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>>46639976

“Well, this ‘Anaximander’ is no more. If you’ve been reading the forums, you’d know by now that he’s left someone else in charge of his guild.” Picking up his pace to get ahead of the group, Sven turns to face the three of you and speaks with a flourish, arms outstretched. “It stands to reason that means his way wasn’t working out, right?”

You’d tell him there’s almost no chance that Anaximander is actually done for, but you don’t want to be the contrary one right now. And you’re still possessed with more questions about the new leader, Freya: who is she, how powerful is she, and can she be reasoned with? Is the situation with Freakshow even actionable? And what would happen if you were to simply leave – that is, depart into the underground alone in search of greener pastures?

The fact that such a thought sounds even remotely inviting is, to say the least, troublesome.

The whole business of the Alliance has left you in a difficult place. You aren’t sure whose side you’re on, or if you necessarily even want to be on anyone’s side. Ayla would have you believe that Liza is using you – first as a vote of confidence from the guildless, then as an expendable in dangerous affairs. Meanwhile, Liza seems to regard you earnestly, keeping you informed at every turn. Even in the worst possible case, the Guardians still consider you an asset, or an unpredictable vector. You can use that to your advantage.

Man, way to blunder your way into the upper echelons of the political hierarchy.

> [[ Continued ]]

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>>46639993

Perhaps, if you could only acquire Celestial Gems—it feels like it’s been so long since you’ve last held one—perhaps you could transcend this altogether. Considering your options, you drift out of the conversation as the fortune teller’s tent comes into view down the street.

Within, nothing has changed. There’s a tingling at the back of your throat as intoxicating vapor permeates your sinuses.

“I sense a great purpose about you,” the fortune teller says, smiling from beneath their hood. “Sit, children. Why have you come?”

“We’re here for a Prophecy.” Sven says. “I’ve got your money.”

“Ah, yes.” The fortune teller responds. You hear a distant thundering as the crystal ball rises off the table, the interior of the tent growing dark around you. Ayla and Mendicant look cautiously from side to side as smoke rises up at your back, the roof of the place giving way to an aurora of swirling vapors and fluttering light. “Then I shall elucidate your fate. What is it that you seek?”

There’s a pause, as Sven interacts with a projected menu.

“Uh, Ascheritte? I don’t know which one of these I’m supposed to pick.” He says. “Can you get this?”

> [[ Prophecy of the Earth ]]
> [[ Prophecy of the Sky ]]

>>46640011
> [[ Prophecy of the Earth ]]
Well our immediate issues are down here but the sky is our main goal. First things first I guess. Pretty weird how we became the representative of all the guildless which I assume is the majority of players

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> [[ Quest Notes / Reader Stuff ]]
https://titanpad.com/kZOMVYSrMv

I picked an awkward time to start running and have to unexpectedly run out and get food. Thankfully, I shouldn't be gone too long, and will probably have quite a bit to write anyway.

>>46640011
>> [[ Prophecy of the Earth ]]


>>46640070
See you soon you awkward duck.

>>46640051
apparently we're just that badass. We should make a guild eventually though.

>>46639993
>Man, way to blunder your way into the upper echelons of the political hierarchy.

quests.jpg

>>46640011

> [[ Prophecy of the Earth ]]

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“Once upon a time,” the fortune teller regales, “There was a King who loved his people.”

At that, you are thrust into darkness. There's a vibrating against the back of your head where your Celestial Artifact is tucked away. You are suddenly unformed and without sense of self. But thoughts intrude into your mind, and you can envisage the ancient glory of Sylvetica—a land brought prosperity by the gods whom offer their gifts, the Celestial Gems, unto you.

It is strange to look unto those of old. They are tall and imposing, and human, but only just so.

“He had faith in the nature of Man, and as such, forgave even the practitioners of the dark arts, and all but the most heinous of criminals.” The innocent and heretical, men and women alike, kneel before the royal figure that affords them grace, whose smile is infectious. “He was a bringer of just cause, and a man of second chances, who believed in justice above all else.”

The vibrations intensify. There’s a familiar grinding sound that chills you to your unseen core—teeth grind, and bones shake. The bottom drops out of your stomach, and you’re overcome with a sudden sense of vertigo as you fall backwards and tumble through the earth itself.

“When the inhabitants of primal Sylvetica were driven underground, Observers from without termed him worthy of punishment for his good deeds. He would watch his kingdom fall into ruin—and with him as a vessel, these forces would keep vigil and ensure that the Entombed would never again bathe in the sun’s light.”

The sensation is beginning to nauseate you. But somehow, you're still in control. How far can you see?

> [[ 1d100 ]]

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>46640716
critfail time

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>46640716
I CAN SEE FOREVER

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>46640716

>>46640716
Wait are we the only one seeing this because we made the choice?

>>46640951
we'll see won't we?

>>46640802
>>46640856
dubs bonus?

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“Though the Entombed were scattered throughout the darkness of the underground, civilization could flourish still. These wayward individuals were connected through the Old King’s new throne, a place of royals and trusted advisors, constructed atop an aquifer deep beneath the earth.”

>>46640802
>>46640856

> [[ 80 ]]

“They could communicate with one another, and build lives together. Because of this, hope did not die out, and their ambitions began to grow.”

Managing to twist your vision downward, you navigate toward an older, more primitive place: a city, or an enormous castle grounds, shaped from stone, built about bridges that cross a massive subterranean bed of water. All paths lead to the center, such that from directly above, it resembles the rune you’ve seen on the walls of the magma chamber and on the exile’s brand.

At the outer edges of this cavern, large enough to accommodate Averron several times over, myriad tunnels lead further into the darkness of the underground. You’re drawing ever closer to the lake that flows beneath it all, but before you can move in any direction to get a closer look, distant rumbling grows louder.

"This displeased the Observers from without."

Boulders fall, and entire shelves of black stone across ceilings and cavern entrances begin to crumble, billowing ashen clouds rolling and tumbling inward, consuming you and snuffing out your sight.

“Thus, the Earthsea Promenade was sealed away. In this way, the cities of men were cut off from one another, casting the Entombed into utter darkness.” You are choking. “The practitioners of heretical Artifice began to surface once again. Crimes were punished harshly, and Man was driven to madness. Beneath the sky of stone, a new age began—a time of chaos, and punishable sin.”

You can’t see a thing. What will happen to you if you don’t make it out of here?

> Push toward the Earthsea Promenade.
> Push toward the outer caverns.

>>46641080
> Push toward the Earthsea Promenade.

>>46641080
> Push toward the outer caverns.

>>46641080
> Push toward the Earthsea Promenade.

>>46641080
>Push toward the Earthsea Promenade
Pushing for the caverns might grant insight on this madness and how tp fight it, but I don't care much for these exiles.

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>>46641112
>>46641224
>>46641503

“Upon the throne of the tenebrous Promenade, the Old King fell, welcoming the outer dark into his heart.”
You are like some manner of ghost or shade, a formless Observer. You carry a coat of ash beneath you that twists and dissipates slowly as you maneuver out of the suffocating cloud. Ducking under fallen archways and rising over bridges, you search for the heart of this place. “The denizens of the Earthsea were punished as traitors by the mad King, and forced into exile, to sleep within the earth or forever walk among its deepest paths.”

Faintly glowing red eyes blink open in the distant darkness. A blurry shadow passes under you, in the water far below.

“Some were twisted into the forms of monsters or beasts. Even now, their impure lineages persist within the great underground.”

There’s the sound of distant footsteps. Down an arched hallway, an armored humanoid turns in your direction. A sword is drawn, reflection cast across the waterway on either side, the characteristic sound reverberating through the underground.

“Meanwhile, those who remained closest to his side were granted power by the Observers—gifts granted in gratitude for ensuring that Man would never again see the surface—and used this power to keep eternal vigil over their own kingdom and those excommunicated.”

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>>46641517

“It will remain unseen, whether or not the punished are finite in number.” The rampant gibbering of Earthsea exiles begins behind you, and grows ever louder as they rush to meet you—the distant swordsman draws closer, too, and you are caught in the middle. “But the seal which once held them, hidden somewhere deep below, has been damaged. Perhaps, a masterwork of artifice or technology could repair it.”

They collide.

You imagine a battle erupting, but there is mere darkness and quiet.

“But, if you are possessed of the capacity to excavate and move the earth, you could travel to the Earthsea Promenade—and, should you choose, unite the excommunicated kingdoms once more—assuming you are ready to face the Old King.”

For a second, you feel as if you are still falling.

You aren’t—something is coming towards you. The very sight of it is vulgar. The air is stripped from your lungs as its wings unfurl.

“If this is your desire, know that you must never venture deeper than the Earthsea, lest you encounter that which man was not meant to know.”

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>>46641581
A dull thud, as you land on the floor near the flaps of the fortune teller’s tent.

Sven and Mendicant are also nearby, in various states between ‘prone’ and ‘getting up’. Meanwhile, Ayla looks utterly stunned, eyes wide, back against the canvas. At her hip, her hand has settled on the grip of one of her guns.

“Ugh.” Mendicant shakes his head. “I didn’t care for any of that. You’d think it would be more succinct for the price, no?”

“Ascheritte, Ayla?” Sven asks. “Did you get all that?”

“Y-yeah.” Ayla says, hurriedly opening her UI to jot down notes as she comes to her senses. “Penning in the last bit now.”

What will you do?
> Write-in.

>>46641660
Pen what we picked up, compare to everyone else's. Then ask if any of our artificers or enchanters can make high quality seals of repair em.

>>46641660
Compare notes and talk about what each of you thinks about it.

>>46641660
Ask what they think about sealing vs reuniting the excommunicated kingdoms. I'm tentatively leaning towards the latter. Or maybe seal it first to stem the flow of pariahs while we finish the excavator

That was pretty... R'lyehian.

>>46641660
Ayla looked at the cavernals, ignoring the Earthsea in pursuit of a greater truth, and found something she wanted to kill. Is it us?

>SHOULD we reseal these exiles?

Evil Joe says you're a faggot

>>46641738

Sounds like a plan.

>>46641581
Well I guess we've reached our watery grave here. No use trying anything.

>>46641977
what?

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“Do you want to, like…” You take a second to collect your thoughts. The fortune-teller is nowhere to be seen. “Compare notes?”

“Yeah, sounds good.” Mendicant responds. “Tavern?”

“Hell with it.” Sven says. “Drinks on me.”

---

The tavern is a bit quieter now, and you’ve sit at the most secluded table available in the establishment; surprisingly, neither a roleplay group nor a hooded, brooding type waiting to be noticed has taken it over.

After a short wait, Sven arrives at the table, giving a curious look to the barmaid hanging onto his armored pauldron. Before long, she’s off, having brought and served his order; there’s a tall, frothing mug in front of each of the four of you, but he’s the only one doing a whole lot of drinking.

“So, what’d you guys see?” Sven asks.

“Rocks, and a whole lot of water.” Mendicant says. “Couple of royal-council looking types. Probably tough-customer boss dudes. You?”

“I was mostly listening.” Sven responds. “All that was kind of poetic, and a bit cryptic. What about you, Ascheritte?”

“Hard to say in a few words,” You respond. “What about you, Ayla?”

“I… died.” She looks up, shifting her stance, elbows on the table, hands on her forehead. “At least, it felt like I did.”

“You what now?” Mendicant looks over in disbelief. “Was that a possibility? I thought we were in like, some kind of cutscene.”

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Through further discussion, you establish that you’ve each seen and heard different parts of the same whole. You’re not even sure if an objective complete picture exists, but you’ve discerned the meaning of the Earthsea Promenade which once connected the cities together. Perhaps it could connect them once again, if you could find a way through the exiles and somehow maneuver down there.

“The Earthsea Promenade.” You say it to yourself once, before speaking up. “It could be a massive hub for players from every one of these isolated towns.”

“That’s if no one hazards an attempt at taking it for themselves.” Sven says. “Liza’s told me that other cities are further along than us in the department of ‘having an excavator’, and we’ve got the additional problem of the trogg infestation to deal with.”

“So, we’re at another crossroads, then—more big decisions to make on everyone else’s behalf.” Mendicant says, rolling his eyes. “Reconnect the underground cities so everyone can have fun and be happy, or bust the Old King like a royal piñata, then bury the whole damn thing and forget it ever existed.”

“I wouldn’t put it exactly that way, but yes, it’s a question we’ve got to ask ourselves.” Sven asks. “I’m all for making as many connections as possible, but I know that it’s probably something that everyone in power should decide. Or maybe we should just figure it out in the moment—one thing’s for sure, though, I kind of want to double up on the Excavator effort now.”

> Suggest something else related to the Promenade.
> Suggest bringing the discussion back to the Alliance as a full council.
> Aggregate information, shelve it for now, and meet Liza about sending a call to arms to fight the Exiles.
> Write-in.

>>46642437
>Who says we have to connect the cities after getting there?
We could get in, Loot the place before the other cities, and get out.

And if we don't want to be dicks about it, leave the hoard set aside for restoring the place at the altar. But taking it for ourselves might be too tempting.

>>46642437
We need to deal with the trogs first. There's no fucking way we'll be able to get an excavator rolling with all our supply lines being attacked or trapped by them. Odds are by the time we're ready Hecatalia will have beaten us the punch. If not we can work on it after we get an excavator up and running. If he's as abd as I saw he was we might need several cities worth of players to take the promenade anyways.

>>46642437
> Suggest bringing the discussion back to the Alliance as a full council.
> Aggregate information, shelve it for now, and meet Liza about sending a call to arms to fight the Exiles.

>>46642437
> Aggregate information, shelve it for now, and meet Liza about sending a call to arms to fight the Exiles.
We can't be distracted by internal conflict between guilds or between nameless and identified if we're gonna do something this big. Which makes me wonder if maybe Anaximander founded freakshow to slow our progress since whatever city he actually supports wants to beat us there.

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“That’s mostly a no-can-do, unfortunately.” You say. “The way it looks to me, we’re going to need everyone we can to deal with these Exiled.”

“Mhm.” Mendicant says. “The ones supplying the market with metal and crafting parts are generally not the best fighters, if that surprises you. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they’ll cut off our supply lines. It’s an intolerable loss.”

“Plus, we’re going to have to at least try to unite Averron before we go down there.” You add. “It might take the whole city—or even the people of multiple cities—to challenge whatever’s sticking around in the Promenade.”

“Multiple cities?” Sven asks.

“The King is supposedly blessed by dark, timeless forces from a world beyond, or something.” Mendicant says. “I don’t know why Ashe is so worried, though—I mean that sounds like pretty standard fare. At least, I think we can take him.”

“Seriously, though.” You roll your eyes at Mendicant. “It’s not going to be easy.”

“There’s something out there.” Ayla is shaking her head. “Trying to stop us from communicating with each other. And—things—under the world! What’s even the point of doing anything if they can kill us whenever they want?”

“Because, darling.” Mendicant says. “Then, it wouldn’t be a game. Now, Ashe? If I know Liza, I know you don’t want to keep her waiting.”

> Contact Liza and head for the Observatory.
> Do something else. (Write-in)

>>46642437
I saw we spread this information to everyone. A common goal would help distract the nameless from wanti to join freakshow and PK identified

>>46642773
> Contact Liza and head for the Observatory.

>>46642773
> Contact Liza and head for the Observatory.

This might sound crazy but what if we formally and openly invited freakshow into the alliance with the rest of the guilds?

>>46642818
I very much doubt Freya would accept that.

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As an aside, a couple of anons have contributed a lot of guild ideas and aggregated information on some of the materials and crafts Ascheritte has seen. The Titanpad is becoming a pretty nice BSO wiki, so feel free to take a look: >>46640070

>>46642773
>“Because, darling.” Mendicant says. “Then, it wouldn’t be a game.

Stylish. Let's get his friend code or whatever.

>>46642833
Right but it would weaken their position if they declined and help stop the fighting if they accepted

I'm thinking an industry-focused guild would really help us catch up to the other cities. Strong fighters to escort material gatherers and skilled craftsmen to use those materials working together would be nice. We could be based in the observatory.

>>46642818
Your right, that does sound crazy. I'm not saying it's a bad idea though, but swinging the others to it won't be easy. Liza will flip out, badly most likely, at the least.

Getting said response to be taken seriously by Freakshow will be a thing too.

>Check on Ayla, she sends to have taken the prophecy badly. Probably saw what the fortune teller warned about delving too deep.

>>46642818
I mean fighting them only adds to their numbers and makes them seem oppressed and justifies their actions in their point of view

>>46642875
Yeah it sounds good. We'll see if we want to make a guild. I mean I do, but some don't.


>>46642846
It would help the fighting, but with the CG's rep and Freakshow's PR they could easily do SJW bullshit and people would buy it.

>>46642961
It would actually hurt their PR if we offered them a chance for representation and they declined it to keep waging their bullshit war against identified players

>>46643067
The British did the Same thing to the Americans when the Revolutionary war got started. Didn't exactly help them now did it? I mean hell due to modern political correctness you can bend over backwards for someone and they can still call you an entitled chauvinistic piece of crap.

>>46642818
It's an alright strategy, but i don't know if we have any figureheads who can pull it off well.

>>46643106
Then we must become the best figure head

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> [[ UI Messenger – Crimson Guardian Liza ]]
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Prophecy’s done.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I’ve seen some shit.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: On my way now.
> [[ Crimson Guardian Liza ]]: Good.
> [[ Crimson Guardian Liza ]]: Spare the details for now.
> [[ Crimson Guardian Liza ]]: The rest of the Alliance officers will want to hear them and I’d hate for you to have to repeat yourself.
> [[ Crimson Guardian Liza ]]: I’ll be waiting at the Communications Hub. You should have access.

> [[ UI Messenger – Smith ]]
> [[ Smith ]]: Ascheritte, I had no idea you were involved in the creation of the Observatory until now.
> [[ Smith ]]: The facilities are most excellent! I’d certainly be honored to be associated with such a thing.
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Thanks.
> [[ Smith ]]: How goes the hunting?
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: Well!
> [[ Ascheritte ]]: I’m a little busy so we’ll chat about it later.
> [[ Smith ]]: Very well. Do keep in touch!
> [[ Smith ]]: Hopefully, we can fight alongside one another again soon.

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

> [[ Underground: Averron Observatory – Communication Hub // Neutral Territory // PVP Disabled ]]

It’s a little bit dark inside, and there’s the quiet beeping and humming of machines. The walls are abuzz with technology, like a giant server room. Liza sits behind a console screen, thumbing through what looks to be forum posts, images, and large data arrays.

“Hey.” You wave. “What’s up?”

“Thinking.” She responds. “Have you thought about what you’d like to say?”

> Write-in

>>46643157
wait we already did this vote at the end of the last thread

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>>46643190
Oh, fuck.
Well, you can post whatever while I go read that I guess.
Update shortly.

>>46643157
Nothing new

But seriously, wasn't there something in the archives when we went in Smith's place and broke his drones, forcing us to hold onto his cash for him?

>>46643157
Should we talk about what we've learned about the earthsea promenade?

>>46643216
"Better yet, I'll return them to him." You scoop up the credchips, three in total, and a few thousand credits between them. "Wouldn't want any of the looters getting hold of them."

You contemplate leaving him a note, ruffling about the work desk in search of pen and pad while the other party members look around the dark workshop. Come to think of it, you haven't seen a pen and paper in this game.

You open one of the drawers, finding more tools and metal bits. The drawer on the other side is... full of broken UIs.

>>46643157
If I were to add anything to the speech it's that this is an event that could potentially be a game changer (literally) It is an event that is massive in scope and has the chance to unlock new potential for averon and the underground as a whole.

>>46643157
I'm fairly certain by now, everyone hearing this, whether they're Identified or Nameless ahs run into the Earthsea Exile mobs. Normally generic enemies wouldn't be an issue worth an announcement, but these guys are different. They kill players, hunt for them and lay traps around anything of value. They've spread far and wide, hell I don't think you could leave the Observatory or Averron without seeing some, or being seen by some. Not only are they aggressive to us, they are aggressive to everything else too. They're destroying camping gorunds, trapping farming spots, and spreading even farther. If they keep coming they'll press into the safe zones. I short they are a massive threat to everyone. These guy are coming from a damaged seal deep in the Earth. So we need to come together, clear the grounds and find it so we can fix it and put them back in their box. Now I know what you're thinking, "what's in it for me?" Well besides the return of local farming and camping grounds, you get secuirirty, no more enemies bushwhacking you from surprise, you get loot, these guys are unique, and instanced event the can have decent items. You'll get experience, they are lots of these guys, and they're worth a decent chunk of exp, and then you'll get prestige. All of you who want that fortune teller and other npcs to think you important? Now's your chance. All of Averron needs to come together and push the exiles, back. It doesn't matter whether your nameless or identified, we need you!

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“A little,” You respond. “I was gonna wing it.”

“Typical.” She shrugs. “I’m sure it’ll be alright. Just try not to begin with ‘hello, Averron, are you ready to rock’.”

“Damn. Let me think of something else.” You pause for several seconds, not breaking unblinking eye contact. “Okay, got it.”

“Going live in three, two…” As she flips a few switches, you hear a sound like distant microphone feedback. Your UI buzzes softly. “This is Liza of the Crimson Guardians, and Ascheritte, one of four Keepers of the Averron Observatory, reporting from the city’s communication hub.”

“We’re certain that any of you exploring the hunting grounds, Nameless or Identified, have run into the Earthsea exiles—troglodytes which wield weapons and fight in formation.” You say. “Generic enemies wouldn’t be an issue worth an announcement, but these are no generic enemies. They kill players and lay traps, and are occupying farming spots and camping grounds.”

“If the trend continues, they will press into safe areas such as the Observatory and Averron City. They are a threat to both Nameless and Identified, and will stave off any progress into the lower branches.” Liza adds. “Thus, we’ve elected to announce a joint effort to hunt them down—to forget any differences between us, and bring the unbridled might of Averron down upon them.”

“This is a game changer – an event that could potentially change the underground forever. The exiles are coming from a seal deep beneath the earth, and it’s up to us to find it and put them back where they belong.”

You fold your arms, and Liza gives you a reassuring nod.

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>>46643521

“Not only are you fighting for the hunting grounds and the few safe zones available to us: there’s unique loot, plenty of opportunities to gain experience, and prestige.” You say. “Some of you have assumed that there’s no way to be termed important in this world except by being in the top guilds, or being the luckiest player, or the first to seize the opportunity.”

“We’re telling you now,” Liza says, “That this opportunity might be the last one you ever have. This is your chance.”

“Nameless or Identified,” You say. “Let us come together and show the forces of the Underground what happens when they threaten our home.”

“Come to the Averron Observatory exterior—our new staging area—for updates.” Liza says, and promptly ends the feed. “That was good. I liked that.”

“Now what?” You ask. “I feel like we should have hashed out a battle plan or something in advance.”

“We’ll figure it out when we see what we’re working with.” Liza suggests. “We’re probably gonna have a crowd out there in a few minutes. Should probably deal with that.”

> Write-in.

>>46643534
Go to somewhere where we can speak to the assembled crowd from a good point of view like a balcony or something

>>46643287
+1

>>46643534
I'd suggest making clearance teams to sweep and clear areas out and holder teams to keep them from advancing. Keep people on rotation to press them back. Snipers for area denial. Once we get some supply routes opened back up we have some brawlers escorting explorers and resource gatherers for mat gathering. This is going to be a war. We need supply lines gathering and crafters crafting ASAP.

>>46643534
Those who just want loot and safety, take the sides. As we progress forward, we'll leave parties behind to farm. If any one party is attacked, those nearby move to support.

Gatherers who want to take a chance can follow the actual strike team to get a shot at materials that are normally in places too dangerous for them.

A nameless who finds a gem gets first x pick of loot.

Dont let anybody die to kill one more guy, there's too many exiles for that strategy to male sense.

>>46643614
>>46643652
Nice ideas team, keep up the good work.

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> [[ Underground: Averron Observatory – Overlook // Neutral Territory // PVP Disabled ]]

The Overlook is a balcony that extends out beyond the Observatory façade. Normally, it affords a brilliant view of the Underground. You didn’t expect you’d be using it to coordinate a battle like this.

“You sure we’re ready to do this?” You ask, tailing Liza up to the outermost rail.

“Why not?” She asks. “Now seems as good a time as any. I’ve been in contact with Mendicant about the details of the prophecy that concern the upcoming battle. In the worst case scenario, we’ll at least be able to thin their numbers before considering a retreat. In the best case scenario, we’ll be able to do something about that broken seal. I was told an Artificer would be required.”

“So,” A flash of crimson—an oversized red dress and witch hat—as Florica joins the two of you from behind. “She contacted the best.”

“Right.” You respond.

Over the balcony, you hear voices. The crowd you see as you approach is already much larger than you expected, with more individuals and small groups arriving from within or from the outer branches. Nameless and players, a diverse mix of classes and appearances, equipped with myriad types of weapons. You wonder how many have Artifacts; you hope, enough to turn the tide.

“Welcome,” Liza shouts. “And my thanks to all of those who’ve elected to answer the call to arms.”

A brief cheer, before someone in the crowd shouts in response, “What’s the plan?”

“We’re under the impression that the exiles originate in the magma chamber.” Liza says.

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>>46644038

“Form groups—raids comprised of loose organizations of smaller parties. If you have friends, stay with them. Protect one another. We’ll be organizing teams of those who believe themselves capable to sweep and clear areas; others at the vanguard will keep the troglodytes from advancing, while the long ranged attackers can serve as additional area denial and ambush control.” A pause, before Liza turns to you.

You guess all that sounds standard. Probably could have come up with it yourself.

Y’know. If you had to. No big deal. Shaking your head, you approach the edge.

“Keep in mind the numbers at work here,” You shout, leaning over the edge. “Don’t let anyone die to kill one more Exile. There’s too many of them to trade one for one. Likewise, if a party falls under attack, those nearby should move to support. If we can, we’ll have the vanguard on rotation so no one’s taking too much damage at once.”

“Crafters and gatherers,” Florica says. “Either stick to the safest available areas if you’re combat ready, or form a second group and follow the main fighting force. You’ll get a shot at materials that are, as of now, in locales that are too dangerous to access.”

“We’ll be prepared to move out soon.” Liza shouts. “Before we go, though—I’d like any willing Artifact users in the crowd to come forward.”

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I think that's good for tonight - not as many updates as some other threads, but certainly up there in word count.

I'll try not to keep you guys hanging for too long at a time. Things are winding down.

As usual, thanks for the replies, and feel free to leave questions here or on my Ask page.

>>46644083
If we keep this alive will you be back? What's Liza asking for artifact wielders for?

>>46644046
>I’d like any willing Artifact users in the crowd to come forward.

Get hype.

>>46644153
>Get hype.
Hype for what? Everyone having cooler ones than us?
huehuehue

>>46644153
This probably isn't good, surprises never are.

>>46646363
>surprises never are.
Kjorikos surprised us by saving our ass.

>>46646415
Point. Still I doubt what Liza has in mind is good.

Bump

Things that go bump in the early evening.

Bump of reckoning

One Bump to rule them all
One Bump to find them
One Bump to bring them all
And in the Thread bind them.

>>46654459
The Lord of the Bumps

>>46656236
Bump for the bump god