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You should probably experiment with your gauntlet a bit, you've just got it and you want to make find out what exactly it's capable of, or at least get an idea. With that in mind you make your way swiftly through the crowded halls towards the Faculty Dormitories. You remember the way well, you were only there a few days ago to meet with a human Vatis well over two hundred years of age regarding the Vys metamagic.

You find the door to the faculty quarters near Hayes' workshop and pull the door open, finding yourself in some sort of lounge area with three hallways branching off of it. In the center is a spiraling staircase, which you ascend to the third floor. It doesn't take you long to find your room, and pulling open the door you find a comfortable, if somewhat small, set of apartments. The door opens into a sitting area with a couch and a few chairs as well as a squat table, but adjoined to the sitting room are a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom.

You're tempted to take a bath. It's been so long since you had running water and you're covered in trail dust and who knows what else. Instead you explore the seat for a time. You're pleased to find that the bedroom had a balcony, a fairly expansive balcony at that, so you drag a rug from the sitting room out onto the ledge and pull the gauntlet from the woven satchel Suresh crafted for you before assuming a meditative pose.

You set the gauntlet down just in front of you before closing your eyes and letting your thoughts drift. It doesn't take you long to slip into a trance, and you start to carefully poke and prod at the gauntlet with projected tendrils of vys. It's odd, the gauntlet doesn't seem overly magical. You're surrounded by the ebb and flow of vys, it infuses everything around you, yet the gauntlet appears almost as a dead zone. It lacks any hint of magic.

(1/2)

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However as you manipulate the gauntlet magically it flares to life, sucking vys from the surroundings only to expel it again a moment later as the connection is severed. Curious. You try channeling vys into the gauntlet and the stone covering the gauntlet begins to grow across its surface, fusing together to form what you could properly refer to as an armored gauntlet. Composed solely of stone, rather than leather with a few stone plates sewn on.

You sink deeper into your trance, the ebb and flow of vys vanishing only to be replaced by thousands upon thousands of minuscule dots. They move through the city as ants, scurrying about their business. Constellations form for an instant from collections of golden yellow souls before they each go their separate ways. However, one particular area of the city draws your attention. A cluster of perhaps twenty or so green souls, all in the same general vicinity of one another. You'd place them somewhere in the residential area of the Upper District.

Turning your attention to the gauntlet you find that it's got at least six enchantments placed on it, some might be overlapping. There is one on the palm, one on the stone plates which line the back of the gauntlet, and four on the clasp that rings the base of the gauntlet and secures it to your hand. One on the top, another on the bottom, and then one on either side. Curious, curious indeed.

You try manipulating the enchantments themselves, funneling vys into the blue dot on the palm. Much to your surprise there's a sharp crack and you see the gauntlet spiraling off into the air only moments before your eyes snap open. You find a ball of stone smashed into the tiles of the porch, and the gauntlet tumbling over the edge of the balcony towards the ground below.

(2/3)

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Reacting swiftly, you cast a Manipulate spell and catch it in midair. It's a simple task to draw it back to the balcony, and you snatch it from the air once it's close enough. Curious, you slide the gauntlet onto your hand and point it at the tile of the balcony, channeling vys into the palm. A stone dart shoots out, seemingly created from nothing, and slams into the tile with enough force to crack the ceramic.
>Vys Pool: (51/53)

Well, you didn't know it could do that.

>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.
>Reach out to Demetrios via the brooches and ask about how things went with that elf chick, and ask about money.
>Take a bath, relax for a while, then explore the city in search of a good meal. You haven't eaten a meal that wasn't cooked over a campfire in a few days.
>Write-in

>>40286699
>Meditate on something else, an element,
Metall

it begins

>>40286699
>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.
Earth.

To clarify something that might not be entirely clear:
The manipulate spell cost 1 vys.
Shooting the stone dart from the palm also cost 1 vys.

>>40286699
>Go visit those green soul people, contact Demetrios on the way.

>>40286699
>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.
Earth

>>40286699
>>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.
earth

>>40286699
>Reach out to Demetrios via the brooches and ask about how things went with that elf chick, and ask about money.
>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.

Metal.

>>40286668
>Turning your attention to the gauntlet you find that it's got at least six enchantments placed on it, some might be overlapping. There is one on the palm, one on the stone plates which line the back of the gauntlet, and four on the clasp that rings the base of the gauntlet and secures it to your hand. One on the top, another on the bottom, and then one on either side. Curious, curious indeed.
Wait does this gauntlet use a similar enchantment scheme as an armor set?

>>40286699
>>Reach out to Demetrios via the brooches and ask about how things went with that elf chick, and ask about money.

>>40286699
>>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.
Earth

>>40286699
>Reach out to Demetrios via the brooches and ask about how things went with that elf chick, and ask about money.

>>40286699
investigate the green souls
clean up quick with magic and eat on the way over

>>40286699
>Meditate on something else, an element, effect, or metamagic.
metal

>>40286699
>Meditate on something else
Metal.

>>40286699
>Meditate on something else, an element
earth

>>40286896
>>40286850
>>40286832
>>40286754
Why Earth?

>>40286974
We just got a gauntlet for Earth.

>>40286989
So?

>>40286974
Because it's level us in earth and give us a vys point, plus we just got a really good gauntlet.

>>40286699
Write down the enchantment than meditate on metal.

>>40286998
>>40286998
we need 1 insight to go to the next rank

>>40286989
Why not check up on the enchantments it has?

>>40286998
It allows us to use Earth as if we were a Grandmaster when we're an apprentice.

>>40286718
>>40286754
>>40286832
>>40286850
>>40286860
>>40286896
>>40286957
>>40286959
>>40286969
>Meditate

>>40286941
>>40286771
>Check out those green fuckers.

>>40286920
>>40286887
>>40286860
>>40286771
>Holla atcho boy Deme

Looks like calling Demetrios and Meditating win out.

>Meditate on Metal
>Meditate on Earth
>Meditate on an Effect
>Meditate on a Metamagic.
>Meditate on one of the other elements.

>>40287062
>>Meditate on Earth

>>40287062
>Meditate on Earth

>>40287062
>Meditate on Earth

>>40287062
>Meditate on Metal

>>40287062
>Meditate on Earth

>>40287062
>>Meditate on Earth

>>40287062
>Meditate on Metal
Can we write down the runes of the gauntlet?

>>40287062
>Meditate on Earth

>>40287062
iunno man seems pretty close but im gonna throw my vote earth way
down to earth guy i am, right

>>40287117
When the runes are smaller than the eye can see no.

>>40287062
>>Meditate on Earth
Usually I'm a metalfag but it is bugging me that we are not even vatis in earth. Also, only Mortia and Skull Kid are worse at earth than we are.

>>40287107
>>40287106
>>40287089
>>40287086
>>40287073
>>40287126
>>40287144
>>40287156
>Earth

>>40287093
>>40287117
>Metal

>>40287117
If you search the gauntlet for runes, sure. There are no obvious runes though.

>>40287156
Well I think I know one of the other uses for Earth.

>>40287171
Let's meditate on the Vys effect next time, alright?

>>40287062
We are never going to figure out whats up with those green bitches, are we?
not until it fucks with us at least

>>40287215
Sure Anon

>>40287225
Man it's probably just a demon cult. No problems their man.

>>40287215
I want to try doing another metal mind reinforcement mediation since we just got the gauntlet and have no real clue what it can do.

>>40287251
But I am so damn curious, we keep seeing those bastards all over the place, and our masters apprentice is probably one, at least iirc
I just want to learn all the things

>>40287251
It might be a "I'm a rapist and I want to be dissected alive for anatomy studies" cult

Hokay, last round of voting then we can roll and get on to other things. I hope to have a pastebin up for you soon(tm) regarding this meditation.

>Try to erode a block of stone into a statue. (+2)
>Head down to the gardens and bury yourself. (+4)
>Try to twist a length of stone into a variety of shapes it shouldn't be able to naturally make. (+4)
>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)
>Write-in

Man, you really don't know very many Earth meditation methods.

>>40287272
>Implying that would protect us from what ever it does.

>>40287294
>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)

>>40287294
>>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)
BATTLE!

>>40287294
>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)
>>40287300
Doesn't hurt, plus that shit is extra protection against both the bitch in our head and getting mentally fucked by something else.

>>40287294
>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)

>>40287294
>>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)

>>40287294
>try to erode a building or something
orphanage will do, not like anyone'll miss them

>>40287294
>Host a battle between stone figurines to conquer a fortress. (+6)

>>40287225
It's a combo of blue and yellow souls encased together in a shell of some kind of outer soul or vys. Maybe?

Might be humans who've been raised noble had family a few generations back fondled by a spirit or something, more experiments are needed

>>40287294
Could we try capturing a flame in crystal?

>>40287294
>Create a giant statue out of different kind of sands and then transmute it into different kind of stone.
How much would that give?

>>40287367
I'd like to say that that is my theory as well. This makes it extra true.

>>40287367
It makes sense, I just want to be able to drop the maybe

>>40287294
Compose and perform a rock opera. (+8)

>>40287383
+6, although transmuting shit is really Metal magic's domain.

>>40287455
So Metal is basically changing things?

>>40287311
>>40287324
>>40287341
>>40287343
>>40287354
>>40287363
>BATTLE ROYALE

>>40287356
>Yeah, fuck orphans!

ROOOOOOOOLL 3d10+12 vs DC 20
I will laugh if you somehow manage to fail an effective DC of 8

Rolled 1, 4, 2 + 12 = 19 (3d10 + 12)

>>40287517

Rolled 4, 10, 2 + 12 = 28 (3d10 + 12)

>>40287517

Rolled 7, 6, 2 + 12 = 27 (3d10 + 12)

>>40287517

>>40287532
You fuckup

Rolled 3, 2, 1 + 6 = 12 (3d10 + 6)

>>40287517

Rolled 1 + 12 (1d10 + 12)

>>40287517

>nobles come to city from another nation
>city suddenly has multiple green souls, all grouped together
>in the noble district
What nation are they from?

>>40287538
Not as much as these guys
>>40287543
>>40287550

>>40287532
>>40287534
>>40287538
>Kek, 28, 27 vs DC 20
>Success!
Since meditation is binary, I'll get to writing. That'll put you at Vatis level in Earth magic.

>>40287560
Aleamondians I bet.

>>40287436
GUYS GUYS GUYS AND SOMA TOO!!!
What if we make an oud of stone and play it?

We'd have to control the stone strings by making them fluid enough to vibrate but stable enough to not come lose.

>>40287597
Can we have a vote to do something after the meditation like another meditation?

>>40287618
Nah, they're from a small kingdom to the south of Aleamond, in the heartlands of Old Rhynia, but those dudes are staying in the Guest Rooms of the Academy, not the Noble's District.

Meh, bet it's some nobles whose ancestors practiced human tradition of sticking your dick into everything.

>>40287674
It's not the Elaudians, is it?

>>40287758
I can't give away spoilers, Anon. It might be dem dere jungle people or it might be something else. Who knows.

>>40287775
dorfs?

>>40287830
Telling~

>>40287830
shapeshifting dragons

This thread is weird without all the shitposting.

>>40288506
>Bottom
Irc is good shit

>>40288506
IRc really does end up clearing a lot of it away. we also discuss a lot of shit too.

>>40288686
No captcha as well.

>>40288732
i don't worry about those I'm actually fine with $20 a ear.

>blahblahblah ER A FAG blahblahblahblah

I know I'm worse on IRC though ;)

>IRC is talking about bestiality porn
wattafuq

>>40288855
It's all Juden man

>>40288855
Well, we were talking about novels and vys generators and Soul reinforcement, but then THE FUCKING SWEDISH JEWS had to shit everything up!

I'm salty as fuck right now.

>>40288960
Why?

>>40288960
That's nice dear.

>>40288960
I care anon.

>>40288911
I mean Soma contributes just as much to the conversation about zoophilia as Juden and Jack do.

>>40288960
Read the cow hentai posted, and ignore the ntr that is right after the chapter.

This IRC is making the story posts ridiculously spaced out.

>>40289079
>cow hentai
What?

>>40289119
http://exhentai.org/s/8ea3759d7f/812883-40
>>40289113
Same as always, but this time soma doesn't post in the thread.

>>40289113
Yeah, but we get to chat with soma-san

>>40289113
Alright, I'm minimizing the IRC and focusing on the post. Sorry.

>>40288855
>>40288911
>>40288922
hehe

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Satisfied that you've learned enough about the gauntlet for now, you pull it off and tuck it into the satchel before resuming your place on the rug you're using as a meditation mat. Slipping once more into a trance you focus on raising figurines from the ceramic tiles that serve as the balcony's floor. You craft a great fortress from the metal guard rail that rings the balcony and a few more tiles from the floor.

Over the course of hosting a great battle between two opposing factions, one marked by a band of metal around their abdomens. It's as the unmarked army is storming the castle walls that a thought occurs to you. Earth magic is a discipline dedicated to breaking things down. Be it the fabric of the soul, the dividing line between your world and the void, or the threads that bind together reality Earth magic can destroy each item just as well as any other.

You never quite figured out why it was that Earth magic was dedicated to eroding things. It didn't seem to make much sense when you first started learning Earth magic. However, Earth is a conglomerate substance. It's a hundred, a thousand different individual parts smashed together to form something coherent. As is stone, and as are all things. Thus, Earth magic is about manipulating and breaking these bonds between smaller, composite pieces of larger wholes.
>Congratulations! You're now Vatis rank in Earth magic!
>Vys Pool: (54/54)

With this realization your trance is broken, and your eyes snap open. You find that the sun has set in the time you've been meditating, and the balcony is scattered with bits of broken ceramic. You spend a few moments tidying up, replacing any tiles you broke and clearing away the layer of dust which has coated everything. That done, you reach out to Demetrios via the brooches while retreating inside your apartments.
(1/2)

You feel your thoughts brush against his. He seems worried about something or other. {So how did things go with that elven woman I saw you going upstairs with the other night?}

You're struck by a brief wave of panic before he seems to bring his thoughts under control. {Gods above and below, Mik. I jump every time you contact me with these things. Anyway, things went great. Being honest, I don't remember a lot of the night. I just sort of recall vague snatches of activity amongst a swirling disorganized mass of memory.}

Well that's all well and good and poetic but it wasn't what you were asking. {Allow me to rephrase. Did your trouser snake invade her sacred garden? Did your man hammer tenderize her-}

His thoughts interrupt your own. {Get your mind out of the gutter, Mik!} There's a pause, at which point his thoughts carry through the connection afforded to you by the brooches far calmer than they did a moment ago. {But for the record, yes. At least I woke up next to her and I couldn't find my clothes nor could she find hers. I certainly hope so. Regardless, how did you do with that woman you were talking to?}

Gods, the shame. How could you debase yourself by laying with a human? Even if it was fun! You're practically as degenerate as Profectus! Well, perhaps not that degenerate but the point stands. {Nothing of any particular import occurred. I walked her home and a man attempted to mug us on the way. I dealt with him and we parted ways at her door.}

Demetrios seems confused. {Really? You seemed to be getting along well enough. Where did someone try to mug you, though? Don't tell me she lived in the lower districts.}
(2/3)

Is crime really so rare in the upper district? {No, no. The attacker was some man wearing a uniform, she said he was probably sent by one of her father's rivals to prevent a marriage.}

There's a brief pause before Demetrios responds. {Huh, odd. Anyway, we should do that again some time. The most fun I've had in ages. Are you in town for more than a few days?

>Admit that you don't have any time to go out on the town, what with your test tomorrow, and broach the subject of money.
>As above, but don't mention money. You're not going to beg a loan from a friend.
>Agree that the two of you should go out sometime soon, then ask for money.
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.
>Write-in

>>40289612
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

>>40289612
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

>>40289612
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

>>40289612
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money
Time to feel guilty banging the human chick agian.
and making sure our bastard is sired

>>40289612
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

>>40289656
>and making sure our bastard is sired
Stop being a faggot.

>>40289612
>>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

>>40289612
Anything that doesn't have us borrowing money
Lets go and see what we can get for some of those scales from hayes

>>40289612
>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

>>40289612
>>Going out sounds fun, but you don't need his money.

Soma how much vys is in our ruby now?

>>40289612
>Admit that you don't have any time to go out on the town, what with your test tomorrow, and broach the subject of money.

>>40289612
>http://pastebin.com/9mxDQn7N
I have been meaning to ask
Warlock Armor [STORED]: (+4 Soak Damage, +2 Attack, +2 Dodge, Passive Vys Gain [2/hr], Passive Health Improvement, Hidden Effects)
Are you ever going to update it to the effects we read about in var var's notes?
also pendent update when?

>Going out sounds fun, you don't need no hand outs
Seems pretty unanimous.

>>40289612
Hey, Soma? How much time do we have left once we get back to El Amin?

For the rest of ya'all, I've a rough schedule to suggest. On the way back, we'll focus on Metal Magic Meditation for extra sanity defense to counteract the whole "Jungles of Madness" thing and the better understand Elaudian steel/Dhatu, the main objectives and powers in the region. We'll also make sure to focus on Anatomical studies by reading, "The Serpent and The Staff" and maybe dissecting someone else. When we get back, we build a railgun using Repel+Small to counter dragons. Then we focus on creating a Vys Generator, to palm off to Skull Kid for research or to take with as a Vys Supply. After those two research projects, our Metal advancement, and the medical research we should be set for every threat within a reasonable time period. Soma gets to finally write action, and we get to do something fun. Thoughts?

>>40289904
>Thoughts?
Fuck off.

>>40289923
OR ou could answer his fucking question without being a shitposting cunt. That would contribute significantly more.

>>40289923
stfu
>>40289904
Sounds good anon

>>40289923
Faggot

>>40289904
I'm down for anything that gets us out of whatever it is we've been doing for the past 40 or so threads

>>40289904
Full support for the metal meditations and the rail gun

>>40289904
i'm gonna need you to add the buying up all the cheap farmland to that list, won't take long since we can time skip over it ya lazy gits

You suppose going out on the town again might be fun, but you don't think you'll be drinking nearly as much as you did last time. That seems a recipe for disaster, or at the very least deep personal shame. {I suppose I could find some time to go out on the town at some point. I'm only in town for today, I suppose. I hope to leave after I take my Grandmastery test.}

Demetrios seems confused. {Isn't it a little late in the day to be taking a test for your robes and finding a ship back to Pidjata? I mean, night's already fallen.}

Right, you sometimes forget that these heathen barbarians in the north can't even properly calculate the passage of the days. {My apologies, I suppose for you I'll leave tomorrow. My people mark the day's end at nightfall, rather than whatever arbitrary, unnatural point in time your people consider a day to have ended.}

{That's odd.} Demetrios remarks. {Night doesn't fall at the same time every day. Do the lengths of your days just vary wildly based on the seasons, no two days the same length consecutively?}

You shrug, though you realize it's a pointless gesture. {Essentially. There is a central body in El-Amin responsible for keeping track of that sort of thing. I never paid much attention to astrology, personally. Anyway, when were you thinking of going out?}

Demetrios replies after a brief pause, his thoughts swirling. {I've only been grading a few formula submitted to me by students related to the exchange of vys when casting spells. I've been trying to teach them the proper way to quantify their reserves, and it's been a difficult concept to grasp. I have a few more days to do this though, I can put it off.}

(1/2)

You never even needed to learn how to quantify your vys reserves. You just sort of get a vague sense of how full or empty they are. How would one even go about quantifying something as abstract as vys? What unit would one use to perform such a task?

>Going out now sounds fine, you've nothing better to do and a hot meal would do you good.
>It would be more appropriate to hit the town after you get your Grandmaster's robes. A celebration, of sorts. Go looking for captains willing to ferry you back to Pidjata tomorrow or the day after instead.
>You should probably be getting some sleep if you plan on testing for your robes tomorrow. You want to be in good shape.
>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.
>Write-in

>>40290422

>Going out now sounds fine, you've nothing better to do and a hot meal would do you good.
>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.

Rope him into poking it with us?

>>40290422
>It would be more appropriate to hit the town after you get your Grandmaster's robes. A celebration, of sorts. Go looking for captains willing to ferry you back to Pidjata tomorrow or the day after instead.

>>40290422
>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.

>>40290422
>Going out now sounds fine, you've nothing better to do and a hot meal would do you good.

>>40290422
>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.
PLOT
HOOK

>>40290422
>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.

>>40290422
>>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.

>>40290422
>>That gathering of green souls is bugging you, you want to go investigate just what the hell they are.

>>40290498
>>40290489
>>40290488
>>40290456
>>40290442
>>40290527
>Hook, line, and sinker.

>>40290476
>>40290442
>Go out on the town

>>40290455
>Find a ship to take you home.

>>40290422
sell the scales to Hayes first, we don't need to mooch

>>40290579
This.

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>>40290405
>heathen barbarians

>Calling Deme a heathen Barbarian

Damn Mik why are you such shit?

>>40290850
He's racist

SOMA JUST CONFIRMED IN DRUNKEN STUPOR THAT GREEN SOULS ARE SOULS TOUCHED BY SPIRITS AND WE ARE ABOUT TO BARGE INTO A SPIRIT WORSHIPING CULT.

>>40290962
We should point them to the right path of worshiping the cat.

>>40290962
Proof?

File: LIKE THE FUCKING KOOLAID MAN.png (115 KB, 1366x728)

115 KB PNG

>>40290979

>>40290979
irc chat, also siad that he is on his last bottle.

>>40290979
IRC NIGGGA

THIRD THREAD CONFIRMED NIGGAS.

>>40291001
I'm scared of people seeing my IP lol.

>>40290994
Man why would you do that.

Making the cult worship the cat instead will net us free shit from the cat.

>>40291090
Why not?

You suppose you could go out tonight, your test isn't until well into tomorrow afternoon so far as you're aware. However, you're more interested in investigating that gathering of green souls in the noble district. These anomalous souls have been bothering you for a long while now, weeks, and this is the most you've ever seen gathered in one central location. Are they just a particular noble family who has weird souls for some unfathomable reason? That would seem the most logical conclusion to your mind.

Regardless, you've left Demetrios hanging long enough. {I don't think tonight will work, there are a few other things I wanted to do before my trial. However, tomorrow should work. We can call it a celebration, after I earn my Grandmaster's robes.}

Demetrios' thoughts filter into your own. He seems enthusiastic, even excited. It's odd, to think that you should form such a close friendship, and partnership, with a human. You always thought them dull, unintelligent creatures. {That sounds great, Mik. I look forward to it. Anyway, I should probably finish off grading these papers then. Find me after your test, yeah?}

You agree, and then sever the connection. Stepping out onto the balcony you stare out towards the sprawling Upper Quarter. The entertainment district is already buzzing with activity. A hundred people mill through the narrow streets, the music audible even this far away. You can vaguely make out a jet of flame shooting towards the sky, though it's gone in an instant. It serves as a sharp contrast to the residential district, which is practically black.

(1/2)

Save for a single building, which draws your eye. A villa transplanted from the countryside into the heart of the city. High walls surround an elaborate garden, the tops of flowering fruit trees peeking above the edge of the wall. There are a number of outbuildings joined to a central construction which you imagine serves as a sort of gathering point. Fire light flickers just beneath the lip of the wall, out of sight, shadows dancing against the villa. More than a dozen, perhaps two, cast in sharp contrast.

You recall that there were perhaps twenty green souls when you were meditating. Seems you've found you're destination then. You take a moment to slip on your Stone Gauntlet before retreating from the balcony and making your way out of your rooms. It doesn't take you long to navigate your way to the grand double doors which mark the entry to the Academy of Anthus, and with some minor struggle you manage to slip outside.

Your guar is waiting for you, and you pull yourself into the saddle. You meet no trouble on your way to the estate, though you do notice an increased guard presence near the Entertainment District. Perhaps some sort of event is underway? You can never tell, it's always so packed with people. Regardless, you ride on by and cut through what seems to be some sort of commercial area on your way to the residential area where you saw the fire light and the dancing figures.

It isn't long before you start to hear music, the beating of drums, entirely separate from the faint sounds drifting from the bars and whore houses behind you. A steady, incessant hammering. You're faced with a choice, do you approach on foot or ride up to the gates?

>Try to get inside this little gathering. Ride up brazenly.
>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.
>Write-in

>>40291686
>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

>>40291686
>Try to get inside this little gathering. Ride up brazenly.
We shall make them worship the cat.

>>40291686
>>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

We operatin' now. Going in sneaky peaky like.

>>40291686
>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

>>40291686
>>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

>>40291686
>>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

>>40291686
>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

>>40291686
Aw fuck. We didn't think to ever train stealth because we assumed we could just rely on our cloak all the time. Get ready for the dice-rape lads. This isn't gonna be easy.

>>40291686
>Dismount and tie off your guar somewhere, then sneak up to the wall and try to get a peek inside.

>>40291729
You do know we can make our self invisible with magic right?

>>40291734
>>40291720
>>40291716
>>40291712
>>40291708
>>40291704
>>40291694
>Dismount and sneak

>>40291699
>Ride up like you own this bitch

You know what time it is
ROOOOOOLLLL 3d10+4 vs DC 21 (Base DC 25, -4 due to circumstance)

Rolled 5, 8, 3 + 4 = 20 (3d10 + 4)

>>40291803

Rolled 9, 4, 6 + 4 = 23 (3d10 + 4)

>>40291803

Rolled 2, 1, 1 + 4 = 8 (3d10 + 4)

>>40291803

Rolled 6, 10, 5 + 4 = 25 (3d10 + 4)

>>40291803

Rolled 5, 9, 9 = 23 (3d10)

>>40291803

Rolled 7, 2, 10 + 4 = 23 (3d10 + 4)

>>40291822
>>40291803

You dick.

>>40291822
I will forever hate you anon.

>>40291822
Stop rolling

>>40291822
I am filled with shame.

>>40291822
Jesus christ.

>>40291817
>>40291820
>>40291822
>20, 23, 8 vs DC 21
>Failure!
Damn, you niggas got real close to a nat 1 there. Anyway!
>Spend 1 to make it a Success
>Don't spend.

>>40291863
>Spend 1 to make it a Success

>>40291857
you should kill yourself.

>>40291863
>Spend.

>>40291863
>Don't spend

>>40291822
That could have been really bad

>>40291863
>>Spend 1 to make it a Success

>>40291863
>Don't spend.

>>40291863
Spend

>>40291863
>Spend 1 to make it a Success
Can we make a distraction on using magic farther aways?

>>40291863
spend

So it seems like spending so that you can be a sneaky snake and invade the sacred garden wins out.
Writin'

>>40292036
>sneaky snake
God dam it soma

>>40292036
Someone's seen Fallout David

>>40292036
>not realizing it's a reference to sex from a few minutes ago

>>40292222
Sneaky snake has been around a lot longer then that.

>>40286668
What is up with these green souls we keep seeing?

>>40292903
Read the thread

>>40292949
I now have, and still have no idea what's up with those fuckers. Hopefully we'll learn soon enough.

I hope this isn't because of the IRC holding him up

>>40293190
Archive

>>40293205
wE TOLD HIM TO WRITE, BUT HE ISN'T LISTENING, WELL HE IS BUT NOT THE RIGHT WAY.

>>40293190
It's relevant to what we're currently doing

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>>40293190
Cult worshiping a spirit, we are gonna try and convince them that the cat is a better god to worship.

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You dismount your guar and tie it to a near-by iron fence lining the front yard of some noble's estate. It promptly sets to eating a near-by rose bush while you slip off towards the estate from which the fire light originates. The closer you get, the louder the sounds of revelry become. Men and women singing, people's feet stomping against the earth, and the endless crackling of a bonfire. The pounding of drums and the soft tones of a lyre.

You're so distracted by the noise that you don't notice the guard patrolling around the perimeter of the estate until you hear his voice, shouting in a language you don't recognize. Almost on instinct you channel fire magic, vanishing in an instant. You watch the guard as he struggles to draw his sword, backing away with his eyes thrown wide and his mouth hanging just slightly open.

You press yourself against the wall as the guard starts to stalk into the alley you've chosen as you're hiding spot. He passes within inches of you, very nearly brushing against you. As he passes you channel magic and press your hand against his neck, releasing a Paralysis spell just as your fingers begin to grow cold and numb. He freezes in place, little more than a strained rasp escaping his lips. You simply push him over so he lies face down in the grass before cutting off the flow of vys and allowing yourself to fade once more into visibility.

That issue dealt with, you leap up to grasp the edge of the wall and haul yourself upward. It's a difficult task, but not nearly as difficult as you once would have found it. You just manage to peek your head over the edge of the wall, and what you see leaves you shocked. Women, stripped bare save for the paint which stains their pale skin, dance around the leaping tendrils of a bonfire while men, nude just as the women, hammer away at their instruments. However, neither the nudity nor the dancing are what shock you.
(1/3_

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Rather, it's the statue at the center of the proceedings. Barbed wire drapes the figure, gilded leaves sprouting wherever the wire touches stone. It is reminiscent in many ways of the Rhynian statues which one can find across Anthus, depicting a man in the prime of his life. However, what separates this statue from those is the globe hovering where its head ought to be. It's held up by no obvious means, eight small red dots orbiting a replica of your planet in miniature.

The dancers have arrayed a number of offerings before the statues. Exotic spices, incense, gold, jewels, and all manner of other goods. For what purpose you can't be certain. Sitting on a squat throne, half hidden by the gloom beyond the fire light's edge, is a robed figure. Their skin is pale and shot through with dark blue veins. Bulging away from the flesh. A golden sword rest across their lap, a thin coat of blood gracing its edge.

You don't see any obvious source of where the blood might have come from. No pools of red, nor discarded corpses. No obvious wounds on any of the participants. As you're watching what appears to be some sort of cult ritual take place one of the dancers separates from those twirling around the fire and approaches the figure seated on its throne. It rises as she draws near and falls to her knees, stepping into the fire light fully and affording you a better look at the creature. Where its head ought to be instead there is a mirror, the reflections within distorted into monstrous shapes.

(2/3)

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The kneeling woman appears as a horned creature with ashen skin, shot through with cracks and portions flaking away to reveal the muscle beneath. However, as the mirror-faced creature raises his sword and braces it against her chest her reflection begins to change. He drives the sword forwards, impaling her through the chest. Blood flows freely from the wound and the woman begins to convulse as he twist the blade, despite her reflection growing less warped.

Eventually the figure presses a desiccated foot against the woman's shoulder and shoves her forcefully off the end of his sword, flicking blood into the grass once he's done. At first you think the woman is dead, but as the monster regains his seat the woman begins to stir. Slowly, she rises to her feet. You don't see any obvious changes, nor wounds, and shortly she returns to dancing around the fire.

You're not wholly certain this is what you signed up for. Carefully, you let yourself drop away from the wall. However, as you're beginning to make your way towards the narrow mouth through which you entered the alley you feel a massive pulse of vys, and your stomach lurches as the world turns black.

>EEEND THREAD

>>40293484
God damn it spirits. God damn it cliffhangers. God damn it Soma!

>>40293484
Time to kill some spirit and to get the cat some worhsipers.

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>>40293484

>>40293484
2 hours late irc chat might be bad for you soma.

>>40293547
It's pretty distracting. I might keep it minimized from now on so I can focus on writing a post.

>>40293547
Technically just an hour and a half. One hour, if you count the rolls. Pretty decent for a boozed up QM.

>>40293562
5 story post in just 5 hours he usually does double or triple that anon.

>>40293213
That knowledge is not on the archives dickwaffle.

>>40293484
next thread when?

>>40293834
Monday.

>>40293484


Thanks for running!

>>40293484
>You're not wholly certain this is what you signed up for.

You can say that again. Thanks for running Soma.