanse of clear green sky, and a long, long drop.

The sky overhead is overcast. The sky below is green.

>[ ]Garden
>[ ]Pillar
>[ ]Jump

>>25673728

>[X] Garden

>>25673728
[X]Garden

Rolled 51

>>25673728
Garden

>>25673728
garden

File: 1372319044947.jpg-(1007 KB, 1600x1021, BSO lost technocathedral.jpg)

1007 KB JPG

You walk to the left, following the winding, vine-limned path to the Garden. As you walk, the smell of sweet flowers is slowly replaced by the harsh scent of tar and steel. You drop down a level to the garden.

To what used to be the garden.

Beams of metal and plates of rock have been stamped over the flowerbeds. The trees are columns, now. The fruit, tangles of twisted iron.

A trio of flowers bloom in the center of the metal. The smog is oppressive.

You feel alone.

>[ ]Tear away the steel. This place is perverted.
>[ ]Embrace the change. Metal will guide you.
>[ ]Nurture the blooms. The rest is irrelevant.

>>25674018

>[ ]Nurture the blooms. The rest is irrelevant.

Rolled 22

>>25674018
>[ ]Nurture the blooms. The rest is irrelevant.

Rolled 46

>>25674018
Nurture the blooms, everything else is irrelevant

>>25674018
>[ ]Nurture the blooms. The rest is irrelevant.

>>25674018
>[ ]Nurture the blooms. The rest is irrelevant.
Technology and nature are not antithetical, lets get a fusion.

>>25674018
[X]Nurture the blooms. The rest is irrelevant.

Man, we need to pop in and clean this place out more often. We seem to have collected a lot of baggage.

You kneel next to the flowers. Red and yellow and purple. Each beautiful in its own way. So, so important. You're happy they're alright.

The ground is thin and wan beneath the flowers, and the air is thick. Still, the iron posts and metal grates could form wonderful columns for creeping vines and hanging gardens... given the right motivation.

You feel that time grows short.

Now what was it that she said?

> Roll 1d100. One of the first five rolls must beat 70.

Rolled 3

>>25674274
Steppin' it up I see.

Rolled 17

>>25674274

Rolled 83

>>25674274
Grow blossoms Grow!

Rolled 55

>>25674274
I got a bad feel about this scoob...

>>25674294
Yes my roll made it

Rolled 4

>>25674274

>>25674294
Saved our ass so hard.

>>25674294

"Every life is precious," you whisper to the flowers. "So be careful."

The roots thread through the earth, revitalizing it with a gentle touch. All around you, the twisted metal blooms with greens and reds, yellows and whites. The barren steel supports the fragile life, and together they grow stronger. It's important to consider everything in a situation. He taught you that.

At the end of the hall, a door opens. You are beckoned inside.

---

Choose One:
>[ ]Increase Elemental Affinity E
>[ ]Increase Spiritual Reserves
>[ ]Increase Communion

Choose One:
>[ ]Purge Elemental Corruption
>[ ]Increase Corruption Resistance
>[ ]Increase Elemental Affinity E

Choose One:
>[ ]An Audience with the Earth
>[ ]Two Words of Wisdom
>[ ]A Warden's Harmony

>>25674423
>[ ]Increase Communion
>[ ]Increase Corruption Resistance
>[ ]A Warden's Harmony

>>25674423
>[ ]Increase Spiritual Reserves
>[ ]Increase Elemental Affinity E
>[ ]A Warden's Harmony

>>25674423
>Increase Spiritual Reserves
>Increase Corruption Resistance
>An Audience with the Earth

>>25674423
Haven't been here in a while Diarca, been only able to catch the threads after.
Is the Elemental Affinity E(arth)?
If so
>[ ]Increase Spiritual Reserves
>[ ]Increase Elemental Affinity E
>[ ]An Audience with the Earth

>>25674423
>[ ]Increase Elemental Affinity E
>[ ]Increase Corruption Resistance
>[ ]A Warden's Harmony

>>25674423
>[ ]Increase Communion
>[ ]Increase Corruption Resistance
>An Audience with the Earth

So it seems like
>Increase Spiritual Reserves
is at least agreed upon.

>[ ]Increase Spiritual Reserves
>[ ]Increase Corruption Resistance
>[ ]A Warden's Harmony

>>25674595
Eh, now that I think about it, Communion sounds more interesting.

This is all so gloriously abstract.

>>25674435
>>25674438
>>25674488
>>25674543
>>25674571
>>25674580
>>25674595
>>25674631
Are the lurkers coming out to vote?

File: 1372321569512.png-(9 KB, 478x221, Untitled.png)

9 KB PNG

>>25674652
Probably, either that or samefag.

>>25674559
Elaborating on the Audience with the Earth here, I think if we have an audience with "It" it will most like give us insight to this elemental earth power we gained as well as with the politcs with the mountain spirit and the newcomer.

Elemental Affinity compliments that gained insight with the power I would hope.

The first I don't mind either way really. >>25674543
It WOULD be interesting if Diarca told us that it actually stacked, wouldn't mind that either.

>>25674708
Hrmmm, I could have sworn that one got eaten, I just scrolled and quoted them all, changed my mind though since >>25674731
as I mentioned I didn't know if they stacked.

File: 1372322827773.png-(7 KB, 497x186, the one that's me.png)

7 KB PNG

>>25674488
It seems as if for slot 1, Increase Spiritual Reserves has the most votes.

Slot 2 has Increase Corruption Resistance

And if the reason Diarca isn't posting is due to stalemate on option three, I guess I'll change "Audience" to "Harmony"

But only if that's the reason.

>>25675026
Didn't want to double post, deleted my "thought was eaten post" for posterity's sake

>>25675065
Ah, never mind then?

>>25675073
Yeah, it's funny, I thought >>25674708
was saying I was samefagging because I realized in my second post I noticed that I quoted a post and it had (You) next to it, and that I had thought the post I tried earlier got eaten without my initial stuff on it. So deleted it. Mistake on my part.

You find yourself standing outside a great temple. Though from the outside it appears run down and dilapidated, you can sense a great spiritual presence residing within. The wind carries the scent of dust, and the air is dry and hot. You wipe the sweat from your brow.

On your chest, a sigil of silver burns bright. You feel more capable.

On your wrists, intricate mandalas of silver interlace with runes of blocky green. You feel much safer.

In a whirl of malachite, a familiar figure materializes before you. She extends a hand with a smile, offering to be your guide.

"Are you ready, Osyki?" Cordia asks you.

>>25675157
"I think I am, I pretty much spent all of tonight preparing for it, I should be ready.

>>25675157
"With you as a guide? Of course."

>>25675157
Aaaah sweet. The warden was Cordia. I'm okay with this.
"As long as it's you guiding me, I'm ready."

File: 1372324417038.jpg-(267 KB, 1200x1475, Lord of Restraint.jpg)

267 KB JPG

You blink the haze from your eyes, taking Cordia's hand. "As long as I have you for a guide, I am."

She smiles. Leading you by the hand, she takes you down the crumbling staircase of the plateau you have landed on to the gates of the temple.

"The Lord Restrained has been waiting," she explains patiently, as though for all the world this should be the most obvious thing. "He will see you when you are ready. He will answer three questions as they relate to the earth. Choose carefully."

She leads you through iron halls and obsidian portals, down stairs of crystal and through rings of gold.

"Don't forget to look him in the eye, Osyki," she says, her stone hand a comfort on your shoulder. You stand before a door of metal that you have never seen. When you turn to ask Cordia a question, any question, she is gone.

You push the door open.

As you step into the room, you see that the Lord is the room. He extends over every surface, every mote of the walls, the floor, the air. He is the walls, the light, the space. A young girl stands on the promontory before him. She bows once, turning to look at you with a smile before she disappears.

"Osyki, Totemist, Link to the World Without," a steely voice intones. "Approach. Ask."

>>25675376
Welp. Advance, make sure to look him in the eye, take a look at the young girl, see what's up with her.

First question I would ask. "What can you tell me of the Iron Tyrant, what are his plans, goals, weaknesses, strengths?"

>>25675376
Crap, what are questions relating to the Earth.

Something about the Iron Tyrant probably, like how can we stop him, or if he's dangerous.

Maybe asking if we can break the contract the Spirit of the Mountain brokered between Overwake and the Magus?

Also something about ourselves I guess?

>>25675430

The girls already gone.

As for questions

Something about ourself is good.

Maybe how come we can manipulate earth now?

>>25675430
If we're going to do that, don't say "What can you tell me" since he can just answer "a lot".

>>25675376
Damn I think a lot of people are asleep.

>>25675376
This "Iron Tyrant" near our village. What is his purpose or goal for wanting to take over the mountain.

>>25675443
Maybe "What are the ambitions, abilities, and weaknesses of the Iron Tyrant."

"What is happening to me and how can I make the most of it?"

Not sure about question three.

>>25675376
...I kind of feel like being a dick and using our first two questions on

"What is the most important question I should ask you?"

and then using that as the second question.

But that really violates the spirit of the thing.

>>25675586
Maybe just "What do you think is most important I learn about Earth?"

But that's going too far.

Really I'm not sure of a third Earth-related question.

>>25675615
...Could a better way of phrasing it is "Is there anything you would have me do?"

Too tired to think of anything clever.

>>25675376
And I'm going to go pass out, it's 5:40AM here. Night Gents. Hope we get some useful information out of him. *cough* advice about elemental earth we have, insight to iron tyrant *cough*

File: 1372326113603.jpg-(119 KB, 731x1000, Osyki.jpg)

119 KB JPG

[[ Heading off to bed now, /tg/. Consider your questions three, and either tweet them at me or email me. Email included in post.

Thanks for the thread, folks. Next thread will begin with the Lord Restrained. ]]

>>25675653
Yeah those are the first two questions.

But what about number three?

>>25675658

[[ Derp, email related here.

Also, if someone could Archive this for me, that'd be boss. ]]

>>25675658
>Email included in post.

Well, not in that one.

>>25675668
Sure thing.

>>25675680
Done.

>>25675663
Third one I was thinking would be dependent on the answer of the second one. Because if the Iron Tyrant is possibly not as tyrannical as it may seem, then we need his motivation/reasoning.

>>25675717
Spirits are actually pretty straightforward. A spirit doesn't get the word 'tyrant' in its name wihout being pretty tyrannical.

My vote for the questions:

1> what are the motivations and goals of the Iron Tyrant?

2> what would be the easiest way for me to restore the Stone Emperor's power?

3> How is the elemental Earth affecting me? Is it endangering my life?

>>25677965
1. I agree
2. The answer to that would be "give him the girl", which we don't want to do.
3. That's two questions. I vote for that first one.

So I vote
>What are the motivations and goals of the Iron Tyrant?
>What are the effects of my using the power of the elemental earth? (should include health effects and others)
>How is it possible and/or even wise to go about controlling the other elements the same way as we do with the element of Earth?

>>25678211
>>25677965
I think "how can I safely train/increase my earth powers" would be better as a second question. Number one could be formulated as the more open-ended "What can you tell me about the Iron Tyrant.".

>>25679144
>What can you tell me about the Iron Tyrant?
The answer could just be "I could tell you a lot."
Wasted question.
Our Earth powers are already pretty damn powerful, we took down that crystal worm without even thinking about it.
I'm thinking about develop elemental Water, then experiment with combining the two to control nature/plants.

>>25679349
While I agree that we should see about bonding to more elements and balancing ourselves between them, we need to be very careful. We don't want to accidentally become what the Magus is. Also, nature/plants has more metaphysical connotations than just Earth+Water.

By your powers combined, I am OSYKI THE PREPARED!

>>25679349
>The answer could just be "I could tell you a lot."
If he wants to be a dick that much he could just give us non-answers to all of our questions.

1> His goals are to defeat the Stone Emperor and take over his realm. His motivation is selfishness (something similar).
2> That depends on what you use it for. Effects are the shaping of earth and impressing of people you meet.
3> Bind elemental fire/wind/whatever elements there are to yourself in the same way you did with the earth while making sure they don't interact violently.

If he wants to fuck us over it doesn't matter that much what we ask unless we are super-precise.
>What would an in-depth analysis of the effects the elemental earth has had and will most likely have which has been presented to me in an for me completely understandable way tell me concerning the interaction and potential interaction between the elemental earth and me?
Even this could be actively misinterpreted if he really wants, however, so I kind of rely on him being somewhat cooperative.

>How are you?
>How would be the most efficient way to train the powers that I receive from my Earthen elemental pact?
>What has caused the Iron Tyrant to act as he does?

>>25683784
Is the Iron Tyrant's backstory really as important as how to stop him?

>>25684142
Could have means to stop him without violence yeah right

>>25685098
Maybe just "What is the best way of stopping the Iron Tyrant and protecting my village and the lands surrounding it that I am capable of?"