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Here's a little refresher on the past thread, it's been a little while after all.

The assault on the Demon Lord fortress was thankfully ended without casualties amongst your friends. After regaining consciousness, you realized that you were dwelling in a realm of souls, a dream-like dimension maintained by the Embodiment of Love, Hadraniel. Then you quickly discovered that you shared an artificial soul link with Elina, Sieglinde, and Hao.

With Hadraniel help, you successfully dived into all of the girls dreams and brought them back into Hadraniel sanctuary, allowing their conscious mind to resurface and create a state of collective lucid dreaming that'd allow communications.

After some insistent prodding on your part, Elina admitted to a long-held secret. In the past, she's been kidnapped by a faction of demons who sought refuge inside an alternate dimension and, most tragically, that she was ripped away from Hadraniel tutelage. The Embodiment of Love was her kin, her older sister. It was on the eve of this revelation with both angels being suitably emotional that Sieglinde opened her eyes...

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To think your striking first impression with the Embodiment of Love was a herald of truth. Witnessing Elina struggle in keeping a straight face was a quiet blessing. Bringing truths into lights is all too often a cruel thing but in this case, Elina had been too stubborn for her own good. Having to endure potent foreign feelings traveling out of the artificial Soul Link was a small price to pay to see the angels smiles.

''How are you feeling, Sieglinde?'' Your voice broke the lovely atmosphere and the princess brought one of her oversized dark hands out of the white cover to rub her face whilst the angels realized her state of consciousness. Sieglinde didn't look good, her features projected an emotion caught midway between exhaustion and disbelief, something that quickly disappeared behind a dutiful mask.

''I don't suppose were are dead?'' Asked the demoness, her tail slithered under her sheet and lifted the covers away from her body. Her majesty kept herself tastefully clothed even in dreams or perhaps this was yet another case of the Embodiment influence.

''No, no you are fine milady!'' Hadraniel sniffed, doing her best to repress the small tears that crawled down her flushed face. Elina cleared her throat, pretending she hadn't suffered her little emotional overload.

''How?'' Sieglinde looked incredulous as she gazed into her hands, both having returned into their usual claws.

''Quite a few things happened.'' You responded, approaching your redheaded benefactor. ''Take your time, Sieglinde. All of us are alive and healthy, there's nothing to worry about.''

''I've been awake for a while actually, listening.'' Sieglinde remarked gently, forcing a smile. ''I wish you'd have spoken about your family, Elina.''

''I...'' The angel was caught thoroughly off-guard by this statement, a new shade of redness colored her cheeks to match her wings. ''I won't make any excuses.''

''Now I'm feeling guilty.'' Sieglinde giggled, an honest smile slowly began to warm over her stiff demeanor up until her gaze crossed with yours whereupon she visibly tensed. ''I honestly thought you did look similar to Hadraniel when I first saw you, looking at you both makes it very obvious now.''

''Thank you, your majesty.'' Hadraniel answered. ''Do you need some time to get your bearings?''

''I think I got the gist of things, given where we are.'' Sieglinde gestured toward the chapel new emptiness, all the benches were gone, as were all the decorations beside stained glasses. ''I'm not a slow riser, I'd like to know what I've missed.''

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''Alright.'' You interjected gently and ignored a strange pang inside your chest when Sieglinde looked at you, such a sudden foreign thing made it impossible to identify.

No worry, likely a small bit of surplus emotions coming from Martha invention, you are joined with three other people after all... and Hadraniel can likely influence something since she's hosting everyone's conscious minds. Taking a breather, a fleeting smile crossed your lips when all the girls gaze crossed yours in silent acknowledgment: you were the first to awaken so the timeline of events started with you.

''I don't remember anything about our struggle during that assault on your mother fortress, what I do know is awakening on a beach ten or so minutes away from here, a little retreat that is truly befitting the Embodiment of Love...''

--

Despite your slumbering body in peaceful security somewhere on the island of Zipangu and being in a state of consciousness very close to lucid dreaming, talking at length still dried your throat. As your summary inevitably expanded to describe all the dreams you ventured into, Hadraniel continued to make herself a good host by conjuring a table, chairs, and pitchers of cool water to accommodate everyone inside this not-so-lonely chapel.

''Dragging you guys in my nightmare...'' A sharp pang of guilt radiated out of Elina as her red wings shuddered.

''Overkill isn't enough to describe who they sent when they learned Hadraniel was in Focus.'' Sieglinde responded with a soft giggled, tail swishing behind her, her mood, unfortunately, didn't last because a grimace soon robbed her good mood. ''The Sabbath had been my responsibility back in the days...''

''My kidnapping happened well before you were born, Sieglinde.'' Elina tone was stern yet the warm happiness bubbling inside her manifested into a gentle smile on her usually placid face. ''Don't feel guilty, the people of Zipangu got me out of that place, weren't you fighting with them against the crusaders?''

''We have a whole lot to catch up on, sis.'' Hadraniel remarked, long slender white wings spreading wide behind her, nearly touching her little sister red ones. ''It'll have to wait. Your circumstances are far more pressing.''

''My insistence had me try to force Hao into remembering what she couldn't.'' Your knight tilted her head upon hearing her name, she smiled when you glanced at her. ''I'm glad that we're all fine after that battle, I don't remember anything after...'' Your throat tightened. ''...what that vampire did to you, Sieglinde.''

You keenly recall her whisper, her plea for you to finish her off. Instead you and Gardy wills joined to overwrite Sieglinde consciousness and forced her to embrace her mutated Corruption. There's no excuse for trampling over someone sacred will even if... Mother Mercy there wasn't time to think back then but now, it's a wonder Sieglinde is still so composed.

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Nobody else knows about this either, perhaps that's how Sieglinde want to keep it.

This also raises another important question; where in the world is Gardy? With everyone gathered together, you should at least feel a glimpse of your buddy, a spark of existence... Yet cursory explorations give nothing.

There had been a long, awkward period of silence after your remark, poor Hadraniel began to fuss in discomfort.

''These are dangerous memories, kindling powerful emotions could make things difficult for us all, let alone Hadraniel.'' Sieglinde statement was reasonable but the icy tone was one implied no counterargument. ''I was defeated but thankfully rescued... I don't know how to express my gratitude.'' She forced a smile, she was trying very hard to feel it but it wasn't showing in her eyes. ''But you have it.''

''Hao should remember all of her fights! It's important for a knight, right? A hard battle oughta be a case of study to better protect my liege! That's an important knightly lesson!'' Hao, as always, was thoroughly unaffected by implications laid in front of her.

''It's kinda abrupt putting it like that.'' Elina continued. ''Is there anything else we can do now that we're all awake? I don't think we can do anything but wait for our natural recovery, right?''

''Such were the statements of your sisters, Sieglinde.'' Despite the increasingly stiff atmosphere, Hadraniel honest grin had enough radiance to honor her title. ''Do not worry about my discomfort or suffering, dear. I've been sleeping for twelve years, I'd enjoy a little strain.''

''My sisters...'' Sieglinde closed her eyes, a painful pang briefly pinched your heart. ''It's good to know they've done good work but it's important to dispell a misunderstanding. We aren't joined together by Martha experiment, our link is the real deal. We've been joined to Arawn, he's our anchor.''

''W-what!?'' Elina rose from her seat, shock numbed you into teeth gripping silence. ''That's...''

''We've been feeling glimpses of emotions coming from him and I'm certain the opposite has been happening to him. It might not be a very strong or deep connection but it's there and that's undeniable.'' Sieglinde crossed her arms and legs, looking toward everyone else. She seemed much lonelier than composed to you.

''How can you be sure this isn't an effect of Martha experiment?'' You finally managed to settle your emotions to retort without breaking your voice.

''I've tested it, so did you.'' An undulation of foreign feeling filtered into your heart like a gentle gust of fresh wind in an otherwise hot day. You could feel the tiniest bit of Sieglinde certainty, a bedrock of steel.

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''My soul has joined with a wonderful man in such a link...'' Hadraniel imposed herself with gentle insistence. ''What Sieglinde describe is true, the first evident sign of a Soul Link is the rippling effect of emotions slowly but surely affecting you. Arawn has always been the first one to step within each of your dreams as well... As the anchor of your links, it is likely your unconsciousness accepted him; something I doubt could ever be replicated by an alchemical or Magitech invention.'' A dreamy expression clouded her brilliant blue eyes. ''I'd like to step into Siegfried reveries.''

A sudden pressure on your back almost made you jump out of your seat but a familiar pair of tanned arms quickly dispelled this fear.

''Hehe, so it's true!'' Hao finished wrapping her limbs around your neck, a strange blossom of warmth kindled inside your bosom. Whether it was your own feelings or influence from your knight, you couldn't tell. ''Our Joining was true! Hao will be able to know where her lord is all the time now, protection guaranteed! Bright future indeed, you totally need to join Klesiah too Arawn!''

Klesiah... How long have you been sleeping? She must still be waiting.

''Yeah, I should.'' You responded after a little while.

Sieglinde radiated a constant, quiet aggressiveness that soon enough managed to settle another awkward silence.

>Insist on knowing what happened during the fight against...whatever Sieglinde had turned into. Lady White apostles were there and the struggle was enough to send all of you into a collective coma; you *need* to know. If Sieglinde is too stubborn to talk, then you can begin by getting Elina side of the story.

>Shelve the topic of that battle, for now, it seems particularly sensitive to Sieglinde. Direct your attention to Gardy instead, this chapel need another occupant, where is he? How can you reach him?

>Try to puzzle a way to possibly speed up everyone recovery processes and awaken from this strange coma, surely your nature of soul can be useful.

>Remain silent for now. There have been quite a few emotional highs already, shaking things more could be unwise.

>Free

>>3804413
>Shelve the topic of that battle, for now, it seems particularly sensitive to Sieglinde. Direct your attention to Gardy instead, this chapel need another occupant, where is he? How can you reach him?

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>Tale of Monsters is back
I've been waiting for this! It's good to be back. Have a celebratory Morrigan pic!
How you been INH?

>>3804413
>Shelve the topic of that battle, for now, it seems particularly sensitive to Sieglinde. Direct your attention to Gardy instead, this chapel need another occupant, where is he? How can you reach him?
Feels good to be able to vote here again, even though it's late for me.

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>>3804489
Morrigan is always great. Outside the frustration of my creative hole, I've been fairly well thanks for asking.

Two votes is good enough in my book to begin with the next update.

>>3804413
So wait, we actually truly and fully soul linked with these girls? I thought those had to be consensual so does it mean we're somewhat far along their respective romance paths?

I think a series of soul links was a proposal for memory recovery as well. They'll all see the memories too with that route but hey, since we've already achieved step one there we can go recover them after this is settled. Hope we didn't do a certain Ulthwéan farseer proud and regain full access to all our old spells and positive perks.

And yeah, Gardy. Please still be fully functional you glorious awesome robot best buddy!

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>>3804518
>So wait, we actually truly and fully soul linked with these girls?
Yep.
>I thought those had to be consensual.
They usually need to, yes. Yet... your links are real.
>Does it mean we're somewhat far along their respective romance paths?
No.
>I think a series of soul links was a proposal for memory recovery as well. They'll all see the memories too with that route but hey, since we've already achieved step one there we can go recover them after this is settled.
That was indeed a proposed solution to your amnesia.

>>3804527
>That pic
That's hilarious, and the inverse of that is basically what we're doing in their souls. I hope we haven't inadvertently given Ama three new toys.

I wonder if Hao is gonna want to play "hide and seek" with us later to fully develop the homing ability the link provides. Hugs are had every time she finds us.

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The last thing anyone need is discord in a place of emotional manifestation, especially with a fledgling Soul Link influencing everyone state of mind. While it was a small agony to look away from what happened there was something just as important... perhaps even more.

''Guys, there's something I need your help with.'' The icy awkwardness of this atmosphere melted ever so slightly when you became the focus of attention again. ''It's about Gardy. I've been completely unable to feel anything about him.'' Then you directed your attention at Hadraniel. ''You haven't felt any kind of foreign will coming from me right? Like another personality?''

''Nay, my dear.'' The Embodiment shook her head sadly. ''Meeting the one who embodies protection would be such an amazing thing... but nothings tried to get my attention yet.''

''Then I think my choice would be to attempt contacting him.'' You signaled your knight to release you with a gentle tap on her arm and rose to your feet. ''I have no idea how. Can you girls help with that? Any ideas?''

''Souls aren't my specialty but I can think of two ways.'' Sieglinde, bless her soul, was the first to answer. Her previous displeasure had also been shelved, evidently happy to embrace your plea.

''If Gardy still dwells in your soul, he might simply be waiting for you to return so you'll need step inside of there yourself but... Given where we are, it might be impossible to avoid accommodating all of us too. At least we who are linked to you.'' She made a vague gesture toward Elina and Hao.

''Gardy is a passive guy.'' You responded, unable to conceal your enthusiasm. ''I can see him doing just that, waiting.'' There was, however, the issue of Lady White.

If you were to join your conscious mind into your soul again, accompanied by three girls linked to you... What if that fox was waiting in ambush?

''Alright... my other idea is a bit more forceful.'' This kind of deliberation -puzzle-solving really- with Sieglinde was an immense joy no matter the situation. ''I think it'd be possible for you to manifest his body here, inside Hadraniel sanctum by imagining his body, if Hadraniel allows it, his will could be naturally drawn into it.''

''Hm, it'd also be safer than stepping into my soul.'' A strong pang of guilt emanated out of Elina and Sieglinde with near-perfect synch. Why would they feel like that? It's normal to be worried about that damn witch!

''Arawn.'' A small voice, almost a squeak, made you look sideways toward Hao who clutched both of her hands above her heart. ''Hao doesn't fully understand but...but you're looking for your Guardian right? He was here during that battle, that... that is what Hao, what -I- know for sure.''

Sieglinde sudden tensity radiated a vague of alarm, why is she so sensitive about what happened?

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'If he's here, then perhaps you can welcome him into your heart?''

''Welcome him...?'' Haven't you already done that? You've joined with him with a ritual to tie your souls so inextricably that he can read your very thoughts, but she seems to be implying something else.

''Become as one.'' Hao responded. ''Again.'' The most unusual emotion radiated out of your tribal knight. A mixture of forlorn acceptance, enthusiasm, and pure hope left you speechless. It disappeared well before you could attempt deeper analysis.

Gods, Soul Links are confusing!

''I'm not sure...'' Everyone else shared your confusion and after a while, your spirited knight stepped away bashfully as if unaware of her own moment of brilliance.

''Right, give me a moment to thank. Thanks, Sieglinde.'' The princess nodded, gaze firmly locked on Hao.

>The first solution is your best bet. Going into your soul and calling out Gardy is the most logical solution; he'll show up, after all, he's protecting you from Lady White influence.

>Creating an artificial body for Gardy to step into Hadraniel sanctum sound like trying to bait him out but it's true that everyone is safe and sound inside Hadraniel soul. Emotions have also fewer effects because of her influence, bringing Gardy here is safer.

>Give more thoughts on Hao remark. Becoming as one again? She probably doesn't know what she meant herself. Hers were words of raw emotions.

>Free

>>3804654
>Creating an artificial body for Gardy to step into Hadraniel sanctum sound like trying to bait him out but it's true that everyone is safe and sound inside Hadraniel soul. Emotions have also fewer effects because of her influence, bringing Gardy here is safer.
Assuming I understood correctly, Hao's suggestion is that we attempt a full-tier Fusion with Gardy like we did in the assault on the Demon Lord's fortress? That's gonna be a bit of a tall order since Gardy's completely unresponsive. Also rather forceful.

Taking the artificial body is safer AND if Gardy still won't make his presence known we can take that as a cue to attempt more drastic measures.

>>3804687
>Assuming I understood correctly, Hao's suggestion is that we attempt a full-tier Fusion with Gardy like we did in the assault on the Demon Lord's fortress?

That's a good way to interpret her yes. She didn't really know what she meant herself so you'll have to go with your guts.

>>3804654
Wait, just thought of this, but if our mind is not in our soul and Gardy steps out wouldn't that give Ama free reign to start doing as she pleases in there without anyone or anything to really stop her?

>>3804715
I'm fairly certain that Ama's contract gives her a hold on our soul, not our body.

Besides, even if Ama can start using Arawn's body like a meat puppet, after Hadraniel embracing Focus there's NO WAY anyone's body is not under supervision. Ama won't be able to do any kinda shit that'll actually matter.

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>>3804715
>Wait, just thought of this, but if our mind is not in our soul and Gardy steps out wouldn't that give Ama free reign to start doing as she pleases in there without anyone or anything to really stop her?

Well, this is only a theory, not true by any means. Yes.

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Am I late for the Seig handholding? I've been trying to get in here for a solid hour but 4chan is extremely clunky for some reason.

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>>3804742
Handholding might happen later in the thread.

No promises.

For now we've got only one vote, I'll wait a little more voices.

>>3804735
Not what I was getting at. I am afraid that she'll be able to deepen her influence upon us if Gardy leaves. He is, along with our psychological barriers, the only thing stopping her from doing that, and with our mind absent I presume those barriers to be down leaving Gardy as the only thing stopping Ama from, worst case, forging a full soul link with us or something else just as horrible.

>>3804736
>That spoiler
I don't know if you're fucking with me or not. Would it be possible to open a door to our soul like we did with the girls and see what's happening in there before we commit to anything?

He could be fighting or restraining her right now and if we see that we know to step in and bap her on the head with a rolled up scroll. Bad fluffy! Stop trying to do bad things!

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>>3804757
>Would it be possible to open a door to our soul like we did with the girls and see what's happening in there before we commit to anything?
Yeah, that work.

>>3804757
Oh. Oooohh. I see now, that is indeed bad. I should go sleep, my reading comprehension is out of whack.
>Bap her on the head with a rolled up scroll
Change that to something spiked, heavy and metal and I'm all in with baps on Ama's head.

>>3804763
...Well now, since that is an option I'd like to change my >>3804687 vote to supporting soul peeking. Gotta admit, I am curious on what an amnesiac's soulscape would look like. In this case it's probably being influenced more by Gardy and Ama if the latter witch has been trying to mess with it.

Anyways, I'm gonna head out. Y'all Anons do me a favour and flip Ama the bird if you change words with her~!

Two votes it is, time to continue.

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I wholeheartedly support soul peeking in this situation.

>>3804783
Will do anon, good luck wherever you are going.

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''I've had a peek in everyone souls, I'd like to return the favor and we won't need to commit right away. By remaining inside Hadraniel sanctum and just... opening the door we'll be able to witness the state of my soul.''

''Ah.'' Hadraniel voice dropped into a gentle tone. ''I understand.'' Her words echoed with Elina and Sieglinde in silent understanding.

''I wanna see Arawn soul!'' Hao nearly jumped for joy and directed her newfound energy toward the closed doors.

''Slow down, dear!'' Hadraniel was soon to follow, holding Hao shoulder before she could take off. ''Ladies, come closer now. If we are to delve into Arawn soul, you need to help me direct this sanctum by use of your link.''

''Wouldn't it be simpler by having me do it?'' You asked and the Embodiment gently shook her head, smirking happily when Hao interlocked her fingers with hers. ''I cannot ask you to think about yourself now can I? You look like a rather composed and logical man but... I'd rather impose on your lovers.''

''W-wha!? That's... come on Hadraniel that's way too easy. We aren't like that.'' Elina response was far too quick for your liking, Hadraniel simply giggled heartily.

''We'll see. Come here now, you too your majesty, I'll need you to touch me.'' The embodiment gesture for her shoulder before grabbing Elina hand, who had turned pouty. ''As for you Arawn... With you being awake, you'll be able to feel foreign intentions traveling through your multiple Soul Links.''

''I'll need to accept this foreign intention, yeah I'm used to it.'' You've made many similar exercises in the past.

''Alright!'' Hadraniel grinned, her wings folded at a lower angle to accommodate the people around her. ''Girls, fill your minds with love, think only of him to open his barriers and glimpse into his guarded self!''

''You're enjoying this way too much.'' Sieglinde grumbled, features contorted into a familiar grimace of concealed embarrassment, while she looked like she was eating something particularly bitter the radiance effect of your link didn't lie about her feelings.

''Thinking of Arawn is super easy!'' Hao cheerily commented. ''We should do that more often!''

After a minute of further banters, the girls calmed down and settled into a silent shared meditation that left you more than a little bothered given that they were thinking intensely about you. Mister Arawn Loukanos, amnesiac prince of the nigh instinct elven race.

Best not dwell on that too much.

Time was a difficult thing to measure inside this realm of conscious dreams but, eventually, you felt a stir that forced you to clamp down on your excitement. It wasn't Gardy familiar intention, if anything this felt very similar to providing a battery for someone else. Foreign intension gently reached the conscious gates of your mind and you had to let this in and enjoy basking into the freshwater of rushing, foreign intentions.

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It was a surreal sensation but you've thankfully been able to train in accepting it. The gorgeous and intense sunlight of Hadraniel mindscape diminished into nothingness, robbing the chapel of its gorgeous rainbow aura, to be replaced by tall candlesticks before everything inside disappeared into darkness.

''That was rather easy wasn't it?'' Said the Embodiment, Elina and Sieglinde sidestepped away, sharing similar expressions and the need to clear their throats. ''You two, I swear, are perfect targets for teasing.'' They growled in response.

''Hm, sneaking inside the girls minds had been rather painless. This darkness is rather worrisome...'' Your comment prompted everyone gaze to peer toward the windows, it was impossible to see anything out of them due to their intense colors.

''The honor of opening the doors toward their innermost selves is yours, Arawn.'' Hadraniel gestured for those closed oaken doors, being mindful to keep her hand interlocked with Hao.

''I don't have anything to hide, this is a good opportunity to prove it.'' Carefully you grabbed the handle of the doors and opened them wide, loud grinding of woods accompanied the movement, a noise that reverberated throughout total, stark emptiness.

Outside was that, emptiness. A floor of milky white melded in dark stretched across a vast, empty expanse with nothing but darkness. Your sky was one of infinite twinkling stars and that's where all stares gathered.

''Almost like the hill, even prettier!'' Hao nearly rushed outside. It was difficult to get a good sight while inside the chapel, her voice echoed within the horizon, muffling to nothingness after a while.

''Souls have layers...'' Sieglinde murmured, strained to look skyward while remaining in the doorway. ''...It's looking rather lonely.''

''Yeah, Gardy waits in there by lonesome far too often.'' You responded then leaned forward.

''Hey! Protector! Get over here! I need your help!'' Your scream echoed into this -your- eternal night. A tense silence followed, everyone bracing for some kind of manifestation or reaction. Your voice, your very being, was nearly inside your soul, yet...

''Is he really not here? I remember your ritual with Teruko, you looked to have completely attached yourself with him.'' Elina turned to you, sympathy and worries flowing out of the link in equal measure, culminating in a simple tightening of her lips.

''Yeah.'' Your voice was a growl, you felt worried and angry. Dangerous implications were sneaking into your mind. ''Maybe, I should step inside.''

''There's no way to be sure.'' Sieglinde stated, she was preyed by a mixture of emotions that you couldn't untangle but her face remained gentle, much more inviting than her previous hostility.

>Wait. He's bound to show up.

>Step inside (alone or with the group?) and search for Gardy.

>Try one of the other solutions, now that you've moved into your soul -the conscious part of it- perhaps something will work out?

>Free

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Ah, forgot to add that we'll end here tonight. We'll continue tomorrow.

>>3805021
Will the doors remain open if we step inside with the girls? Is Haddy hard to ambush here? If we do step inside would it be possible to travel to certain parts of the soul like the bridge between ourselves and Gardy or even actually into Gardy's soul? If we're linked are there bridges to the souls of the girls in there?

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>>3805072
>Will the doors remain open if we step inside with the girls?
Yep.
>Is Haddy hard to ambush here?
Pretty much impossible if she remains inside her chapel. Stepping outside can make things a little dangerous but she'll be far from helpless with everyone consciousness being so close to one another.

> If we do step inside would it be possible to travel to certain parts of the soul like the bridge between ourselves and Gardy or even actually into Gardy's soul?
This is a big maybe. You'll have to try but it might be impossible with so many people around because of natural interference.

>If we're linked are there bridges to the souls of the girls in there?
Not that you can see, remember that you are only in the first layers of your soul, the conscious mind. You might need to manifest these bridges.

>>3805076
I'll have to sleep on it but as of now I am for venturing back into our soul with the girls and hopefully restoring the barriers that are likely down in doing so.

Gardy likely cannot afford to manifest before us as that would allow bad fluffy a move in some form. At full alert, he can keep her and her disciples at bay without the aid of our psychic barriers but that's also tasking him to capacity. We have to relieve him the burden of protection somewhat before he can spare the processing power to appear before us while also keeping everyone safe.

He is still alive/functional right?

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>>3805353
You're trying to find out right now.

>>3805360
Damn you and your ability to make me worry.

>>3805021
>Step inside and search for Gardy
>With group
Gardy is quite obviously preoccupied, we've no choice than to go to him.
And I see little reason not to take the girls with us. Even if such a large group might cause interference and make finding Gardy take a little longer, taking a metaphorical scenic route shouldn't hurt.

>>3805454
Are you wishing to bring in Haddy or do you want to leave her in her chapel? Not sure if we should bring her in as our own group is both linked and pretty potent (and I assume that once we're back inside our soul we'll be able to use our magic again so we can play support as well). Also, don't forget, non-linked individuals can get time frozen by Ama (eg. like Gardy was when we got infected).

Speaking of which, INH, do soul links count as "contact" with them? As in, can we now act as a battery for those linked to us without the need for physical contact so long as they're within a certain proximity? Can we ask Haddy what she thinks would happen if she were to step into our soul? Would anything bad happen or would it extend the recovery time of us and the girls?

>>3805886
>As in, can we now act as a battery for those linked to us without the need for physical contact so long as they're within a certain proximity?

Aren't you a clever one? Yes. They'll need to acknowledge the possibility and let the battery spell happen but it can work at a distance with all of your links.

>Can we ask Haddy what she thinks would happen if she were to step into our soul?
I can answer that now. She'll be able to remain relatively free of any manipulations due to the fact her sanctum is inside your soul, it'll be like that moment she fought against Elina nightmare. If something tries to harm her, she'll be able to put up a fight.

>Would anything bad happen or would it extend the recovery time of us and the girls?
That is impossible to tell.

Seem like there are quite a few hesitations with only one hard vote, I'll wait before proceeding.

>Step inside and search for Gardy
>With group

Alright, let's go with that.

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''Let's go, maybe he needs a little stimulation.'' Stepping first into the white, glassy ground of moonlight had you brace for some kind of manifestation or reaction but, thankfully, nothing happened and after a brief moment of hesitation, Hao followed, then came Elina and the last two stepped together with Sieglinde radiating a rather intense bout of apprehension.

''Hm, I was expecting feeling something because of our links.'' Your words were more of an attempt at chitchat than anything else.

''Arawn is the anchor now, there is something yes...'' Surprisingly it was Hao who answered you. ''Your emotions are intense.'' She said, cupping both hands above her heart.

''Ah, that's it.'' Elina spoke next redirecting her gaze toward instead of the twinkling night sky. ''I was wondering why I felt so... off. It makes sense that your emotions would be much stronger in your soul, were inside your first layer.''

''I've been able to catches glimpses coming out of you guys but I don't think I'm getting the same strength.'' One cursory glance at Sieglinde revealed that she was making a concerted effort to avoid looking at you -or anybody else for that matter- concentrating on looking at the sky or the open doors of Hadraniel chapel.

''Let's try finding your friend.'' The Embodiment said, wings spreading wide. ''This vast expense of serenity must likely hide the one who protects, do avoid embracing Focus for the sake of those watching over us.''

''I'm far too distracted to get into the proper mindset, don't worry.'' A wave of anticipation washed over you when you briefly scanned the dark horizon. This wasn't the first time you've gone into your conscious layer but this solitude was... difficult to place.

''Gardy!" There were no reactions to your words so you began walking around, with Hao soon joining in the yelling.

--

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Time was always difficult to measure in matters of souls; what changed first were your emotions. Frustration added onto worry then anger and fear bubbled inside you like a venomous sludge of negativity that you did your best to repress.

''Let's take a little rest.'' Sieglinde voice sounded breathless, a tiny bit of pain radiated out of her. ''We've been looking for a while... I think.''

Distance was a mere concept inside your inner world, as was time. You led the group into a stubborn march forward yet Hadraniel chapel had only moved a few yards.

''You guys can go back into the chapel.'' You've gotten fairly good at hiding and bubbling your emotions deep inside you but in this plane of consciousness there was no such luxury; all three of your links projected sympathies, worries and hurt in equal measure with no end of guilt coming out of Sieglinde yet these were simple tiny morsel you had to concentrate with identifying, it was like the pain of gritting teeth, nothing more than natural reaction you needed to acknowledge.

There was at least the silver lining of Lady White total absence. Your soul felt empty. Completely, thoroughly empty.

''Maybe I can try something else. Manifesting his body here... Maybe it'll help.'' Now wasn't the time to stop. Gardy had given you his body, he's the one who sheltered your soul inside the chaotic, murderous maelstrom of the Demonic Throne, he's the one who prevented ama from gaining more influence... gods you need him now more than ever since you have genuine links with three of your close friends! A little discouragement would be an insult to his sacrifice and your friendship -however short it had been- deserve more efforts out of you.

''Yeah! Despair only settle once we accept it!'' Hao pumped her fist and you laughed.

''I'm not despairing, Hao. Just... frustrated.'' Her green gaze looked at you with such intense sincerity that you immediately felt ashamed.

Elina clapped her cheeks. ''Yeah. Too soon. I didn't give too much thought about that guy. I kinda believed he was some kind of summon made by yourself Arawn, but I was clearly wrong.''

Sieglinde and Hadraniel were both silent, the Embodiment acknowledged you with a nod but the demonic princess look at the white ground in silent introspection.

>Try manifesting Gardy body, that... perhaps that's all you need to welcome his consciousness again.

>See if you can follow Hao advice inside your soul. Become as one, that's how she put it.

>Confront Sieglinde, Gardy disappearance MUST be tied with the events of that battle against her mutated self. You've shown enough patience.

>Free

>>3806452
Hrn. On one hand I want to try traversing into the deeper layers of Arawn's soul to see Gardy's buried himself down there, but I find it hard to believe that Arawn wouldn't be able to sense Gardy IF he was there.

But Sieglinde knows something, and we honestly need all the info we can get at this point. Enough of letting this fester.
>Confront Sieglinde

This choice is fairly important so I'll wait for my usual numbers before proceeding.

>>3806452
Can we ask Sieg if she has anymore ideas now that we're here or if she may have an explanation for best buddy's absence?

>>3806569
That'll be entering the confront choice.

You can try to have Arawn be gentle in his approach but Sieglinde is fairly closed off right now, so talking to her will be a commitment to a choice.

Look like I'll have to take the result of this vote tomorrow, think it through it's alright.

Where is he?

>>3806700
Great, now I'm thinking of "Where's Waldo" but Waldo is a big ass metallic robot/golem thing.

...I got nothing conclusive.
Perhaps Gardy has been sheared from Arawn's soul? No, I doubt that. Not a feat that could be achieved haphazardly against Gardy's will.

A bit more plausible possibility is that Gardy has split his being even further to shield Arawn's, Hao's, Sieg's and Elina's soul from the aftermath of Demon Lord Siggy fight. But in that case, surely Arawn would have sensed Gardy even a little while spelunking in the girl's soulscapes?

Eh, I dunno. I'm gonna hit the hay, maybe I can come with with more tinfoilhat theories when I'm rested.

>>3806735
It would be difficult to feel his influence in the others souls since Arawn was pretty distracted back then, but it's a good theory I'll give you that. Ultimately you need more info and we have one vote to ask Sieglinde about it but you can also get different answers by trying more hypothesis. We'll see what come of that!

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I feel the right choice would be comfront with Seiglinde but at the same time I think I am interested in the Hao thing. For the sake of spicing things up I'd say...
>See if you can follow Hao advice inside your soul.
I'm excited to see what comes up.

It's a big shame I wrote such a huge thing before but 4chin keeps eating my posts. I genuinely wanna contribute more next votation pool.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>3806487
>>3807174

Interesting. This is my usual tiebreaking roll, it won't be final until later today once the thread restart, so more voices are welcomed.

>>3806735
Ama herself said she'd personally act to prevent a separation as it'd likely mean our death given the fusion state. This also implies that if one of us goes down, the other one will follow suit soon afterwards.

That theory is surprisingly possible and it'd explain the links along with, possibly, Hao's recommendations (she seems to know a good amount about soul fuckery somehow). Gardy is essentially part of our soul now. If he's "shattered" and the pieces "embedded" themselves in other souls somehow we'd naturally end up linked to them consent or no and as we would, without a doubt, always be the "core" (i.e. the most important part of him) it makes sense that we've become the "anchor" of all the links.

>>3806740
I am leaning towards as gentile a confrontation as we can make it (will need to sleep on this one), but I was thinking about Hao's suggestion and have to ask, wouldn't another fusion attempt require us to enter into focus and thus freak out good golden fluffy again? If I recall correctly, summoning those heroes puts enormous strain upon her (and possibly us) so we don't want her to keep doing that I'd imagine.

>>3807186
>wouldn't another fusion attempt require us to enter into focus and thus freak out good golden fluffy again?
If you were inside Mother Earth realm, yes but since you're actually inside your conscious soul, attempting a fusion here is much, much easier because this reality is yours. You're close enough to Gardy to avoid needing any magic in this circumstance.

>>3807174
A good defense against the "data vampires" is to write out your post in a word processor or something similar and then copypaste it. That way, if the post gets eaten, you can just keep trying until it actually goes through as you intend.

You can also just copy your whole post before you hit send to attempt what amounts to the same trick, but don't accidentally copy something else after that because then poof, it's gone.

>>3807197
Before I go to sleep proper, I just came up with two new things.

If we go with Hao, a request of the others. Trust us, trust him. We are linked now, which means they potentially house a part of him within themselves as we truly are one with him and he one with us. To be linked with us is to also be linked with him, the embodiment of protection. Embrace that fact, and know no fear. He confronted soul eaters and even literal gods, do not doubt him or his capacity to protect those he/we hold dear.

To confront Sieg, no malice is to be borne, for we forced her hand and thus all that happened afterward is essentially our own doing at least in part. Thankfully we're linked to her so she'll know that we do not hate her for anything that happened. We saw the monster she became, and yet we did all we could to save her. That's gotta count for something.

>See if you can follow Hao advice inside your soul
Not the most logical answer but...

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''Now that we're inside my soul, I think it'll be possible for me to join with him again.'' Hao words weren't so cryptic now. She'd meant for you to replicate your previous feats during your hunt of the Magritew and your desperation in stopping Sieglinde degeneration. A return to your true form one might say because it is Gardy that gave you this body... how it became so perfectly human is a superfluous question for now.

''Are you sure?'' Elina was the one to ask. ''You're the best one to find out anything about him given where we are but that sound a bit dangerous to me.''

''Don't worry, we aren't inside Mother Earth realm. I won't need to embrace Focus.'' Your gaze trailed toward Hadraniel and the Embodiment smirked in return.

''I don't think they'll begrudge us another bout of worry if that's how things end. I like how Hao put it earlier: despair only settles once we accept it... So try however much you want Arawn.''

''Alright.'' Hao expressed herself with a silent yet vigorous nod and Sieglinde... simply remained silent. The ripple effect of the link was growing particularly weak for now but you didn't give it any thought and instead focused on trying to be a good host by conjuring a few seats from the ether to accommodate the girls.

''This might be a little boring to watch so you guys feel free to talk.'' A vague sense of embarrassment motivated you to rub the back of your neck as they dutifully and silently to observe you in what was undeniable respectful silence that only motivated you to produce some kind of result.

It'll be better to close your eyes and stop giving your guests attention.

You retreated inward, immersing yourself into Gardy existence, immersing yourself in all of your vivid memories of his body and his patient, gentle demeanor. This was an exercise close to meditation, almost exactly like imagining your magical flow, an easy step... With a major difference, a flaw that felt insurmountable.

Gardy had never shared much about himself, always being content about remaining silent, often giving you the impressions that he wished to become some kind of inconsequential being but his own feeling had betrayed this flimsy wish time and time again. After all, he, out of his own volution, had snuck temporarily inside Vilma soul before her duel. Then he helped you puzzle out the mysterious poisoner of the Mamonos slaves, unintentionally giving you enough influence to face -and convince- Klesiah to step forward.

It was difficult to say if you deserved any of your triumphs because he's always been there to support you but... both of you agreed to be joined during Teruko ritual with a closeness strong enough to dissuade the vixen witch. He is you, you are him; protecting those close to you united two souls to live inside a single body in harmonious coexistence.

...

Search some more. His body is one of gold, copper, and obsidian, his face has a singular optic in the form of a large rectangular topaz.

...

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Look deeper Arawn, his body is one of metal, his hands are a strange mixture of these materials and you know very well how they can transform into all kind of weapons.

...

The Embodiment of Protection has a good head on his shoulders, quiet and dutiful he... He's...

This isn't your first exercise. This act of Joining has only been done in moments of great needs and desperation after the initial test during Teruko ritual but in all case. In all of these cases, there had been one vital element that is now missing.

Gardy existence had always reached forward, waiting for your hand, waiting for you to return this gesture of goodwill, to create cooperation against menaces to your friends.

This will was gone. No matter how hard you searched, all you did was fly over a lonely night sky.

That doesn't mean anything. You just need to work harder, maybe try something else, do...!

''Arawn!'' A foreign will, a voice that wasn't yours or his, sensations on your shoulders... This combination of sensations shattered your concentration. ''That's enough!''

Your eyelids felt a tiny bit heavy, reopening them into your world of lonely darkness revealed Sieglinde proximity. ''That's enough...'' She repeated with extinguished spirit, voice sounding like the dying embers of a flame struggling against morning rain.

''It's not.'' You replied, her worry must have been intense because it manages to briefly surface across your link, spreading like a short-lived bout of powerful currents. Or at least... it was worry, right? ''I've only been unable to find him, that's all.''

''Guh!'' She looked like she had just been sucker-punched, Elina and Hao squirmed in similar discomfort but they didn't transmit Sieglinde intensity. She was undeniably preyed upon by powerful feelings that, unfortunately, were thoroughly drowned out by yours.

''Do you need time to rest, Sieglinde?''

''No!'' She released her hold on you and grabbed her face with one of those oversized clawed hand of sleek darkness, almost covering both of her eyes in the process. ''You...Why aren't you angry at me? Your... this desperation this... this wish of yours, you really about Gardy don't you? Yet... Why don't you ask me anything?'' Sieglinde breathing was uneven, making her tone a little chaotic.

''You know something about him, then?'' You felt a brief surge of negative frustration but quickly clamped down on that nastiness, replacing it with something much more hoenst to yourself. ''I'll be willing to wait until your ready, Sieglinde. I trust you, you've got a good head on your shoulders so whatever is eating at you isn't something I'll pry into, I'm willing to wait until you come forward on your own.''

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This time she moved her hand to cover both of her eyes and craned her neck upward. Her tail tried to continuously stab into the glassy ground of your sail, it only produced harmless loud bouncing instead. One good thing about being inside your soul and this links uniting all of you is that your feelings cannot be questioned.

Of course, you wanted to know but not at the expense of hurting any of your friends.

''Sieglinde!'' Elina jumped out of her seat, wings flapping in anger. ''Enough pussyfooting! you felt his desperation, you... we saw it all, his thoughts and...'' Words seemed to fail her for a second, or perhaps it was hesitation. ''...Don't you think that deserves something? Why would you withhold anything from him?''

''Stop! Stop!'' Hao had risen and almost launched herself on Elina to grab onto her arm, even if that meant getting smacked in the face with feathery redness. ''No discord! No argument here! This is Arawn serenity, calm down Elina! Breathe and breathe!''

The angel was caught thoroughly off guard by your tribal knight and this astonishment is what cooled that anger of hers much more effectively than any kind of self-control.

''I don't know how to explain anything.'' Sieglinde breathed out, releasing the hold on her face. Her red gaze was one that held back tears and -out of the link- came a brief maelstrom of mingled emotions that roused guilt out of you. to think you were bringing your benefactor such intense agony...

''Put feelings to words, my dear.'' Hadraniel was the last one to rise. ''Logic doesn't matter. Let your heart speak, only then can you communicate properly and that'll allow us all to begin understanding your fears.'' Her gaze sneaking toward you, the Embodiment of Love smirk was, once more, giving honor to her title. ''You're lucky that your man is so honest and understanding, quite the catch.''

''Haha...'' Brevity, despite forced, managed to lessen the sea of negativity choking out the redheaded demoness. ''Listen I... Hao you don't remember anything about that battle after I... changed?''

Hao tilted her head, tapping her bottom lip. ''Only glimpses, Hao remembers emotions mostly.''

''Elina, you've got some memories but not everything?'' The princess glimpsed at her angelic friend.

''Kinda. I don't remember how things ended very well and most of the proceedings.''

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''And Arawn remembers absolutely nothing...'' Sieglinde finished in a whisper. Her gaze was locked firmly on the ground in shame. ''Do you guys think it'll be possible for something to remain in stasis? That maybe an event could become true if people are convinced it did?''

''Reality isn't so weak.'' Elina responded. ''Mother Earth and Father Sky realms can be temporarily conquered but it always returns.''

''Yeah, what about the many branches of our World Tree?'' Elina sharp intake of breath revealed she immediately understood this implication.

''Our fight moved into the Red World.'' Sieglinde reached for her heart with one of those deadly hands. ''I'm afraid that if I were to speak about what I remember, it'll cement something and there might be no turning back.''

''Would you say Gardy is alive?'' This was the most pertinent question of all and Sieglinde took a moment to gaze at you in long, silent contemplation.

''I believe he is, yes. You've shown us though, that he's not with you anymore.''

That, at least, is a good answer. His absence is saddening indeed but it's not an ending... not yet.

>Move back inside Hadraniel chapel. Your emotions are amplified inside your soul and that's likely making it very hard for the girls to remain composed. Making senses of things would be easier with a little emotional distance.

>Remain here and pursue this inquiry further. It would seem that your feelings have completely destroyed Sieglinde emotional defenses, it might be cruel to take advantage of this but her current state might be your best bet to have her continue talking.

This choice might look superfluous but it's not.

>>3808480
>Move back inside Hadraniel chapel. Your emotions are amplified inside your soul and that's likely making it very hard for the girls to remain composed. Making senses of things would be easier with a little emotional distance.

Okay, so... Gardy is somehow trapped in the Red World? Shit. Yet Arawn and Gardy are still connected. Perhaps Demon Lord Siggy somehow managed to shear Gardy's will/mind away?
This might also be a result of Full Fusion outside of the Red World.

>>3808480
Damnit, wish we did more research into the red world now. It functions more on soul logic than the "real" world right? Would asking logical questions be possible if we remained here or would our emotions ruin any possibility of rationality?

>>3808551
>It functions more on soul logic than the "real" world right?
Yep. There are many alternate dimensions. Some, like the Sabbath realm that trapped Elina, are relatively short-lived and destroyed but places like the Red World function by their own internal logic outside the reality you know, yet also heavily influenced by it because of the connection.

>Would asking logical questions be possible if we remained here or would our emotions ruin any possibility of rationality?

It's always possible to try continuing the conversation in your soul but as you've seen with Sieglinde, your emotions can be pretty hard to deal with for the others. It might be easier for Siggy to open up in this circumstance, but it might also make communicating harder.

>>3808572
>as you've seen with Sieglinde, your emotions can be pretty hard to deal with for the others
Hmm. Would this be because of Arawn's stoic nature bottling things up, or is it because the emotions are foreign to the girls?

Had the choice been made for Arawn to be more openly passionate waaay back in thread one, would Sieg and the others have a bit more easier time dealing with Arawn's emotions in the current situation?

>>3808606
>Would this be because of Arawn's stoic nature bottling things up, or is it because the emotions are foreign to the girls?

Mixture of both. This is a total first for them, Sieglinde is the one struggling more here as you've seen.

>Had the choice been made for Arawn to be more openly passionate waaay back in thread one, would Sieg and the others have a bit more easier time dealing with Arawn's emotions in the current situation?

Yes

I'll wait for a proper decision before starting. Next update will likely be in similar length to this last one, so I'll probably not be ready to post the continuation tonight.

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>Move back inside Hadraniel chapel
I don't wanna take adventage of Seig's state. Honestly I feel she is dealing with way too much at the moment and the best thing we can do is to let her rest and think about her. Maybe just, just maybe, opening up isn't the right option in this case scenario.

Hm, tow votes for the same thing. Let's see what tomorrow brings; too late to update now.

I think the best way to get information right now from this character is to actually pry and know what's up. After all if they are carried by their emotions not only we can know about their past but their future plans in general.
>Remain here and pursue this inquiry further
Sounds good too

>>3808618
If we go back into the chapel will we be able to step back into our soul easily or will we have to do the thing with the girls thinking about us again? Is it more isolated from reality than our own soul?

I'm willing to bet Demon Lord Sieg actually nom'd or thoroughly dismantled Gardy within the red world, or at least a significant portion of his frame. He's still "alive" yeah, but only in the same sense Haddy is now. Damn, I liked that robot's interactions with us but it's probably gonna be years before we can ever hope to speak to him again if ever. No wonder the redhead's so distraught now that she knows just how much we cared about him.

>>3809082
>If we go back into the chapel will we be able to step back into our soul easily or will we have to do the thing with the girls thinking about us again?

>Is it more isolated from reality than our own soul?

Hadraniel chapel is essentially a ''safe'' spot where she holds absolute authority because it's her own soul. While everyone's souls and emotions do affect it somewhat, it's still completely isolated because it belongs to the Embodiment.
The synchronization already happened so you'll be able to go back without any problems

>>3808480
>Move back inside Hadraniel chapel. Your emotions are amplified inside your soul and that's likely making it very hard for the girls to remain composed. Making senses of things would be easier with a little emotional distance.

A very pertinent question, is Haddy getting affected by our emotions here within our soul like the other girls? She is also an Embodiment like Gardy so that may be important information.

>>3809175
No, she cannot. She remains outside the links but close enough to be able to interact with you. She needed to synchronize with the girls to enter your soul, you needed to allow it and that's an insurmountable distance that will not allow emotions to transfer.

>>3809082
Remember Anon, a Strong Fusion had been performed for the fight with DL Sieglinde. Arawn was Gardy and Gardy was Arawn - they were one in damn near every sense of the word. A dismantled Gardy would mean a dismantled Arawn and I don't really think our elf is tough or bullshit enough to survive being straight up dismantled!
...Of course, the Red World works on it's own laws and logic separate from the physical plane. That might prove to be a saving grace.

Update will be coming later today, having some irl interference.

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''Let's continue inside Hadraniel chapel.'' This wasn't an interruption the girls expected. ''I think my emotions have made things far too difficult for all of you, we've got our answer about Gardy situation.'' Resisting a sad grimace was useless because that feeling spread throughout the links yet habits weren't so easily forgotten. ''We can speak about details with cooler heads.''

''I...'' Sieglinde voice diminished into a tiny squeak. The guilt that tortured was held such intensity... How could you ever be angry at what she's been withholding?

''I think that'd be a great thing.'' Hadraniel agreed, long white wings gently tapping Elina and Hao's back. ''Let's get back inside and why not leave the doors open to continue gazing at this wonderful night sky?''

''Yeah!'' Hao cheerily added. ''Let's continue exploring later and find Arawn memories!'' This girl... Cheerful isn't a strong enough word to describe the sheer positivity emanating out of her soul with utmost sincerity.

Despite what felt like a few hours of ceaseless walking, going back into the safety of the Embodiment sanctum didn't take a minute. Once inside you braced for a wave of foreign influence... and felt it strongly indeed.

Sympathies, sadness, guilt, guilt and even more guilt. Guilt for not talking, guilt for getting angry, guilt for failing to find him, guilt for disappointing you...

''You guys!'' Your body must likely be sweating up a storm, this rush was like a bout of delirious fever. ''You're taking this worse than I am! Gardy's is still alive, that's the most important thing.''

Had you pushed Sieglinde earlier, her mixture of emotions could have exploded into something ugly... but at least now she'd managed to calm down, perhaps learning -nay feeling- the perspective of your emotions and care for your metal guardian had helped change her mindset.

The previous hostility that had been lingering since her awakening was gone, Sieglinde looked at you with her usual honest face now and that perhaps was worthy of a little silent triumph.

''This power of empathy will need some serious getting used to.'' Elina had gone a little red in the face, she was quite similar to you in her stoicism.

''I don't think it'll be that bad.'' Sieglinde chuckled and her following sigh seemed to remove an immense weight off her shoulders. ''Being able to feel your emotions could be romantic in a sense, but it true that having a little distance helps. I've got a better idea on what to say now.''

A small table, a pitcher of freshwater and glasses was conjured by the Embodiment alongside chairs but the demonic princess chose to stand and refresh her throat. She faced her audience without venom.

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''I'm afraid to be specific about what happened because I think that if this event becomes a shared memory amongst us all, it could become reality. A phantasm that is willed into existence because of shared acknowledgment; that Red World is inevitably influenced by the World Tree that is Mother Earth and Father Sky reality, so I think if I were... if we were to come to a final conclusion, it'd become true.''

''Could you say that Gardy current state of being is something like a... paradox?'' You asked and Sieglinde gave you a long, careful stare.

''The in-between, the events of the battle itself were paradoxical with three important results, three impossible things somehow becoming true. First, Arawn made a soul link with all three of us without our consent.'' Sieglinde held up one of her big fingers. ''Second, Gardy and Arawn souls have somehow been sheared away. Their coexistence would normally make something like this deadly for both of them...'' Sieglinde grimaced, a mixture of negative emotions -anger, frustration, despair- emanated out of her like an open wound. ''Third is the fact that my altered Corruption has been reversed into its normal state before the battle itself. I'm still sick, but I'm not an abomination anymore.''

A bout of impetuousness had you try to offer words of support or denial but thankfully you managed to hold back. Your feelings made Sieglinde wince and react with a mixture of frustrated guilt: truth is truth and this one was ugly. What you did to her after Jena sliced her throat was irreversible yet... somehow here she stands.

''I understand what you mean.'' Elina spoke, her eyes were closed and her wings had raised in guard whilst a strong solemnity traveled through the link, mixed with sharp pain. ''When I was trapped inside the Sabbath world, I died several times, ripped apart by the goat god. Alternate worlds aren't operating on the reality and logic we know.''

''Elina...'' Hadraniel whispered, frowning with sadness.

''I see... then it'd be better to avoid discussing this anymore, wait until we can venture into the Red World and see Gardy situation for ourselves.'' He might be gone but, thankfully, he's still out there... alive!

''Yeah... since we're from the World Tree, I think our memories could have some kind of influence. After learning how much you care about him, I don't... I don't want anything bad to happen. You'll go to the Red World, reunite with him and cheat Mother Earth reality by emerging with him again despite your current separation.''

'I knew I was right in thinking you had a good head on your shoulders, your majesty.'' You didn't resist your surge of happiness. You walked toward Sieglinde who could only stare in surprise when you grabbed her monstrous hands. ''I think you can understand now how glad I am to have had the chance of awakening inside your realm.''

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''I-I...eh? What!? Arawn...I mean I... I kept, hells I'm keeping the truth from you now! There's no telling if my fears are even true!'' Her cheeks blossomed with enough vivacious red to rival her hairs and horns.

''All I needed to know was that Gardy is alive. Technicality doesn't matter, Sieglinde. It might take a while to reunite... but you've given me hope. Even if it ends up being false, it's not something I'll ever begrudge you.'' Her hands were a little too big to hold onto comfortably but you squeezed despite this discomfort. ''Thank you, Sieglinde.''

Her mouth was agape, so thoroughly stunned was the princess that you couldn't even feel any emotions trickling out of her and you couldn't help a mischievous smile and indulge in a sense of triumph that was immediately met by annoyance.

''Y-you...!'' Sieglidne huffed and forcefully broke your holds. ''Hmph! I'm not...''

Hm? A strange pang suddenly blossomed inside your chest a feeling of... worry? Coming from Elina and Hao? There was a weight on your waist, glancing down you saw a glimpse of white fur, had somehow been attached to your lower half?

''ARAWN!'' There came a scream and the object pulled your weight effortlessly. You barely caught a blur of Hadraniel chapel, the girls had become shapes, the doors closed a breath after you were pulled away and your entire world became a dizzying reality of speed and disorientation.

--

Time cannot be measured inside the realm of souls. Once you managed to gain a morsel of bearing the kidnapped rope disappeared and you began a freefall that you choose to endure silently; your existence spun, bleak darkness surrounded you, winds screamed relentlessly around your ear, motion sickness manifested into nausea that nearly leaped out of your throat. You fell...fell...fell...

Then landed in a cushioned seat, momentum reduced to the casual dropping of anyone placing themselves lazily on their chair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ZvuaqK66g

Music was playing, something spirited from an orchestra of instruments you didn't bother to identify. The room was big and spacious, wrapped in darkness with one big light on top of a stage of ceramics you were in the middle off. In front was a familiar face.

''You...'' You could only mutter, still dizzy from that surreal flight experience.

Lady White was standing right here, garbed in a big noblewoman dress fit for a ball, big enough to make it impossible to fit into any doorways that weren't doubled.

''Aah! Finally, my sleeping beauty will soon be awakening! Joy, oh joy! The heavens shall move again!'' A round of applause followed, making you realize that a crowd of... people, things were viewing this excuse of a show. All of them mere silhouettes without identifiable sexes wearing animal masks: rabbit, dog, boar, pig, goat...

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''A year it's been.'' Lady White high heels resonated with her steps and she clapped her hands, all nine tails slithering behind her with serpentine grace and energy. ''Far, far too long a rest; a decade more you will need to recover, I can't allow the blunder of my followers to cost you so much time.'' Another piercing light landed in the crowd where all of Ama apostles -beside Jena- were tied together with ropes. Mimiru looked to be having the time of her life by laughing excitedly.

''A witch game needs to be fair and that is why time robbed will be reimbursed, to you my dear and your darlings in equal measures. From you will flow the cure to reenergize their souls; a menace beyond the board is always exciting.'' Another round of applause followed and Lady White twirled.

''And I, Lady White, Witch of Contracts, shall thereby make a vital agreement in fronts of witnesses to assure this game is to be played fairly!'' A row of papyrus was somehow conjured in a puff of purple smoke accompanied by a magical feather that began writing Ama's words.

"No direct harm to Arawn and all of his links shall come from Lady White; there will be no manipulations of their souls. Anyone else attempting similar hardship shall be judged as intruding upon the Witch Game and suffer a steep penalty. Unless agreed upon by Ama-no-Mikoto, Witch of Contracts.'' Lady White giggled, taking a long, theatrical breath. ''Emotional and physical harms by thirds parties, of course, are fine. I cannot control anyone else trying to give him a sound beating if he needs it!'' Laugh and applauses followed.

Raw revulsion made you squint in disgust and nearly spit at the white witch. Something deep inside of you made you believe her wholeheartedly as if you were feeling the girls emotions, a pure naked truth made this contract undeniable...!

''You can feel it, my dear. The purity of my sincerity!'' You could only shudder with further disgust. ''Always did you doubt me, always could you use the excuse of -flagrantly false- untrustworthiness on my part to avoid commitment but no more! It is time to leave the nest, Arawn Loukanos, become a worthy man or die.

The audience collective reaction was such a poor attempt at surprise and tension that it was an insult to third rate theaters.

''You've been whisked away from Zipangu inner sanctum and fell into my lap, my dear... It is finally time for a proper game, something planned, a proper tale, a trial that wasn't made in a week and completely and utterly derailed because someone cannot handle the role of maestro!'' Another light illuminated Ama apostles, focusing on the large blue oni for a few moments before extinguishing.

You... you've been kidnapped from Zipangu inner sanctum...?

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''And he's already gone for the land of Living Sun, hurry along now, putting on a useless show is a sign of desperation.'' A feminine voice resonated, making Ama groan in childish annoyance. This voice was unfamiliar, impossible to identify because it was several tones of people speaking at once, dwelling inside a silhouette of darkness similars to all the audience with a crow mask to crown their head.

''I've only had enough time to give him a cheek rub... Thank you for smuggling him out, dear.'' Lady White lamented, her words falling on deaf ears because you could hardly understand this reality.

''The first step to a witch burning is often distasteful'' Responded the silhouette.

''Klesiah!?'' Whatever force holding you back was easily trampled by your emotions. Your knight, your dear first knight, was standing beside this silhouette, wearing a gorgeous sundress. Long blue hair fell on naked shoulders and her eyes shone like midday oceans; a quiet trail of tears and the occasional sobs made it impossible for her to form a sentence but her happy smile was boon on your soul no matter the circumstance.

''My lord...'' She squeaked, Ama somehow decided to show a respectful silence. ''... I knew you were alive.'' What kind of ordeals...? How in all the good graces of the world could this be happening!? Why is Klesiah here!?

''Both of you are holding hands now.'' Announced Lady White. ''Before the game can begin, it'll be important for you, my dear Arawn, to link your soul with your darling knight. It's been far, far too long; dutiful faith is worthy of a reward.''

''Go to hell!'' you barked at Ama who titled her head in puzzlement, foxy ears drooping.

''You don't like Klesiah enough to link with her too? Aw... This is so sad!''

''Shut up, shut up...! '' You growled, resisting the urge to try and run out of here with Klesiah. So much damn things are happening at once.

''We are on a tight schedule my dear.'' Continued the witch. ''Be a man and do something instead of simmering like a weak indecisive fool.''

''...''

>Do as commanded. A soul link with Klesiah should... it'll allow you to help her.

>Do not. No matter what, you cannot play Ama games!

>Free.

>>3810362
Ok, that's a lot. We are no longer fused with Gardy, Lady White immediately took that opening and forged a soul link with her against our consent because she thinks its fun, our physical body is probably within her stronghold thanks to a favor asked of an eldritch horror from beyond the veil of reality (that thankfully seems to dislike Ama and her penchant for the dramatic), and god only knows what the fuck they've done to Klessia over the course of an *entire fucking year*.

Also, I guess if you know how to manipulate them as good as she does it would make sense she could "heal" them if she were so inclined. Doubt Haddy's gonna be getting that kind of help. At least Jena's absence is promising, perhaps Ama did us the favor of ashing the bitch.

>>3810362
>Free
>"And if I were to - hypothetically speaking- refuse?"
I'm getting REAL tired of your bullcrap Ama. The kind of tired that sleep won't fix.

Arawn's been out for a *year*?? Daaaamn.
>"A decade more you will need to recover."
And yet Ama is offering a way to... skirt the recovery time *AND* that will also heal Hao, Elina and Sieg? I'll admit, she knows her carrot-on-a-stick methods.

>You've been whisked away from Zipangu inner sanctum and fell into my lap, my dear...
Who was it? Who the FUCK gets to have their spine turned into a belt?!
I'm halfway tempted to accuse people of incompetence, but smuggling a VIP from Zipangu's Inner Sanctum was most likely only possible from within said sanctum.

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>>3810395
I've been wanting to lowkey do a potential sidequest during the year that happened but sticking with Arawn is likely a better thing.

>>3810407
Such powerful emotions. The witch had time to prepare this time.

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This is another fairly important choice... So I'll wait for my usual number. A link with Klesiah!

>>3810421
Let's be honest, when has she *not* had time to prepare?

Also, we don't remember the fight with Sieg so how the hell can we remember how to do the soul link spell? Is Ama about to teach us? I am leaning towards just doing the link with our knight. We're fucked, defying Ama will only get us more fucked than we already are.

Among other things, a link with Klessiah would enable ranged battery spells and combat is almost certainly in the works right now. We can't fight for shit, especially without low-mid fusion to boost us up to comparable with any of our companions. Her plus a battery and reinforcement spell should at least equal budget sleeping Zenitsu which is the bare minimum we'll need to escape, worst case scenario, the fucking death swamp! Link may also guard against corruption for those linked if we've retained our immunity. She'll need that to not become a corrupted swamp spawn.

Also, one last thing, how can we even be certain it's really Klessiah? Can we do a battery spell+soul investigation with her first to verify it really is, without a doubt, our lovely knight? Can't trust anything for shit, she could be trying to trick us again!

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>>3810490
>Also, we don't remember the fight with Sieg so how the hell can we remember how to do the soul link spell?
It's not a spell, even non-mages can do it (as seen with Hao)
>Is Ama about to teach us?
Yeah, she'll help you get it right if needed.

>Also, one last thing, how can we even be certain it's really Klesiah?
You'll be able to investigate prior to sealing the deal for sure. If it's not Klesiah, Arawn will backpedal hard.

So far 1 for 1. I think this is important enough that I shouldn't roll a dice on that one.

>>3810502
I'm willing to change my >>3810407 vote to Linking with Klesiah if that is her so we can keep things rolling. Provided we investigate, it's rude toward maybe!Klesiah but she will just have to understand, blind trust is not something we can afford.

Oh, and grumble something about the illusion of choice at Ama. Quite a frustrating situation, this.

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>>3810591
Ama wouldn't bait you with an illusion of your precious sworn knight! Not at all!

Now that we have our situation to carefully investigate Klesiah soul beforehand... I think the continuation will be another long post due tomorrow. Sorry if you guys feel like there's a lack of interaction.

>>3810618
It's fine, can't be helped that things are a little slow. Hopefully more Anons show up by the weekend!

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>>3810631
Oh, it's fine, I knew that prologue would be mostly about setting things up no matter the activity. Lots of things happened, you can barely catch your breath.

>>3810618
Yes she would. Jena isn't here which means she could be shapeshifted into Klesiah. That "contract" Ama drew up also said others could interfere with souls linked to us if she gave them permission and that blood sucking bitch has shown she will do literally anything to achieve vengeance upon Teruko and Daiyu's house. I forget, what did they do to piss her off that bad?

She also made mention of a "menace beyond the board". I'm going to assume that this refers to our friends who will doubtless try to come and rescue us. Problem is, since we got kidnapped from *the* most secure location in the nation (possibly even the world), they've got a mole infestation or worse.

Like I said in earlier threads, she's going to see any attack coming from miles away. However, this fact means that not only is the attack going to be foreseen, but every, single, aspect of the plan of attack will be as well. Meaning victory against her, until they fix that problem somehow, is utterly impossible. Don't know how we get out of this one with all our waifus intact and our soul still within our own possession and not sacrificed to/nom'd by the Great Old ones.

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>>3811068
Teruko husband murdered Jena older sister so she's got a vendetta against our pregnant... actually, our new parent lizard professor.

>Don't know how we get out of this one with all our waifus intact and our soul still within our own possession and not sacrificed to/nom'd by the Great Old ones.

A Witch Game has to be fair. Take that however you want of course. People are leaning toward the Soul Link...

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Honestly I can't help but to feel bad about Klesiah. Being an entire year there is too much and enough to have withstanded a ton of things. While I do understand this is rather risky I feel it'll be worth it if we can save her...
I really hope things turn alright like they did with my last choice despite it not being as "dramatic" as it could've been.
Also just for a clarification do we really know what a "worthy man" means or it is just a vague term? The best we can do is cooperate and try to escape..


So my choice is: >Soul Link.
My guts tell it's Klessiah and not a trap, as Lady White expect us to think it's a trap just to trick us.
Also my apologies if I misunderstood something it's rather late and I had a long day so good luck on the voting pool.

>>3811077
Teruko wouldn't marry a mindless murderer or someone who kills monstergirls for sport. If he killed that bitch she almost certainly had it coming in spades. I get that it was family, but if that family member is totally exsanguinating humans then why didn't you stop them before the Vampire Hunters showed up? Because family should stop other family members from doing shit that'll get them on a hit list that scarcely fails to cross names off of it.

As for this game being "fair"... See, here's the thing about "fair", it means different things for different people. I doubt her definition of the term lines up well with ours. Damn, I'm going to miss our interactions with Gardy and the other girls...

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>>3811085
>Also just for a clarification do we really know what a "worthy man" means or it is just a vague term?

Vague term, Lady White is just poking fun at the fact that Arawn is the kind of guy who really like to think about his decisions, analyses all possible angles before committing to something. You don't have that luxury here so showing your worth means doing something despite that habit.

>>3811088
>Teruko wouldn't marry a mindless murderer or someone who kills monstergirls for sport. If he killed that bitch she almost certainly had it coming in spades.

The whole situation was pretty ugly. Long story short (it's common history) the Javed clan is well established inside one of the human kingdoms and it just so happened that it was the one where Teruko refugees were settling into. Vamps basically took advantage of them and enslaved them, Teruko husband is the head of a mercenary company and pretty much went ''fuck that noise, fuck you all'' and proceeded to axe her people to freedom in Daiyu's land.

>Because family should stop other family members from doing shit that'll get them on a hit list that scarcely fails to cross names off of it.

Logic is nothing compared to the passion and grief of a lost loved one.

>Damn, I'm going to miss our interactions with Gardy and the other girls...

Be happy that you were forced away on good term.

Linking seems to be a landslide victory.

>>3811092
See? She had it coming, hell the whole damn bloodline had/has it coming given that and the shit that just happened a year ago. This also indicates that the hubby took the bitch out personally with his best bros by his side. Teamwork makes the dream work when it comes to killing immortal elder vampires. Please tell me us getting kidnapped fucked them over in some way. New endgame goal: Eliminate the entire Javed bloodline.

>That spoiler

So going back into the chapel was the best choice? I will admit to not being paranoid enough again. Should have told Haddy to close the doors and bolt em' shut real good behind us. A potential 15 minutes of prying nails off of boards with crowbars to get back into our soul would have been worth a potential second or two of warning so that she could have shield bubbled us and fought whatever it was that took us.

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>>3811105
>Please tell me us getting kidnapped fucked them over in some way.

That is not something I am at any liberty to say. It HAS been a year... and remember that a certain summoner was very intent on finding Klesiah.

>So going back into the chapel was the best choice?
For communication and safety, yes.
>Should have told Haddy to close the doors and bolt em' shut real good behind us
Now now, you can't be faulted for not seeing everything.

>>3811108
Yes I can when the result was this friggin' bad. Had I done so we could have awoken within the inner sanctum with our waifus, Daiyu, Good Golden Fluffy, and all the rest (though sadly without Klesiah).

Now we awake with only Klesiah at the absolute mercy of Ama. Sadly, our emotions likely blunted the paranoia of our linked girls as well. Only Gardy would have made the prudent recommendations but, double sadly, he is now a heap of scrap metal in the red world that Ama is likely in the process of ensuring remains so unto all eternity.

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>>3811120
You're hitting the lowest of point! Isn't it wonderfully sad?

>>3811128
Sad? No. Infuriating? Yes. More fuel for Ama and all she holds dear funeral pyre? Also yes.

Ultimate goal reaffirmed, toss this vile wretch and all she holds dear into the fucking void! Not a single solitary quark shall remain of her existence! We'll make it such that she never fucking existed in any conceivable world if we can help it!

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>>3811135
But anon, what has she done wrong?

>>3811136
Everything. She's pure friggin' evil and deserves far worse than I can possibly imagine. Or, well, perhaps I can.

Not gonna feed you that info though. For again, if I feed you my worst cases they'll likely surpass yours and you'll just go with my darkest ideas instead and, while I'd like you to make Bad Fluffy suffer, the ways I'd make her may bite us in the ass harder than it does her.

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>>3811143
But she reunited you with Klesiah!

>>3811149
For her own entertainment and nothing more. She's still evil, nothing I can really think of is a death that will absolve her of her infinite sins as there's no way she repents for any of them.

Also, another question, can Klesiah ever hope to even budget match a move like "thunderclap and flash"? She will have the basic requirements if we link with her if you get the reference.

>>3811154
>Also, another question, can Klesiah ever hope to even budget match a move like "thunderclap and flash"?

I don't think I get what you mean here.

>>3811155
I referenced it above but it's from a recent anime "Kimetsu no Yaiba". If Klesiah surivives to reach her penultimate level this is the bare minimum of her potential with our aid: https://youtu.be/iWXQExHSpoo?t=45

>>3811163
Hm, maybe is my best answer. It's still highly unlikely since Klesiah isn't a good mage, her lightning isn't her killing power.

>>3811169
Nope, but with a bit of our soul magic amping it up and a reinforcement spell to further sell it I can't help but see her dealing out lightning powered/fast decapitations to our foes. The main point of the move mentioned was speed and form, the thunder was but a significant bonus. Seriously, give that anime a watch. Pretty sure you'll dig it.

Like I said, we'll need at least a budget version of that to even hope to escape this stronghold, let alone the swamp itself. Please may the dice gods land us in either Kreszens (hope I spelled that correctly) or some other friendly power can pick us up if by some miracle we do.

>>3811176
What make you think you'll go into the Swamp?

Opsie... you'll find out soon!

>>3811177
>that spoiler

We were going to go there eventually, but we are now sadly being thrown into it on Ama's terms instead of our own. I wonder if Ama leveraged her authority upon Ame to get all this done. I mean, she could have done it. She's technically the acting queen. Boy will her suffering be great in the emotional sense as Tsu must have known the truth of her ancestry yet risked it anyway because of actually good reasons...

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Hm, after giving this answer due thoughts I'll probably be ending the thread with this upcoming update. I'll take today to rest up my mind a little and finish things up tomorrow, gotta make sure I write things right... after all you're in the witch lair.

>>3812001
Just to clarify, votes say we're going with the link option but we *are* going to investigate "Klesiah" before we commit to it fully yes?

>>3814068
Not sure I voted or not but that's what I want.

>>3814068
Yeah, don't worry I took that into account.

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''Time is the cruelest of all mistresses for nothing else can vanquish love and passion, yet defying its test is the most romantic of things...'' Lady White was facing the crowd a d her bombast was one of endless enthusiasm that met the spirited music a little too perfectly; that didn't matter. Klesiah was here somehow... Mother's Mercy!

''For one long year has this darling knight waited and endured, growing strong in the hope of seeing her darling young lord, staying true to her vows and his expectations and now comes the culmination of all her struggles yet... yet how can the man be expected to sympathise without having seen, felt or even know about her tortuous journey until now!? How can he be expected to seal his fate with hers so quickly, so immediately? Aah!'' Lady White spun on her feet, her big dress of gold and dark blue mixed with the blur of her tails as she managed to jump and land on her toes, twirling like a ballerina.

''It isn't fair! Matters of emotions are never fair!'' Her sincerity filtered into you, making you shudder in disgust.

''She likes to hear herself talk...'' You grumbled, resisting the urge to interrupt her: if Lady White was satisfied with indulging herself in theatrics, that'd leave you more times to get your bearing.

''My lord, I mean Arawn...'' Klesiah tears had already dried and she giggled gently, her gentle face was illuminated by an angelic smile that would have struck deep into your heart were circumstances better. ''...I will not begrudge you the belief that this is yet another trick for I cannot be certain myself about her sinister design about this Joining.''

There's no way... This IS Klesiah! Why did you even doubt her identity? This is her soul, her presence, her existence, all ensnared by Lady White!

''Do you want to do it?'' You reached for her hands and she reached back, grabbing your bigger ones with restrained energy.

''Yes!'' Her eyes shone with sincerity and desires. ''Nothing can ever, ever come between souls and... I want to do it, my lord. It is unbefitting of a knight to put her lord into so much danger for death travel through these spiritual roads but it is the best way to help save you...!'' Her face twisted into a tense grimace of guilt and disgust. ''I...''

''Don't feel guilty, you are my knight and I'd love nothing more than connecting my existence to yours.'' Hope shone through the veil of negativity resting on her face when you reached forward to hold onto one of her hands. ''The witch won't be waiting much longer.'' Midway through another spiel, Ama had spun another time and gestured toward you and Klesiah whereupon a spotlight burst to life to illuminate the both of you, making the bunny masked individual clumsily jump away.

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''Aaah! Delight! Not only have I been proven wrong but on this rare day, we will witness a man fourth and truly final link with a darling who's been waiting for him so very long... Not quite a romantic climax but this is an adorable first step to adorable sweetness!'' Somehow, you managed to resist the urge of rolling your eyes, Klesiah couldn't put anything to words, her happy, if subdued, expression was everything you needed to know.

''Forgive me, I need to make certain that it's no trick...'' You didn't have time to feel guilt, Klesiah had perhaps been coached in matters of souls because her intention reached toward you easily after your initial welcoming. Perusing over this and taking a glimpse of her soul will be quick.

''My lord...'' Klesiah voice had dropped to a whisper, a barely audible noise nearly trampled by the orchestral song. ''...steel yourself, don't let your surprise show, it'll feel highly unusual but there's doubting her kindness and strength.''

A fortuitous warning indeed because your quick investigation yielded the most astonishing reality. Klesiah soul wasn't hers alone.

Mingled with the flow of her existence, patiently waiting before the gates of your existence was... Another existence, an undeniable being of warmth, a gentle love that somehow brought strange images of women of all ages holding onto their child, Teruko... Your professor was now a mother.

This...occupant was familiar too. When Lady Whtie first fooled you into that contract, Gardy wasn't able to pull you away from her influence, wasn't there an interruption? A womanly silhouette of intense colors had somehow ruined the vixen hold, giving Gardy a chance to create a status quo against Lady White. This presence, this existence was the same!

Klesiah...Her will was here too, without any trace of duress from this strange occupant; here was a near-perfect harmony, a distance between souls that allowed individuality whilst maintaining peaceful coexistence a very familiar state indeed. No end of apprehension dwelled inside your knight, fear of rejection but her individuality, her soul, her existence was waiting for you.

Was she...Had she been living with a situation like yours all this while?

Enough daddling! Damn it Arawn, if Gardy was still here and you needed to link with the girls they'd need to make a leap of faith after sensing his existence! If you have any respect for him... If you want to help your knight then you've gotta....Take this chance!

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Tying your soul with hers held no fanfare, no manifestation of any kinds. Like your magical flow, the river of her soul flowing into you, traveling a bridge constructing at the speed of thoughts, her strange occupant somehow holding back, remaining at your conscious gates, allowing Klesiah to reach deep, deep enough that you couldn't sense her anymore until... A spark exploded into emotions. Gratitude, happiness, relief, fatigue, grief, longing, faith; Klesiah existence burning bright.

''Klesiah...'' You could only speak breathlessly and she, too, couldn't voice anything. Instead of relying on words, gesture told her intention; her index rested on her lips and you understood.

This strange soul occupant wasn't someone to be talked about inside the witch lair.

''So end the opening of our game, darlings, and gentlemen!'' You held onto Sieglinde hand with renewed strength and she rested her second one atop yours, ignoring Lady White. ''No matter where the yare, this tying of existence will allow them to find one another... Trials and tribulation await, now's the time for a proper game; nothing is more intense than emotions and desires! Will his desperation make him commit far too many deadly mistakes in his new home?'' Lady White spun again, the colors of her dress seemingly mingling with her pale tails.

''Wherever you end up, endure.'' An unearthly amalgamation of tones whispered this sentence with a proximity that made you shudder. This masked silhouette had crept closer and you had to physically resist the urge of kicking this traitor away. ''You'll probably need to handle a few months on your own but don't worry, you've got friends where it matters.''

All lights simultaneously extinguished and a weight on your waist tugged you backward. Foreigns grips clawed at your hold with Klesiah, working under your fingers, pulling and pulling...inevitably breaking it.

''My lord!'' In the darkness, your knight howled in vigorous defiance. ''Wherever you are, whatever place you end up in... I'll find you. I swear to it, I'll find you! I won't let your smile die, Arawn! The peaceful happiness of living with your friends... I'll bring you back to them! Do you hear me witch!? I vow upon my soul that I'll break your game!''

This rope on your waist pulled you away, noises mingled into a chaotic mess of winds, sensations became a mess of disorientation as you traveled upward at a speed that would have choked your life out, were you inside your body. time was impossible to measure. Up and up you went, an upward climb toward life.

--

''Ah...'' Being back inside your body meant awakening to a rush of unpleasant sensations that had been forgotten by your soul. A dry throat, painful breathing, lethargy weighing down your limbs into pathetic dead weights. All of your emotions boiled without an outlet, your discomfort more than strong enough to cool your rage.

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''Yes-yes! He's alive! The nourishment is working, praise be to you all and praise us! We knew nobody needed to die!'' This was not a voice you knew, a young woman perhaps, one with a heavy accent - not at all a native Commons speaker.

Low rumbling masculine voices kept a constant baritone tone that echoed throughout whatever place you were, sticky and wet sensations clapped every time you moved. A bath?

Forcing the effort to open revealed that it was indeed the case, albeit one of blood. A sight that completely robbed you of breath but that was nothing compared to what was floating above you.

A red vortex swirled, held in place by some odd telekinesis. Numerous tendrils stretched outs of its center that kept beating like a heart tendrils that were reaching toward you, hovering above you carefully to sprinkle a strange shower of glistening silvery luminescence that slowly reenergized your tired body.

You were inside some kind of grand area, an immense hall that was accommodating a great many people facing a basin dug into a ground of ceramics. Each of them was pouring their blood into it and this flow joined into a single river that traveled upward toward a very small pyramid -that you were actually nestled into- whereupon this red flow separated toward you and what was the top of this... this ritual altar. There a young woman stood, a Mamono without a doubt. Two prominent triangular fluffy ears plopped out of a head of waist-high dark hair, her arms were raised high above her head, both being covered and furs and morphed into a mixture of humanoid limb and claw-like wolf paws. A long bushy dark tail excitedly swished to and fro sideways and finally, her feets were much more canine paws than proper human limbs.

What in the world... What is happening?

''Careful dearest ingredients! Our ritual isn't to be tainted by death so switch when you need, do not let yourselves bleed into tragedy out of devotion to the Sun!'' This strange Mamono spoke with vigor, her limbs outstretched toward the red vortex, her darkened skin of bronze highlighted by shiny red... A blood mage? A natural blood mage? Who is somehow directing a ritual into you? ''Fifty! Sixty! Seventy! Perhaps even needed eighty soul! My moon has a healthy appetite indeed!''

Nausea began to assail you without warning once the people below began shifting away, others immediately took their place and bleed themselves with daggers of bronze... Energy, pure simple, raw organic energy, was being drunk by your wounded, starved soul, traveling far enough to escape all sensations, separating into all of your links. Healing, healing... Everyone is being healed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksK1dudxDw

>A Tale of Monsters -Lullaby- end.

And so our prologue is over. I'll be making a little summary of all the important information you've gotten throughout the entire things. Feel free to talk and ask anything!

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Here's a little summary of the important information you've gained in this prologue.

Elina and Hadraniel are sisters.

Your soul is no longer tied with Gardy. Somehow your existence was sheared, you are completely alone with your soul.

Alternate worlds do not function like Mother Earth and Father Sky protected reality. For example, Elina was ''torn apart'' several times inside the Sabbath dimension and seemingly brought back to life...

You have a Soul Link with Elina, Sieglinde, Hao, and Klesiah.

You've been asleep for an entire year.

There is likely a traitor in Zipangu who smuggled you out of its inner sanctum, giving you to Lady White.

Klesiah seems to be housing a foreign entity inside her soul, someone who radiated warmth and gentleness.

All damages to yours and all of your links souls have been healed by a blood ritual consisting of close to a hundred people. Nobody died at least.

The Witch Game begins.

>>3815009
Would any of our compatriots likely be able to place the Accent of the Ritual's leader?

Hopefully someone's going to be willing to explain where and how we got here, wherever we are.

Do you have any indication of when the next run /thread would be?

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>the entire prologue happend
>not a single flower mention
I will downvote this quest to oblivion and write a reddit post about this.
Jokes aside, great job at explaining and making stuff work, good thing we selected not to pressure seiglinde earlier on as that seems it could've caused a major issue. I throughly enjoyed being a player and I need to ask... Can Hao say the n word?

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>>3815048
>Would any of our compatriots likely be able to place the Accent of the Ritual's leader?

Yeah but you can't ask anyone for help now. Yer on yer own.

>Hopefully someone's going to be willing to explain where and how we got here, wherever we are.

All in due time.

I'll be aiming for the end of next week I think. I'll confirm things on twitter.

>>3815058
>Can Hao say the n word
for this comment, you'll get kidnapped and placed into reeducation.

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>>3815062
I am asking a serious question QM, one that we could use to our adventage in the future. This could make Hao possibly the strongest character and powercreep. Lady wh*te has no chance.

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>>3815076
You might be able to find your answer if you go look at Hao title in the google doc about characters.

Meanwhile, for multiple attempts at besmirching one of your important linked girl, I'll have to ask Deruella to punish you.

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>>3815079
>Fearsome warrior, faithful friend and the purest soul

QM you might not be understanding what I am saying. If we use Hao to her full potential and strike Lady Wh*te when she least expect it with the power word we could end the conflict effortlessly. Only the purest soul could say such thing without actually breaking the very own fabric of the reality and metaverse that your world has, such a tremendous power word can only be weilded by the purest of the souls without tarnishing it's vessel. Forgive her QM... Just this once let her go all out; to avenge Klessiah and make Lady Wh*te pay for her crimes.

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>>3815099
Power Word: Kill

>>3815102
I'd prefer "Power Word: Deicide" be pointed at her just to make sure.

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>>3815212
Aren't you a clever one.

Lady White has done nothing wrong. She plays fair!

Wait, you made a list of our companion's abilities? Where/how do I access it?

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>>3815338
Not abilities, just a little summary of who they are and what they do. Look at the opening for this info. I'll have to cross out Gardy related abilities...

>>3815219
Plays with peoples lives yeah.

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>>3814987
Ok, also a lot at once. How can Klesiah stop or do anything to stop the witch game if she's been captured by Ama? She talks a wonderful game but there ain't jack shit she can really do if she's in a cell or under house arrest in Ama's own lair. We got."healed" by a blood ritual that just needs blood and not mass death (need to find a way to get/steal that info so we can feed it to Deru so she can revive Haddy and Gardy with it). Are in the possession of what appears to be a blood cult that is almost certainly tied to Ama somehow. And, to top it all off, no Gardy, no friends of any kind we even know, and no fucking clue where the hell we are. We are well and truly fucked.

And now the theory: Klesiah has fused with Mother Earth!? Why the heck would a deity do such a thing? Does it enable her to more directly act upon the world? Wouldn't it operate on the same rules as ours meaning she's made herself enormously vulnerable as if Klesiah dies wouldn't she die as well? Well, at least now we know why Tui couldn't contact her after the attack as that'd be broadcasting to Ama "Oh hey, here I am, your ultimate nemesis sitting nice and fused to this very mortal human girl you can kill with a flick of your wrist and in doing so kill me too but pretty please be nice and don't do that". Wait, wouldn't being fused to a deity make you its avatar and thus making her effectively immortal so long as she suffers no lethal damage like our main elf?

>>3815099
>>3815102
>>3815212
Also, can Hao use power words? Is this a reference I'm missing?

>>3815527
Power words are just words that hold power. It's like true speech, you can basically talk someone into anything by saying their souls deepest name, then commands, or just hit someone with "DIE" and they probably will.
In this case I believe the joke is that were Hao to use the derogatory term for people of African descent, it would be lethally shocking to any that would hear because she's so innocent.

Well, on one hand I'm annoyed at not being able to sleep properly due to a flu but on the other I'm glad to see another Tale of Monsters thread reach it's end. Thanks for running Insert!

Aahh, might this lady leading the ritual be the Mamono Pharaoh? Hm. Slightly troubling that were all the way in her lands. More troubling that someone like HER is in cahoots to some degree with Lady White. We may as well assume to be stuck behind enemy lines... assuming my guess is correct.
But hey, if I'm right then the silver lining is that we're not stuck in the Swamp where Ama's supposed to be roosting!

>>3815058
>>3815076
>>3815099
>Someone as pure as Hao
>The N-Word
Anon, this is a Godzilla Treshold like none other. That is too much power for one person to wield!

>>3815079
Step on me mommy Der-
*Cough* I-I mean to say I wonder how Deruella's faring. A year is a long time.

I must admit Insert, you've thrown a wrench into my personal plans on how to proceed training-wise after Arawn woke up - I naively expected for Arawn to wake up in Zipangu surrounded by friends and allies!
*Grumble* Now I need to wait for the next thread to see what can be done on the matter of training - it'll all depend on how monitored and controlled Arawn's life will be for the near future.

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>>3815521
I can't make any comments about your theory because that is something that you'll need to find out on your own. could it really be Mother Earth? You don't have any real way to know for now, after all that Soul Link is so newly established... but it does make an interesting parallel with your own situation with Gardy.

As for your current predicament, well... You'll do what you can to survive right? Nobody in Zipangu would have agreed to such a blood ritual...

>>3815550
>>3815527
Yeah that's the gist of it. No way can Hao use power words since they don't really exist. Closest things are dwarven rune words.

>>3815557
>Aahh, might this lady leading the ritual be the Mamono Pharaoh?

Aren't you a sharp lad... you'll know next thread.

>But hey, if I'm right then the silver lining is that we're not stuck in the Swamp where Ama's supposed to be roosting!
A Swamp that is also assaulted by the Demon Lord... hm, contained would be a better way to put it.

>*Cough* I-I mean to say I wonder how Deruella's faring. A year is a long time.

Alive is about the best way to put it, Arawn doesn't know anything so it's a little difficult for me to give proper infos about the general state of your group.

Nobody died at least.

>I must admit Insert, you've thrown a wrench into my personal plans on how to proceed training-wise after Arawn woke up - I naively expected for Arawn to wake up in Zipangu surrounded by friends and allies!
Oohohohoh, the witch has been waiting for far too long!

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>>3815563
>Oohohohoh, the witch has been waiting for far too long!
*Sob*
I want off of Ama's Wild Ride!

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>>3815575
But why?

>>3815563
Who says Zipangu needs to agree? Plenty of down on their luck humans and monstergirls who would gladly part with a few pints for a piece of gold or two. Or asylum within Daiyu's borders to escape massive debts or powerful enemies made in the course of their life.

Point is, plenty of ways to get the necessary participants. Since it's just bleeding into vessels until you're a bit woozy then switching off with someone else lots of people will have an affordable price for their precious bodily fluids!

>>3815563
>that pic
Poor Bell, he gonna get raped.

The Pharaoh... who almost certainly knows who we are, what "title" we technically possess, and what Gwen's been up to for the past year. If so, then fucking hell we are both boned in multiple senses and are about to be forced to fuck over Gwen and Daiyu. She's gonna "forcibly" marry us which would technically give her direct claim over the lands we were supposed to inherit. The rest writes itself and it's all very, very bad for anyone who isn't the Pharaoh.

We need to acquire a chastity belt ASAP. Our purity must be saved for the girls we know and love! I don't want our first time to be rape by Pharaoh and her most beloved advisers!

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>>3815588
>Who says Zipangu needs to agree?
The fact Hadraniel was also going to be a part of any possible cure.

>Point is, plenty of ways to get the necessary participants. Since it's just bleeding into vessels until you're a bit woozy then switching off with someone else lots of people will have an affordable price for their precious bodily fluids!

Indeed but the entirety of the Old World, Allied Kingdoms and indeed, Daiyu capital very much REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE at any mention of blood magic even if... it can actually be used for good things.

>She's gonna "forcibly" marry us which would technically give her direct claim over the lands we were supposed to inherit. The rest writes itself and it's all very, very bad for anyone who isn't the Pharaoh.

You'll get the chance to see for yourself where you are and what kind of... hosts... you've been forced onto. Don't make too many assumptions now.

>We need to acquire a chastity belt ASAP. Our purity must be saved for the girls we know and love! I don't want our first time to be rape by Pharaoh and her most beloved advisers!

Saying no to paw pads?

>>3815581
Because Arawn's life or soul are not truly his own so long as we are bound to he Witch by the yoke of her Contract - so long as the Witch lives or the Contract exists Arawn is a puppet and a tool.
I wish to escape the Witch's hold - either by the Ama's death or the destruction of the Contract.

>>3815588
>Forced marriage
...While a possibility, I wouldn't too much. The Pharaoh has *nothing* she could hold over our head - not even threats of death will work because it would absolutely draw the volcanic ire and anger of Ama onto her.

>>3815597
>Saying no to paw pads?
Dear Gods, you're right. We need Chastity Gloves!
Jokes aside, touching Mamono bits will depend on the Mamono and the circumstances.
...It's going to be a rough month for Arawn. We'll need to cash in on the dice game debt Elina and Sieglinde once we're back in safe territories - for therapeutic healing, of course! No ulterior motives here, no siree!

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I suppose the cat is out of the bag about things happening inside the Pharaoh realm.

>>3815632
>either by the Ama's death or the destruction of the Contract.

Or its fulfillment... Too bad you barely know anything about it! Ama want you to struggle, how ominous!

>Jokes aside, touching Mamono bits will depend on the Mamono and the circumstances.
Paw Pads.

>...It's going to be a rough month for Arawn. We'll need to cash in on the dice game debt Elina and Sieglinde once we're back in safe territories - for therapeutic healing, of course! No ulterior motives here, no siree!

Only a month? That's a positive outlook, I like it.

>>3815662
>This talk about forced marriage
>That pic
Okay Insert, now you're straight-up just fucking with us.

>Paw Pads.
Throw in fluffy ears and a tail and I am open to negotiations.
>Only a month? That's a positive outlook, I like it.
I was going by what Stranger McVoice-O'-The-Legion said without bothering to check said without bothering to check what exactly they said. Also, optimism keeps the despair and sanity damage to a minimum! *sob*


>>3815632
>I wouldn't too much
Should be "wouldn't worry too much"
>cash in on the dice game debt Elina and Sieglinde once
should be "game debt Elina and Sieglinde owe us"

Ugh, with mistakes like this I sometimes wonder why I allow myself to handle a keyboard. I'm hitting the bed.

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>>3815677
>Okay Insert, now you're straight-up just fucking with us.
Loving every seconds.
>Throw in fluffy ears and a tail and I am open to negotiations.
Well, whoever was healing you did have them...

Don't feel embarrassed about weird sentences and typos... The frustration I feel every time they sneak in my updates is raw indeed.

Now's a little something I feel like sharing. Since Arawn has been asleep for a year, many things have happened; I've been lowkey wanting to do a potential sidequest during that timeskip but maybe it'd be better to do a few short scenes here and there, once you guys start missing the usual gang. I'll have to give it some thoughts, important things have been happening

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>>3815597
If she *is* the Pharaoh then no, Gwen's people ran away for good reasons. Thus, she's evil. We do not indulge in the bits of evil mamono unless we get something worthwhile out of it (and it's not gonna be snu-snu). If not, then maybe we indulge in our habit after we get to know her. After all, just cuz the "king" is a douche doesn't mean their retainers necessarily are.

>>3815632
She doesn't have to hold a damn thing over us. Don't forget we don't have Gardy anymore, meaning we are no longer Geis immune. Without his power/protection our mind is once again open to all the fuckery any mind bending asshat can conjure. Joy to the fucking world. I hope there's some way to detect if our mind's being fucked with that isn't 100 percent beholden to the dice gods...

>>3815662
>That pic
I do believe I'm calling this one pretty hardcore. Which is very bad. It was one of my worst case scenarios in the event our Elf ever got back on the political stage. He gets kidnapped by her forces, forcibly wed to her, then horrible horrible bad things happen for everyone we know, like, and possibly deeply loved by that point. Boy are good at homing in on those and executing. Truly you are a man in the league of pic related.

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>>3815708
>After all, just cuz the "king" is a douche doesn't mean their retainers necessarily are.
Good thinking. No matter what happen never forget the heart.

>I do believe I'm calling this one pretty hardcore.
What if I were to say that you fed me an idea? Oohohoho! Why not make an old Mamono happy, anon?

>>3815721
There's no way you didn't think about it before I mentioned it. Well, unless you're not as politically savvy as I thought. To the politically minded this one possibility jumps up almost immediately. It is, after all, a direct and easy solution to her whole runaway peasant problem.

Also, we were already in the process of making an old mamono or two happy. Sieg's been around for awhile, so has Elina, Daiyu, Deru, and Martha. Non-evil portal slinging fluffed one and she of many eyes are probably no spring chickens either. Not that any of that matters to an Elf of all things because weak immortality.

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>>3815750
>There's no way you didn't think about it before I mentioned it.
Aw, I wanted to tease a little but it seems you've grown used to my mindset. Don't go making too many ideas about the Pharaoh at least, you haven't met her yet, you don't even know the name of the country you are in!

>Also, we were already in the process of making an old mamono or two happy.

I love how that sound.

>Sieg's been around for awhile
True, she's has two boyfriends in about 175 years. My oh my!
>so has Elina
She was stuck somewhere very bad, can't count that as being particularly old.
>Daiyu, Deru, and Martha
You're aiming to make the entire royal demonic family happy? How deliciously adorable!
>Non-evil portal slinging fluffed one
Tuilelaith is downright ancient. Antiquity age
>she of many eyes are probably no spring chickens either.
You'd be surprised actually.

>>3815760
Not in that way! Married to all of them? The mind and soul are willing but we'd never be able to "keep up" with all of them. I mean hell, "satisfying" Daiyu or Deru alone would already be quite the undertaking. And one would be surprised at how "thirsty" people like Sieg and Martha can get once you've broken that final emotional barrier. They'd still all be happy though. I mean, if a family member found someone they loved and made them happy you'd be happy too assuming their relationship is healthy right?

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>>3815791
>Married to all of them? The mind and soul are willing but we'd never be able to "keep up" with all of them.
You'll make it work out!
Let's just say there's been a whole lot of dry spell for many people.

>They'd still all be happy though. I mean, if a family member found someone they loved and made them happy you'd be happy too assuming their relationship is healthy right?

Would you say that Sieglinde family has a healthy relationship with one another?

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>>3815557
>That second spoiler
Please take her away. She has been haunting me for a while now and I'll give her to you for free.
>>3815563
>No way can Hao use power words
There goes my head canon, if that is not the case then how can we defeat Lady Wh*te.

>>3815807
Seems to. Didn't used to but Sieg's been working hard at it and seems to have succeeded. Martha's still a bit of a problem but, had we not been taken by she who contracts, we probably could have gone a long way in helping to iron out that last little wrinkle and make them all one big, happy, healthy family.

Our situation might actually help on that front really. Doubt Martha's gonna want to "indulge" when this level of shit has happened to her sister. Bitch almost killed her and only by a miracle did she not die. The only high she'll be craving now is one only sweet righteous vengeance can deliver.

>>3815809
Well, I'm not sure if it's still a thing but in the last quest there was an item I called the "Shiki Knife". If you know what "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception" are than you get what it was and what it did by the name (could even do what Ryougi claimed to be able to do if ya landed the hit right). Introduce Ama to the pointy end of that and that's one easy solution. Others will require more research, time, and luck.

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>>3815809
>There goes my head canon, if that is not the case then how can we defeat Lady Wh*te.

By realizing that she is the secret heroine!

>>3815834
>Seems to. Didn't used to but Sieg's been working hard at it and seems to have succeeded.

Oh yeah, that family was majorly dysfunctional in the past but Sieg pulled everyone together again. Isn't the redhead precious?

>Doubt Martha's gonna want to "indulge" when this level of shit has happened to her sister.

What do you think ''indulging'' mean anon? but you are good in your assessment. Out of all of her daughters, Martha really is the most similar to her mom.

>Well, I'm not sure if it's still a thing but in the last quest there was an item I called the "Shiki Knife".
Ah yes, one of Zipangu most important artifacts...

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>>3815854
>That spoiler
I already knew that you dumbass, now how do we actually kill her.
>>3815834
>Name dropping my gf this hard
I'll beat you up.

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>>3815874
>I already knew that you dumbass, now how do we actually kill her.
With love. It can be seen.

>>3815874
>How do we actually kill her
The knife I mentioned deserved the name I gave it so that's a good choice. Drive Plume of a rocket engine, portal to the corona of the "sun" this world orbits, a wee bit of antimatter teleported directly into her skull, shoving her into an activated fusion reactor, total molecular decomposition, breaking every single atom she is comprised of into quarks if that won't cut it...

Sorry, I'm a sci-fi nerd at heart so these things are my go to for "kill it so dead only God himself could bring it back".

>Name dropping my gf this hard
Which one. Sieg, Martha, or Ryougi? Or are you into Ama?

>>3815895
Love kills her? Yeah, doubt that pretty hard.

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>>3815904
>Love kills her? Yeah, doubt that pretty hard.
How very sad.

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>>3815904
I'm sorry, since you did that I hereby demand my right to a gentleman's duel. If you can namedrop someone's gf like this you should be aware of the consecuenses. And I dare to say, don't mess with me, I am very weak and I'll probably run away and you'll feel bad for the whole day.

But also I'm a huge fan of those concepts and writing stuff like that, believe it or not I've been drawing and making stuff for other quests for a long time now, if this QM wasn't so dumb and asked me to do thing I'd probably do it. But alas, what can you expect. I am a huge slut for creativity and over the top things and story telling, as long as anyone has something to tell I am probably gonna considerate it.

>>3815895
I will dont make me go as far as give her a single flower because I WOULD suggest it.

>>3815931
>First paragraph
You have failed to answer my question. You say I namedropped your gf. I humbly request you tell me which name I "dropped" as it were.

>second paragraph
Another man of science who grasps how utterly final those ends are. If you'd be so kind, deliver unto us a quick sketch of your scientifically preferred end for the bad fluffy one.

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>>3815931
I'm afraid it is far too late for any flowers now...

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>>3815949
A fellow gentleman I see. What would be that final end you'd like to see?. If we are speaking the same language I do draw stuff like that too and if you have any idea you wanna say I'm open to suggestions, mostly for reaction value but I do see the enjoyment in that sort of thing.

>You failed to answer my questions
Sinners don't get explanations, they only get the chance of expiations. Square up and STAND FOR YOUR WORDS.

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>>3815990
Deruella will be waiting in your room soon, anon.

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>>3816031
I have no mouth and I must scream

>>3816031
Hopefully with a plan. Deru is as close to equaling Ama in the "Tzeentch" department as we can hope.

>>3815708
>Don't forget we don't have Gardy anymore, meaning we are no longer Geis immune.
Aww shit, I forgot about Geas' and general mind fuckery.
But! I doubt the Pharao can use us to gain hold over the Elven lands *that* easily. Not unless she has a way to prove our identity - there's no way ANY kingdom or the Churches of Mother Earth or Father Sky are going to believe that the crown prince of Luminaris happens to be alive AND has happened to decide and marry a Mamono ruler, which would render any claims to the Elven lands very much illegitimate in the eyes of the world. Not to mention the remaining Elven populace.
I admit I'm not entirely certain how politics in this particular scenario would actually work, so I might very well be talking out of my ass.

>>3815791
>Not in that way! Married to all of them? The mind and soul are willing but we'd never be able to "keep up" with all of them.
Heh. Imagine the amount of tug o' war with Arawn as the rope that would take place! Luckily Arawn is stoic so he'll be less likely to be thinking with his groin in the place of his brain!

>>3815809
>Please take her away
Anon, I'd love to but I don't think I can do much against her will! You may as well accept your fate!

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>>3816091
>I admit I'm not entirely certain how politics in this particular scenario would actually work, so I might very well be talking out of my ass.
You're not. Your legitimacy would need to be proven and accepted by the elves, this would create a domino effect that'd force the humans to swallow your claim on the elven forest. Simply marrying you isn't a big enough masterstroke to gain lands.

>Heh. Imagine the amount of tug o' war with Arawn as the rope that would take place!
Who says the girls won't help?

Also, Deruella is a gift, there's no reason to be afraid.

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>>3816110
>Simply marrying you isn't a big enough masterstroke to gain lands.
Oh, whew. That's one small weight off of Arawn's shoulders for now. Although-
>>3814987
>''Fifty! Sixty! Seventy! Perhaps even needed eighty soul! My moon has a healthy appetite indeed!''
The fact that she apparently already has a petname for us worries me somewhat.


>Spoiler
*Suspicious Squint*
You mean help with the Elf-rope pulling or with which "head" Arawn thinks with? I think I can guess which the girls would prefer...

>Also, Deruella is a gift, there's no reason to be afraid.
...My mind, my mind is telling me no. But my body?
My BODY is telling me YES

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>>3816122
Why not both?

Embrace the white demoness who single-handedly plotted the fall of Lescatie!

>>3815760
>Don't go making too many ideas about the Pharaoh at least.

Peasants don't "run away" or "revolt" unless things have reached a crisis point. Both are about the same thing when ya get down to it and while these sorts of things are "led" by the upper classes more often than not they are fought, bled, and died for by the underclass. If they ain't down for it, it ain't happening. The very fact it did happen speaks very poorly for this Egyptian wretch and our Elf is smart enough to understand this. Fuck this Pharaoh, and not in the good/sexy way!

>>3815990
Drive plume. It's the one most immediately within the grasp of this world's tech level so that's the one to strive for for now. Still drawing blanks on your waifu though. Ryougi or Ama? Also, missing the flower reference. It it's from a manga, anime, show, book, etc? Tell me the name so I can go and read/watch it forthwith. And I'm rather enjoying the Tamamo pics, keep em' up, she's a wonderful waifu.

>>3816128
She actually seems like a very nice woman who knows exactly how the human mind works in regards to seduction. If we ever manage to attract her lustful gaze I doubt there would be much we could do to stop her in the end. If she likes us and wants us in her bed she already has it all planned out. We'll fall for her of our own accord, just as she meticulously planned.

Does she have a "fallen maiden" posse and would she be "sharing" us with them if we go down the Dreruella route?

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>>3816274
I don't think we are talking about the same thing but I can definitely make a quick Drive Plume I guess, I do find however the concept of space ships and technology advancement extremely appealing and interesting to read and fantasize. I had something completely different in mind however.

You know very well what you did Anon. Your actions have consequences and you'll pay for your treacherous mouth. Thou shall never name drop someone's gf like this good sir, now have at you!

>>3816365
I am still very confused. Who is this waifu of yours I've insulted? I didn't mean to. However, I am armed and if it's a duel you want that I cannot dissuade you from...

I also just re-read that last post. Ama said Klesiah was our fourth and "final" link. Is that the capacity of our soul? Have we ensured we cannot re-fuse with Gardy if we somehow miraculously manage to escape the grasp of the Pharaoh and make it back to Daiyu's capital intact? I presume his "corpse" is still there in the red world of that region waiting for us to reinstall him into our soul (again, presuming these links aren't going to get in the way). It's a bit too much to hope for but did any of this ritual energy find its way towards him?

Damn, even if these links enable a ping as to our exact location politics, that damnable swamp, Ama herself, and the Pharaoh's own precautions on top of all that will stop any easy answers like a swift portal deep strike special ops team insertion to, well, thing is we actually would very much like to be "kidnapped" by Daiyu's forces right now so is that really a kidnapping from our perspective?

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>>3816274
>She actually seems like a very nice woman
Yes, yes! She's very nice!
>Does she have a "fallen maiden" posse and would she be "sharing" us with them if we go down the Dreruella route?
She's had people like that in the past but decided to let them go and grant them the freedom of living their own lives. Only one of them remained as her follower.

>>3816881
>Ama said Klesiah was our fourth and "final" link. Is that the capacity of our soul?
It's the safe number. There's no guarantee about your final capacity, four won't give side effects.
>Have we ensured we cannot re-fuse with Gardy if we somehow miraculously manage to escape the grasp of the Pharaoh and make it back to Daiyu's capital intact?
No.
>
Damn, even if these links enable a ping as to our exact location politics, that damnable swamp, Ama herself, and the Pharaoh's own precautions on top of all that will stop any easy answers like a swift portal deep strike special ops team insertion to, well, thing is we actually would very much like to be "kidnapped" by Daiyu's forces right now so is that really a kidnapping from our perspective?
You won't want to live the Pharaoh realm, of course it'll be kidnapping!

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Now, I know that it's been stated in-quest that treading upon the souls of others is... frowned upon, to put it lightly...
But I must wonder how much control over the souls of others Arawn could hold later down the line.
And what he could DO with power such as that...
"SUFFER ME NOW!"

>>3816881
>Damn, even if these links enable a ping as to our exact location
Well now, who says that's the ONLY thing these links can do? Perhaps we should put some research, time and practise into our Soul Links...

And copy a page from Ama's book!
Now hear me out, I know learning something from the Witch might sound like an abhorrent idea but what if we could replicate the way the Witch visits Arawn's soul - even in a minor fashion - we could feed precise information to the Jawahirs. Being able to plan together will make things go smoother.

>>3816988
Insert, it's starting to fee like you have a monster girl pic for damn near every situation!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining and these are some*quality* pictures you're using but gahddamn man.

>>3816988
I think you meant to say we won't want to "leave" the Pharaoh's realm. I beg very, very much to differ. Now, if all our girls were to move in right next door with Gardy in tow for some reason then maybe we could be convinced that the living arrangements weren't half bad.

A realm without them is a realm we don't wanna live in. This realm lacks them, thus it is intolerable. Even if this Pharaoh intends to give us living standards fit for a Roman Emperor/King of a great nation/etc.

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>>3817014
>And what he could DO with power such as that...
These games would have been so much better if they weren't stuck in lotr, that mind control power is quite appealing.
To say if you could replicate it, however, is a bit too much of a stretch. Theoretically, it could be possible on monsters of the previous Demon Lord but current day Mamonos after Daiyu widespread transformation have far too much individuality to be so easily dominated. So I might have to lean on an unfortunate ''no'' for this.

>Perhaps we should put some research, time and practise into our Soul Links...
The path of self-improvement is always respectable.
>Insert, it's starting to fee like you have a monster girl pic for damn near every situation!
4gb and growing.

>>3817030
>I think you meant to say we won't want to "leave" the Pharaoh's realm.
Sometimes, a typo is strangely compelling.
>A realm without them is a realm we don't wanna live in. This realm lacks them, thus it is intolerable. Even if this Pharaoh intends to give us living standards fit for a Roman Emperor/King of a great nation/etc.
That's rather cute, this amount of loyalty...

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>>3817035
>4gb and growing
ahh yes, Truly you are a man of taste and culture.

>That snake girl pic
Holy *fuck*
I'm gonna have to save that.

>Mamonos after Daiyu widespread transformation have far too much individuality to be so easily dominated. So I might have to lean on an unfortunate ''no'' for this.
Ach, truly 'tis the saddest of days! Oh well, I'll just have to wait until we learn about our Soul Magic so that coming up with applications will be easier. Fucking Ama let us learn and leave us out of your schemes REEE

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>>3817086
You'll be meeting a few different monsters soon... be tempted, be happy! Make new friends!

>Fucking Ama let us learn and leave us out of your schemes REEE
Where would the fun be?

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>>3816881
Square up harlot. I shall punish thy tongue and make you perish. Thou hast spoken about mineth wife for the last time.

>>3817035
>Only 4 gbs
Weak. I have a bigger folder of cute anime girls flossing.

I will honestly try to make something for the next session. Maybe then I could contribute on something.

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>>3817312
Shiki is boring.
>I will honestly try to make something for the next session.
Don't feel forced or compelled, having you as a player, voicing your opinions and showing up to votes is all I truly need my good anon.

>>3817319
No it's not, you also clearly want us to learn to rejoice in our suffering.

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>>3817326
>you also clearly want us to learn to rejoice in our suffering.
Baseless accusation. There is no proof of this.

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>>3817319
When did I ever mention it was gonna be for you? If I recall correctly I do have a request from someone.

Now go back to the writing cavern, you need to write more about our favorite girls and lots of harem-ish fun.
>>3817326
You'll learn to love it.

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>>3817342
This kind of rudeness is exactly why I am the victim here. I'm abused by my players! Here's the proof!

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>>3817035
It's not cute, it's serious. We've made a vow to Daiyu and Gardy wouldn't abide a traitor. How loyal are we? Hachiko loyal, Chesty Puller Semper Fi "Oorah!" loyal, extended torture ain't shit if it protects their smiles loyal. You get the idea.

>>3817106
So an entire "new" harem eh? You think their devious desert ways will be able to turn us away from the girls who gave us so much in exchange for so little? We will use them to achieve our ends. We will *act* like we've come to think about the others as "old and busted" and them as "the new hotness" if needs be

It will be sad for them when we do finally escape their grasp. We all know the drill, "Was any of it real?" as we stand at the side of demonic royalty and all that. Provided, of course, that mind fuckery does not happen. We are to be on full alert at all times for any and all chances of them doing that to us. We must never forget who they are and what they did for us!

>>3817319
>that spoiler
What, you got a thing against ultra lethal kuudere girls?

>>3817333
Your entire catalog is proof. Not that I mind, if you weren't trying to make us suffer horribly than I wouldn't be able to derive satisfaction from denying you your prize.

>>3818281
Oh, almost forgot, wasn't Tui supposed to have done a ritual to pinpoint Klesiah's location and find out what happened to Mother Earth? Has she done that yet or is she about to do that.

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>>3818281
>It will be sad for them when we do finally escape their grasp. We all know the drill, "Was any of it real?" as we stand at the side of demonic royalty and all that.

Everyone will stand together in harmony and bully Arawn for being a huge softy!

>What, you got a thing against ultra lethal kuudere girls?
Only if they are boring

>Not that I mind, if you weren't trying to make us suffer horribly than I wouldn't be able to derive satisfaction from denying you your prize.
I see it more as letting the story itself around players interaction instead of actively going out of my way to fuck with my players. I'm not entertaining a ''players vs dm'' mentality at all, in fact, I absolutely detest that philosophy so any cause of rejoicing come from... well, inevitable moments of incompetence that are in no way my fault!

>>3818282
>Oh, almost forgot, wasn't Tui supposed to have done a ritual to pinpoint Klesiah's location and find out what happened to Mother Earth?
It's been a year, it's done and things happened because of that.

>>3818326
>Everyone will stand together in harmony and bully Arawn for being a huge softy!

I want that scene, it'd be hilarious (especially if Gardy's back when it happens to see his reaction to it), but I don't think it'll be possible. Whatever's about to happen will likely put the Pharaoh and company on the opposing side of Daiyu.

She's pissed, and likes to make examples of those who fuck with her family. Gruesome ones I'd wager. Whatever happens to those with ties to Ama she captures would probably have Dark Eldar and Slaaneshi cultists taking notes on that exquisite torturecraft.

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>>3818396
>Whatever happens to those with ties to Ama she captures would probably have Dark Eldar and Slaaneshi cultists taking notes on that exquisite torturecraft.

Look like you have it completely wrong here, Daiyu hate having to torture anybody; menaces to her family are taken care off with brutal efficiency, going out of her way to actively cause pain to enemies is something she finds intensely distasteful even if it does bring her some cruel satisfaction, she'll be the type to regret it after getting carried away in bloodlust.

>>3818411
They're still dead though. Very, very dead. She probably pulps/chunky salsa's/minces them just to be sure. It's quick, painless, thorough, and easy for someone on her level to do to practically almost anyone.

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>>3818431
The story of Sieglinde past boyfriends is certainly a scary one...

>>3818456
Hence another reason for our remaining utterly loyal. We swore never to harm her in any way to Daiyu. We were also on our way to becoming boyfriend number 3. We don't wanna find out the hard way what happend to the last 2!

Jeez, why would one backstab the redhead? If she loves you back how could you ever want to betray that smile?

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>>3818493
>We swore never to harm her in any way to Daiyu
The Demon Lord is rather intense, isn't she?
>Jeez, why would one backstab the redhead? If she loves you back how could you ever want to betray that smile?
Let's just say her position could be taken advantage of...

>>3818513
That's like getting romantically close to the daughter of a Special Forces soldier who makes a habit of cleaning his guns whenever you show up at the house and thinking "oh yeah screwing this girl over is a wonderful idea!"

I wonder if Daiyu was impressed by our, in comparison to the others, vastly superior IQ.

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>>3818544
How about asking her if you can date Sieglidne next time you meet?

>>3818636
Oh we will if I have any say. Provided we remain loyal and get Gardy back.. because a world where we're dating Sieg without his feedback/reactions would be just plain robbing us of no end of hilarity. He accused us of doing that stunt in the moot to be all about impressing her. Boy was he wrong! Well, mostly, *mostly* wrong...

Damn, I miss our metallic best buddy immensely already. Hope we survive long enough to see him again. New girls will tease and try to seduce us, but none of his reactions are to be had now. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we've been robbed!

>>3818636
>>3818777
Sieg is good. Great even.
But personally I'm gunning for Daiyu, though I admit to having an odd soft spot for Martha and Deruella. We need to spend more time with the latter two when we *eventually* get away from the Pharao's lands.

>>3819265
I admit, that whole family is appealing. Each deliciously dangerous demon waifu has their own draw to them. Sieg was leading the pack for me but the others stood a chance to catch up or even surpass her. Sadly, that would require more time spent with them, time we will now not be allowed to have.

Still, while a harem end is also appealing I'd still like to go for a monogamy run (if only because it's a bit unexpected). Besides, like I said above, a man only has so much "essence" to give out to the ladies. Better a single woman (demonic royalty especially) fully satisfied than several of them somewhat frustrated due to limited capacity. An elf may be immortal, but they ain't exactly renowned for sexual prowess. Humies weathered this storm of monstergirls for a reason.

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>>3819265
>But personally I'm gunning for Daiyu
Anon, Daiyu has three kids!

>>3819317
>Still, while a harem end is also appealing I'd still like to go for a monogamy run
Relationships with Mamonos tend to be on the weird side since they've only had 200 years to develop a society and, of course, the fact they are all 100% biological female. Getting into a loving relationship could be a little awkward with having 4 soul links too... but that's a bridge to cross once we get there.

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>>3819754
>Anon, Daiyu has three kids!
I fail to see how that should dissuade me.

Besides, if Arawn eventually married Daiyu he'd get free reign to crack horrible dad jokes at Sieg, Martha and Deru!
Arawn will become the biggest troll in Throne Town if I have any say in it

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>>3819900
What a lofty goal, to marry the Demon Lord... That's the kind of thing that makes men laugh in disbelief, it's a tavern joke, not a reality!

>>3819967
>it's a tavern joke, not a reality!
Now THAT'S quitter talk. And Arawn was not raised to be a quitter!

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>>3820062
Who know how he was raised? You're a bold one at least, I'll give you that.

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Oyakodon with Daiyu and Sieglinde!

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>>3820155
As expected of my decadent players.

>>3819754
The other girls can get more links I think. It could form the basis of a scarily effective combat formation We're the core along with our chosen waifu, and the other girls with their linked husbandos contribute to a synchronized whole greater than any of the individual parts.

A little awkward perhaps because everyone (but especially us) would probably feel it when any of the couples er... consummated their relationships but that's a small price to pay for insane combat efficacy! Boy I hope we can re-fuse with Gardy, I very much wish to see his reactions romance and love making. He seemed so innocent and inexperienced in the ways of love (and he also deserves a Waifu, though that's also gonna get complicated).

Also, potential complication, are knights allowed to "be" with their lords? We're linked to both so that might come up in the future.

>>3819900
We'd be the stepdad, and if we go for and land her I don't want to go for any of her daughters. I can only hentai so hard anon. That's just a wee bit too weird for me.

>>3819967
I don't think anyone jokes about marrying the demon lord unless they're shitfaced. Then there's the matter of the absentee husband whose fate is unknown. My own headcannon states he "abandoned" them in order to protect/save them. To be a true hero, yet be remembered by all as a villain. A tragic fate, but one only a real hero would resign themselves to.

>>3820083
We have links now, will it be possible to attempt a deep dive into our own soul to retrieve memories? Granted, it'll also show them to the linked girls but we've been massively de-leveled with Gardy's loss. Memory retrieval=spell and combat ability retrieval if we dredge up the right memories and Klesiah indicated that we had developed our powers almost exclusively in that direction before dying.

Speaking of combat, how exactly does one attack the swamp effectively. You said Daiyu's doing that but that's like sending armies into the Eye of Terror. Fun thing to do perhaps, but not very effective at doing sweet fuck all except feed whatever's inside it. Are they purifying it inch by bloody inch? Are they trying to set up a stable-ish corridor through it?

>>3820155
Ah, Daiyu's home cooking. We only got to try it once but that was enough to miss it already. Such a loving mother, and a great cook. Truly, why would anyone leave her behind?

>>3820169
I ain't decadent, but I am gonna aim for a life fit for an Elven king. A life of opulence with our beloved waifu and a ton of babies. Best end.

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>>3820949
>The other girls can get more links I think.
Unfortunately not. Soul Links can only be done between men and women because there is enough difference in their souls to allow people to maintain a vital distance during the linking. One man or one woman can link with several people, thereby becoming what was referred as the ''anchor'' up above but if one of the ''branch'' of a communal link were to link with someone else, it would have a chance of destroying the harmony of the core Soul Link or, in most case, this new individual would be rejected by all the other wills unconsciously.

>He seemed so innocent and inexperienced in the ways of love (and he also deserves a Waifu, though that's also gonna get complicated).
Gardy is fatherly, not romantic! He can't have a waifu!

>Also, potential complication, are knights allowed to "be" with their lords? We're linked to both so that might come up in the future.
No, but to say some lords don't get with their knights is a lie, a big untold secret in the Allied Kingdoms is that many lords have a knight or two as a mistress but it is rarely made truly official. There's no rule against it, it's heavily frowned upon, almost a taboo.

>Then there's the matter of the absentee husband whose fate is unknown.
Actually, his fate is very much known by the demonic family, they don't' want to talk about him because there's a whole lot of negative feelings tied to him.
>We have links now, will it be possible to attempt a deep dive into our own soul to retrieve memories?
Maybe. It'll be difficult to find the right mindset with your situation but also acting on the link itself because you'll be far from the girls. Distance severely hamper a link effectiveness.

>Speaking of combat, how exactly does one attack the swamp effectively.
By being careful, listening to the people used to it and doing a whole lot of purification. It's a very slow process, what's more, important is getting the human realms to stop being nervous... You'll have to see yourself about how things are going in that place.
>Are they purifying it inch by bloody inch? Are they trying to set up a stable-ish corridor through it?
That's the current strategy. Everyone knew they were here for the long haul.
>Ah, Daiyu's home cooking.
Oyakodon isn't meant to be home cooking anon.

>>3820949
>and if we go for and land her I don't want to go for any of her daughters
Oh *heavens* no, neither do I! I never meant to imply that, I wholly support a monogamy route!

>>but I am gonna aim for a life fit for an Elven king
>Merely aiming for that
>When we very well *could become* THE King of the Elves
Anon, please.
I AM aware that this particular route is VERY much a pipe dream at this juncture in time, but the potential IS there.

>>3821026
>Distance severely hamper a link effectiveness.
Well dang, that may have sunken my "use Soul Links to make extraction plans with allies" idea. Ah well, as long as we manage to get a message through one of our Links - like where we are and how we're doing - I'll be happy.

>important is getting the human realms to stop being nervous... You'll have to see yourself about how things are going in that place.
Ah, so we'll likely have to choose between staying as a Field Operative or being a traveling political asset to secure more troops/alliances?

>>3821026
Damn, there goes my plans for a whole linked up platoon to take down Bad Fluffy. Can links be safely dissolved then? As in, if ya do it right, no long term side effects for anyone? I know Martha's invention was, in part, to do just that. Temporary links dissolved safely upon the completion of their purpose. I'd hate to deprive a girl of a link with her future husband if we don't go full harem mode.

>He can't have a waifu!
Well, technically, if we manage to re-fuse with him, our waifu would technically be his waifu too so he very much can have a waifu! If we can, we'll get him one of his own on top of ours. Complicated/weird because only one body with two wills but we'll manage it somehow!

>they don't want to talk about him
Thus the tragedy is complete, for even the senpai sees him as a villain.

>That spoiler
Anything can be "home cooking" if you make it at home. Does the dish have an "impure" or "naughty" connotation to it?

>>3821089
Didn't know that was in the auto filter. Meant to say "family" in that first spoiler

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>>3821075
>Ah, so we'll likely have to choose between staying as a Field Operative or being a traveling political asset to secure more troops/alliances?
Worry about that later. The Pharaoh realm beckons!

>>3821089
>Can links be safely dissolved then?
Case by cases basis honestly, some links can be dissolved, others are so deep and intertwined that it's not going to work safely in any measures.
>Thus the tragedy is complete, for even the senpai sees him as a villain.
I suppose you'll need to make your own opinion about him when the time comes, which isn't soon.
> Does the dish have an "impure" or "naughty" connotation to it?
What that anon implied was making love to Daiyu and Sieglinde together. Hence Oyakodon, a mother and daughter pair.

I feel like romance will be a bit of a touchy issue since people have their favorites. Thankfully I don't.
you guys are a tad too busy to be thinking about that now but that'll be one fun subject to breach...

>>3821123
Point of the headcannon tragedy is that only he and possibly one or two others know the truth about him doing what he did for the right reasons (and they're taking that truth to the grave). Everyone else, including family and ourselves upon hearing the tale, will see him as a villain/douchebag. The critical details that'd change that opinion having to be hid from all to ensure the safety/salvation of his family.

Oh and do not worry about the romance thing. We hadn't spent enough time with all of them to conclusively decide upon who is best girl (or girls, if the harem route is gone for). Besides, can't really think about that one until our memories are fully restored. It'd be downright irresponsible!

Might have to fake some romance with the Pharaoh's agents though. After all, if the mamono guard(s) assigned to prevent your escape think we wanna run off far away and elope with them than the situation gets pretty good for us. Same goes for politics. Get the duchess/queen/etc. infatuated with you and her armies are yours! This would likely entertain Ama to no end. I hate doing that, but wars need winning and we need to escape so that's that.

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>>3821138
>This would likely entertain Ama to no end. I hate doing that, but wars need winning and we need to escape so that's that.
Why not entertain the fox some more?

>>3821170
Why refuse to entertain Bad fluffy? Because she's this settings equivalent to Satan/The Devil dangit! Her joy is our sorrow, her happiness our despair, her plots and schemes the potential end of all things good, sweet, and nice in this world!

On a related note, would "entertaining" her get us anything good? Like, is there a meter in the background that tracks that status and the more "entertained" she is the nicer she is towards us and thus more likely to not fuck with our own schemes and plots? Likewise, if we bore her will she start doing bad things to us and screw with our plans so as to make us stop being boring from her perspective?

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>>3821186
>
On a related note, would "entertaining" her get us anything good? Like, is there a meter in the background that tracks that status and the more "entertained" she is the nicer she is towards us and thus more likely to not fuck with our own schemes and plots? Likewise, if we bore her will she start doing bad things to us and screw with our plans so as to make us stop being boring from her perspective?

You'll have to be the judge of that. Arawn and Lady White have had many discussions, you've seen a little bit about how she operates, how she likes to ''play'' with you. Trying to understand her mindset can be important, your attitude toward her matter quite a bit after all, Gardy did advice you in that area...