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>>45679775

You return the smile. “I'll have to graciously accept, then. I'll look forward to seeing you in person.”

“'Till then.” The image winks out as she waves you a fond farewell. The canister drops with a weighty -thud- to the ground.

You pull Aria Nymph from your face, massaging the bridge of your nose. You haven't accomplished much, but the day seems as though it's dragged on. Perhaps tapping Modi Magni's power earlier took more out of you than you thought. Maybe it's just the stress of planning to fight a lizard that could swallow a god.

One way or another, you're exhausted.

You shed Bindings as you walk. The sun is slipping below the horizon as you enter the main room of the workshop. Terra is in the process of lighting the candles around the room.

“I think I might turn in early tonight,” you announce. “You okay to keep studying in the library?”

She nods. “Can you send Amal? He's good light for reading.”

You smile, pulling the prism from his amber charm. He follows Terra into the library. The door swings shut.

You're well asleep by the time it opens again.

–-

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>>45679792

Your slumber is sharper than it has been in the past few months, the images lingering more crisply in your mind. A feminine form moves sinuously against a background of crisp white. Streamers of vibrant color writhe against the stark black lines of the figure. Whispered words drift through your mind, streams of thought at once unintelligible and distinctly clear.

> At any time Osyki may tap the power of the Light, calling on the void seed within himself.

> The strength of the Light may be used to augment physical abilities or activate specialized manifestations known as Void Tremors.

> Void Tremors immediately end Osyki's Void Tap. Each Tremor carries a cost with it. These costs are revealed upon the first instance of utilizing a particular tremor.

> Void Tremors can be chained together for increasing level of potency, though Osyki will suffer each drawback consecutively once the Tremor ends.

> New Void Tremors can be unlocked through chaining existing Tremors. Others can be awakened through meditation.

> There is no mechanical cost to activate baseline Void augmentation.

–-

You awaken well before dawn. The hazy half-light of the approaching sun limns the Ikrin peaks outside the window in hazy witchlight.

You feel restless.

> Work on a Totem to take your mind off of your strange dreams.
> Go for a walk. You could use the fresh air.
> Try to go back to sleep. You need the rest.
> Commune with one of your spirits. (Which?)
> Head to Azeo Sicros.
> Write-in

>>45679792
Daww, and now I'm imagining Amal being a nightlight. It's a cute image.

>>45679806
> Head to Azeo Sicros.
See if Zahn knows what the hell we've screwed up that we've got Void-goo offering us power.

>>45679806
> Head to Azeo Sicros
Time to talk about:
Hunger
The Mage
Void infestation
Probably the Excorcia
Anything else?

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. A tense confrontation with a powerful hunter of Behemoth spawn carrying a fragment of the holy blade has given way to an uneasy truce for the time being.

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

>HTML Bindings Spreadsheet (Hover for descriptions!): http://zamubafoo.github.io/
>Plot Summary (Out of Date): http://pastebin.com/dqBSNUTM
>The Cast Thus Far / Binder's Log: http://pastebin.com/VsJpEUx3
>Ask: ask.fm/DiarcaEXE

Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest

I'm working on splitting the enormously bloated cast and binder's log pastebin into something a little more manageable. We'll have an updated version next thread.]]

>>45679806
> Head to Azeo Sicros.
We gotta hone Cordia and start getting gud

>>45679806
So, I vote we never use any of these powers, ever. Now, I know there will be those accusing me of alarmist paranoia, and insisting that we shouldn't throw away such a potentially useful advantage. I say those people are exactly the sort of idiots who got us into this mess. No touching Void powers, minimize its hold on us at every opportunity.

>>45679949
> There is no mechanical cost to activate baseline Void augmentation.

Why have we only tried one shield binding? I think a cordia shield would be badass since earth magic meshes well with defense.

>>45679970
That doesn't mean there isn't a narrative cost. Having no direct backlash for using its power is exactly what something trying to tempt us to its service would do.

>>45679949
I'll second this. We shouldn't forget how we got these powers in the first place, or that "no mechanical cost" doesn't mean "no cost".

>>45680018
This timid attitude that's surfaced lately is harming the quest immensely

>>45680074
Funny, I could have sworn that the problem was people insisting on taking stupid risks despite knowing better.

>>45680113
>honing is a stupid risk
>awful rolls are somehow everyone else's fault
Oh, you're one of those guys. I should've known.

>>45680144
Honing is not a stupid risk. What was stupid was the sudden decision to do it out of nowhere. We weren't there to Hone, we were there to get advice from Zahn and then go home. But some chucklefucks decided that no, we had to get everything ready RIGHT NOW, nothing can wait, this is an emergency and we have to do everything we can to prepare immediately! And what's more, let's Hone our most difficult and aggressive spirit despite our easiest one already nearly killing us! Yeah, this is a great idea!

>>45680018
>>45679949
It's also something that everything that doesn't have a backlash does already. I don't see you calling Boand into question because all she requires in payment is the occasional bath.
Why aren't you suspecting her of a greater plot to steal Oysiki away? If he makes such a great mana battery, surely that's a good enough incentive. Why aren't you clamoring to be cautious about using her binding or getting into her waters just in case she decides to pull a Siren?

Because that's fucking stupid and so is your idea.

>>45680197
It went badly because of shit rolls. That's it. And we do have to start powering up quickly if we want to do what we have planned.

>>45680242
inb4 he says we shouldn't fight the behemoth

>>45680202
The difference is that Boand is a known factor. She's always been friendly with us, so when she offers to exchange favors we have no reason to suspect her. But when a creature that has been nothing but hostile to us suddenly offers us superpowers, then it's a bit more reasonable to assume it's got some ulterior motive.

>>45680267
We shouldn't. What we should do is keep opening those drawers, we've managed to unlock only one more of them since we discovered we need the Behemoth Spark. We gave up on that plan way too easily when the alternative is "fight psychic Godzilla".

>>45679806
>> Commune with one of your spirits. (Which?)
>> Head to Azeo Sicros.
Lets get the OK to hone thane!

>>45680007
Probably because we only used one like once.

>>45680359
But we can't trust thane! Doing anything with him is too risky and dangerous for Osyki. We should never take a single risk.

>>45680074
In fairness there is a difference between not squaring up to wing boy timid and not using fucking corruptive magic that comes from an unknown entity that wants to possess our body timid.

>>45680383
We've been getting by with mirror bindings pretty well, though. "Reflection" seems to be a good trait to combine with elemental energy, makes for good defenses.

>>45680291
Yeah we can't trust cordia either. She used to be an evil bone warden. She's probably just pretending to be nice so we let our guard down.

>>45680267
How tall is that thing again? 170 meters? I want to check something with dubious maths.

>>45680409
I second this motion, and further suggest that we begin construction on a sandpit we can stick our head into for all time.

>>45680438
Man, new void bitch isn't even pretending she isn't setting us up to get possessed. She just isn't acting like a huge dick about it.

>>45680409
Agreed. Thane is super shady (pardon the pun). I don't want to let him get too close to our soul. Do we have any other spirits that are good for stealth? I think the Raptor has a few bindings that help with that, doesn't it?

>>45680438
Good point, though I think as long as we don't let her have direct access to our soul we should be fine. But you never know when her hunger might resurface. We'll have to keep an eye on her.

>>45680488
There's something fishy about our rock turtle too. Never talking to us? He's up to something. We should stop using him.

>>45680488
>taking the false flagging anon seriously
he's mocking you desu senpai

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The chill of the twilight soaks deep into your bones, even beneath your heavy blankets. You resist the urge to curl up into a small ball and bask in your own body heat until the sun returns. Your feet slip snugly into your boots. The tortoise-shell toes gleam in the dying light of the hearth.

Rubbing the sleep from your eyes you slip the Portal Stone from the side pocket of your pack. The swirling nexus of color at the center of the stone reminds you uncomfortably of the undulating waves of color that haunted your dreams. You set the disc aside for a moment while you gather the majority of your belongings. No need for your big pack today. You're not going far.

With Foci lining the innards of your cloak and your belt you invoke the Portal Stone's innate magic. The world bulges and flexes inward before your eyes, splitting into a deep tunnel. The portal devours you in an instant. When your head ceases swimming you're descending stretch of foggy air above Azeo Sicros' topmost tower. You draw your cloak tight around yourself and head in, slipping through the gap in the enormous double-doors.

The Eidolon hall is colder than your hut was by far. The forge, at least, is toastier.

You await Zahn's presence within the forge. Laying your cloak flat on one of the tables to examine your Foci, you consider how best to spend your time. The heart of the forge pulses in metronome time above you. The soft bubbling of the magmatic pools below couples with the crystal to form the heartbeat of the forge.

A panoply of spirits to do your bidding. Crystals and bone and gleaming stone.

> Hone one of your spirits. (Which?)
> Question Zahn on the nature of Behemoths and Uruhal Olihim.
> Ask Zahn about the Void.
> Ask Zahn about the Magus.
> Ask Zahn about Avasi Excorcia.
> Begin sketching ideas for a behemoth-slaying weapon.
> Write-in

>>45680563
No, I'm pretty sure he's just not capable of speech. Most beast spirits can't, after all. I guess we could capture another mutant Rock Turtle and study it to see if it can talk, if it can then our Turtle's refusal to would be suspicious. Unless it was the exception, they are mutants. Study all of the mutant Rock Turtles, then? That would take a lot of time. I think we'll just have to risk it for now.

>>45680629
Really? I had no idea. I certainly wasn't just playing along in hopes that he'd eventually get frustrated and stop bitching.

>>45680630
> Hone one of your spirits. (Which?)
Cordia

>>45680630
> Ask Zahn about the Void.

>>45680630
> Ask Zahn about the Void.

>>45680630
> Ask Zahn about the Void.

>>45680630
>> Ask Zahn about the Void.

I miss traveling through the wilderness and fighting things to bind their spirits

>>45680449
Ok I have done some secondary school level maths and have determined that the tyrant has a stride of 368.29 feet. Now I dont know how exactly to translate that into speed but the thing is roughly 28.33 times the height of a real T. Rex and can use magic to fuck over the square cube law.

>>45680630
>> Begin sketching ideas for a behemoth-slaying weapon.
when Zahn shows up
> Ask Zahn about the Void.

>>45680720
Last time we went out and hunted something people were bitching that we had too many snakes. And they were fucking wrong.

>>45680720
Weren't we planning on finding an avatar to guard the village soon?

>>45680862
Still think we should just use a rock turtle.

>>45680630
>Behemoth Weapon
>Magus
>Void

we should bind zahn once we become god, incidentally

>>45680630
>> Hone one of your spirits. (Which?)
Thane!
>> Question Zahn on the nature of Behemoths and Uruhal Olihim.
That might help us with the behemoth slaying weapon, if we take some lessons in behemoth theory

>>45680780
I am almost certain I am wrong but if it moves at the same speed at a T. Rex but taller does that just mean you scale up a T. Rex's speed by the things height? Because that means by some estimates the fucking thing might run at 500 miles an hour.

God I remember when I could understand maths.

>>45681021
That's a bit complicated. It likely ignores the square-cube law, so it should be able to move its limbs as proportionately fast as a normal T-Rex was able to. But depending on how much actual physical strength it has it might not be able to actually run. Running is more like a series of small jumps than it is like walking, so it might not be able to move as far with each push off the ground as you' expect. At the very least it can walk ten times faster than a T-Rex could. Running that much faster might not be possible.

Can we bind the tyrant and use it to guard our village?

>>45681141
You know, it's not clear. We know it's possible to bind Behemoths, but harvesting its "vital spark" might disrupt the ritual. And we know it's a lot more complicated than a normal Feral Binding even if you're not trying to get something else out of the kill.

>>45681141
Its mere presence would destroy the village

>>45681194
Do we really want to keep giant death incarnate monster spirits that even alleged gods are afraid of hanging around?

>>45681129
I am operating on the assumption that it can run because it is magical. Also ten times the walk speed could be anywhere between 50-110 miles an hour depending on your interpretation. I would lean towards the later because again, its magic.

>>45681259
So alright, then, our lower bound for its speed is 50 mph. Upper bound is anywhere from 110 to 500 mph. And even if we could outpace it, it has mind-crush powers, so it could paralyze us anyway. Well, good thing we're taking the battle to it instead of the other way around.

>>45681300
I'm going to mention this from before, we can do some hillariously broken shit with the void key, including one or two tricks I've stolen from other well known sources. If we have two people we can lay out a string between us, lock it, and use it to cut the legs off of that over-sized turkey.

>>45681300
I was mostly point this out to show how quickly the thing could turn up to attack somewhere. I mean its all well and good not preparing for it now because it isn't around but when it can travel the length of a small country in an hour or three we might want to start gearing up just in case.
>>45681365
Isnt he too spiritually powerful for our regular stuff? Gonna need a lot of string as well dude, it should cover over a hundred meters with each step. Probably step over the string.

>>45681445
My point is, we can use some clever locking to give things cartoon physics, like closing a door behind us and locking it. Also, we have several abilities allowing us to produce stone pillars, so what if we locked those as well.

What about, once it's dead, using its body as a gaint scarecrow?

>>45681485
Can we lock multiple stuff at once?
>>45681493
Man we could probably house the village in the damn thing.

>>45681485
Right, but the Tyrant Wyrm crushes lesser magics directed at it. The freezing effect is applied to the string, but in having to resist the force the Wyrm exerts on it it might count as targeting the Wyrm and be negated.

>>45681493
Man, what aren't we going to do with its corpse? It's 120 meters tall, we're going to have enough bone, leather and meat to keep our village busy for months. And that's leaving aside any useful mystical components we can harvest from it.

Or, if these things lay eggs/have kids, they'd make a mean omelet/babyback ribs, which would also serve as great bait for leading it to whatever!

Another idea would be to sea if we could lead it into, or really close to the ocean. With how heavy it is, it'd sink right into the sand/ground.

That and I'm willing to bet that if there's things that big on land then there must be even bigger shit in the ocean like that SCP that makes up a entire continental shelf. http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-169

>>45681679
Man the thing walks at least 50 miles an hour. How do we lead it anywhere.

>>45681679
Diarca has confirmed that there are MUCH worse Behemoths in the sea than on land. More room to grow, more food to eat, and even with their magic anti-square-cube law powers it helps to have bouyancy to counter their weight. The Behemoths of the sea, or Leviathans I suppose, are one of the big reasons why sea travel isn't a common thing in this world.

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Rolled 74 (1d100)

Alright, it's been over an hour, I'm firing up the summoning circle.

>>45681855
Oh wait, it's been less than an hour, going by 4chan's clock. I guess my computer's clock is fast. Whoops. Sorry, Diarca, performed the ritual too soon.

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>45681855

>>45681743
We lead it by starting off far ahead of the thing, if it's that big, it must have vision/some other sense, proportional to its size. Then we just need to give it something tantalizing enough to go for. Large energy source? Some sort of magically enchanted taunt?

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You set to tinkering with a few sketches of a Behemoth killer. A giant sword would be too unwieldy. Maybe an enormous bow? A sized-up bolt-thrower could do the trick, though the recoil on such a device would be enormous. Maybe a trap would be the better way to go—some mystical binding circle reinforced with energy-sapping crystals could level the playing field. But how would you prepare a circle that large? If Alruane's Codex is accurate this would be a monster the likes of which you've never seen—a castle-sized goliath of a lizard.

Zahn manifests in its usual way. The only notice you get of its presence is a chill down your spine and a single black feather. The downy plume alights atop your sketches. You glance up to find the First Totemist hovering above you.

“It's early yet, Osyki,” Zahn says. “What have you come seeking?”

You take a step back to better fit the hovering spirit in your field of view without craning your neck. “Knowledge, primarily,” you tell it. “Do you have time to talk?”

Zahn descends until it hovers over the table you were working atop. The forge-light carves a gleaming line across the inside of the crescent moon its mask bears. “All the time you do.” It wheezes, though you don't think that was meant to be a laughing exhalation. “Speak.”

You fold your arms over your chest. The veins of black creeping just beneath your skin are visible in the forgelight. Small wonder Quinn and Terra haven't noticed yet. You know for a fact you won't be able to sneak it past Elana. “When you pulled me out of the void you must have noticed the state of my arm.”

“What was left of it,” Zahn agrees. “What of it?”

“You seemed to recognize the power that had kept it attached.” Your arm unfolds, outstretched toward the ancient spirit. The void-lines within shiver at direct exposure to the light. “I was hoping you could tell me more about it.”

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>>45682104

Zahn nods. “I told you once that this world was young, Totemist. Do you recall?”

“Of course.” Zahn's moving murals left an impression, after all.

“Would it surprise you to learn that there are beings older than the world?”

You frown. “I hadn't considered it. I suppose the concept is possible. Spirits?”

“Of a sort.” Zahn's cloak billows. You find your eyes drawn to the hazy lines of heat rising from the pools around you. Your gaze follows the distortion upward as Zahn speaks. “Though this world is yet in its nascent development, there are traces of something older littered across the earth. Artifacts whose very presence bespeaks a lineage beyond the dawn of time. Beings whose power defies comprehension, especially when confined to the limited span of our world's life.”

“Outsiders,” you supply. The roof above you churns disconcertingly as the heat of the forge pools against it.

“Visitors,” Zahn agrees. “Beings who originate from a world older than our own.”

“You've encountered these outsiders before?”

“Briefly.” The roof of the forge seems to melt away at Zahn's words. A vista of stars to shame the night sky surges in to fill the gaps like wine spilled across a cloth. “I think it best not to trifle with that I have no hope of comprehending.”

Something lurks in the space between those stars. Something stirs, sending cosmic ripples not so disimilar to those heat shimmers dancing across the starry vault above.

“Your master called the The Void. Some have known it as The Abyss. Others, the Heavens. It is a space that lurks spiritually and physically beyond our planes of travel and understanding.”

“Ayren knew of it?” Your gaze snaps down to Zahn. The feathers of its robe seem to reflect the stars above for a moment. It nods to you.
(cont.)

>>45681955
Yeah good luck staying ahead of it. I could potentially run at five hundred miles an hour.

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>>45682132

“Your mentor was a well-read man. Over the span of our existence in this place we have encountered denizens of the Void only rarely. Still, the encounters are often striking enough to merit chronicling.”

Your hand flinches involuntarily to the spot just below your heart where the primordial spirit had struck.

“The motivations of those denizens are unknown. Written accounts exist of abductions of royalty and common folk, depictions of vast destruction and chaos. Others barely register in the greater annals of history. Chance encounters, you understand. Barely memorable against the backdrop of beasts and men.”

“What do they want?”

Zahn shakes its head. “Their motivations are inscrutable. They drift in and out of our history—that of Totemists—like a passing cloud shadow.”

You clench your fist, allowing your marked arm to drop to your side.

[CHOOSE TWO]

> “Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”
> “Should I be worried about my arm?”
> “So it's not an evil force?”
> “I think I've communed with one of those denizens.”
> Write-in

>>45682164
> Write-in
"How do I get rid of it?"
> “Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”

>>45682164
>> “Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”
> “So it's not an evil force?”

>>45682164
> “I think I've communed with one of those denizens.”
> “Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”
I say we tap the void so he can see what it's like and tell us about it

>>45682164
Backing >>45682187. We need to get it out.

>>45682164
>“Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”
I dont think anyone is surprised our master was involved in this somehow.

>>45682164
“I think I've communed with one of those denizens.”
“Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”

So why didn't we go to the mine to hunt for materials instead of just constantly yo-yoing back and forth even though that takes precious time?

>>45682187
>thinking we can get rid of it
You haven't been paying attention

>>45682248
No, I've been paying attention, I'm just not past the denial stage yet. Give me a few more threads.

>>45682164
>> “Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?”
> “I think I've communed with one of those denizens.”

>>45682221
Nobody really knows what we should be doing right now. We've been spending a lot of time talking without accomplishing much lately though

>>45682221
Because we needed information. We should go to the mine once we're done here, though. See if we can find any more lightning crystals. I think we're probably going to wind up making some sort of storm-spear, based on our skills and available materials.

>>45682306
And get a pair of rock turtles while we are there, one for us and one to watch the town so we can open that fucking drawer.

>>45682284
I think we should hone a spirit. It's the quickest way to increase our power. Cordia would be a goodness choice because she said extremely trustworthy and we are badass when we use earth magic.

>>45682332
We already voted to get an avatar guardian.

>>45682284
I think once we're done here what we should do is build another Beacon totem and get Boand to ferry it over to near Eluneia. We'll need to head out that way soon for a number of reasons. Getting back to Eluneia once they're done deliberating, asking Tybalt for the Silver Hawk's help in fighting the Tyrant, planting the Mother's seed, and searching for Avatars if we decide to pursue that. So we need to get that done no matter what, and the sooner the easier. Then we should head out into the mountains to investigate the mine, see if we can find any more lightning crystals or other useful magical materials.

>>45682374
When?

>>45682393
Thread 73.

>>45682428
Eh, that was before we realized we had a world of shit to do and little time to do it. We should still get one for ourselves.

>>45682164
> “Have you ever heard the name Syn Calizan?” Don't say the full name though I feel like that'd be a bad idea.
> “I think I've communed with one of those denizens.”

>>45682487
>disregard consensus because you say so
lol no

>>45682532
I mean we should still get one for personal use. Since we have fuck all healing ability we might as well up our defense. There is a whole colony of the damn things like five minutes away.

>>45682574
We do have a healing ability though. The void power heals us automatically. Also rock turtles are weak and hardly worth getting.

>>45682618
I'm not sure the Void automatically heals us, or if that was a one-time thing as it dug its claws in. And the strength of a creature is not a one to one relationship with the strength of the totems it produces. The Emperor Cobra went down like a chump and it's produced some of our strongest bindings.

>>45682618
Negro please. Void shit is trying to take over our body and the one turtle we have kicks ass in a figuratively and literally. Only problem is it cant protect us much because its constantly in our boots.

>>45682686
What makes you so sure using void powers increases its power over us?

>>45682797
Why wouldn't it? And also why chance it? Not like another defensive binding is going to hurt us.

>>45682797
Literally every interaction we've ever had with it. I don't know why people keep trying to defend this thing. It has outright stated on multiple occasions "You're going to do this whether you like it or not, either do it willingly or we'll force you."

>>45682917
>I don't know why people keep trying to defend this thing.
Two reasons, both on its chest.

>>45682964
>le waifufag boogeyman
lol nope. void powers are hella useful. we can't do anything about this prophecy we're embroiled in so we might as well get some use out of it.

Its already too late, whatever game the void spirits have they've already won at, and if they haven't then they will.

>>45682985
>we cant do anything about the creatures older than the world taking over our body so lets just abuse their powers.

Fuckin A! This quest! I it totally slipped off my radar for a bit. Last thing I remember we were headed to a demon forge maybe? Somethin of that sort? No, the Tyrant I think? Yeah that's probably it. Is the plot summary enough to see me sort of caught up or should I get ready for an archive binge?

>>45682985
While I agree partially, I think we should save any use of it for when we cant afford not to, and definitely not rely on it, just so we dont end up giving up more then we gain.

>>45682284
Well here's the immediate issues.
1: turns out Pierce doing feral bindings without being initiated is a huge deal we can't avoid him facing some sort of trial, but properly inducting him is still needed. The problem is we need a Behemoth spark to do it, and we can't find Ayren's. The solutions to this are as follows:

>>45683019
>I feel the void overtaking me! It is a good pain.

>>45683052
Well that goes without saying. Some players are so opposed to it that they would rather let Osyki die than use void powers though.

>>45683018
We have nothing but their word to go on for that, and they have every reason to lie, and even if theyre not lying, we have no reason to believe theyre infallible. Stop being so easily swayed.

>>45683051
Probably binge.

>>45683051
Well, I think you should archive binge anyway, but the summary is fairly accurate up to a couple threads ago. What happened since the point where it cut off was that we bit off more than we could chew when it came to Honing the Avatar of Hunger, got wounded in the process, and triggered the Void taint in us to actively manifest. Now we're trying to figure out how to deal with it while also working on our other plans.

>>45683080
I'm not going on there word, I'm going on we don't know there motive or how to stop them and whatever they were trying to accomplish they likely have or are actively accomplishing it without us detecting it.

By the way, assuming anons keep bitching about enshrining a spirit for the village immediately rather then looking for something appropriate and preferably powerful to guard the single most important location in the game so far, What would you think of using the Crystal Wurm, rather then the Rock Turtle?

>>45683065
A: keep opening Ayren's drawers, which are as follows
a: Enshrine a Land Guardian. This could be easy with a rock turtle, but it seems people want to be fancy and get a non aggressive Avatar, in which there have been several suggestions on where to look, but no time to do it. There's also the avatar finding ritual, but is there any knowledge we can afford to lose right now?

Note: Grisoch is apparently prime spiritual real estate, given Zahn is hanging around, maybe ask him about it.

>>45683110
Oh, wait, one more thing that I feel dumb for forgetting: We met another Totemist, or at least someone who has Totemic gear. He showed up to destroy the Basilisk Wyrm's nest, not knowing that it was already dead, at the urging of a fragment of Illituvia, the holy blade that our master once wielded. We're still figuring out what to do with him, but we parted on if not friendly than at least agreeable terms.

>>45683136
I was saying rock turtle because what could provide better protection than a fucking turtle made out of rock? Plus we could do it easily enough and not have to travel across the globe again and not have to give up anything useful to us.

>>45683143
Zahn sort of has to hang around here I imagine.

>>45683051
>>45683097
>>45683110
>>45683147
Thanks, yeah I just checked the archive and realized that I'm 3 years and more than 30(?) threads behind. I'll check out and read through the archives rather than read the summary and start voting half cocked.

>>45683196
Like this right here, perfect example. I remember that turtle being fairly useful.

'You'll find out sooner or later, after all.'

The Light within you (for you can think of your strange passenger by no other name) seemed unconcerned with letting slip the title of the thing it calls master. As if such a thing was common knowledge. You wonder...

“Zahn, have you ever heard the name--”

You wince. Your throat seizes, buckles inward as if unwilling to speak the words that come next. The Light's influence? Or maybe something even more sinister, an anathematic pattern of syllables unwilling to be spoken aloud. You do your best to center yourself as Zahn hovers curiously before you, willing yourself to swallow the lump in your throat. Your adam's apple works once, twice. Oxygen.

“Calizan,” you manage in a half-choked whisper. You hope Zahn was paying attention. You're not sure you'll be able to repeat yourself.

Fortunately the name seems to register. The First floats closer. “Perhaps. I'll need to research it further, but the phrase seems familiar. Why do you ask?”

With the threat of utterance now past the muscles in your neck can relax. “I believe I've communed with one of those denizens,” you tell Zahn. “A chance encounter in the Mist between here and Eluneia. It left its mark.” You hold out your arm once more. “I'm not exact sure of the intention, but I know that mark is the only reason my arm is still attached. The one who marked me mentioned a prophecy of some kind.”

Zahn cuts you off with another rasping wheeze. You're sure this one is meant to be a chuckle of some sort. “The interesting fact of living in a freshly born world is that prophecy abounds. Visions and psychic aftershocks still linger from the creation of the world around us. None of them are incontrovertible. No prediction is a death sentence.”

“Even when pronounced by what is probably a denizen of the Abyss?”

Zahn shakes its head. “If that is indeed what you encountered.”
(cont.)

>>45683196
Dude we've already decided to go get a benevolent avatar. Why is this so hard to understand? Avatars are stronger than normal spirits and we want something as strong as possible to guard the village.

>>45683215
Yeah but I meant more the fact that Azeo Sicos is located here might mean that Grisoch is a lot more than a small frontier town.

>>45683285

You allow your arm to drop to your side once more. “Your recommendation?” you venture after a moment's silence.

Zahn seems to consider that carefully before responding. The points of light within the mask rake your arm analytically.

“Tread carefully,” Zahn tells you. “Without knowing the intent of these spirits I cannot divine their plans for you. Still, you are the first I know of to acquire a mote of strength from those who dwell beyond. Investigate without reckless action. Preparation and knowledge will see you through.”

You run a hand through your hair. Easier said than done. The weight of your missed hours of sleep crumbles onto your shoulders.

> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”
> “Do you mind if I rest here?” (Meditate)
> Write-in

>>45683289
Because we aren't taking any steps to do that, instead trying to rush a Behemoth fight?

>>45683296
Well yeah, this is giant monster ground zero. Zahn told us that.

>>45683307
> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”
We've got a lot of work to do. I know people want to Hone a spirit, but we really do have a lot of pressing matters that we can't wait on. I'd like to get at least one of them done this thread.

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”

>>45683196
The Rock Turtle is one of the MOST useful bindings we have, as well as our first, And Since its a mutant elder rock turtle, it CANNOT be replaced. And even then, it's simply not as potent as some other options we could gain access to. It just doesnt make a lot of sense.

>>45683307
Ask him if Grisoch requires a special kind of Guardian to enshrine due to its location, also ask what the Gates of Mu are and how we might open them.

>>45683307
>> “Do you mind if I rest here?” (Meditate)
Rest, cleanse, THEN hone.

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”

>>45683339
They're saying find the biggest non mutant rock turtle and bind and enshrine that.

>>45683307
>> “Do you mind if I rest here?” (Meditate)

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”
Cordia!

>>45683307
> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”

>>45683339
I mean get another one. There are like, pods of them up on that mountain. Plus it was one of the first things amal suggested.

>>45683317
God fucking dammit, We went through this last thread.
We arent Rushing shit, you are talking out of your ass.
We are Just PLANNING, any fight is likely a month or more away.

>>45683307
>> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”
Not again

>>45683345
Like c'mon guys, while we're here we might as well ask these questions just to save time later. Also >>45683307
Ask if there's a faster way to talk to him?

>>45683307
>> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”

>>45683307
>“Thank you Zahn. I should go.”
Whatever else we do we should probably mention land spirits to him. He is a totemist after all.

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”

>>45683378
Then whats the fucking point? If we're just going to enshrine some literal random animal, then why not get the best thing we can find, rather then the easiest, rote option? This is HUGE deal, and time isnt our problem, STRENGTH is, anything thats going to be guarding Grisoch is going to have to be at leaast strong enough to defend against the things We KNOW might come after it, including the Magus, The Void, a Behemoth, Or any of the Cities who might decide to turn on us for some reason. A random Turtle isnt my idea of the best defense.

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”

>>45683307
> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”
Everyone voting for the Hall of Reflection, please note this line:
>The weight of your missed hours of sleep crumbles onto your shoulders.
Osyki is tired. Now is not the time to do a difficult spiritual ritual.

>>45683484
Because getting a sweet avatar will take an age and a day and require we give up some secret bullshit we could probably use to track it down. Random animals is literally the first suggestion we got. Pretty sure they were described as ideal.

>>45683307
> “Thank you Zahn. I should go.”

>>45683307
> “Is the Hall of Reflection open?”

>>45683567
We only need to sacrifice an Avatar if we're doing that ritual, there's no reason we couldn't find one the normal way.

>>45683554
we just woke up. if we're still tired now we will always be tired.

>>45683607
Whats the normal way? We have met a grand total of two avatars. One we started with and one we used the ritual to find. Neither of them are exactly town guardian material either.

>>45683607
Excuse me, sacrifice knowledge to get an Avatar, not sacrifice an Avatar itself.

>>45683610
Or Osyki could go back to sleep. That is an option available to him, and one that is quite appropriate given the extremely early hour.

>>45683665
The same way you find anyone. Consulting with locals, looking for signs of their passage, going places they're most likely to visit...you know, the way people who don't have magic find things.

>>45683695
We can use Amal to find any spirit in the local area now

>>45683607
YES, this. Im not even saying an Avatar is the only option, just anything NOT a random choice only for the sake of making a choice.
Why are there suddenly all the people the thread arguing for making bad decisions, based on factors that arent even a thing? Just because we dont have an avatar to enshrine RIGHT NOW, doesnt mean we still have to enshrine something RIGHT NOW, AND grab the first thing that comes to mind!. I cant even see the logic behind some of this crap

>>45683730
Could we modify that range increasing totem to help Amal search in a larger range?

>>45683665
Don't be silly, Modi you be the perfect choice.
But seriously, we can ask around. We know several groups with decent info networks. There has to be at least rumors.

>>45683695
Man, as far as I remember they were mentioned to live in ruins somewhere in a far away country. Hunger turned up practically in our back yard without us noticing, you think we have time to sleuth out a spirit in a foreign country when we got so much shit to do? Even disregarding the space godzilla knock off running around faster than a 747 we have a lot of thing we need to be doing.

>>45683789
maybe. what happens if we bind a spirit to a totem?

>>45683882
A magic totem or like a pole with carvings on it totem?

>>45683819
So what, it isnt going to go any faster if we go hunting random rock turtles. We have other options, and so far the only arguments in favor of the rock turtle is that its quick.

>>45683761
The best I can see is that it's Zahn's fault. He dropped a bunch of new priorities on us all at once, so together with our previous ones it feels like we're overburdened and have to get something done about at least one of these things. It doesn't help that there are a number of possible ways to deal with the new priorities, so we're scrambling about trying to do all of them instead of focusing. Combine that with the new toys that Azeo Sicros has opened up to us and it hits /tg/ right in all its hyperactivity buttons.

>>45683819
We didn't notice Hunger because we weren't looking. And its presence was noticed by the other spirits, remember how the Mother of the Swamp already knew about it and was going to tell us about it, making our ritual completely redundant? Plus it's not a far-away country, it's the region west of Eluneia. We've got a Beacon Totem here, Boand can drop one off in Eluneia through her river network, and we can take a third with us to leave in the new area once we hike there. Just a little bit of prep and we could hop back and forth from the new hunting grounds to Grisoch with ease. We don't even have to invest any work in it ourselves, making totems isn't something that our apprentices need to be initiated to do, and they made the last one.

>>45683905
A magic totem. Like the ones we make all the time.

>>45683920
Also our wisdom spirit guy telling us it would make an ideal choice to protect the place and open another one of those wretched drawers. It might have the behemoth bits in it for all we know.

>>45683978
We could just ask zahn right now actually. You know what there should be around here, a big encyclopedia with animals and potential effects their bindings might produce. Its something I would make if I was a totemist and not incredibly lazy.

>>45683978
iirc diarca said on his ask page that it wouldn't work. Has to be a mundane non-living thing.

>>45683882
dont we already have an artifact that does fusions?

>>45683761
Here, I'll even put out 3 alternative options to go along with that.
1, We Instead have Amal help us locate the most potent and symbolically appropriate beast in the surrounding territories, with defensive aspects for use to hunt, which we then refine, with a mind to enhance those aspects, and then enshrine that.

2, Similar to 1 but with a focus on spirits and elementals, and having Boand help extend our search. Avatars are generally more powerfu, but a Spirit might have some aspects that would make it more useful in this situation, and still reach a similar if not equal potency. Refine, Enshrine.

3, We find a spirit to make a pact with, rather then feral bind, either in this or the World Beyond, and enshrine that. Making contact that way could also increase our pool of allies, and we generally havent put much work into pure spirits anyway, so at least it would be interesting. And at the very least it would guarantee we could enshrine something that at least could understand speech.

I'd go for all of these, over the rock turtle

>>45684288
That's double-binding two spirits into one object. I think he's talking about binding a spirit into one of the minor totems we make through ritual.

>>45684108
Im pretty sure a couple of threads ag, we found a totem Ayren created that made like, a lens or something that would allow us to do something like that, seeing the possible parts of a binding or something.
It was promptly ignored

>>45684414
> A Rock Turtle of sufficient age would be an implacable guardian
Is what Amal said about the locals. He also said something local would resonate well since its from around here.

>>45684428
We do need to practice/research Double binding methods as well though, just want to bring that up again.

>>45684476
You mean the Bracelet of Binding Threads? We use that. It helps us make Celestial Pacts. We just haven't made many of those, yet.

>>45684562
Nah, Im pretty sure it was something more recent. I'll have to re-read throught the last few threads.

We could always pull a Gaul move out of there playbook, bait it into a canyon, and cause a massive landslide on its ass.

>>45684634
Its bigger than godzilla dude.

>>45684606
I think I found it in Thread 71. Is this what you were thinking of?
>“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.”

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

Yeah, that does sound useful. And the narrative also said that the ingredients were similar to ones we've already used, so we might have them just lying around. I guess we just forgot in the hub-bub over Honing Amal. But yeah, we should make this as soon as we can.

>>45684606
>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem
Found it, it was in Thread 71.
Qoute: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.”
Super helpful. As best you can figure, it's some sort of tool to identify the base properties of spirits whom you encounter.

End Quote.
Like I said:
Promptly Ignored.

>>45684715
Well, probably because we don't have the ingredients. Though the description is a bit contradictory, it says that they're some beasts whose names we don't recognize, but there's a note in the narration after that section which says that it uses similar ingredients to the ones in the lenses we made for the miners. I guess most of them are familiar, and it's just those few that we don't know?

>>45684709
>>45684715
Sounds like we would have to go track down things to rip their eyes out. While useful we are a little bit busy.

>>45684709
Beat me too it anon, Thank you.
>>45684670
You know what anon, youre right, theres no way we can ever beat a behemoth, ever.
Diarca designed the creature,gave it the thing we needed and brought it up JUST so we could attempt it and fail, with no possible way to win, Just to fuck us over.

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“Thank you, Zahn.” You bow to the First, stretching tired muscles as you do. “I appreciate your counsel and candor. I should be going.”

Hesheza nods. “I will be here when you have need of further conversation.”

You turn to leave. Before you go, though, a thought strikes you. “Hesheza?”

The First looks back to you.

“I came across a reference to the 'Five Gates of Mu' in Ayren's notes.” Not the exact truth, but much faster than explaining the draconian post-mortem trials your mentor arranged for you. “Do you know what that is?”

Zahn huffs, his feathers ruffling. “I see some of my lecturing sank into your late predecessor's thick skull.Mu is a concept among Totemists.”

“A concept with gates?”

Zahn returns to your level. “A concept with stages of progress. Calling them Gates serves as well as any other metaphor, I suppose.”

You shift your weight onto your back foot. “What is Mu?”

The lights in Zahn's mask go out for a moment. It takes you a few seconds to realize this is the First's version of closing his eyes. “Mu is a state of being. To be a Totemist is to straddle the border between the realms of matter and spirit.”

“The World and the World Without,” you recite by rote.

Zahn nods. “Just so. To walk to path of Totemist is to exist equally within those two realms. Mu is the idealized perfection of that state. A Totemist who has achieved Mu exists in both the material plane and the spirit realm simultaneously. To achieve Mu is to find balance within oneself and unite one's spirit with one's flesh. Perfect union of two opposites.”
(cont.)

>>45684762
We cant se being busy as an excuse to not do things that will help make us LESS busy anon.

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>>45684785

“I thought it was impossible for a Totemist to walk in the spirit world unaccompanied.”

“For the common man that is true. By taking steps to expose oneself to the ephemeral nature of the spirit world and internalize its principles, however, such barriers can be overcome.”

“The Gates.”

Zahn nods. “It is an advanced field of study for Totemists. The practitioners of Mu have long since passed from this world.”

“Do you have any research material I could look into?” You shove your hands deep into your pockets. “It sounds interesting.”

Zahn nods. “Wait here. I will retrieve the first scroll.”

It flutters away. After a few minutes he returns bearing a thick oaken scroll case.

> [[Obtained Mu: Vol. 1]]

You take the box with both hands, bowing again. “Thank you Zahn.”

“Be sure to return it in the condition it was presented to you.” Its tone carries an unspoken 'or else'.

With the case under your arm you charge the Portal Stone again. Secure in the relative warmth of your workshop you face the sunrise, and with it, the day.

> Read Mu: Vol. 1
> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.
> Meditate.
> Build a totem. (Which?)
> Wake your apprentices.
> Write-in

>>45684785
Ah. So it's not "Mu" in the sense of the mythological continent, it's "Mu" in the sense of enlightenment. Very tricky, Diarca.

>>45684812
>> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.

>Make sure to NOT wear metal armor again this time.

>>45684812
> Read Mu: Vol. 1

>no honing
wtf

>>45684812
> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.

>>45684772
I mean we were given two ways to take it out. The most reasonable was to hit it with the equivalent of a handheld magical nuke, which we are sort of working on.

The thing is more than half the height of the empire state building, where are you even going to find a canyon that big?

>>45684812
> Read Mu: Vol. 1

>>45684802
While I would like new exciting monsters to bind and rip eyes out of we should probably prioritize a little right now.

>>45684812
> Read Mu: Vol. 1

>>45684812
> Build a totem. (Which?)
Beacon Totem. We need to get this done sooner or later.

>>45684857
It was a tie vote between honing or leaving.

>>45684812
> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.
if only to get past this feeling of stagnation I've had since we returned to the village

I forget is this mu gate thing one of the conditions to open the drawers? Also, Zahn is so helpful. 8/10 would study under.

>>45684812
>Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.

>>45684887
So far anon, we havent even sat down and talked about it with our maybe team yet.
And remember, Wings guy actually lives in the area where the thing frequents, so he probably has better first hand knowledge.
Just dont be so quick to jump down on any ideas, or give in to thinking nothing will work, if we do end up fighting the thing, its not going to hurt to have multiple back up plans.

>>45684812
>> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.

>>45684812
Hone Cordia.

>>45685040
Opening all five gates is the condition. We're probably going to be at this for a while, so if the Behemoth Spark is in that drawer we're going to be in trouble. Though yes, Zahn is pretty nice and helpful, considering how we met. I think he just really enjoys having someone to listen to him, the last time he got to interact with a Totemist they ignored all his warnings.

>>45684812
>> Read Mu: Vol. 1
With our bud Amal
>> Meditate.
So that we get nice and mind-clean before we
>> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.
Which is filled with an element that we dont do well with.

>>45685081
I just think if it was as easy as dropping a canyon on the fuckers they wouldn't have developed an entire school of magic/alliance between man and spirit devoted to killing them.

>>45685116
Come on, you're doing it on purpose now.

>>45684812
>> Strike out for the Grisoch Mines.

>>45685129
How about we get Amal to read it while we go to the mines. Then he can dictate it to us while we look for glowy rocks.

>>45685037
I wouldn't call it stagnation but I guess we haven't accomplished much lately

>>45685266
It's just kinda frustrating because we have so many things to do right now but we're hardly doing anything about them. Just going back and forth from Azeo Sicros and the village and talking to Zahn endlessly.

>>45685266
Thats partially because anons have suddenly become either too cautious to attempt anything, or unable to decide on one thing to do.

>>45685366
Zahn has a lot of things we should probably listen to. He really cuts down on the old scouring through the library crap we used to have to do.

>>45685373
Yeah that failed honing attempt really fucked the quest up. Nothing too awful happened to Osyki but the players became terrified of everything.

>>45685472
Which is odd. We got almost as fucked up plenty of times already.

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So wait just a minute.
Mu is, simply put, a form of enlightenment.
Ayren developed a lock which will open should we manage to obtain Mu.
That is to say, he developed a totemic arrangement which can identify enlightenment.
One cannot accurately detect what one cannot define. Ayren must have had a comprehensive understanding of Mu in order to develop this lock.
To understand enlightenment is to be enlightened.

Therefore, Ayren must have mastered this concept, which seems at it's face to be a high-level practice with significant and widely-encompassing effects on other aspects of the art.

And he still got punked by a Behemoth.

Like the one we're gearing up to fight.

>>45685492
They forgot that being a Totemist is an inherently risky and deadly profession during the hiatus I guess.

I've always been terrified of everything, I'm just insane.

>>45685511
Behemoth is a catch all group, and they all vary so much from individual to individual that you really can't classify it like that, as that would be the equivelent of saying that someone got killed by a shark, therefore we should be afraid of a cookie-cutter shark.

We don't know what he died of, only that he barely dragged himself out alive and didn't last much longer afterwards.

>>45685511
Being able to travel the spirit world on your own wouldn't exactly protect you from poison no would it? Although yeah maybe we should have fought the giant earth worm first.

>>45685628
Specifically, Basilisk Poison, of which we can only assume that the momma was Waaay worse then the babbies we fought, and even that stuff can fuck up spirits, so it probably wouldnt help.
Also, he still killed, it, he just didnt survive the fight, he also went in alone, which we will NOT do.
He also kicked the butt of at least 1 other behemoth before that, so, mileage varies.

>>45685472
I want to believe some paranoid anon is just samefagging so I don't lose hope in the playerbase as a whole

So guys, what if... what if we created five totem infused suits of armor that combined into one very huge suit, with That guy from Elunia, The mercenery dude, us, Whatshername from the Iron Giants place, and our Cotemist controlling it. We could finally become Anime.

>>45685823
>implying we arent already anime

>>45685823
You can't be serious.

>>45685823
Sounds good to me. Would we bind a different animal spirit to each suit? And paint them in bright primary colors?

>>45685870
Of course! Is there any other way to do it?

>>45685865
Imagine it, we'd be able to defeat all behemoths that could ever threaten the earth! We even have a mysterious wise man to lead our order!

Yo Diarca whatever happened to Sylvetican? I thought he was gonna start up BSO again.

>>45685472
We were spinning our wheels beforehand. The general trouble is that we might have to fight literally Godzilla but worse, and we're torn between how to prepare for that and possible ways of delaying it.

You set aside your newly acquired scroll case for the time being. Perhaps you'll dedicate some time before sleeping each night to deciphering the secrets of spiritual union. For the time being, however, you need to make some actual progress toward Zahn's Behemoth slaying weapon. The first step to that lies beneath the Ikrin peaks.

You pack your bag for a day trip. Who knows how long you'll be down in the mines? Rope, a lantern, plenty of food, and chalk for marking your way all pile atop the Foci cluttered within your bag. You do your best to cut down on some of that weight by binding a few Foci you know for a fact will be useful.

> Current Loadout:

Boots: Cloudwalker Stride
Book: Alruane's Codex
Cloak: Atlas Pauldrons
Gloves: Bolide Bracers
Mirror: Paranoia Shard

The rest stay in their Foci within your bag.

With the sun already rising over the peaks, you know the miners will already be hard at work. You follow the well-worn trail out of town and across the grassy plains toward the base of the nearby peak. An unassuming wooden frame marks the entrance to the source of Grisoch's metal.

“Hello?” You duck as the ceiling curves sharply down to meet you. The tunnel slopes downward fairly immediately, and the ringing echoes of picks on stone bounce up to greet you in kind. You light your lamp and descend.

A short descent finds you in the primary exploratory shaft. You greet one of the miners when he notices the circle of light you cast. One of the totems you built to provide light glows softly around his wrist. You recognize the iron band squeezed in his eye like a jeweler's loup as another piece of your handicraft.

“Totemist!” He stands up straight, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Not the face I expected. Welcome to the dirt. What can I do you for?”
(cont.)

>>45686319
Well hey now wait a minute. It might be bigger than godzilla but being worse then him is a bit of a long shot. Nobody beats the King. Except mothra occasionally.

>>45686414

You explain to the villager that you're looking for crystalline formations. He listens intently, then nods. “I don't ordinarily work that far down. We've got exploratory shafts opened up all through the mountain, but with Ayren out of the picture no one's around to reinforce them or open new shafts any more. We've barely got the manpower to keep up with what demand we get for copper and iron. You might check the older shafts toward the northwestern quad. Some of 'em go down a ways into caverns. Might find what you're looking for there.”

You thank the miner. Before you can go, though, he snags you by the shoulder. “Just keep an eye out for the Vlinderskok.”

“The wh--?”

“Butterflies,” he clarifies. “They live in the deep tunnels. On their own, not so dangerous. It's the things that eat 'em that'll ruin your day.”

> Head into the deep caverns. You can work your way up.
> Wander the exploratory shafts. How far do these tunnels go, anyway?
> Check the codex on Vlinderskok.
> Consult with one of your spirits.
> Write-in

>>45685981
[[He's around. You'd do better to drop by his ask page than ask me.]]

>>45686440
>> Check the codex on Vlinderskok.
>> Consult with one of your spirits.
Let's get our pal Amal on the reading and our pal Tryd on the paranoia hype train so we can hear the literal worst that might happened and work from there.

>>45686440

> Head into the deep caverns. You can work your way up.

>>45686440
Double bind Cordia and Amal into a map so we can pinpoint the location of the crystals.

>>45686440
> Wander the exploratory shafts. How far do these tunnels go, anyway?

>>45686440
>> Wander the exploratory shafts. How far do these tunnels go, anyway?

>>45686513
This.

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>>45686513
And we can give the miners a wallhack view of the mineral deposits in the process!

>>45686513
>>45686664
No, What?
We dont even know what that would do. And I certainly wouldnt want to experiment in a mine shaft.

>>45686809
Cordia plus a map let us find mineral deposits. Adding Amal gives more knowledge and probably the ability to specify what mineral to search for.

>>45686809
Also, we were super exhausted last time we tried double binding. we still have to walk back through dangerous mountain territory after this.
Could we try something more reasonable?

>>45686862
It's perfectly reasonable anon. Osyki is stronger than you think. You're doing that unreasonable paranoia thing again.

>>45686809
Cordia in a map shows us where mineral deposits are. Amal gives enhanced information processing and sensory abilities. It's not unreasonable to assume the combo would give us really good knowledge of where the minerals are.

>>45686862
Last time we double-bound was as the finishing move of a strenuous battle in which we were heavily wounded. I think it's safer when we're at full health and stamina.

>>45686513
This Is a good idea
>>45686862
You are a short sighted coward.

>>45686860
You keep saying that, youre still not providing any definitive information, along with all the other reason this is an ill advised idea, like possible destabilization of the mine, the energy expenditure, disturbing unfriendly locals, the danger to the other miners, etc.
>>45686440
> Wander the exploratory shafts. How far do these tunnels go, anyway?

>>45686936
How the fuck is it dangerous? We're stuffing spirits into a map and then looking at the map.

>>45686936
I'm sorry, I'm not following. Why do you think it could destabilize the mine? It's a binding that gives us information about the earth, not one that lets us manipulate it. Are you thinking some sort of sonar, or sonar-like spiritual energy effect? Shake the earth, use the response to scan it, that sort of thing?

>>45686923
Youre just a duplicitous asshole
>>45686891
No, im doing the reasonable thing again. Im all for trying out double bindings, just not in this situation. And considering Im one of the people in favor of fighting the Tyrant Wyrm, thats saying something.

>>45686936
We could take like ten steps to get outside the mine and then do it. Stop getting your panties in a bunch. These mines are full of shit like giant turtles and monsters pretending to be mines, they can take a flash of light.

>>45686974
Yes, thats one way I think it could be a bad idea.
I could be wrong too, I just dont think its worth testing in this situation. I mean, we could just walk. And just putting Amal in the map could help too. I dont see the benefit of testing it here, especially if thats All this double binding does, it would be super underwhelming.

>>45687085
You might be retarded

>>45687085
Man the last fucking mine we were in had a giant centipede that shot fire beams from its face. Stop being such a pussy, jesus christ.

>>45687114
If I were, I'd probably be in good company here, today.

>today's players are literally too afraid to bind things
RIP totemist quest

>>45687153
I think im being pretty reasonable. Im actually hoping we run into something suitably nasty in the mines, im just also hoping we dont waste half our energy playing lego with our spirits before we do.

>>45686984
I'll take Asshole, But I'm not being duplicitous, argumentative sure, Combative? Definitively. But nothing I said was deceitful.

>>45687267
How much energy do you think goes into a map? Wasn't the last thing we double bound a giant death bow? Hardly a comparable level of expenditure.

>>45687221
Don't worry, he's out voted one to literally everyone else.

>>45687317
No, last thing we bound were those awesome lava gauntlets we used to kill the Magus Splinter. Still probably a lot more energy-intensive than a map, though.

>>45687393
Especially considering we were finishing up a superhero fight.

>>45687317
Nah, I think it was the Deep Siren and Cordia into the gloves.
Does the item bound to determine how much energy is used, I thought it was similar for everything, or at least on the spirit being used.
>>45687321
I guess so. I felt the need to point out why I thought it might go wrong anyway. If youre right I lose nothing, etc etc.

These threads are reminding me more and more of Banished quest every time, right down to the overly insulting and combative anons, and the extreme mood whiplash.

>>45687592
Well, Soma IS a fan of this quest.

Best to get an idea of your surroundings first. As the miner watches you pull Amal from Alruane's Codex and Cordia from your pauldrons. As your cloak flutter back down to rest atop your shoulders you've already linked one end of the golden chain to the charm at your neck. The other snakes around the Sealed Earth Sphere like a vengeful serpent.

“Cordia. Amal. What have we got?”

The Link to the World Without shines with unearthly light, channeling the energy of your foci into the map held in your free hand. A flash of brilliant viridian light surges down the tunnel in either direction. When it fades you hold a square stone tablet a little larger than your palm. The tablet shudders into a rough replica of the hallway you stand in.

“Current depth: Ten meters below surface.” Amal's voice rings clearly through the hushed tunnel.

“Visualizing ore deposits now.” Cordia's voice chimes alongside his. The walls of the replica tunnel glow in veined patterns. “Iron ore in close proximity.”

>> [[Combination Binding Discovered: Earth Sage's Tablet. A configurable replica of the user's immediate surroundings cast in stone. Useful for searching out treasures of the earth and preventing ambush.]]

With a thought the replica shrinks down. The rest of the tablet surges upward to display the surrounding tunnels, glowing in spots where iron or copper ore can be found.

“Now that's the kinda toolkit we could really use down here,” the miner says.

“Amal, narrow the scope of our search to the northwest quad. Cordia, see if you can hone in on crystalline veins.”

“Narrowing.”

“Roger that, Osyki!”

You set off at a walking pace, following the pathway laid out in blue-green light on the replica in your palm. Your circle of light separates from the miner's and soon he's faded out of sight.
(cont.)

>>45687998

The tunnels are laid out in a fairly logical grid-search net. You know Ayren had a hand in opening the vast majority of the exploratory shafts within the mountain. His groundwork has allowed your village to keep up with the limited demand for metal, even with the limited manpower available.

According to the Tablet your best bet is to head a few branches north, then descend one of the exploratory shafts to the lower levels.

“Detecting a high concentration of crystalline structures below. Caution: Anomalous atmospheric conditions present.”

“Natural gasses, too,” Amal chimes in. “A potentially explosive combination. Best to snuff that lantern before we descend, Osyki.”

Without the lantern you'll need to rely on spirits or bindings for light. You have a Sun totem with you, but it's only got enough charge for an hour's light.

> Suggest Osyki's loadout!
> Cordia and Amal are unavailable for binding.

> Descend rapidly. If there's anything down there, you'd prefer the element of surprise.
> Take the stealthy, careful approach. The footing in these caverns isn't the best.
> Use bindings to move the earth. You can bring the crystals to you.
> Write-in

>>45688021
Oh baby basilisk in the mask lets us see with spirit vision doesn't it? That could work, let us spit at shit too.

>>45688021
which was that binding that lets us invert light?

>>45688021
Asterian lens
leave the rest unchanged

>>45688116
oh yea

>>45688021
> Take the stealthy, careful approach. The footing in these caverns isn't the best.

As for bindings, Bezoar Cryst would be useful for dealing with any toxic gases, though it wouldn't stop asphyxiation. Hunter Vision grants...hunter vision, which would serve us well in the dark. Vestus Quies would be good for not disturbing things with the sound of our movement. We should probably take off Cloudwalker Stride, we don't want a stray arc setting off gas pockets. Putting the Emperor Cobra in the boots for Seneschal Step would be useful for its extra flexibility. And Moth's Second Face would give us a non-thermal way to generate light, in case we do need it.

>>45688021
> Take the stealthy, careful approach. The footing in these caverns isn't the best.
Asterian lens
Crystfire
mandate of earth
blessing of the elder

that binding guide could really use an update

>>45688258
I remember the last time we took the turtle out of the boots. That was like two years ago.

Grasp of Glory might help for separating the gas and the clean air.

>>45688400
Anons love to jump

>>45688116
stalker + mirror
Asterian Lens: A flat black disc of metal ringed by stark white steel lacework. Staring into the lens for ten seconds uninterrupted inverts light to the user's eyes. Bright areas are completely shrouded, while utter darkness becomes perfectly transparent.

>>45688021
>> Take the stealthy, careful approach. The footing in these caverns isn't the best.

>>45688313
>>45688184
if we're willing to take the hit to armor, the Fisherman's wrap has a hands free light as well, doesnt it?

>>45688703
Good lord, the ykree being used and the boots coming off. Give me a minute while I go check hells temperature.

uhhh guys, we're gonna want to unbind the boots. Sparks and natural gas don't get along, and if we can breath in it its likely at explosive levels.

>>45689187
Already been brought up, don't worry about it.

You stop around the corner from the first descent into the bowels of the earth. The bindings you have going now are suited to the kind of high-flying acrobatic bullshit that usually keeps you safe from claw, fang, and otherworldly flame. With less room to maneuver and the possibility of toxic, flammable gas to consider you swap over to a more grounded approach.

> New Loadout:

Amulet: Bezoar Cryst
Armor: Blessing of the Elder Turtle
Boots: Seneschal Step
Bow: Accretion Volley
Gloves: Grasp of Glory
Map: Earth Sage's Tablet
Mask: Moth's Second Face
Mirror: Asterian Lens
Shirt: Vestus Quies
Sword: Mandate of Earth

You lean one way, then the other, testing the manueverability of your new armor. The Blessing is a weighty suit, but with the extra spring in your step from the Seneschal you doubt you need worry. You fix your eyes on the Asterian Lens and allow Thane to work his magic.

The world bleaches itself in photo-negative. You resist the urge to wince as the world around you is suddenly brilliantly illuminated in hazy red-white tones. You snuff your lantern. Staring at the world with inverted eyes isn't a comfortable experience, but it's better than groping blindly in the dark. Better still, this way you won't carry an orb of light with you to alert potential predators.

You drop into the shaft. Unused to the lack of cushioning magic the Cloudwalker Stride ordinarily supplies you very nearly roll your ankle on landing. Only the added flexibility from your boots' current configuration saves you. A nasty spill turns into a silent, dextrous roll.

You can smell a dusky, earthen scent mixed with something a little tangier. A quick gesture calls a gentle breeze from above. You inhale the clean air, then set forward.
(cont.)

>>45689517

The man-made shaft gives way to rougher cavern almost immediately. You're surprised to see lichens growing across the walls so deep beneath the earth. The moss coats the walls and the floor, dew-slick leaves making your footing treacherous at best. The twisting passageways would be labyrinthine without the benefit of the Tablet to consult. As it is you follow the dim orbs not-glowing on the display in your palm toward the crytal veins Cordia detected.

As you round a corner you catch a glimpse of something dark flitting out of sight. You step back around the corner hastily, peering around the lip of the cavern mouth.

Though it's difficult to see clearly you can roughly make out the shape of a large butterfly. The Vlindskok alights on the cavern wall ahead of you, nibbling daintily at the lichen with unseen manidbles. Arcs of darkness play between its wings in a crackling pattern that makes you nervous. One major discharge could blow you out of the mines, depending on the concentration of air. You're not sure how aggressive Vlindskok are, though.

> Sneak past. It's an insect—it probably won't note you if you don't get too close.
> Blow it away with a quick gesture. That should clear the tunnel of gas, too.
> Crush it. You could use those wings as totem reagents.
> Write-in

[[Kindly ignore the Mandate of Earth above. Realized it right before I posted. Your sword is unbound.]]

>>45689560
> Sneak past. It's an insect—it probably won't note you if you don't get too close.

>>45689560
> Sneak past. It's an insect—it probably won't note you if you don't get too close.
Most likely senses its surroundings by the movement of air, with our current bindings we should be fine so long as we stay away.

>>45689560
> Sneak past. It's an insect—it probably won't note you if you don't get too close.

>>45689560
>> Sneak past. It's an insect—it probably won't note you if you don't get too close.

The insects aren't the problem anyway.

>>45689560
>> Crush it. You could use those wings as totem reagents.
Should be quick, then we don't have to worry about it.

>Diarca introduces a new mechanic he said he found interesting
>Dude let's never use it lmao
It's a quest. There's nothing wrong with taking risks because it's fucking fiction.

>>45690201
Coming in to the thread late, I take it?

>>45689560
> Crush it. You could use those wings as totem reagents.

>>45690222
Yep. Annoyed me enough that I had to bitch about it, even if it was later resolved.

>>45690201
Its mostly because it seems like its going to fuck us over narratively, even if it wont do so mechanically

>>45690280
Word of god would help with this a lot

>>45690280
But being fucked like that could be fun.

There are plenty of great fictional stories where the protagonist getting fucked over improves the narrative.

Though if this was, say, a Dran quest I could understand your reticence. But Diarca hasn't given us any indication he'll end the quest immediately if things go wrong.

>>45690201
>implying our perpetually scared players will ever go for it

>>45690364
Quests fucking people over has given me no desire to take the option that leads in that direction

>>45690404
Which is stupid. You should act appropriately for each quest.

>>45690441
Eh, why take chances with the ones i like?

>>45690441
And what's appropriate for this quest is "we've got enough weird spiritual corruption going on, let's avoid getting another".

>>45690482
Because taking chances is fun, and if you only vote for the most safe and boring options as possible you're limiting the quest.

>>45690499
What's appropriate for this quest is viewing this very cautiously, but being willing to use it.
Just like Modi.
We're frequently out-matched and the Void is another tool we can rely on, even if it does come with (possibly) considerable costs.

>>45689560
> Sneak past. It's an insect—it probably won't note you if you don't get too close.

>>45690533
Modi is a tool that's been vetted by a more knowledgeable and skilled authority than ourselves. Void Tremors (and that name certainly doesn't inspire any confidence) have not been. Even Heshala Zahn, the First Totemist himself, has no idea what to make of the damn things. I don't feel confident using them.

>>45690533
Just because you seem to think that taking risks is the best way to play does not make it the best way to play. Some players are not going to want to fuck about with the Void, because it has a a very high implied cost

>>45689560
>> Crush it. You could use those wings as totem reagents.

>>45690590
You shouldn't feel confident, no, but you should be willing to use them if shit hits the fan.

>>45690620
I don't think constant risks are how we should play, I just think being willing to, and then actually taking risks is how this quest should be played.

>>45690649
Why would i ever use something i dont feel confidant about using?

>>45690590
So I'd say if the alternative is definitely our death or the probable death of our allies, use it, but in any other case fuck no.

But on the other hand, we should definitely use it at least once before we fight the Tyrant Wyrm to see if we can use it successfully without being immediately attacked by our allies.

>>45690695
Because it's been stated that Void Tremors are powerful? And they could help us with, say, fighting the Magus. Or even with the Wyrm.
Also because being safe and never ever doing anything without spending far too much time preparing for it is a very boring way to play a quest and more suitable to forums like SpaceBattles or SufficentVelocity than /tg/.

>>45690649
Here's the thing, our master, Ayren Overwake was stronger than us (if not in terms of potential). He was smarter than us. He was definitely much more experienced than us. And he DIED.

And unfortunately our life is even more valuable than his was. So while we should avoid outright cowardice, and should aim to accomplish at least one thing per thread, I feel like this is definitely the kind of quest where it's important not to cut corners and take big risks.

>>45690695
We need to at least test it out to actually know about it. If the consequences are too extreme then we won't use it. Saying we should ever use it without testing it is idiotic.

[[Ah! Got distracted by tabletop planning. Apologies for the extended delay.]]

You can't imagine something adapted to living in a subterranean cavern would have excellent eyesight. With Vestus Quies muffling the sounds you make, sneaking past this thing should be a breeze. Still, the gently fluttering wings on the Vlindskok might be sensitive to air currents. You flex your fingers, marshalling the forces of the wind around you. It would be best to have Amal on hand to better fine-tune your control, but since he's occupied serving as your map you'll have to go it on natural skill alone.

You close your eyes, communing with the Drake bound within your gloves. With that set you slide along the wall, placing every step carefully to avoid slipping and making a clamor flailing about in the moss underfoot. Minute twitches of your fingers still the air around you as you slide.

You're passing directly in front of the Vlindskok now. You can make out the beautiful fractalline tracework laid into its wings from this distace, jagged bolt-patterns melding with what would likely be a stunning shade of blue if viewed from outside your distorted negative sight. You hold your breath. Can it be enough?

> Roll 2d100 (Stealth, wind control)

>>45690778
I's rather not give the Void the satisfaction, is the thing. I admit it: my desire to not use the Void power is born as much from spite as practicality. I don't like this nasty thing that's wormed its way into our soul, and I don't want to play along with it even a tiny bit, even if it's just for experimentation and never used again.

Rolled 40, 59 = 99 (2d100)

>>45690852

Rolled 46, 52 = 98 (2d100)

>>45690852
Loin status: girded.

Rolled 35, 84 = 119 (2d100)

>>45690852

Rolled 42, 38 = 80 (2d100)

>>45690852
dice+2d100

>>45690761
>I feel like this is definitely the kind of quest where it's important not to cut corners and take big risks
Yes, most of the time. On the other hand, risks do pay off, in this quest. Look at earth corruption.
Sure, we have to purge it every so often or it will actually kill us, but in return we're able to pull off some ridiculous shit with our earth-related bindings.

I assume Void Tremors will work the same way. Very useful in moderation, but apt to fuck us over if we rely on them.

>>45690877
>>45690895
>>45690907
Well. Let's hope it REALLY can't see.

Rolled 91, 19 = 110 (2d100)

>>45690852

>>45690761
If dying invalidates everything you do, then the entire human race is worth shit all.
Sure, having another tool would be nice, but not getting eaten from the inside out by void shit would be better. If we use that stuff at all, I want to have wards in place BEFORE we start, not after we see what happens. Theres no reason not to test safely, if we do it at all.

>>45691074
And if you'd suggested that from the beginning, I doubt anyone would've argued with you.

>>45690937
I don't really think the Earth Corruption is what lets us do cool Earth things? I think that's just what happens when we use cool Earth totems in enriched Earth areas. The corruption seems more a price for being just -too- cool.

>>45691134
Yeah I wasn't too sure. I very vaguely remember it contributing to a fight somehow, but it's been over a year and I don't feel like archive diving.

Same idea applies, either way.

>>45691130
Im sorry?
Ive been gone for like the last hour, so...

>>45691193
Oh sorry, I assumed you were the same anon from the beginning of the thread who's been trying to rally everyone into never using void powers ever no matter what.

>>45691134
It's a little of both. One of the symptoms of Earth Corruption is increased power with Earth magic, but the condition is itself worsened by using Earth magic really well. The disease came from exposure to the Earth Elemental Anomaly we used to upgrade Cordia, though, not just casual exposure to Earth-aspected magic. That stuff was the elemental equivalent of enriched uranium, we got a much stronger dose from it than we would have anywhere else.

One foot, then the other. You can taste the ozone tang of the Vlindskok's static aura as you creep past it. Black arcs of light crackle merrily around the bug as you slowly inch your way across the cavern wall.

All it takes is one of those flashes, burnt in reverse-light white into your retina, to obscure the cavern floor. It's not a catastrophic step—you don't plunge through a weakened floor or catch your foot and clatter noisily to the ground. The sound is honestly little louder than stepping on a piece of stale bread or paper. You boot makes contact with a dried, dessicated something beneath the cavern moss carpet and produces a very brief but incredibly crisp -pop-.

The world goes silent. Your eyes slide left. Surely, it couldn't have heard?

The crackling hum that erupts along the cavern wall is all the response you need. The Vlindskok, fearing a subterranean predator has come to make a meal of it, rapidly beats its wings to emit a static charge. You can see the sparks raining onto the moss below. Another second of that and...

You thrust your palm forward on instinct, fingers splayed. A wall of wind burst forth, slamming into the Vlindskok. The vapors condensing around the insect are momentarily dispersed as it falls, dazed, into the moss below. You rapidly follow up by crushing the tiny firebug beneath the butt of your spear with another sharp -pop-.

Okay. Crisis averted.

Scooping up the remnants of the Vlindskok's wings for totem ingredients, you're free to proceed at a slightly accelerated pace down the tunnels. Without the luminescent butterfly to cloud your darkvision you easily maneuver around the remaining hazards in your path. The presence of bleached white (black to your vision) bones isn't comforting, but from the size you're fairly certain they aren't human.
(cont.)

>>45691282

The cavern opens up as you tread further downward. Glancing at your Tablet every so often confirms that you're honing in one the source of the crystalline vein. Another few feet and you should—

Ah.

Orbs of darkness shroud your vision as you emerge into a dimly lit cavern. Bulbs of what you can only assume are naturally radiant crystals erupt from the walls and the ceiling in the roughly dome-shaped cavern. You can taste the tang of ozone and electricity on the air here. Something undertones it—a kind of stale bitterness to the air that sets your teeth on edge. Second sight paints the world in tones of vibrant cyan and earthy dark green. A crystal cache, to be sure.

A rustle of movement draws your eye. Something is creeping between bulbs of darkness.

> Retreat to the tunnels and reverse your darkvision.
> Use your mask to blind the hiding entity, then rush in.
> Fire a shot from your bow into the room. That should flush out the creeper.
> Ignore it. Likely another Vlindskok.
> Write-in

>>45691221
No, im a different guy. I figure we're probably going to have to end up using them at least once at some points, but im also sure its probably going to fuck with us at lest a little bit. So my plan would be to set up some mitigation beforehand for if we go too far, and use them minimally, and with caution. If they really are that strong, we'd be better off keeping them in the back pocket anyway. And doing anything to avoid that prophecy shit cant hurt.

>>45691299
> Retreat to the tunnels and reverse your darkvision.

>>45683143
Was so busy at work I forgot to finish this, also we're not enshrining a Land Guardian, just a regular-ass Guardian. The Land Guardian is
b: Bind a Land Guardian. Now I forget if he specified whether it had to be Feral or Celestial. Feral will be really difficult, Celestial only slightly less so, I'm not sure if Sylvannis trusts us enough to make that kind of contract with us, and I know that the Mother of the Swamp definitely does it. My personal reccomendation for this? Go back to where Pointsmar was, because the Iron General mentioned that some of the Land Guardians moved to the underground to survive, they might be desperate enough to sign a contract in exchange for setting them up somewhere not awful.
and finally
c: Open the Gates of Mu, which fortunately we learned about, unfortunately, it seems like it'll take a VERY long time. If we open the previous two drawers and it's still not there, it might be easier just to fight the Tyrant Wyrm.