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“Looks like we have a few potential spots,” she says. A glow of subtle cerulean follows her movements. You can see the same power pooling behind her eyes. “There's some sort of large crustacean brooding pool down the beach a mile or so to the south. There's some sort of wall a little further on—I can't get a clear read on it, but whatever it is, it's large.”

She glances over her shoulder toward the north. “Or, we can push this way. It looks like we might hit some ruins.”

“You know that for a fact, eagle eyes?”

Boand smiles, shaking her head. “No. Just a feeling.” She meets you gaze as the clairvoyant energy fades from her eyes. “I'll leave it up to you, fearless leader. Which way?”

If you're in the mood for a fight, the crustacean nest could be good. The ruins may have interesting local history to glean.

That wall sounds mysterious, though. You're not aware of any large structures in the area. Inspecting the area on Ayren's map, you find nothing but an ink smudge. Helpful as always.

> Head for the nest.
> Push north toward the ruin.
> Investigate the mysterious wall.
> Spend some time relaxing at the beach first.
> 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. Beset by the myriad tasks than fall under your purview, you do your best to prepare for the slew of battles that are soon to come.

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

>HTML Bindings Spreadsheet (Hover for descriptions!): http://zamubafoo.github.io/
>The Cast Thus Far: http://pastebin.com/VsJpEUx3
>Binder's Log / Misc Inventory: http://pastebin.com/XvvRSk4W
>Transformations and Unions: http://pastebin.com/0v9XMEv0

>Ask: ask.fm/DiarcaEXE
>Quest Twitter: @TotemistQuest ]]

>>46268604
> Investigate the mysterious wall.
Remains of an old breaker wall, maybe? With how nasty the deep sea is in this world, I wouldn't be surprised if someone tried to make a giant bay.

>>46268604
> Spend some time relaxing at the beach first.

>>46268604
> Push north toward the ruin.
The wall does seem interesting, but the ruins seem most likely to have an avatar of some kind.

>>46268604
> TO THE WALL
> Inb4 "Trump was here" is on it

>>46268604
>> Investigate the mysterious wall.
Also want to to check out the ruins...and crabs sound cool but...Mystery!

>>46268604
>> Investigate the mysterious wall.

>>46268604
>Investigate the mysterious wall.
Something bad always happens when walls are involved.

>tfw you guys will never let us use those cool void powers

>>46269342
Is the joke that you didn't post a face, because it's the Void?

You gesture along the southern shoreline. “Let's check out that wall. I'm not familiar with any mega-structures in the area. If someone's building a citadel or something, it would probably pay to know about it.”

Boand nods. “Agreed. Let's keep to the higher ground, then. Wouldn't want to risk disturbing the nest.”

The two of you walk along the cliff, trekking toward the south. The crustacean nest on the beach below burbles every so often, spewing up small jets of water from the enormous barnacle-like entrances. You see smaller crabs scuttling around the chitinous protrusions, but nothing large enough to warrant so enormous a nest. The true inhabitants must be either away or inside.

The sand grows finer underfoot as you progress southward. Every leap takes you a little less distance than the one before as your soft launchpad absorbs the shock of your leap. The dunes grow fine and silken beneath you boots. Boand notes aloud that the color in the region seems to be growing steadily more monochromatic as you approach.

Finally, the source of the oddities surrounding the region comes into view. You cease leaping, partly because the ground is barely stable enough to support walking, and partly because of the scene arranged before you.

The terrain around you is bleached a near monochromatic gray. The ground beneath your feet is more akin to swamp waters than solid sand, though the terrain isn't -wet- in the slightest—just unstable. The sky overhead seems to suffer from the same washed malady, with only a few fitful trails of vapor swirling overhead.

Boand shivers as you set her down.

Before you, the land slopes in on itself. A massive sinkhole gapes up from the ground. The far edge of the pit seems to stretch infinitely far away from you, at once visible in minute detail and barely visible on the horizon. A sickly orange glow paints the innards of the hole from within. The water lapping at the shore nearby has taken on the same tint.
(cont.)

>>46269645

No birds crow overhead, but a thin line of black feathers has been arranged stand on quill-point around the edge of the sinkhole. The plumes stand evenly spaced every three feet. The air of the area feels very similar to the hollowed-out lair of the Basilisk Wyrm.

The 'wall' Boand spoke of isn't obvious until you attempt to survey the area with your second sight. Much like the dead zone created by Avasi, your third eye is entirely unable to pierce the row of feathers arranged before you. The spirit world -exists- beyond it. That much you can feel. Viewing the other side, however, is plainly out of the question without crossing the feather-line and potentially slipping into the gaping chasm.

Boand's shivering is rapidly evolving into a clammy shudder. She presses against you, looking for warmth or comfort. You wrap an arm around her shoulders instinctively.

> Attempt to peer over the edge.
> Consult with Boand.
> Summon a spirit.
> Retreat. This isn't a place for you.
> Write-in

>>46269670
> Consult with Boand.
> Summon a spirit.
Amal

>>46269709
this is a good idea

>>46269670
Remember way back when the quest was relatively young and we got a flash-forward to a possible future? There was a mention of pits opening up and threatening the world. I think this is the beginning of that.

> Attempt to peer over the edge.
> Consult with Boand.

>>46269670
> Retreat. This isn't a place for you.

>>46269670
>> Consult with Boand.

>>46269670
> Consult with Boand.
> Summon a spirit.
Thane

>>46269645
>The terrain around you is bleached a near monochromatic gray. The ground beneath your feet is more akin to swamp waters than solid sand, though the terrain isn't -wet- in the slightest—just unstable. The sky overhead seems to suffer from the same washed malady, with only a few fitful trails of vapor swirling overhead.
Sounds like an average day at home minus the unstable ground.

>>46269670
> Retreat. This isn't a place for you.

You glance down to Boand. She's folded her arms over her chest, taking a defensive posture against the landscape before her. Her brow is furrowed in concentration, and the familiar watery glow of her power ripples behind her eyes as she attempts to squint through the spiritual obfuscation before you.

“I'll go out on a limb here and assume you didn't know this was here,” you hazard.

She shakes her head, rubbing her hands across her arms in an attempt to dispell the spreading goosebumps. “No.” Her voice seems clipped, somehow. Muted.

“Any ideas?”

Her mouth twists. A grimace, like biting into a rotten fruit. “A few. None of them pleasant. We ought not be here, I think.”

You stand on your toes, attempting to peer into the pit. The ground below you shifts as you do, defeating the attempt by devouring the points of your boots in the silty mess. “Don't think it's my job as Totemist to investigate something like this?”

“Not with me in tow,” she growls. “No way am I taking a one-way trip to corrupted water-town.”

“You think it's a corrupted spirit?” You remember she had called Siperco something similar.

Boand shakes her head, picking fitfully at the seams of her sleeves. “No. I think it's a corrupted -ley line-.”

Your head snaps round. “That can happen?”

She nods. “You've seen it before at the Basilisk's lair. Powerful concentrations of toxic or alien energies can block a ley-line node. The energy that builds up in those nodes turns foul. I'm guessing whatever blocked the line is also what put up this barrier.” She gestures to the line of feathers.

You rub your chin thoughtfully. “If I disrupted the barrier, do you think you could get a read on whatever's down there?”

She shrugs. “Maybe. I'm sure you won't get away with breaking that line unnoticed, though. Whatever it is might decide to come up here—or drag you down.”
(cont.)

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>>46270354
The two of you stare at the crumbling sides of the sinkhole. The implication is clear—escape from the fine-grained abyss before you would be difficult even if it weren't a sucking wound of spiritual energy.”

“We may as well take some samples, though.” She points to the orange-hued water to your left. “Maybe you can figure out what it is we're dealing with.”

The two of you walk carefully around the perimeter until your toes touch the water. The ocean is tepid here, cold, but less perhaps than it should be. You scoop up a vial of the orange liquid in a glass vial. A strand of something gooey, organic, and umber swirls within it.

“Now let's get -out of here-.”

> “Agreed.”
> “In a minute. I want to get a look from the air.” (Which totem?)
> “Hold this. I'll be right back.” Approach the chasm.
> Write-in

>>46270372
> “Agreed.”
We'll come back once we've studied this some, see if this is something horrible and terrifying or just conventionally dangerous.

>>46270372
> “Agreed.”

>>46270372
>> “Agreed.”
Yeah, we're here to fulfill a deal, and this sort of thing is probably best investigated when we don't have to leave Boand alone. (She has problems with Ayren leaving her to go plunging into danger. Osyki would like to not, remember?)

>>46270372
>Agreed
So are we beating up crabs or going to gawp at potential ruins?

>>46270372
> “Hold this. I'll be right back.” Approach the chasm.

>>46270372
>> “Agreed.”

>>46270450
Ruins. Swamp and ruins go hand in hand, yeah?

>>46270530
Did we plant the swamp thing last thread? I feel like we did.

>>46270530
No, we already planted the Swamp Seed. This is just us exploring a bit to see what's out there.

>>46270552
>>46270562
...Whoops. Ah, anyways, still ruins, to see if we can't find an Avatar of some sort. (To feed to our Hunger Avatar for repair and alter its nature, maybe? A la Cordia and the Earth Anomaly?)

>>46270667
I thought the whole point of getting an avatar was to make it protect the town?

>>46270694
Yeah, we want to Enshrine one.

>>46270694
Yeah, though there was concern that Avatars in ruins would be of a nature that is inimical to normal, healthy human civilization.

The 'use another Avatar to repair Hunger Avatar' is just my idea floated over to the thread just now.

>>46270760
Pretty sure hunger will fix himself eventually. No point changing his nature either really. Hes a beatstick, he doesn't need to have a nice personality.

>>46270794
Diarca confirmed that Hunger would repair over time, yeah. And we never really used him for much, so having him disabled for now isn't too much of a problem. I'm fine with waiting.

You nod. “Agreed. This place is giving me the willies.”

A cold wind blows past you from the sea, moaning dismally across the mouth of the sinkhole.The two of you quickly retreat from the lukewarm waters, beating feet across the sucking sands as quickly as you can. As soon as you reach a place where the ground beneath you doesn't threaten to swallow you whole with a false step you flare Cloudwalker Stride and take to the skies once more.

The flush of golden sands ahead does much to revitalize your mood, though you can't help but think back to the perfect fence of upright feathers as you jump from place to place. The quilling didn't seem to match any bird in the area. None you're familiar with, at least. The plumage was glossy, almost obsidian in texture.

You push the sinkhole out of your mind, doing your best to focus on the trip ahead. Boand is clearly intending to do the same as ribbons of cerulean stream from her eyes with every jump.

“The ruins should be a few miles to the north. You'll see them before long,” she says, doing her best to make herself comfortable against you chest as you carry her through the sky. When you reach your original point of departure she forces you to stop, sliding out of your grasp and climbing aboard your back instead.

“Much better,” she says, wrapping her arms around your neck. “I felt like I was getting shaken out of my skin.”

You decide against commenting on the current configuration as she presses herself against your bag, legs wrapping around your torso from behind.

–-

>>46271128

The ruins are easy to pick out on the horizon. Partially submerged in the water, a decently sized fortress long succumbed to the ravages of the ocean juts in spires from the waterline. A few statues and towers still stand above the slow erosion of the ocean spray, grim faces frozen in time. The tide has receded to allow the tops of the fortress walls to peer up from the ocean's depths, the well worn coral-lined walkways gasping for air at the surface of the waves.

You slow to a stop on the beach, carefully removing the Crystal Spear from your boots to avoid frying yourself with a wayward spark. Boand runs two fingers down her thigh, fusing her legs back into a powerful sapphire-scaled tail.

“Here way are,” she says, slithering into the surf awkwardly. “Told you it'd be worth the trip.”

Your second sight paints a hazy picture. There's something insubstantial about the buildings in the water, a ghostly double-image that implies more than exists on the physical level. You get the vague impression of a distant shore miles out into the ocean, an architectural extension of the ruins below, but you're too far to get a clear picture.

> Suggest loadout changes now!

> Swim out to the fortress.
> Fly over first. You need a better look at that artificial shore across the veil.
> Ask Boand for a ride.
> Write-in

>>46271146
Switching to the drake wing cloak is probably a good idea anyway. Mobility and fireballs.

>>46271146
> Ask Boand for a ride.
Fair's fair and all.

>>46271146
> Suggest loadout changes now!
Okay. Aria Nymph to bolster second sight and social abilities, and to give Boand a snack. Vangaurd Chevalier for further social enhancement and some pretty good armor. Edge of Dawn because flight will be very useful here. Venini as a backup weapon and because "turns immaterial material" could be handy when dealing with the trans-Veil shore. Everything else can stay, I think.

> Fly over first. You need a better look at that artificial shore across the veil.

>>46271254
I think we might want to be loaded for bear rather than talking.

>>46271254
I'd agree that Venini is a good idea, as well as Aria Nymph. Not sure about Vanguard Chevalier though.

>>46271146
>Fly over
Let's use the Edge of Dawn for flight. Unless the Ykree Fin and Boot gives us a good water-glider option, we don't really have a reasonable sneaky water option. Thus, let's go flashy.

Relatedly, we need some more boot bindings -- the only other viable mobility binding is Golem Rising, which is possibly not a good idea in this location.

>>46271254
Also, this.

>>46271319
Well, I figured that it's armor, it's a mobility/attack boost with its charges, and it gives us a social enhancement. We could replace it with something else if you'd prefer, though. Vestus Sonitus, maybe? It's good armor and it accessorizes well with Aria Nymph. Also, now that I think about it, we should probably swap out Cloudwalker Stride if we're going to be in the water. Golem Rising so that we have a steady stance, maybe? I kind of want to see how Cordia's bindings are changed now that she's earth/defense instead of pure earth, too.

>>46271427
I forgot about the snake tackle.

>>46271409
>we need some more boot bindings
Pretty sure we have tried almost everything in our boots. Just because they go on your feet it doesnt mean its going to make you move faster.

>>46271481
Yeah. We've put nine out of our fifteen spirits in our boots. The ones that remain are those that aren't likely to be that useful. I mean, we can try them, but will things like Amal's precision or the Deep Siren's fire be that much of a help with boots?

>>46271635
Rocket boots maybe? We should probably look for a couple other ways of getting mobile though than the boots.

>>46271146
>> Fly over first. You need a better look at that artificial shore across the veil.
>> Ask Boand for a ride.

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Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>46272296
>69
When I am an old man in a nursing home I'll still probably find that funny.

>>46271146
> Suggest loadout changes now!
Try out Ykree fin in boots for some swimming bonus. Also try rock turtle in mask for a potentially non-electric discharging binding. Edge of dawn for scouting, and possibly help with swimming while under water.
> Fly over first. You need a better look at that artificial shore across the veil.

Your immediate impulse is to ask Boand to tow you out to the ruins. After all, you've wasted enough time today on wandering about aimlessly. Something about that shrouded shoreline at the edge of your second sight is bothering you, though.

As Boand splashes her way into the surf, you swap out a few bindings.

>Loadout:
Armor: Vanguard Chevalier
Cloak: Edge of Dawn
Mask: Aria Nymph
Dagger: Veneni
Sword: Moth's First Resort
Boots: Golem Rising +
Pants: Velociraptor Greaves
Bow: Song of the Deep
Gloves: Bolide Bracers

The strobing light does not go unnoticed. You can see the link momentarily drawn taut between you and Boand with your third eye as you bind the Whirlpool Pearl to your mask. A smile curls her lips as your aura feeds into hers through the spiritual medium, flaring a cloud of blue mist around her.

“I'm going to do some recon,” you tell her.

She nods, gesturing to the ruins. “I'm going to do a sweep underneath. Call if you need me.”

“Likewise.” You flex your shoulders and take to the skies on a plume of golden wind.

The thermals rising off of the water make it easy to bank upward, gaining decent altitude in a few powerful flaps. You coast along the pillars of warm air until you have a bird's eye view of the beach below. Then, focusing your spiritual sight through Aria Nymph, you look again.
(cont.)

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>>46272461

The picture that fades into being is much sharper. An island sits across the veil in the bay just beyond the submerged ruins. Even from this height you can tell it's likely abandoned—the crumbling architecture hasn't seen repair in quite some time. Lithe shapes dart to and fro beneath the surface of the waves within the fort, and you catch brief flashes of movement in the gaps of the stone walls as well. The far side is clearly much better inhabited than the material plane.

Being so high in the sky expands your view of the ocean as well. The sea stretches out before you, an infinite carpet of sparkling waves. You can sense powerful spiritual presences further afield in the ocean, enormous bodies of potent energy moving ponderously beyond the continental shelf.

> Land on the walls.
> Dive down to the submerged courtyard.
> Find Boand and ask for a ride across the veil.
> Fly out toward the spirit island and the continental shelf.
> Write-in

>>46272489
> Fly out toward the spirit island and the continental shelf.

>>46272489
> Land on the walls.

>>46272489
> Land on the walls.
We specifically gave away our knowledge of the ocean so let's avoid that area.

>>46272489
>> Land on the walls.
Let's figure out what's up with the material plane (since it reflects onto the spiritual) before moving over.

And the ocean? Nope nope nope.

You bank to bring your back to the sun. Instantly the molten gold light of the Edge of Dawn solidifies, sending you gliding downward toward the walls of the fortress below. The weight of the gold at your shoulders accelerates your dive until it is just short of a freefall. Turning in mid-air once more, you snap the wings of light back out to arrest your momentum. Your feet glide across the surface of the water as you come in for a swooping landing on the parapet closest to the shore.

The rock is slippery, worn smooth by years of steady tidal force and made slick by the lapping waves. A familiar warmth courses through your feet as Cordia reaches out instinctively to steady you against the stone surface. A dim ring of green forms around your soles, anchoring you steadily to the walkway.

You collapse your winds back into the choker at your neck and stride on down the walkway. One of the broken towers looms before you, while the bridge at your back has long since crumbled into the submerged courtyard below.

From this proximity you can see a number of surprisingly intact structures in the sunken square below. Fish and long eels dart in and out of coral structures anchored firmly in waterlogged windowsills, and a pair of spider-like crustacean vie for the last scraps of a water bird's carcass atop a nearby hut.

Electing to stay out of the water for the time being seems to be the prudent choice. You forage forward into the tower, ducking low to avoid the sagging stone archway before you. One side of the pagoda has collapsed wholesale into the waters below, affording you an open view of the courtyard on every floor you climb.
(cont.)

>>46273297

The lobby of the ruined tower is largely devoid of decoration. Tatters of ruined cloth hang from rusted iron bars on the walls. The once-vibrant red paint has turned a faded yellow, peeling in large patches where it has not been washed away entirely. The only remaining structure is an enormous brass orb mounted to a plinth in the center of the room. The orb has apertures for what you would assume to be an insignia of some sort on either side of it, but the patina grown over the melon-sized sphere has long since obscured any instructions or denotation of purpose.

You wander up the stairs a level higher. The second floor has fared much the same, though it seems the upper inches of the walls here have suffered less water damage than the lower reaches of the tower. A kelp-heavy chandelier hangs from the ceiling, the majority of its glass fixtures long since washed away with the tide. A jumble of broken wood in the corner of the room catches you eye—on further inspection it is revealed to be a rotten wooden container. You pry open the lid of the box and inspect the contents: Largely ruined papers and rust-ruined iron trinkets. At the bottom, however, a glint of untarnished metal catches your eye. You fish it out of the paper soup.

> [Obtained: Scratched Nickel Spyglass!]

An extending tube, fitted at either end with a glass lens. The lenses are scratched beyond repair, unfortunely, but with the glass replaced this could be useful. You pocket it.

“Osyki!” Boand's voice echoes upward from the courtyard. You step over to the missing wall, peering down. Boand has surfaced in the courtyard. Something glitters in her grasp. “There you are. Find anything good?”

You heft the metal tube. “Potentially. What've you got there?”

She grins. “Some of these statues still have jewels encrusted at their base. I rescued this one from an eel.”

> Join Boand in the water.
> Climb higher in the ruined tower.
> Head for the spirit isle.
> Write-in

>>46273317
> Join Boand in the water.

We haven't tried binding Boand to our boots or pants yet. Now might be a good time for mobility's sake.

>>46273461
Sure might as well.

>>46273317
> Climb higher in the ruined tower.
The higher floors should be more intact, so they probably have more loot and information. Also it's a good vantage point to scout out the surrounding area.

>>46273317
>> Climb higher in the ruined tower.
Boand seems to have the water side in hand, so let's see how the tower fares.

>>46273317
> Climb higher in the ruined tower.
But be sure to watch our step.

>>46273317
> Climb higher in the ruined tower.

>>46273317
Sweet a spyglass.

>>46273317
>> Climb higher in the ruined tower.

>>46273948
If we're lucky, this allows Grisoch to produce glasses and other sight-enhancing devices! So we can enhance our spiritual (visual) senses.

>>46273317
> Climb higher in the ruined tower.

>>46274029
Don't they already have those though? I recall enchanting some monocles.

You grin, throwing her a thumbs-up. “Keep up the good work! I'm going to see if there's anything else up in the tower here.” You jerk your thumb over your shoulder. “I'll join you when I'm done.”

She makes an acknowledging gesture before diving back below the glittering waves. You worry for a moment about any subaquatic predators sneaking up on her, but Boand is both hyperaware of the waters around her and a fairly potent spirit. Honestly, you're the one that like needs to worry about watching his back.

You do so by immediately turning to face the room behind you. Finding it absent of any assassins you make for the stairs to the next level. Here, Golem Rising saves you again—the cracked stone crumbles as you are halfway up the staircase. Rather than sliding down the stairs to an ignoble and likely painful stop, the stones immediately beneath your feet are held in place by the nimbus of green light leaking from the soles of your onyx-malachite boots. They stay suspended in place long enough for you to jump up to the next step before clattering down to join their bretheren.

> [[Golem Rising will now keep the ground beneath you from crumbling, even if all the earth around is destroyed. This makes it much more difficult to knock you down.]]

The third floor, while still weather-damaged and encrusted with barnacles, is in significantly better shape. There are still tatters of the original carpet clinging to the floor in places. On the far wall an eroded carving depicts a figure in armor with what is either a ponytail or a plumed helmet throwing a spiky-looking fish into the sea. Dozens of smaller supplicants are depicted kneeling, presumably in awe of this achievement of sheer sportsmanship.

You feel like this could be important, but something tells you you'll find out more about it later.
(cont.)

>>46274552

You climb the steps to the fourth and final story of the tower. A portion of the roof here left some time ago along with the wall attached to it. The sun peeks in merrily over the lip of the remaining ceiling, shedding a few beams of thin radiance through broken tiles.

This was clearly an office or a personal room of some import before the sea swallowed the fort whole. The fireplace built into the wall has sagged with disuse, but the armor stand bolted to the wall at its side still holds a suit of armor. The metal has not tarnished or rusted despite the long weathering it must have endured. It's a little big to fit you, though with some work at Merich's forge you suspect it could be refitted.

[CHOOSE:]

> Take the armor.
> Leave it for now.

A quick sweep of the remaining room yields a number of tarnished silver coins scattered in the fireplace. Behind a loose brick in the partially collapsed section of wall you also find a tightly sealed scroll case.

> [Obtained: Sealed Antevi Scroll Case]

The lid is fixed firmly.

> Investigate the scroll case.
> Dive down to join Boand.
> Fly out toward the spirit isle.
> Write-in

>>46274569
> Leave it for now.
> Dive down to join Boand.

>>46274569
> Leave it for now.

We're about to go swimming, right? Unless we have a bag of holding I forgot about, we can come back for it later.

>>46274569
> Leave it for now.
> Dive down to join Boand.

>>46274569
> Leave it for now.
> Investigate the scroll case.

>>46274569
>Take the armor.
> Investigate the scroll case.

Let's have a look at the armor through spiritual sight. It should have some magical property, if it's untarnished.

And the scroll case might be useful, in some way (especially if we can open it for some info on the history of the ruins). (For dealing with any spirits here.)

>>46274569
Adding examining the armor with second sight to >>46274784

>>46274569
>> Take the armor.
> Investigate the scroll case.

If we wind up diving with Boand, just put the armor somewhere easy to grab before we leave.

>>46274569
Take the armor, and investigate the scroll. We're not in a rush guys!

>>46274569
> Leave it for now.
> Dive down to join Boand.

[[Back. Had to deal with the hound. Writing in progress.]]

You decide not to spend time and effort pulling the heavy armor away from the rack just before you dive four stories into open water. Occasionally you do plan ahead, after all. It hasn't moved in this long. Probably, it won't move until you return.

Instead you spend your energy prying the top off of the scroll case. The Bolide runes flare as you wrench at the top with all your might. After a minute's grunting and swearing you finally manage to prise the lid free of the tube. You are immediately rewarded for your efforts with a plume of dusty air. When you've finished choking on decades-old air, you extract the thin, filmy paper from within.

Though you don't recognize the tongue, the runes and squiggles are clear enough. The map depicts the shoreline as it was when the fort was above the water table. A dotted path leads further out to sea, pointing toward as island to the northwest nearby the Ikrin range.

> [Obtained: Antevi Shipping Map.]

You seal the map back inside the case, slipping both into your pack. With a few steps running start you're launching yourself over the broken remnants of fine tiling, hurtling out over the gleaming water below. You wings snap out to catch you before you snap your neck on a four-story fall, delivering you in lazy circles down to the water-level walkway where you started. Boand is plainly visible, her head poking out of the water as she circles an enormous serpentine statue.

Seriously, what is it with this region and snakes?

You check to ensure nothing irreplacable in your pack would be destroyed by water, then dive in to join her. Swimming with the weighty Vanguard Chevalier is difficult, but not so difficult that you can't make it the fifteen meters out to where Boand is floating.

“Some kind of icon of worship,” she comments as you splash noisily to a halt beside her. “A local spirit from long ago, most likely.”
(cont.)

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>>46276300

You stare up at the whiskered form above you. Something about the pattern of its scales triggers a memory long forgotten—a book with juice spilled across its pages, a lecture turned lesson on the nature of those who could control True Magic.

“Not a spirit,” you correct her. “A Dragon.”

The statue looms overhead. Its slitted eyes seem to stare down into your very soul.

“Ridiculous,” Boand says. “Dragons have never settled in this region. I would know.”

“Then the people who built this fort must have come from a long way away. It's not impossible for them to have sailed along the coast, is it?”

“Depends on the season, but no.” Boa relents. “They could have come from further afield.”

The Dragon statue's horns glint regally in the mid-day sun.

“Find anything interesting down below?”

She nods. “Quite a bit, actually. It's pretty well preserved down there once you pry to coral out of the way. This stone's pretty hard, so it doesn't weather much. A lot of carvings of weird fish.”

“Sounds familiar.” You gesture to the hazy island in the distance. “What's your take on the other side?”

“Busy.” She indicates the area all around you. “Lots of water spirits. I think this may be some kind of market or haven for sea spirits.”

“Are sea spirits friendly?”

“To other spirits.”

You rub you chin, bracing yourself against the base of the Dragon statue for buoyancy. “Problematic. Do you think you could get me into the big structure?”

Boand winks. “I think it's easier to get forgiveness than permission.”

> Check out the submerged plaza.
> Head for the spirit isle.
> Go spear-fishing. There must be something worth binding, even in the shallows.
> Write-in

>>46276337
> Write-in
Rebind Boand to boots.

>>46276337
> Head for the spirit isle.

>>46276337
> Head for the spirit isle.

>>46276337
> Go spear-fishing. There must be something worth binding, even in the shallows.
We should get some aquatic bindings if we're going to keep exploring this area.

>>46276499
>>46276392
These, need to get us some water breathing and super swimming.

>>46276337
> Go spear-fishing. There must be something worth binding, even in the shallows

>>46276520
>>46276499
Could we ask Boand if there's anything bindable that would enhance our swimming nearby?

>>46276337
>Go spear-fishing. There must be something worth binding, even in the shallows.

>>46276337
>> Head for the spirit isle.

>>46276499
>>46276520
>>46276710
What about the crabs from earlier? Bit too far away I guess.

>>46276978
Probably wouldn't work too well for aquatic action, either. Crabs aren't really known for their speed or mobility.

>>46277040
Neither are turtles known for their jumping ability.
Still probably too far away though. What about the ykree? Is there anything we could try binding that too?

>>46277084
Well we already have a swim bladder binding from that, but we haven't tried it in the boots or pants either which would trend towards mobility.

>>46277141
Maybe we should knock a few cobwebs off the old snake and give it a go?

>>46277194
Sure, but let's also try out Boand. I have a strong suspicion we could get a tail a lot like hers from the right binding.

File: metallic-package.jpg (27 KB, 379x334)

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Codpiece bindings when?

>>46276337
> Check out the submerged plaza.

>>46277274
There's got to be a codpiece on the armor we just passed.

Everyone's just going to double-bind Cordia and Boand to it anyway

>>46277429
>Everyone's just going to double-bind Cordia and Boand to it anyway

You say that like it's not the best possible thing to do.

>>46277773
I'm pretty sure having a lightning dick would be the superior choice

>>46277832
What about double snake dick?

>>46277429
Obviously.

>>46277851
Clearly, a dick of hunger (If it were still operable) would be the best choice. That or the Fourth.

Gentlemen, gentlemen please.

What we need to go is go bind a giant equine so that we can completely ruin Elana.

>>46277885
Having a fourth of a dick seems like a bit of a disadvantage.

Diarca, save us from this phallic derailment!

>>46277931
>liking Elana
but why anon?

>>46277931
Nah, bro, the dick of the Tyrant Wyrm or whatever would be perfect for that. Just gotta ease her into it, you know? Practice makes perfect.

You mull it over. The seawater laps at your collarbone like an overly forward bedfellow.

“What are the chances of us needing to make an accelerated escape from some angry water spirit?” you ask Boa.

“Knowing your luck? If we're not high-tailing it away from some deep-sea horror by the end of the day, I owe you another dinner.”

“S'what I thought.” You reach down, pulling the Raptor Bone focus from your pants and stowing it in your pack. “Hang on. Gonna try something.”

You unbind Aria Nymph, tucking the mask away as well. Pressing the pearl to the submerged leg of your pants, you chant the Litany of Unity. You can feel Boand's aura sapping away at yours through the pearl as you bind her focus for the second time. The hazy mist of blue around her erupts into a fully fledged bonfire, while you feel as though you've been running for hours. Still, the accompanying glare of cerulean light radiates outward from below the waterline.

>> [[Binding Discovered: Turbulent Tides. These blue fish-scale tights can fuse the wearer's legs into a powerful tail at will, providing a quick means of transport through the water.]]

Mimicking Boa's earlier movement you run two fingers down the side of your thigh. With a reverberating -crack- your legs fuse into one seamless whole. It takes you a few minutes of experimenting with your new tail to get the feel for the required motion, but you're quickly swimming laps around the dragon statue.

-Not bad!- Cordia's voice echoes in the back of your mind. You flinch, glancing around.

-Looks like the boots got absorbed when your feet turned finny,- she comments. -Guess I'm along for the ride for the time being.-

“Look at you!” Boand surges through the water, sidling up beside you with a sly grin. “Scales look good on you, Totemist.”
(cont.)

>>46278116

“You're just saying that because you had my reserves for an afternoon snack,” you grumble.

“Didn't hurt,” she admits with a shrug. The water around her surges upward in sympathetic response. “So?”

You glance toward the continental shelf. “Alright. Let's go fishing. Keep it close to the shallows, though. Nothing past the ridge.”

Boa nods. “Agreed.”

> Roll 1d100 for tracking!

[[Gonna have to wrap it up soon, unfortunately. Got called in for an early shift tomorrow. We may be able to continue tomorrow evening if folks would be down. -Actually- continue this time, that is.]]

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>46278138

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>46278138

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>46278138
Rahab pls

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>46278138

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>46278138

>>46278177
Rahab you were always an asshole.

>>46278138
Pretty sure anyone here would be down for another thread tomorrow.

>>46278138
Yeah I've got Easter plans so I would be there for parts of the thread but not all of it

You've never been the strongest swimmer. Grisoch is insulated from the sea on all sides by the Ikrin peaks. You'd need to trek through the raptor-packed grasslands or, as you've done now, traverse all the way through the Brush and the Swamp around the eastern bend to reach the shore. The only swimming available was in the rivers peppered through the Brush—a dubious proposition without supervision. Effectively this meant that your only experience with swimming prior to your Totemist career was under Ayren's watchful eye for the purposes of endurance training.

To wit, less swimming and more near-drowning.

Thus, enjoying moving through the water is a new and delightful sensation. You can't quite match Boand's pace, needing to return to the surface to breath every so often, but the feel of hurtling through the ocean is much akin to flying without the need to worry over altitude. Sticking close to the surface, you and Boand jet through the sunken courtyard together.

Even now the evidence of the previous daily lives of the inhabitants of the fort can be picked out. A derelict cart anchor here, a collection of rusted pikes there. The inhabitants of the ruin seemed to be of the sea-faring sort judging by the anchor iconography frequently depicted in the carvings below the waves. The eels and fish of the ruin scatter at your approach, leaving you and Boand to swim through a veritable storm of colorful tropics fish.

With Boand at your side you swim out of the relatively safe confines of the fort, crossing the gap of open sea back toward the shore. You keep your eyes peeled for potential threats from around or below as your tail flexes. Keeping yourself swimming in a straight line whilst craning your head to and fro turns out to be more difficult than expected. Fortunately, you have Boand to back you up.
(cont.)

>>46278706
That is certainly true. I think we're all always down for more Totemist Quest. Or nearly so, I suppose some people might have obligations in the way, but even then their thinking would just be "darn, I can't follow Totemist Quest because I have to do something else".

>>46278764

A few possibilities manifest. A pod of large icthyoforms can be seen swimming a little ways to the southeast of the fort. You have no idea what they are from this distance, but each looks to be slightly smaller than a man. They could be good to gain a focus for water breathing.

Far below you can see what appears to be a burrowing mollusk of some sort erupting in odd spaces from the ocean floor. The creature's drill-shaped shell bores through the sand to allow it to surprise bottom-feeders. It reminds you of a much smaller cave devourer.

Further out, near the edge of the continental shelf, you can see a strange rippling disturbance in the ocean. It's possible an elemental has found itself caught in an unfavorable current, Boa tells you, or that a patch of water has become hypersaturated with spiritual energy due to the nearby ley lines.

> Investigate the pod of fish.
> Dive for the burrowing mollusk.
> Approach the shimmering spot.
> Head for the spirit isle.

>>46278785
> Approach the shimmering spot.

>>46278785
> Dive for the burrowing mollusk.
That energy patch makes me think of anglerfish and their lures. Let's not go near it.

>>46278785
> Approach the shimmering spot.

>>46278785
> Investigate the pod of fish.
Wait a sec, how are we gonna bind something underwater?

>>46278785
> Investigate the pod of fish.

>>46278879
Pull it up to the surface before we say the words?

>>46278879
I think we made a totem that projects the binding runes a while ago. And if you can think the words for unbinding foci, there's no reason you couldn't do the same with the ones for feral binding.

>>46278879
Say it underwater like a man.

>>46278785
> Investigate the pod of fish.

>>46278879
>>46278903
>>46278939
>>46278946
Can we just think it and it works fine? It's how we unbound the chestpiece where we couldn't breathe.

>>46278785
> Investigate the pod of fish.
If we want to do more of this (which seems to be a possibility), then let's get a water breathing option.

>>46278879
Speaking the words isn't actually necessary, as far as I remember. It's just harder, since Osyki isn't used to it. Thinking the chant really hard is an option.

>>46278785
>Investigate the pod of fish
Aww yeah, time for dinner.

>>46278785
> Dive for the burrowing mollusk.

>>46278785
>Approach the shimmering spot.

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

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[[Okay folks. We'll pick up with our underwater exploration tomorrow. See you then!]]

>>46279596
Thanks Diarca!

>>46279596
Okay. See you tomorrow, Diarca. Thanks for running, and have a nice night.

>>46279596
Thank you Diarca! See you tomorrow.

>>46279596
Thanks, see you later.

>>46279596
Thanks for running.
Are we keeping this thread alive or just punting and making a new one tomorrow?

>>46279596
Thanks for running!

File: osyiki.png (255 KB, 440x476)

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I'm sure everyone's gone by now, but I did a thing.

>>46283489
I'm not gone, and I think that looks very nice.

>>46283489
neat

>>46283489
Oooh, that is seriously neat! Nice work!

(Especially that magic circle around Osyki's left hand -- the manifestation of the circle of binding, right?

...Amd basically everything else.)

>>46283867
>the manifestation of the circle of binding, right?
Yup. In fact if you change the script back to english it says "world within world without".

>>46283489
I like it!

Bump.

Page 9 bump also perfect day out with perfect waifu thread.

Page 9 bump: round 2

[SUMMONING]

See you in 9 months, Diarca.

>>46296307
You'll have to do better than that to dodge me, anon.

>>46294624
It works faster with a high roll.

Post incoming.

>>46296363
Hi, Diarca.

Your priority now is finding a water-breathing totem. A quick trip to the surface replenishes your oxygen reserves—holding your breath isn't something you're bad at, but it would still be best to make this a quick affair. With Modi's spear firmly in hand you gesture for Boand to follow. Sights fixed on the retreating pod, you flex your tail and surge downward toward the ocean floor.

The distortion of the ocean fades as you make your approach. The clustered fish are strange—from their size you would classify them as groupers, but the configuration of their eyes evokes a flounder. Their powerful tails scythe through the water, propelling them in ludicrous jets rather than a single fluid motion. Their lower jaws are clearly better developed than their upper, and each seems to have a bony plating along their side beneath the fins.

Most interestingly, they seem to be floating in an organized formation. The school travels through the water in a roundabout, looping circuit that ensure one fish has its eyes pointed in any given direction at all times. The rotating pod is akin to a fish-bullet spinning through the water.

Boand lets out a giggle beside you. “Seems almost cruel to poach one of them, doesn't it? I can't imagine how these things have survived this long.”

You have your theories. The pod stiffens at your approach. You see the lead fish produce a long bony spike from its mouth, while the fish at the rear of the pod abruptly swell, sucking in water until their sides bulge. The movement is, again, coordinated too smoothly to be coincidence. Some sort of hive mind?
(cont.)

>>46296918

You have little time to contemplate the advanced mechanics of it as the rear fish sudden expel the water. The powerful fluid jets cause them to crash into their bretheren at accelerated speeds, sending the entire rotating fish-bullet careening through the water toward you. You'd laugh if oxygen weren't so important to you. The lead fish bristles with fighting spirit. The bony spike jutting from its lower jaw vibrating with barely restrained fury.

> Meet the fish charge head on with Vanguard Chevalier.
> Evade the battering ram and pluck a few fish from the formation with your spear.
> Blow them out of the water with Song of the Deep.
> Activate one of your transformations (Which?)
> Write-in

>>46296944
>> Blow them out of the water with Song of the Deep.

>>46283489

[[Didn't mean to overlook this. I like the color scheme a lot, though I've always imagined Osyki with brown hair rather than blond. +1 Bonus Point!]]

>>46296918
> Meet the fish charge head on with Vanguard Chevalier.
That's what it's there for.

>>46296993
>>46297029
Song of the Deep freezes water when it absorbs heat for its attacks. Do we really want to use it underwater?

>>46297048
Actually I completely forgot that. Whoops.

Changing >>46297029
to
> Meet the fish charge head on with Vanguard Chevalier.

>>46296944
>Meet the fish charge head on with Vanguard Chevalier.
Fucking jousting fish.

>>46297032
I think you actually did describe Osyki as blonde once, early on.

>>46296944
>Blow them out of the water with Song of the Deep.

Couldn't we just get Boand to ask them nicely?

>>46297152
Asking things nicely to lay down and die rarely works.

>>46297152
Probably not. She's a naiad, not a nereid. Saltwater fish wouldn't listen to her.

File: Nothing that's what.jpg (45 KB, 594x383)

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>>46297048

>>46296944
>> Evade the battering ram and pluck a few fish from the formation with your spear.
finish this so we can go to the spirit markettttt

>>46297210
pls explain the difference, is it just saltwater vs freshwater?

>>46297302
Yes. Naiads are nymphs of wells, streams/rivers, and ponds/lakes. Nereids are nymphs of the sea. But not the open ocean, just the parts near the shore. Deep sea is the oceanids. On land you also have the oreads, nymphs of the mountains, and the dryads, the familiar tree nymphs that most people know. There are also some minor nymph types like the alseids, which are in charge of clearings in the forest, but no one cares about them. Also, these are real-world mythological terms, I doubt the exact same ones are used in Totemist Quest. But I do think the freshwater/seawater divide probably does apply to Boand. She's a river spirit, she shouldn't have much authority here in the sea.

>>46297413
neat, thanks

>>46297244
Uh,

We turn into a discount Osykicube?

You coil the muscles in your tail as the fish-bullet screams through the water toward you. With a word of encouragement from Cordia (-Get 'em!-) you explode forward to meet the oncoming charge. Vanguard Chevalier swells with the might of your courage as you close to gap. A spark of luminescence blooms at your chest, rolling waves of gold that stretch and warp cover you.

You brace you spear at your side. The fish formation shows no signs of slowing its approach. The jets of water at the rear of the pack lance out in rhytmic formation, slamming the bony plates of the propulsion fish against those of the central pack. You narrow your eyes as the final feet close to nothing. The visage of Naga roars in furious gold before you as your spear-point lances out. The lead knife-fish swells in response, the bony blade protruding from its lower jaw quivering with icthyiod fury.

A heartbeat.

A stream of bubbles.

A laughing mermaid.

Your make your strike.

[SHOWDOWN]
> Roll 1d100!

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>46297562
Can we even bind a single one of these things, or would we have to bind the entire school due to their hivemind?

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>46297562
Laughing at honorable fish jousting.
How distasteful.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>46297562
Oh boy.

>>46297635
Thanks for the save, anon.

>>46297635
For a minute there I was getting fis flashbacks.

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>46297562

>>46297691
If only I hadn't rolled!

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>46297562
To finish out the set.

File: Fistality.jpg (328 KB, 1280x752)

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>>46297658

>>46297739
This guy gets it.

The jaws of Naga yawn open to devour a light breakfast of sashimi as your spear lances out. For all Boand's laughter you don't dare underestimate a well-coordinated assault in unfavorable terrain, and with good reason. As you come to the moment of joust the rearmost fish turn in mid-flight. The formation around the lead fish opens up to allow four powerful jets of water through, pummeling the snake-energy just long enough to slow its response. With your force advantage negated it all comes down to reflexes. You have no doubt that without the protective shell of energy afforded by the Chevalier you'd be spinning in place and sliced up besides.

Your strike sings true. You bury the point of your spear into the lead fish's skull, slamming down on it's head with all the strength in your Bolide-powered arms. Modi's blade cleaves the icthyiod's skull like soft cheese. Even as you feel the impact travel up the bones of your arms your free hand lashes out, scoring a rune into the flank of another member of the swarm.

The knife-fish gawps up at you with bulging, hateful eyes. With its last breath it disgorges the bony spike in its mouth, scoring a shallow cut along your side. The scratch is hardly a wound, but it bleeds a silky ribbon of red all the same.

The remainder of the fish-bullet breaks ranks to swarm past you. When you turn they've already begun swooping 'round for another pass at you, a new fish installed at the head of the (somewhat diminished) rotation.

“Oh, shit.”
(cont.)

>>46297977

You turn to Boand, taking your eye off the fish-bullet as it builds up speed once more. A large shape is moving in from the direction of the open sea, its bulk easily visible by the lines of crimson bio-luminescence. A sleek dorsal fin shreds through the water toward you edged with a blade of red.

The knife-fish have sensed the encroaching figure as well. You see something resembling spite in the lead fish's eye as the swarm splits in all directions like a blooming flower, leaving behind the skewered corpse on your spear as well as the rune-scored grouper.

The swarm is... retreating?

> Make to follow it. They're not getting away that easily.
> Take a moment to bind the now abandoned solo fish.
> Turn to face your encroaching opponent.
> Maybe you ought to get to land...?
> Write-in

>>46297999
> Maybe you ought to get to land...?
Something big coming in from the deep? Yeah, let's avoid that.

>>46297999
> Turn to face your encroaching opponent.
Lets not get attacked from behind here.

>>46297999
>Take a moment to bind the now abandoned solo fish.
Can Osyki bind a swarm of things? I feel like it doesn't work that way.

>>46297999
>Turn to face your encroaching opponent

>>46297999
> Turn to face your encroaching opponent.

>>46297999
Can we ask Boand what's coming?

>>46297999
Aww shit nigger, is it a giant oar fish?
https://youtu.be/3SLmAkJ3llw?t=909

>>46297999
>> Maybe you ought to get to land...?
If Boand is worried we probably should be too, a water spirit would likely know about bad shit in the ocean

>>46297999
> Maybe you ought to get to land...?
Yeah let's not fight a goddamn shark.

>>46298211
Skip to 15:09 for the oar fish. I fucked up the time.

>>46297999
>Turn to face your encroaching opponent.

>>46297999
>Take a moment to bind the now abandoned solo fish.

>>46297999
>> Turn to face your encroaching opponent.

>>46297999
> Maybe you ought to get to land...?

>>46297999
>rune-scoured grouper

This sounds like a neat new friend. And by friend, I mean binding.

>Turn to face your encroaching opponent.

Unless we need air, in which case, skedaddle.

>>46297999
> Turn to face your encroaching opponent.

Aaaaaaah panic

>>46297999
I feel like the it'd be pointless to only bind the one bulletfish, so let's just use it as bait and stab the shark while its distracted

>>46298409
The while point is to get a binding that let's us breath underwater. A bullet fish will do

>>46298394
Why are you panicking but voting to fight and not run?

>>46298518
I kinda worry that if we bound a bullet fish into a mask, for example, it would just give us spike-shooting powers. If everyone wants though I'd definitely vote for binding a whole bunch of them and making a Monster Hunter-esque suit of armor/weapons

>>46298675
Fear is a good motivator.

>>46298692
It might give us water breathing in addition to spike shooting. The baby basilisk gives us super spirit sight as well as acid spiting.

File: Amphidrome Reaver.jpg (530 KB, 1200x950)

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The water around you seems to dim as the encroaching predator makes its entrance. Sleek lines of crimson light swoop along the edges of bladed fins. A gaping maw of teeth, rows upon rows of scalpel-like points, recede into a mouth that could be likened to the void itself. Predator's eyes, black and merciless, rake your form. The ribbon of blood winding its way from your side suddenly darts, animated with a life of its own toward the creature.

The water itself follows shortly thereafter. A surge of tidal force sweeps past you, spinning you momentarily in place and drawing you further toward the continental shelf. Boand yelps in surprise as the water around you writhes with a strange life of its own, currents rising to being where there was only still sea.

The blood finds its rest within the shark's maw. A bellowing groan shakes the ocean around you, a reverberation that sends lesser predators and prey alike scrambling for shelter. The scale tags at the beast's underside glow brilliantly as the ocean reaches out again to drag you toward that toothy abyss. You strain against it as best you can, flexing your tail against the vortex.

“Osyki!” Boand cries out to you, caught in a similar slipstream. “I'll get you air, okay? Just keep it distracted!”

You turn to the sleek predator swimming with deadly purpose toward you. Keep it distratced. Easier said than done, perhaps.

> [You have 3 rounds of air remaining.]
(cont.)

What happens if we bind a bullet fish into the bolt thrower?

>>46298843

You shove the knife-fish corpse from the end of your spear, watching in weird fascination as it spirals into the shark's mouth on invisible roads of water. With a casual toss of its head the predator shears through half of the appetizer, swallowing it in a cloud of gore. The blood soaks into the scale tags at the shark's underbelly, reinforcing the glowing aura. The undersea gale drawing you in redoubles in strength. You're not getting away from the monster like this, certainly.

> Use the tidal force to your advantage. Charge in!
> Take a shot with your bow to break its concentration.
> Attempt to sever the tidal forces around you with Veneni.
> Hurl the rune-scored knife-fish at the shark with your bracers' strength.
> Activate a transformation. (Which?)
> Write-in

Currently available transformations:
> Modi Magni Lv. 1: Weaponsmaster
> Void Tap

>>46298877
> Attempt to sever the tidal forces around you with Veneni.
Cut off its power, deny it its strongest weapon. Effective, and the sort of symbolic dominance that makes for strong bindings.

>>46298877
> Attempt to sever the tidal forces around you with Veneni.
> Void Tap

>>46298972
Save the void shit for when we are out of options.

>>46298877
>> Modi Magni Lv. 1: Weaponsmaster
stab it stab it

>>46298877
>Attempt to sever the tidal forces around you with Veneni.

>>46298877
>Use the tidal force to your advantage. Charge in!
>Modi Magni Lv. 1: Weaponsmaster

>>46298877
>Attempt to sever the tidal forces around you with Veneni.

I feel like that's symbolic enough to enhance a binding

>>46299006
Why?

>>46299550
Because it's the tool of an evil power, and even if basic Void channeling has no side effects we don't want to become comfortable with it. Using it without harm to ourselves is just going to make us drop our guard. So it's best to save it for an emergency trump card, rather than something to use on just a relatively minor beast.

>>46299550
gees anon I dont know, why should we not use the power that corrupts us that comes directly from a being that intends to take control of our body when we dont have to? A real head scratcher that one.

>>46299658
>Giant water controlling shark from the fuckyoucean.
>Minor Beast

>>46299658
I don't think you should underestimate this shark that much

>>46299684
Relatively minor, I said. It's nasty, but it's not some ancient leviathan. Nothing worth risking damning our soul and the fate of the world over.

>>46299697
Nor do I think you should overestimate this shark so much that it requires Void powers. It's a threat, but not one that bad.

>>46299684
>>46299697
We aint even used modi yet. Cool your void jets.

>>46299659
I don't think it's ever been said that it corrupts us, or that we'd ever not be in control of it. In fact I remember Diarca being excited about us using it.

>>46299727
We've clearly only just scratched the surface of void tap. If we wait until we're facing some horrific god-beast to start exploring our power we're going to get outmatched very quickly.

>>46299757
Nigger its literally coming from a thing that wants to take over our body. We can go a couple rounds with a shark before we need to use it. If we need it at all.

>>46299757
The basic Void Tap power doesn't. The "Void Tremors" (and doesn't that name just fill you with confidence?) do. And the Void explicitly told us that if we don't do what we want it to it will try to hollow us out and force us to.

>>46299771
Or we could keep doing what we've always been doing, building up power the safe way instead of taking stupid risks.

Even without the inexorable tendrils of water drawing you toward the continental shelf, it's clear the massive shark has the speed advantage on you by size alone. Its powerful tail cleaves the water, dorsal fin cutting a murderous path in a bee-line toward you. You struggle against the current generated by the scale-tags at its belly. Something here needs to change.

You draw Veneni from your belt. Threading your fingers through the knuckle-duster grip you lash out at the pillar of water that fights to encapsulate you. The edge of the Basilisk tooth glows with a dim purple energy as you strike out at the lines of light painted across the ocean in your mind's third eye. The edge of your blade catches against an unseen thread, snagging the thread of power and dragging it into the material realm.

The line of crimson energy bursts into your side of the veil, wreathed in sparks of abyssal energy. You saw at it with Veneni, trying desperately to shred through the thick weave of pure spiritual force before the shark can draw too close. Sensing that you're not getting anywhere with your focus split as it is between striking the cord of power and swimming for your life, you lean on Modi Magni for aid.

The spear in your hand sends tendrils of thin brass into the skin at your wrist, melding Modi's prowess with your own. Your grip is firmer on Veneni, now, and you can feel the panic slowly meld away to the edges of your mind.

Another bellowing roar splits the sea. Boand struggles toward the surface fruitlessly.

> Roll 1d100+5.

Rolled 29 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>46299935

Rolled 46 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>46299935
What does level two modi sync do?

Rolled 71 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>46299935

>>46300059
Only one way to find out

Rolled 19 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>46299935

Rolled 32 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>46299935

File: Sharks.webm (2.38 MB, 1000x562)

2.38 MB WEBM

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>46299935
nope

Just got caught up. Damn, Osyki, hope you enjoy seafood.

>>46300263
We're fine, we've got a 76, that should be enough.

Also, I've been thinking: In general, you get the huge predators in the shallows, not the deeps. There's more food there. So if the deep oceans are really so dangerous, the things there must not be predators. They'd be monsters that kill for its own sake, not for food. Spooky.

>>46300318
Actually deep sea creatures tend to be bigger than their higher shallower water counterparts. Being bigger gives them a more efficient metabolism and allows them to regulate temperature better or something.

>>46300484
Right, but not mega-predators. Deep sea creatures tend to be omnivores or filter-feeders, is my point. So that leviathan isn't coming to the surface to eat you, it gets all the food it needs from krill. It's coming to the surface to kill you because it hates you, and wants you to die. There's no benefit for it other than seeing the life leave your eyes.

Stop thrashing.-

Modi's even tone bites into your awareness.

-You're holding a precision implement, not a broadsword. Don't just hack away it at like a chunk of meat. Find a seam.-

You narrow your eyes, scanning the crackling lash of crimson light for a weakness as it slowly slips back beyond the veil. The jagged electric nature of the spiritual power makes it difficult to focus on...

Your arm snaps out. The venom-limned edge of the basilisk fang catches against something in the roiling mass of spiritual power, driving a wedge into the shark's concentration from afar. The rope of power slips its hold on the water surrounding for just long enough—you see Boand dart out of the aquatic trap and surge toward the surface.

> [You have two rounds of air remaining.]

You're left with no time to celebrate, however: the ocean predator has closed the gap significantly while you struggled with its bindings. A row of silvered razors rises up to greet you as the shark snaps at the water you just ceased occupying. You do your best to exploit the three-dimensional combat plane by juking beneath the encroaching wall of teeth. The pressure of the shark passing overhead is still enough to nearly flip you end over end, however, and you catch the glinting energy of the scale tags—

-Look out!-
(cont.)

>>46300539
I dont know man. Colossal squid are deep sea predators and they come up sometimes.

>>46300539
They could just be territorial, or have some voodoo going on like they need to feed on warm blood or something

>>46300558

—Just a moment too late. A wall of water slams into your underside, stunning you and knocking a precious blurt of air from your lungs into the water around you. You raise Modi's spear and brace yourself as the very ocean becomes a foe, hammering blows into your exposed sides as the shark circles round for a second bite. You jab and weave with Veveni, ducking fist-sized projectiles of force and shattering barriers of aquatic force with the black iron knuckle plates. You're still not gaining much ground, but you can at least keep from being shaken senseless. The looming shape of the shark warps the water around it as it plummets down toward you.

-We're getting nowhere like this,- Modi growls. -We need to go on the offensive. Maneuver above it.-

-You've got ranged options,- Cordia reminds you.

> Gain the high ground and go for the dorsal fin.
> Drive it off course with a shot from your bow.
> Charge it headfirst. Moth's blade will give it something to think about.
> Activate a transformation.
> Write-in

>>46300582
>Gain the high ground and go for the dorsal fin.
Dont want to accidentally ice cube ourselves.

>>46300582
>> Activate a transformation.
void time void time void time

im hesitant to find out how our ranged weapons work underwater with a round and a half of breath left, but I'm guessing void isn't affected by terrain so much and just maybe can give us a few more rounds of breath since it seems to be made out of bullshit.

>>46300582
Modi level two
> Gain the high ground and go for the dorsal fin.

>>46300582
> Gain the high ground and go for the dorsal fin.
If we can breach the surface and start flying so we can snipe at it from the air, that would be ideal. If not, we should still try to get away from those teeth and belly dermal scales.

>>46300582
> Gain the high ground and go for the dorsal fin.

>>46300582
>Gain the high ground and go for the dorsal fin.

The fin would make a good focus, too. Though the teeth might be better?

>>46300646
We got two rounds left calm down. Bonad is getting air for us and she is faster than us anyway.

>>46300679
I'm thinking those dermal scales, that seems to be what focuses the water magic.

Spiteful fish hivemind best waifu

I vote we go back and get that shit eventually, lest this area of the sea turn into a giant foaming mass silver fish angry at a Totemist.

>>46300782
By 'get' I mean totemize, btw. Sounds swell.

Question: how photosensitive are Sharks eyes, generally? Maybe blasting it with Edge of Dawn might help?

>>46300806
I'm pretty sure their vision is shitty overall

>>46300647
Yeah let's see what level two is like

>>46300782
How do fish hiveminds work anyway? Do they just react to the fish beside them?
>>46300806
>>46300849
Sharks eyesight is roughly ten times better than our underwater eyesight It could probably still tell where we are by the smell of blood, our electric field and its water magic. Adding on to that they have nictitating membranes to protect them and in some cases they roll them back into their heads while they attack to help protect them.

>>46300923
More shark facts. Their field of vision is usually around 15 meters and they can switch their field of vision from being stereoscopic to monocular at will. Most of them also have an almost 360 degree field of vision with a blind spot directly in front of their snout and directly behind their heads.

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>>46300782
Agreed. I want to bind like six of them to get the hive mind going properly, though.

>>46301213
>Osyki wearing matching armor

>>46301176
Even more shark facts because I find this interesting. Sharks sense of electrolocation allows them to detect creatures hidden amongst rocks and under sand. Some people believe they use sight and smell to locate prey and switch to electrolocation for the actual attack. They also have fairly good hearing.

>>46301304
Never ever, but a man can hope.

As the oceanfag QM, you all have no idea how much I am enjoying this. Still prefer sharks over a massive jellyfish.

We should bind a giant mollusk. Preferably one with a proportional jewel.

>>46301392
Well, we passed up on a mollusk with a drill shell earlier.

>>46301392
>giant mollusk
Nasu pls go

>>46301392
Fucking jellyfish scare me out of the ocean whenever they show up.

>>46301304
A man can dream...

>>46301428
Kids like to bury them under 1-3 inches of sand around florida beaches. The way I discovered this was not enjoyable.

>>46301495
Mother fuckers. I don't think anyone needed any more proof that Florida is a crazed and hateful place.

>>46301560
Florida is just america's australia

Your tail lashes behind you, propelling you straight -up-. Your momentum is arrested momentarily as the massive shark's scale tags shine with eerie light once more. A solid plate of water ripples into being above you, blocking your ascent any further. A cruel intelligence maneuvers the barrier to block all attempts to circumnavigate it—you're quickly forced into moving laterally to avoid becoming a sitting duck.

The water around you shudders again as the great shark roars down toward you. Veneni's blade lashes out almost without your consent to ward of a spiraling current set to bind your tail.

'Getting fenced in here,' you mutter into your own mind.

The ancestral spear's head turns filmy as Modi's power surges through it. The swept cutting edge fractures, emitting a secondary curve. The head of your spear quickly molds itself into a flattened trident shape. You thrust the newly honed edge upward, combining Modi's cutting power with the preternatural strength imbued into you by the Bolide Bracers. The plate of force above you groans, then shatters outward. The sensation of rapidly displaced water cues you to parry another lashing tendril of restricting water as you ascend again. You need to move quickly here. You've no idea how quickly the megalodon can conjure further barriers to box you in.
(cont.)

>>46301677
Friendly reminder of the fire ants that live there, too.

>>46301721

The vast wall of scales bears down toward you. The streaks of crimson light your opponent leaves in the water can be mistaken for ribbons of blood, grisly reminders of the many competitors this predator has conquered in its pursuit of its prey. You spiral upward as monolithic maw gapes open toward you. Black, soulless eyes track your progress with a kind of cold detatchment.

-There.- Modi's spear jerks in your grasp, curving your upward ascent. -The base of the dorsal fin.-

The shark is moving toward you, fast. You'll only have one shot at this.

> Activate Modi Transformation Level 2?
> Yes
> No

> Plant your spear in the fin and hang on.
> Attempt to wrestle the shark upside-down.
> Plant Veneni in the whorling designs on the dorsal fin.
> Go for the eyes.
> Activate Void Tap.
> Write-in

>>46301741
> Activate Modi Transformation Level 2?
> Yes
Let's give it a try.

> Plant Veneni in the whorling designs on the dorsal fin.
See how you like Basilisk venom, bucko.

>>46301741
>Yes
>Plant your spear in the fin and hang on.
Fucking sharks.

>>46301741

>Yes

>Plant Veneni in the whorling designs on the dorsal fin.

Oh hey! Didn't we kinda want this dorsal fin, anyways?

>>46301741
> Yes
> Attempt to wrestle the shark upside-down

>>46301803
I probably would have gone for his scale tag things.

>>46301833
I personally want the entire upper jaw, or at least the one of the fins, but since the dorsal fin on sharks keep them balanced, I'm more interested in the scales or teeth.

>>46301741
> Activate Modi Transformation Level 2?
> Yes
> Plant Veneni in the whorling designs on the dorsal fin.

>>46301724
I once stepped into a fire ant nest while in sandals. It was not fun.

>>46301833
>>46301934
Voting for scale tags

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[[Okay folks. My apologies. I've written this paragraph four times now and it has yet to make sense to me, which means it's officially time to call it for the evening. I never seem to get as far as I think I will in these sessions. Some examination of the pacing is clearly in order.

We'll pick it up next week with the reveal of Modi's second gift and the true battle between Osyki and the Tide Reaver.

Omake soon.]]

>>46302411
Tide Reaver, huh?

Sweeeeet!

>>46302411
It's fine, Diarca. It's getting late, I don't think anyone will fault you for wanting to pick this up later.

>>46302411
Aww, thanks for running, Diarca! Get some sleep.

>>46299757
You are fucking stupid plz stfu

>>46302411
Thanks for running!

>>46302411
Thanks for running!

>>46268589

I thought we only had Modi level 1?