“Lirael Listen!” you demand, as she crawls towards you, over one bed another “Listen dammit!” you dive out of the way as she pounces again, she hits the ground where you were and spins, grabbing your ankle as you try to get away, bring you crashing down. She crawls up your body, straddling you once more, her mouth open wide.

You’re prepared for her now and you simply teleport out of her grasp, managing to get the right level and not go tumbling to the floor. From further down the room you say to Lirael “Are you done: because I can do this all day.”

Lirael stands up and walks towards you, stopping a couple of metres away, a frustrated look on her face “You’re making this difficult Shee” she says.

“Damn right I am” you say “I didn’t agree to anything and you jump me: how could you Lirael, I thought you trusted me?”

Lirael scowls at you “I thought I did to, but then you don’t want me reading your mind and you starve me, why?”

“It’s hard for me” you say “You know how I feel about being a feeder, I give you as much as I can.”

“Drip-feeding me just enough to survive?” says Lirael “Shee I’m *starving*, I need blood fresh from people, I can’t live just on that!”

“I can’t” you say “You know why.”

Lirael gives you a long look “You’re afraid” she says “You’re afraid if you let anyone bite you again you’ll just be their...their toy or something. I won’t make you my toy Shee: you’re my friend, or I thought you were, if you’re not going to feed me, then let me feed on the others, there’s plenty of people in dust town, I can make them feed me and then forget.”

“I...” you say. You’ve thought about how to feed her, but made no real decision yet. As it stands, you simply can’t feed her on your own for very long. Even in your days with Ash he fed on other feeders to avoid taking too much from you.

Your new powers...if there was a psychic power that let you heal faster, then maybe you could feed Lirael yourself, though you’d be undoing all your hard work battling your bite addiction. Still, if you were getting bitten regularly, you probably wouldn’t let other vampires bite you, you just wouldn’t feel the need strongly.

You could let Lirael hunt as she is asking to: She’s not the time to drain more than someone can give, and if she wipes their memory, then her secret is safe, and if she feeds off a large number of people, there’s little chance she’ll make a bite-addict out of anyone. That still feels like you’d be selling out others to protect yourself though.

You could reach out to Ash, maybe he can get you access to feeders, though he might ask questions.

Or you could use your powers to rob hive blood banks, much as Lirael won’t like it, it stops you or others getting bitten. Or you could think of another plan. Of course there’s also what upset Lirael in the first place...

What do you do?

>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself
>You’ll give Lirael permission to feed on others
>You’ll Ask Ash for help
>You’ll rob blood banks
>You’ll get blood another way (how?)
>Distract Lirael, ask about what upset her (delay blood discussion for now)
>Other (what?)

>>37138081
>>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself

>>37138081
>You’ll Ask Ash for help

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself

Didn't realize we were starving her.

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself
Planned to do that anyway.

>>37138081
>You’ll Ask Ash for help
He has ways, rely on him sometime, anon.

>>37138081
>You’ll Ask Ash for help

>>37138130
Its not the problem to rely on him, its the problem of having to, reveal Lirael to him, ask him for a favor AGAIN, and revealing Lirael to a whole bunch of other people.

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself

>>37138141
Yeah cat's already out of the bag on that one, they know she's not normal after what she did.

>>37138156
A few people in Dust town having a suspicion vs. however many feeder she will get into contact with knowing for a fact.
Yeah no. Its a big difference.

>>37138175
She sent a normal human woman flying like a ragdoll with one hand. They will know she isn't normal. She can hide her wings and pass for a normal vamp.

>>37138130
Vamps apparently attempt to exterminate her race. It's probably a better idea to avoid any contact with them. Even Ash.

>>37138175
Mind powers.

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself

She does seem trustworthy. So if we have to be fed on, better from her than anyone else.

>>37138185
>They will know she isn't normal.
She could have used psychic powers.

And even if they know she is a vampire, they don't know what kind, and that is the real danger.

>>37138196
Fair enough but she's pale supernaturally strong and never seems to eat. How many people seeing all that won't think vampire? She can hide her wings via her powers. Ash trusts us enough to give us root access to his home, give him a chance.

Feed her yourself it is, writing.

...with this, we can also feed Ash.

>>37138217
>and never seems to eat
She eats perfectly normal because she is still a living vampire.

>she's pale
Not especially so. Living vampire. She explicitly looks like a normal girl except for the wings.

And its not a matter of trusting Ash or not. Its a matter of not endangering Lirael by revealing her to many people. I trust Ash wouldn't betray her, although there is a chance he might, but the bigger danger is all the mind-readers these feeders deal with.

>>37138240
Or how about, no?
Lirael only has us to feed her. He got plenty of feeders.

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>>37138240

>>37138240
Except for the slow-healing CON damage, you mean.

>>37138081
>You’ll find a way to boost your healing, and feed Lirael yourself
>Agree to let her read our mind?

>>37138240
Our constitution man..

>>37138240
We only got one dead point of CON. Feeding more than one vampire is a No.

>>37138255
>>37138259
>>37138261
Why not? We will suffer CON damage anyway, won't we? If we find a way to heal that then it won't matter if Ash feeds too.

>>37138282
We can't heal the CON damage.
We got one point of CON to spare, not more.

>>37138282
Con damage stacks. Healing hp is not healing con damage.

>>37138282
There is no way to heal the CON damage, only the HP damage. The entire point of the CON damage is to make it so we can't completely negate the negative effects of getting bitten with Psychic Healing.

>>37138081

>You'll find a way to boost your healing and feed her yourself
It's the least bad option.

However regardless of that, in addition
>Ask Lirael about what upset her

“I’m sorry” you tell Lirael “I didn’t realise you were starving. I’m going to find a way to use my powers to replace my blood faster and then yes, I’ll keep you fed.” You decline to say whether you’ll be drip-feeding her or letting her take it straight from the vein, so to speak. That’s a decision for another time. Lirael stares at you for a long moment and you feel a familiar pressure behind your eyes, which quickly fades, Lirael smiles and then hops closer to you, leaning forward “Are you gonna try the strange tank thingy?”

“I guess I’ll have to” you say.

“Now?” she says hopefully

“Lirael” you say “We need to get back and make sure Rainya is ok.”

Lirael puts her hands to her mouth “Oh no, Rainya!” she exclaims “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know” you say, putting your hands on her shoulders “You were scared, I get that, but what did you see that scared you so much Lirael?”

Lirael looks uncomfortable “Uh, like you said, we need to check on Rainya, let’s go.”

What do you do?

>Go back to fair (teleport to where?)
>Ask Lirael what she saw
>Time to activate a new power (psychic activation chamber)
>Other (what?)

For reference, it’s about 10pm

>>37138391
>Ask Lirael what she saw
Its important.

>>37138059
FUCK YEAH! PSYCHIC REBEL QUEST!

>>37138391
>Contact Rainya
>Ask Lirael what she saw
Outside of it.

>>37138391

>Ask Lirael what she saw

>>37138391
>Go back to fair
>teleport to the outskirts of it

Bah, feeding her personally is too encumbersome.

>>37138391
>Go back to fair (teleport to a back alley by the entrance)

>>37138391
>Ask Lirael what she saw

>>37138391
>Ask Lirael what she saw

>>37138391
>Ask Lirael what she saw
>Time to activate a new power (psychic activation chamber)

>>37138391
>Go back to fair (outskirts)
>Ask Lirael what she saw

>>37138391
>Ask Lirael what she saw
>If we have something to contact Rainya with from here, do that.
Its probably important to explain shit to Rainya.

>>37138460
If she's not in a coma or crippled.

>>37138391

>Back to the fair
>A vantage point... was there any convenient rooftop, balcony or emergency staircase, scaffolding, something like that in the vicinity we could take advantage of?

>>37138484
Yes of course. The whole HP mechanic we've been using has been thrown out of the window and people get crippled instead of simply hurt.

>>37138534
I enjoy bad ends. I hope she has splinters of wood lodged into her eyes.

>>37138534
We lost hp and broke rib because of it. Rainya might not have enough hp to take a hit from a terror filled op angel vamp.

>>37138534
The mechanics don't track injuries that way, so she couldn't possibly have been crippled or rendered comatose? Am I understanding that right?

>>37138569
moonrunes pls go and stay go

>>37138587
I am not moonrunes. Nor do I know who that is.

“Wait” you say to Lirael “what did you see in Kate’s mind that scared you?”

Lirael shakes her head, refusing to look at you “Nooooo” she whines “I don’t want to, Shee don’t make me look at them, I don’t want to.”

“Look at what?” you say, utterly confused.

“Them!” she say, pointing over your shoulder.

You feel a prickling between your shoulder blades and you spin around, there’s nothing there.

You turn back to Lirael “hah hah” you say “very funny, you made me look, now what are you talking about?”

Lirael shakes her head and starts crying “I don’t want to look, I don’t want to look at them, please Shee don’t make me.”

“Lirael” you say, crouching down next to her “I’m here, I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“You’ll go with me?” she asks tearfully.

“Go where?” you ask.

Lirael taps your forehead with a finger “Into memory” she says “yours, and hers, you need to see to understand.”

How do you respond?
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)
>Lirael, just tell me
>Other (what?)

>>37138626
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

>>37138626
>>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

>>37138626
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

Shee Hyul.. does your name mean what I think it means? Answer me!

>>37138626
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

>>37138626
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

>>37138642
You're that blood guy. Anon there is no way that Shee is anything other than your normal human girl. With.. some powers.

>>37138598
Gnash pls go and stay go.

>>37138626

>I will, but we have to check on Rainya first.

>>37138626
>Lirael, just tell me

>>37138626
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

>>37138626
I will, but we have to check on Rainya first.

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>>37138663
>Anon there is no way that Shee is anything other than your normal human girl. With.. some powers.

>>37138626
>I will, but we have to check on Rainya first

>>37138626
>Ok, let’s do this (go into memory)

>>37138728
What!? She's an.. almost perfectly normal girl! She just has a condition. Of some kind.

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>I don't want to look at Them
Maybe Shee is part human and part Orz

Memory it is, writing.

>>37138778
whats an Orz?

>>37138877
Apparently a crab snail.. bird.. thing.

>>37138877
AA

>>37138972
Autism Anon?
Alcoholics anonymous?

>>37138991
AMERICAN AIRLINES?

>>37139042
Did.. did she see the missing planes?

>>37139042
American psychic in Amsterdam?

“Alright” you say to Lirael “take me into the memories.”

“This might feel a little strange” says Lirael, putting her hands on your head as you kneel in front of her.
---
The world around you seems to waver like a mirage, and then melt. You see a confused mess of images and colours around you before it resolves into a scene you recall.

There you are, sat at the table with the fortune teller and you’re picking the cards out of the deck as she asked you to, and placing them face down in front of her.

You and Lirael stand next to uh...you. The two of you appear as ghostly images in this scene.

“What is this?” you ask Lirael

“This is your memory” she says “And hers” she points to the image of Kate. Lirael leads you around the table and you stand next to Kate as she picks up the three cards and looks at them.

The Child, The Five United, The Empress.

You’re familiar with the deck used by fortune tellers, but you’ve never seen one where all the faces, including those of the Five, are a match for your own, strange that.

“That’s what she saw” says Lirael solemnly “This is what it meant to her.”

You hear demented laughter and you turn, you see *you* suddenly grow a fanged maw, dozens of limbs sprouting from your shoulders and you watch as the other *you* grows in size and seizes the terrified fortune teller, tearing her apart and eating her. You watch as this other you tears out of the tent and runs through the weapons fair, killing and consuming indiscriminately, as you feed you grow and become less human. Bullets and energy blasts tear at your flesh but you simply heal or shrug off injuries until everything around you is dead.

A giant shambling horror, not human in the slightest, lurches away from the remains of the fair, no, not just the fair, it has consumed all of Dust Town...and Hive 39. You watched as this thing ate your friends. If you had a body right now you’d be throwing up.

You look away but Lirael says sadly “It doesn’t end here.”

You force yourself to look, if Lirael can watch it, so can you. You and Lirael watch, flying high above as the horror that was once you sees other, similar horror arise from burning and ruined Hives across the world. Slowly they stalk one another, behemoths of twisted flesh, until one attacks another and they all starts tearing at one another, ripping each other apart in a frenzy. When one falls the others consume it, fuelling their growth and change into more nightmarish forms, until only remains.

Miles high this thing that might have been you, might have once been someone else starts to rise, and rise, and rise...

You see the Five, welcoming their child, their newest sibling, and the Five...are now the Six.

“What...what is this?” you ask Lirael in disbelief “Was she mad.”

“It was...it was something she feared” says Lirael “It’s easier if...I think she was going to tell you herself.”
---
You and Lirael are back in the fortune-tellers tent. You see yourself standing over Kate, declaring yourself to be the all that she feared, sobbing Kate tells you.

“You’re one of them!” she cries out “You look human but you’re not, you’re one of *them!*”

“One of *what*?” you demand to know.

“The Reunited” she says, sobbing, her face in her hands “You’re one of the reunited children, five bloodlines as one!”

Wait, what?

“That’s just a myth” you say to Lirael “an apocryphal tale about the end of the world, children descended from the five who will fight each other until one destroys the others, consumes their flesh and the rise, the Five becoming Six and the world dying, that’s just a story.”

“Is it?” asks Lirael.

You turn to her “Lirael, you’ve been in my mind, you know you can trust me.”

“I can’t trust them” says Lirael, pointing. You turn and see yourself in the tent, trying to comfort a screaming Lirael.

Watching this scene again you see that when Lirael was acting so unlike herself and screaming, she wasn’t looking at you, she was looking past you.

Behind the *you* in the vision are several figures, no, not several, five. Images of the Five come forth to stand with you, moving with you as you move.

The shadows coiling from Baalzamon flow from him...into you, and back into him again, with each wave of shadow that returns, he grins and a long tongue flickers out to taste the air.
The long reaching tendrils of the The Ichor in the Depths embrace you and stroke your cheek, Her nightmarish face is twisted in an expression of fondness.
A mirror image of you stands beside you, copying your every move, The face of the Infinite Mirror is polished silver glass.
A muscled titan places its hand on your other, Jagganatha tells you to simply grab Lirael and overpower her, his voice a distant rumble.
A red-skinned demon stands behind you, offering advice. Rainya will make a good start to your harem, and Lirael a powerful slave, both simply need to be broken to your will.

“I see them with you now” say Lirael “And they terrify me.”

“And me” says Kate, standing next to you. You don’t know why she’s here, a part of your own mind perhaps?

What do you do?

>Ok Lirael, enough (end this)
>Ask Lirael what it means
>Ask Kate what it means
>Talk to the Five (which?)
>Other (what?)

>>37139173
>Ask Kate what it means

>>37139173
>Ask Lirael what it means
>Ask Kate what it means

>>37139173
>Ask Lirael what it means
>Ask Kate what it means

Doesn't really explain why she attacked Rainya, if she was afraid of things behind us. That apparently never went near her.

>>37139173
>Ask Lirael what it means
>Ask Kate what it means

>>37139173
>Talk to the Five (which?)
>red-skinned demon
Now.. when you say Harem...

>>37139173
>Ask Kate what it means
>Talk to the Five : Ichor
Seriously Kate, maybe you shouldn't worship those eldritch horror gods then, if they freak you out so much.

>>37139173

>Ok Lirael, enough

>>37139173
>>37139193
Adding
>Talk to the Five : Ichor
This is actually a good chance.

>>37139173
>Talk to the Five : Ichor
See seems the most likely to help explain things.

>>37139173
>Talk to the Five (king in hell)
"hahahahahahahahahahaha no"
>Ask Lirael what it means
>Ask Kate what it means

>>37139218
She was terrified and in a fear-induced state of panic.

>>37139173
>Rainya will make a good start to your harem, and Lirael a powerful slave
>Lirael not in our harem
Demon King confirmed for pleb taste.

>Talk to the Five, Ichor and Mirror

>>37139173
>>Talk to the Five (King)
>An Harem, you say?
>What am I?
>Ask kate what it means
The King is obviously the best one.

>>37139173
>Other (what?)
B-but, I don't to bring despair. I want to bring hope and respect!

>>37139173
>>37139244
Swapping to>>37139246

>>37139244
>>37139295
Thinking with your boners....................

>>37139313
Its a joke anon...

>>37139313
Always.. but I switched. see>>37139304

Still.. if the Harem is locked to him I think that's where I'm going to be throwing votes. He also gives Leadership bonuses doesn't he?

>>37139323
There is no harem option.

>>37139313
Yeah! People in Pallys quests would never think like that and end up with multiple wives. That's just too far fetch.

>>37139323
We always do harem, can we not in this quest?

>>37139323
>if the Harem is locked to him
Pretty sure we can have a Harem either way...
We are supposed to become our own yoz.. I mean Old God one day.

>>37139323
I was thinking we'd not join any of them.

>>37138877
You don't want to know.

They appeared in our universe after a colony of synthetic humans dabbled into research of dimensional fatigue.
the cloned humans vanished in the process and the Orz get very angry when questioned on the topic.

Ok, writing talking to Kate and Lirael, followed by Ichor.

You will get a chance to talk to the others, so don't worry if your choice didn't win.

>>37139346
So long as it isn't Ash, I'm good. He's too meek.

>>37139346
Sorry Anon, too late for that. This is a Pally quest, you lost when it began.

>>37139341
>>37139346
>>37139323
Shee be a leader
>LaughingFey.jpg
She has to be a leader before she'd get anything from him.

>>37139346
I'm a big fan of monogamy. But I doubt we'll be so restrained.

>>37139341
There's a massive difference between a committed polyamorous relationship and a harem, anon.

>>37139346
It has already been taken care of. To a certain degree.

>>37139352
That's a bad end.

>>37139362
If you guys do go for polyamory, don't expect it to be as easy as it was in Paladin of Joy.

>>37139391
>That's a bad end.
Thats a matter of perspective.

>>37139407
It ends the quest and every character except Shee dies, Shee becomes something entirely different and the person she was effectively dies.

Bad end.

>>37139362
When you have this much fun is it really losing?

>>37139417
>and the person she was effectively dies
We don't actually know that. Completly possible we find a way to ascension that doesn't involve us losing our mind.

>>37139417
All we need to do is learn to control it. I'm fairly positive we can do this.

>>37139341
To be fair, "free love" was part of Sireyis personality from the beginning, not so for Shee.

>>37139391
>polyamoury
AA, please. We sex without love is acceptable too. Friends with ebnefits exist.

>>37139500
Not exactly. She was caught between the more traditional noble values on sex and marriage and her own matron deity's position on it.

>>37139534
>sex without love is acceptable too
NEVER!

Also thats different from a harem then

>>37139534
>We sex without love is acceptable too.
Ugh, no.

>>37139428
>>37139432
This quest isn't as idealistic as Paladin of Joy. I wouldn't be so optimistic about this situation, even if I am already mentally planning out a power path for you guys with that end goal in mind.

We should also try to prevent as much destruction from the other Children awakening as possible as another end goal, assuming I've interpreted the vision right.

>>37139534
Is there a u in polyamory? I'm pretty sure there isn't, but maybe it's a regional thing.

Also, no. I'm pretty sure that's already been banned.

>>37139432
>>37139428
I'd rather not tread that road to be honest. I don't really feel the need to become a divine being.

Why dod you have to mention harems OP...?

>>37139550
>She was caught between the more traditional noble values on sex
No, she was never.
Sireyi was always on the patron deity's view on sex. She simply decided a deeper romantic commitment was more what she personally wanted for herself. That had nothing to do with traditional noble values on sex.

>>37139552
Well, it's something. Better than waifuing/husbandoing.

>>37139578
Because its FUN!

Seriously, it was a in-joke. And clearly it was found to be amusing.

>>37139594
I have to heavily disagree with that.
In fact, the reason I hate waifu/husbando-fags so much, is because of their inability to wait until actual romantic and personal connection is established.

>>37139596
Well it's not going to be a joke now. It's going to be what people argue about for the next few hours.

>>37139569
I personally enjoy transhumanist and "eldritch horros" type of stuff. But its left to the story which way we go, and one way or the other, the ascension is the endgame if it does happen.

>>37139622
But we should husbando ash.. because.. he has some back story and a penis!

>>37139622
I agree, however I also understand why this is the case: Either you rush for the prize, or someone else will get their way instead.
Which is why I personally would prefer to have romantic business be dealt with OP exclusively.

>>37139568
If we don't accumulate power properly and the other scions do.. then they'll wipe us out. This is not noble bright.

So the fey blood thing was a coincidence? Or are we only the scion now because we chose Shee as an MC?

>>37139677
>Either you rush for the prize, or someone else will get their way instead.
Well yeah, they need to rush for their prize, because the other side does the same. If neither would, that problem wouldn't exist, but of course, its not something you can rely on.

The best way to do it IMO, is to make romance impossible until after a lot of characters have been introduced and people had the time to interact with all of them.

PoJ did that, kinda sorta.

>>37139772
We're of five blood anon.

>>37139749
We should find a way to thwart their power. That could be gaining even more power, sure, but perhaps there is another way. We'd have to learn or get in touch with someone who knows more about metaphysics involved.

>>37139568
The second half of that sentence was supposed to be spoilered. I have no idea why it glitched out and didn't show up.

>>37139569
It won't be anytime soon.

>>37139594
No, bad anon. Don't make me get the spray bottle.

>>37139622
That shouldn't be a(s much of a) problem, due to reasons.

>>37139586
It was a mix. I recall it being mentioned that the reason she wanted to wait for marriage even after it was clear that her relationship with Jal, Sofia and Isla was a deep romantic commitment is because of nobility.

>>37139749
>Devouring all those humans is the more powerful route

>>37139808
>is because of nobility
I don't remember that ever having been said?
I remember OUR reason for keeping it out was the virginity bonus, and that seeped into Sireyis own reasoning.

>>37139836
I don't know about you, but my reason was because I consider sluttiness to be unpaladinlike behaviour.
Ellahi was cool though.

>>37139808
>due to reasons
That reason being we have to wait a few years to romance Lirael anyway?

“What does this all mean?” you ask Lirael

“I don’t know” she says, then points to the Five “I think they want to turn you into one of them, into a monster of some sort, I dunno, they’re scary.”

“Why did you attack Rainya then?” you ask “if it was the ones near be you were scared of?”

Lirael pauses then adds in a small voice “I was scared...”

Well, she is just a kid. You try Kate “What we just saw, a vision of some kind? Or was it just your fears?”

Kate shakes her head “I don’t know” she says “What would the end of the world look like?”

“Is that what you believe I am?” you ask her “One of the Reunited?”

“That’s what the cards say...” she trails off uncertainly.

You look towards the Five.

“Ichor in the Depths” you say “Deep Mother, I ask you, what does this all mean?”

“Once we were many” she says, her tentacles embrace you, running over your body, an intimate caress that leaves you damp with slime. For some reason in here, in your mind it doesn’t bother you. Maybe you’ll freakout when you wake up?

The Ichors voice sounds like a rolling wave, like a whirlpool, like a monster from the ocean depths. Oceans, you’ve never seen one, but you suddenly know what they look like. Terrible and beautiful, full of life, full of freedom...

You relax, falling backwards into the Deep Mothers embrace, her horrifying face kissing you tenderly on the cheek as her many limbs massage and stroke you and she explains.

“We ruled this universe. We fought each other, plotted, and played, each pitting their views, their very natures against the others, some died, new ones came into being. As is our want, we created, I birthed countless billions, though some others contributed as well. We created races to use against one another, to shape, to serve us.”

>>37139873
There is a difference between "no-being-a-slut" and "only sex after marriage".

Her voice grows angry, and she holds you almost painfully tight. “And some of those who served...rebelled. At first we thought it a plot of one of us and simply continued our struggles. But more and more of us began to die, and we realised we were at war.”

“The struggle took aeons, and when it was over, most of us lay dead. The survivors were offered a choice: Remain in the ruins of what we once created, much reduced in power, or be banished. We Five elected to remain. And so we are thought of as old, forgotten gods. Once those who now call themselves gods grovelled at our feet, and one day will do so again!”

“Sweet child, kind child” croons the Ichor, “loyal child...” Her tight grip relaxes, but she does not let you go.

Lirael and Kate look at you with shock and confusion, seemingly comfortable in the embrace of the Ichor in the Depths. Why would you not be comfortable, she is your mother and she loves you, you want to simply lay in her comforting embrace...

What do you do?
>Simply relax, mother will take care of everything...
>Ask Lirael/Kate a question (what?)
>Ask one of the Five for their view (which?)
>Ask one of the Five a question (which one? what?)
>Lirael, end this
>Other (what?)


>>37139568
>Also, no. I'm pretty sure that's already been banned.

I haven't ruled out anything until I've said so in a thread.

However, I will say this: If threads become battlegrounds over romance options, then I will restrict or even remove player choice in this area.

I would like to run a quest in which people can vote, and accept the results if they don't win. If I can't do that, then I won't have votes on it, unless done under very tightly-controlled conditions.

>>37139928
>Lirael, end this

>>37139928
>Ask one of the Five a question
>Ask Ichor what will become of us if we "transform", is there no way to avoid slaughtering those dear to us?

>>37139928
>Simply relax, mother will take care of everything...
Time to exalt.

>>37139928
>Lirael, end this

>>37139928
>Ask Ichor what will become of us if we "transform", is there no way to avoid slaughtering those dear to us?
>Ask one of the Five for their view, Mirror

>>37139928
>>Lirael, end this

>>37139928
>Ask one of the Five for their view (which?)
I'd like to ask each one in succession. Can we do that before making a choice?

>>37139928
>Ask one of the Five for their view (Mirror

>>37139928
>Ask one of the Five a question
>Ask Ichor what will become of us if we "transform", is there no way to avoid slaughtering everyone?
>Then, Lirael, end this.

>>37139928
>Simply relax, mother will take care of everything...

>>37139928
>>37139996
Seconding this

and

>Ask Ichor what will become of us if we "transform", is there no way to avoid slaughtering those dear to us?
As "mother and caretaker" she might be the most sympathetic to that question.

>>37139996
Of course

Also, what choice?

>>37139928
>Simply relax, mother will take care of everything...

>>37139928
>Lirael, end this

>>37140027
>>37140015
>>37139973
>>37139928
Voting against this.
Because seriously, fuck that.

>>37139928
>>37140018
>>37140019
Mirror has the most votes, I think, so starting for that. Probably best to end with the King.

>>37139973
Or start or way to monstrosity.

>>37140019
Mirror since that seems to be in the lead

>>37139928
>Simply relax, mother will take care of everything...
>Ask one of the Five for their view (The King, The Mirror
)
>>37140034
Voting against this counter vote.
Because seriously, fuck you.

>>37139928
>Ask one of the Five for their view (Mirror)

>>37140034
Don't you want to trust mother, anon?
She is so nice to us.

Kimbery, best Yozi

To head this off before it starts.

You are not choosing a single one of the Five to follow (yet). My next update will hopefully clarify this as well as why.

Writing: Asking each in turn for their views.

Well now I wish we'd have just let her judge us.

>>37140066
Saying "Best Yozi" is like saying "Best Organ To Get Cancer".

>>37139928
>Ask one of the Five for their view, Mirror

>>37140087
Why?
That would have been stupid, this way we get exposition.

>>37140034
You don't get a "counter" vote option. That's not how things work man.

>>37140087
Wouldn't have done shit because we haven't done it yet. most we'd deal with would be our past actions.

We need to know this.

>>37140089
>Not wanting to return the Architects of reality to their rightful place
Rebel scum!"

We don't want to take the same path as her father right? Don't embrace the mother, in fact tell them that shut to their faces.

>>37140129
Embracing the mother is not choosing her as patron.
Its explicitly a process, not single choice, and Pally wouldn't offer it as anything less than absolutely clear.
And Shee has no reason to insult them, they are her gods. She doesn't need to do what they want, but she still respects and worships them.

>>37140129
Of course. We will succeed.

>>37140129
Father was a failure for limiting himself to being a imitation of one god.
We will gather all their strength and surpass them.

>>37140208
So we make our own swallow the scorpion charm?

>>37140224
Basically.

>>37140224
I don't get it

>>37140286
The whole "old gods" thing here is derived from another RPG setting.
Its not really important for the story to get the reference.

>>37140286
It's an Infernal charm that lets Infernal exalts become Primordials.

>>37140286
Charm in exalted that when used basically turns the Green sun prince(Solar exalt in servce to a Yozi patron, most of whom are very similar to the Five) Become a Yozi themselves and freeing them from sevitude. Basically a big fuck you to your patron and adding another god who's going to be quite powerful to the field. You of course make you own domain upon Ascension .

>>37140325
>>37140358
>>37140328
Okay thank you.

This is taking a while to write, thank you for your patience.

>>37140487
I expected "Ask all of them" to take a while, don't worry Pally.

Take your time Pally. Thanks for letting us know though

>>37140487
Mother is best patron.

>>37140086

Thank you

>>37140487
You're aces pally, take all the time you need!

>>37140516
If we have to take a patron its her at the moment, would rather be free.

>>37140539
I'd rather we be free as well. Gives me so much more room to work with.

>>37140539
I'd rather take the mother now and not wait till we're in a position of weakness and one of the others singles us out.

>>37140599
Pretty sure if we ever need mother, she will gladly offer.

>>37140615
Not him. Just don't want to scorn her she's my favorite and she doesn't take rejection well.

>>37140634
How are we scorning her?

>>37140660
If you choose to say end it now! while in the middle of a conversation? That's like saying, HEY YOU HANG UP ON HER NOW!

Asking the others is the betterish response. But it's still a bit rude to go as far as embrace then break away. We're asking them what's going on or why we should follow them instead of her.

>>37140634
Yeah she has a bit of comradeship with companions, without the BREAK THEIR WILL the other god gives off.

>>37140782
We are supposed to combine all of them into one, to be reborn into s ixth god. She doesn't expect us to only choose her.

You pull yourself out of the loving grip of the Ichor in the depths and you speak to each of the Five in turn, starting with Balazamon.

“What is this all about?” you ask him.

“It’s a strange, funny story” he whispers, his long serpentine tongue ticking your ear. The shadows wrap around the two of you until you cannot see anyone and you are alone in the darkness, a barely visible lizard-like figure coiling around you, whispering secrets to you, his most favoured child.

“Each of us was limited as part of our punishment, though we retain great power. We can no longer create siblings for ourselves...unless we all pitch in.”

“Is that what I am to become?” you ask “One of you?”

“If you want” it whispers “I can help you there, oh yes, pledge loyalty to me and I’ll see that you win, we each get our champions you see.”

His coils tighten around you, his tongue licking your neck, his claws scraping at your skin. You feel so safe in the darkness hidden from sight, no one can hurt you here, no one can find you. And is not deception part of your nature? Have you not lied again and again for good, noble reasons?

Still, you decided to ask each in turn, and so you shall.

“Thank you for the offer” you say to Baalzamon “I’ll consider it.”

“Come back any time” he croons “But don’t wait too long...”

As the shadows fade, you turn to your double with the silver face “Infinite Mirror” you say “How do I survive this?”

Your double moves her *face* close to yours and you find yourself falling into the mirror...

You stand in a hall of mirrors, your reflections stretch for miles, each subtly different.

“You must struggle” says one of your reflections, another adds “You must adapt.” Another picks up “You must survive.”

The explanation comes a few words at a time, out of dozens of mouths “There is never one Reunited, they are always many. But only one will prove worthy, but destroying all of the others.”

“Is there no other way?” you ask “Am I now locked in a battle for my own survival?”

“There is always another way” says your reflection “One must win: other must fall, or surrender.”

“And if I surrender?” you ask “What happens to me?”

“The victor decides: he might ignore you, or consume you, or make you a slave.” says the Mirror “Will you seize your fate? Or let another choose it?”

You already know the answer to that.

“Thank you for your wisdom” you say, as all the mirrors shatter, and you’re back.

“Jagganatha” you say “How do I win this contest?”

A titan, bigger than a mountain bends down and scoops you up in his palm, raising you high above the others, bringing you face to gigantic face with him.

“Through strength” he booms “direct action, discover who your rivals are, and break them, leave none alive.” A somewhat predictable answer.

“Is that all?” you ask, your hands on your hips “Just crush them?”

He laughs, a noise that would make cities tremble “Use all the weapons you have: your fists, your gun, your robots and power armour. No weapon is forbidden: capture a spaceship and rain down orbital fire if you wish, what matters is not the method, only the victory.”

“Thank you Jagganatha for your advice” you say. He sets you down.

“King of Hell-” you say. Before you even ask he sweeps you up in his arms and takes flight, soaring into the sky.

“Well met” he says in a familiar voice “Daughter.”

“Dad...?” you ask disbelievingly.

“Yes” he says “And no, your father followed me above the others and I rewarded him. Though he failed in his final gambit he still has a place of honour in my halls. Fight in my name and you can be reunited with him: this I promise you even should you fail.”

Yeah, that’s not tempting....not at all...

“This contest” you say “Was my father a part of it?”

>>37140832
>pledge loyalty to me and I’ll see that you win
That's exactly what they expect.

The King shakes his head “these contests happen every thousand years or so. We pick those who have all five bloodlines, a limited number and then one wins by killing or subjugating the others.”

“Then the monsters I saw..?” you leave it hanging.

The King chuckles “a fortune tellers fancy” he says “Oh if you think you can fight better as a mountain-sized *thing* then follow Jagganatha by all means. Following any of us, or all of us means you will be granted our gifts, mental and physical. Is it better to be a warrior or a leader? A thinker or a monster? Follow whichever takes your fancy, whichever you feel most like. We seek to recruit you as we seek to recruit all in the contest. The winner will combine traits from all Five: It has been proven again and again that following a single patron only, or up to four, does not work. We each seek to have our natures dominate though, for the Sixth would be a great ally.”

“Yes speaking of” you say, held safely in your fathers, no, in the King of Hells arms “If you do this every thousand years, why are you only Five?”

The King of Hell pauses before answering “This is just the first test of many” he says “victors are subjected to other tests, failure often results in death. A partial success would mean existence as powerful servant of us – many have been given this reward. None however have passed all the tests perfectly, and yet we search.”

He lands, depositing you on the ground, the Five standing around you. Lirael and Kate off to one side.

As you have already spoken to the Ichor, you see no need to ask Her views.

“Well?” ask the Five “Do you have more questions? Will you pick a patron, or simply ask for our favour?”

Your response?
>Ask question (what?)
>Pick a patron (options in next post?)
>Ask for the favour of all Five
>Lirael, end this
>Other (what?)

>>37140878
They'll be sorely disappointed.

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>>37140878
>The winner will combine traits from all Five
We get from all of them, which we favor in the end is adifferent matter.

>>37140883
>Pick a patron (options in next post?)
Ichor.

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>It has been proven again and again that following a single patron only, or up to four, does not work.
HINT

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five
Hell yeah, let's ascend

>>37140925
sorry I put a question mark in

I meant *if this option wins I will call a further vote on which of the 5 you will favour*

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>>37140938
>Implying we need that option to ascend

>>37140934
Thats not a hint at all. Its them outright repeating that they all will bless us, and that the best way. We've been told that several times.
We can still choose to favor one over the others even with having gifts from all.

>>37140883
>>Lirael, end this

>>37140891
We respect and worship these gods, we're not going to tell them to fuck off.
>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five
With this we choose none and are left free. With this, we still have their blessings for the invevitable coming of the other reunited

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37140988
No, we choose all, and are less free then with one.

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>>37140883
>>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37140988
With that you choose all of them and get the mental alterations of all of them. At least, that's how it appears to me.

>>37140883
>>37140913
swapping to
>Ask for the favour of all Five

I guess I have to vote specialist of all snowflakes.

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>>37141017
You qouted the wrong post.

>>37140883
>Lirael end this

>>37141017
Bu-but We'll take no gods and win! Yeah because we're So great and awesome and different lol!

>>37140988
>>37141010

>>37140883
Would you mind clearing up what he means?

>>37140883
>ask for the favour of all Five

I'm getting more and more hyped.

>>37141038
Ah hell so I did sorry.

>>37141017
Is >>37140925
this post swapping.
>>37140883

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>>37141010
No, the mental alterations are only if you follow only one of them. With all of them combined, though, they balance each other and make no alteration.

That's what I understood, anyway.

Man, why'd this have to become an ascension quest?

>>37141083
>We each seek to have our natures dominate though, for the Sixth would be a great ally.”
Seems like it's all of their natures trying to superimpose themselves over us, so no.

>>37140883
>>Lirael, end this

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37141083
>Getting several mental illnesses mean you have no mental illnesses
Thats not how it works. They don't contradict eachother in all cases.

>>37140883
>>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37141091
Why do all quests need a WAIFU. Why did we need a vampire loli and husbando?

Why did we have to be a little girl?
Why are people same fagging for end this?

Because people will cheat and do stupid shit to get what they want.

>>37140883

>I need to think more about what I have learned today, divines.
>Lirael, end this

just how omniscient are these things? And could there be other similar powers we're just not familiar with?

>Ask for the favour of all Five
We kinda already ask it whenever we pray, but it won't hurt to ask personally.

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five
Exalt end is best end

>>37140883
>>Lirael, end this

>>37141132
>Why did we need a vampire loli
Why would you not want a vampire Loli?
Vampire loli daughteru is best.

>>37140883
>>>Lirael, end this

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37141132
We don't have a husbando. And so the Five will it, we won't get one either.

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this

>>37140883
>Ask for the favour of all Five

>>37140883
>Lirael, end this
I really wish OP would've answered my request to clear up what he meant, but I guess I'm voting blind.

22 unique posters well over 25 votes.

>>37140883
28 replies. 22 posters. Good job team.

Ok I see where this is going

Final Destination vote soon.

However: Ask in character what asking for the favour of all five will mean?

Y/N

Ask about mental alteration?

Y/N

>>37141248
Y
Y

>>37141240
>>37141242
Not sure what you are trying to say. If we had more unique IPs you would believe this is a legit vote?

>>37141248
N
N

>>37141248
Y
Y

>>37141248
Y
Y

>>37141248
Y
Y

>>37141248
Y and Y

>>37141248
Y
Y

>>37141248
Why.

The fuck.

Would we not ask those questions?

Y
Y

N
N

>>37141260
What the fuck is wrong with you anon?

>>37141248
Y
Y

>>37141287
Because it says something about our character and has implications about her relationship to her patrons.
There are perfectly valid reasons to not rbing this topic up to them.

>>37141256
Usually when people samefag they at least attempt to make it less obvious.

y
y

>>37141248
y
y
ee lmao

>>37141314
Start listing some then, because all I can think of is the incredibly obvious and extremely important reason to bring this up.

>>37141331
Not really no. Only in low-profile samefagging.

>>37141248
You didn't outline what a proper vote here should look like.

>>37141297
He's afraid that asking for the favor of all five actually does mean 5x mental alteration and is trying to deprive us of that possible information so we'll continue to vote for the five.

>>37141395
First you include a letter.

And then another letter.

>>37141376
But telling gods you want ALL of them to benefit you is totally not arrogant and sure to anger one!

After all it's just a question LOL! There isn't any more context than that and it never hurts to asK!

>>37141376
Draws attention to the fact we might decide not to be blessed by them at all, and tells them exactly why. Makes it easier for them to bullshit us in about these things if they know.

>>37141407
Asking about mental alteration would probably be tactful. Asking for the favor of all is.. dangerous.

Hera hated her daughters. If you asked her to grant you a boon and one from Athena or Aphrodite you'd pissed them both off.

>>37141417
They explicitly told us SEVERAL times now, they will ALL bless us over time. Thats the entire point. Once we have all their blessings then we might favor one over the other, but thats completly seperate.

>>37141448
Except none of them are Hera and they all want her.

>>37141472
Yes. None of them could be worse of comparable after all! they don't have the same name!

>>37141618
Stop comparing imaginary fictional beings to real fictional beings. They are not even similar.

“Before I choose” you ask the Gods surrounding you “What would asking for your favour mean?”

“A simple buy-in” says Baalzamon “An indication that you wish to play the game.”

“As you gain our favour” says the Ichor “So too do you gain our gifts.”

“The first step grants you no gift” says the Infinite Mirror “But the second step does.”

“Asking for our favour means you intend to prove your worth” says Jagganatha “A declaration of intent.”

“A declaration that you do not intend to shy away or surrender” adds the King of Hell “You need not ask for our favour now, but your actions henceforth shall gain or lose our favour, and our gifts. You should read the books the fortune-teller gave you, they will help you understand how your choices will affect our favours.”

Ok, so it seems that choosing now won’t gain you anything, but it will move you closer to gaining something.

“Will my mind be my own” you say “Will these gifts change how I think.”

“Oh no” says Baalzamon “not at all.”

“Not if you control them” clarifies Jagganatha “When you receive a gift, if your Will is strong, you may shape it into one of several forms.”

“If your Will is weak” says the Infinite Mirror “It will run wild and shape itself, it might be a boon or a curse. Such things may change your mind, yes.”

“Some of us” says the Ichor in the Depths “Won’t like to you about the gift you gain, and its implications, others will, be wary.”

“You can refuse a gift” says the King of Hell “If none of its forms please you, but doing so will lose you a measure of our respect.”

“So only gifts will sway my mind?” you ask.

“Yes” says the Infinite Mirror “Though if your choices in life would gain a favour you wish to avoid, this may sway your actions.”

“You should read the books” advises the Ichor “read my prayer book and learn how to gain my favour.”

“And mine” the others chorus.

[Meta]

You gain the following Meters

Baalzamon: 0
Ichor in the Depths: 0
Infinite Mirror: 0
Jagganatha: 0
King of Hell: 0

There is no maximum or minimum rating. At rating 2 and above you start to gain gifts. Your rank in a gift is capped by the level of favour shown by that god. You normally gain a gift at a low rank, but can spend XP to level it up.

When you gain a gift you will be allowed a Willpower check to shape the gift. Standard DC is 15, more powerful gifts will have a higher DC. Success means that Shee in-character chooses from one of several options, represented by players voting. Failure means the QM picks.

You may refuse a gift BEFORE rolling but not after. Refusing a gift automatically drops your approval by that God by 1.

Reading the prayer books will explain more about actions gaining favour.

FD vote in 5 minutes

[End Meta]

>>37141668
Pretty sure Ichor will be straight with us. Possibly Jagganatha as well. The others.. I don't trust mirrors. And Baalzamon is clearly a fucking snake.

>>37141690
I like this mechanic.

>>37141690
Probably too late for questions, but can we get demonic powers on our own without them being gifts due to our status as a Child of Five or whatever it was?

>>37141690
Thats pretty cool.

>>37141742
Yes, but it's harder and will cost more XP.

This is a Final Destination Vote.

I will close it after 5 minutes, votes after closing will do be counted.

Post only the number.

Do not quote this or any other post

No greentext.

Failure to follow these rules means the vote will not be counted.

Deleted posts will not be counted.

In a tie I will cast the deciding vote.

1 - Ask Lirael to end this
2 - Ask for the favour of all of the Five

1

1

2

2

>>37141813
2

1

2

2

1

1

>>37141813
Ah fuck, we didn't even consider how Lirael would react to us asking for their favor yet, did we?

I mean, she's super-scared of them, probably won't be good.

2

2

2

>>37141828
Get rid of the link it doesn't count like that.

1

>>37141862
Pretty sure she will be okay with it, once we explain the obvious fact that the alternative is to wait for someone else to come and wreck us and enslave or murder her.

>>37141866
>>37141864
>>37141863
>>37141862
>>37141846
>>37141831
>>37141826
>>37141823
The kid is watch, she'll have a fucking heart attack.

You're going to get us judged or Damphird

>>37141895
She will understand. There is no way out of this, asking for a favour now or not.

2

>>37141895
Its do or die. The sooner we get started the more leeway we have in how much of a dick/murderhobo we are.

>>37141889
And we got such a great chance to explain *last* time.

I also think she'd rather fight with us than (from her perspective) start turning into *the exact nightmare* she was just afraid of.

>>37141905
We could probably ask later.

Vote closed, counting.

>>37141895
We pretty much can' avoid it at this point, and asking for their favor is the best way to avoid getting mindraped into MURDER EVERYTHING:

>>37141862
I did. But now we're locked into this game so, whatever.

>>37141932
Did I miss something? Why do you think that choosing nobody would end in us getting mind-raped into murder everything?

I'm counting votes as 6-8 in favour of asking for their favour.

Writing this but please check my count.

>>37141958
Because we get their favor if we want it or not.
Only the gifts are somethign we can reject. And we can still do that.
Getting their favor only means we play the game instead of surrendering. Doesn't mean we play it with their tools or by their rules.

>>37141964
Count is right

Funny how it falls to 14 votes.

>>37141982
Okay, reread it.

We're getting their favor whether we like it or not, but there's nothing about having to accept their favor in order to reject or shape their gifts, unless I missed it. We do get closer to our first gifts by choosing to ask for their favor now, but nothing else.

So it angers Lirael for no real reason, like I said.

>>37142145
What do you expect? Not like anyone's been paying attention since the fucking start.

>>37142145
The reason is that we're in league with monsters and not resisting in the slightest.

>>37142176
I'd rather not. But hey, guess what? Can't deal with samefags unless I become one.

>>37142145
If you actually read the story, instead of the meta-text, you would find this
>“A declaration that you do not intend to shy away or surrender”

Its just telling them, we are cool with them. Nothing more, nothing less. It leaves us our options open, and pacifies them, so they won't try to force the issue anytime soon.

>>37142176
I know, I meant that we are angering Lirael, but doing so carries no benefit to ourselves other than getting us closer to the possibility of getting mind-raped into murdering everyone.

>>37142195
What are you even on about?

>>37142215
>Ok, so it seems that choosing now won’t gain you anything, but it will move you closer to gaining something.

You're making a lot of assumptions about what rejection implies with no real indicator.

All acceptance does is anger Lirael and give us +1 universal favor. That's it.

King of Hell also explicitly says "You need not ask for our favor now". They're cool with it. And it definitely isn't the option that results in less mind-rape, as you falsely claimed.

With the Five surround you, you say quietly “My Gods, I have followed you all my life, I ask for your favour."

The Five circle you and then as one, rush towards you, moving into you, through you. You feel their energies burn in you, empowering you, transforming you, terrifying you. You fall to the ground as you are overwhelmed by joy, ecstasy, fear and horror...

[Meta]

Favour of Baalzamon +1
Favour of The Ichor in the Depths +1
Favour of The Infinite Mirror +1
Favour of Jagganatha +1
Favour of the King of Hell +1

[End Meta]

Lirael rushes over as you pick yourself up. You’re back in the fortune tellers tent, there’s no one here except you two.

“Shee, Shee” says Lirael “What happened? I saw you talking to those...things but I couldn’t hear a word, what happened?”

What happened?

>I chased them off (lie, this is pleasing to Baalzamon)
>Don’t be scared Lirael, I’ll protect you (nurturing, this is pleasing to the Ichor in the Depths)
>It’s a long story, I’ll tell you later
>Other (what?)

[Meta]

Certain choices or actions will be pleasing to one or more of the Five, not all votes will have such an action. Actions may be labelled as such, or might not be, depends how much Shee knows about the God in question.

Players are free to ask if an unlabelled action is pleasing/displeasing before voting.

As you gain more of a gods favour raising their favour will get harder.

When you have their favour at 2 or higher only then will you be eligible for gifts. The above vote isn’t a trap vote, it’s a tutorial. The third option avoids gaining any favour.

[End Meta]

>>37142304
>Don’t be scared Lirael, I’ll protect you (nurturing, this is pleasing to the Ichor in the Depths)

>>37142304
>Don’t be scared Lirael, I’ll protect you (nurturing, this is pleasing to the Ichor in the Depths)
This is kinda awkward, because I don't want the favor, but I want to say this.

>>37142304
>Other (what?)
"Basically I got caught up in a elderitch abomination political and eugenic program."

>>37142304
>Don’t be scared Lirael, I’ll protect you (nurturing, this is pleasing to the Ichor in the Depths)