File: Maka Character Sheet 2.jpg (994 KB, 1119x982)

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As for your ships, only the Bloodshark is entirely undamaged. The other two suffered some damage, and could still be used, if necessary, for sailing and transport... across a calm sea, in good weather. Both Mikahil and your captains agree that they're not fit for combat right now.
And as for the Gloria, it's a miracle it didn't sink on the way back. However, that little wonder of a ship is out of commission for now.

After overseeing the operations for a few minutes, more to get your mind off your other worries than for actual interest, you decide to head for the castle, where Amata is gathering all the intel and scouting reports available to you, and waiting.

Tia, of course, follows you, leaving her tribe's warriors, now disembarked and fishes metaphorically out of water, stranded in Tianna's dockyard with nothing to do, to fend for themselves.

>Come with me, they'll be fine. We need to see Amata.
>You should be with them right now.
>(other)
Combined with:
>Look for someone else in the docks before heading to the castle. (Who?)
>Give some orders before heading to the castle. (What?)
>Head for the castle right away
>(other)

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36695935
>>Come with me, they'll be fine. We need to see Amata.
>Head for the castle right away
Might as well bring them along, couldn't hurt at least.

Yay, Exalted Quest.

>>36695935
>>You should be with them right now.
>Come with me, they'll be fine. We need to see Amata.
combine these. Tell her to bring them as a savage honour guard. what could go wrong?
and
>Head for the castle right away
i miss shota Butler

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36695935

>You should be with them right now.
>Head for the castle right away

We need to check if everything's all right. Have the hostages been exchanged? Has the ghost blooded been naughty and tried to get into the Titan?

I'm just worried the abyssal's are going to play the long game with us. They could try to starve us out by killing all the merchants that come here.

File: Spoiler Image (106 KB, 884x808)

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FUCK YEAH EXALTED QUEST

Got something new again, related to the fight vs the first demon eye. EF already has it, time for the other anons to see it now.

Courtesy of the drawthread. Spoilered because of Maka's lack of panties.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36696085
The fact that Karas looks like he's wearing socks bothers me a whole lot.

Are you not going to post the left handed one anon?

File: Spoiler Image (162 KB, 1500x2120)

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>>36696121

The ring kinda makes it too...disconnected, from the instory scene, so I wasn't planning to.

But if you insist.

>>36695935
>Come with me, they'll be fine. We need to see Amata
>Head for the castle right away
I mean tell Iscariah to have them hang out nearby in case we need them, but we should be with Tia for a while, it feels like she's still shaken up about the whole boat thing.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36696180
Forgot my dice.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36695919
AW

SHIT


NIGGAH

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36695935
>>You should be with them right now.
>>Head for the castle right away

Responsibility, Ho!

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36696085
I am getting serious JoJo vibes from that

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36696325
It's the pose and the muscles that Karas has, or at least that's what I'm getting the JoJo ish feel from.

File: Tia.jpg (129 KB, 850x1275)

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"We need to go to the castle. Amata's waiting for us, and we need to know what the heck's going on with the Abyssals." You tell the Lunar, glancing over her shoulder at the mass of barbarians milling about aimlessly in the docks, getting in people's way and being generally rowdy.

"Just tell them to come with us." You inform Tia offhandedly. She turns and stares at her tribe, who look back at her like st a reliable anchor of murder in the murky waters of civilization.

In the next few minutes, a large crowd of pelt-wearing warriors rampages up along Main Street, smashing windows and upturning food stalls in your wake, blocking passage of goods and soldiers up and down Tianna and leaving tribal markings graffitied on the walls.

"Tia." You groan, already worried about the earful Amata will give you once she learns about this. "Rein them in."

"Boys will be boys." She just shrugs, seeming to take a level of glee and almost something like personal pride in the trail of chaos.

"Most of them are girls." You note.

Makes sense. Traditionally, in the West, men take up the jobs on the sea, leaving the women to the jobs on the ground. You hadn't thought about it, but for a barbarian tribe on an island, hunting and defending the village counts as the latter, while the men fish or launch canoe raids or whatever.

(cont.)

>>36695935

File: Iscariah.jpg (235 KB, 620x877)

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You thought at least Iscariah would behave and keep the warriors in line, but she seems to be the first in line, her face half-splattered with melon guts after headbutting a fruit stall, biting into a large apple and laughing uproariously about another warrior's crude drawing painted on a nice house's wall by rubbing tomatoes against it.

Rolling your eyes all the way, you finally reach the castle, and ask Iscariah to keep them in the courtyard. At least this place has a large garrison of Tiannan soldiers who seem to be able to rein in the barbarians. Maybe their looks of scorn are slowly getting the idea across that what they just did is not considered acceptable behavior here.

Leaving the shaman with the war party, you and Tia head to Amata's war room, which is already abuzz with activity. Soldiers and officers run here and there carrying news and dispatches.

Amata, Irene and Samiel are huddled around the table with the map, together with some high-ranking-looking officers. They all raise their eyes from it to meet your gaze.

"...Good, you're here." Amata sighs with relief. "Come and see this."

"Sorry for the mess." You apologize, approaching the table. Everyone is wearing a worried face that doesn't bring your hopes up much.

"Mess?" She wonders, evidently not informed of the damage Tia's party did downtown yet. "Anyway, look here." She repeats, gesturing at the map.

(cont.)

We should pay for the damages out of their share of the loot.

File: queen Amata tai tianna.png (649 KB, 849x1000)

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The now-familiar map of Tianna has a large, round, smooth dark red stone placed on some hills to the northeast of Tianna, beyond a lake whose name you can't recall exactly. Several small black flags have been pinned around it, arrayed along the river and lake shores, and several more red flags stand behind them.

"Abyssals?" You ask, already knowing the answer.

Irene nods. "Their airship, and forces. They didn't attack Tianna despite it being defenseless up to now. No idea why they waited for us to return."

Amata glances at you with a knowing look.

"What's with the red flags?"

"Unconfirmed reports." She explains, rather cryptically.

"Well, what do the confirmed reports say?"

"About eight thousand troops. All physical undead. We don't know where they might be hiding any other, more supernatural assets. If any."

Eight thousand. Even if you brought your entire forces to the fight, you'd still be outnumbered two to one.

"Such as?"

"Ghosts. Magical siege engines. Things like that. We also don't know where their Exalted are, exactly." Samiel explains.

That doesn't mean much. Exalted are generally high-mobility forces on the battlefield. It's pointless to track them on a map.

"...What do the UNCONFIRMED reports say?"

"Fifteen thousand. Three thousand of them are specialized ghost troops: night fighters. One thousand of them is shock troops. Heavily armed and armored bone horrors. Also, possibility of flying troops, held in reserve in the airship." Amata explains.

Not good.

>Leave the planning to Amata.
>Ask for more information on your own assets, start drafting a plan.
>Go see the hostage
>Ask where the "unconfirmed" reports come from
>Send a messenger to the Abyssals
>Move out personally (where?)
>Call someone to join the meeting (who?)

>>36696530
>Go see the hostage

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36696530
>>Ask for more information on your own assets, start drafting a plan.
>Call someone to join the meeting (who?)
Send for Karas, I don't know if he has any war charms specifically, but he's got to have at least a decent dicepool for it

Can we start sending out scouts to get a more accurate report, maybe Tia could do some night time flyovers

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36696530
>>Ask for more information on your own assets, start drafting a plan.
>>Ask where the "unconfirmed" reports come from

I think we need some aerial recon.

Also, we need to issue Karas with that fuckhueg sword.

I am not opposed to sending a messenger, but I want more intel first before making a call.

I can't upload this map because my connection is so slow that the captcha expires before 4chan can finish uploading it.

http://i.imgur.com/9pLDrCI.jpg

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36696530

Ah great! They have already landed. So much for making them pay dearly for any amphibious invasions.

Still we must have taken them off guard. We arrived almost a fully day earlier then expected.

We have to do something to cripple them before nighttime rolls around.

>Ask for more information on your own assets, start drafting a plan.

We need to get every exalt on this. The mortal troops need to rest.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36696617
>Also, we need to issue Karas with that fuckhueg sword.
Right we should do that while we have time

>>36696530
>Send a messenger to the Abyssals

Maybe negotiations are still worth perusing, considering they haven't razed the island while we were gone.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36696623
Something I've been meaning to ask, is Yaraon land god of the whole island or just that section out to the west?

I'm kinda hoping we could get some reports from him and maybe some help like he did when we fought the Raksha

>>36696658
Only the west.

>>36696530
>Leave the planning to Amata.
>Go see the hostage
and
>>36696617
>Also, we need to issue Karas with that fuckhueg sword.
that

>>36696530
>Ask for more information on your own assets, start drafting a plan.
>>Send a messenger to the Abyssals
Send for Karas and have him and Amata start packing things out, meanwhile Mik and Maka can go talk, see which Abyssals are attacking.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36696703
forgot mah dice

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36696623
What's that red dot over on the hills near the border, is that where the uncomfirmed reports are coming from?

File: Karas.jpg (265 KB, 686x1000)

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You send for Karas, and he arrives not much later, acting like a tourist visiting the castle. he doesn't seem especially impressed, though.

"So, is this our headquarters?" He asks, getting some nasty glares from the officers and soldiers milling about.

"Sort of." You explain to him, as you and Amata bring him up to speed on the situation.

"What are our forces?" He asks back, eyeing the map.

"Two thousand soldiers are Tianna's standing fighting force, plus reserves and fleet crews we can press into service as footsoldiers. One thousand more has been raised as conscripts, but they have minimal training. They have good officers drawn from the regular army, but no operational experience." Samiel points at a series of blue and green flags stabbed in and around Tianna, and some more in the outlying villages.

"We have quite a bit of artillery, but we can't field it effectively. Most of it is mounted on Tianna's fortifications. It will take us another day to assemble a good, mobile battery in case we want to bring it in the field." Irene adds.

"This is my boys, right?" Tia prods a series of light grey flags, some in Tianna, some in the countryside, some in the northern forests, scattered around.

"Yours and Zaan's and Talon's. The forces we can raise from the Three Rivers, generally. One thousand warriors." Samiel explains.

Tia gives him a look of superiority, like numbers don't matter and each of them counts as three normal soldiers. Or like numbers don't matter and she counts as three thousand normal soldiers. It's hard to tell.

"Incidentally, we have a sword you might like." You grin, remembering that. "An ORICHALCUM sword."

Karas seems intrigued by the idea. "...I'll go check it. Where did you even find it?"

"Long story." You shrug dismissively. "So, how are we going to fight this battle?"

>Like this. (explain.)
>What do you think, Karas?
>What do you think, Amata?
>What do you think, Tia?
>First, I want to send a message.
>First, I want to see the hostage.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36696812
>>First, I want to see the hostage.
We do still have her right?

Also, did we ever fix that hole in the wall?

>>36696530
>Send a message to the Abyssal, but not by messenger

Could the Abyssal be using illusions to confuse our scouts?

Also, has our spy already left for Gem? I can't remember.

>>36696812
>What do you think, Karas?
>What do you think, Amata?

I asume we don't have the time/essence for tiger training everyone?

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36696847
No Zareen is sticking around until after the Abyssals, which is good there's a whole butt ton of them

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36696812
>>Like this. (explain.)
Well we have a walled city and are outnumbered 2 to 1, sounds like we should be forcing them into a siege, have the cannons on the walls and the Exalted attacking key points.

A big problem is going to be stopping the ghost from just walking through the walls and attacking us. Maka could just kill any that try near her, but they'll soon learn to avoid her, is there anything we can do to stop them, Sorcery or something? I remember the altar in the sun cults building stopped that one ghost for a while, could we do something like that on a larger scale?

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36696812
>>What do you think, Karas?
>>What do you think, Amata?
get ideas and discussion flowing then go see the hostage

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36696812
>See the hostage first
>Be extremely on our guard
>Make sure nothing we have on us or that we do help the hostage at making a fuckery

I doubt they didn't attack just because of a regular hostage. Which could mean they're waiting for something to happen.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36696812

>First, I want to see the hostage.
They could be waiting for half-ghost person to do something.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36696812
>>36696914
this

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36696901
That's a good plan, but I'd like to know more about the situation first.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

Can we use HEP for military planning or is hat jsut for leading troops?

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36696968
thats a good question, we could use some clarification on that

File: prince Samiel tai tianna.jpg (329 KB, 707x1000)

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You spend the next minute staring at the map.

As much as you don't like the idea of leaving the initiative to the Abyssals, and you like the idea of bringing the fight to the city even less...

"...Focusing on defense and fortifying ourselves seems the best option right now." You say. "Even if they bring the airship to bear, we have artillery here. Which means that their only option will be to besiege us. That plays to our strengths."

Everyone nods without much enthusiasm.

"What about the civilians?" Amata scratches her chin. "On one side, there's Tianna's population, and on the other side, we have people abandoning the outlying villages in the countryside and coming to the city seeking protection..."

That sounds like a crossfire waiting to happen.

>Evacuate everyone from the countryside. We'll protect them within Tianna's walls.
>Have everyone return to their town. Let them know that the situation is under control.
>Evacuate the city and have the people seek refuge in the countryside. I don't think they're more at danger out there than they'd be inside the walls.
>Evacuate the whole eastern side of Tianna to the west.
>(Other?)

>>36696968
Only leadership.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36697014

>Evacuate everyone from the countryside. We'll protect them within Tianna's walls.

We can't leave bodies out there for the Abyssals. They will just raise them and use them to swell their ranks.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697014
>>Evacuate everyone from the countryside. We'll protect them within Tianna's walls.
We just can't leave them out there open to attacks, we have to at least try to protect them.

Not to mention any dead could rise up and be another soldier to fight, that might be a problem anyway. Is there anything we can do to prevent that?

Rolled 5 (1d10)

Can the east side survive with the added population from the west one?

>>36697105
The west side with the east's people, I meant

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36697105
Depends on how long they have to stay I think, but moving that many people will be pretty slow and they'll be a big target if the Abyssals decide to attack

>>36697014
>Evacuate everyone from the countryside. We'll protect them within Tianna's walls.

>>36697105

Basically, what >>36697120 said, plus the fact that there are no cities in the west. Pearl is just a settlement of people working at the Manse. There's no real infrastructure for sustaining a population that large for a long amount of time.

>>36697014
>>Evacuate everyone from the countryside. We'll protect them within Tianna's walls.
Honestly, as much as I'd like to evacuate them elsewhere, we don't have the logistics to pull it off.

Still. Before we decide on a fight/negotiate path I really want to try and figure out which of the deathlords is actually staring shit with us.

RECON

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36697134
wharblgarbl

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36697134
Would also be a good idea to talk to the hostage, see if she knows anything about this.

I don't know how likely that is, but if we have a possible source of info we should at least check it out.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697014
>Evacuate everyone from the countryside. We'll protect them within Tianna's walls.

File: princess Irene tai tianna.jpg (136 KB, 1067x600)

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"...can Tianna hold all the refugees?" You need to know.

"Hold them? Yes, barely." Irene sighs. "But with that much extra people, in case we get down to a siege, our supplies will last for barely two weeks."

"Have them taken in, then." You order.

"Are you sure?" She doesn't seem enthusiastic about the idea.

"Maka's right, we don't have much choice." Karas and Amata exchange a glance and a nod. "We'll have to make sure it doesn't end in a siege. And he trails with a weak "...somehow."

You stand up from the table. "Good, let's get started. Rally all our forces. prepare for defensive warfare."

"I'll bring all the artillery from the ships back on the walls." Irene announces, leaving the room in a rush.

Samiel, who still has an arm in a cast, moves out as well. "I'll go organize the troops."

Iscariah walks away with a spring in her step. "And I guess I'll call the other tribes and ask them to come over."

>I need to meet someone. (who?)
>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.
>I'll send a messenger to the Abyssals.
>I'll bring a message to the Abyssals myself.
>I'll go inspect the walls.
>(Other?)

Oh, this seems like another moment for Karas to shine! Dawn have War as caste ability, I look forward to seeing him destroy the undead army.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697207
>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.

>>36697207

>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.
>I'll bring a message to the Abyssals myself.

What we say to the half-ghost will depend on what we have to say to the Abyssals, though.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

Could we have our cult blessing the walls and putting down prayer strips, something to try and stop the ghosts from passing through.

Also seeing our cult help fight against the Abyssals could help us raise our cult rating.

>>36697207
>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36697207

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36697215
We should bring along Mik too, doesn't he have that diplomatic truce thing?

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36697207
>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697207

>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36697217
>Could we have our cult blessing the walls and putting down prayer strips, something to try and stop the ghosts from passing through.
Thats a neat idea.

EF is this a thing that can be done?

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36697239
>>36697217
+1

>>36697207
>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.

>>36697207
>I'll bring a message to the Abyssals myself.

Time to bluff.

Have Irene and Twilight-Solar-Whose-Name-I-Forget meet with Amata. Amata brings them into the Titan. They have one job: Sabotage it so that it looks even less functional than it is now. Not necessarily do any real damage to it, but make it look like the damage is much worse than it is. And rig a self-destruct system so that we can make the damage as bad as it looks just in case.

Then we bring ONE Abyssal into it. "We're sorry, but we know what you want, and you're not getting it. Even if we gave it to you, you still wouldn't actually get it. So, if there is a single object within your target that you want for sentimental reasons, I'll promise to fetch it for you. But your target itself stays grounded. I can't let you damage the city trying to do what cannot be done."

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36697207
Seconding>>36697215>>36697239

+

>be extra careful about what can be used against us

>>36697281
No. BAD idea.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697281
that is a terrible plan

Rolled 6 (1d10)

I'm not a robot

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36697330

If you don't have a 4chan gold account, then yes, you are a robot.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36697217
This seems prudent.

>>36697207
>I need to have a few words with this half-ghost.
Then go talk to the army.

>>36697217
> spoiler
Amata would be proud of that kind of underhandedness while we're busy planning a war.

"I'll go and see our hostage." You turn to Amata. "What do we know about him?"

"She goes by the name Reken. She's been quiet and collaborative. We didn't have time to question her, so we just kept her in a comfortable room in the castle, and sealed it with thaumaturgy against ghost tricks and the likes." Amata explains.

"Speaking of which." You snap your fingers. "We can ask the Cult of the Sun to help your thaumaturges ghost-proof the city walls."

"Will it actually help?" Amata doesn't seem very convinced.

"Will it hurt to try?"

"I guess not."

"Well then..."

>Tia, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
>Amata, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
>I'll go and see Pyre Spark about this after meeting this Reken character.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36697410
>Amata, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.

>>36697410
>I'll go and see Pyre Spark about this after meeting this Reken character.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36697410
>>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
wink wink nudge nudge

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36697410

>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.

Time to send another solar!
Hopefully he doesn't kill her when she gets all touchy feely

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36697410
>>I'll go and see Pyre Spark about this after meeting this Reken character.

>>36697410
>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
She's the cute one.

>>36697410
>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36697410
>>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
Whatever happens, it'll be amusing.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697410
>>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.
Big sis isn't planning anything~

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36697410
>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.

>>36697410
>I'll go and see Pyre Spark about this after meeting this Reken character.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36697410

>>36697410
>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.

>>36697410
>I'll go and see Pyre Spark about this after meeting this Reken character.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36697410
>>Karas, please go and "see" Pyre Spark about this.

File: TopLel.png (156 KB, 576x540)

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>>36697410

>Karas, please go and see Pyre Spark about this.

We should probably give him the look. Make sure he doesn't do anything untoward or lewd to a high priestess. That would just be disgraceful.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36697541
and make sure to tell him that if he wants to bang her, he can only when we do to

I'm not pushing for incest, just that we need to really show Pyre how to praise UCS properly

You suppress a smile.

"...Karas, why don't you go and see Pyre Spark and ask her about this?"

"Pyre Spark?" He asks back at you.

"The local priestess of the cult of the Sun."

He looks surprised. "That's a thing here?"

"Ask a bit around, she's well-known. Go see her." You suggest to him.

Then, you leave the war room, with Tia in tow, for the bedroom where this half-ghost was locked up in, according to Amata's directions.

You stop in front of the door, which has been sealed with four circular paper talismans stuck to each corner with red wax, painted with a complex glyph penned in green ink.

"Tia, please let me talk with her without interruption, alright? I need to-" You start.

"Are you going to rape her?" Tia interrupts you, asking candidly.

>Yes
>No
>...What?
>*roll eyes, open door*

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36697553
>...What?
>No

>>36697553
>...What?
>Maybe

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697553
>>No
Oh Tia how I've missed you, I really do love you.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36697553
>*roll eyes, open door*
>No

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36697553

>*roll eyes, open door*

Focus Tia! Focus!

>>36697553
>>...What?
>>No
>>Hell No

>>36697553
"Tia, I'm offended you think so little of my seductive skills."

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36697553
>>36697573
This

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36697410
>I'll go see Pyre after meeting Reken

Bro can come with us, but we need to be there.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697553

>...What?
>No
>I don't have to

I mean, let's be honest, if we really wanted to, it would take about five minutes of seduction if we feel like taking it slow.

>>36697553
>*roll eyes, open door*

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697553
>No
Maka seems to prefers willing partners anyway.

>>36697553
>...What?
>No

She's a hostage, what we do to her could be done to our Butler.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697553
>No
Well, not physically anyway.

>>36697553
>*roll eyes, open door*
>No

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36697553

>...What?
>No
>Maybe

>>36697553
>No
>Though, if she want to...

>>36697601
Though, making one meet someone attractive enough to make one betray their alliegance would be harder to do to our butler than to her.

File: Reken the Exile.jpg (152 KB, 850x601)

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You roll your eyes.

"...no." And you open the door.

The room is comfy enough, with carpets and sofas and a nice table with chairs and even a vase with flowers. The flowers must have been fresh once, but now they're all dried down, oddly enough without losing any of their colors.

And, sitting on said sofa... you're not sure she's really a "half-ghost". She looks like a full-blown one, a glowing, ethereal figure whose shapes seems to softly ripple and shift like tendrils of smoke in a breeze.

The image is that of a young, beautiful woman with a long, flowing dress. A crown of dried flowers adorns her head, and others are tied around her waist.

You can sometimes see the bones shining through beneath the ectoplasm of her skin and phantasmal flesh when it peels back, and her eyes have absolutely nothing in common with a human's, large dots of light like ghost stars surrounded by deep blue rings that give you the same feeling of discomfort that an optical illusion would cause if stared at for too long.

And yet, despite the creepiness, she is heart-achingly beautiful.

The ghost named Reken stares straight into you, and her expressionless face bends into a pleasant smile.

"It's nice to be graced with the attention of so illustrious a personage, Exalted Maka. Mere descriptions really do not do you any justice." Her voice sounds hollow and carries with it a bit of an echo... not the distant echo of screaming at a mountaintop in front of a closed valley, but the booming feedback of a theater or of a large, empty room.

>What is the Tyrant planning?
>Information on enemy forces
>Is Regis safe?
>Go now, you're free
>Bring a message for me
>Make small talk
>Other (what?)

Combined with

>Be polite
>Be demanding
>Be formal
>Be hostile
>Be seductive
>(other?)

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36697718
>Make small talk

>Be polite

>>36697718
>Make small talk

>Be polite
>Be seductive

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36697718
>Be polite
>Other "Is it your deathlord's army camping out in the hills, or is it the other ones? I'd like to know whether I should defeat them gracefully or brutally."

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36697711
Well, it depends on how good their Midnight caste is.

>Is Regis safe?
>Make small talk
>Be polite
>Be seductive
Inform her of the situation, the Deathlord has moved an army in place, the truce is technically over, but it seems odd to do such a dangerous move while we still have hostages held against each other, unless of course they don't care what happens to you.

As for the seductive, we don't necessarily need to have sex with her, but not getting the most out of HSDD is silly.

>>36697718

>Is Regis safe?
>Make small talk

>Be polite with a helping of flirt

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697718
>Is Regis safe?
>Make small talk

>Be polite
>Be seductive

>>36697718
>Information on enemy forces
>Be polite
Act like we assume this is just a show of force here to collect her.
>>36697748
this.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36697718
>>36697749
Forgot to link to you.

>>36697718
>make small talk
>is regis safe?
>information on enemy forces

>be seductive

Seduction is Maka's strongest weapon.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697718
>Is Regis safe?
>Make small talk
>Be polite

>Is Regis safe?
>Make small talk
>information on enemy forces

>Be seductive
>while still being polite

Can Maka even lewd a ghost?

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697718
>>Be seductive
and majestic radiating presence obviously

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36697790
Maka can lewd a fae, they don't even have real emotions

Should we be using any charms or should we be saving essence?

>>36697718
>kiss Tia
>make small talks

>be polite
>be seductive

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697718
>Is Regis safe?
>Make small talk
>information on enemy forces
>Be seductive

I we free her, won't is signal the start of the war?

>>36697790
Yes, and any successful social attack has +3 success.

>>36697790
Well I guess we'll have to find out.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36697749
>Well, it depends on how good their Midnight caste is.

Calling it, the final battle will be Maka and F(l)eurdelis seducing each other

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36697814
Not exactly.

Think of it as doing more damage rather than adding more successes.

Also I'm voting for activating MRP

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697828
>Also I'm voting for activating MRP
I'll +1 that

Rolled 8 (1d10)

Why do I get the feeling that The Tyrant Of The Doomsday Machine knew exactly what she was doing when she sent this ghost blooded hottie to serve as a hostage?

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697718

Forgot dice
>>36697803

>>36697848
Because you're a smart man.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36697828
I'll second that

>>36697718
activate MRP

>>36697828
>Also I'm voting for activating MRP
Good call. Lets do that.

New Charm: Majestic Radiant Penis

The solution to the "how to get Tia Pregnant" problem.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36697718
Just want to vote NO! on MRP ect.

>>36697848
Probably, though I do have a plan to twart their plans.
Once we enter negitations, we tell them that we'll detonate the reactor at sundown. They can either immediatly attack our fortified position in the day, or lose what they came here for. Or leave, that works too.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36697848
I am sure there is a fuckery somewhere.

That's why we need to be extra careful.

>>36697803
Forgot to had

>be extremely careful, but appears relaxed and horny

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697898
Yes

All of my Yes

>>36697749
>>36697828
Adding my support for MRP

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36697913
that plan is terrible, you blow the reactor and you blow tianna and thats also forgetting that WE want the thing intact

>>36697942

Maybe just overloading it enough to make it useless without exploding.

>>36697921
>>36697718

>>36697942
Lets find out what they want first.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36697954
still destroys the thing we want intact...

I'm all for bluffing them, but for the love of god don't blow up our fucking titan

>>36697942
Its also something of a bluff you idiot. The point is that we can counter their threat of an extended siege with the threat of blowing up what they need intact.

>>36697954
Wouldn't that stop the volcano from being powered, effectively killing Dancing Smoke? Also, I think the Island would probably start sinking if the Titan wasn't incidentally holding it up.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36697977
its only a bluff if you don't follow through, which he wanted to do

>>36697967
Well, if it was between them getting it and destroying it, i'd vote to destroy it. But that's not what is happening here

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36697982
yep...

>>36697984
Oh, I am him, and I do want to be willing to follow through, because otherwise certain charms will be able to tell we are bluffing.

>>36697982
>effectively killing
Dancing Smoke is the god in charge of the volcano. She is not, herself, the actual volcano. She would just become unemployed, or the god of the mountain.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698009
Then its not a bluff at all.

So what was your point again?

>>36698016
My point is that we can force them to make a disadvantageous tactical choice, and also that personally I'm totally willing to blow up the titan if it gives us breathing room to set up our empire. The damned thing is a white elephant.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36698032
>and also that personally I'm totally willing to blow up the titan if it gives us breathing room to set up our empire.
We might not be able to setup our empire without it if the Realm directs their attention towards us. So blowing it up to create something that cannot survive without the thin your just blew up is like cutting your feet off then trying to walk.

[MAJESTIC RADIANT PRESENCE] [ESSENCE: 5/6]
Social + Zenith + MRP = 2 8 4 5 9 5 3 6 3 10 9 5 = 5 successes

"May I?" you ask politely, walking in.

"I don't have tea or coffee or drinks to offer you, unfortunately." She apologizes, shuffling to the side to make space for you on the sofa.

"It's the thought that counts." You take on her offer.

You notice Tia sitting down on the ground a couple of meters away from the two of you, looking interestedly.

"To what I owe your visit? I thought I was due to being released. The truce is over, isn't it?"

"It is." You lean closer. "So I was wondering if Regis was alright."

"How should I know?" She shrugs. "I've been locked here for the last week."

"So if I were to ask you about the Tyrant's army disposition..." You lean in even closer.

"...I would tell you the same thing." She replies, slouching deeper into the soft couch.

You bring a hand to gently caress her leg, up to the inner thigh. She is cold to the touch, but pleasantly so. She winces defensively. "... You're so hot."

Offscreen, Tia mumbles affermatively while spectating the events.

"I have warmth to give, even to one as cold as you." You whisper in her ear.

"Oh yes..." You hear her mumbling in response.

>How can I defeat the Tyrant?
>How can I defeat her army?
>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?
>Betray your master and come to my side.
>Tell me what's going on between the Silver Prince and the Tyrant.
>(other?)

(Note: you can only ask one thing of her, pick carefully)

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698048
>Tell me what's going on between the Silver Prince and the Tyrant.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36698048
>>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698048
>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698048
>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?
>Tell me what's going on between the Silver Prince and the Tyrant.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698048
>>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?
More than anything, this is the most important right now, everything else we can afford to find out some other time.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698048
>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?

>>36698046
>We might not be able to setup our empire without it if the Realm directs their attention towards us. So blowing it up to create something that cannot survive without the thin your just blew up is like cutting your feet off then trying to walk.
Actually, there are other ways to survive the realms attention. Leviathan comes to mind. Plus, the Bull in the North pulled it off without any superweapons, and he had less exalts than we do.

>>36698048
>Betray your master and come to my side.

Silk flashbacks.

If this works, we can have everything else.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36698069
>(Note: you can only ask one thing of her, pick carefully)

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698048

>Tell me what's going on between the Silver Prince and the Tyrant.

think long term

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>36698048
>>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?
>>Betray your master and come to my side.
I can't decide so I'll let the dice, rolling a 1d2 for my vote

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698048
>How can I avoid this battle without giving in to her demands?

>>36698048
>>Tell me what's going on between the Silver Prince and the Tyrant.

File: Sun Drow.jpg (227 KB, 700x856)

227 KB JPG

>>36698048
>(other?)
Why is the tyrant interested in Tianna?

Guys, it's something we never figured out in the first place!

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36698077
What did those DBs say about the Realm going after us back when they were still around?

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698132
What.

We know exactly why both Deathlords are here...

>>36698132
yes we did.
He's after the giant first age superweapon under the island

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36698132
If I were to hazard a guess, it looks like she's interested in the ruddy great big titan underneath Tianna

>>36698136
>What did those DBs say about the Realm going after us back when they were still around?
Basically, they'd ignore us until there is something a great house is willing to fight a circle of solars and lunars over. Which would hopefully be soon you filthy anathama

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698077
The Bull of the North had a Full Circle of Solars, Solar Circle Sorcery, a massive cache of First Age weapons including warstriders, an ENORMOUS army that he had time to train up to the Tiger Warrior maximum, and he was STILL going to lose until someone in the Tepet chain of command started sabotaging battlefield orders.

>>36698048
>Betray your master

Be a bit more subbtle about it, though. Like, pull back, get some distance between her and us and say "it's so sad we are not on the same side". Then start making out with Tia to show her what she's missing

Or something like that

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698183
Forgot dice

>>36698172
The offsetting considerations being of course, that no house is willing to deploy that amount of force away from the realm right now, that the West is politically neutral (or more accurately, the gold and bronze factions are told to cut it out) when it comes to sidhereel politics, while the north was basically a bronze faction stronghold, that 4 lunars will more than make up for the single solar we are currently missing, that we have more dragonblooded, a not insubstantial pile of first age weaponry, and a pet fae.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698172
>warstriders
I wonder if those are less shit in the quest, I hope so I always liked how cool they were despite how shit they were.

>>36698046
>We might not be able to setup our empire without it if the Realm directs their attention towards us.
Frankly if the realm does that, the Titan won't do us any good. We have nowhere near the forces required to maintain or maneuver this thing.
Unless EF handwaves us some few thousand magitech engineers.

>>36698253
Maybe our pet raksha can make us some goblin engineers.
Can she create them with complicated skills?

>>36698277
She can't make things with automatic Craft(magitech) knowledge.
She could possibly supply the 2000 people skeleton crew we need to move the Titan at all, but I don't think she can make that many, or any really, outside of at least the Bordermarches.

"I need to know."

Clothes begin to come off as you feel Reken's cold skin coming in contact with yours. Burning it with frost, robbing it of the warmth of life.

[ESSENCE: 3/6]

Enough to kill a mortal many times over.

But, eventually, she ends up being satisfied, filled with the glow of live. Her body now feels entirely solid, covered in fresh, supple flesh, filled with blood and breath.

She pants and welps under your attentions. She might be done with you, but you're not done with her yet.

When you feel like she's ready, which is, quite a bit later, you finally let go of her.

"I need to know."

She doesn't reply, gasping for breath in a way a ghost shouldn't need to, but the look in her eyes is one of understanding and compliance.

"How can I save Tianna without a fight? I have no intention to committing to a war that I can avoid. If there is a way, I will pursue it. If you know, tell me." You give her your best grin. "If not..."

After a few minutes, when Rakan has regained the ability to talk coherently: "...I don't know what the Tyrant's aims for Tianna are, but I know she wants to avoid this fight as well."

"Why the army then?" You frown.

"...she believes she has no other choice. She... She also doesn't trust you."

"...doesn't trust me?" That sounds almost ironic.

"That you're someone who can be reasoned with. That you're committed. That you're determined enough. That you're looking for a way to avoid this battle as well. Give her a way out, and she will take it."

Looks like Reken doesn't know about the Titan. "...how? Are you suggesting that I go directly to talk to her?"

"Does that sound so strange?"

>...you'll stay here under lock and key until we get Regis back.
>you're free to go now.
>you're free to go. Bring her a message for me...
>(other?)

>>36698290
Not immediately. Long term, she will be able to make an army.

>>36698310
>you're coming with me to talk to the Tyrant, I'll give you back there and take Regis with me

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698310
>>you're free to go. Bring her a message for me...
Tell her we're willing to talk

She thinks we're what? Crazy?

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36698310
>you're free to go now.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698310
>>(other?)
"I'll send a message to her and we will meet and exchange you for Regis, then we can try talking. After the exchange you'll be free to do what you wish, maybe you'll not want to go."

>>36698310
>(other?)
>you're coming with me to talk to the Tyrant, I'll give you back there and take Regis with me

This makes sense.

>>36698317
If she were in the Wyld, or near a substantial Wyld region, but we kinda stranded her.

>>36698310
>you're free to go. Bring her a message for me...

>>36698310
>you're free to go. Bring her a message for me...
>release Regis and tell them o prepare for a parlay

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698310
>>36698326
>>36698337
these but can we do it one neutral ground somewhere?

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36698310
>(other?)
>you're coming with me to talk to the Tyrant, I'll give you back there and take Regis with me

>>36698310
>you're free to go. Bring her a message for me...
>>36698327
>She thinks we're what? Crazy?
She thinks we are her a few thousand years ago.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36698310
>>36698326
Yes actually, let's go talk together

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698337
seconding

>>36698342
>If she were in the Wyld, or near a substantial Wyld region, but we kinda stranded her.
Oh hey, remember that fae that her master fought for sport underneath the sea? He is now board and likely to cause trouble.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698310
>>36698337
This.

I wonder if we give her an out that does not involve the titan and she takes it, if we could sign something like a nonaggression pact, or maybe team up against other bigger/more evil threats

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36698366
Who?

Also we really need to check in with Silk, she could be a massive help with this situation if it turns into a battle. Could we maybe send Tia or Five-Tails to bring her here real fast? I imagine Five-Tails would be the one to go as Tia is Tia and won't leave our side.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698310

>you're coming with me to talk to the Tyrant, I'll give you back there and take Regis with me

We need our butler back. Not to mention that a big fight would be devastating for us now.

>>36698391
>bigger/more evil threats
>more evil than a deathlord
She sold her soul to the Neverborn to get vengeance on Creation and annihilate it.
Everything upwards from that is pretty much a negligible difference.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36698310
>I'll go talk to her. You can come
>You're free to go
>But, if you want to stay...

She's fun and probably a deadly threat to anyone but people at our power level. both in seduction and in raw killing power

And the job has its perks

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36698406
well from the sound of things she's somewhat reasonable compared to other deathlords and the other fish in the sea

and if she's willing to end this peacefully if we give her an out she can take, that doesn't lead to her getting the titan, then there if a fucking massive difference between anything upwards of her

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>36698406
Could be another Deathlord, I mean we know Silver Prince is dicking around with a huge navy.

>>36698398
>Who?
Doesn't have a name yet. It was a fae that the fae we fought with were waring with for sport.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698310
>[ESSENCE: 3/6]
>Two points of soak to have sex with the ghost
Lovely

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698406
She's actually pretty tame compared to the Silver Prince and others, and those are the few ones we know of.

So yeah, several orders of magnitude in difference going upwards from that.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698440
Soak?

>>36698412
And you think there won't be a reason for why she would accept that? You think she would just because of the goodness of her heart?
If she does accept that, then because it furthers her goal in some fashion. Its not like she is a hurry, destroying Creation is kind dof a longterm plan.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36698453
I assumed we activated AiRS before, that's the only charm we have that cost two essence

File: millian lightcloud.jpg (130 KB, 850x1202)

130 KB JPG

"...then we'll talk when I'll bring you over to exchange you for Regis." You inform her.

She gives a faint nod before flopping back down onto the sofa, as you stand back up and slip into your tunic.

Tia, who has been watching your interrogation with interest, stands back up and follows you outside.

"Are you going to do that?"

"I'll think of a way to make it work." You snap your fingers at e soldiers standing guard outside the room, who seem still a bit shocked by the noise they must have heard. "Prepare her for being released, and inform Amata. We're leaving as soon as Reken's ready, unless there's any trouble."

"Sorry?" A familiar voice draws your attention. You look down and see Millian, wearing her usual maid outfit with the addition of a few armored plates.

"...Millian?"

"You're going to get Regis?"

"Yes, but..."

"I'm coming too." She states, matter-of-factly.

>...alright.
>absolutely not, it's too dangerous
>(other?)

>>36698443
We, literally know nothing about what she does all day. She appears reasonable and diplomatic to us, but to those who haven't read the sourcebooks, so do the Mask of Winter and the Silver Prince.
Its not indicative of her not being up to terrible shit, its more indicative of us having no idea hwat she is actually doing.

>>36698455
very few Deathlords actually want to destroy creation.
That's just what they told the neverborn.

>>36698440
>>36698457
Or, contact with the ghost drains essence rather than HP.

>>36698457
I think she just actively drained our Essence to make herself more substantial.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698462
>>...alright.
It's suppose to be peaceful, bringing along noncombatants will help give that image

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36698462
>...alright.

>>36698465
The Neverborn aren't idiots. The Deathlords work on destroying Creation, regardless of if they realise that or not. They got a literal piece of the Neverborn stuck in them, they aren't gonna get out of this deal.
No matter how much some of them deludes themselves about it.

>>36698462
>absolutely not, it's too dangerous

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698462
>...alright.
>(other?)
"Millien it will be extremely dangerous, so you will do whatever I say and nothing rash, we'll get him back safely without a fight."

>>36698457
Well seeing as all we got told was that we lost 2 Essence then we've no idea what we used or didn't use

>>36698462
>>...alright.
"Can't wait to see your boyfriend after only a week, eh? Okay then."

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698464
We know she doesn't like the Neverborn when we played as Baron.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698462

>>36698465
It doesn't really matter what they want.
I mean, for a certain time we can use the Deathlords internal quarrel to make them fight eachother, but we shouldn't get delusional about her not being a ancient vengeful ghost who enslaved herself to the dead former masters of Creation. That just ends in tears.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698464
>but to those who haven't read the sourcebooks, so do the Mask of Winter and the Silver Prince.
I've not read the sourcebooks and just from what I've read in this story the Silver Prince is a cockgargler of the highest order, I don't know how you would think that we would think he is reasonable and diplomatic from what we've heard of him from Karas

>>36698455
You know, anything anyone do is to further their goals. Or at least, they think it will further their goals

>>36698486
>>36698462

+1

>>36698494
Which means nothing?
Plenty of Deathlords don't.
Most slaves don't like their masters.

>>36698499
>we've heard of him from Karas
But the average person doesn't know the stuff we heard from Karas, that was pretty intense insider information. For the average person,. the Silver Prince is just a slightly shady dude running a solid nation.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36698517
>>36698499
>>36698496
THE NUMMMMMBER OF THE BEAST

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698497
UCS said everyone can be redeemed. If that applies to Abyssals, it should apply to Deathlords, who used to be Solars, too.

>>36698499
Karas was basically EF telling us that stuff.
Not sure how obvious it was for someone who doesn't know, but the Silver Prince has a pretty good reputation in the West, if Maka wouldn't have been told that by someone who had the unique opportunity to find out about his bad shit and survive, she would think the same about him.

>>36698522
>UCS said everyone can be redeemed.
I think you understand under "redemption" something different than UCS senpai does.
He just means, they will stop serving the Neverborn and enter Lethe. Not, they will become nice guys.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698516
>But the average person doesn't know the stuff we heard from Karas, that was pretty intense insider information. For the average person,. the Silver Prince is just a slightly shady dude running a solid nation.
>but to those who haven't read the sourcebooks

Neither of those matter as we are not the average person, nor someone who has read these mythical sourcebooks you speak of.

We are Maka.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36698524
>she would think the same about him.
No she wouldn't.

She knew nothing about him before Karas came into the picture and you're using info gained from outside of the quest to make that argument.

>>36698462
>absolutely not, it's too dangerous

>>36698536
It does matter, because the point was that people claimed the Tyrant is a great person just because we haven't heard any terrible shit about her and she appears towards Maka as diplomatic and reasonable. My point was that a lot of Deathlords do that, it just means we don't know about the terrible shit she does.

>>36698535
>they will stop serving the Neverborn and enter Lethe.
yes, and they'll probably do it in the form of a rebellion followed by a heroic sacrifice that completely screws over some Neverborn plan

>>36698462
seconding>>36698486

>>36698494
That's meta knowledge, though. And isn't inherently a good thing for us.

>>36698543
No, I'm just telling you that the Deathlords have a habit of getting good publicity, which is why we shouldn't trust the Tyrants good publicity.

>>36698558
They literally can't do that.
The Abyssals can, but the Deathlords can't.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>36698462
>...alright.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698562
>you're using info gained from outside of the quest to make that argument.
>No, I'm just telling you that the Deathlords have a habit of getting good publicity

Well thats news to Maka...

>>36698572
what, rebel?
do the Neverborn have a killswitch/can assume direct control?

>>36698585
>do the Neverborn have a killswitch
Yes they do.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36698572
>They literally can't do that.
>litterally

I'm not for or against any side in this argument, but I'd just like to point out your throwing around some big words about a game of pretend on the internet, one which is run by a guy who can do whatever he feels like with his interpretation of the source material.

So please don't go around spouting fact unless you can quote the QM stating that fact. Otherwise things get real metagamey fast and at that point why are you playing the quest?

>>36698593
source?

>>36698583
Which is isn't relevant to the original discussion?
It was about wether or not there is a significant difference upwards from being a Deathlord.

>>36698600
Sure, but we can't argue on the basis of shit EF might decide to change the canon on.
So the current state is, the Deathlords can't rebel, if EF changes that, sure.
But one guy claimed they were going to rise up against the Neverborn and defeat, them, which is even more "spouting facts". So yes, it was completly reasonable to point out that as far as anyone can assume on any level, no they can't.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36698462
Changing my vote here>>36698561 to:

>you can come half of the way. If we don't come back in time,you will turn back and tell the relevent people

I'm beginning to worry it was all a convoluted plan. And incredibly convoluted plan that we are unwittingly going along with

Anyone else would like the ghost in our team?

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698643
>Sure, but we can't argue on the basis of shit EF might decide to change the canon on.
You can't argue shit that MAKA DOES NOT KNOW

>>36698614
They can take away their investment at will, and the Deathlords are bound to their tombs.
MoEP-Abyssals for further information, or RotSE for a example of that happening.
Or just the entire story of both the Lion and the Princess.

>>36698656
Why does it matter what maka knows to the question of if you can get significantly more evil upwards of being a Deathlord. Makas knowledge has no relevance to that question.
Pay fucking attention to what the argument was about. It wasn't about wether or not Maka should try to work with her.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698650
>Anyone else would like the ghost in our team?
depends on whether everytime we touch or fuck her we get drained of essence, if yes then not so much, sure she can join our side, but thats going to cause some issues that need to be accounted for before she could become a welcome member of the team

>>36698650
>Anyone else would like the ghost in our team?
Sure. She is obviously a planted spy that we were meant to get involved with, but maybe we can still find out some shit along the way.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698666
>Pay fucking attention to what the argument was about. It wasn't about wether or not Maka should try to work with her.
Uhh, thats exactly where the argument came from...

>>36698684
No it wasn't.
Some idiots tried to steer it there to make a EVILMETA KNOWLEDGE argument out of it. But that was never the point at all.
The discussion was purely meta, which should be obvious since Maka has know idea about the Neverborn or the Deathlords agenda to begin with.

File: Valeriana Kava.jpg (396 KB, 850x1420)

396 KB JPG

"...Alright." You don't like this, not at all, but...

Look at her face. How can you say no to that face?

Besides, you owe it to Regis. Who knows what he was put through.

Your head full of doubts and suspicion, you meet Valeriana while wandering the castle's corridors waiting for the time of your departure.

She's standing in an intersection of two large corridors, where an impromptu repair station for the army equipment that's being brought back in from the boats has been set up. Piles of boxes, barrels and crates, complex mechanical parts splayed everywhere. An ordelry mayhem of heavy weaponry.

"...Hey, Maka." She barely lifts her eyes from the half-burnt husk of an Essence Cannon she's trying to restore, her Castemark glowing with authority. With one hand she's holding up a small notepad filled with writing in flowing, orderly calligraphy.

"Isn't that Irene's job?" You ask.

"I can't build these things, but I can help repair them at least." She gives you a better view of the notepad. It's definitely Irene's handwriting, instructions on the internal components of... something. "Irene's busy on the walls right now."

"I see." You mumble, absent-mindedly.

"By the way, I and Irene have finished working with cloth in the loot as well, and I was wondering if- ...Maka? Are you alright?" The Twilight asks, somehow sensing your worries.

>...Yeah, I'm alright.
>...No. Not really. (leave it at that)
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)
>Change subject.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36698689
...

Anon, I started the fucking discussion with >>36698391

The discussion was never purely meta, some idiots however did make it meta, so go fuck yourself with a rake.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>36698715
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)

>>36698715
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>36698715
>>...No. Not really. (elaborate)
C'mon Val, we never get to talk

>>36698715
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698715
>...Yeah, I'm alright.

>>36698717
>>36698406
This comment, was obviously a meta remark for people to keep in mind in decision making.
Which was obvious given the info it contained is shit Maka obviously does not know, if you were toos tupid to realise that at first glance, than I'm sorry for you.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698715
>...Yeah, I'm alright.

>>36698715
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698740
I realised it immediately which is why I told him to stop being a metagaming whore and left the argument at that point. You are being a mentally challenged captain obvious right now anon.

>>36698715
>...Yeah, I'm alright.

It can wait.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698715
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698715
>>...No. Not really. (elaborate)

Rolled 3 (1d10)

That essence drain that happened to us, can we defend against that somehow?

Rolled 6 (1d10)

Just wanted to remind everyone that Banish the Darkness, a fast-running charm, and a scene sent running all over the entire battlefield would probably destroy 90% of the Deathlord's forces. Alternatively, we could fly on Tia in a flying form and do the same.

We're a horrifying weapon of mass destruction against undead. Only Heroic and up are immune.

>>36698715
>...No. Not really. (elaborate)
Extend trust to your peers and it may be returned.

"...No, not really." You look away from her.

She gives a smile, puts the cannon she was working on down, sits up on the table (actually a pile of crates, but close enough) and says "Tell me everything."

"...I want to avoid this battle. Nothing good will come of it. People will die, no matter how well we fight. But the Tyrant will not back up unless she gets what she wants." You explain.

"Do we even know what she wants?"

You bite your tongue.

"...do you?"

"Yes."

"Alright." She seems to guess that it's something you don't want to talk about, and dances around the issue skillfully. "Umm... You're looking for advice?"

"I wouldn't turn it down."

"I have no idea." She proudly proclaims.

You're about to reply something like "thanks for nothing", but she continues:

"But I've heard the numbers we're against. In a fight, we'd probably lose."

"That's right."

"But they didn't attack yet."

"No. Apparently, the Tyrant wants to avoid a fight too."

"Why?"

You realize you can't think of a satisfying answer.

"Why do we have a Deathlord who doesn't want to kill people?"

You honestly have no idea. You just give a shrug in response.

"I think that's the key of the problem." She picks the half-burned cannon back up in her hands, and starts tinkering with it. "We can't win this conventionally."

"So we have to win non-conventionally?"

"We need an invention."

"An invention?" You ask.

"Not necessarily literally. Something new and unexpected. A new idea. Something unexpected."

>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.
>Ask a question (what?)
>(Other?)

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>36698922
>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>36698922
>>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.

>>36698922
>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.

>>36698874

That is a pretty good idea. We should get Lightning Speed charm today for that reason.

Also, last time I was not there, but I saw that the AST was tied with that charm that doubles sucesses per attack.

Quite frankly that charm is a horrible idea and I have do not see why people were voting for it at all. If it lasted a few turns at a time it would be be something, but a charm that costs 1 ess per attack would burn through our entire pool in a flash. It is worthless against Exalts since they would have perfect defenses and it is worthless against the mooks since we have banish the darkness (and we can get the Regiment Slaying Strike in Dawn.)

In comparison, two turns of invulnerability per 1 essence would be quite a bit more useful in battle.

Also, we should consider getting that charm that lets us roll to regain essence every time we lose hp. It would let us regain 0.5 essence per lost hp on average.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36698922
>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>36698966
AST?

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>36698874
The downside of that is that it would leave the Deathlord with a small but elite force of scrappy underdogs, giving her the clear tactical advantage.

I'm kidding, of course, that idea's great.

>>36698980
Adamant Skin Technique

>>36698922
>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.

Also, she was saying something about cloth?

>>36698980

Adamant Skin Technique. Makes us invulnerable for two turns.

>>36698922
>...Alright. I'll think about it. Thank you, Valeriana.


>>36698966
>Also, last time I was not there, but I saw that the AST was tied with that charm that doubles sucesses per attack.
It doubles ANY attack, Physical or Social.
>It is worthless against Exalts since they would have perfect defenses
We have yet to encounter a single person with a perfect defense in the entirety of this quest.