> [[ Fan Works: Artifact Ideas / Quest Notes ]]
https://titanpad.com/kZOMVYSrMv

All things considered there are few artifact ideas that I'm not fond of in -some- manner, so I'm inclined to simply put it to a vote whenever that time rolls around.

Also, feel free to utilize the Titanpad for general notes or things that are important to remember, if only because I can't be counted on for a consistent schedule.

>>46531743
>> [[ Ask for a consultation – 15# ]]
First ask about our mysterious skill just in case then ask about the troglodytes

>>46531743
> “You must have heard a lot. What’s happened since we left to challenge Kjorikos?”
> [[ Ask for a consultation – 15# ]]
Ask about the earthsea and the pariahs
Ask why the prophecy is so expensive, is something coming that you don't want many people to know about?
> [[ Identify a weapon or artifact – 10# ]]
Longcaster

>>46531743
>> [[ Ask for a consultation – 15# ]]
Ask her what we should request of the gods.

Basically, ask for any ideas concerning Celestial Artifacts.

>>46532015
Lol no that's dumb. Have some creativity anon.

>>46532069
An idea is an idea. It might be a really good one, too.

>>46532134
I'm already sold on the strife memoriam idea.

>>46531743
> “You must have heard a lot. What’s happened since we left to challenge Kjorikos?”
> [[ Ask for a consultation – 15# ]]

Ask about the coming Guild Wars. Let's see how advanced this AI is.

>>46531743
>> “You must have heard a lot. What’s happened since we left to challenge Kjorikos?”
> [[ Identify a weapon or artifact – 10# ]]
The coat it needs to be identified
> [[ Ask for a consultation – 15# ]]
the earth sea dudes

“You must have heard quite a bit. What all has happened since we’ve left to challenge Kjorikos?” You ask.

“Indeed, much has changed. The primal beast Kos has been slain, and the nearest of the sliverwing hives burned to the ground around him.” The fortune teller responds. “The crawler population closest to Averron City has withdrawn deeper into the underground for fear of being hunted, and most recently, a group of brave hunters challenged the Earthcrowned Phoenix and emerged victorious.”

“Is all that why the prophecies have become so expensive?” You ask.

“Yes, indeed. To scry far beyond and delve into matters of utmost consequence is no easy task. With each major threat to Averron eliminated, the nature of prophecy becomes more nebulous. Though the underground holds mysteries yet to be seen, that which remains untold by prophecy is a concern of an even higher order.”

“Hit me with a consultation, then.” You ask, and the credits are deducted from your chip. For someone so mysterious, they’ve sure got no reservations about taking your money.

> Ask about the earthsea exiles, and the pristine brand.
> Ask about a player by name.
> Ask about a Celestial Artifact by name or owner.
> Write-in.

>>46532379
> Ask about the earthsea exiles, and the pristine brand.

>>46532379
> Ask about the earthsea exiles, and the pristine brand.

>>46532379
>>> Ask about the earthsea exiles, and the pristine brand.

>>46532379
>> Ask about the earthsea exiles, and the pristine brand.

>>46532379
> Ask about the earthsea exiles, and the pristine brand.
> Ask about a player by name.
Anaximander and that female leader of another city whose name escapes me

>>46532600
Hecate?

>>46532621
Hecatel actually

>>46532621
Hecatel.

>>46532600
ANAXIMANDER DID NOTHING WRONG

>>46532711
dank meme bro

Hey guys I have an idea. Can we hire NPCS to mine those fractilline crystals? Maybe a few Npcs guards for them too? Then sell those at the market take a cut of the profit, rinse repeat. Might be a good way to raise money. We could even make it a repeatable quest.

>>46532839
We're not exactly loaded with credits anon

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“This brand,” You hold up the pristine brand—an emblem, caked in dried blood and enshrined in dessicated flesh, which resembles the sign you saw hidden away in the magma chamber. The exiles carried these marks burned or sewn into their bodies. “The underground is filled with troglodytes that each bear this mark. What does it mean?”

“In a time long ago, traitors and heretics were branded with such marks to indicate their exile, such that their crime would be known no matter where they travelled.” The fortune teller responds. “They were cast out of civilization, and those that did not perish would duly succumb to madness in time.”

The feline manipulates the crystal ball, which floats lazily above the table, with their paws. It is hazy and starry inside, and Tatsumaki appears briefly entranced, watching intently with her face inches away from the relic.

“What kind of crime would someone be exiled for?” You feel like you’d fit right at home with the roleplayers. This game has a way of making you play along.

“Once, such acts as treason. But culture changed once the people of Sylvetica became Entombed. The practice which came to be called Artifice, for example, was deemed thoroughly heretical, and its progenitors were made pariahs. Indeed, many such individuals sought to master the elements, or life itself. It stands to reason that not all could be so lucky as Kjorikos, to aspire to love, to escape branding, and forge one’s own fate.”

> [[ Continued ]]

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>>46532920
“The lower branches are teeming with these creatures. Some of the hunting grounds are on the verge of being overrun. Were there really enough artificers to account for all of these exiles?” You ask.

“No—which means culture has yet changed again. The exiles you fought are the people of another civilization, determined guilty, justly or otherwise, of some new crime. They, too, have been branded and cast out, and a seam has been opened in the underground. They will pour forth from it until there are none left, until the seam is closed, or until justice is served.”

“And the Earthsea? What is it?”

The crystal ball grows hazy. “It is distant yet, child. That is a question which prophecy alone can answer.”

> Try asking something else. (Write-in.)
> Pay for a new consultation. (Above options.)
> Other.

>>46532945
Identify the caster

>>46532945
>Id the longcoat

> Try asking something else. (Where is the seam?)


>>46532967
Longcoat needed it not the caster.

>>46532993
They both do. But I don't care about a damaged long coat when we already have better armor.

>>46532945

Ask about Hecatel.

>>46532945
ask where the seam is and what it means by justice

>>46533017
No the longcaster doesn't it said it didn't the coat does. It said as much. Besides if we want to sell the coat we'll get more money for it if we know what it does.

>>46532945
Let's go to the altar to turn in that UI and get an artifact made

>>46533048
Dude recheck the pastebin, you're completely wrong.

>>46533048
You think we're gonna sell some damaged light armor and it will be worth the 10 credit fee for identification?

>>46533223
If it's magic yes.

>>46533304
Maybe. I wanted to give it to tats anyway. Let's just give it to her and let her identify it instead of keeping all the loot for ourselves

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“Where’s the seam?” You ask.

“I am uncertain. But skilled combatants could trace them back to a point of origin.” The fortune teller responds, Tatsumaki still looking intently at the crystal ball.

“Fair. What do you mean by justice?”

“Not even divination can determine that, child—justice is defined in terms of whatever civilization spawned and cast out these souls. I cannot say whether they must be brought home safely, or destroyed without recourse. I know not the laws of the place from whence they came.”

With that done, you decide to have both of the items you pulled off Annalise identified.

> armored rawhide greatcoat (damaged) [[ X Damage Resistance ]] [[ X Madcap ]]
> “Rubi”, a handcrafted scoped sliverwing longcaster [[ + Range ]]

Looks like the coat’s not giving any of its bonuses, as it’s too torn up. You’ll need an armorer or crafter who can repair it—and leather is pretty hard to come by in Averron, so far as you’ve seen. Maybe Nel knows where to get some, or you could check the message boards.

As far as the gun, looks like the girl made it herself. Damn shame: crafters seem difficult to come by.

> * Madcap [[ Granted by: armored rawhide greatcoat ]]: Decreases mobility and endurance penalties when traversing walls and other abnormal surfaces on foot.

That’s pretty cool, though. You still have to split the loot with Tatsumaki—at least, you said you would, but she looks pretty distracted right now.

> [[ Ask for a consultation – 15# ]]
> Other.

>>46533498

Ask about Hecatel

>>46533498
Give Tats the coat and anything else she wants

>>46533498
Head on out and divvy up the loot

>>46533551
Except for the caster

>>46533498
Divvy up loot and head to the altar

>>46533498
Ask about Anaximander Sempai.

>>46533498
>Ask about Anaximander. Was he right?

>>46533498
Ask about hecatel.

I get the feeling that anax's jam is something we need to figure out ourselves.

guys we can't afford all this, this is relatively expensive

>>46533546
>>46533704
>>46533775
>>46533824
15 credits a question.

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>>46533498
“You should get this fixed up. It’ll look good on you.” You open a trade with Tatsumaki, transferring her the coat. The two of you agree to split the rest of the items about evenly, with you keeping the rifle—she takes the fluorescent torch, of course, to replace the one she burned back in the magma chamber.

She shrugs.

“Will that be all, child?” The fortune-teller asks, expectantly.

> [[ You have 144 credits. ]]

> Pay for one last consultation. [[ 15# ]]
> Leave.

>>46533929
> Leave.

>>46533929
>> Leave.

>>46533929
>> Leave.

>>46533929
>> Leave.
we DO need to do some regular quests for mulah. Wonder if there are still NPCs here who could accommodate.

>>46534081
I'd rather farm more fractaline crystals and ore to make our new aethersteel weapon.

>>46534106
of course, I'm just relatively sure that our credits aren't going to be going up for a while.

why did we vote to go trog hunting again?

>>46533984
>>46534029
>>46534071
“May the Celestials guide you in your travels, child.” The fortune teller bids. “Good luck in the lands below.”

“Thanks.” You wave the NPC off. Your vision is a bit blurry as you and Tatsumaki head out of the tent and into clearer air.

“Mm?” There’s a pause before Tatsumaki looks up to you expectantly. The two of you begin down the street toward the heart of Averron.

> Liza, Vyx, Tatsumaki, Ayla, and Sulya are online.
> Vision, Donnel, Nel, Smith, and Aelriss are offline.

> Head to the tavern.
> Head to the Celestial Altar.
> Message someone.
> Other.

>>46534194
> Head to the Celestial Altar.
UI Burial

>>46534194
>> Head to the Celestial Altar.

>>46534216
yeah, may as well.

Also curious if all the rampant destruction did anything to the "status" of Averron from the perspective of the altar.

>>46534194
> Head to the Celestial Altar.
> Message someone.
Ayla, see what she's up to, what she thinks of the trologdytes, and ask if she's seen that picture we sent the writ keepers to decode the runes

>>46534194
Go to the Altar. After that, I think we should go back to the volcanic area.

>>46534194
> Head to the Celestial Altar.
I can't decide if I want the Pegasus tamer artifact or the strife memoriam

>>46534362
I'm leaning towards the latter.

The Averron altar is a statue carved out of a single massive opal slab, on a pedestal in the center of a fountain. It depicts a girl, no older than seven or eight, shoulder-length hair perpetually blowing in a nonexistent breeze, head upturned, sightless marble eyes forever affixed upon the heavens.

She holds an ornately carved bowl in her hands, arms outstretched, and three ascending stone steps in the fountain water allow individuals to approach, but only so closely.

> [[ Greater Celestial Materialization Altar ]]
> Celestial Manifestation “Averron City”
> MANIFESTATION GRANTED BY:
Andor, Liza, and Ayla, “that these newborn souls might have an origin point from which to forge their destiny”
> [[ Offer Celestial Gems ]]
* Create Celestial Artifact
* Enhance Celestial Artifact
* Enhance Celestial Manifestation
* Destroy Celestial Manifestation
> [[ Offer Item ]]
* Offer an Item to the Celestials

A familiar context menu unfolds before you as you interact with the Altar. You offer the Unique Identifier, and it burns into motes of radiant light, revealing the cave ceiling high overhead as they drift upward. You feel as though you are on the right path.

> [[ UI Messenger – Ayla ]]
> [[ Ayla ]]: Ashe
> [[ Ayla ]]: How long have you been online?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: ?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Ayla?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Where are your OOC brackets? You’re scaring me.
> [[ Ayla ]]: Seriously, were you online since I last logged off?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I think so. It’s been a couple of hours, right?
> [[ Ayla ]]: Uh, not in real life.

[[ 1 ]]
> Send messages. (Write-in)

[[ 2 ]]
> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
> Head elsewhere.

>>46534478
I'm gonna run out and grab food I'll be back I promise.

>>46534478
Ask her how long it's been IRL
Get gem price for Pegasus tamer and strife memoriam
$ "I wish to remember my enemies, that the memory of those I would not call lessers stand with me as I face still stronger foes, that I may borrow some measure of their knowledge and strength."

"I wish for a way to summon these obsidian pegasi wherever I please, to call forth the aid of ebony wings and lift us up to new heights."

>>46534478
> Send messages. (All I've done was 2 mat gathering with a few of your people and hunting some of the earthsea exiles(troglodytes) with Tatsumaki. Time passes here weirdly. I found a brand on one of the exiles you might want to look at. Also warn you men about them setting traps, I put up a notice but not everyone reads)

> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
Ask about Strife Memoriam and the time piece.

>>46534478
Figured as much, the heady feeling wasn't from fortune teller incense, but that Ashe here is seriously about to pass out.

>Hit me, how bad do I have it right now?
>I'll probably log out as soon as I finish chatting with Tats and checking if she's in the same boat as me.

>Ask about artifacts
however many that you feel you can write without consuming too much time.

>>46534478
Ask her about how the guilds are handling freakshow's latest announcement

>>46534478
Ask if anyone from her guild knows anything about that pic we sent. Also ask what the plan is for those troglodytes and give her all the info we've gather about them.

>>46534478
> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
I just want strife memoriam desu senpai

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> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Damnit. I haven’t done that much—material gathering and some hunting.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: How long has it been? Am I literally dead IRL?
> [[ Ayla ]]: That’s exactly the problem
> [[ Ayla ]]: It hasn’t been that long at all.
> [[ Ayla ]]: I’m tired as shit but I’m logging back on because something isn’t right
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Are you okay?
> [[ Ayla ]]: Remember the first time the game updated?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Yeah, I lost a whole fucking day and woke up with the worst headache.
> [[ Ayla ]]: And when the gunner from our raid logged off to ‘get a snack’?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Vyx?
> [[ Ayla ]]: She was confused when we had to wait like, half an hour for her to get back on.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: The game updated again pretty recently.
> [[ Ayla ]]: I think it’s swung back the other way.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I actually had some other things to talk to you about.
> [[ Ayla ]]: Related to this?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: No.
> [[ Ayla ]]: Where are you?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: City square.
> [[ Ayla ]]: On my way.

“Tats, are you feeling tired?” You ask, making a ‘pillow’ gesture with clasped hands. “Sleepy?”

“N-no.” She shakes her head.

Ayla’s got you worried. You’ll have to investigate yourself. But, right now…

“Celestials, listen up.” As you speak, a light is born in the statue’s eyes. “Grant me the power to remember my enemies, that their memory might stand with me as I face still stronger foes—so I might borrow from their knowledge or strength.”

> [[ To forget history is to repeat it. ]]
> [[ Time heals – yet, time erases. ]]
> [[ To circumvent this truth is no simple task. ]]
> [[ If you believe yourself worthy, return to us four gifts, and we will make your desire manifest. ]]

> [[ Continued ]]

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>>46535611
“I ask of you a way to summon the Obsidian Pegasi wherever I please, such that ebony wings might lift me to starry heights.”

> [[ Those that laud the potential of Man forget it is scarcely achieved by Man alone. ]]
> [[ To tame great beasts once hunted, and fight alongside them in battle… ]]
> [[ Is this the Hunter’s dream? ]]
> [[ Seek five of our artifacts, and you might once again see the true Sky. ]]

“I wish to hold the ebb and flow of eternity in my own hand. To move and shape it to the benefit of my allies, and to the detriment of those who mean me harm.”

> [[ Your cause is noble, Entombed. ]]
> [[ But you too may be swept away by the tides of time. ]]
> [[ The forces you describe are not so easily mastered. ]]
> [[ No less than six of our gifts will grant this power. ]]

[[ 1 ]]
> Message someone.
> Wait for Ayla to return.

[[ 2 ]]
> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
> Write-in.

>>46535626
> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
Get the strife memoriam artifact.

>>46535626
> Wait for Ayla to return.

>Check the boards

>>46535626
> Wait for Ayla to return.
> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
get that first one, we have four gems already

>>46535656
>>46535683
You do realize right now it'll only be mobs since summoning a low level midboss takes 5 gems yes?

>>46535704
What? We don't need to spend gems to fight bosses.

>>46535713
No, summoning the Pegasus which was a low level mid boss takes 5 gems. Meaning strife memoriam will most likely only summon mobs.

>>46535626
> Wait for Ayla to return.
> Interact with the Celestial Altar.
Strife memorium

>>46535626
>> Wait for Ayla to return.
> Don't create an artifact.

>>46535626
>Wait for Ayla to return
>Don't use the altar yet

>>46535745
I think the issue with that one is that it can carry us.

Outside of info, im not too certain about what noncombat stuff the memoriam can do

>>46535745
It's whole purpose is to copy bosses and minibosses and let us use their abilities. Completely different than taming and summoning a badass magic mount

>>46535626
>go visit smiths place while waiting
Wasnt there something about taking money but intending to return it?

>strife memoriam
Tossing in my vote, but as the maker i may be biased.

>>46535792
It said enemies, not bosses and minibosses, Summoning a boss on someone is OP af. Meaning we'll be starting off with mobs we beat and have to invest increasingly more gems to get the desired effect.

>>46535822
It's not summoning. It lets us remember and copy their abilities.

I still say the healer/paladin artifact has its perks, I mean we've almost died several times and it just sounds useful

>>46535850
No, it's literally summoning their shades to fight for us.

>“Grant me the power to remember my enemies, that their memory might stand with me as I face still stronger foes—so I might borrow from their knowledge or strength.”

>that their memory might stand with me as I face still stronger foes

>>46535873
It really isn't.

>>46535880
It is. That's literally how it's written up.

>>46535866
Yeah, its more suitable for the Juggernaut build for sure. Load up on regens, and draw aggro by the fact that you heal the people they want to kill.

Im fine with most of the artifacts, at this point.

>>46535891
>so I might borrow from their knowledge or strength.”
this means we use their abilities/knowledge personally anon

>>46535938
Or it means they fight beside us and lend us their strength, by fighting for us.

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1) Strife Memoriam as imagined doesn't directly summon actual bosses or enemies to fight alongside you.

2) Even such things as the base quality, nature, or function of -most- Artifacts can change with further investment.

3) I'm not gonna screw you.

Updating shortly.

It was purposely ambiguous because gods like that sort of thing.

I wonder what the strife memoriam artifact will actually be? An eye?

>>46536119
A pauldron or something would be neat.

>>46536119
I wonder.

What about a lantern, all the better to "cast" the shadow of former foes?

Or a small chest, that holds a trophy of the current boss being copied.

Or even a tatoo or brand.

I wish we would have had this before we killed Kjorikos. Maybe our memories of him will be enough?

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You deposit Celestial Gems in the offering bowl, and it hurts you deep within to see them go. It feels as if you’ve lost something you’ve had your whole life—or something missing that you’d only now been reunited with. You’re frozen, with your hand held out over the bowl, a feeling in your chest like a spike driven through the deepest part of your heart.

The statue’s eyes are alight with all of the colors. Rumbling in the town square turns heads your way as a gift materializes from descending, twisting beams. It takes the shape of a silver-blue ring—a growing arc that joins at one end and expands, a swirling, jeweled oculus at its center.

The eye is dark, an amorphous shadow crawling about within, and you are anointed in the sound of clashing blades and battle shouts as you place the crown upon your head.

> You have created [[ Strife Memoriam ]] – a faceted Celestial metal circlet.

It slides down past your forehead, sinking to rest with the arc tucked atop your ears like a pair of glasses. You’re a bit disappointed by this at first—then, with a vaguely familiar series of metallic chirps and clicks, the eye gives a half-turn and comes apart. The two halves unwind to fold behind your head, hidden when not in use.

Still waiting in the bowl is a rolled up parchment paper, bound by an iridescent ribbon. You pluck it from the statue’s grasp and unwind it, reading what the inscription has to say:

> [[ With Strife Memoriam, call upon the abilities of those you have faced in battle. ]]
> [[ Ascheritte, seek ever-stronger foes, and transcend memory itself. ]]
> [[ Seek Celestial Gems to expand the Artifact’s memory, and unlock new capabilities. ]]

> [[ Continued ]]

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>>46536681
You’ll have to see what it can do.

Tatsumaki applauds you, and there’s a few cheers from the bystanders. Looks like a crowd is beginning to form.

“That looks sweet! What’s it do?”

“If it’s worth using, you should take it to the duel arena at the Observatory.”

“Why don’t you go test it out on some Nameless?”

> Strife Memoriam, a Celestial artifact (worn, soulbound, 8/8 PP committed)

> Liza, Vyx, Tatsumaki, Ayla, and Sulya are online.
> Vision, Donnel, Nel, Smith, and Aelriss are offline.

> Escape to the tavern and message Ayla.
> Chill in the town square while you wait.
> Message someone else.
> Write-in.

>>46536745
> Escape to the tavern and message Ayla.
fuck, we need to get more PP. this thing is gonna be really useful though.

>>46536745
> Escape to the tavern and message Ayla.
We ought to test it at the Observatory.

>>46536745
> Escape to the tavern and message Ayla.
If we fought other players in the arena could we copy their skills?

>>46536745
Declare your undying love for Ayla. (With IC tags.)

Yo folks, just a question but, did we ever ask the fortune teller what happened to the player UI things when we gave them to the statue?

>>46536745
Ask how many gems we'd need to upgrade it

>>46536794
............................... fuck

>>46536745
> Escape to the tavern and message Ayla.
Do they serve alcohol?
>>46536793
>implying tatsumaki isn't best girl

>>46536801
one or more, the upgrade scales with how many we use

>>46536806
I prefer Aelriss desu senpai

Also:

Anyone ever tried to go for a tattoo celestial artifact or just straight up body changes?

>>46536835
Another pc had an artifact grafted to thier skull to replace an eye.

>>46536819
Don't we have a extra one, I thought we had five

>>46536859
nope just four

>>46536806
Ayla = Best IC Waifu.
Aelriss = Best OOC Waifu
Tatsu = Best Bro.

We need to copy an ability quick to make up for the loss of concussive strike. All our PP is being used for the artifact

>>46536599
Where do you think i got the idea? "i wish we could interrogate kjorikos"

>>46536745
Put the dead girls UI in the bowl before we leave.

Someday we need to ask the statues if one of their "gifts" can restore a UI to its old owner.

>>46537033
>Put the dead girls UI in the bowl before we leave.
Already did that.

Why don't we get a guild to commit to pooling their gems and making an artifact that can give the Nameless back their UIs or make them a new one?

>>46537047
Somehow i missed that. Ok then.

We did get told that the trogs are just going to keep coming until stopped. We should see about talking to the big guilds again.

>>46537069
It would basically errase the current political crisis, and act as a massive draw for people from the other cities.

>>46537033
They said no, although they'd probably change their mind if we showed up with tens of gems.

Probably not "restoration", but "reascension" into a named character. Hell, that might be hecatel, an ascended npc

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The tavern is populated as always. The brooding types have segregated into all of the establishment’s possible corners. There’s a few Identified and a couple of no-good-looking adventurer types (such as yourself) gathered around the bulletin board, either browsing forums or having their own discussions; it’s mostly Nameless sitting around the place, though, as the tables and bar have since been equipped with terminals that allow individuals to access the Averron forum, maps, and resources without a UI. There’s loud chatter inside, which makes the place feel full and lived-in.

It’s looking pretty good in here since the renovation. You wonder who paid for all of the stuff. The NPC behind the bar counter has finally been replaced with a new one, but there’s still a girl with a maxed-out bust size playing tavern wench. You wonder how many credits people have made like this.

> [[ UI Messenger – Ayla ]]
> [[ Ayla ]]: Ashe where are you
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I’m at the tavern, girl. Gotta get my drink on.
> [[ Ayla ]]: Fine
> [[ Ayla ]]: Don’t move

Tatsumaki follows you until you’ve found a seat, but gives you a shrug and a bit of an uncomfortable look. You nod, and opening her UI, she drops from your party and gives you a smile and wave before heading for the door.

> [[ UI Messenger – Tatsumaki ]]
> [[ Tatsumaki ]]: bye! :D
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Later

Not much for conversation, but at least she’s dependable.

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>>46537149
It’s not long before Ayla enters, and you watch her scan the room; she locates you quicker than expected amidst the crowd and muscles her way through the establishment to your table, crashing down in a chair opposite you.

“You don’t look so good.” You say. “Did you sleep?”

“I told you, it hasn’t been that long in real life.” She says. “I felt so out of sorts I didn’t know what to do. I shouldn’t even be tired right now.”

“That’s kind of fucked up.” You respond. "Can I get you a drink?"

“No, and we’ll sort it out.” She says. “First, you, though. What have you got for me?”

> Troggs and the seam.
> The strange symbols and the Earthsea.
> Freakshow and guild politics.
> Other.

>>46537182
>> Troggs and the seam.
>> The strange symbols and the Earthsea.

>>46537182
> Troggs and the seam.
> The strange symbols and the Earthsea.
They're pretty related. Honestly freakshow might be related somehow too. Their message said something like "see you at the hunting grounds" right when the trogs showed up there.

>>46537182
>yes
>trogs short term
On the one hand, theres a wealth of info hidden just beyond reach, on the other we can just kill all the mobs by holding an Event and boosting Observatory economy.

We might have to confirm what the current time ratio is now, though.

> Troggs and the seam.
> The strange symbols and the Earthsea.
> Freakshow and guild politics.

>>46537182
I want to talk about all three but let's start with the trogs and the seam I guess.

>>46537182
> Troggs and the seam.
> The strange symbols and the Earthsea.
> Freakshow and guild politics.

Has anybody seen the character sheet recently? Apparently our ??? Skill is celestial-related somehow. It's really bugging me how we have no hints about what that might be,

Anaximander was right.

>>46537281
Well it seems like it's a skill that is very conditional and we haven't triggered it yet. There's a chance that it activates when we die and become nameless.

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“You know about the troggs?” You ask. “Monstrous humanoids populating the underground, called ‘earthsea pariahs’ or some such.”

“Read a little bit about it on my way over.” She responds. “Says they’re coming from underground, killing everyone and everything in sight, and setting traps for players?”

“That’s about the gist of it, aside from the fact that they fight dirty. I just got back from the fortune teller, who was eager to tell me a whole lot…”

“Sounds reasonable, with the whole Observatory business and whatnot. NPCs open up to people who’ve taken initiative or scored special roles. Players who do more get more, is what they say.” She idly thumbs past a screen of her UI. “There’s a huge thread about that on the forums—what I’m reading from now. It’s really polarizing.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm. A lot of people don’t think it’s fair. Says it puts ‘em on a spiral where the first people to earn some fame are set up to do everything important between here and the Overworld.” Ayla says. “I say this game is what you make of it, and that’s all there is to it. Keep going, now. What did the cat tell you?”

> [[ Continued ]]

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“It said that they were exiled from some place, probably unfairly—that they’re pouring forth from a seam that’s been opened in the underground, and that they won’t stop until they’re all dead, someone closes the seam, or ‘justice is served’.”

She doesn’t look up at you immediately—her UI pings a couple of times, and she seems exasperated.

“Oh, sorry. Liza is blowing me up right now.” She sighs. “So they were cast out of some civilization, and now they’re wreaking havoc up here.”

“And I think that civilization has something to do with…” You begin.

“The Earthsea.” She nods at you. “Sulya did a lot of theorycrafting on our private board—she’s been aggregating public knowledge and her ideas are pretty interesting.”

“So you saw the pictures Tats and I took.” You say. “That strange symbol in the underground was near where we first spotted the troggs. What do you think it is?”

“It’s gotta be some kind of map. That’s what we decided on. Of what, I don’t know. Maybe it’s trying to tell us where the other cities are. Maybe it’s something more.” She says.

“It’s gotta be. I’m carrying more money than I’ve ever seen in a currency that I don’t even think is worth anything.”

“You’re just hoping it is so you can spend it all.”

“You’re damn right I am. So don't be upset when you don't see a cent of it."

> "What’s Liza bugging you about?"
> "Seen Freakshow’s most recent message?"
> "We should pool cash for a prophecy."
> "We should go back and investigate."
> Other

>>46537486
>> "What’s Liza bugging you about?"
>> "Seen Freakshow’s most recent message?"

>>46537486
> "What’s Liza bugging you about?"
> "Seen Freakshow’s most recent message?"

>>46537486
> "Seen Freakshow’s most recent message?"

>>46537486
> "We should go back and investigate."
I really want to try out our artifact soon.

>>46537486
> "We should go back and investigate."

>>46537565
We could probably kill and copy whatever was making those ominous noises during the last thread

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“What’s Liza bugging you about?” You ask.

“I’ll give you one guess.” Ayla responds. “She’s calling the Alliance heads, and everyone important she can scrape together, to discuss the formal resolution of the Averron Alliance.”

“Great.” You sigh. “You saw Freakshow’s public announcement, right?”

“Liza won’t shut up about that either. Yeah, I finished reading it as of five seconds ago.” She looks up. “It’s COMPLETELY ridiculous—they’re trying to use intimidation tactics to institute what amounts to tribal law. They’re going to start a war!”

“I think they know that.”

“Who even is Freya?” She asks. “I thought their leader was called Anaximander.”

“I think he had an understudy or something.” You shrug. “I’ve seen her once, assuming I’m thinking of the right person. She’s tall, dark, and bets Celestial Gems on upsets in the dueling ring without batting a fucking eye.”

“I’d be afraid of anyone I saw do that.” Ayla says.

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>>46537866
“Well, what do you think of this whole business?” You ask.

“I don’t want any part of it. I understand that it’s my problem as a leader, as well as someone who’s got no interest in being ganked, but the fact of the matter is that all of this is completely nonsensical, self-interest and Gem-lust aside."

"You think so?"

"Last time fighting broke out, people died for no reason and we almost lost the message boards for good. If it happens again, it’s only going to get worse. Plus, we’ve got to decide how we're going to settle affairs with other cities in the event we meet, and...” She says, giving a forlorn look.

“You want to keep your guild, too.” You nod.

“Yeah.” Ayla sighs. “I do.”

“Have you thought of what you’d do if the merge goes through?” You ask.

“I’d take anyone who wanted to come with me.” She responds. “And Dorian would take over the Writ Keepers.”

The conversation stalls, Ayla idly thumbing through menus and messages.

“Liza is right.” Ayla says, resigned. “We can’t lead an Alliance as three separate guilds. As much as I hate to say it…”

Your UI pings.

> [[ UI Messenger – Crimson Guardian Liza ]]
> [[ Crimson Guardian Liza ]]: Are you busy?

Archiving. I’m gonna call it a night. Thanks for reading, as always; as usual, I might be around for questions, or you can direct them to my ask page. Thread -maybe- tomorrow, but if not, be sure to follow on Twitter or look out for me in the directory.

>>46537900
Thanks for running.

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>>46537900
Thanks for running.

I am thoroughly surprised at how much of a following Strife Memoriam got. I was 70% sure nobody would even talk about it unless asked, and I purposely made no mention of it to make sure I wasn't shoving my bias down everyone's throats.

>>46538759
Think 1-2 anons liked it and because we could afford it NOW it got bandwagoned because anons hate waiting.

>>46539606
>>46538759
Probably a big reason people picked it is to stop discussion of what to pick.