>>43129997
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

>>43129997

She continues. “The safety of your friends and family? To live without being hounded by unknown hunters…?”

The unspoken portion, to rule…

Half of what you said originally was just to paint The Empress a story to gain her trust, the other half has long since been replaced by even loftier of goals. So, the question you want to know now, is how much does she know of the real answer?

“I’m the hunter now.” You respond simply. “Truly, I am. And it wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t come into your service, Empress.” You bow low.

You rise to find her staring back at the rest of the army marching, so you turn in that direction as well. In the distance you can see a humorously out of place boy marching with the large soldiers, but truthfully, only out of place by appearance.

“You’re an extraordinary follower, Sophia.” The Empress speaks while still looking away. “In my entire life, I’ve never had someone quite so capable to command.” She continues. “You’ve proven yourself loyal again and again, yet…”

She pauses for long enough for you to begin wondering if she’s going actually going to begin again.

“Yet for all this time, you’ve never truly known what you’re helping me accomplish. Your unwavering loyalty is placed in the unknown and I’d like to ask one thing. How?” She turns to you with her piercing blue eyes staring into your own.

As if she would ever have told you even if you had asked, surely she knows that. Whatever she may be probing to find out, you need an answer that gives nothing.

>"For selfish reasons. I do enjoy staying alive."

>Write in.

>>43130073
>"You did promise me your empire after all this was over."

>>43130073
Because I want to know, and thus far you're the most knowledgeable entity I have met. I've learned much, and I will learn more still.

>>43130073
>>43130120
Sending this. Hey auri
>>43130188
Honest but dangerous imo.

Hello and welcome back to another thread, everyone!

>>43130071
Your enthusiasm is highly appreciated.

>>43130120
>>43130236
For the rewards, of course.

>Writing~

>>43130073
>"I have gained much in your service, and I most certainly see more."

>>43130267

How much of a lie is it if it was once true in the past?

You smile slightly. “For selfish reasons, Empress. You did promise me your empire after all of this was over.”

She lets out a small laugh filled with unreadable emotion. “I did, didn’t I?” She relaxes further into her seat. “It takes a strange person to want to rule over this.” She motions around her amused.

“Was it always like this?” You ask with curiosity carefully injected into your voice.

Your question immediately wipes away the small smile on her face.

“It wasn’t.” She responds hollowly. “Lush primeval trees extended as far as the eye could see. It was truly beautiful, once.”

Choosing not to press any further you turn to observe what’s ahead of you. The army is approaching the next station on this line, so you rise instinctually, instantly spotting a familiar sight in these parts.

You excuse yourself and take off toward the large faded map affixed to the side of the station wall.

>”Welcome to Wind Le Sta ion.”

Two shallow scratches into the map show that you’re only two stations separate your army from the core. The distance would only take a few hours of marching if unimpeded, so it’d be best to make sure any gifts don’t catch you off guard.”

You return back to The Empress’s construct to find Izu in the midst of a conversation with her.

“ –through together.” You hear the boy say before you land gently next to them.

You quickly report the information about your position.

[1/2]

File: siv.jpg (97 KB, 842x1191)

97 KB JPG

>>43131023

“I suggest that we get the rear flank to lock in while we send an exploratory force to see if they have anything planned for us in this station.” You explain.

The Empress immediately turns to Izu. “Inform the martial council of the plan and report back what they have to say.”

Izu ignores her words and points ahead of you all. “Someone’s there!” He warns.

You and The Empress immediately turn to see a single figure walking toward you. His completely shrouded form immediately informs you of his identity.

Far ahead Sivaht alone walks nonchalantly forward with his long sword at his hip.

Several squads of soldiers notice the intruder and rush to shield the forward construct from him.

“Hubris.” The Empress bitterly comments to herself. “He’s surely not alone.” She turns to you just as tens of thousands of enemy soldiers burst from your left and right. More than any attack before.

The enemy remains unmoving as Sivaht continues to push forward.

The Empress quickly scans around her. “He’s not to be underestimated.” She informs you calmly and reaches for the container containing the useless body.

Sivaht charges the instant the body is pulled from the container.

>Grab the body and fend off the armies.

>Deal with Sivaht personally.

>Write in.

>>43131046
>>Grab the body and fend off the armies.
Izu watch her if you would please.

>>43131046
Where the hell is Justina? Get her to do the body displacement thing

>>43131046
>Grab the body and fend off the armies.
Pretty sure we're the only one who can do this.

>>43131132
That would unseal the monster anon.

>>43131132
>>43131163
On Sivaht, sorry if I wasn't specific

>>43131178
But if hes part of the collective body, would it do anything?

>>43131201
It would slow down the one body that's capable of serious damage and speed?

>>43131114
>>43131146
Don't let the flag get captured. Also getting Justina's help if we can.

>Writing~

>>43131244

Without any hesitation, you grab hold of the small body and shoot off high above the masses, just as Izu quickly traps Sivaht in one of his barriers.

Sivaht thrashes against the barrier like a trapped hornet, the horrible scratching noises grating your ears even with your high position.

You situate yourself directly between the still unmoving enemy armies. It’s not the wisest move to use the being’s power without proper footing, but it’s a risk you’re willing to take if it ensures that this useless little body isn’t killed.

“Wake up.” You forcefully slam your consciousness into the peacefully sleeping being and a wave of sheer displeasure puffs out from its body. You eagerly twist the being’s thin skin and force more raw power out of it and direct it straight into the waiting enemies below.

The grating sound of Sivaht trying to escape the barrier has left your ears, but Izu’s flames still stand. Sivaht suddenly bursts forth among your soldiers and dices through them with great haste. The hacked flesh from the fallen soldiers fueling his speed somehow until he’s just a horrifying blur of carnage.

By the time you deduce his plan, it’s too late. By the thousands, enemy soldiers beneath you twist and burst into a fine pulp, not fighting their fates in the slightest.

Binding the being’s wrath mid wave rattles your body with jarring vibrations, but you manage to contain any more waves from shooting out and then do your best to mitigate the splash back from the original. But doing all of this without proper footing sends you hurtling into the distant ground.

[1/2]

>>43131949

You pull yourself up and take off once again just as a spiraling tower of pure meat surges toward you with Sivaht riding it with deadly purpose. Violet light fills the entirety of your vision and the horrid odor of immolated flesh surrounds you as you ascend.

With a single enormous burst of her energy, The Empress destroys the growing tower, forcing Sivaht into a desperate escape, she turns to complete reduce chunks of The Maw’s army to complete nothing.

He take his remaining mass of flesh back to carve your army while the enemy army, with new purpose, pushes forward to attack. You spot Justina doing her best to commandeer what amounts of flesh she can, but the speed at which it travels clearly is annoying her, but she’s already managed to accumulate an immense sphere of controlled flesh.

As it is, dealing with the enemy flesh soldiers would do nothing else but help Sivaht’s hunt on the useless body, but while you hold the body, you’re not capable of finishing him off without risking catastrophe. So, it seems that getting this body to someone that can properly protect it is your first priority.

>Bring the body to Izu.

>Bring the body to Justina.

>Bring the body to The Empress.

>Write in.

>>43131992
>Bring the body to Justina.
Go on, give me an excuse to kill you

>>43131992
>Bring the body to The Empress.

>>43131992
>Bring the body to Justina.
Think to Have Izu waiting in the wings.

>>43131992
>>43132041
Seconding. Never liked her

>>43132041
>>43132110
>>43132124
Passing it off to Justina.

>Writing~

>>43132143

There’s the immediate goal, but a flash of a long term goal fills your mind and inspires you to act accordingly.

You rush toward Justina. “You have to protect this while I take care of Sivaht!” You slide to a stop.

“What the hell!?” She spins around to look for an alternative, but quickly realizes that you’re much more suited for taking down Sivaht.

She groans heavily. “Alright… But if this gets me killed I will pay you back for it!”

All of her dolls rush to her side as you step toward her.

She shudders as you hand off the cold clammy body. “Everything would’ve been so much simpler if you just used a child’s body instead.” She sighs.

“It’s small enough for you to pretend.” You reply before taking off, with obscenities fading from ear.

You reach out to Izu. “Keep them in sight. If it comes to it, protect the body first and only. “

“The body will not be harmed, Commander!” Izu replies enthusiastically.

You spot the boy shielding as many troops as he can from Sivaht’s onslaught and hurry toward him. Sivaht, pulling away from the less important targets, immediately surges to attack Izu.

“Don’t.” You slam into Sivaht’s torso with a fist full of biting flame, sending him scraping against the ground with devastating force and deflecting his attack.

[1/2]

>>43132801

A huge block of his flesh smolders to ashes. Sivaht doesn’t even take the time to stand up before he slides off on his remaining mound of flesh. You shoot seal after seal toward him, but swims in the large bulk of flesh, never staying in a single spot.

He not bothering with you anymore, instead choosing to rush toward Justina.

How much are you willing to risk to get what you want? You smile to yourself and slowly take off after him once again.

Justina spots the massive wave of flesh heading toward her and immediately moves to act. With one move, the bulk of the surging meat falls flat to the ground, but Sivaht bursts forth and spirals toward her.

In a sudden move, all dolls but the one closest to Justina run forward and detonate with stunning force, causing you to shield your face and stop in your tracks. The dust clears with Justina holding the useless body up as a last ditch shield, but safely behind one of Izu’s barriers.

Sivaht’s cloak is in tatters and hardly covers a scarred body of patchwork parts. He lies prone, one leg and arm blown off in the blast, but slowly reforming. His gnarled upper back hold two nubs, his head covered in patches of filthy white hair.

Sivaht slowly stands to his newly formed feet, using his sword as support. Justina falls back, leaving her last doll in between her and him.

There’s no witnesses, all you need to do keep the useless body alive.

“She’s holding it too closely to only shield it.” Izu quickly informs you.

Sivaht quickly recovers enough to go into a light trot with sword pointed directly out.

Which means a gamble if you want a foolproof excuse, but there might be ways to improve your odds.

>Kill off the doll, and then fly in at the last moment to save the body. Allowing Sivaht to kill Justina.

>Don’t take the gamble, kill off Sivaht. Let Justina live.

>Don’t take the gamble, kill of Sivaht. Kill Justina yourself.

>Write in.

>>43132845
>>Don’t take the gamble, kill off Sivaht. Let Justina live.

>>43132845
>Kill off the doll, and then fly in at the last moment to save the body. Allowing Sivaht to kill Justina.

>>43132845
>>Don’t take the gamble, kill off Sivaht. Let Justina live.
We can kill her later.

Plus i still wanna enlist her help in creating a fleshgolem bodyguard with our blood tablets before she dies.

>>43132873
>>43132941
Keeping her alive, for now.

>Writing~

>>43132845
>Don’t take the gamble, kill off Sivaht. Let Justina live.

>>43132978

Unfortunately you’re not adept enough to teleport in and out as quickly as you need in this moment, so that would only leave flying as an option. That, leaves the risk too high of the useless body being killed off somehow, or worse you being stabbed.

And if you don’t have a decent alibi, you’re not going to kill of Justina...

In a single move, you unleash a bolt of corrupting flame directly into Sivaht’s back.

Rather than exploding out, it slams down upon his body, driving him into the dirt. Tar fuels your flames and bubbles into his patchwork body, until it eventually spews out like bitter vomit.

Sivaht writhes on the floor, your grey flames refusing to be snuffed regardless of what he does. Eventually his muscles are eaten away so drastically that all he can do is stare up and await the end of his agonizing fate.

You step close to ensure that he doesn’t try escaping somehow, but his eyes signal no such plans. The clouded green irises stare up at you and you back at them until, they too, are viciously consumed by your flames.

The gray flame snuffs at your command, and all that remains of the former councilmember is a small puddle of charred tar.

[1/2]

>>43133544

You turn to go finish off the remains of the army, but you’re suddenly ambushed by an unknown figure which you seal instinctually.

Justina stands locked in place for a moment before you eventually release the seal.

She shudders on the ground. “I was trying to thank you, you bitch. No need to seal me like that.”

Meaning that she was trying to give you a hug. It was a wise choice with the seal then if that’s the case. But still, you have to stifle a laugh. She thinks you tried desperately to save her life, when the truth is almost the complete opposite.

As you look around, it seems that the fighting has just ended. Whatever remained of the enemy troops retreated after Sivaht’s death.

Justina’s gaze turns hollow for a moment as the doll wraps Izu into a hug behind her. Her eyes quickly regain focus. “I didn’t touch him.” She quickly explains and begins scurrying away as you approach. “Alright, alright. I owe you one for this.” She rises to her feet. "Just stop looking at me like that!"

“One?” You press.

“A favor.” She continues. “Another Necromancy lesson, some Occult reagents, a round with one of my dolls, whatever you want.”
She shrugs. “But, only one thing.” She quickly adds.

Your mind runs through the possibilities. You could get her to end her Viviogenisis mission, but you could just as easily do that by killing her. But, this might be easier in the long run. However, a lesson is something you most certainly can’t get from her with her dead.

>Ask that she forgets about using Izu for Viviogenisis.

>Ask that she give you a Necromancy lesson when time permits.

>Write in.

>>43133581
>Let me think about it Justinina, I need to think it over.

>>43133581
I can't think of anything at the moment.

Part of me wants to go maximum troll: we ask permission to make her forget "what she forgot", with the implication that this is done purely to frustrate her and make her think we've made her forget something vitally important.

>>43133581
A round with one of her dolls, huh?

Naw but seriously >>43133603

Also apologize for sealing her, but remind her we are on a battlefield and it's not the time for spontaneous hugs.

>>43133603
>>43133651
You can't forget what you don't know.
>>43133659

Banking it.

>Writing~

>>43133724
but we can make her forget the events right after the question "can I make you forget something?"

Fuck i wasn't here, can we use our favor for >>43132941

>>43134212
ehh, on the fence on that. We don't know nearly enough necromancy to be able to control or maintain it, thus needing her alive.

>>43134238
nah we can control it ourself once its made. We'd just need her help in creating it.

Can you confirm Auri?

>>43134258
The blood tablets would be what maintains it, so as long as that the body doesn't take extreme amounts of damage or the blood tablets are removed somehow, control won't be a problem.

>>43133724

“For now…” You start. “I’ll think on it. But for the future, don’t charge up at me in the midst of a battle.”

“Fine…” She responds slightly disappointed. “My dolls aren’t the freshest right now anyway.”

“That explains some things.” Izu calls out waving his hand in front of his nose.

~

Total losses to the army bring its number down to approximately two-hundred and sixty thousand, making it just about even with the army of Kyraen’Asils. But the numbers would be more in your favor if wasn’t for a certain someone…

You turn to Izu, who’s purposely not looking in your direction.

The words on the soldier’s tongues are about immortalizing the boy by giving him a statue with all the others on Impel Palace for his deeds.

You see him smiling to himself as you think about it.

“You still need me to open your jars of preserves, so unless you want the soldiers to know about that…” You shoot back to him in your thoughts.

His smile vanishes and his brow furrows, heavy with thoughts about jar opening strategies.

[1/2]

>>43134346

You turn back to the path ahead, which for the first time ever is barely covered with any flesh. For hours you’ve watched it recede back toward the core, leaving only wet trails and loose chunks behind. Your army’s progress has been swift without having to worry about ambush. So much so, that you’re already marching into the final station before the core.

The Empress stands, noticeably more vigilant than you’ve ever seen her before, streams of violet energy orbiting her slowly. “Return to your construct, Sophia.” Her command stated so that there is no arguing it.

You pluck Izu up quickly, bow one last time to her, and take off for your own construct.

“Something’s here.” Izu states aloud, reflecting your own thoughts.

You hardly get to land inside your own construct before the entire line comes to sudden halt. You turn to see just what stopped the entire army.

A single figure stands far in the distance. Her long dark hair wrapping and unwrapping around her body as she moves forward serenely. She doesn’t proceed forward herself, but a long line of flesh on the ground surges and morphs in and out of her legs.

The Empress teleports down from her construct and The Broodmother stops moving forward.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals completely silent, as the two stare each other down.

You want to know everything that they’ll say, you almost need to know, but given that The Broodmother is one of the very few individuals who truly know who you are, moving forward could be incredibly foolish. But there's always another option, if you're willing to risk it...

>Push forward to hear the conversation.

>Have Izu push forward to hear the conversation.

>Write in.

>>43134399
>>Have Izu push forward to hear the conversation.

>>43134399
>Push forward to hear the conversation.
Use our bound mental powers to make her see is as someone else.

>>43134346
Then that gets my vote.

>>43134399
>>Have Izu push forward to hear the conversation.
Let's not let the empress know who we are.

>>43134399
While I mull over this, consider my vote

>STAY, BOTH OF US

>>43134399
>Have Izu push forward to hear the conversation.
So convenient.
>>43134508
Pssh, that sounds safe.

>>43134508
On the one hand, broodmother could reveal us and force our hand way too early.

On the other hand, broodmother could reveal IZU and he's probably going to be a pink stain on the ground, or taken as a prisoner.

And I don't know if necromancy eyes can be traced back to identify us or not.

I'd much prefer to call in that Justina favor

>>43134458
>>43134506
>>43134535
Good luck, Izu.

>Writing~

>>43134579
Good bye Matt

>>43134458
>>43134506
>>43134508
>>43134535
>>43134547
You guys do realize with our mind servant we could have made her see us as someone else or possibly not at al?

>>43134672
She's way too strong for that.

>>43134672
I have significant doubts that that trick would work when our mind servant is only a fragment and this is the Broodmother we're talking about.

Besides, Usurper just has to call us Sophia once.

>>43134672
you really think she would fall for those parlour tricks?

>>43134672
I don't think you realize how strong the broodmother is.

>>43134692
>>43134737
>>43134699
>>43134784
>.-Creation of temporary sensory delusions in strong-minded individuals.

She's not expecting it, it's subtle and it's supposed to work on people like her.

>>43134797
there's a difference between "strong minded" and the fucking broodmother, whose been alive for thousands and thousands of years

>>43134840
and? Doesn't mean she's unstoppable and unable to be fooled.

>>43134861
This is an untested power in a skillset that we aren't familiar with, and you want to bet on "it's not impossible"?

>>43134797
>it's supposed to work on people like her.
no it isn't
she isn't even people in the first place

>>43134861
Is it worth the risk? You're the only one who thinks so.

>>43134908
No, more it's very likely

>>43134938
We aren't people either, nor are the vast majority of soldiers or generals.

and i'd rather risk it over IZU getting outted and turned to paste.

>>43134999
>i'd rather risk it over IZU getting outted and turned to paste

Well, I guess that's where we disagree.

>>43134579

You don’t even have to look at him before your arms start to reach out, pulling him toward you. It’s what you want.

Izu gives you a confident smile before sneaking ahead without another word. He marches ahead not knowing what might happen, because, neither do you.

You do your best not to think about the way he shook under your hands, but the sensation still lingers on your fingertips.

Finally, he reaches close enough to listen in, and their conversation is conveyed to you through Izu’s thoughts.

“It’s been so long, Az-“

“Do not speak to me as if I were your friend, monster.”

“I wish you would call me by name, I can’t remember it anymore. The millions of other thoughts that have become mine cloud my original.” A pause. “Thanks to you.”

“Your actions were your own.”

“Those humans were suffering! Countless men, woman, and children in unspeakable agony and for what?”

“Everything.”

“Everything, you say. Time and time again all the realms need suffer for your ends.”

“My ends are the only thing that matter.”

“Is that why you keep them to yourself?”

“…”

“There’s almost nothing left. Everything is almost as worse off as when the ancient ones roamed around and now you use one as a weapon...He would be so disappointed.”

“Don’t.”

“Why not? Because you know it’s true? He would hate you for everything you’ve done!”

“…Get out my way and you may live the rest of your putrid life in some far away corner.”

“I came here with words of warning as well. You played your hand with that being, and now I will do the same.”

“You actually released it? I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“You forced my hand! You will be stopped.”

“It’s too late and you know it. It will consume you.”

“…You’ve changed so mu- Wait.”

A wave of panic washes over both you and Izu.

“Step into the open, young one, she may be a monster but I’ll protect you if she tries anything.”

A heavy pause before a few moments later a timid, young voice. “Hello.”

~

>>43135118
Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight. Seems some finer details were revealed tonight.

As always I want to thank everyone that played! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the thread and I will do my best to respond to them.

On a related note, the next run will almost certainly not be on next Thursday. I'm having a tough time finding where I could fit it in, but it seems that a completely abnormal time on Friday might work, so some people that normally don't get to play might get the chance, but I can't make any guarantees at this point.

Other than that, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>43135074
Honestly us getting found out and causing her to leave now would hurt her a LOT more than it'd hurt us. She'd have to use the automaton herself and she'd take a lot of hits from it in the depths of this realm.


>>43135186
Would our mental effect have shielded us from her gaze?

>>43135186
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

dees cliffhangers doe

>>43135204
No, I'm pretty sure us being dead would hurt more than her using the automaton.

>>43135204
You've yet to use that aspect of the ability, so I'm afraid that I can't answer yet.

>>43135222
You're very welcome! They're less frequent than they once were.

>>43135186
How screwed would Justina be if she was the one eavesdropping?

Who can be affected by the mind servant, or rather, by what means can one resist its effects?

>>43135246
1. She'd have to catch us
2. She'd leave herself wide the fuck open for the Broodmother
3. We can nope the fuck out with a gate, easily.

>>43135264
We "only" have flight, and didn't spend our last powerup on Delving or Sealing, so I'm not too confident about resisting Usurper's Seals.

Yes, she'd be wide open. No, we're still dead.

I think it MIGHT work, but it's a bit dodgy. And I don't know how capable Izu is at delving out himself.

>>43135264
She has to catch Izu too then.

>>43135305
>>43135325
We don't even need to delve to escape anon. We can open an inter-planar portal thanks the book, and Take Izu through it with us. Furthermore the Usurper would not be so stupid as to leave herself wide open, meaning if we can bug out, we could do it far far easier than Izu.

>>43135252
If she personally went there and got caught...then maybe your goal would have been done for you. The extent of the effects of the being bound in your mind depend on both the willpower of the person channeling it, (you), and the experience the intended victim has with those kinds of effects, as well as their own willpower.

>>43135337
But where would we go? You know that this is only place that we're accepted, in the usurpers company I mean.

>>43135337
If she won't leave herself open to kill us, she definitely won't leave herself open to kill Izu.

>>43135378
Back to Impel? Knock off Disgur, and receive our cousin and fire duel for the army?

>>43135264
Although now that I'm considering it, this would be a pretty fucking action-packed.

>somehow escape the initial rage-seal to teleport.
>Use Izu as bait and create a delve portal into a mini-plane-prison
>Usurper chases us in, we nope the fuck out and leave her there
>Since it was hastily put together and she's been trapped like this before, Usurper will bust out
>By the time she does, Sophia, Izu, and THE BODY are over at Kyrean
>Broodmother is still there, waiting with her ancient.

>>43135413
We're a lot tougher and have more utility than Izu though. She could telefrag him, we'd be able to evade.

>>43135420
Theres a garrison of troops there that we would have to deal with, they fear her more than us. Your plan sounds fine to me except the whole, no one actually likes us thing we have on us.

>>43135446
I don't think so, he's tougher than us by far. His flames have heavy defense abilities while ours are mostly offense.

>>43135506
>Tougher than us by far.
>Still can't open his own jars.
I get what you mean, but its still funny to me

>>43135475
We're a commander, as long as we aren't pants on head retarded taking control they'll follow. By your logic we should just be the Usurper's plaything until she disposes of us.

>>43135506
But he has no means of escape, his offense would be useless on her, and his defense would crumble with the bare minimum of attention.

>>43135339
How much is J chafing under the favor?

>>43135674
The favor hasn't been asked yet, so I guess that would depend on what you guys end up voting for.

>>43135705
well now that it's come to this, the favor might be "save Izu"

which at least she'll be a lot happier to do

They're not going to kills Izu. shit i doubt anything will come of it at all. It's not like the broodmother knows who Izu is.

>>43135705
Would it be possible to have her turn coat?

>>43135186
Thanks for running.

>>43135748
That's a definite possibility, but it probably wouldn't happen if it's just based on the favor.
>>43135805
You're very welcome!

With that, I'll be stepping out for the night. Until next time!