File: Harrowmont - Completeish.pdf (750 KB, PDF)

750 KB PDF

>>38681198
Current Date and Time: Midday on February 15th, 1955PC
FR Points: 0

Armour creaking from the weight of the mace that collided with it, you push forward and bring your sword back from its arc and through yet another of these small fry demons. As its body collapses on the bridge, so too do another pair as Lynn scythes through them by your side. Grunts of pain are all that greet their deaths, barely breaking the cacophony of battle all around you. Steel striking steel, flesh being severed, the screaming of your men when a demon strikes true and the persistent hissing noise of the demons evaporating into motes of magic as they perish.

A great roar distracts you for a second, your armour catching another blow as a result, and you see an enormous steaming tidal wave crash into the press of infernals on the bridge. Dozens were swept off, their bodies pulped and incinerated by the superheated crush of the water that Undine controlled. The gaps created filled almost instantly, with always more demons to take the place of the fallen. Explosions of fire, earth and magic across the other bridges marked similar destructive attempts to thin their numbers, but too few demons were being slain to affect the fifteen thousand strong horde surging across the four open bridges.

>continued

File: OverallMap.png (159 KB, 2358x1264)

159 KB PNG

>>38681213
A building explodes behind you, shouts of terror reminding you of your ranged soldiers on the terraces providing supporting fire. You’d already blocked out the whistling of arrows, as a thousand were in the air at any one moment. In response, ballista fire from the remaining siege tower outside the walls was joined by a thousand demons atop the walls with their own bows. Their volume of fire was no match for yours, but your concentration was firmly on the masses below that were a threat to your knights. Though you did catch the occasional warping sensation as Taira swept aside many of the nuisances atop the walls, but she was being sparing with her strength – that alone was enough to worry you. Unlike the elementals, she didn’t recover her magic at an accelerated rate by retreating to the Source for an hour or so. And unlike your vampire familiar, you couldn’t simply top her up either. The foxes were reading the situation closely and holding back.

As your sword catches that of another demon’s, saving the life of one of your Griffin knights, you understand why. Your knights were moving slower, and the frequency of their screams was increasing as the demons continued to push into your ranks. Not to break through, but to expose more and more of your knights to the conflict. This was a battle of attrition and you had seen no greater demons of late. Only endless numbers of small fry you barely broke a sweat on and your knights could cleave apart with all their effort.

>continued

File: provinceMap14.12.07.png (916 KB, 3024x1550)

916 KB PNG

>>38681241
You grit your teeth at that – the demons were taking tremendous losses but your numbers of knights were limited. Sendings reminded you that no other bridges had broken but that fatigue was becoming an issue. If you killed four thousand demons but your knights were overrun, would that be worth the price? Or would it be better to take what you could get and pull back to the terraces, letting your lighter armoured elites cover your flanks as you retreat to higher ground? Another roar from Belrauth put you on edge and you felt that now was the time to make the call. This was the final storm, you felt. Reinforcements from Darlesia and Craol could be here tomorrow.

>1. Hold the bridges for a little longer, in order to rack up more demon casualties. Only pull back when your knights are truly beginning to list.
>2. Pull back to the terraces now. You’ll lose the canal defense but you’ve already done damage in the thousands to the demons.
>3. Exchange your fresh lighter-armoured elites for your heavy knights. You’ll need to pull back eventually, but an exchange will let you cause a large amount of damage at the cost of your entire force of elites being fatigued.
>4. Custom

I’ll be running another thread tomorrow, so if the siege doesn’t finish this thread then it’ll finish early in the next. After this weekend I’m probably going to take a little break and maybe run a one-shot within the setting during that break.

Do we have any idea how many demons we have killed total in this siege? It will effect my vote.

>>38681213
>FR Points: 0
time to crit fail against the demon leader

>>38681267
>2. Pull back to the terraces now. You’ll lose the canal defense but you’ve already done damage in the thousands to the demons.

>>38681267
2

>>38681267
>2. Pull back to the terraces now. You’ll lose the canal defense but you’ve already done damage in the thousands to the demons.

>>38681267
>>2. Pull back to the terraces now. You’ll lose the canal defense but you’ve already done damage in the thousands to the demons.

>>38681267
>>2. Pull back to the terraces now. You’ll lose the canal defense but you’ve already done damage in the thousands to the demons.

Fucking finally my first live thread

>>38681267
could we reraise the bridges again, thus blocking their advance with the river again for our knights to rest?

File: 002.jpg (494 KB, 980x572)

494 KB JPG

>>38681370
You estimate that you'd taken out about 5000 of the total 20,000 before they started storming the bridges. Guessing the number dead on the bridges is impossible, even if most of their bodies didn't vanish on death.

>>38681431
Welcome friend. Are you ready for the stream of ones and the anger that they bring?

>>38681508
I've decided to simply become a masochist, so when we roll ones I can just laugh and laugh and laugh

>>38681431
>Fucking finally my first live thread
I know the feeling. I've gotta go to sleep in an hour or two, so I'll miss large parts of the quest again.

>>38681267
>>2. Pull back to the terraces now. You’ll lose the canal defense but you’ve already done damage in the thousands to the demons.
>>38681490
Roger dodger! That means we've likely killed at least another 2,500, leaving them with just over half their forces, including their heavies, against our strongest defenses.

File: 003.jpg (247 KB, 1215x883)

247 KB JPG

Looks like a 2.

>>38681489
The bridges are covered in a mass of huge demons. The mechanisms that raise the bridges would struggle with the additional weight (demons are pretty huge and heavy in general, plus they could actively try to keep the bridge down).

>>38681639
>The mechanisms that raise the bridges would struggle with the additional weight (demons are pretty huge and heavy in general, plus they could actively try to keep the bridge down).
couldn't undine push them up with her water? or perform a strike at the demons behind?
... or actually outright destroy the bridges and sink them? (IIRC we didn't use them all, so we could use the rest of the bridges after a short rest... unless the demons come up with an alternative by then)

>>38681267
Could we accelerate recuperation rate of normal troops inside the dominion? and swap them in and out of that area to recover rapidly like our elementals are doing?

>>38681267
>After this weekend I’m probably going to take a little break and maybe run a one-shot within the setting during that break.

Aspiring Peasant Quest is a go?

Can we fake a pull back, then blow the bridges with something preinscribed (on the underside) ritual circles maybe?
then crush the force trapped on the other end.

>>38681490
The survivors from this battle are going to level up so damn much.

>>38681788
Oh, I like that idea! brilliant!

>>38681788
>>38681813
the problem is that it deviates from our original battle plans which does impose a malus and fucked us over before.
retreating we can do, we prepared for a fighting retreat.

>>38681801
>All survivors who made it from the beginning are made NPCs

>Aspirational finally goes insane tracking NPCs

>>38681788
That actually sounds feasible. I vote for this

>>38681267
>2
But maybe undine could use those boats full of ball bearings to wipe the bridges right as we retreat?

>>38681835
kek
>>38681788
But if we do that they'll find some way around it. We don't want that, we can't plan for what the demons would do otherwise.

>>38681835
hah. Can't wait to see all the names

Rolled 16, 17, 8, 17, 18, 3, 9, 19, 3, 2 = 112 (10d20)

>>38681639
warming up the dice

>>38681788
Are we allowed to asspull like that? I don't recall ever setting up anything on the bridges like that.

>>38681880
Some highs and some lows

>>38681883
Well Aspir has said feasible write ins for traps we could have set up are allowed, IIRC

>>38681883
we do still have the boats on the canal filled with little balls. we could finally blow em as the demons swarm towards the crown wall

File: 004.jpg (931 KB, 1000x3750)

931 KB JPG

>>38681743
>Could we accelerate recuperation rate of normal troops inside the dominion?
No, because that doesn't work in the short term. They'll simply become tired again after leaving, just like with healing.

>>38681788
>Can we fake a pull back, then blow the bridges with something preinscribed (on the underside) ritual circles maybe?
Ritual circles are for mages to stand inside and use for casting. The best they can do otherwise is attempt to destroy the bridges with magical attacks from afar.

Honestly, at this point I'm wary of allowing retroactive traps given the sheer power of the canal and bridges. I'm a little surprised nobody tried to propose any traps or tricks like, say, setting a barrier on the other side of the bridge at the end of last thread. Or at any point, really.

Basically, if a trap is going to completely change the flow of a battle (unlike, say, just a small amount of damage) then it does need to prepared in advance. Otherwise it gets silly.

>>38681864
The boats were used (they couldn't have survived Undine's maelstrom) but I just forgot to write about them.

Rolled 13, 6, 15, 10, 6, 12, 3, 2, 18, 4 = 89 (10d20)

>>38681957
warming em up some moa

>>38681957
>No, because that doesn't work in the short term. They'll simply become tired again after leaving, just like with healing.
wait, like healing? so if we heal someone, they get reinjured the moment they leave?

also, didn't we heal people from near death back in the day by giving them a bunch of magic and letting their body use the over abundance of magic to spontanously heal itself? (our first power choice, during that siege with the vitrians)

>>38681957
>setting a barrier on the other side of the bridge at the end of last thread.
what do you mean by this?

>>38681994
That was us altering reality more or less as far as I am aware, the Source doesn't do that per say, it seems to be able to influence reality so long as whatever it is remains within range of the source

Rolled 14, 3, 19, 9, 16, 13, 2, 9, 16, 3 = 104 (10d20)

>>38681991
one last time

>>38682033
>That was us altering reality more or less as far as I am aware, the Source doesn't do that per say,
dominion/domain not the source. due to binding the pop to talon

>it seems to be able to influence reality so long as whatever it is remains within range of the source
Generally so far it has been that magics it makes are dispelled the moment it goes out of range. if we create something that can exist, then it stays real when it goes out of range. the problem is that we need to know exactly what

File: 016.jpg (454 KB, 1920x1200)

454 KB JPG

>>38682017
Like in the 2nd siege of Harrowmont.

>2.

You give the order to pull back in short order, speaking into your sending device inside your helmet. The effect is dramatic, as a brief lull in the battle is suddenly broken by a mass of explosions and magical attacks. Arrows begin to fall shorter, hammering the bridge entrances instead of the larger masses across the canal. A siege ballista bolt careens off course, slamming into the canal wall and tearing apart a huge mass of stone, wood and dirt around it. Countless demons standing too close to the edge are pulled in and torn apart by Undine’s magic. As the magical and mundane ranged attacks tear into the demonic forces on and near the bridges, the knights defending them begin to pull back in earnest, using the small weakness in the infernal hordes to manage a fighting retreat.

A series of magical lances tears apart countless demons in front of you and you take that as your moment to shine.

“Griffins, retreat!” shouts a tinny voice that isn’t yours, and you glance over to see Lynn stealing your thunder as she gestures backwards with her sword.

A sudden surge of demons tries to brave the magical assault from Mal and his mages far behind you, their roars echoing in your ears as they close the distance and are upon you and Lynn in an instant. Similar last ditch assaults are occurring all across the bridges, according to the sendings you’re receiving. You just need to pull back a little bit, enough for Esra and her Daerfir to tear into the demons pursuing you and let the knights pull back to the terraces. How orderly this retreat goes will come down to this moment.

[DC13 Talon Retreat]

[DC13/16 General Retreat]

>>38682107
>dominion/domain not the source.

Which is directly centered on the source and expands outwards from it, hence within range of the Source.

>stays real when it goes out of range

That whole book making thing was confusing for me.

>>38681213
>fifteen thousand strong
Wow, my guess was optimistic. That, or they'very received a lot of reinforcement from the initial 20k. Or the force split off to contain Ren wasn't included in the initial estimate

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>38682158
rollong

Rolled 10, 1 = 11 (2d20)

>>38682158

Rolled 4, 15 = 19 (2d20)

>>38682158

Rolled 15, 2 = 17 (2d20)

>>38682158

Rolled 16, 5 = 21 (2d20)

>>38682158

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>38682158

>>38682207
Why can't we just have Talon fuck up? Why does it have to be our whole army?

>>38682207
shhhhit

>>38682207
its happening

>>38682207
here we go lads

File: 1405274697691.gif (982 KB, 320x287)

982 KB GIF

The fun stops here.

Well at least it isn't a critfail, only a normal. Minor crisis averted.

>>38682293
isnt it a critfail?

>>38682207
>>38682213
the 15 actually saves it from being a dramatic failure, its just a regular failure.

>>38682321
>the 15 actually saves it from being a dramatic failure

it does? since when? I missed a thread didn't I?

>>38682207
I predict Talon's success and it not being a critical fail will mitigate some of the damage but damn it man.

>>38682355
i think i remember it happening cause we had so many critfails

>>38682310
>>38682355
see the dice mechanics in the gdoc
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12RQUkP7RZOwITBqELPvd-npuJ5BXmkkBZ4xQeseJwDM/edit#heading=h.g3a6cclqo14o

>A roll is successful if one of the 3d20 is equal to or greater than the target DC.
>If there are more 1s rolled in the set of 3d20 than 20s, the result is a failure. If an equal number, a success occurs.
>If more 20s than 1s are rolled, the result is an exceptional success.
>If an automatic failure occurs (more 1s than 20s) and no other d20s in the pool roll equal to or greater than the DC, the result is a dramatic failure.
>There may be special circumstances where rolling more 1s than 20s results in dramatic failure no matter the results of the other dice and this will be stated by the QM when the roll is called.

As for since when, since like 10-15 threads ago.

>>38682355
Since fucking forever ago now. I don't seven remember when it was implemented now, I think around the time FR points became a thing.

>>38682384
>i think i remember it happening cause we HAVE so many critfails
FTFY

our dice love to roll 1s and 19s

>>38682390
>>38682391
I actually might have missed that thread, I've been in the archives for weeks. Welp, back to the archives.

>>38682207
I blame the guy that tempted the dice gods with test rolls. You fool you've fucked us all

>>38682464
when he started rolling I just knew in my heart that:
1. we are gonna roll a 1
2. he would be blamed for the bad luck

btw, don't use the autopost feature for rolling dice (the one where you click submit and it counts down until enough time passed and you are allowed to post again). you should click on it manually, this is because the RNG is actually based on the exact microsecond in which you posted, which has reliability issues with the autopost mechanism

>>38682527
>btw, don't use the autopost feature for rolling dice (the one where you click submit and it counts down until enough time passed and you are allowed to post again). you should click on it manually, this is because the RNG is actually based on the exact microsecond in which you posted, which has reliability issues with the autopost mechanism

Don't see how that matters really

>>38682880
>Don't see how that matters really
it makes you more likely to roll certain numbers, thus the dice are less random. it could cause a streak of high rolls or a streak of low rolls.

worst I have seen was 7 nat 1s in a row on d100s.

File: 019.jpg (266 KB, 793x1200)

266 KB JPG

>Talon Retreat: Target Met; 10, 4, 15

The Griffin Knights retreat and it’s just you and Lynn against a horde of demons surging across the bridge. Bestial roars join the clatter of steel and bronze on the bridge as they leap at the two of you. You smirk behind your helmet as they foolishly charge, thinking they can accomplish something.

Your sword glows bright red as you whirl through the demons, their armour and hardened hides no match for your blade and magic. Light shines through the blood that coats, the heat of the constant thrum of magic inside it keeping the blood slick and the blade a vivid red even as it coats itself over and over again. You don’t waste time on protection and merely hurl yourself wildly around the bridge, using your immense speed and strength to destroy all demons on your side of the bridge. Your shield shatters bones and steel armour as it crashes into them, the griffin embossed on the dwarven steel imprinting itself into the demons it collides with.

Blows rain upon you as you crash around the bridge, but you shrug them off. You feel no pain, you suffer no debilitation and you heal your wounds in moments. A maul slams into your back as you press your shield against a mighty goat demon that towers above you. The impact reverberates through your armour and your back but whatever damage it inflicts matters not. You shove forwards, pushing the goat demon off-balance and suddenly spin around, your sword drawing a glowing arc through the arc as you cut through both demons around you.

>continnued

File: 021.jpg (265 KB, 1024x512)

265 KB JPG

>>38682915
The scene on the other side of the bridge is no different, except the bestial roars of the demons are matched by Lynn. Great black wings allow her to jet across the bridge in an instant, their hard, sharpened edges doing as much damage as her sword. Her strength is immense as she hurls about her sword, gripped in enormous black talons, its empowered edge cutting through demons as easily as your own. The bridge crunches beneath the talons that have burst from her feet and she uses them to great effect on her foes as she moves above, sometimes kicking or leaping into her foes and rending them apart.

The bridge is becoming littered with the bodies of demons, the light gone from their eyes but their bodies remain as the sheer amount of power in you and Lynn destroys them once and for all. This is no game for the demons, for their essences are in danger – their bodies no longer merely evaporating. There is no fear in their eyes as they continue throwing their lives away, roaring defiance with every attack. Perhaps they fear their own general more than you. That’s a mistaken judgement you’re keen to correct.

>General Retreat: Autofail; 1, 15, 2

A sudden explosion from another bridge, coupled with a rush of magic great enough to send shivers down your spine, makes you realise your ploy has failed. Smashing through the demons around you, you rush to look over at the bridge control station where Undine is and confirm your fears. The Dracogriffs, short Rayza, are in pitched battle with a mass of greater demons, supported by one-half of Phillias’ light mage-knights. The control station is in ruins, dust rising from where it was just recently destroyed. In its wreckage you spot Finn duelling with a pair of enormous brutes with four arms carrying axes. Undine is nearby, looking shaken but covered by Felix as he pulls her out.

>continued

File: 022.jpg (362 KB, 899x950)

362 KB JPG

>>38682945
Your blood runs cold as you see demons at least as strong as the last attempt on Undine fighting Finn and Felix. Roars from all across the canal only make things worse as the order goes out to the demons to surge across the canal. Without her magic protecting it, it’s just a stretch of water that hardly troubles demons that don’t need to breathe.

The other bridges are pulling back easily, but you need to get back onto the terraces immediately. The question is, do you support Finn and Phrace against the elite force striking their position or do you help more generally? The storm is entering the terraces, even as arrows and ballista bolts rain down on the demons and their casualties mount. You…

>1. Order a full retreat ASAP. This will get all your forces, including those threatened, back into the terraces but will mean a huge demonic force will be right on your tail as you get there.
>2. Assist Phrace and Finn as the rest of the army retreats. If you can eliminate that elite force, it’ll mostly be small fry charging across the canal and into the terraces.
>3. Assist the main retreat, sending Lynn to help Phrace and Finn. If you slow the small fry here then you won’t have an enormous demonic force pounding on the terraces before your troops can rally.
>4. Custom

>>38682974
>>2. Assist Phrace and Finn as the rest of the army retreats. If you can eliminate that elite force, it’ll mostly be small fry charging across the canal and into the terraces.

Rolled 14, 12 = 26 (2d20)

>>38682974
>>3. Assist the main retreat, sending Lynn to help Phrace and Finn. If you slow the small fry here then you won’t have an enormous demonic force pounding on the terraces before your troops can rally.

>>38682974
2

Damn that fail fucked our day up.

>>38682974
>>2. Assist Phrace and Finn as the rest of the army retreats. If you can eliminate that elite force, it’ll mostly be small fry charging across the canal and into the terraces.

>>38682974
2

>>38682974
How about suciding some summons?

>>38682974
>2. Assist Phrace and Finn as the rest of the army retreats. If you can eliminate that elite force, it’ll mostly be small fry charging across the canal and into the terraces.

>>38683031
It's a setback but not one we can't handle.

>>38682974
>2 Phrace and Finn
But keep Lynn helping the main defense force

>>38682974
>3. Assist the main retreat, sending Lynn to help Phrace and Finn. If you slow the small fry here then you won’t have an enormous demonic force pounding on the terraces before your troops can rally.
The attrition is delaing a lot of damage to out forces.

>>38683098
I have trouble classifying us losing one of our strongest defensive lines in the canal as just a set back.

>>38682974
>2. Assist Phrace and Finn as the rest of the army retreats. If you can eliminate that elite force, it’ll mostly be small fry charging across the canal and into the terraces.

>>38682974
>2.

You know, I'm still having a hard time imagining how we continue if we lose here. Just fall back to Vitria and try to retake the source after bringing in new allies (making them costly promises)? Just turning into a wandering adventuring party in the west as the Eastern half of the continent falls to demons? Joining another faction and working our way to the top from within? I mean, maybe it could still be a compelling story, but if we lose here I just don't see the story surviving the fallout.

>>38683172
we were in the process of retreating already. this just meant the retreat is not as orderly and we might lose troops in the process

>>38683183
I don't think we'd ever really lose here, what I'm more worried about being realistically at stake are named characters. If we fuck up too hard, a good number of our retinue could bite it, plus if we get bashed too hard in general it'd be a big setback for our aims at conquest

>>38683183
>losing means losing the source and Undine to the demons
>NTR end

>>38683183
Losing harrowmont is supposed to be a game over.
I don't think we can lose harrowmont in this particular engagement...
what we can have is a pyrrhic victory. that is, we could lose the life of some named NPCs, lose most of the city/civilians, or talon might spend his FR points into the negatives (which force sanity checks)
all horrific results

>>38683183
>Implying we will lose here.
Like Talon would let that happen. The dude would kill every demon in hell if he could get there just because they decided to attack him here. The only thing that really threatens Talon here is the demon's general, and only cause of those swords, so when Talon kills him and takes those swords, everything he fights is fucked.

>>38683190
Oh, I thought it also meant that the demons basically avoided one of our main killzones.

>>38683232
Actually, no.
The process of taking the source away from us will result in her true death, and a different champion will be summoned for the person who claimed it

>>38683266
Oh.
Nevermind then, all is well.

>>38683251
I'm implying only that while I have faith in OP, I have no idea how the hell he'd payout our theoretical defeat. I'm sure he has a plan, I just don't see it.

>>38683305
Oh, if we lose here we die and restart in Aspirational Peasant Quest, duh.

>>38683325
So, as the monk?

>>38683190
No what I'm saying is Undine is out right now, the retreat now has a huge surge of demons on our retreat. We lost a valuable line that would have helped our retreat

>>38683251
There are also some devils sneaking around who might be a threat to talon. And also, if talon "wins" but everyone else dies, then it wasn't worth it.

Also, if everyone else falls, a viable tactic for them is to have thousands of mooks slow talon down while their devils walk around the battle and claim the pop. then talon is fucked because no more dominion.

>>38683365
Nono, we will be a peasant. THE PEASANT! Not one of the OCs, we will literally be a peasant of the Former TYE. The Peasant confirmed best MC, can farm, feed family.

>>38682974
2

>>38683388
However, for the narrative we could go from (relatively) good guy Talon to a true monster of a man who fights hell itself for vengeance, after we clean that up we go and kill those assholes across the sea, come back, kill the Shadowbeasts, then kill the angels, kill pretty much everything that isn't mortal, and isn't an asshole, so that no one has to put up with losing their harem, he then ends himself finally feeling content with himself.

>>38683405
>can farm
But the demons salted the earth and what grows now is strange and deadly.
>can feed family
See above results of farming
>so what do?
Clearly the sanest reaction is booze aided philosophizing.

>>38683479
Become emperor.

>>38683477
I would rather not pull a kratos

>>38683479
No one said they had to stay where the demons were, shit man, if you heard demons were coming wouldn't you GTFO?

>>38683479
nah, use your immense powers to farm anyways.

>Demon salted the land
>Second coming of kushan Talon uses his awesome might to transmute the salt away
>Grows potatoes
>Life is good

>Some asshole noble and his retinue try to press gang you
>Over power them
>Force them to farm as well
>Teach them the zen of farming
>Fuck war, happy happy farmers

>>38683477
My game over canon had the other Archangel rezzing Talon into a Revenant and he just goes on this tear of vengeance.

>>38683500
I would say "Would you rather fuck everything?" but Kratos kinda has that covered too. Damn.

>>38683522
And give up my land thats been in my family for generations?!

>>38683495
How well'd that plan work out for that Imperator guy?

>>38681267
how long do you expect to be gone for? i really look forward to these threads

>>38683540
>Revenant Talon and Sareeg just murdering the shit out of Shadowbeasts until the end of time

I'd play it.

File: 025.jpg (248 KB, 685x1024)

248 KB JPG

>>38683183
Well, you can't really lose here with your bucket of Fate Points. What can happen is that you lose major NPCs, reputation (due to high civilian casualties etc) and such.

If you were to somehow burn all your Fate Points and still lose (not sure I'll let that happen), then the quest would probably change completely.

>2.

“Lynn, pull back and help the main force retreat,” you shout over the din of battle. “We need to get back to the terraces and continue the defence.”

Caitlyn spins, her tail lashing out and severing the arm off a demon, and you notice that she’s lost her helmet at some point. Gold fills the entirety of her eyes, with large black slits down the centre of them. She nods strongly, her wings flapping as she suddenly takes off with a burst of speed towards where the mage-knights are hurriedly preparing a defensive line to let the remaining knights pull back safely.

With that, you’re free to help Finn and Phrace. You leap as far as you can, leaving the demons in your wake, and start sprinting towards the battle at the end of the bridge. Things don’t look to be going too well, with ranged support only able to keep the demons on the bridge from helping too much. With the mass of enemies coming through the canal, it’s only a matter of time before things go further south here.

>cont

>>38683540
But what if Talon takes Undine's slot as Source Champion and then gets summoned by his new infernal overlord?

File: 026.jpg (220 KB, 669x1024)

220 KB JPG

>>38683615
The two noble demons fighting Finn are enormous beasts, and look like smaller versions of Belrauth, with great flaming manes of fur running down their backs and along their arms. Their axes glow with dwarven runes, and you again get the impression that these demons are veterans of a battle long past. They move with a lightning speed that falls just shy of Finn’s, as he darts around and flicks their axes aside with his lightning-charged scimitar, the arcs of magic that run from it through the axes barely even causing the demons to flinch. Perhaps sensing your imminent arrival, one ups the ante and lets loose a bellow of white fire at Finn, cutting off his movement to one side as the other closes in.

Not that Felix will let that happen, even while nursing an injured Undine and with armour rent apart from grevious injuries. He charges forward, his sword flashing against the axes of the demon. He’s open, however. Keeping him safe is going to be up to you.

[DC12/17 Battle; DC14/19 Battle]

[DC11/16 Retreat]

Roll 3d20, please.

Rolled 91, 3, 55 = 149 (3d100)

>>38683648

Rolled 20, 6, 19 = 45 (3d20)

>>38683648

Rolled 1, 14, 19 = 34 (3d20)

>>38683648
Rollan'

Rolled 11, 1, 5 = 17 (3d20)

>>38683648

Rolled 16, 3, 11 = 30 (3d20)

>>38683648
les DO IT

>>38683673
DUUUUUDE

>>38683673
>>38683674
>>38683683

so, fail, fail, success?

>>38683674
>>38683683
UNBELIEVABLE

>>38683674
>>38683683
YOU FUCKERS RUINED MY ROLL

>>38683687
If only you'd rolled sooner this could have been salvaged.

>>38683673
>>38683674
>>38683683
Jesus christ, the dice are in the mood today.

>>38683673
>>38683674
>>38683683

God damn the retreat is absolutely falling to pieces.

>>38683712
My bad.

>>38683658
Fucking hell, anon, why did you fuck up your roll?

>>38683674
>>38683683
so, we meet again, eh Blackwater?

>>38683708
No High Success, Fail, High Success.
20 offsets a 1.

>>38683648
Aspirational ill start doing writeins at the nearest oppurtunity
Btw im the anon who got you guys both Taira and Corrfax from write ins

>>38683708
Success, fail, success

File: 028.jpg (104 KB, 550x825)

104 KB JPG

Results are:

>Battle 1: Higher target met; 20, 1, 11
>Battle 2: Autofail; 6, 14, 1
>RetreatL Higher target met; 19, 19, 5

>>38683781
Thank god.

>>38683708
success fail upper success, 20's beat 1's

>>38683781
>19, 19
We need a special perk to enable crit successes on a 19.

>>38683781
i can live with this

>>38683781
RIP sweet phrace

>>38683781
youre a beautiful person and your roll system is the best in all the land

>>38683803
Not happening.

File: 1413682506497.gif (993 KB, 290x198)

993 KB GIF

>>38683673
>>38683674
>>38683683

>>38683837
we did alright

The dice of 1s and 19s appear once more.

Who didn't sacrifice their weekly goat?

Rolled 15, 6, 18, 5, 1, 17, 2, 14, 15, 16, 11, 2, 13, 17, 4, 4, 1, 11, 3, 7 = 182 (20d20)

>>38683876

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>38683876
Hold on, I'm summoning Wrenloft. Give a moment to sanctify my Spiderman comics. That should set us in the right again.

>>38683854
"Alright" means we approached reasonable expectations. "Alright" might not be "good enough."

>>38683899
forgot to take of the name dumdum

>>38683899
Wrenloft has spoken! Tis not a roll of import and thus he shall not grant you his favor!

>>38683899
Little do you know, Wrenloft was famed for his bad luck in Valkyrian Mercs Quest. Until that last roll. He made up for everything right there

>>38683926
His hell is Luck in the extremes, both measures, good and bad.

And only one kind, per Quest.

>>38683926
Does fairly well in HMQ when the chips are down.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>38683926
Dude, he set off a literal chain of uninterrupted 20's a week ago in Peter Parker quest. It was his write-in and everything, and the first 20 was his as well. I believe in our autistic avian overlord.

>>38683926
can anybody be Wrenloft?

>>38683977
I am Spartacus!

>>38683926
He had bad rolls until it really counted then in our darkest hour he'd knock out that 20 and make everything amazing.

>>38683992
tg is the literal best board i get to interact with all you awesome neckbeards without actually be seen in person with you guys

>>38683968
>>38683899
You are only 1/10th of the real deal.

>>38683803
I told you, our dice always rolls 1s and 19s.
I don't even care about crits on a 19, what i want is for a 19 to cancel out a 1.

>>38684069
i could support this

File: The birdluck is real.jpg (108 KB, 1366x728)

108 KB JPG

>>38683997
Happened in Shadow Quest too. One of his 20's turned a Nat 1 d100 into a crit that oneshotted the final boss. I should know. I rolled it under his name. The man doesn't matter, just the circumstances.

>>38684042
Embrace the autism, anon.

>>38684103
I miss SQ

>>38684103
Wrenloft is just the mask. It does not matter who wears it, only that they work towards its ideals.

>>38684103
so what are the guidelines to wrenlofting responsibly? ive only ever seen him once before

>>38684149
Roll shitty, or roll really good.

>>38684149
>>38684165
Heaven or hell

>>38684136
Nobody cared who they were, until they put on the mask.

>>38684149
>>38684165
>>38684178
And cringy write ins.

>>38684149
If he's in a given thread, and someone rolls a crit that counts, there's something like a 40% chance he did it.

>>38684149
>>38684213
>>38684253
Pretty much this. Charge up his dice with cringy write ins and save using his roll for when it really counts.

>>38684282
duly noted

>>38684282
They do need to be seem accidentaly cringy, not purposeful.

File: 031.jpg (488 KB, 1024x498)

488 KB JPG

This update is long as hell and a bit high impact. Sorry for the delay, but it should be done in another 10 minutes, hopefully.

>>38684318
try that sentence again anon

>>38684358
You have to have you heart in the right place, and suck at putting what you mean into words. Channel you inner bashful seven year old.

>>38684384
Ugh, that means I have to daydream about tits way more!

>>38684358
Sorry, English is not my first language. >>38684384
has the right idea.

>>38684384
Haha this

>>38683781
those results are actually not bad.
high success followed by regular fail in combat.
high success in retreat
decent all around.

>>38683615
>Well, you can't really lose here with your bucket of Fate Points. What can happen is that you lose major NPCs, reputation (due to high civilian casualties etc) and such.
tough choice here, losing fate points means loss of named NPCs
but dipping FR into negatives means rolling for sanity.

decisions decisions.

>>38684444
Right now i feel Talon would happily go catching a couple moon beams every tuppence day thrice a year if it meant saving his fellows.

>>38684481
Talon York, the Mad Emperor, guardian of waifus?

File: 033.jpg (513 KB, 1280x904)

513 KB JPG

>Battle 1: Higher target met; 20, 1, 11

His shield rent in two and lying amidst the rubble alongside most of the steel of his armour, Felix has nothing to protect him from the rune-encrusted axe flying at his back. The four arms of these elite demons permit no errors, no mistakes. If this were a true duel, with just Felix and this demon, not even his vampiric regeneration would save him from the power of the rune-axe. The dwarves are famed for their ability to fight monsters, and any axe that would be claimed by a demon would be just as capable of destroying demons.

But this isn’t a duel.

Your golden glow must have entered the demon’s peripheral vision for just a moment, as he twists just enough to prevent the full force of your blow from entering his body. Instead, your thrust, filled with all the astral power you could muster in a moment, clips his lower right arm. The result is still tremendous, with the power whirling about your blade reducing the flesh to sand in an instant, the arm and much of the attached torso becoming useless to the demon. Instead of the grunts you heard from the other demons, you hear a great roar of pain and defiance come the noble demon. You wonder how long it’s been since he’s suffered such damage.

There’s no time for him to respond, however. Felix flicks his sword up, his face a mask of pain and rage, and another arm is severed. Just as the demon allowed no errors in his duel, so too do you and Felix allow no errors in your battle. You follow through with your movements, the edge of your shield slamming into the demon’s back with enough force to shatter stone. His entire body seems to ripple as his back is arched by the impact. Then Felix slams into the demon, dark power rising within him as he seeks to strengthen himself and regain what power he’s lost already.

>cont (1/4)

Just realized that if we did Balance last thread Talon could have restarted the canal traps himself and kill the thousands surging. God fucking damn it.

File: 035.jpg (267 KB, 720x1100)

267 KB JPG

>>38684612
You turn away from the battle, hurrying to aid your squire instead. Felix’s meal isn’t something you care to watch.

>Battle 2: Autofail; 6, 14, 1

Your stomach churns as you see what you’ve missed. You underestimated Finn’s exhaustion, and wonder just how much magical energy he’s burnt in trying to protect Undine so far. And how much pain he’s gone through. The demon is a whirling force of destruction, desperately trying to reach Undine and forcing the elf to take blows that would otherwise go for the elemental. His skills with his scimitar and his Daerfir speed and strength simply aren’t enough to keep up with the four arms of the towering demon. The axes chip at his armour, sometimes tearing through it and the force of the impacts must be breaking bones even where they don’t penetrate.

You need to move fast. You need to-

Not fall over. As you stumble, anger rising up at yourself for such a stupid mistake you feel a force around your ankle. In the rubble is the upper half of another of these noble demons, using the last of his strength to hold you back. You curse your oversight and slash at the arm, rising to support Finn.

Undine’s scream breaks your concentration, the din of battle around you fading into nothingness. Blood pounds in your ears as you see and hear nothing but the elf in front of you. There’s no scream or grunt of pain from him, his eyes still full of determination even as he takes a blow far beyond anything you’ve seen him receive before. The axes let off a bright blue glow that mocks you and all of reality, making you curse dwarven failure even as you confront your own, with the consequences in front of you. The burst of dust from the ground, and the sound of steel on metal signifies the change.

>continued (2/4)

File: 036.jpg (182 KB, 1000x682)

182 KB JPG

>>38684640
Finn’s eyes go wide as the wound rent across his chest burns into him, the dwarven runes stopping his regeneration from working properly. His mouth opens uselessly as he begins to list, strength fleeing him. Then another axe flicks aside and the next sound is from you.

The battlefield is filled with a roar that not even Belrauth could hope to match. Reality bends as far as you will it, the flow of magic and reality shifting around your sword, your body, your very essence, as you move to protect your squire. Not even you can turn back time, however. Blood flies from the gaping wound that used to be Finn’s right arm, but the elf can’t scream with his current injuries. Before the demon can bring down his third and final axe blow, you’re there. Your sword severs both the demon’s left arms, but they’re not the important ones. Without wasting a moment, you cover Finn and let the demon’s axe tear into your armour and not your squire. There’s a brief flash of recognition in Finn’s eyes and a small smile as you sees you protecting him.

Rage fills you and you spin, ending the demon in one last blow. Rubble crunches around you as Undine leaps forward and grabs Finn, cradling the elf in her arms. You still can’t hear the battle around you as you stare down at your gravely injured squire, his magic working desperately to reknit the damage to his chest even as it begins to work at the wound where his arm used to be. He’s alive, but he’s out. It’ll take days to repair this damage and you worry for your squire’s mental state.

>cont (3/4)

File: 037.jpg (289 KB, 1200x502)

289 KB JPG

>>38684660
>Retreat: Higher target met; 19, 19, 5

As Sylph warps Finn and Undine back to safety you remember where you are and what’s happening. The battle rages around you, pulling back to the terraces in an orderly manner. Lynn is tearing around with her immense power as the elementals let loose. This is the moment of truth, and getting caught out by the demons here will mean immense casualties. You catch the attention of the Dracogriffs nearby and, with a renewed Felix, channel your rage and fury into something productive. The demons swarming up from the canal are nothing before your anger, and you pull all the mage-knights back to the terraces. Bestial faces warp in pain and terror as wave after wave of magical bolts and ballistae bolts greets them as they try to scale the ramp after you.

It’s only a matter of time before they redirect to the terrace walls, and then the bloody block-by-block fighting begins. Arrows, magic and ballista bolts rain down on the ten thousand demons swarming across the canal district to the first terrace. Your men are bloodied and exhausted, but in defensive positions. You don’t have much time reevaluate your plan.

>1. Stick to the new plan – fight the demons in every block of the terraces with your knights while bombarding them with heavy fire.
>2. Go back to the original plan, doing only ambushes and traps as the demons charge through the terraces, and instead fight them heavily at the Crown Wall.
>3. New plan – retreat straight to the Crown Wall. Your men need to rest, and you’ve done enough damage to the demons for now. Hopefully they’ll slow at the Crown Wall, even though they didn’t at the Outer Wall.
>4. Custom

As people may have noticed, failures tend to be of relatively major impact in order to keep the siege flowing. It reflects the overwhelming power of the demons, I think. Finn got hit so gruesomely because nothing less could take him out. He's not dead or permanently debilitated from 1 fail.

>>38684675
>>1. Stick to the new plan – fight the demons in every block of the terraces with your knights while bombarding them with heavy fire.

>>38684675
>1. Stick to the new plan – fight the demons in every block of the terraces with your knights while bombarding them with heavy fire.

>>38684675
>He's not dead or permanently debilitated from 1 fail.

But by god, that sounded so incredibly painful.

>2. Go back to the original plan, doing only ambushes and traps as the demons charge through the terraces, and instead fight them heavily at the Crown Wall.

Give the men a breather if possible.

>>38684675
>1

>>38684675
>2. Go back to the original plan, doing only ambushes and traps as the demons charge through the terraces, and instead fight them heavily at the Crown Wall.

Im assuming 2 means we use the lighter and fresher troops while our heavies rest?

>>38684675
>>38684746
Changing my vote to 2

>>38684675
1
we need to wear them down. weve still got 15k demons to slaughter

>>38684675
2

Need to use our lighter elites here to cut bloody swathes.

Also, fuck, Finn you son of a bitch, you brave little son of a bitch. This is what happens when people shit talk best squire. I hope you people are happy.

>>38684675
>1. Stick to the plan

We always take a beating when we change plans on the fly.

>>38684778
Felix > Finn
Felix can still fight for us

>>38684793
Finn isn't an edgelord, plus, Finn has a harem.

>>38684778
At this rate we really should get a backup squire.

>>38684793
Finn have himself up so our greatest asset, Undine didn't get taken out entirely.

You've terrible opinions and are not my nigga.

>>38684840
dont say that!

File: 4409974-5396825750-How+b.jpg (56 KB, 480x480)

56 KB JPG

>>38684840
Use this, it's dangerous to go alone.

File: 039.jpg (194 KB, 1280x640)

194 KB JPG

Votes tied right now. 2 is about using the lighter, fresher troops pulling ambushes etc while the heavies pull back outright. 1 is just pitched battle in the terraces.

>>38684793
To be truthful, Felix got the shit kicked out of him and pulled back to defend Undine, leaving Finn to front both remaining demons. Finn basically burnt like 3 points of Endurance in order to keep his regen going even as he got pummeled (something Felix couldn't do, because his regen doesn't work as well as magical attacks). The flip side is that Felix is really powerful for this part of the siege.

>>38684840
>Undine didn't get taken out entirely.
This. Undine will be back to full strength in an hour or two.

>>38684916
I'll go for two then.

>>38684823
>update expressly states worry over Finn's mental health
I know let's get a back up squire, because that doesn't scream, "You weren't good enough." Or anything.

>>38684675
>2. Go back to the original plan, doing only ambushes and traps as the demons charge through the terraces, and instead fight them heavily at the Crown Wall.

Gotta keep dem hoovies rested

>>38684916
I'll change to 2 in this case.

>>38684916
2

>>38684949
Father figure Talon mode is a go! All the elementals want a kid afterwards (and Sarah just wants one harder) seeing how great of a dad Talon would make! Suddenly all the contraceptive brew vanishes, how strange.

>>38684675
>2

File: 041.jpg (456 KB, 900x569)

456 KB JPG

>2.

You order the knights back to the Crown Wall. They’ve been at the front of the conflict for far too long, they need to rest. The elementals are also pulling back, their magic exhausted from the retreat. This isn’t the time to get bogged down in pitched battle with a tireless foe with seemingly limitless numbers. If you want to have a chance to hold off a major assault by the enemy elite, like what hit Undine’s bridge, then you’re going to need your troops fresh and ready.

You don’t feel the same exhaustion, however. You’ve been fighting as long as the rest, magic pumping through your veins like a high. Despite that, you feel refreshed. Like you could do this forever. The power from earlier this morning has changed you, physically and mentally. It’s a good feeling to be able to stay in the battle without tiring, to be with your men and on the frontline as long as you need to be. Maybe it’ll mean that you won’t collapse for days like you did when attacking Shropham.

The battle flows just a smoothly as you had hoped, though you do note that the demons aren’t coming on as heavily as you expected. Instead of the mad rush to the Crown Wall, with hundreds of demons pouring in from each ramp and up the walls, you were instead running into small waves of the lesser demons. They came from all around you, making the use of the back alleys, various entrances and flat rooftops all the more necessary. Leaping down from the roofs onto a group of thirty demons with a dozen mage-knights at your back. Pincering a small team of greater demons between the Daerfir and yourself using sendings.

>continued

Anyone else notice Felix's related roll was, yet again, a 20?

What the hell man.

File: 051.jpg (148 KB, 708x965)

148 KB JPG

>>38685335
The small victories were still causing you to be pushed back. Especially once the slowness of the demonic assault became apparent. Fireballs and great volleys of flaming rock began to pelt the terraces. The Crown Wall answered with ballista fire but the demons were still raining hell on the terraces. Fires began to ripple through the terraces, even as walls and other structures collapsed. Water flooded the small plaza near you as a particularly large boulder, with an unsightly rune carved onto to, crashed into a fountain and created a massive crater.

Then the thunder came and you knew that the true battle was upon you. Every minute you fought, every soldier you saved, was valuable to your defence of the Crown Wall. Belrauth was accelerating his assault, having burnt so much of his resources in getting this far. Excellent ambushing and traps would make him more panicky, as he realises that your real fighting force is becoming ever readier to fight him.

And you, well, you no longer knew what fatigue even felt like. You were ready for Belrauth whenever he came.

[DC11/16 Ambush 1; DC11/16 Ambush 2; DC16 Ambush 3]

Roll 3d20 please.

Rolled 8, 3, 20 = 31 (3d20)

>>38685358

Time to turn this around.

>>38685344
Felix is the true underdog, and the dice show it, one day he -will- kill Talon.

Rolled 7, 6, 14 = 27 (3d20)

>>38685358

Rolled 7, 3, 20 = 30 (3d20)

>>38685358

Rolled 14, 14, 3 = 31 (3d20)

>>38685358

>>38685389
>>38685370
Well, I guess the demons got a bit overconfident on that last ambush. Wouldn't blame them.

>>38685370
>>38685386
>>38685389
Well...
>>38685393
Too bad one of the above posted too soon.

>>38685389
Can we use the extra 20 here for a regular success somewhere else? No? Please?

File: 058.jpg (903 KB, 1024x766)

903 KB JPG

>>38685370
>>38685386
>>38685389
>Ambush 1: Target not met; 8, 7, 7
>Ambush 2: Target not met; 3, 6, 3
>Ambush 3: Exceptional success; 20, 14, 20

Well, this was unexpected.

>>38685454
That second 20 has to count for something, right?

The first two traps were the true trap, double 20s ready to fuck done shit up.

>>38685393
The roll we needed...

>>38685464
Some one no, two people are going to fucking rip and tear some demon ass apart on the hardest DC (maybe full pack of greater demons or maybe General guy or something) after 2 other easier ambushes fail.

>>38685464
Nope.

>>38685454
THE WALL IS BREECHED!

I only wish we could turn extra 20's into a regular or lower success elsewhere.

>>38685564
Just as extra 1s do not bleed over to concurrent rolls, extra 20s do not transfer over. Please stop nagging the QM.

>>38685634
We roll 1's all the time, though. We would die in a thread if 1's bled.

>>38685644
Exactly. So why would you want them to start metastasizing?

File: dat comeback2.gif (7.72 MB, 425x239)

7.72 MB GIF

>>38685511
Had to shorten my gif

Rolled 16, 5, 3, 20, 8, 4, 17, 19, 20, 2 = 114 (10d20)

>>38685454

>>38685718
Dem 29s...

>>38685677
>metastasizing

That word makes my eyes bleed.
My only problem is when we do roll multiple 20s it's always for the same thing, which is frustrating.

>>38685718
Anon pls, staph.

Rolled 4, 8, 10, 5, 14, 5, 12, 8, 16, 16 = 98 (10d20)

>>38685759
but im helping

>>38685773
STOP

>>38685773
No for real stop, it's annoying.

>>38685796
>>38685818
alright

>>38685454
Any chance of Talon hearing the Demonlord making an inspirational speech to his forces before they assault and breach the wall?

I have so much faith in the Crown Wall. I designed it after all. I will be damned if they entirely breach it.

>>38685887
Good luck, Architectanon. Your baby will see us through. Probably.

>>38685887
I have faith in your design, but not so much in our rolls.

>>38685887
I'm thinking we didn't sufficiently reinforce the walls against magic based - or at least magic backed - attacks.

>>38685887
The wall is a much a symbol of Harrowmont as it is Talon. Talon does not waste on the frivolous, he will never wear a crown, he will instead shield his people with the building of one. Any faith the people have in the wall is faith they've placed even higher in Talon.

Believe in our walls.

>>38685887
here comes the nat1 mobile.
also, we are a bit fucked against the boss enemy demon. since only talon can take him on. but not effectively since we didn't go for power and thus no sunder

>>38686147
I have a feeling we will have to fight him in the domain and just literally wipe him from existence.

>>38686064
That sounds like the kind of propaganda that inevitably backfires.

>>38686207
Since we never invested in the Death astral power tree, I'm guessing existence wiping won't actually be an option.

File: 060.jpg (61 KB, 491x799)

61 KB JPG

>Ambush 1: Target not met; 8, 7, 7
>Ambush 2: Target not met; 3, 6, 3

Darkness had fallen over Harrowmont, as smoke clogged the air and the sun vanished beyond the Marnn mountains. The crackling of fire could be heard above even the distant din of battle and the thunder of charging demons. An orange glow filled the ruins of this terrace guard station, a great fire roaring across a large apartment building on the corner as everything inside it was consumed. The tower was strewn across the road and the road itself was cracked and seared. Bodies filled the area, some of your men and others of the demons you had slaughtered here. Water rolled around them, trickling from a broken water main and down the ramp to the terrace below.

You shake your arm slightly, patting the vampire sitting next to you on their back to remind her she’s supposed to stop at some point. Aladria relinquishes her grip on your wrist and, with searing red eyes, gives you a glance and a small smile. The small wound on your wrist heals almost immediately, the magic in your body still present as always. Standing up with a small twirl of her dress, Aladria seems to flicker in the firelight in a peculiar way.

“You know, armour might be a good idea,” you say. “That way you don’t have to use your shadow power to keep your dress decent.”

“Armour is annoying, and besides, doing this means foolish opponents sometimes loose an arm when they hit me,” she says, with a sickly sweet smile, ruined only by the small smudge of your blood on the edge of her mouth.

>continued

File: 066.jpg (111 KB, 970x547)

111 KB JPG

>>38686340
Gesturing to her about the smudge, you hear the approach of more demons. The previous ambushes had gone poorly, resulting in ongoing battles across the terraces. Your men were fresh enough to put up a good fight, but the losses had been greater than you’d expected as the demons swarmed the terraces and halted retreat. It had been enough to buy time, however. Belrauth had been forced to slow as boulder traps, walls, and the constant fire from above made it costly for him to blindly swarm the terraces. Ten thousand demons were far too few to fill the terraces with bodies, but plenty enough to give your archers and ballistae on the Crown Wall plenty of targets.

Instead he’d resorted again to the small packs of demons, accompanied by stronger teams. Strike forces that would flush out your soldiers. It had worked brilliantly, taking out far too many mage-knights even as your remaining elites cut them down where possible. You’d been forced to trade men for time, as the demons proved adept at dodging or defeating your ambushes.

>Ambush 3: Exceptional success; 20, 14, 20

Now you could hear a particularly large force, ready to charge the Crown Wall you suspect. The loud crash of part of one of the terrace walls collapsing covered up their approach momentarily, but you knew this would be big. This was your last chance to hit them where it hurts. Your elementals were ready again and the buildings right below the wall would make for an excellent ambush point.

Hundreds of them, you thought. And just here – that meant there may have been thousands making the charge. Did Belrauth think you’d retreated? If he had, you’d make him pay for that mistake. Slipping into a nearby building, Aladria by your side, you watched and waited. Another crash broke the thunder of the approaching demons. They were still launching rocks and magic up the terraces to no avail. You and Aladria were the only people not in the Wall District or behind the Crown Wall.

>cont

File: 067.jpg (239 KB, 1020x613)

239 KB JPG

>>38686368
You let the demons past, charging up the ramp with the enormity of the Crown Wall directly above them. The siege ballistae were no longer usable at this range, but the hundreds of archers above were still a threat. At the front were more noble demons, ready to take the walls head-on. Belrauth was launching a full assault now. Clearly he underestimated the wall.

A loud roar signalled the closing of the trap, as you knew they were now in sight of the great diamonds that sat near the wall. Shouts of surprise from your men were their reply, with only a few arrows striking the demons. You came up silently behind the demons as they charged forward with reckless abandon, the shorter buildings and empty lots here making their route seem straightforward. Directly in their line of sight were the retractable staircases down to the diamonds, having not been put away apparently. In fact, they were all out. That made the normally dangerous diamonds a great weakpoint, as they couldn’t be retracted quickly.

You issued a few sendings as you followed behind, making sure everything was set. The Daerfir were moving on the right diamond and Sala was ready on the left. More forces were closing on the open gates to the north, where Gnome and Laryya were in wait. Still, your plans almost seemed negligible in the face of the triumphant roars of the demons as they reached the staircases, with only a few dozen archers firing on them.

Then the roars stopped. Burly arms passed straight through the ‘staircases’ and noises of confusion reigned. Undine’s illusion had worked perfectly.

“Evening, gentlemen,” you call out as you step into the open, below the diamond full of demons. “I hope you’re looking forward to the entertainment.”

>continued

File: 068.jpg (223 KB, 1023x976)

223 KB JPG

>>38686388
The clatter of bows greeted your words, as hundreds of archers and mages stood up along the walls around you. Aladria in particular was glowing quite brightly, her hands a mass of darkness as she grinned evilly. A massive rush of magic and raging fire to your left signalled Sala incinerating the pack of demons who had massed on her diamond. Kyria confirmed that the Daerfir were in the same position as you were.

“Can I go first?” Aladria asks sweetly.

You don’t bother to nod, just as she doesn’t bother to wait before greeted the demons with the great blades of darkness she’d prepared. You didn’t know how many demons were still alive by the time the archers started firing, but it didn’t matter much. Dead was dead.

“Everybody, man the Crown Wall. Now begins the real siege,” you say through your sending device.

Belrauth had wasted a lot of demons here. On the other hand, he was also using his very best now. You expected he would come next, once his plans were ready. It was doubtful that he’d strike the wall across the board as he just had, but would instead focus on one point.

>Discussion on how to defend the Crown Wall

So we’re at the second (and last planned) stage of the siege. If Belrauth himself gets through the Crown Wall he’ll probably be able to cross through to the keep reasonably easily (he’s strong enough to just punch through the inner wall barriers). That means that if the Crown Wall is breached it’ll just become a huge running melee until one side loses.

This means coming up with a general idea of the deployment plan. Map is at >>38681241. I’m looking for a broad strategy of defense here, rather than trying to pick where individual unit is deployed.

>>38686420
Obviously if they are going to concentrate their forces at one point, so are we. Our elites will be held back in reserve, for the most part. Our normies will have to hold the entire wall. This reserve can not be in one central location, but should be spread out, to ensure quick reaction of at least some of the forces. Faster units are located at the extreme ends, or NHMKs in the middle.

We can't really prepare a defense in depth here. We will need to hold the entire perimeter.

>>38686420
The diamonds are closed spots right? They can't get through them aside from climbing the wall? Which means they have to go through one of the two gates on the western side?

>>38686420
Hammer demons as they approach. Foxes target heavies, AA's target other units. Talon is placed in full view atop the main gate equipped with a few of the trick antimagic arrows. Bait the enemy commander into attacking Talon. Once he commits, we concertait on him main push and flush our last hole cards.
IIRC, there was a plan for us to have stacked griffons in the source, Freezing their summon duration. If that's possible, I'd like to do that.

>>38686420
Any chance you could give us an update (estimates are fine given the fog of war and all) on how many of our forces and the enemy's remain on the field?

Brilliant idea!
Illusion of Talon fucking everywhere. On each wall.

>>38686550
sounds about right. considering Belrauth's strength there is no real point in oposing him should he breach the wall and go stright for the keep. instead have a teleporter at hand to take Talon and maybe a few others to the keep for to combat him in dominion where we are strongest and have everybody else seal the breach. alternatly maybe lure Belrauth into the keep preferbly without major loss

>>38686340
>Aladria relinquishes her grip on your wrist
I am surprised she doesn't go for our neck

File: 072.jpg (451 KB, 2000x1250)

451 KB JPG

>>38686550
This seems like the most workable strategy proposed.

>>38686586
There's the two gatehouses, climbing the wall or punching through the wall.

>>38686653
Your losses have been a couple thousand so far, concentrated on the MMKs and AAs. You've also lost quite a few NKs. It's impossible to know the enemy's casualties, given you don't have an overview of the conflict anymore to guess and it's hard to see Belrauth's full force now. Ten to eleven thousand is a conservative guess.

>>38686779
What kinds of siege engines do we have up on the diamonds? Any kind of burning pitch equivalent that'll work on demons? We killed a whole bunch of their fliers, so most demons will have to walk up. Hopefully we have a way to knock over their siege ladders, and large enough siege weapons to ruin any more towers.

Can Corrfax come out now that they're fairly close to the wall? And how about the elemental's recharge rate now that we're close? The foxes can really start to unleash now that we're on our last line of defense as well.

>>38686420
>So we’re at the second (and last planned) stage of the siege. If Belrauth himself gets through the Crown Wall he’ll probably be able to cross through to the keep reasonably easily (he’s strong enough to just punch through the inner wall barriers). That means that if the Crown Wall is breached it’ll just become a huge running melee until one side loses.
I was kinda hoping to let him through... into a trap designed to seperate him from the rest of his force. they are stuck continuing the siege while he and a few of his demons charge ahead thinking they are being followed. Then once he steps into dominion, ultimate showdown

>>38686550
we might need more than one reserve in case he hits 2 spots instead of just 1 spot.
he has shown poor planning thus far, be we shouldn't undestimate him.
then again, if he does hit a second spot, then with proper communication we can still get elites there from the first breach, like by having them disengage and group teleport via sylph to the 2nd breach attempt.

>>38686934
I think that's a terrible idea.

>>38686934
>hinking they are being followed
by his own troops i mean.

>>38686934
>Dominion

Pretty much worthless unless we kick all the kids and civilians out.

>>38686961
My idea has multiple different locations for reserves.

File: idea.png (145 KB, 2358x1264)

145 KB PNG

>>38686779
Ok with that in mind I say we spread out across the crown points with a focus on the crown between the two gate houses where we can rotate/move troops between the two gates if we need.

Of course I wonder if we shouldn't open the main gate and funnel them into the middle killzone behind it and sealing the gates on each side of it.

>>38686905
Found some answers to myself in the pdf
> the walls at the points of each bastion are twice as thick as the rest of the wall and
have housings for extra-large variations of ballistae and other anti-siege weapons.

When they're real entrenched we could try to sally out along with deploying troops along the lower diamonds to try to push them back or take out another mega siege engine. The sally tunnels are collapsible so they're fine. The lower walls have retractable paths to them. Gates have murder holes.

>>38686779
>>38686550
Im supporting this cause its the best all around idea
Also lets leave Taira with Lynn and the DracoGriffs and Aladria with the NHMK as primary quick responders to areas where they are needed, with Talon and as much of our retinue as possible being the back up quick responders

Also maybe we can lead a sneak attack on belrauth, like have Talon and company teleport and engage him while we blitz through the gates and have the NHMK and DracoGriffs provide support by flanking, or by leading the charge

File: Crown wall layout.png (59 KB, 701x496)

59 KB PNG

>>38686779
We're currently lacking a lot of intelligence about the any. According the google docs, we've two sally tunnels built into the side of the mountain, represented by the number 4 in the document. Can we discreetly send scouts out to reconnoiter the movements of our enemies?

>>38687071
and then use them to BLITZ as in >>38687069
Captcha suppp

>>38687095
I'd like to look before we leap first. Who knows? It might be an illusion we blitz into, or maybe another demonic siege tower will pop up right after we commit out strongest anti-siege force. They're simply too many things we don't know.

>>38686779
On that lien of thought, what kind of mental stimulation can a summoner derive from their summons? Is it dependent on the complexity of the summon? Would a warrior demon be as intelligent and perceptive as a gaggle of imps?

File: 073.jpg (160 KB, 800x1228)

160 KB JPG

PLAN VOTE
>1. General defense of the wall as in >>38686550
>2. Try to bait and trap Belrauth/elite troops as in >>38686934 or >>38687017
>3. Try to use the sally ports to counterattack the demons with your elites when they begin their assault
>4. Custom

File: 127.jpg (31 KB, 418x371)

31 KB JPG

I still love how character progression shows in this quest.

I remember when we rolled to kill MMKs, and a crit cleaved them in half. Now we just skip to the cleaving, and we also get to smite now (perma-killing demons, yeah)

>>38687171
>1

>>38687171
>1. General defense of the wall as in >>38686550 (You)

>>38687069
no sallying please. they have stronger baseline units in close range combat

>>38687171
>1

Can we fit in recon work like in these posts?
>>38687146
>>38687071

>>38687171
3

>>38687172
I honestly think it's impressive how Talon started out with barely anything and now is basically a warrior from hell.

>>38687190
Woops, left in the (You) bit. Haha.

>>38687226
hah Talon eats warriors from hell for brunch. Hes beyond that

File: 074.jpg (112 KB, 610x900)

112 KB JPG

>>38687071
>>38687196
The recon work isn't going to do much beyond what you're getting from the walls. The issue is more that Belrauth doesn't need to spend much time doing preparations, so you'll always be behind once he makes his move.

>>38687171
We know there is at least 1 devil we haven't killed yet. I am worried about it, whether it tries to sneak past us to take the source, or just doing some devilry at us like a bitch mid battle.
can we set up a system where we get notified as soon as it rears its head so we can quickly teleport right on top of it with a kill team?

>>38687171
1

>>38687172
I agree its pretty fucking cool.

>>38687253
Damn demons and their refusal to abide by mortal engagement patterns.

>>38687171
Can gnome charge up a ritual?
I thought of a way to combo 1 and 2. and that is to have gnome stay out of the fight during 1, instead building up a big "insta-wall" spell so to speak.
We try to let him not even break through, but if he does, we have some reserves pincer along with her to do the cutoff trick via her just summoning a hueg ass amount of stone to close the breach

>>38687171
1

>>38687333
I think that at the point where he's capable of breaking a wall gnome built in a few weeks by himself, he can get out of one she built in a hour.

What I've been tossing around is something a little different. We know he's capable of breaking through any defense. But can he break out of the earth? Basically, we have Gnome focus on the creation of an immensely sharp circular, bowl depression into the earth. Then anti-siege gangs and magic units geek his retinue while we focus astral fire into the general. For bait, we can offer a line of our best elites. Lastly, remember our Mystic Foxes? They have a handy teleportation ability. I propose that they use it to shift around heavy weapon emplacements and anti-siege weapons to engage heavy demon forces whenever appropriate.

>>38687171
3

>>38687549
>I think that at the point where he's capable of breaking a wall gnome built in a few weeks by himself, he can get out of one she built in a hour.
Read my post again. He won't be trying to break it. the lesser demons would be.
He would be fighting us some distance ahead of it while gnome and a team of elites plugs the hole to deny him reinforcements.

File: 079.jpg (437 KB, 1280x720)

437 KB JPG

>Defense of the Crown Wall

Belrauth attacked later than you expected, but as hurriedly as you’d feared. The speed with which he was able to muster and deploy his demons was inhuman, and you’d only had a few minutes warning before thousands of demons were charging the walls. They carried no ladders but instead were shielded by enormous iron and stone walls that were placed in front of each ramp as they surged from the canal district all the way to the wall along the Residential District. Maybe they’d been expecting you to not think they’d hit the same point twice, especially after you’d been there earlier.

The great shields prevented you from doing too much to them, as even the siege ballistae had difficulty with them. An enormous bolt got caught in one of them before you’d called off the fire, instead wanting the operators to use the smaller equipment. They’d come out into open for the last stretch, taking no small amount of fire. Hundreds of demons, wearing enormously bulky and detailed armour wear charging the tip of one of the points of the Crown Wall, and the archers on the other points were unleashing as much firepower as they could, even as those on that point retreated.

The armour and look of those demons worried you, and it seemed that Belrauth had given up on holding anything back. You directed Kyria to issue a sending to your nearby reserve force to spill onto that point to fend them off. Meanwhile, you…

>1. Maintain a central position for now. You haven’t seen Belrauth yet.
>2. Join the reserve force in defending the point. Given the climbing abilities of the demons, the small gap between the points and the main wall would hardly slow them, making the best spot to fend them off when they first come up the wall.
>3. Maintain your position but redirect almost all your reserve forces to the point. If Belrauth tries something, you’ll be ready, but you don’t want to risk losing the wall yet.
>4. Custom

File: 081.jpg (105 KB, 950x547)

105 KB JPG

And sorry about how long that post took. I was having difficulty coming up with an appropriate way to have Belrauth proceed. I've had a lot more difficulty writing this siege than I expected.

>>38687629
>1. Maintain a central position for now. You haven’t seen Belrauth yet.

>>38687629
4 use the domain power to increase gravity on them to the point that they can't move
Pleeeease?

>>38687629
2

>>38687629
Redirect a portion of our elites, namely our NHMKs to that breach.

We keep everything else in reserve.

>>38687629
>>1. Maintain a central position for now. You haven’t seen Belrauth yet.

>>4. Have Aladria wear down the great shields from long range.

>>38687629
>1. Maintain a central position for now. You haven’t seen Belrauth yet.

>>38687724
I don't think they are in the domain yet.
and increasing gravity will hurt our own troops more unless its very localized.

>>38687629
>>2. Join the reserve force in defending the point. Given the climbing abilities of the demons, the small gap between the points and the main wall would hardly slow them, making the best spot to fend them off when they first come up the wall.

>>38687765
I thought domain worked all the way to the canal wall

>>38687765
they are not since it only covers the keep

>>38687629
1

File: 083.jpg (734 KB, 1600x1600)

734 KB JPG

>>38687724
Dominion is Keep only.

>>38687732
That's basically just 1.

>>38687736
They're out of range of Aladria's power unless you want her to teleport there and attack them while close up (which puts her close the demon horde using them).

>>38687629
Either >>38687724 or 2

>>38687799
is 2 only talon going, or both talon AND reserves?

also, it occurs to me, they are carrying massive "armor", when they die they dissipiate, the massive armor does not, it in effect becomes a stairway for them to use to get on top?

>>38687799
>That's basically just 1.
Then my vote will become 1

File: 086.jpg (271 KB, 1024x576)

271 KB JPG

>>38687820
The nearby reserves are going but not all of them - that happens in all default options (it occured in the second last sentence of the update). If you wanted to send Talon and all your reserves, then that would be a custom.

>>38687629
2

>>38687629
2

File: 088.jpg (1022 KB, 1197x904)

1022 KB JPG

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Tie-breaker roll

1 = Option 1
2 = Option 2

>>38687966
Yeehaw

File: 094.jpg (833 KB, 2560x1600)

833 KB JPG

>2.

By the time you arrive at the wall, the battle is already well under way. The nightwalkers, joined by a large grouping of heavy men-at-arms from the garrison, are in pitched battle with the demons. Despite all the fire they’re receiving as they scale the wall, there are still far too many demons getting up here and you’re glad you came. You let out a bellow, inspiring your men, and leap into the fray.

The armour of the demons seems to be far overstated, the runes and sigils on them failing to repel your blows or even those of the nightwalkers. Their attacks don’t seem to be empowered either, though that could just be that these demons already have abnormally high strength. Its their numbers that worry you, with seemingly no shortage of them swarming up the walls. The press of them is becoming dangerous, as more are scaling the wall each second than are being killed.

You’ll just need to change that. Your blade hums and you read the flow of magic. Concentrating your mind, you step forward to push these demons right off the wall. Your armour glints with the light of the seemingly full moon, and that fact seems to lend fervour to demons and might to your nightwalkers.

[DC12/16 Combat]

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>38688227

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>38688227

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>38688227

File: 1371887705632.png (6 KB, 299x116)

6 KB PNG

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>38688227