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> Roll 1d100+5 for plant lore.

“From healing salves to insecticides, flowers are a potent friend. A representative of their court is always welcome here.”

Terra nods quickly, looking up at you with an awed expression.

“Make yourselves at home. I just need to...”

> Experiment with Amal's newfound power.
> Check in on your apprentice's chore list.
> Look into matters elsewhere. (Eluneia / Pointsmar / Write-in)
> Do some light reading. (Study the Chest of Drawers further.)
> Check on a few maps. (Study Ayren's files on the local Behemoths)
> Write-in

–-

You are Osyki, journeyman Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. After making peace with Hesheza Zahn, spirit of the First Totemist, you have returned home to plan how best to obtain the ingredient needed to properly initiate your apprentices: the vital spark of a Behemoth.

[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem

Plot Summary: http://pastebin.com/dqBSNUTM

The Cast Thus Far / Binder's Log: http://pastebin.com/VsJpEUx3

Ask: ask.fm/DiarcaEXE

Wiki in progess: http://totemistquest.pbworks.com

Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest]]

Rolled 53 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>44646261
So Terra's made friends with a belladona spirit, then? I guess that's not too bad, so long as she doesn't go around licking her.

> Do some light reading. (Study the Chest of Drawers further.)
Let's see if we've unlocked it.

Rolled 16 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>44646261
>[x] Experiment with Amal's newfound power.

Ohayou Diarca-sama!

Rolled 53 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>44646261
> Experiment with Amal's newfound power.

>>44646318
>>44646388
Weird.

>>44646261
>> Experiment with Amal's newfound power.

>>44646318
>>44646388
mediocre, but doubles. Doubly mediocre?

>>44646318
>>44646388
Dubs bonus?

Rolled 25 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>44646261
Rolling just to fill out the dice range, get this moving.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>44646261

File: Amal and Tryd.jpg (89 KB, 775x522)

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“...Run a few tests with a new Focus.” You pat your chest, winking conspiritorially at Terra. “Shouldn't be long. We'll get dinner started when I've finished.”

She nods enthusiatically. “Okay. Good luck!”

Dona gives you a nod as you pass the table to gather your things. Definitely poisonous. Hopefully her physical properties don't translate to her personality. You'll just have to keep a close eye on Terra. [Nightshade] poisoning would be a great way to have your apprentice taken away from you.

“Will you being joining us for our meal?” you ask the Sprite as you pack your bag.

She shakes her head, speaking to you in a wispy cadence. “Mine duties obligate me to depart shortly, though I would much prefer to bask in the appreciation of your charitable hospitality. I daresay you shall see me upon your doorstep more oft than not should this most welcome atmosphere greet me.”

“As you will.” You sling your bag over your shoulder. “My regards to the courts.”

“My lord.” She curtsies again.

–-

The practice field is ever empty as you make your approach. Autumnal breezes stir silty cyclones from the finely powdered dirt that coats the pockmarked land, filling the air with a fine grit. The rays of the setting sun play across the suspended granules, giving the whole field a decidedly dramatic cast. It's a shame you don't have an audience this time around.

You conjure Amal's new form to the air beside you, then lay out your usual array of tools and weaponry. As a Knowledge spirit he'll likely work better in things related to perception and research than those used in the arts of war, but you've been surprised before and will doubtless be again. Nothing is off the table.

> Try Amal in a weapon.
> See how he fares in a few articles of clothing.
> Install Amal within something strange.
> It may be dangerous, but you imagine his Spirit Fruit must be something else now.
> Write-in

>>44646810
> Write-in
Put him in a book. It served him well when he was just a minor nature spirit, now that he's been honed to Knowledge it would likely have some excellent resonance.

>>44646810
> Try Amal in a weapon.

>>44646810
> See how he fares in a few articles of clothing.
I'd say a mask?

>>44646810
> Try Amal in a weapon.
Obligatory bow binding
Can we get some different weapons sometime?

>>44646810
Something to serve as a benchmark for his increased power first--a book or maybe a map.

>>44647089
>>44646810
Deleted my previous vote, definitely want to shove our little friend into a map

>>44647188
Thirding this.

>>44646810
>[x] Install Amal within something strange.

>>44646810
>A book
>A key
>String
>A chair
>A seed
>Paper

The obvious idea presents itself first. You snap up a book of local flora and fauna and a blank leatherbound journal. Amal rotates horizontally in place, triangular edges whirling through the air excitedly.

“Ready to give this a shot?” you ask, proferring the books.

“Oh, yes!” he exclaims. “I can practically feel the knowledge brimming over!”

“Right.” You pull the leather cord with the carved lizard from your neck, laying it atop the closed book of wildlife. The Litany of Unification spills from your lips, memorized rote that dissolves into binding threads of light. The books condenses in your hand as a ripple of cyan light bursts forth from the book. Tiny hexagonal panels of light linger in the air around the newly fused artifact for a few seconds before twinkling out of sight.

> [[Binding Discovered: Alruane's Codex. A thick tome wrapped in vines and fur. Updates itself to reveal the characteristics and habits of plants and animals in the local region in minute detail.]]

You page through the living tome. Vine-bordered pages writ in dark ink on tanned leather reveal the nesting habits of Verdis Wyrms, hunting patterns and scale patterns of Greater Drakes, and even a comprehensive workup of the toxic blooms of the region, organized by alphabetical order, region, and toxicity in separate tables. The script is eminently legible if a bit dryly written.
(cont.)

>>44647808

> [[Binding Discovered: Grimoire Potentiate: A small crystal panel framed in stylized book-cases of silver. Succinctly summarizes information from any written text viewed through its lens, no matter the language.]]

The blank journal yields a palm-sized crystal pane. Passing it over the book of local flora produces a brief explanation of the temperate forest and plains that surround Grisoch. The text superimposes itself in neat glowing script. The longer you hold the panel in place the more information fills the pane until the text itself begins scrolling upward across the screen.

You wonder if this would work on Celestial contracts.

Amal bounces like an animated child through the air as you unbind him from the Grimoire. “Amazing!” he hollers. “We must continue!”

> Weapons
> Clothing
> Fruit
> Misc. (Write-in)

>>44647825
> Weapons

>>44647825
> Clothing
Cool, we have magic Wikipedia.

>>44647825
>>44647712

Also, that Grimoire is fucking fantastic for cutting down book reading time.

>>44647825
>A key
>String
>A seed
we should try out the lantern as well.
and the mask.

>>44647825
> Weapons
Knowledge and intelligence have combat applications too.

>>44647825
>Weapons

>Or anything else exotic. Maybe some of those items we got from the moon city?

>>44647825
Interesting. Anal could only really index books before, right? So now we get comprehensive information relating to the books' topics.

As for bindings, consumables, if they're like Cordia's binding, are one use and knock out the spirit after. Thus, it should be last.

>mirrors or shields
Since Amal expressed a desire to be of help in combat. We have weapons aplenty, and enough worn armor options that I prefer to get shields first.

>>44647985
Have we ever used a shield before? If not we should definitely get one.

With the obvious squared away, you turn to questions less clear. The bow and the sword lie on the unrolled blanket at your feet, your ever-stalwart allies. To their right is the Eluneian bolt-thrower.

In for a sliver, in for a star.

The unaugmented sword is leaden in your grasp. You frown, giving it a few experimental twirls. You'll need to keep up with your training with the Slayers if you don't want to lean to heavily on the crutch of your spiritual abilities. Your last showing against Pierce wasn't up to your standards.

Still, Amal's presence does somewhat lighten the burden.

> [[Binding Discovered: Mode Divider. A short hiltless blade inscribed with everchanging lines of script. The weapon seems to have a mind of its own, tugging your arm along in combat. Expands the critical success range by one point in combat.]]

The blade seems to blur and shimmer as you swing it, leaving behind those same sparkling hexagons. You can feel Amal's guidance as you swipe to and fro with the blade, and at times planes of light seem to converge on where your sword strikes.

> [[Binding Discovered: Strict Parameter. A perfect parabolic curve strung with thin crystalline wire. Fires thin wires of glowing light that anchor themselves into the struck target. Deals no damage.]]

You experiment with the glowing lines the bow produces in place of arrows. The lines are seemingly unbreakable—tugging on them, stepping on them, even striking them with your sword does nothing to disrupt the perfectly straight edge. Pulling the string again seems to anchor the close end of the glowing line in space. You practice walking a pair of paralel lines like tripwires rooted to a distant tree and they bear your weight without issue.
(cont.)

>>44648884

> [[Binding Discovered: Serene Annotation. A revolving bolt-thrower loaded with small glass spheres. When fired the spheres expand around their struck target, trapping anything up to the size of a man in a surprisingly sturdy orb of force. Deals no damage.]]

You entertain yourself trapping small shrubs, boulders, and at one point a passing crow with the orbs launched by the thrower. The drum that spins the next orb into place always seems to be loaded. Dismissing the weapon seems to be the only way to retrieve the contents of the sphere unharmed, however. Further study might yield alternatives.

> You're feeling the effects of the day.

> Continue binding.
> Head inside and make dinner.
> Check on Quinn.
> Write-in

>>44648901
> Check on Quinn.

>>44648901
>> Check on Quinn.

We've been neglecting our apprentices.

>>44648901
GOTTA CATCH EM ALL

>>44648901
> Check on Quinn.

>>44648901
> Continue binding.
Fruit

>>44648901
> Continue binding.
You people literally always choose the same items for bindings, Jesus.

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You shake the worst of the stiffness from your arms by packing your roll of equipment back into its typical tight bundle. No point in going overboard; you've already been swimming and taken a vision quest today. You step inside to deposit your gear on the workbench before heading out into the village. The bolt-thrower stays strapped to your side as you go. Familiarity with the weight of the weapon on your hip is something it seems prudent to cultivate and, honestly, it's a cool little gadget that draws the eye.

A little vanity is probably allowed, right?

The sound of hammering and muttered curses is what finally draws you to your apprentice. Perched atop the Elder's cottage with a mouthful of iron nails Quinn is haphazardly patching a hole high up on the structure's walls. Below him Elder Mayhews leans on his cane, criticizing Quinn's nail placement between puffs on a pipe.

“Evening Osyki,” he greets you as you step up beside him.

“I don't remember putting carpentry on your list of tasks for the day, Quinn!” you call up to him. He grits his teeth visibly against the nails clamped in his mouth, shuffling them to one side so he can reply.

“I was doing the rounds making that list when Illstya asked me for a hand,” he calls back. “Next thing you know--”

“Less jabber, more hammer!” Mayhews jabs his cane at Quinn. “The way you're nailing that board I'd say you're as blind as a bat, boy!”

Quinn gives you a pleading look. You could, reasonably, rescue him from this fate. Then again, a Totemist's apprentice is obligated to assist the villagers. Ayren certainly had you doing more menial work to keep your endurance up.

> Rescue Quinn from busywork.
> Let him finish. He's already up there, after all.
> Jump up and give him a hand.
> Write-in

>>44649567
>> Jump up and give him a hand.
Already did enough spiritual work for the day, some simple work may be just right to end the day.

>>44649567
> Let him finish. He's already up there, after all.

>>44649567
>> Jump up and give him a hand.

>>44649567
> Jump up and give him a hand.
If Amal in a sword guides sword-use, does Amal in a hammer guide hammer-use?

>>44649567
>Jump up and give him a hand.

>>44649894
>Amal in a hammer
Supporting THIS.

>>44649567
Supporting hammal

>>44649894
stop, Amal time.

>>44650447
>hammal
That's a fantastic binding name.

Oh, god. Look at that face. You sigh, running a hand through your hair. You can't just abandon him to Mayhews' tender mercies, but the wall -does- need patching. With a suppressed groan you kick your heels against the earth. Cloudwalker's Stride sparks with a thunderclap sending your hurtling up to his level. You grab hold of the edge of the roof and haul yourself up next to him.

“Give me the hammer,” you tell him. “Just hold the boards steady for me.”

His sad-puppy face immediately melts into a cheery grin. “Alright, Osyki to the rescue! Just, ah, make sure you don't hammer my thumb by mistake.”

“By mistake, huh?” You toy with the hammer for a moment. “We'll see.”

While Quinn leans over the side of the roof to position the next board, you pull Amal's charm from your shirt. Mayhews hoods his eyes against the ensuing flash of light, pipe clamped between his teeth, looking eternally unimpressed.

> [[Binding Discovered: Thesis Mallet. A small blocky hammer of spun glass. When following a template, ensures zero deviation from the recipe or blueprint.]]

“Is it really okay to use bindings for such mundane purposes?” Quinn wipes off his forehead, looking at you uncertainly. “Feels like it kinda cheapens the mystery.”

“You want help with this or not?” you ask, tapping the hammer expectantly against your palm.

“Hold the board, yes sir.” He leans over the side of the roof again, holding the next plank steady.

With Amal's help the two of you are able to nail together a (more or less) perfectly straight patch of boards to cover the holes. Mayhews nods as he approaches the side of the Elder Hall.

“It'll do,” he says. It may be the highest compliment you've ever heard him pay. “Quinn, I'll expect you out here tomorrow to help pitch it over. The winter's coming on fast.”

Quinn slumps on the roof beside you. “Yes, sir.”
(cont.)

>>44650835
You chuckle, pulling Amal from the hammer and tossing it back over to Quinn. He snatches the tool from the air, tucking it into his belt.

“That's Amal, huh?”

You nod. “We've been training. Azeo Sicros will be a powerful tool for us, assuming Zahn is willing to teach us how to use it.”

Quinn winces. “Yeah, assuming he'll ever let me back in. Any progress on finding that spark?”

You shake your head. “Not so far.”

He sighs. “Well, let me know how I can help. All I can do right now is basic busywork unless I want Zahn playing cat's cradle with my limbs again.”

“Any luck with the Slayers?”

You accept Quinn's help in lowering yourself to ground level. He shrugs. “It was going fine until Walther caught wind. I had to duck out. I think the next time I see him we might seriously get into a brawl.”

You bite your tongue on the odds of that fight. “Just let me know if he gives you too much grief.”

Quinn shakes his head. “I've been dealing with him longer than you have. Don't sweat it. I think Pierce is going to work on getting us a welcoming committee like we talked about.”

The two of you head back to the workshop, chatting between yourselves about the finer points of the head slayer's odor.

“--Like foul cheese,” Quinn mutters as he holds the door open for you.

> Do some research.
> Check on the chest of drawers.
> Spend some time with Quinn and Terra.
> Write-in

>>44650854
> Check on the chest of drawers.

>>44650854
>> Spend some time with Quinn and Terra.
We've spent too much time off on adventures. Let's go find our apprentices.

>>44650854
> Check on the chest of drawers.
We should've checked it right when we returned really

>>44650854
>> Check on the chest of drawers.

>>44650854
>Check on the chest of drawers.

>>44650854
>> Check on the chest of drawers.

also, here's the Binder's spreadsheet again. We're up to 27 unique item we've experimented with. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nclxsghdlRE4di7cLT5UkRZhlhOSyXcDqxqvVzsVg6c/edit?usp=sharing

Quinn moves to get dinner started with Terra while you step into the library. The whole point of today's excursion was to unlock another of Ayren's guarded secrets, after all. You need to be sure.

The door clicks shut behind you. The air of the library is cold and still. The warmth of the hearth never manages to radiate quite this far on crisp autumn nights like tonight. You recall Ayren spending hours on end here, burning candle late into the night. The sound of his quill scratching got to be a familiar lullaby in your youth. How could he stand it? You shiver, running your hands over your arms as you approach the drawers.

Your second sight falls into place like a dropped stage curtain as you step close to the chest. The first drawer on the second row pulses weakly, the revolution of its sigils grown slow and its light dim. You grasp the handle to the drawer confidently, tugging. There's a moment's resistance as the last of the lock's energy briefly flares before it shatters outward, flinging shards of spiritual power in every direction.

The inside of the drawer is lined in some sort of short, fuzzy cloth. It's soft as your knuckles brush against it, lifting the small scroll case within.

The contents of the scroll seem to be another totem recipe. The base ingredients are similar to the totems you crafted for the miners; clearly, this is meant to be some sort of lens fitted to the eye.

“God's Eye”, the totem recipe is labeled. A few of the ingredients come from beasts whose names you don't even recognize. Most of them are lenses or corneas of some sort. There are some hastily scribbled notes in the corner in Ayren's typical shorthand.

“Sprts have anywhere 2-7 spheres depending on pwr & type. Like spheres play better together in fusion. Helps binding, too. Use to identify.”
(cont.)

>>44651986

Super helpful. As best you can figure, it's some sort of tool to identify the base properties of spirits whom you encounter.

“Osyki!” Terra's voice drifts through the closed door. “Come eat!”

You emerge to a finely roasted cut of raptor leg. Quinn gives you a nod. “You know it gets stringy when it cools off. Chow down.”

You set the scroll case to one side. He's not wrong. You tear into the hunk of meat.

Dinner with your apprentices is a strange thing. It reminds you of your time in the raising house more than the taciturn meals spent with your mentor. A little piece of the cheer every festival feast brings along with it finds its way into your home for dinner when the three of you sit down to the table. It's unfamiliar, but certainly not unwelcome.

–-

Quinn must have had a tougher day than you thought. By the time you and Terra have finished your meals he's snoring in his seat at the table. A quick intervention saves him from planting his face into a pile of raptor cuttings. You pull him over to the hammock he's rigged up for himself and deposit him inside. You really ought to think about expanding the workshop—it's not really a big enough space for three people to live in. Quinn's still got his bunk at the Slayer barracks, but he spends the majority of his time here.

> Do some research before you hit the hay. (New totems / Behemoths / Write-in)
> Go to bed early. You nearly took a snooze on your meal yourself.
> Take an evening stroll. You're too restless to sit still.
> Write-in

>>44652009
Behemoth research

>>44652009
>Take an evening stroll. You're too restless to sit still.

>>44652009
> Take an evening stroll. You're too restless to sit still.

>>44652009
>Do some research before you hit the hay.
>Behemoths

>>44652009
>> Take an evening stroll. You're too restless to sit still.

>>44652009
> Go to bed early. You nearly took a snooze on your meal yourself.

fter tucking Terra in with the Almanac you decide on a walk. Despite the trials of the day your legs won't allow you to rest. You grab your spear and your cloak and head for the door.

The sun has dipped below the horizon now. As the last rays of twilight fade from the horizon a cool blanket of gloom drapes itself across the village. Points of light dance in the distance—candles in the window, torches of patrolmen upon the wall. The crisp air of fall descends into the chill of evening. You draw Nocturne's Embrace a little tighter around you as you go, lacing the second and third tie at its front with frost-numbed fingers.

The forge still rings with hammer-blows as you pass by, the windows lit a dull cherry red from Merich's hearth. You match the rhythm of his hammer-blows with your footsteps. Even as the sound fades into the village behind you, your pace retains a steady metronome stride. You all rely on Merich's know-how to keep the village supplied with iron goods. He's as important a facet of daily survival as you are, when you think about it. You hope his apprentice is picking things up well.

Grisoch isn't large. It isn't long before your evening stroll brings you to a segment of the great wall that rings the town. The edifice of sawn logs and spiked wooden pikes sits comfortably at the village's sides. More and more you realize how flimsy a bulwark they are compared to the stone ramparts shielding Eluneia from assault.

Still, what they lack in physical resilience they make up for in supernatural potence. A subtle glow slips fitfully between the boards of the wall—your totems hard at work shielding this place from prying eyes.
(cont.)

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>>44653004

Your thoughts tread that well-worn path back to the Magus. You still know next to nothing about him. He's a vastly powerful being, strong enough that splinters and fragments of his whole have nearly been a match for your full strength twice. But what are his motives? You know he wants to get his talons on Elana, but not for what purpose. You've got no idea what kind of plans or schemes are brewing behind those cold, burning eyes.

You leap the wall in a single bound. Sparks trail in your wake as the evening air sweeps the troublesome thoughts from your mind.

> Head toward the spring.
> Head toward the swamp.
> Head for the mountain.
> Walk the walls for a while.
> Write-in

>>44653036
>> Walk the walls for a while.

>>44653036
>> Head for the mountain.

>>44653036
> Head for the mountain.
We really should cleanse some Earth corruption buildup. The Emperor's cave is the best place we have for that.

>>44653036
>> Head toward the swamp.
We haven't been that way in a while.

>>44653036
> Head for the mountain.

>>44653036
>> Head for the mountain.
>>44653104
This

>>44653104
That means we'll have to deal with the emperor himself though...

>>44653036
We really do need to see if we can learn more about the Magus. We're basically fighting blind.

>>44653036
> head for the Mountain.
>>44653083
This, and as much as we don't like it, we are the emperor's vassal, we probably should report in occasionally.

>>44653036
>Visit the serpent spirit whose name I forgot.

>>44654008
Siperco!

Let's go on a date with Siperco!

You veer to the right, heading for the Ikrin range. The jagged teeth of the mountain snag on the horizon, looming inexorably over the village. It's funny... in the day they seem so comforting. At night, once the sun has slipped over the horizon, they always filled you with a strange sense of foreboding.

Uruhal Olihim. Maybe there's some sort of connection. You wonder idly as you pick your way through the tall grass why a world so young already has a place that's known as its grave.

Cloudwalker's stride takes you in spiraling arcs up the goat path that carves criss-cross scars into the mountainside. The lower peaks hurtle by beneath you, illuminated only in the brief lightning-flash strobe that your journey emits. Impressions of mountain predators cowering from your thundering footfalls are burned into the mountainside, flash-frozen moments in time. The natural world stands still to allow its shepherd passage.

This high up you are at the mercy of the shearing winds. You cling to a rocky outcropping, pulling gloves over your now thoroughly stiffened fingers as the cutting breeze tears through your leathers. The moon has begun her journey into the sky ahead of you, streamers of silken silver light threading their way between the mountaintops to pool in the valleys below.

The Emperor's Abode is a gaping wound in the side of the mountains even now. You wonder how grand and vast his domain must have been before his power was sealed away by Ayren pact. It's becoming something of a theme, you note sullenly. You master left a trail of debris in his wake. The detritus of shattered hopes and scourged livelihoods.

Amal hovers by your side to shed some light as you step into the soot-black tunnels. The chittering stone spiders scuttle ever past you. Myriad onyx eyes mark your progress. It's no surprise, then, that the Emperor is waiting for you when you reach his throne.
(cont.)

>>44654395

The massive mole shudders, dislodging a coat of pebble and dust as he protrudes from the floor. He moves sluggishly. Like pus protruding from a sore he pours himself from the earth, cracked ruby eyes gleaming as he regards you.

“Knight of Stone.” His voice grates against the stone all around. “Your court welcomes you.”

You bow before the Emperor. You need to be civil, at least. You are taking advantage of his hospitality with no prior warning.

“My liege. I wonder if I might reside here a while to better meditate on the stone which I represent and defend.”

The Emperor huffs. “Uncharacteristic diligence from a nomad such as yourself. I'll not think to search the horde for the drake, though. The court is open to you. Come and go as you please.”

You nod. The cavern is spacious, if a little lacking in creature comforts. You find a reasonably flat stone and perch yourself atop it. Closing your eyes in this place always ill comforts you—you're not overly fond of spiders, stone or no—but you manage to find a moment's peace between the Emperor's belabored grunts.

> Roll 1d100 to purge the corruption within.

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>44654410
PURGE

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>44654410
purge

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>44654410
pls

>>44654427
>>44654448
purge mind

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>44654410

>>44654410
Rolling

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>44654410
check this out

>>44654410
Purging.

So, Somewhat off topic: The whole thing with Azeo Sicros was pretty helpful for Amal, but it wasnt just a power boost. Do you think if we used it right, it could make Hunger more controllable, or at least less antithetical to everything else?

>>44654427
>>44654448
>>44654493
Now, is the dices trying to tell us something?

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>44654499
Dont know why the dice didnt work there

>>44654499
I feel like upgrading Avatar Spirits is going to be a much more dangerous process than minor ones.

>>44654499
Maybe, but it would be risky. I don't want to be alone in a spirit realm with it without any of our bindings.

>>44654541
I think so too, but thought it was an idea that should be brought up at least.We'd probably want to try it on a more powerful spirit then amal first, THEN try it.

>>44654499
I wanna do Tryd or Cordia next

>>44654749
I would definitely say Cordia

>>44654592
>>44654749
>>44654785

Cordia may be able to be 'stabilized' though the process. It would be nice to be able to use her without worrying about her health.

>>44654749
Sirens heart or Thane!

>>44654829
I'm pretty sure Cordia's been stable since we transformed her into an elemental. We're the one who has problems with the Earth energy.

>>44654937
You are correct, the issue isn't cordia, it's when osyki uses earth energy (often/only channeled using cordia)

>>44654972
We should probably try finding a way to fix that at some point.

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You do your best to assume the sort of open-minded stance you achieved on your last trip into the stone's domain. The initial steps are similar to the trance you slip into to open your third eye. You slowing your breathing to a crawl, inhaling and exhaling in precisely timed patterns to lull your body into a state of near hibernation. Your heartbeat is the primary distraction to this process. You need to open your senses.

Your heartbeat isn't the one that's important here.

You feel it in short bursts at first. Faint stirring in the sand underfoot. Wispy pulses of something whispering through the broken earth. Something primordial. Something original, in the sense of the Origin.

The Earth.

It beats beneath you with the heartbeat of eons. The plates of stone that the world of man rests upon contract and expand in eternal rhythm, a tectonic pulse for the eldest being of all.

You can feel runes of blocky green flaring beneath your skin. A tingling spreads from the sigil in your palm, a gritty warmth like sun-warmed soil between your fingers. The runes spread up your shoulder, down your sides, across your midsection. You can feel it nesting within you. It's almost disconcerting how comfortable it is. Now that you know what it is, you fear for how deep it has spread.

The Earth corrupts. It came before all else, and all else will return to it. It's only a matter of time.

Your second sight paints a pretty picture. A network of interlinked circles and mandalas coats your upper body. A sizable hole in the patterns exist around your heart and your lungs—the corruption has not spread quite so far just yet—but ribbons of verdance wind in and out of your core.
(cont.)

>>44655062

You open yourself to the earth and allow it to reclaim some of its own.

> 47

It's not wildly successful. You're weary from the day past. Atop that, you're fairly unpracticed with thise whole process.

Still, the runes have receded somewhat. The patterns still coat your arms to the shoulders, but only thin pathways of green run down your sides now. You feel a little less stable.

> Current Earthen Corruption: 25%.

You rise to your feet. The spiders gathered around you scatter as you rise to your feet. They crawl up the rough pillars and cavern walls, chittering all the way.

> Speak with the Emperor.
> Head for home.
> Head deeper into the mountains.
> Write-in

>>44655086
>> Head deeper into the mountains.

>>44655086
>Head for home

>>44655086
> Head for home.

>>44655086
>> Head deeper into the mountains.
Let's explore while we're here, though after this we should sleep. We're getting too tired to do much else.

>>44655086
>Head for home.
Are they friendly spiders?

>>44655086
>Head deeper into the mountains.

>>44655086
> Head deeper into the mountains.
We should probably learn more about the land we're to protect.

>>44655086
> Head for home.

>>44655086
>> Head for home.

>>44655086
> Head for home

The mountains are, to date, the only place where you've sustained a near-mortal injury. You run your hands along the thin scar that crosses your belly, remembering the sting of the Skyscythe's wing in your gut. Another day, perhaps. You've had your fill of the mountain for now.

As you leap down the slopes you note the plume of smoke rising from Merich's forge has finally ceased. Good. The man needs to sleep some time. His apprentice will be running around the village with stacks of wood to re-light the forge in the morning, no doubt. The poor thing is always covered head to toe in soot the nights they cool down the great furnace to clean out the ashes.

You land sprightly at the base of one peak, the shielding influence of Cloudwalker's Stride keeping your shins from shattering your kneecaps after each death-defying leap. For a moment you think you catch a hint of movement around the village walls...

…

No. Just a trick of the moonlight and the tall grass. You take a lap of the village before calling it a night, though, just to be safe.

You stumble into bed without bothering to kick off your boots. Your eyelids are heavy with the need for slumber. Without preamble you drift off into dreamless sleep.

–-

The morning greets you with a rough shake. You snort and rise too quickly, one arm tangled in the silken fur of your cloak. Terra stands beside your bed with a steaming bowl in one hand.

“Mornin',” she mutters sleepily. “Quinn made bread.”

She hands you a plate with a still-steaming collection of rolls. Your other apprentice is nowhere to be seen. Must have gotten an early start on the day.

You should do the same.

> Spend the day training with your bindings.
> Take the day to learn more about your spirits.
> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.
> Research your new totem.
> Look into local Behemoths.
> Head back to Azeo Sicros.
> Write-in

>>44655995
>> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.

Can't let our cotemist do all the work.

>>44655995
> Head back to Azeo Sicros.
Home cordia

>>44656017
Hone*

> Take the day to learn more about your spirits.

>>44656017
You mean the pure element that is killing us? She is already plenty powerful

>>44655995
> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.
The Totemist serves the people.

>>44655995
>> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.
talk shit with him in between, what we've discovered so far and what not

>>44655995
> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.
Should look after our people!

>>44656044
Quit being so dramatic, meditation isn't hard. Honing would probably lead to less corruption too.

>>44655995
> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.

>>44656081
True, but we know that it isn't good for us and it we could be working on other stuff.

>>44655995
>> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.
>> Research your new totem.
We should get some concrete work done. Maybe talk with one of the Cotemists, check on their progress.

>>44655995
>Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.

>>44655995
> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.

>>44655995
>> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.

>>44655995
>> Work on filling totem orders Quinn has been gathering.

more time with quinn please

File: 1371851197003.png (632 KB, 900x900)

632 KB PNG

You settle down at your primary workbench after untangling yourself from Thane's clutches. Quinn has laid out a number of neatly organized lists for you to attend to. Seems there are more totems than either of you initially anticipated that have gone defunct with Ayren's passing. That's not even counting the requests for new totems coming from the village as a whole. You certainly have your work cut out for you...

Chewing on a fresh roll you decide to equip yourself as best you can for the work ahead. You take the alembic purchased in Eluneia and nestle it amongst your totemcraft toolkit. With Amal at your side you set to work. You'll work on the essentials first...

> Roll 1d100 for repairing defunct defensive totems.

Then tackle the totems that increase the quality of life for your laborers...

> Roll 1d100 for repairing broken ultility totems.

And finally you'll do some research into the villagers' request for new totems.

> Roll 1d100 for researching totemcraft. [[A great success will increase your totemcraft skill!]]

Amal hovers at your side to fetch tools and chime in with the occasional bit of advice. You feel his influence speeding along the busywork, and he makes a good conversationalist besides. Terra keeps you supplied with a nigh-unlimited supply of bread and water while you work your way past the morning and into the afternoon.

Quinn returns in the midst of your work to add to the lists here and there. He observes over your shoulder as you chisel wood into arcane patterns, refine potent herbal elixers, and treat with spirits of flame, earth, and even light.

> 3d100 total for totemcraft. Amal will aid you by lowering the difficulty of this roll slightly.

Rolled 4, 48, 100 = 152 (3d100)

>>44657032

Rolled 8, 48, 51 = 107 (3d100)

>>44657032
weeeeeeeee

Rolled 7, 41, 71 = 119 (3d100)

>>44657032
>>44657032

>>44657032
and so it begins

Rolled 23, 59, 41 = 123 (3d100)

>>44657032

Rolled 58, 52, 32 = 142 (3d100)

>>44657032

Rolled 21, 94, 91 = 206 (3d100)

>>44657032
rollin

Rolled 40, 75, 73 = 188 (3d100)

>>44657032

Rolled 72, 77, 38 = 187 (3d100)

>>44657032

Rolled 31, 46, 31 = 108 (3d100)

>>44657032
Let's see

Damn, those defensive totems just are not coming together. We've got a totemcraft bonus now, though.

>>44657065
>>44657081
>>44657093
>best of first three is fucking 8
>100
the dice gods are in a strange mood tonight

>>44657065
>>44657081
>>44657093
4, 8, and 7
Wow.

>>44657116
So we just completely fumbled our way through the totems, but we figured out what we did wrong?

>>44657117
>>44657213

Osyki, great at everything about being a Totemist, except you know, the Totem part.

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>44657117
>>44657190
Osyki isn't good on defensive shits, now if it was for offensive shits?

>>44657425
mediocre apparently.

Underestimating the difficulty of a task, Ayren always taught you, was the surest way to absolutely fuck it up. No matter how trivial the pursuit he taught you to approach it with all the knowledge and skill you could possibly bring to bear, utilize all of the resources at your disposal.

You haven't been taking Ayren's advice to heart lately. Perhaps not as much as you should. Given recent revelations about his character (or lack thereof) you feel maybe you could be forgiven for that oversight, but...

> 8

> 48

These totems are dismal.

The defensive totems sit scorched and marred in the corner of your workbench where you've thrown them in abject frustration. The flame spirits you conjured to ward your walls against forest fire all but spit in your face and the phantasmal guardian spheres made to create the illusion of patroling guardsmen to would-be raiders nearly gave you a heart attack when they malfunctioned and drew in spectral vagabonds instead.

The utility totems fared little better. With a nudge here and a warning there from Amal you just managed to cobble together a few weatherproofing wards and warding stones, but... they're sloppy work. Amateurish. The sort of thing you'd expect from Terra's first fumbling experiments into the arcane. You'll probably need to replace them in a few months, speaking optimistically. You let out a groan of frustration, dropping your head into your hands.

Quinn and Terra give one another a look of concern over your muttered oaths. Terra moves to refill your water while Quinn sits down beside you. He sweeps away the sooty remnants of your laughable first efforts and plants one of Ayren's thick theoretical tomes in front of you.

“Looks like you need to hit the book again, boss,” he says. He nudges your ribs with his elbow, grinning. “Come on. No one should have to do this right when they wake up.”
(cont.)

>>44657607

You nod, draining the glass of water Terra sets before you. With Quinn and Terra on either side of you the three of you hit the books.

> 100

What starts as joking forays into ridiculous prank totems to lighten the mood suddenly sets a spark in Quinn's eye. He pulls a book from the shelf over the workbench, then another. You lean over his shoulder, rubbing the beginnings of stubble on your chin as you try to latch on to his idea.

“--Could it work?”

“The theory is solid. It doesn't defy any known laws of phantasmal interaction. I suppose in theory--”

The two of you spend another hour reading up together on advanced interactions between elemental energy at a minute level and theorizing the possible applications of a totem that could contain and filter certain strains of spiritual energy from the air.

> Outstanding Success! [[Your totemcraft knowledge has greatly increased!]]

> Critical Success!! [[You and Quinn have collaborated to produce a new totem recipe!]]

> [[New Totem Discovered: Panoptic Phantasm Mandala. A complex net of interwoven totems allowing a central totem to distribute its effects over a much wider area. Multiply the range of another totem by tenfold.]]
(cont.)

>>44657438
Compared to the defensive one we're god tier

>>44657628

“Brilliant,” you mutter. The two of you are ink-stained up to your elbows but you have a working blueprint. “It could actually work. We'd only need a third of the totems we have now for complete coverage if we could get these installed at even places across the walls and the pathways.”

“See that? You've still got it.” Quinn nods sagely, stroking an ink-beard down his chin without realizing. “You just can't get tripped up in the little stuff. That's what you've got apprentices for.”

You chuckle under your breath. “I suppose I'd better get you initiated in short order, then. Otherwise I'll kill myself on busywork.”

While Quinn sets to cleaning up the morning's work, you...

> Head out to gather materials for the Panoptic Totem.You'll need a lot of excess stock to get production rolling.
> Look into the materials necessary for the God's Eye Totem.
> Research local behemoths.
> Spend some time conferring with your spirits.
> Write-in

>>44657648
> Spend some time conferring with your spirits.

>>44657628
Wow, that's a useful totem. Do we still have any Bone Warden bits left around? Because I remember that there a totem using them that blocked incorporeal spirits from entering an area, but we didn't have enough to cover the whole village. This could change that.

>>44657648
> Research local behemoths.
We hopefully won't have to hunt one. But even if we don't, we should know what the Tyrant Wyrm and Allmother Mud are, at least.

>>44657648
> Look into the materials necessary for the God's Eye Totem.
> Head out to gather materials for the Panoptic Totem.You'll need a lot of excess stock to get production rolling.

Shopping trip!

>>44657648
>> Look into the materials necessary for the God's Eye Totem.
then
> Head out to gather materials for the Panoptic Totem.You'll need a lot of excess stock to get production rolling.

>>44657628
>> [[New Totem Discovered: Panoptic Phantasm Mandala. A complex net of interwoven totems allowing a central totem to distribute its effects over a much wider area. Multiply the range of another totem by tenfold.]]
That's a great thing to place with the walking totem we made since we would require less to cover more ground

>>44657648
>> Head out to gather materials for the Panoptic Totem.You'll need a lot of excess stock to get production rolling.
> Spend some time conferring with your spirits.

>>44657648
> Head out to gather materials for the Panoptic Totem.You'll need a lot of excess stock to get production rolling.
If we need more totem coverage, then we should get going on filling these holes in our defenses.

>>44657648
>> Head out to gather materials for the Panoptic Totem.You'll need a lot of excess stock to get production rolling.

>>44657648
>Research local behemoths.

The buzz of excitement from your breakthrough drives you to suit up for an expedition. You won't be able to gather all of the materials you need in one trip. Unfortunately, it looks like you'll need to hit the Brush, the Swamp, -and- the Mountains at one point or another to gather everything necessary to outfit the village. You'll need to split it up over two, possibly three trips. Definitely not something you can do in one day. Still, it's another goal to work toward.

> Current Loadout:
Boots: Cloudwalker Stride
Bow: Crystfire
Cloak: Atlas Pauldrons
Gloves: Bolide Bracers
Pants: Velociraptor Greaves
Shirt: Vestus Quies
Sword: Dawning Zephyr
Tome: Alruane's Codex

Loaded for hefty fieldwork without disturbing local wildlife.

You give Quinn and Terra a quick wave farewell before you head out. Quinn heads out behind you to distribute the utility totems you managed to cobble together. Terra's head is buried in the Almanac again.

The sky is shrouded by weighty clouds today. The evening breeze blew in the beginnings of a storm. You're not sure that you like your chances in the mountain today, given your previous encounter with the Storm Shepherds in rainy weather. Still, the fish scales you need from mountain springs may be lured to the surface by the rain if the weather breaks.

> Head for the Brush. You need to gather an armload of plants. (Optional: Take Elana / Quinn )
> Head for the Swamp. You need some sturdy vine fibers to form the basis of the mandala and some insect shells for ritual work.
> Head for the Mountains. This is your best chance to get those fish scales.
> Write-in

>>44658280
>> Head for the Brush. You need to gather an armload of plants. (Optional: Take Elana / Quinn )

>>44658280
>Head for the Mountains. This is your best chance to get those fish scales.

>>44658280
> Head for the Swamp. You need some sturdy vine fibers to form the basis of the mandala and some insect shells for ritual work.
Eh if it's gonna rain, might as well go somewhere that'll already be dreary.

>>44658280
>Head for the Mountains. This is your best chance to get those fish scales.

>>44658280
> Head for the Mountains. This is your best chance to get those fish scales.

>>44658280
> Head for the Mountains. This is your best chance to get those fish scales.

>>44658280
> Head for the Mountains. This is your best chance to get those fish scales.

>>44658280
>> Head for the Swamp. You need some sturdy vine fibers to form the basis of the mandala and some insect shells for ritual work.

>>44658280
>> Head for the Brush. You need to gather an armload of plants. (Optional: Take Elana / Quinn )

BOTH

>>44658311
>>44658336
>>44658344
>>44658358
>>44658372
Do we have any bindings that don't rely on Cordia that aids climbing and can prevent lightning strikes.

>>44658525
Climbing: Bulwark Aurum if Clouldwalkers Stride doesn't do it

Lightning strikes: Boand's Ripple binding, maybe

>>44658525
I think Bolide Bracers, Atlas Pauldrons and Cloudwalker Stride will be enough. Plenty of upper body strength and enhanced jumping. Besides, we're not going high in the mountains, just far enough to get to some ponds. Also, we're not wearing metal/crystal armor this time, so we're unlikely to be hit by lightning. Actually, shouldn't Cloudwalker Stride make it really hard for us to get hit by lightning in the first place? The electricity in our boots should keep us from emitting a positive leader upwards.

The looming cloud's don't look -too- threatening. With Fourth and Cordia's combined aid you should be able to muscle your way into some of the closed-off valley springs in the Ikrin range. Hopefully you can do so without disturbing too many of the local predators. If not, well... you'll have your spear.

You retrace the steps of the evening before. The North Gate comes into view ahead—Pierce gives you a friendly wave from atop the rampart which you return in kind.

“Going out? I'll open her up.”

You shake your head. Making yourself heard over the muffling magics of Vestus Quies is difficult, so you opt to simply leap over the walls. Pierce gives a delighted cry of surprise as you arc over him.

“Safe journeys!” he calls after your retreating back.

With the sun high overhead you feel at home amongst the rocky outcroppings of the mountain once more. The goat path is well-trafficked by the likes of Drakes during the day, so you opt for the road less traveled. With your boots it's a simple matter to scale the cliffs leading to the Rock Turtle nest.

The lumbering behemoths regard you with suspicion as you walk the rim of the crater that houses them. Scintillating gems gleam in their carapace despite the weak sunlight. None of the beasts drinking from the communal pool at the crater's center seem to sport the same sort of horn the Elder Turtle wore. A shame. You'd love to have another Crystal Spear to play around with.

The spring where you took Elana on a date is, unfortunately, empty. Predators must have cleaned the pool dry. It always surprises you to find fish in pools at this elevation. You attribute it to quirks of the local spirits. Maybe one of the valley lakes will yield more fruit.
(cont.)

>>44659066

Moving from peak to peak, you're careful to keep a wary eye out for any passing Drakes. The skies seem clear save for a few clouds of migratory birds, but the cloud cover overhead could conceal a number of invisible threats. You stop at one of the peaks just below the cloudline and leave an offering for the Shepherds. No sense disregarding common courtesy.

After an hour's search among the low-lying valleys you decide to trek a little further inward. You've never dared stray too far into the Ikrin range. Some truly nasty predators live closer to the heart of the peaks, things you've only heard about from Ayren's notes. At the very least, you'll have to watch your footing. Boulder Mimics and Trapdoor Devourers are notoriously indigenous to this region.

> Search for a valley lake.
> Check the peaks for a spring.
> Ask the Cloud Shepherds for aid.
> Write-in

>>44659066
I don't know why anyone in the village would assume that a wall would be an obstacle to Osyki, at this point. He's been jumping around like this for months now.

>>44659089
> Search for a valley lake.

>>44659089
> Check the peaks for a spring.

>>44659089
> Check the peaks for a spring.

>>44659089
> Search for a valley lake.

>>44659089
>> Check the peaks for a spring.

>>44659089
> Search for a valley lake.
Low-lying valleys seem like they'll have more life, which is good for familiarizing with potential resources.

>>44659089
> Search for a valley lake.

>>44659089
>> Check the peaks for a spring.
It might not be so bad to come across a Boulder Mimic or Trapdoor Devourer. they both sound like fun potential foci.

File: Osyki.jpg (119 KB, 731x1000)

119 KB JPG

[[ Sorry to cut things short so soon, folks, and my apologies for the slow session. My perennial internet issues are manifesting again and I don't really have the brainpower to rewrite the post that just got eaten. We'll end things here tonight and pick up with the search for supplies next time. As always, thanks for playing! Drop any questions or suggestions in my ask box.

Have a great week. ]]

>>44659578
Thanks for running, Diarca-san!

>>44659578
No problem, Diarca. Thanks for running. See you next time.

>>44659578
Thanks for running.
You don't write your posts in notepad then copy them?

>>44659635

[[ I do. I made the mistake of cutting and pasting rather than copying this time, so of course it came back to bite me. ]]

>>44659578
Tell sylvetica to run BSO again.

>>44659662
Ah, oh course, it's always the one time you don't take that extra step that something goes wrong.