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With joined wills the ritual started; hands together in a circle of singular purpose, the expunging of Corruption was a slow and arduous process for one so unaccustomed to this practice. Traces of Corruption began to exit Shereen mouth and nostrils in a slow float of pure dark snowflakes, the snake summoner held out her hand to let this manifestation melt into her skin. Afterward, she'd direct this excess toward an empty astral body that would inevitably be filled by desperate alien life and subsequently slaughtered.

This was a long process that slowly began to be arduous for the princess. With your souls almost joined by the natural chemistry of your magical natures, Shereen stress and worries dropped like rocks into the watery stillness of your resolved mind. Her body hiccuped with needs of rejection and she'd often seek inward, making mental pull into some kind of magic that, thankfully, you were able to prevent with a light shake of her shoulder, strong pangs of shames would radiate out of her afterward as she'd cross eyes with you.

The atmosphere inside the empty grain storage was a tense one.

Fortune handmaidens stood beside you whilst everyone else had taken backward position near the gang leader who silently oversaw this long ritual, the squad of guards had fanned out near the stairs, both securing the exit and making sure nobody could creep in. Shereen vast accumulation forced what was a middling process into a long and laborious one, you didn't need a soul link to know how uncomfortable and indeed painful things looked for the little Anubis. Her luxurious silky clothes had been dampened with sweat and her small body twitched in strenuous efforts as more and more of these dark, corrupted ashen snowflakes exited her body as if vomiting them out. Her furred hand held onto yours strongly, enough for her claws to dig into your skin...

...and all you could do is watch; part of you wanted to embrace this spirited little princess but you couldn't afford to relax your mental vigil. Something nagged at the back of your head, feeding paranoia.

''You're doing fine your majesty.'' Mojgan spoke gently, her voice genuinely comforting in the heavy silence only broken by Shereen straining breaths. ''It is far too dangerous to evacuation your accumulations all at once...''

''Yeah, hang it there little princess.'' Your remark earned you an incredulous look from your furry little sun. ''Punish me later.'' A snorting gulp and a wave of amusement revealed that Shereen had tried -and failed- to laugh.

As more painful minutes trickled, discomfort hinted on Mojgan face as she changed arm to absorb more Corruption. A sudden cough from the princess caused a voluminous exhale of dark smoke accompanied by increased discomfort and distress. ''Slowly, your majesty.'' Mojgan whispered and you squeezed her hand, keeping your mental fortitude strong against the turmoil leaking out of the little Anubis.

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''I-I'm ok-urk!'' Corrupted tar followed, interrupting her word, falling with voluminous weight on the lamia hands who winced in response as it was absorbed into her body.

Having witnessed a few rituals with Teruko and Vilma allowed you to recognize early signs of summoning. The air above Mojgan had a strange wavery consistency reminiscent of fire distortion, so subtle a thing that it often escaped your trained gaze and to get glimpses to the naked eye made for a worrisome display, Corruption filtered directly into building an astral body... If it could already bulge through the veil, it must be a potent one. Could Shereen Corruption be particularly potent? Or could it have become like that because of its accumulation?

Obey

A noise, a word, so quiet and subtle it felt like a random passing thought.

''Mojgan, did you hear something?'' You asked, Shereen was a tumult of emotions that became increasingly difficult to resist. Your battery spell imposed submission since you were the fuel to her magic but the unusual case of your complimenting natures allowed you enough leeway to prevent breakthroughs from her constant pulls into your psyche.

It was, however, a constant tug of war and parts of Shereen's existence seemed to filter into you...?

Hold on.

Having kept her eyes closed and holding onto Shereen's arm tightly, the snake lady summoner peeked to observe you in a mixture of curiosity and worry, her plush lips opened to say something.

''Something is wrong! Detach yourselves right now!'' Holding onto a crystal ball and peering through it, Fortune suddenly screamed.

Her two handmaidens promptly grabbed you and Mojgan.

''Argh!? What the fuck!?'' The tall Manticore reeled and stepped away from you, despite being one of the strongest warrior species of monsters the pain of your sudden punch in her guts had a good effect. Of course it would, despite your battery spell animating Shereen, somehow your magic had weaved itself throughout your body to reinforce it.

You didn't even know it happened.

''Obey!''
An inward scream that did not belong to you, a masculine tone of porcine property, more squeak than voice resounded in your mind. Foreign wills invaded the river of Shereen consciousness like an ever-growing patch of dark ink and, of course, since it was flowing into you because of battery...

''No''

Your response wasn't a closing of spiritual gates; to do so would be akin to breaking physical contact with Shereen and leave her alone to this intruder machinations. Your mind reeled, seeing two images at the same time; the real world with friends new and old and someplace else, a familiar realm of starry night sky. Noises mingled into a burdensome buzz, the Manticore stepped away to dodge another blow, Zhu restrained Banu; one breath later and the older maiden would have teleported toward Shereen whom you firmly held onto.

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'' Kneel to your master and know bliss!'' Said the princess of Muribel, her voice echoed with unnatural strength in the empty storage room, growing guttural and masculine. Her pretty green eyes had changed into a blanket of red without pupils. Foreign will polluted your mind in a way similar to Lady White mental invasions, calling it hostile was an understatement but the sheer presence of this... this intent trampled over resistance and imposed itself naturally... something wholly superior.

Different than Ama, different than anything else dwelling on this star.

Bowing was natural; to obey is bliss; to submit is paradise.

Euphoria tingled your body.

''Obey.'' It... He said again, his voice wasn't that ugly after all. Yes, you were wrong about this, he's a ruler of bliss!

''Aaahahahah!'' Shereen laughed as she, too, felt the pleasure of submission; it traveled through your link, bridging through your souls because of your joined hands and it was wonderful. Friends danced with misshapen guests, you had to give of your magic for this celebration.

But...Someones is missing.

'' Isn't Gardy an embarrassing name? I was far too young to think up anything good back then... I think... it'd be better for something new, right? You have a place here, in this new world... please don't tie yourself to me.''

An aureole of flowers crowned your head. Devona put it there, her long blond hair shone with radiance befitting her godly kindness. Around her was a scene of carnage, a forest obliterated of life. The Embodiment of Justice, the Embodiment of Faith, the Embodiment of Strife, Mother Earth and Father Sky had battled against you to remove the last Pretender... and failed.

Momentarily.

It doesn't matter how long you have to fight, if it means keeping her safe for one second longer, then you'll do it. No matter what, no matter who stands against you.

Your body creaked and protested with the very thoughts of movements but you still brought your fractured limb to gently cup her trembling hand. She was all grown up now, has been for years, but remained a small scared girl swept up by people's ambitions. Never once allowed to remove the shackles of false godhood.

''I am Gardy.''

!?

''Shouldn't we wait for him to decide on his name?'' He said, bringing a piece of cake to his mouth. Ah... you wanted some too, even if looking at him always scared you. ''He's... He'll have enough presence of mind for that.''

''I think Arawn is perfect.'' Responded a woman, fiery orange-red lock flowed down her back like a waterfall of flames, so pretty! ''A name is important you know? It's the only thing someone truly possesses, it won't hold any mean if they decide it. Arawn is a strong name for our son.'' Her hand was warm, her touch gentle, her smile made you happy so you returned it.

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There was no presence of the guardian who gave you his body anymore but a spark of him dwelled somewhere deep, deep inside of you and only now do you finally realize that you've embraced it into your very life essence. A memory of him had flowed into you, something so very, very precious; the identity he never forgot.

His name; your name.

''GEEEEEEET OOOOOOOUUUUUT OF MY HEEEEEAD''

Your howl sparked a flood of activity inside the lonely starry world inside your soul, emerging from a broken-down gear deep, deep inside the murky foggy depth of your existence. Gears, steel, gold, coppers and all kind of machinery changed the glassy milky floor of your mindscape, sparking colors of gold and white to illuminate this inner world of yours, finding and extinguishing the foreigns parts that didn't belong to those you've chosen. The blessing of the Embodiment of Protection hadn't completely left you after all... but this piece doesn't belong to you, this precious, precious foreign memory, made you feel so very sad and angry.

''Aaauuuugh!?'' Shereen yelled when your furious cleansing feelings traveled through your hands and nigh joined souls to cleanse the rot of whatever entity had taken hold; a guttural scream followed, ringing inside your mind. Your little sun would have fallen on her butt had you not taken hold of her shoulder, both of you had been enraptured in dancing for a few minutes... ''Oh what!?'' Shereen didn't have time to be embarrassed, upon seeing how quickly things had changed.

The large emptiness of the grain storage had become a battleground. Tears in the very essence of the world cracked its ether like broken red-tinted glasses, creating a hole in the very fabric of the world out of which poured a stream of surreal entities. Misshapen monstrosities mutated into an insult of human and animal life, full of bleeding tentacles, eyes, pus, cancerous growth, and teeth. They yelled in guttural glee at the sight of so many fresh bodies and the experience of stepping outside their red domain; pure chaotic emotions made flesh.

One portal had erupted not too far from the exit, pressuring the squad of Vigil who crowded around Fortune. They were young and scared but still fought to guard the exit, galvanized by the older maiden and their valiant young captain whose fearless arrows fell creatures after creatures; difficult to say if they'll hold out for long.

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Fortune handmaidens were surrounded in carnages, unable to provide support, forming a protective stance around their summoner. On one side was the slimy maid whose body whipped around unnaturally, limbs metamorphosing in random shapes that would change between blunt and sharp, hacking and killing any abominations coming into range with absolute ruthless efficiency born from her unique biology. On the other side was the tall manticore who didn't need weapons to be effective; a most surreal entity hovered above her body, some kind of totem-like creature with a face reminiscent of a festival mask and a giant pair of claws hacked apart any foes independently of the Mamonos movements. Mojgan remained between them, making good use of her skills and absorbed surplus of Corruption by summoning a giant, three-meter tall snake that efficiently rammed, bit and smashed invading abominations but slow, evident accumulating damage made it obvious this powerful shell wouldn't last eternally.

Despite their skills, the three Monsters were under an unbelievable amount of pressure. Not only was one of those portals barely a few meters away from them but the last one -twice as large- belched an unending horde of monstrosity like smoke out of the chimney of a forge, charging the trio with reckless abandon. Suck utter lack of self-preservation made the handmaiden's resistances a thing of endurance.

Then a punch landing on your face interrupted thoughts and sight. Before the pain registered you already landed on the floor, bringing Shereen with you in a surprised scream as you were still holding onto her shoulder.

''Wake the fuck up!'' Zhu familiar voice didn't hold her usual carefree tone.

''I'm good!'' You chocked out, unable to hear your voice above the carnage. Each second was vital, thus you forced your body upright, inadvertently shoving Shereen away in the process.

''What's happening!?'' Screamed your little sun, who was quickly pulled up to her feet by Banu. Seems like those two hadn't elected to help anybody yet, though the sight of disappearing corpses not too far from you (Red World invaders being little more than out of control summons) explained how they joined you.

''Fuck if I know, you two went dancing and started breaking the world like a piece of glass, making these holes.'' Zhu quickly summarised, frustration changing into a wicked toothy grin. ''Aint no clue how you two managed that, who cares anyway? I got a whole more to burn! Today's a damn good day!'' Her sword hand trembled with excitement, holding onto the empty blade from which deadly gold would be conjured at any moment.

''You're no mad dag, stay still damn it!'' You barked, your mind racing for some kind of strategy. Shereen was caught in a panic, unable to understand what was happening; dozens upon dozens of mutated freaks came out of the Red World somehow, through these break in the fabric of reality...

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Not too dissimilar from Throne Town assault. How in the world is this even possible? The foreign presence that had infected you through Shereen was completely gone and aside from the absence of a chunk of your magical reserves, there weren't any signs of this entity. Perhaps your magic alone hadn't been enough to make it fully manifest?

You spared a glance to Shereen, noticing her fluffy arms having shrunk into proper humanoid hands, it was impossible to tell if the ritual has been completed. The sight of a misshapen creature -an insulting imitation of a man being little more than a maw on two legs- lumbering toward the group of militias only to be felled by an expert shot from Naveed shook you out of your brief stupor, seeing it rise again prompted you to action. I'll need more than a few arrows to die.

Your damn bad habit of trying to elucidate the mystery of a crisis instead of doing something when its happening wasn't helping here.

''Shereen!'' Your voice made her tense enough that Banu forced her on her feet.

''I'm innocent!'' She screamed, keeping her eyes closed.

''No time for dallying! We have to fight'' You could tell she was on the verge of panic, the fighting remained stable but trickles of tears holding onto the corner of her eyes and her grimace made it obvious she was barely keeping calm.

You had already made up your mind during your few seconds of observation, in her state, she won't be making any arguments.

>Reinforce the militias. They aren't the strongest element of the group and securing an exit point will be wise in case things become completely unsalvageable. Perhaps Fortune could give some insight into what's happening as well.

>Relieve the handmaidens. They're shouldering the lion share of the horde and since Red World entities are attracted to violence, helping them should also help your other group. In theory anyway.

>Free

And

>Should you remain as a group or separate? (If you do seperate, who goes where?)

>>4011374
Have everyone in the group go and
>Reinforce the militias. They aren't the strongest element of the group and securing an exit point will be wise in case things become completely unsalvageable. Perhaps Fortune could give some insight into what's happening as well.

If we can do enough damage, it should draw heat from the other group, allowing them more breathing room.

>>4011374
So we almost got possessed by an Greater Daemon who used its brief success to call in its buddies. Wonderful. Damnit, I miss bestest buddy.

Ok, how far away is each group from us and from each other? Does it look like either group has suffered serious wounds or is about to be overrun? If we were to fire our gauntlet would we be firing into melee? It was said during our full fusion that we could ape the magritew and pop out a hot spot of soul energy that'd draw in red world entities. Could we try to do that and what are the odds of us succeeding? Is the summoner still summoning? Where's the big bad nasty thing full of Shereen's corruption that we gotta kill? This tide of adds feels like just that, adds. Where's the boss?

>>4011410
Oh, also, how many tears in reality are there? Can we shut them down somehow?

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>>4011410
>Ok, how far away is each group from us and from each other?
About 6 meters from you, 12 meters from each other.

>Does it look like either group has suffered serious wounds or is about to be overrun?
For now, things look stable, the battle barely started. Naveed is going through his arrows pretty quick though.

>If we were to fire our gauntlet would we be firing into melee?
Not for now. Arawn will be using weak fireballs no matter what to conserve mana and obviously help out against the tide.

>It was said during our full fusion that we could ape the magritew and pop out a hot spot of soul energy that'd draw in red world entities. Could we try to do that and what are the odds of us succeeding?
This would essentially be a new spell, but it already has precedent so you don't need to roll for its success. You could do it at the cost of a medium amount of mana.

>Is the summoner still summoning?
She used what she got form Shereen to create a major summon yes, the big snake I described above.

>Where's the big bad nasty thing full of Shereen's corruption that we gotta kill? This tide of adds feels like just that, adds. Where's the boss?
Can't see it anywhere. It might not have stepped into Mother Earth realm yet.

>Oh, also, how many tears in reality are there?
Three. One near the exit occupying the militia, another near the three monster girls and the final one is midway between them, twice as large and almost tall enough to touch the ceiling. It's spewing twice as many creatures too, so things are liable to get dangerous quickly.

> Can we shut them down somehow?
For now you don't know how but it should be possible. Gotta get close to get some ideas.

You'd be able to use a Lure spell to bait the horde toward you. That can, of course, be combined with where you want to go.
Tried to make a map but nothing I did made senses so we'll go with good old imagination.

I'll go with this anon >>4011387
choice in about 10 minutes.

>>4011425
So she used some to make the snake that she can apparently control but the monster/boss we're here to kill hasn't arrived yet? Strange and worrying.

Big rift is also worrying. That's probably where the boss is going to spawn/enter our reality in a round or two. Is Fortune with the militia members? She might know how to shut em' down with our or Shereen's help. It was probably a combination of our two magics that tore em' open, so it should be able to close em' down or at least block them off somehow. If these adds keep pouring in we'll all be right fucked when the big boy with around 2 years worth of nasty and a wee bit of our own power shows up.

>>4011453
>Is Fortune with the militia members?
Yep.

>>4011456
Then they get reinforced. Again, we need to shut these rifts down before the big boy shows up and decides whom it would like to nom on first. I'm betting it's going to be us, for we are full of soul and thus will start to look extra tasty to these things once we start firing off our magic in earnest.

Try to keep an eye on the other group though. If they get overrun we'll get flanked and surrounded. Not good.

Rolled 10, 11, 20 = 41 (3d20)

Let's roll.

>>4011471
That was for our allies right? Dat crit at the end is either very good or very bad for us.

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''Let's relieve our younger members!'' You spoke, simultaneously releasing your hold on Shereen shoulder and embracing a proper, individual Focus; the sudden break of your impromptu link cause a strange feeling of lethargy that, thankfully, wasn't difficult to cast off thank to adrenaline already pumping through your veins.

''Eh? Ah... Okay.'' Shereen couldn't register what was happening yet but those words might as well have the effect of a warcry for your tiny group.

A sudden blade of glittering gold emerged out of Zhu empty scabbard for the second time today, her single eye glowed its chromatic property, leaving trails in the world as she moved with speedy reinforcement before you could say anything. Exactly like a maddened dog who broke its leash, Zhu ran gracelessly yet the moment she came within range of her first enemy her sword arm carved through its flesh with deadly speed and precision, wholly carving through a levitating ball of cancerous flesh.

At least she went toward the Vigils

''Shit! Let's go!'' Your gauntlet lit up in orange life, magical flame quietly came alight throughout the metallic blue frame of your weapon and a fireball belched out of your palm to crash into a charging monstrosity -a headless freak with its ribcage wide open, bones protruding into weapons- making it crash into a similar one behind it. With this opening, you ran forward, keeping your shield toward the distracted tide whilst Banu held onto Shereen.

Thankfully, reaching the kids wasn't difficult because of Zhu violent distraction. Your companion was a whirlwind of death surrounded by corpses; despite having a total lack of stances and grace, she somehow weaved around her foes predatory attacks and slashed with that golden blade, removing limbs and lives in equal measures; showing a disregard for safety that was only compared to this horde of mindless, soul-starved Red World dweller. slowly but surely the swordswoman carnage brought her ever so closer to the portal that pinned the group of militias down. This violence had a positive effect because most of the creatures assailing the militias were directed her way and everything that came pouring out of the closest portal immediately jumped into fighting the deadly white crow.

But this tide of flesh wasn't stopping.

>Scream for her to come back within the group, she's going to get cut off soon.

>Let her continue to be a distraction. She's single-handedly relieving the entire group if this gives you a minute to strategize...

>Send Shereen and Banu toward the militias and go support your crow before she's completely cut off, perhaps the two of you could do something to that portal.

>Free.

>>4011517
>Send Shereen and Banu toward the militias and go support your crow before she's completely cut off, perhaps the two of you could do something to that portal.

We should focus on keeping a lane open to allow us to regroup / fall back as best we can, when stronger opponents show up.

And If we can get a better read on the portals, allowing us to figure out how to close the portals faster would be a bonus.

>>4011517
So Zhu was the crit? Damn, she really is a Khornate Berserker! Is Fortune nearby? Can she in any way fight or protect herself?

>>4011531
Alright, this choice will need a few precision now that I'm thinking about it.

>Be conservative in mana, use your mace and shield.
>Focus on using ranged magic from your gauntlet, thin the herd.
>Go melee, fire aspected gauntlet will help here.
Changing element is also possible at the cost of a heavy spell and a dangerous blast of course.

>>4011546
>So Zhu was the crit?
The rolls wasn't for Zhu. She's just doing her thing.
>Is Fortune nearby? Can she in any way fight or protect herself?
Yeah, it'll be easy to get to her now that the smaller horde is getting baited by Zhu. As for fighting, it doesn't seem so. She's holding onto a crystal ball and looking through, being guarded by the lamia of the group whilst the other three managed to hold a line.

>>4011550
Can we support Zhu from range while asking Fortune if we and/or Shereen can close the portals somehow? Shereen's a blood mage, she know anything about the red world and how to close a rift? Can dead/slain red world horrors act as a fuel for blood magic?

>>4011550
Could we combine them by
>Focusing on using ranged magic from your gauntlet, thin the herd.
In order to support Zhu while closing the distance between us, then swap to a more magically conservative stance when we reach her?

>>4011557
>Can we support Zhu from range while asking Fortune if we and/or Shereen can close the portals somehow?

No, she'll be too far. You'll run the risk of hitting her and/or missing. Since you are in combat, things are happening by the seconds.

>Shereen's a blood mage, she know anything about the red world and how to close a rift?
Not that you know, her knowledge of Blood Magic hasn't been explored.
>Can dead/slain red world horrors act as a fuel for blood magic?
No, their blood and bodies evaproate shortly after death because they are unstable summons, they wouldn't survive an hour in the real world without a body.

>>4011560
Yep, that'll work.

Rolled 4 + 2 (1d6 + 2)

Unless I get another vote shortly, I'll go with this result.
>>4011560

>>4011567
Inclined to agree with anons option to run and gun towards Zhu then go full Ork with our beaty stick then. We can engulf the thing in flames without hurting it to augment its damage right?

How far away will we be from Fortune if we do this? Will we still be able to shout out to her and hear her responses? Can Shereen and Banu do anything to help us?

>>4011601
This is minus 2, look like qst can only do plus.

>>4011602
>How far away will we be from Fortune if we do this?
Impossible to be precise, between 5 to 6 meters at least. The portal is around there as well, vomiting its horde.

>Will we still be able to shout out to her and hear her responses?
Too much noises surrounding you to make that happen. The creatures are making one hell of a racket and things are echoing in this empty grain storage.

>Can Shereen and Banu do anything to help us?
Not in this case, Banu will bring Shereen near the militias to keep her safe.

Rolled 10 - 2 (1d10 - 2)

>>4011606
In order to do a negative modifier you need to go "dice+1d10+-2"

>>4011622
Ah, interesting. Thanks

Aren't you lucky with that roll.

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''Shit...'' You spared a glance toward Banu and she wordlessly nodded. this angle also allowed you to see that fortune handmaidens were... holding on suitably well, a larger volume of creatures had almost overwhelmed the maid slime but thankfully the Manticore picked up the slack; Zhu interference also helped with breathing room.

''Waauugh, what are you doing Banu!?'' Shereen protested, kicking and punching when the older Moon lifted her in an awkward princess carry. You didn't spare your little sun a second glance; time was of the essence now more than ever.

The horde pouring out of the bigger portal counted close to a hundred body and forked in two directions like the living sea of flesh it truly was whilst everything pouring out of the closer portals was slaughtered by Zhu. Jump, slide, tackle, run, even using foes as leverage points... she didn't stop to breathe, always in motions, dodging carving killing and slaughtering with that golden blade like a bird flying through high grass, everything parted around her. Blood drenched her from head to toe, she killed so much that it was perhaps impossible for the viscera to evaporate now, her grin shone white against all the redness covering her face.

But the deluge of flesh from the bigger portal would wrap around her and choke her out.

''Zhu! East!'' Your gauntlets roared to life as you fed magic into it, flames burst forth; hot against your body and a ball of fire surged with your rage to explode against the tide, barely making a dent. A creature came running toward you and you simply battered it away with your shield; your heavily reinforced body made the strike snaps bones and muscles, caving in the torso of a man-like skinless creature with a giant tongue it used as a weapon.

Your companion had thankfully heard your warning and she made her way toward you as you fed more magic into the elemental gauntlet, this time imagining something much more effective; a simple column of fire. Planting your food on the ground, you whirled to face the incoming tide and unleashed a deluge of thick, blue-tinted flame, with enough sheer force to make you take two steps back for balance. This geyser crashed into the horde like mythical dragon fire, all but incinerating the first rank- twenty gone in a flash- and liquifying anything splashed by the flames, sending little more than walking corpses tumbling down, tripping the mutants far behind; utter, murderous pandemonium. Buying you a few precious moments, peeling off more enemies from the flank of the handmaidens.

How in the world...? This was a heavy spell for the price of a medium one!? What the hell IS this gauntlet?

''Once this is over we are gonna FUCK!'' Zhu breathed in the putrid smell of cooked flesh while putting a hand on your shoulder, glowering eye glaring at the rushing horde undaunted by its losses, bastards kept coming.

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''Worry about that later godsdamnit!'' You snapped back, you couldn't wast time with quips. Sparing a glance toward the exit revealed that nothing assailed that militias anymore, fortune was speaking to every one of them, it was impossible to hear with all the carnage.

''Let's get to that portal!'' Zhu said while laughing, a pair of creature had already emerged, both levitated ball of multi-faced flesh, things you remember Vilma summoning once.

''And do what!?'' Hell, if you can make another one of those fire and throw it in there... Maybe?

''My blade comes from the heavens.'' Zhu grin wasn't wolfish, it was wide enough to split her face and that eye of hers bore into you with surreal intimidation. It somehow looked far too big for her eyesocket, seemingly ready to jump out while leaving multicolored trails, Zhu kept swaying while speaking, unable to stay still. ''It's weaponized Holy, how about we see what happens when you slash a tear in the world!?''

That was much dialogue as you could afford because another wave came charging out of that big, singular portal; they'll reach you within seconds.

This time it was the lion's share of the horde, whatever intelligence guiding them had put you and Zhu as a priority instead of the handmaiden trio.

>Go with her idea. The herd has been temporarily thinned, you won't have a better chance.

>Better to retreat near the militias. If Fortune has any ideas about what's happening and how to deal with it... you can't afford to make mistakes.

>Hold your ground instead. If you and Zhu manage to kill enough of these creatures it might give the handmaidens the breathing room they need to reach the militias. You'll be unstoppable if you're all together!

>Free

>>4011729
Is holy anathema to red world horrors? Does it "hurt" the red world or have a reinforcing effect upon reality (i.e. is it also anathema to "outsiders" like swamp creatures and entities beyond the veil)?

>>4011729
>Go with her idea. The herd has been temporarily thinned, you won't have a better chance.

The others should be able to survive without us for a little while and If it works, that's one less thing to deal with, after we try we should try to all for the forward deployed group to fall back to us and regroup and swap out the tired members, then based off the impact that Zhu's blade had on the portal we should decide to either push one of the other portals, or hold our ground.

>>4011759
>Is holy anathema to red world horrors?
Impossible to tell, you do know that Holy is anathema to summons (because they are made of Corruptions) but red world entities could be different. Your forays into that place revealed that Holy isn't an element there, it doesn't exist at all so it's impossible to tell if Zhu sword will work.

>Have a reinforcing effect upon reality.

Holy, like magic and Corruption, is one of the elements that makes this reality the ''main one'' so yes, even if it will inherently ''conquer'' reality because it's born from someone, being a denizen of Mother Earth realm will impose this reality on ''outsiders''

>>4011782
Alright, so which portal is Zhu wanting to slash? Is the Militia advancing towards us or towards the handmaidens? We have attracted the interest of the horde after all so that should mean they're all naturally fighting towards us ATM.

>>4011794
>Zhu wanting to slash?
Closest one near the miltias, it's about 3 meters from you so very close. She cleaned her side and the few remaining stragglers won't be much of a problem.

>Is the Militia advancing towards us or towards the handmaidens?
No, they're keeping still. Doing something because Shereen embraced Focus.

>>4011802
They facing our portal or the big one? This is important. Shereen's probably trying for a ritual to seal a portal. Holy sword slashing the one she's working on may disrupt it and that's a thing we don't wanna do. Pretty sure holy and blood magic don't mix well.

>>4011822
>They facing our portal or the big one?
Neither. They're guarding the exit so will attack anything coming close, Shereen isn't facing any portals.

Can't get more information unless time pass.

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>>4011771
Going with this one, unless I get one quick other vote.

>>4011828
Damn, this is very worrying. It's a mere 3 meters from our position and only a few pathetic thralls stand between us and the portal though...

Can we just do a drive by slashing? I don't think standing right in front of it for any length of time to be wise. If we get dragged in we're utterly fucked. Does it have a clear direction it's facing even? Can we see inside it to the red world or is it just a red tear in reality from which the horrors are spewing forth? God I wish trip mines and grenades were a thing right about now. Hmmm, is an exploding fireball or a glob of magic napalm an option in regards to our gauntlet's fire mode?

>>4011888
>Can we just do a drive by slashing?
Zhu'll need some commitment for an effective slash, a quick attack might not be enough.

>Does it have a clear direction it's facing even?
Yeah, you won't be facing it's single opening there's no need to worry there.

>Can we see inside it to the red world or is it just a red tear in reality from which the horrors are spewing forth?
The portal is similar to that strange maelstrom you saw inside the Demonic Throne. A mix of dark and red in an endless whirlpool, impossible to see anything beyond that.

>Hmmm, is an exploding fireball or a glob of magic napalm an option in regards to our gauntlet's fire mode?
You can always try launching a fireball inside.

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Rolled 1 (1d20)

Been long enough, settling with letting Zhu slash at the portal.

>>4011928
Welp, ...

>>4011928
>Crit fail
Welp, it sure was nice knowing her. I really liked her too...

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>>4011928
Ouch. Well... it'll be alright. I think.

>>4011939
That was for Zhu I take it, so yeah, it'll be juuuust fine... for the boss that is. For Zhu? Well, how good is she at dodging and how hard is it to find someone who knows how to install magitek prosthetics? We were going to be close by her when she made the attempt right?

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''Might as well try, let's go!'' A sadistic, low rumbling chuckle emerged from your companion and she set off running, easily dispatching the few creatures that had come out of the darkened depths of that portal with quick slashes of her glittering sword. Heat dwelled within your gauntlet as you fed magic into it, making a quick process of launching a glowing orange projectile into the middle of that thing; your magic was swallowed entirely and disappeared without a trace.

That's when Zhu stepped in front of it.

''Careful!'' You barked, stopping beside her to avoid being directly in front of that portal. ''Something could come out, do it at an angle!''

Despite her wild, crazed look, Zhu nodded with a giggle and stepped away, waving her sword briefly, choosing her grip and bluntly stabbed her entire blade -right up to its handle- into that menace, the entire portal seemingly swallowing the weaponized Holy like your magic. Undaunted, Zhu carved a wound inside the portal, apparently meeting enough resistance to need both hands. She gripped her sword and pulled with a triumphant roar, causing a long, deadly gash across that portal that spewed a sudden sprew of blood on you and your companion. The strange whirlpool lost its consistency, leaking out its round base like a crying eye, red fluid spreading on the glossy black floor.

''Good, good!''

The next instant, something dark and then charged out of the portal, embedding itself inside Zhu belly violently, forcing her to take a backward step. In the second your mind registered this reality she'd already slashed the membrane, saving her own life because the thing had already begun to pull back. It would have brought her along without a doubt.

''Zhu!?'' You screamed as she coughed out bloody phlegms, that strange tail-like appendage violating her body looked almost like a javelin or... Sieglinde tail. Don't think about that.

''S'cool aint no-'' She didn't finish her sentence, you roughly shoved her behind your shield. Not even a second later your reinforced body shouldered four following impacts as four more of these infernal tails failed to penetrate through your shield.

Mother's Mercy, whoever forged that deserve a handshake.

The weight of these defenses lessened, murky blood pooled around your boots, then four inky spears flopped on the ground like fishes out of water. The portal was gone, Zhu gamble had effectively paid off but...

''I'm okay!'' Zhu roughly shoved herself away from you, golden blade held in her careless position whilst holding the offending bodily intrusion, bigger than a boar spear, the thing had made one hell of a hole in her guts. Can't go ignoring that damn it! ''Bastards stopped!'' She waved your attention at the horde and indeed, their mindless charge had come to an end, like puppets without strings the fleshy creatures stumbled mindlessly.

It didn't last.

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Like a faraway howl, a voice emerged out of the singular, giant portal. It was akin to an animal -a pig- trying to speak amongst grunts and wheezes, a sound that began to reverberate amongst all the remaining puppets of flesh. Porcine squeaks and wheeze began to resonate throughout the large room, the puppets mutated mouths on themselves to make these infernal noises.

''I'm gonna be eating ham for supper!'' Zhu screamed, spitting out another small line of blood.

''Let's join the others!'' You tugged her wrist and, thankfully despite her frustration, she gave in wordlessly. Fortune handmaidens had taken this lull to run back, Mojgan large snake remained a few feets behind to provide support.

In the middle of your run, the floor shook from a sudden impact, prompting you to stop as Zhu lost her footing. Something had emerged out of the two remaining portals.

A giant bloody thing had been vomited out of the main portal. A body of cancerous growths, mutated pink, red and dark flesh and wriggling living worm-like creatures -whom you identified to be the things that had stabbed Zhu- made this creature almost impossible to properly identify if it wasn't for the huge head of a pig atop a barely noticeable fat neck, half its face charred, looking to have been recently burned.

His head also sported a bony crown.

''Miiine! It is miiiine! She made an oath, I will have my boooody!!''

''Hyaaauuuuuugh!'' Shereen wail of agony was bone-chilling. All the nearby puppets ran, not forward, but back toward the giant burnt, rotten pig demon, hauling themselves into its flesh, fusing and disappearing into it.

Out of the other portal, you saw a hand, a three-fingered, bony one with each finger attached to a strange line that crawled toward... Shereen. She'd fallen on the floor, preyed by some kind of malaise that made her body spasms and tremble all over, eyes rolled back, dangerous amount of blood crawling down her nostrils and eyes.

''She's gonna die.'' Zhu single eye was trailed on your little Sun, no trace of anger on her face, that's how you know when to worry. ''One minute or two maybe, her colors are draining.''

A small panic was gripping the group, the three ladies of the militias had been terrified by the sudden appearance of that piggish demon, Banu and Fortune were now taking care of Shereen with the latter handling a potion whose colors you couldn't see.

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You've realized something else, too.

The floor of glassy black wasn't uniform, it spread around the portals like a disease, crawling up the walls, settling and metamorphosing the wooden roof. The puppets and their master were slowly but surely transforming this area into an extension of the Red World.

Much like a magical spell temporarily overwriting Mother Earth reality...

This phenomenon hadn't reached you, breaking that portal had done wonders to stall this danger.

Deep, deep within your soul -perhaps somewhere that could be considered the very spark of your existence- something long dormant kindled to life. A part of your soul that'd been stuck in lethargy began moving again, like an old rusted gear.

[All fusions unlocked]

>Cut those lines coming out of that strange hand, they<re traveling all the way into Shereen. (Have Zhu do it instead?)

>Rejoin the group, get your heads together to do something, anything!

>Step within the domain of this temporary Red World. this won't be your first time... and that's something you have to do alone.

>Free

We'll continue tomorrow. you guys did pretty well in the overture of the fight.

>>4012382
>Cut those lines coming out of that strange hand, they're traveling all the way into Shereen. (Have Zhu do it instead?)

Now that we know that Zhu's blade can in fact disrupt the portals, and since she is injured we're probably going to need to borrow it and go it alone, since we don't know if our fusion states can do the same and we're probably too low on Mana for anything stronger than a weak Fusion at best.

I may be overreaching / reacting a little, but this thing might be one of Ama's patrons, way back when Arawn signed the contract with her that got him into this mess she says something similar.

>>4012424
>too low on Mana for anything stronger than a weak Fusion at best.

You've got roughly 2/3 left in your tank.

>>4012445
Even with a perfect measurement roll for a Medium Fusion, we would be running near empty, and for me that's a little to close for comfort especially if others make some sort of move soon / recovered completely, and we might still need to power up / recharge Zhu's blade.

>>4012457
Medium and Strong fusions are roughly the same in term of mana cost, what matters more with them is where they are used. But... it's true that the mana cost will be tight.

>>4012382
Gut wound. Slow way to go. Can Zhu's soul reinforcement negate most of the nasty penalties that'd impose on a mere mortal humie? Y'know, clench those muscles or something and close the wound mostly so that she can fight with only a slight penalty like a certain hashira?

On the bright side that lethal if not treated soon gut wound on Zhu plus Shereen's soul getting slowly ripped out and the militia failing their SAN check seems to have pushed us to an emotional nadir and invoked the concept of protection. Sieg did say that she wanted us to re-enter the red world, conquer reality, and re-fuse with Gardy if memory serves.

Sadly, we cannot hear him, but you also said that was a sign that our sync ratio was at or near maximum and thus allowed for easier fusions (maxed out required to try for strong in realspace). How sync'd up would we be with bestest buddy right about now? Also, if we botch the measurement roll we'll likely enter overcast mode but the fusion would still go through yes? How likely are we to die as a result of overcast if it happens?

>>4012487
So if we step into the red world we might as well go ham and try the strong version, but if we're intent on remaining within this reality we should stick with a medium right?

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>>4012531
>Can Zhu's soul reinforcement negate most of the nasty penalties that'd impose on a mere mortal humie?

Yes, this is universal. Wounds endured DURING a soul reinforcement aren't as nasty, she'd be able to continue fighting at reduced efficiency... and worsen her wound too because she's really a mad dog when it comes to it. Had she taken this before being reinforced though, she'd be incapacitated for sure.

This is why ambushes can be extremely dangerous for everyone.

>How sync'd up would we be with bestest buddy right about now?
If he was here? About 95%. One little question will be resolved soon enough that should bump this to 100%, depending on what you do.

>Also, if we botch the measurement roll we'll likely enter overcast mode but the fusion would still go through yes?
Yes, Overcast happens after you let go of Focus. You won't be able to do any other spells, of course.

>How likely are we to die as a result of overcast if it happens?
You won't. Overcast get lethal if you are already very wounded, left to die in a ditch of exhaustion etc. It gives you an extreme amount of pain, but that in of itself isn't lethal. Arawn is healthy enough to dodge any heart attack.

>So if we step into the red world we might as well go ham and try the strong version, but if we're intent on remaining within this reality we should stick with a medium right?
I cannot tell you what to do. Remember what happened last time you used a strong fusion inside Mother Earth realm...

>>4012579
So, if I'm reading everything that came before right, this entity still doesn't have a proper body in realspace and thus is significantly weaker within it. To fix that problem it's attempting to take Shereen's for itself. Failing that, it's slowly managing to drag this area into the Red World and will succeed in a few rounds if left unchecked which will result in all of us getting dragged into the red world as a result and thus face the same problem of a 100 percent powered up nasty fucker (though in the latter case we'd have clearly prevented it from taking Shereen's body so she'd be alive at least).

How fast will a fusion happen if we go for it? I'll have to sleep on it but for me it's either go for medium, tell Zhu to cut the tendrils and defend her as she closes the portals or we step into the red world, go full ham with a strong fusion and beat the shit out of this fucker from that end then do what we did last time and use Gardy's knowledge to re-enter realspace after it's dead as the meatbag elf we're supposed to be there. Query: did we ever bother to cast our soul arm spell and if it's up would it stay up if we overcast or does that thing require minor maintenance and thus would drop off the round after we did that?

Also, in regards to a medium fusion, would our appearance change to be like a Gardy version of that pic? That'd be cool. Would we give off an aura if we did that as well? Y'know, since everyone'd be standing in the presence of the Embodiment of Protection would they get a bonus to SAN and Fear checks?

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>>4012612
>How fast will a fusion happen if we go for it?
Time needed for a spell, pretty much speed of thoughts.

> Query: did we ever bother to cast our soul arm spell and if it's up would it stay up if we overcast or does that thing require minor maintenance and thus would drop off the round after we did that?
You haven't done it, all your mana was fed into your gauntlet (which proved extremely effective so far). It'll stay on if you enter overcast but you won't be able to make a new one if its destroyed.

>Also, in regards to a medium fusion, would our appearance change to be like a Gardy version of that pic?
No, only strong fusion does that.
>Would we give off an aura if we did that as well?
Not quite.
>Y'know, since everyone'd be standing in the presence of the Embodiment of Protection would they get a bonus to SAN and Fear checks?
It's not exactly an aura effect but yes, becoming an Embodiment will have a positive effect on their psyche.

Also as a precision, it's not all the militias who are panicking, only the ladies. Naveed is calming them down.

>>4012627
>Naveed passed his SAN check
Good. I though it'd be weird if he failed that check. Dude's been through the shit it would seem, it'd take more than a Greater Daemon manifesting to get him to break.

Also, if I remember right about medium fusion, we get a gigantic boost to our stats and access to Gardy's combat experience meaning we'd have maximum melee skill and universal weapon mastery/proficiency right?

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>>4012651
>We get a gigantic boost to our stats and access to Gardy's combat experience meaning we'd have maximum melee skill and universal weapon mastery/proficiency right?

Yes, alongside excellent insight on most Red World entities and excellent analytical skills. You'll become temporarily ''artificial'' in the inside. And outside if you go strong fusion.

>>4012693
Ok then, a final clarification. The "cancer" hasn't fully taken hold just yet thus the space around the portals isn't fully "within" the Red World so if we seal those portals within the next few rounds we'll prevent this area and everyone within it being dragged into the red world and trap that pig daemon within realspace thus significantly weakening it right?

>>4012726
>The "cancer" hasn't fully taken hold just yet thus the space around the portals isn't fully "within" the Red World so if we seal those portals within the next few rounds we'll prevent this area and everyone within it being dragged into the red world and trap that pig daemon within realspace thus significantly weakening it right?

The area around the portal you closed was starting to get dragged into the Red World and isn't anymore. How exactly the process will happen is something to discover... or maybe Gardy unliving soul could know.

>>4012751
Ok then, gotta sleep now but one more question. The choice to fuse, the choice to cut the tendrils ripping Shereen's soul out of her body, can we do them at the same time somehow?

I mean, severing those connections ASAP can't be bad and if in the process we gained bestest buddy's insights into this shitshow that'd be great. He's probably fought a horde of this kind of daemon before. Simply informing everyone where the "crit spot" is would be of immeasurable benefit to them. Naveed most of all, given his weapon of choice and the fact I bet he's almost out of ammo...

>>4012771
>The choice to fuse, the choice to cut the tendrils ripping Shereen's soul out of her body, can we do them at the same time somehow?

Well, yeah. You can try doing it yourself with some degree of fusion. Those tendrils are emerging out of the hand that came out of the small portal, so pretty far from the big pig.

>>4012779
The more important detail is how close those tendrils are to us and Zhu right now.

Y'know, if we had a map, how many meters are we from any segment of those tendrils? The closer we are to the line from that last small portal to Shereen and the tendrils killing her the better as that makes it all the more easier to cut them in a charge or something similar.

The pig is gambling with those tendrils I'd wager. Can we make him regret that decision as it clearly didn't fully account for Zhu's sword or plain old well-forged steel shields?

>>4012791
>The more important detail is how close those tendrils are to us and Zhu right now.

Roughly 10 meters.

>Y'know, if we had a map, how many meters are we from any segment of those tendrils?

I feel guilty because I'm too much of a pleb to draw one. Each tendril are side by side as they travel for Shereen so reaching one is reaching them all.

>Can we make him regret that decision as it clearly didn't fully account for Zhu's sword or plain old well-forged steel shields?
Who knows!

>>4012382
My vote is send Zhu at the tentacles. Then step into the domain for a strong fusion. If the rest can figure something to help then they can chip in, but this is big danger needing a big stick and a big brain.

>>4012807
Just thought of this, as healing potions seem to be a slow acting "heal over time" effect we should probably feed Zhu a potion. At the very least it'll prevent the wound from worsening as she continues to fight so treatment after the battle will be made easier and whatnot.

How long does it take to chug one down and how many can you "stack" or chug back to back before you risk a thing like an overdose or other nasty complications?

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>>4013171
>How long does it take to chug one down and how many can you "stack" or chug back to back before you risk a thing like an overdose or other nasty complications?

Fortune and Zhu are the ones with potions so you can't give her anything.

Two potions is the safe number, going above that will be hazardous to anyone's health. (Heart palpitation, shortness of breath, lightheadedness etc)

Gonna close the voting period in an hour and start writing.

>>4013314
I meant Banu.

Brain hasn't awakened yet!

>>4013314
So far it looks like the vote is to send Zhu to cut the tendrils while we enter the red world and go full ham with a strong fusion there. Has that thing transitioned into realspace ATM or is it still "within" the red world? Will we be able to damage and kill it from that side if we go there?

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>>4013369
>So far it looks like the vote is to send Zhu to cut the tendrils while we enter the red world and go full ham with a strong fusion there.

Seem like it.

>Has that thing transitioned into realspace ATM or is it still "within" the red world?

The massive pig-like demon has transitioned its side of the area into the Red World proper and now it's slowly but surely increasing its sphere of influence. Its immediate area is undeniably in the Red World now.

>Will we be able to damage and kill it from that side if we go there?
Well, this won't be your first Red World entity...

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Look like it's time for a strong fusion while sending Zhu away. Time for magical girl transformation theme.

Rolled 2 - 2 (1d6 - 2)

>>4013396

Forgot my measuring roll.

>>4013384
So if we or anyone else gets next to it they'll be pulled into the red world? Will everyone "see" what happens if we go in and activate the strong fusion? How well known is Gardy's legend in these parts? I am kinda leaning towards that option so long as we won't count as being inside realspace when we pull it off in any way.

Methinks doing that severely damaged Gardy somehow and only now after a year of downtime, Shereen's ritual, and yet more people we give a shit about about to die horribly *again* is he finally able to recover from that.

>>4013396
I think you meant to say Super Robot power up/main theme. He's basically a human sized one after all. Wait, that means *WE* are a super robot! Awesome!

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>>4013406
>So if we or anyone else gets next to it they'll be pulled into the red world?

Yep. Not gonna give much info about that for now.

>Will everyone "see" what happens if we go in and activate the strong fusion?

Yes, there's nothing impeding sight so everyone will see Arawn becoming a machine-man.

>How well known is Gardy's legend in these parts?
Practically unknown. The legend of the Embodiment of Protection as a whole is often forgotten everywhere. Not so much ''unknown'' but people forget about him all the time.

>I think you meant to say Super Robot power up/main theme. He's basically a human sized one after all. Wait, that means *WE* are a super robot! Awesome!
Giant robots and power armor are cool. Magitek is fun!

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''I've lost a year last time I did that...'' You whispered to yourself, somehow feeling not a single ounce of indecision. Things had gone out of control fast; was this demon a gift from Lady White?

Who cares, it's tearing apart your little sun soul, you've gathered strong allies but nobody is prepared to take on creatures from the Red World, who could have predicted this outcome?

''Zhu, take care of these tendrils. Your sword has already proven itself useful against those Red World phenomenons, Shereen life is in your hands. Don't go killing yourself while you're at it, your guts should remain in your stomach.''

''Keh.'' Zhu laughed, coughed and spat out blood in one motion, waving her sword with one hand while her other held onto the offending item penetrating her belly. ''How the hell did I come to like that brat so quickly? She's worth protecting ain't she?''

Pure, simple, stunning truth. Zhu frowned on seeing the way you looked at her or perhaps it was your emotions; amusement and resolution had mingled into a strange, liberating feeling. ''What?'' She asked as you relaxed in a smile.

''Nothing. Go accomplish your duty to your sun, Moon. I'll do mine.'' You spared a glance at the group, Naveed had managed to calm his female compatriots down, Banu was holding Shereen like the adoptive daughter she truly was, wiping the blood crawling down her frame whilst Fortune did her best to force a blue potion down the dying princess throat. ''Go, damn it! I won't suffer a lifelong regret because you want a piece of a rotten pig!''

Of course, Zhu had all kinds of silent questions on her lips. Her single colorful eye shifted toward the giant squealing pig. ''Don't forget what you owe me, virgin prince.'' She huffed, turned her back and ran, doing her best -and failing- to conceal the debilitating effect of that spear in her guts. Reinforcement increased endurance, sure, but an injury like that wasn't to be shrugged off. Zhu isn't an angel.

The absences of hostiles and the distraction of your piggish foe allowed you to run toward the Red World without trouble, your legs easily ate the distance...

'' She's mine it's mine! Raagh! Obey your lord, obey your bliss! Cutting, cutting, cutting the hand of god!?'' It yowled, its massive frame dragging itself on the ground, crawling like a slime, flesh peeled off its half charred, rotten frame revealing rotten juices that began to animate with independent life whilst a few tendrils detached themselves from its body and slithered on the ground like snakes, avoiding you.

They didn't acknowledge you as a living thing.

Seem like Zhu sword is having a good effect, you decided not to spare any backward glance. Your mace and shield clattered on the ground before you properly stepped inside the floor of glassy obsidian, less than five meters separating you from the massive ball of mutated flesh ten time your size: half of its body was still stuck inside the massive portal.

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You did your calculation as best you could: having lost roughly a third of your reserves today, avoiding overcast was nothing more than hope. To any observing eyes, the sudden transformation of your body would have looked instantaneous but it wasn't so quick for your perspective.

Stepping inside a weakened version of the Red World still imposed its deadly burden, Mother Earth vision of life wasn't absolute thus breathing becomes a difficult chore, something that must be consciously imposed by living will. That was only one thing amongst many others; your magic operated quickly, embracing the core of Gardy soul inside your existence, you welcomed it wholly inside of you, hoping against all odds...

Flesh turned to steel, organs became gears, eyes melded into a singular optic of red. Your body showed its true nature; Gardy gift of gold and coppery metals almost shone in the darkness. Your will, unfortunately, did not harmoniously meld with another, you remained master of yourself, master of Gardy's body.

You are the avatar of Protection. The next instant, your perspective changed.

''My home! I need my home!'' squealed the pig, its body trashed in a childish tantrum. Fat arms slammed against the ground and nearby walls, rotten life born escaped its body to rush forward blindly, eager to escape their living nest that wasn't acknowledging your presence at all.

This creature is Horkos, one of twelve princes of a defunct concept of ''hell''. It, or he, was created as a manifestation of lust, greed, and gluttony through a blood ritual during the age of Pretenders. An archaic concept of today's Embodiment, its wasn't known as a combatant; rather its sheer presence alone would cause men to fall into vices and succumbs to fevers of insanities: dancing until death was its signature malaise. People would seek it out of a desire for pleasure, feeding its miserable life with hedonism and excess of all kind... to think its perfidious self would somehow survive without a master.

That someone would dare attach such a grotesque being into Shereen soul cannot be forgiven.

In its current state, Horkus can bear two-third of its power; how exactly it will do so remain a mystery. One portal is gone, making it fail to fully immerse the area in the Red World; it will succeed a complete saturation -in roughly 10 minutes- then perhaps the pressure of its existence will start to weight on your companions, it is, however, impossible to tell how denizens of this era so fully immersed in Mother Earth authority would handle this.

You don't have time to worry about that. It's three umbilical cords linking it to its host have been severed but the body that came out of the smaller portal could always remake it; this is a problem for your companions.

Have faith. You cannot shoulder her Protection on your own.

Such thoughts took half a second.

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Your single optic detailed the body of Horkos.

Big enough to reach the roof: seven meters tall.
Wide enough to completely obscure the primary portal: five meters wide.
Flabby, wet flesh, a body of putrescent pus with traces of charred wounds closing a few pores: Purely physical offense is all advised. Could fire be effective?
A tiny arm kept holding the crown of bone on his head: some princes were known to have been conjured around an artifact. For Horkos, it was a crown of pig bones; potential weak point?

Given its body, attacks will come from any and all directions as mutations hold; spears tails, blood spurt of acids, embryons bursting out of its body... In the Red World proper, its body is likely to be a kilometer long.

Your hand was a claw of steel, you reached forward to grab onto a charging piggish man whose rotten body vomited diseased blood, broke bones, sinews, and flesh with your fingers and tore apart its upper torso by throwing it away, drenching Gardy -your- body in deadly liquid that couldn't penetrate the gold, coppers, and obsidians protective outer shell of your skin.

You have an unexpected boon. The magitek gauntlet has been fully absorbed into your body, allowing you to add its elemental property to your repertoire; a significant battle amplification.

Thus, your options...

[Preliminary]
>Modify your body to completely focuses on ranged attacks.
>Modify yourself to fight in close quarter-combats.
>Adopt a style combining the two; half ranged, half close-quarter.

[Main]
>Use magic to open an overwhelming offense. [0.5% Cost]
>Remain conservative in your magical use but focus on aggression.
>Fight with a mind to defense, analyze the creature some more, identify how it function, it's weakness.
>Free.
[Optional]
>Change your elemental attunement. (Current: fire) [0.5% Cost]
You have 1% mana left

>>4013610
So it can continuously spawn mini versions of itself, has acid blood (that apparently isn't strong enough to melt us), and can fire those friggin' flesh spears from anywhere on its body at pretty much any angle it wants? Has it even noticed our presence yet?

Damnit, thing seems to be related to a Great Unclean One far as combat goes. Those are "fun" opponents. Does it have a big ass sword or spear or can it make one if it wanted? Do ranged attacks require magic? How much ammo would we get from a ranged mod? How many "mod sockets" do we have? Anything we can turn into ammo if we go with a ranged mod? Does wreathing a melee mod in flames take magic? Can we consume memories to gain more mana?

>>4013672
I think we at very least have two ways to win, either cause both of the remaining portals to destabilize, or destroying the crown.

>>4013672
So it can continuously spawn mini versions of itself, has acid blood (that apparently isn't strong enough to melt us), and can fire those friggin' flesh spears from anywhere on its body at pretty much any angle it wants?
Yup.
>Has it even noticed our presence yet?
Nope.

>Does it have a big ass sword or spear or can it make one if it wanted?
Not that you know, Horkus is one of the rare creatures Gardy never faced.

>Do ranged attacks require magic?
Yes.
>How much ammo would we get from a ranged mod?
10 rounds = 0.1% mana.
>How many "mod sockets" do we have?
There are no ''sockets'' here, it's more about modifying your entire body into a style of your choice. You'll be able to change and adapt next round.
>Anything we can turn into ammo if we go with a ranged mod?
Nothing.
>Does wreathing a melee mod in flames take magic?
Yes but the cost is almost insignificant.
>Can we consume memories to gain more mana?
Yes, but it's unreliable. (You'll need to trust the dice gods). consuming a memory is highly likely to be volatile.

As the Avatar of Protection, you have perfect measurement of your mana (what's left of it anyway).

>>4013690
Alright, the ranged mod. It'll be fire based I assume but how much punch does a round pack? Shotgun slug? .50 cal anti-materiel? Will it metaphorically eat boltgun? Please say it's that last one.

>>4013696
You'll have to see the effect for yourself, it's magic after all!

So your choice would be...
>Ranged modification.
>Conservative aggression.

I'll wait a little to see other opinions.

>>4013700
It hasn't noticed us yet so this is our one and only surprise attack Gotta make it count. How hard would it be to hit the crown with a ranged vs. a melee attack? Would an all out offensive guarantee its destruction?

I wasn't voting just yet, merely inquiring about the ranged mod.

>>4013713
>How hard would it be to hit the crown with a ranged vs. a melee attack?
Fairly difficult, it's pretty far and unlike its body, the head isn't a big target. Melee would be equally hard for different reason.
>Would an all out offensive guarantee its destruction?
No.

Sorry for assuming.

>>4013727
Damn, seems like we could have used a Vindicare right about now. I think our body has that artificial modifier on it right now so just touching the damned thing ought to hurt it.

I'm leaning towards the mixed option with conservative aggression right now. What's the difference between a "mixed" range mod and a full range mod and how good of a shot are we in this mode? Like with the Magritew can we consume a few inconsequential memories to form a shield, would that cost mana, and would it even do anything against this foe's attacks? That's the last pieces of info I need.

>>4013727
I think our best bet would be to close the distance as fast as we can the proceed to Rip & Tear our way to the crown so,
>Modify yourself to fight in close quarter-combats.
and
>Use magic to open an overwhelming offense. [0.5% Cost]
Staying with Fire as the Element is fine, since i would assume that we don't burn so good since we're made out of metal.

>>4013736
>What's the difference between a "mixed" range mod and a full range mod and how good of a shot are we in this mode?

Precision doesn't change between mode, it'll mostly be about how much firepower you can bring. A mixed modification will allow you to handle sudden melee threat much more efficiently but you won't be able to be as strong at range.

>Like with the Magritew can we consume a few inconsequential memories to form a shield, would that cost mana, and would it even do anything against this foe's attacks?
The shield is something that is automatically inserted in your combat style however it's possible some creatures can bypass it so it is not a catch-all protection. It won't cost mana but it's possible to use magic to make a shield, too. I only gave offensive options because it's the most efficient thing to do for now.

>>4013746
Noted. Will ask for rolls soonish.

>>4013746
Seems as good a bet as any. Supporting.

>>4013769
>>4013746
Give me 1d100
Not gonna tell the modifier because its time for some suspense.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>4013778

>>4013778
We want high numbers right?

>>4013818
Well well, interesting number...
>>4013824
Yes.
I'll wait 10 or so minutes, if there's no more rolls then I'll assume you guys stay on that one.

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Your purpose is clear. Objective: Destroy Horkus crown.

Banishment or death should be enough to keep the group safe, afterward... You'll adapt.

The gears in your body creaked to life, both of your forearms and hands entered a quick transformation to make everything above your elbows into blades. Magic pulsed out of your heart, its beat strained yet constant; exhausted supply meant your reserves were very important but it is important not to waste a precious opportunity provided by the prince obsession.

Filtered by the gauntlet gems, a tiny morsel of magic flowed and expanded, blossoming throughout the material of your body: Amplification.
Metal and fire found harmony, your entire being radiated heat, magically combining near molten metal with the hardness of your natural armor. Patches of meats crawling out of Horkus began to cook: Enchantement.
Out of your back sprouted a pair of exhaust, heat within you amplified; a gear turned, fed by microscopic magic, heat blossomed within you, becoming unstable as your heart, like a generator, pumped out magic like blood:
Explosion.

A crater was carved in the obsidian you stood on and the world shook from the sudden combustion of molten heat, you speed in an upward diagonal with enough speed to outpace Horkus defensive cells -for that's what those strange tails truly were- and penetrate right into its flesh as leathery spears whizzed past your frame.

[95%]
How good had been yesterday's meal? Did you eat with everyone?

Inside was a mess of disgusting growths held together by glue-like thicky, acidic yellow blood. Sizzling noises dwarfed out any hints of the outside world, acidic blood ate into the protective shield covering your molten shell and your body, by its very presence, cooked and killed anything it touched, your arms slashed wildly, carving into chunks of meats, killing growing infants being nourished inside its frame. A bevy of surrounding organs mutated into eyes, you felt movements through the acidic gunk.

Explosion.

A waterfall of innards splashed out of its body as propulsion carried you upward, momentum alone breaking through a growing layer of protective flesh and the heat of your body completely melting any possible defense or infection. ''Obeeeey meeeeeee! It howled, thrashing about wildly, its sheer size causing the place to quake lightly, the sheer pressure of its presence battled uselessly against your psyche.

Like worms trying to dig into your skin, bacterias attempting to infect a body; this was Horkus and it was completely and utterly useless against your artificiality.

Your momentum stopped near the slick roof of obsidian, the thickness of the gunk that had unfortunately stuck to your body didn't allow you to reach it. Gears roared to life, your entire body twisted with inward momentum to face an incoming onslaught of twelves javelins that had been launched out of its diseased body.

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[85%]
Which ears did Rupert like you to rub?
Four clanged against your twin swords, four more were kicked away by your sizzling legs and the rest barely made a dent on your shield of memories, melting off. Your descend was kick and you braced upon seeing the massive shadow of Horkus arm swinging to collide with you and crush you on the wall.

You heard the hollow bang that spread throughout the area, the pig strength was mighty indeed.

[70%]
One of the daughters of that mouse innkeeper had told you her name... What was it?
Explosion
Magic congregated on your back, your twin arms cut through that flabby flesh, your enchanted heated body melted any sticky gunk. Having used the wall to help your angle, the propulsion sent you forward in a straight line, your left arm already being modified during this second-long journey, you speared yourself out of its flabby body and faced it eye to eye, separated by a mere meter. So fat was his face that flesh covered his sockets but its opened mouth of rotted teeth opened, vomiting solid gunk. Your modified hand -now another exhaust- unleashed its payload, the last of your magic.
Explosion.
Blue tinted flame burst forth, incinerating the pig face, reducing its bony crown into molten slag, making it stick into the wall of obsidian. Bones and muscles lashed out wildly like whips, easily dispatched as you landed on the ground noisily, your exhausted mana cooling your body.

''Arawn!''

An arrow suddenly whizzed past you, penetrating inside the body of the beast. A few meters outside the limit of the growing Red World was Naveed already taking another arrow that, you noticed, was covered in dried blood.

Analysis.
Shereen blood was on the tip of the arrows, a blood magic modification that was to act as a poison against Horkus. Hints of necrosis already began to settle in the beast's outer skin as it howled bloody murder, its bulbous body forming many different faces, eyes, and mouth, becoming little more than a messy blob.

Now you understand the role of the crown. Someone, somewhere in this era, had crafted this item for the prince and somehow gave it through the Red World. It acted as an anchor in Mother Earth realm, something that allowed to project its will and thus, its realm of existence. The expansion of the Red World stopped but the damnable prince was still very much alive.

Perhaps banishment is another option...

One look at the group revealed them in battle with a trio of strange creatures. Little more than skulls on floating dark capes out of which crawled out long bony hands, each one was tied at the waist to Shereen belly as if linked by umbilical cords.

Soul Eaters not too dissimilar to the Magritew.

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Zhu looked happy despite having vomited a copious amount of blood. Banu was fighting one single-handedly, separating it from the group. Fortune handmaidens and your crow were combining their strength to handle the other two, the sight of Mojgan dead giant snake wasn't a good sign.

Three Magritew. Someone really wanted your little sun dead. Or... perhaps those things feels within the prince influence, for he was a being of control above all.

Act

One second is enough thoughts. You cannot cross the threshold of this temporary Red World with your shell, doing so would bring irreparable damage to the body you have within Mother Earth realm.

>Send Naveed back with the group, order him to lunch his arrows into the soul eaters if he can.

>Signal the young man to empty his remaining enchanted quiver. Cutting off the head of the snake isn't a stupid mentality.

You will not have another chance to get the archer help.

Barely formed embryons were starting to pull themselves out of the pieces of meats you've cut and melted, all of them misshapen pigmen who, unfortunately, had a much better presence within Mother Earth realm. Dozens of them were starting to emerge, surrounded in fluids too foul to name, one umbilical cord linking them into the flesh of their trashing prince.

>Renew your assault on the frame of Horkus. Cut it apart.
>Take a defensive stance, kill off these newborn creatures instead and alleviate the pressure on the group.
>Find the portal and go into the Red World instead. This will allow you to potentially reinforce your friend but also... find Horkus genuine body. You've stopped the Red World expansion; your friends can handle themselves now.

You have 0.5% mana.

The general skeleton to accompany your decision is the same as this post. >>4013610

>>4014065
Are we able to destabilize the portals by ourselves or do we still need Zhu's sword?

>>4014082
You'll be able to do it yourself.

>>4014089
Zhu and her blade should still be able to deal with the Magirew,
if we had Naveed shoot his arrows at Horkus Would we have enough time be able to fight our way to the nearest of the remaining portals and close it,

>>4014065
So that attack was a success I take it. Good. Gardy knows all things Magritew so are those things vulnerable from the red world side right now? Would this toxin Naveed's shooting do shit to those things? Are they floating within the bounds of the red world cancer or are they outside of it? Is there a continuity between the portals such that we could get to both without stepping outside the red world cancer as that'd kill us if we do? If the portals are collapsed will that stop Horkus and the Magritew and how fast will this red world collapse if we do that? I assume we'll need a second to return to human form so that we won't get fucked by realspace rules.

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>>4014098
>if we had Naveed shoot his arrows at Horkus Would we have enough time be able to fight our way to the nearest of the remaining portals and close it.

There's only a single portal you can access, the big one that vomited Horkus body. You can get into it without Naveed help; his single arrow is already spreading poison in Horkus impossible to tell for now how that will progress.

>>4014098
>Gardy knows all things Magritew so are those things vulnerable from the red world side right now?
It would be possible to assault them in the Red world, yes. You'd be able to drag them in there if needed.

>Would this toxin Naveed's shooting do shit to those things?
Yes. Impossible to tell the exact effectiveness, and you can't deduce the exact spell yet but it worked on Horkus, so it'll work on his servants.

>Are they floating within the bounds of the red world cancer or are they outside of it?
The Soul Eaters? Well outside of it, actually assaulting the party. The pigmen being birthed are also still within the confine of the Red World on Horkus side.
Might I say that bringing reinforcement really was a mighty good idea of you lads.

>Is there a continuity between the portals such that we could get to both without stepping outside the red world cancer as that'd kill us if we do?
No. The two portals haven't been able to create a path between them. If you want to get close to your friends, you'll need to get into the Red World and use the portal that previously assailed the handmaidens.

>If the portals are collapsed will that stop Horkus and the Magritew and how fast will this red world collapse if we do that?
Collapsing the portals should effectively banish the creature out of Mother Earth realm now that the crown is destroyed.

>I assume we'll need a second to return to human form so that we won't get fucked by realspace rules.
Yeah, sticking around for 10 seconds will make things very dangerous to your body, so you could try to do one round of combat outside the Red World influence.

>>4014098
I think it would be best if we have Naveed dump his remaining arrows into Horkus, while we Clear the adds while conserving our Mana for next round, once we have bought them some space we should be able to go all out.

Hm, I think it's getting a bit too late for another big answer, I feel like you guys will need some time to decide on what to do.

Mistakes shouldn't be to be feared now...

>>4014119
Can the portals be destabilized from the red world side? Would dragging a Magritew into the red world prevent them from attacking our teammates? Does any of that cost mana?

We get a 10 second grace period in realspace before it notices and the counter force activates. Good to know. So we could jump from one portal to the next without much worry I take it then? I think we're damnably quick in this form if I remember.

>>4014119
So we should
>Signal the young man to empty his remaining enchanted quiver. Cutting off the head of the snake isn't a stupid mentality.
Also it would give the poison time to have an effect.
While we
>Take a defensive stance, kill off these newborn creatures instead and alleviate the pressure on the group.
in order to conserve our Mana for next round we should stick with our full Melee build.

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>>4014152
>Can the portals be destabilized from the red world side?
Definitely. It's where they emerged from.
>Would dragging a Magritew into the red world prevent them from attacking our teammates?
Yes.
>Does any of that cost mana?
No.

>So we could jump from one portal to the next without much worry I take it then?
You'll need to commit a full action to bridge the distance in 10 seconds. The soul eaters are far from the second portal though, reaching it won't be of much help in that regard.

>>4014158
Noted. I'll wait for more votes.

>>4014150
Yes they should. You'll pounce if we make one! Is the thread done until tomorrow?

>>4014161
Our allies are holding out against those things right? These seem to be weaker than the one we fought in Throne Town.

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>>4014188
>Yes they should. You'll pounce if we make one! Is the thread done until tomorrow?
Yeah I got hit by a tired spell. I want to do more answers but then you guys go and roll high while making a super big commitment... I had to pump out the words!
>Our allies are holding out against those things right? These seem to be weaker than the one we fought in Throne Town.
Yeah. Zhu and the handmaidens are managing to keep the other two at a deadlock while Banu is handling the last one by her lonesome. the three remaining guards have made a circle around Shereen whose body thankfully stopped bleeding but she's unconscious.

Impossible to tell if things will go in their favor or not until things happen. As for their strength, they are inherently weaker than the Magritew since they are outside the Red World but it's possible they aren't as strong. It's impossible to deduce for now.

>>4014206
Leaning towards anon's option then. All it'd take to turn the tide against our allies is a pigman tackling them from a flank and allowing the Magritew to "embrace" them. That's an instant soul devour I think, can't let that happen.

Thanks for that update dude. It felt like a big move/special attack from a Super Robot. Hope it boosted everyone's morale. Nothing restores hope quite like pure robotic justice smiting evil. We even did what amounts to a reverse rocket punch!

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Rolled 12, 1, 15, 12, 13 + 3 = 56 (5d20 + 3)

>>4014230
Arawn isn't paying attention but he's not going unnoticed that's for sure.

So, one vote for having Naveen empty his quiver into Horkus while thinning the herd of abominations without using magic?

No dice roll needed here

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>>4014249
Fuck, someone crit failed. With the plus three to every roll I assume everyone else did alright to great but that fail...

>>4014249
Oh, just remembered, you said each magritew has a tendril in Shereen's gut. Can we tell Zhu to fix that problem? They're probably slowly sucking on her soul and that's not good!

>>4014276
At worst we're going to have to deal with a second possession, and we know how to do that.
If it does happen and the person that gets got isn't Zhu we can confirm wheither or not the Nun from the church was actually posessed or something else was going on.

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>>4014342
>Oh, just remembered, you said each magritew has a tendril in Shereen's gut.
All of them are tied to her. The soul eaters are trying to get to Shereen but the aprty is preventing that.
>Can we tell Zhu to fix that problem?
She's trying. She didn't have experience fighting Red World entities so she's finally having a good struggle.

>>4014356
Is the vote over? I was going to suggest the cleansing gem could help us suck in mana a bit so we could do things without burning more memories as much.

>>4014676
I might have been a little too fast in proceeding. Since I've already rolled I'd say we've commited with this action.

What cleansing gem are you referring to? I might need a little memory refresh.

>>4014684
The one that makes our gauntlet usable by mamonos. It would clean influences from red world entity energy too I think, making draining them less dangerous and possibly easier if we do so be reversing the flow of mana through it.

>>4014869
Ooh. Right.

The gem doesn't function as you think at all, it act as a breakdown of your mana that will then go into the elemental gem. You can't reverse any flow inside the gem itself, it doesn't produce energy, you're the generator. You wouldn't be able to absorb anything from the Red World either.

Still, that's some pretty good thinking but in this case it's entirely impossible.

>>4014892
Yeah, I figured the gem didn’t, but the gauntlet definitely has mana channels. Aside from the red worlders would that be possible to work with?
In b4 “you’ll have to find out.”

>>4015677
The channel can't be used to store mana or absorb anything but your own magic, all it does is transport your mana through the gems. You're the generator of the gauntlet, it can't take any other kind of ''fuel''.

>>4015785
Ok, thank you.

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Naveed let another arrow fly, the second of his remaining four. It landed far from the previous one, aimed higher, uselessly penetrating the massive flabby creature upper body. The poisoned enchantment delivered its damage, creating another nexus of necrosis inside and out the filthy body of the gluttonous prince; it trashed about in response, thankfully unable to reach you or the archer because its sheer bulk and mass prevented movement. That, however, didn't prevent its minions to try.

Born out of the mass of its body and leaking entrails were piggish humanoids who'd better be regarded as insults to life itself. While wholly similar to the previous hordes in mutations, emerging out of the prince innards gave their bodies a stronger, inherent presence within Mother Earth realm that'd allowed blinks of genuine sentience; dangerous. Their squeals added with Horkus racket of screams to make communications almost impossible, the most important thing to do for now was to thin this herd, help your friends.

Naveed put his third arrow, his bow wasn't the biggest, explaining his proximity. Horkus had identified him as a threat because of his ammunition, rousing his wave of creatures to action.

The first barely acknowledge your interception. Your body had no fear of straining muscles; metal groaned, blades sung their deadly high-pitched musical note and the first pig died, upper body bisected in two diagonal lines, drenching you in putrid, diseased and acidic blood.

Another arrow came flying, penetrating into a mutated face that had appeared on Horkus main body.

Another group of beasts tried a wider flank to converge on Naveed but their efforts were useless. The Embodiment of Protection wasn't held back by organic limitations; your feet dug into the slick ground, your leg carried your metallic form ever onward and once you came within reach, shoulder tackling the nearest pigs demolished their formations like swiping into a house of cards, crushing bones with your combinations of mass and speeds. Limbs were severed by your modified arms, squeals of protests followed their deaths as bodies were hacked and crushed to pieces. Gunky blood and slimy flesh stuck to your frame and you ran toward the second flank to repeat this operation into another squad of a dozen pig who tried -and failed- to brace for your arrival, stopping their charge toward the archer.

One-sided slaughter.

His last arrow flew into Horkus innards. ''I'm done!'' Screamed the young man who promptly turned tail and ran before the projectile even hit the prince. You gave him all the time he needed to line up his shots. Naveed retreated without any troubles, the only thing that went past the line out of the Red World was bodyparts and blood.

''No!'' Naveed screamed and you spared a glance his way which also allowed you to witness the group precarious position.

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One of the two soul eaters had made it past the line held by the handmaiden and Zhu, it managed to circumvent around your companion -who had pulled the javelin out of her guts sometimes earlier- and charge toward the second group near the stair, Shereen had apparently regained consciousness.

You are too far to do anything.

The two lizard women threw their last javelin, their foe snaked in the air like it was water, hovering around the offending metal that clang on the ground uselessly. Its single remaining arm lashed forward, thick enough to easily grapple someone head and pull it cleanly off their neck, aimed at one of the sisters.

Then Fortune shoved the girl away, offering her back at the offending abomination; it dug into her skin like a piece of molten iron for one single, dangerous second.

Zhu tackled the creature, deactivating her sword to grapple onto it, both crashed violently crashed on the ground and rolled away from the stairs. The Soul Eater immediately gained the upper hand, twisting its boneless body to gain a death grip around Zhu's head and squeeze with bone snapping strength.

You could almost hear your companion cackle like a crow as she placed the empty blade on her belly and activated it. A long, thin line of gold went through her stomach and pierced through the shadowy body of the offending creature. It immediately let go of its grip and tried to wiggle free but Zhu grabbed its bony face and pulled it forward, shredding its body as she flipped it on the ground and smashed her knee into its face, breaking it like ceramics.

Because it was. These masks were these creatures anchors into Mother Earth realm. Someone has been very well prepared in killing your little sun.

Then she deactivated her blade, blood rushed into the open wounds and splurted violently. Her lips curved upward and she rose to her feet to turn toward the remaining foes, enduring but undeniably injured; glittering gold shone as Holy materialized for a third time out of the empty sword handle, her single eye continued to glower, her grin was bloody and wild. Were she to die here, she'd be satisfied.

Horkus body was now halfway covered by dead flesh and rotten entrails. With four nexus of poisonous necrosis firmly nestled on four different parts of its body, Shereen sorcery was eating its body whole, wasting away its spirit like virus consuming nad killing cells. The prince was unable to create any faces to scream, eyes and mouths appeared all over his body and attempt at movements did little more than detach pieces of diseased fat.

Without the crown to anchor his existence and now poisoned by your little sun magic, the very existence of Horkus was peeling away layers by layers, leaving behind yet more of its minions as they pulled themselves out of mass, still intent on finding their promised body; killing them shouldn't be too difficult.

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There was, however, one unfortunate truth. Only two-third of Horkus existence had made it through the Red World; this was a successful banishment... but its strength would return.

How long did it dwell on Shereen soul, feeding off the girl's existence and Corruption? Two years of accumulated Corruption and your magic had been enough for this manifestation. It will be back someday.

Unless you kill it by going inside the Red World.

The portals are growing dim, their whirlpool stopped as the prince will lose its consistency; the battle looked to be won, if you stayed behind and killed the remaining pigmen, you'd give the group enough breathing room to kill off the remaining aggressors who, you noticed, tried to break off engagements and retreat inside the weakening portals.

Shereen had regained consciousness and was already enchanting the militia's weapons with her blood. The slime girl had grown enraged by the wound of her mistress and was single-handedly pressuring one of the enemies, her two comrades decided to help out Banu instead of being dead weight. Zhu wounds had caught up to her, her hemorrhage wasn't stopping and now she was on one knee, hands on her belly, with Fortune walking to her side, seemingly undaunted by her own fresh wounds.

>This is victory enough. Take care of the remaining horde, Mother Earth reality is already breaking apart this extension of the Red World: you've protected Shereen enough.

>You can't be satisfied with simple ''adequate'' protection. You need to be thorough: leave behind the dying body of Horkus and kill its soul in the Red World. This is the only way to free Shereen from that damnable prince influence, this entire struggle has weakened it immensely. You're unlikely to have a better chance.

>Abandon your fusion and retreat to the group, someone needs to look after Zhu!

>Free

You have 0.5% mana.
Soul Shield stand at 70%

>>4016346
How long does a modification take? Fusion basically gives us AI levels of targeting I'd reckon so that means we're a crack shot ATM right? How long do our simulation suites and analysis say it'll take for this fucker to try shit like this again? Fortune has healing potions yes? Please tell me she's got two for Zhu.

>>4016346
If we decide that we have gone far enough, for now would the remaining evidence of the fight be enough to convince others Like Shereen's mother that we need help
more help, once we have recovered.

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>>4016378
>How long does a modification take?
Around a second, can be done mid-round (as seen with modifying your arm into a cannon to blash Horkus face).

>Fusion basically gives us AI levels of targeting I'd reckon so that means we're a crack shot ATM right?
You're essentially maxed stats in agility, precision, strength... There's a reason why Arawn was comatose for 1 year last time you did it.

>How long do our simulation suites and analysts say it'll take for this fucker to try shit like this again?
This, unfortunately, is something you really don't know.
>Fortune has healing potions yes?
Yes. Zhu already consumed two for her previous wound but she'll have to chance her health here.

>>4016346
>You can't be satisfied with simple ''adequate'' protection. You need to be thorough: leave behind the dying body of Horkus and kill its soul in the Red World. This is the only way to free Shereen from that damnable prince influence, this entire struggle has weakened it immensely. You're unlikely to have a better chance.
I will not leave this thing to feast on anyone, let alone someone worthy of respect and protection. This will be a blow against our enemies.
>>4016378
I think he said modification is quick, but we need to pause a moment to do it.

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>>4016422
That s not something I can answer. For now, in this moment, you need to make a descision based on the information you have.

All these high rolls I swear.

>>4016346
>You can't be satisfied with simple ''adequate'' protection. You need to be thorough: leave behind the dying body of Horkus and kill its soul in the Red World. This is the only way to free Shereen from that damnable prince influence, this entire struggle has weakened it immensely. You're unlikely to have a better chance.

We should conserve our Mana as best we can until we find what we're looking for, then end it.

We're going to roll a one on the next check aren't we

>>4016428
We went comatose because we did the strong fusion in realspace instead of the Red World. So long as we drop it before going back into the real world we're fine. We didn't suffer much ill effect when we did just that with Vilma.

Do we know how to get back from the red world without a portal or it being the hour of lullaby like it was last time? I don't wanna channel a certain pissed off guilty gear and... well that was a "red world" too now that I think about it. Point is, it's of no use to anyone if we kill the damn thing only to get trapped on the other side with no hope of retrieval and probably straggling at critical health and no mana. People care about us too y'know!

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>>4016452
>Do we know how to get back from the red world without a portal or it being the hour of lullaby like it was last time?

Horkus territory will allow you to shift into the Red World without trouble. You and Gardy could always do it at any time really, it's just that the Hour of Lullaby made things much, much safer. Being trapped in the Red World... well it could happen. It's a risk to take!

Look like we got two votes for meeting the head pig.

>>4016452
I would assume if we could enter the red freely during one hour of Lullaby, there wouldn't be anything stopping us from leaving during the next if we can't get out, the only problem would be having to survive there for the next 23 or so hours.

Also if we had access to our fusions earlier on that could have been one method of escape we could use to have gotten away from the palace, really easily.

>>4016466
Define "safety" here. Say the roll gets botched, what happens? Do we get hurt or do we make another rift? About how much longer will these rifts remain open before the pressure of reality seals them? If we go into the portal won't that let the pigmen through to the group and give the soul eaters a chance at nom'ing a comrade?

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>>4016491
>Say the roll gets botched, what happens?
You'll have to find out.
>Do we get hurt or do we make another rift?
Depends on your feelings, my dear puppet of steel
>About how much longer will these rifts remain open before the pressure of reality seals them?
Two to three minutes.
>If we go into the portal won't that let the pigmen through to the group and give the soul eaters a chance at nom'ing a comrade?
The group will need to handle the pigmen (around 30 of them). The soul eaters are retreating.
Votes are locked now, don't think anyone have second thoughts.

>>4016491
>Define "safety" here.
Shifting in the Red World during the Hour of Lullaby means that all surrounding entities are asleep so you could explore at your leisure. Doing it at another time means you need to handle a frenzied horde.

>>4016501
Ok, so we're going to do another big risk. Can we carve a few of the fuckers up on the way there then at least? I also have an idea with how to quickly deal with the problem and be back before the portal closes, but we'll have to see if we got lucky and everything fell into place for it to work.

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For an instant Shereen green eyes, natural color without corrupted influence, crossed your singular optic. Her emotions were naked, the poor girl was afraid; for herself, the people around her, the valiant Banu who could finally be reinforced after handling a soul eater by her lonesome for the entire battle. And of course, you. She didn't understand your form, perhaps she felt scared by the approaching hordes of pigs and their melting nest of flesh they pulled themselves from. You hefted your hand of gold, copper, and obsidian covered in yellowish gunk upward and offered your little sun a thumb up.

Then entered the Red World proper. Horkus did not exert any pressure anymore, meaning that stepping in and out without a portal was possible because Gardy soul was innately attuned with that hellish scape; Arawn soul was similarly sensitive to Mother Earth realm, making these back and forth possible.

Although... in this case, this wasn't the whole of Gardy soul. Not by a long shot.

The sight of this plane was becoming familiar; the sky shone red despite being an endless cover of charcoal fumes, the confined nature of the grain storage had been blown wide open, offering a wide sight into a devastated landscape of obsidian out of which sprouted odd dark spiral. Your comrade's souls shone in a myriad of colors, burning with life despite the circumstances. The floor was covered in flesh and meat, eyes often floated in gunks and mouth would form to belch agonizing noises that coupled with hundreds of trapped soul entities into a torturing chaos of noises.

This was the nest of the prince of excess. Your senses registered a movement, the noise of fast jabs covered by the agony of nearby creatures almost took you by surprise. Thankfully your close-range configuration allowed you to deflect then carve through the offending projectiles: tongues lashing out of recently formed mouths. You took off running toward the source, a bulbous mass of greenish, slimy substance lying where Horkus body had been inside Mother Earth realm.

This was, however, easier said than done. Your body and existence might be artificial, two souls still dwelled within your core and the prince understood your menace. All five meters that separated you from him became a deadly ground of mashing maws and organic projectiles. Deflecting them all was useless, dodging the entirety was wishful thinking but stopping you was equally foolish. Anything you couldn't deflect or dodge during your sprint was endured.

[60%]
When was Vilma birthday?

One of your swords pierced through the greenish membrane and a downward pull of your metallic arm tore open the fleshy sac, causing a sudden deluge of sticky fluid that washed over you. Inside was a body that gave you pause; a mistake.

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Horkus had mutated itself to look like Shereen. Attached to its body were countless fleshy ropes that stuck with nearby green walls, the fluffy tails, and ears of your little sun had been replaced by naked protrusions of fleshes and as you stepped inside, this body -this doppelganger- opened its eyes, revealing a pair of sunken in dark sockets.

Now's the time to move fo-

Your legs didn't obey your directive. they remained rooted in place, covered in gluish, sticky gunk that had no hope of resisting your strength. Your red optic briefly dimmed and as the clone of your charge lifted her hand and walked forward, naked feet splashing on the ground of entrails and her mouth opening into a satisfied grin, you understood your predicament.

This is Horkus, one of the twelve demonic princes of antiquity, a being of excess, gluttony, lust, and greed... but also control. After all, its first attempt at getting into Shereen had also been its strongest and while two-third of its existence had been a sacrifice in an attempt to forcefully claimed a ''promised body'' a weakened prince soul inside the Red World made for a mighty existence that'd exercise plenty of pressure.

Distracting images came to mind. Alina straddling you completely naked, the lovely Sieglinde hugging you close to her chest, Hao taking a bath alongside you, giving in to Zhu temptations when she snuck into bed. All the women you knew approached you in lust and even as you tore each of these mirages out of your psyche there was no moving your body. Gears within your legs and torso struggled fruitlessly as the silent little pharaoh stood a few meters away, tendrils of flesh mutating out of the ground to stick to your legs and torso.

[55%]
The librarian of Throne Town school had been a victim. What... was her name again? What did she look like?

Red World entities did not operate like Mother Earth denizens. Here a creature like Horkus exerted a natural influence that could not compare anywhere else. the tendrils circling your arms felt like the arms of a lover, the liquid staining your armor was akin to a woman's tongue. Spent as you were, without Gardy whole existence to shield you...

>Roll 1d20
You can also spend 0.1% mana for a +1 modifier, up to +5.
You have 0.5% mana.
It'd be safer to agree on what amount you guys want to spend... or not before rolling.

>>4016808
If we are going to spend anything, it would be best to not use everything, so if we roll poorly we still have something left over, so either +4 or +3

Rolled 17 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>4016808
Let's see how badly this turns out,
Come on Nat 1, where are you.

>>4016851
Praise be the dice gods!

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>>4016851
Part of me wants to say this roll isn't valid because you guys didn't agree on what amount to spend... but then I'd have taken a 1 too so... I suppose fair is fair.

Time for some SPIRIT.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4016855
>>4016874
I don't know what is going on, but so far I've been rolling quite well especially over such a long period of time.
It's probably not going to last, let's see if it continues.

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>>4016899
I think I'll have less rolls in future fights

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>4016919
Seriously, send help.

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>>4016928
Do you have any idea how lucky you are that I've always operated with high rolls being good?

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4016933
Yes.

Maybe I should go and get a lottery ticket.

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>>4016874
Given how reality isn't as concretely defined here, we may or may not have sprouted some truly epic sideburns once we drop the fusion after all this. Pic related.

If this keeps up I'll have to start posting Super Robot related music.

>>4016899
>>4016928
>>4016946
Damnit man save some of that luck for later!

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4016976
If this keeps up i'm going to stop rolling, make things more fair.

Rolled 8 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>4016874
I agree with his numbers, planned and random...
>>4016851
>>4016899
>>4016928
>>4016946
>>4016995
Why? I rolled three 1’s in a row, as the GM, killing six enemies in the encounter, and making rough terrain with the number of corpses in a hallway. Seeing this is painful.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-dZa_hpcIA

Despite the pragmatism of your artificial body, your soul was one steeped in Mother Earth grace. Gardy spark of consciousness was gone, you've merely adopted its shell to make this transition into the Embodiment of Protection possible but fact remains that you remained imperfect. This prince, this creature made long, long ago to reign over mortal minds, was simply beyond you. It forced you to swallow these sensations endlessly, almost melting your consciousness in bliss; sensation returned into your skin of metals, pecks of pleasures tickled your arms and legs and progressed into your spine. Your entire body straightened, straining against the fleshy binding, gears groaned against encroaching cancerous growth as your single eye looked into the small frame of Shereen body double.

Wrap her in my arm, bring her to bed and kiss her. She's so small and vulnerable, her body must weigh like a feather. She'd look at you in a mixture of dread and desire, guide your hand toward her body, offering herself submissively.

How you wish for a wall to slam your face into. This was an unending assault on the senses, stimulations of primal, overwhelming feelings; here in the Red World souls were naked there... If perhaps you were to retreat deep, deep within your mind and maybe grow catatonic, abandon your consciousness, you'd be able to protect Shereen. The prince attention would remain on you for a while and maybe you'd be able to-

Out of a portal came one of the soul eater. It's floating mask of ceramic spilled a dark smoky body similar to the overhead sky; like a fish, in water, it swam in the air getting closer by the seconds.

What can you do? Your duty!
This damnable prince is toying with your mortal soul, how can you do anything?Be strong when it counts, not always!
Its nest stretches for a hundred meters of mutated flesh, all bearing on you, mutating to adapt against whatever you do. How can you survive, let alone protect anyone?You're her only knight, Arawn!
How can you protect Shereen by your lonesome? You aren't alone!

Foreign sensations entered your body like a cold breeze, the overstimulation suddenly disappeared. Four sparks -blue, gold, red and purple- nestled next to Gardy struggling metallic heart and calmed down yours, allowing both to operate as one, in synch; harmony.

Magic pulsed to life, spreading throughout your body.
Enchanted

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A hand of steel surged through a nest of molten flesh to grab onto a white, fragile mask and smashed it apart with grip strength alone. So hot was the metal limb that the creature magical body combusted, releasing a sudden bubble of air cooked the nearby bulbous flesh and tongues. All restraint touching your body melted as the heat turned your colors into uniform molten orange, somehow remaining solid out of pure willpower alone. All the cancers, all the entrails, everything you touched was cooking under your heat, even bursting into flame; so intense was the magic dwelling inside your frame, reinforced by anger, facilitating your escape.

To think you would ever take advantage of anyone under your protection...!

The pressure of the prince hadn't lost in strength, you could still feel the pleasure tickling your brain, sneaking your soul but it was divided fourway because of important pathways belonging to stalwart women a world away. Had you been reluctant to sue magic, perhaps the prince would have had the few seconds it needed to run away but a single backward step was the only thing this insult to Shereen appearance managed to do as your metal fingers touched its naked chest and sank into its meaty insides, causing it to scream. Lifting it was easy, your second palm dug into its belly.

Whips of flesh struck your back, melting off after contact. Each one rocked your frames.
[55%]
Five, seven, eight flesh whips struck your back; teeth lashed out, acid vomited out of recently formed pores.
[55%]
Poisonous gunk stuck to your body, melting against the heat of your metal. Trapped entities were liberated, rushing toward the only possible life they could get: you
[55%]

Your hands found grip within Shereen belly, cooked its inside and tore her in two. You promptly threw both pieces of flesh on the ground as blood and entrails tried to rejoin and stomped the pieces; mechanical legs combined with the extreme heat pulverized and purified any form of life.

The prince died without sound, its existence extinguished by otherworldly heat and five wills that joined as one. Its nest of flesh and invasion into the sanctity of Mother Earth realm died alongside it, with the ground becoming a poisonous swamp that would soon enough be consumed by nearby entities; there was equilibrium inside this blasted realm.

Best to leave now, this struggle would likely attract the strongest denizens of this reality for a once in a lifetime feast

--

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The air sizzled when you shifted back into Mother Earth realm, the sheer temperature of your body still needed time to cool off despite the end of your spell.

!?

Pain lanced throughout your body as you realized there wasn't any effect from the Red World anymore despite your prudence in keeping to Horkus nest. Its death in the Red World had seemingly put a sudden end into the expended influence of that blasted dimension. No blood, no bodies, no sign of obsidians on the ground or walls, all the damages of this deadly struggle looked to be little more than vandalism.

Except... The slagged remains of a bone crown and the broken pieces of a ceramic mask revealed this struggle had indeed been real.

Letting go of your true body also meant losing knowledge. You reverse the fusion without trouble but the following bout of dizziness and intense sense of loss sent you on your knee and Focus extinguished itself without conscious thought and you briefly braced for pain... only to, thankfully, only feel the urge to empty your lunch.

''Sweet Mother's Mercy are you one sight for sore eyes!'' Before you could even register whose voice it was you heard the footsteps of someone stopping before you and a gloved hand extended toward your kneeling form.

''Naveed? What are you doing here?'' You croaked, finding the strength in your lethargic limbs to grab his offered gourd and take one, long, healthy gulp.

''I'm kinda useless without my bow and someone had to handle the pigs and keep the girls safe.''

You almost choked as you observed the young lad with new eyes. His forehead sported an unhealthy gash, scratched all over his arms, legs and torso also told of his struggles. Both his close combat weapon, sword, and club, were discarded on the floor, broken.

''All thirty of them?'' You took his hand and he pulled you up vigorously. Damn, that water tasted good.

''I wish.'' He chuckled. ''Make it ten, thankfully those who reached the group were put down swiftly. Then everything died all at once.''

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As you approached the group, your heart mixed with worry. Nobody had died and that was the best godsdamned blessing you could ask for. Naveed compatriots were the only ones on their feets, gathering all the lamps that could be salvaged and the lamia slithered up the stairs to investigate how things looked outside.

Mojgan had been making her way to you and halfway through she inquired about your health, then began applying bandages on Naveed wounds. Her taller compatriot, the manticore -Sonja- was sprawled on the floor gracelessly, taking in big gulps of air. Francine, the strange slime girl, was fussing over Fortune back (who was naked from the waist up) and bandaged her wounds whilst the gang leader looked over Zhu through her glassy bauble. Your crow didn't look so good, her complexion was pale and like you, she seemed ready to deliver her lunch but otherwise... Her new stomach wound was bandaged, likely due to a third or fourth healing potion. Banu was meditating and Shereen simply sat beside her in silence, perhaps shellshocked?

Now, that won't do at all. These girls ought to be celebrating.

>Can you think of any witty one-liners?
>Probably stopping here for tonight. Didn't intend to end the battle yet but... consistent good rolls + good choices = a thoroughly bodied boss.

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>>4017312
Ok, now that really was straight up out of a Super Robot show. BBEG about to break the will of the heroes (and their awesome mech as well) only for them to, at the last moment, summon all their courage and fury to strike as one for great justice and smite all evil before them! Hell yeah!

Worried as hell about Gardy now. He left us a vestige of his power and soul but what does that mean for him? Is he actually dead and we're just what amounts to his ghost? The part he left behind?

Then there's the girls. No idea what they just felt or saw but that probably didn't go unnoticed by others. Probably got a lot of info out of that little exercise. At least, I hope they did. Boy I miss em', they would have been a *huge* help here (especially Elina).

As for one liners, I'm not the best at dialogue. "We just killed a daemon prince everyone, why so glum?" "I think we all deserve a lifetime supply of bacon after this, can that be arranged Banu/Shereen?" "How much hazard pay are we getting?"

Yeah, that was horrible. We could also walk up to Shereen and tell her everyone's alright, nobody died for her sake so cheer up. If only Gardy was here, he probably heard quite a few in his time.

>>4017312
Mission accomplished earlier than expected on all counts, parasite excised, trophy obtained... and nobody’s dead or permanently debilitated. I was expecting the building to be a cadaverific abettor with only a few survivors. What do we even say but “How the fuck am I alive?”
I would wonder who gets the trophy, but honestly it’s probably, Arawn, Zhu, or Shereen as the biggest contributors/sun and moons.

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>>4017554
>Ok, now that really was straight up out of a Super Robot show. BBEG about to break the will of the heroes (and their awesome mech as well) only for them to, at the last moment, summon all their courage and fury to strike as one for great justice and smite all evil before them! Hell yeah!

I'm a big succer for that kind of cliche. Love it to piece so... Hey, why not?

>Worried as hell about Gardy now. He left us a vestige of his power and soul but what does that mean for him? Is he actually dead and we're just what amounts to his ghost? The part he left behind?

That's as far as you can tell. There's a piece of Gardy existence in your soul and of course, because Arawn had accepted the metal lad in the past, it's not being rejected and finding it is what allowed you to use fusions again. However, Gardy will is indeed completely absent.

>>4017559
>I was expecting the building to be a cadaverific abettor with only a few survivors.
I tried but even the npcs rolled well... aside from Zhu who's ungodly resilient. Two crit fail is about the most she could take and that's where things ended. Damn crow
>trophy
Aside from broken pieces of two ceramics mask there's nothing of substance for a trophy. Those two peices will make something adequate.

>>4017607
Well, like us attracting our own memories lost within the throne, if we have Gardy's wiped memory core and a fragment of his soul, perhaps those memories will flow into them somehow. We probably have to get back to Throne Town and enter its Red World for that to happen sadly. I really miss his banter with us. Wait, core isn't wiped as it still has all his skills, bestiary and drivers but no "will" anywhere to be found... Damnit, now I'm even more worried about him. It'd be just like him to die protecting us and saving the girls and leave us all that as a final act of protection.

Also, isn't there that slagged crown of bones? That's a trophy too y'know.

>>4017607
I thought we might be able to take the slagged crown. It’d probably be useless, but “if you can kill a demon lord, you can kill some street thugs.” would run through my head in the voice of one Patches O-Hoolahan from dodgeball whenever it was mentioned.

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>>4017644
>Wait, core isn't wiped as it still has all his skills, bestiary and drivers but no "will" anywhere to be found.
You also picked up a memory of his, it's one of the things that helped you shake off Horkus possession.

>>4017645
>I thought we might be able to take the slagged crown.
>Also, isn't there that slagged crown of bones?
True. I kinda dismissed it because it's a piece of molten bone sticking to the wall but it can be pulled out as a trophy too.

>>4017664
Pulling it out would be part of cleanup anyway I think. So why not? The mask fragments can be trophies for the other groups once we know they’re all inert and useless now. Safety first!

Phoneposting INH here, I'll have to put the thread on hold because I don't have any electricity since yesterday night. Once my phone dies I'll be cut off entirely. Let's hope to see each others soon

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Things are back to normal, alas too late for today. Tomorrow should be good, I'll be a little busy but I think our usual 2 or 3 answers in the evening will work out.

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Your head throbbed without radiating agony, feeblemindedness stuck to your skull as if you hadn't slept in days and the efforts of your struggle were taking a toll of exhaustion that somehow wasn't enough to make you want to pass out. It was a strange limbo you could only describe as ''satisfying discomfort'' mixed with a poignant sense of nostalgia that was easy enough to deduce. You've held onto one of Gardy's precious memories... but the general knowledge of the Red World held by the Embodiment had exited your skull like sand sliding around your fingers, leaving behind only the general knowledge behind the name of Horkus.

Reaching the group properly brought you out of your musing. The young man let go of your shoulders and you lowered yourself on the ground for some well-earned rest, the three other girls from the militias were starting to gather the lamps whilst sending sharp comments toward their wounded leader. Naveed looked much worse than he really was, the damage on his body is little more than skin-deep slashes, the bandages made him look even worse than Zhu.

''You'll need a few days of rest.'' Fortune was the one who broke the silence. Still being naked from the waist up, your arrival prompted her to hide her chest with a dust cloak, the sight of her bronze skin remained agreeable indeed but the prince invasion of your mind had given you more than enough lust for one day. Behind her, the strange maidenly slime had actually used her own body to plug the wounds on the fortune teller back.

''Eeh,'' Zhu replied lazily. Her one functional eye was closed, her empty blade was resting on her scabbard and she sat patting her head and stomach. ''Think I can get any kids now?''

The question left Fortune dumfounded for a single second. ''That won't be a problem. Francine body will help to regenerate your flesh for tonight but facts remained you've consumed four potions, your body natural healing ability has gone well past its limits. You'll be feeling incredibly famished for a few days, do not resist the urge to consume all the food you want and sleep when you have to.''

''Sure thing, mom.'' Zhu managed to move, rising to her feet whilst throwing a cheeky grin at the frowning half-naked woman.

''I'll make sure you'll follow those directives thoroughly.'' You added, earning a defiant smirk that inevitably made Zhu look like a crow. ''You crazy woman, piercing yourself with your own damn sword. You became Shereen moon today, don't go killing yourself now.'' You growled, trying your best to appear frustrated instead of worried but there was no hiding your ''colors'' from Zhu whose smile looked triumphant now as she stood beside you.

''Hey, it worked. Who knew ghosts dodged so damn well? How'd you even manage to hold one back by yourself, Banu?'' The old woman who'd been meditating up till now opened her single eye.

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''We fought in a wide-open space,'' Banu responded dryly but soon relaxed into a positive mood. ''Glad to see everyone's alright.'' Her gaze briefly fixated on you, asking an obvious silent question.

A round of agreement followed; what was supposed to be an understood ritual to purge corruption with equally predictable danger had changed into a drastic struggle against entities from an alternate plane of life that had all but disappeared save for three broken items that had been collected by Naveed and his friends. Three trophies that were little more than broken garbage were the only vestiges of this surreal fight and, of course, what you've done; changing into the Embodiment of Protection hadn't gone unnoticed. A combination of dread, fatigue and -you hoped- politeness was preventing the group to ask any direct question but you've earned more than enough stare to know this won't be a case of ''out of sight, out of mind.''

''Stop that.'' You growled when Zhu poked one of your ribs.
''Not so hard huh?'' Now she squeezed your bicep. ''Bit flabby here, not looking too solid... Maybe down there will...?'' Despite your lethargy, grabbing the hand that was going to touch somewhere inexcusable -doubly so in public- occurred quickly enough to interrupt this shameless woman.
''Continue and I won't tell you anything out of spite.'' You growled, letting go of her hand and walking off toward Shereen.
''I'm hoooorny for an iron maaaaan!'' Zhu yelled in turn, sticking to your back, voice echoing throughout the empty storage area. Ack, the shame...!

''I'm sorry!'' Shereen sudden exclamation was deformed by an emotive shriek that brought sudden silence in the group. Shereen was bowing at such a tight angle that her face was facing the ground. ''I didn't know things would be so dangerous! I shouldn't have put you guys into so much danger, I understood that you guys were willing to help me but not at this level; this should have been the business of the Sun, not... none of you deserved to suffer this terror, this... this struggle, it wasn't... it wasn't right.'' Not a single trace of ''we'' or ''us'' in this clumsy little speech.

''No one died to protect you, Shereen. You don't need to bow.'' Seeing her like this really was a pitiful sight, you had to say something. ''Nobody could have predicted something like this, what's important is that everyone worked to save each other; even you. You played an important part despite your debilitations.'' She enchanted the arrows that Naveed use to deliver a coup de grace on Horkus body; you'd have needed to spend much more time on it yourself otherwise and that would have given more opportunity for the horde to do something... ''So many little things could have gone worse and make things unsalvageable, don't dismiss yourself so readily. I'm glad to have been of help.''

''...'' Shereen had relaxed her stance and straightened her spine with the rigidity of a wooden doll.

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''I agree with your moon, your majesty.'' Naveed was the first to speak. ''It was a privilege to help my Sun and I hope you would consider us worthy of further duties.''
''Are you crazy Naveed!?'' One of the lizards blurted out and grew red in the face very quickly on receiving the combatants attention. ''I mean... I was really afraid when things were at their worse when we had to make a line and kill those freaky... freaks. I kept thinking about our sick mom.'' She looked at her sister. ''We can't afford to die. I... I kept locking up cause of that.''
''I'll see what I can do to help your dearest parent with her illness,'' Shereen responded, audibly sniffing. ''I don't think... No, I'll see what I can do, I promise. Trust in your Sun.''
''Really!?'' The sister with gray scales who'd been quiet -Yasamin- nearly yelled, Shereen nodded, failing to mask the continuous guilty expression on her face.

''In this case.'' Fortune walked forward, this time decently covered. ''I insist on a celebration. Things might remain tense in Throne Town but what happened is more than worthy enough for celebrations; all of you deserve it.'' Her hand went to pet the slimy girl at her side who beamed with loving happiness.
''I'd say that'd be a great idea.'' Banu, out of all people, actually agreed.

So it was, after a few minutes to collecting anything that hadn't been broken in the struggle and your insistence on gathering trophies (that nobody but you actually wanted), twelve people exiting abandoned grain storage in some forgotten corner outside Marleon, the same number that had gone one a few hours prior. The night outside was cold yet felt immensely satisfying and little chat was happening here and there, the two lizards sisters of the militias were speaking with Banu who had gone and shouldered Shereen's new responsibility of finding an adequate doctor for their ailing mother. Zhu was chatting with Fortune handmaiden, clearly impressed with their battle prowess while you... walked beside Shereen, holding onto your shield, examining your mace and gauntlet: both were fine despite your foray in the Red World.

''Arawn?'' Your little sun was usually so talkative, now she was quiet as the grave, you almost didn't hear her voice.
''Yeah?'' For some reason you weren't feeling tired anymore, just sluggish. A second wind?
Shereen hesitated, curling her hand into a fist that she posed above her heart. ''You're...'' Ah, of course, she wanted to ask about your body. Being asked ''who are you'' kind of sting, even if it's perfectly polite. ''Who are those women you're joined to?''
Your dumbfounded face must have scared her because she retracted quickly. ''I'm sorry you don't have to answer anything.'' Those fluffy ears of hers had completely flattened on her head.

>Be truthful. She's got a glimpse of your soul links, own up.
>Be dismissive. The girls are coming, it'd be safer to keep that as a surprise.
>Free

>>4022480
>Be truthful. She's got a glimpse of your soul links, own up.
Besides, what's the worst that could happen, and getting some answers will helps deflect away from more sensitive topics.

>>4022480
We're still in public aren't we? I kinda want to fess up but not in a place where other people we can't exactly trust will hear it. One link in particular will make us a most enticing target for assassination or ransom.

Also, Shereen reads a lot, I'd like to ask her if our "alternate" form rang any bells for her. Y'know, out of curiosity. Gardy's legends had to have a description of him in them, wonder if she read the tale.

>>4022505
>We're still in public aren't we?
Yeah but you'll speak in a whisper.
So for now we've got two different votes, waiting the usual 20 or so minutes.

>>4022511
Whisper or not, I doubt Shereen's ability to keep quite after hearing "Oh yeah, about that, I'm linked to a Knight of the Storm, an Angel who's an Embodiment's sister, A Mamono Tribal Warrior, and Sieglinde Jawahir/The Demon Lord's firstborn."

That last one will either cause her to blanch in terror, yell out that last name in shock, or otherwise do something we don't want to happen in public.

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>>4022526
I'm sure it'll be fiiiine.

Gonna roll a tiebreaker soon.

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Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>4022497
>>4022505

>>4022563
Just to clarify, I'd also like to ask the other question in private as well. I'm still not sure what happened to our bestest buddy and answering questions from strangers might have adverse effects down the line. Sieg's fears and whatnot.

That pic you posted above with the robot and all those girls pinged a reverse image search. It's from a game where you have to go into a girl's broken mind and help her rebuild/regain her memories. Is something like that what you got planned for us in regards to restoring Gardy's ego?

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>>4022582
Ar No Surge was an inspiration, much like the Ar Tonelico series as a whole. I won't say anything regarding Gardy for now, you've got a piece of his soul and thaT's all you know.

One thing we still need to get around to doing, was explaining to the others about what we have uncovered about the Nun, the missing bodies, the pearl of power and that combined with the fact that we know that the local Cell of Ama's likely has a Necromancer, something serious is going to be happening soon.

>>4022637
We'll probably get an option or two to act while everyone's having a party. Set up an appointment for tomorrow at the very least. Horkus's death probably set back the big nastiness a few days minimum.

Also, just caught Fortune saying things were tense in "Throne Town" INH. I think you meant Muribel/whatever this city is called. Unless she slipped somehow for some reason.

>>4022680
100% slip on my part. I meant Marleon, my brain probably turned off and didn't see that since I wrote the capital name a few lines below.

Good catch.

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Even if words were scarcely above whispers and the group was absorbed in their little conversations, you had to admit to being afraid of being overheard on this topic. Perhaps you can trust these folks -they've certainly proved their valiance today- but if someone forces an answer out of them and they've overheard names they shouldn't have...

Your hesitation made Shereen look like a beaten dog.

''I'll tell you all later, I promise.'' No wiggling out of that one now, seeing that face light up with a little cheer was worth binding yourself. ''Say, Shereen have you read about antiquity?''

''Yeah, the Age of Pretenders...'' Her green gaze peered toward the night sky. All around you was utter darkness, the group had more than enough lamp to project a strong enough light that was likely seen from the capital. ''...It's fascinating. Magic operated with pearls, monsters species had their gods, the landscape was shaped through massive rituals and mankind clung together into a giant city, speaking a single language, spawning a young girl with a prot-!?''

You didn't even need to say anything. Shereen gargled into silence, looking horrified in her astonishment. Normally, such emotions would cause her limbs to grow or perhaps a change in eye colors because of Corruption but here, her physique remained mercifully stable.

''Y-you...'' This world is one of unreasonable happenstance when it comes to Supreme Monsters but having a living piece of antiquity walking beside her was suitably mindblowing, you had to give her a head pat to reactivated her deactivated brain.

''Not entirely him, I remain Arawn Loukanos. It's complicated... Think of it like sharing a title.'' You chuckled. ''But I believe you're smart enough to understand when I say this: You're worth protecting, Shereen. Come what may with our obligations and lives... that's a truth I'll readily embrace.''

For a moment she looked at you as if you sprouted a second head, then those beautiful green eyes filled with a surplus of wetness that made her gulp and fights very, very hard to restrain. Her lips opened with dozens of silent questions that she decided to keep to herself as the group approached the city.

--

What followed was an impromptu celebration that Fortune insisted on hosting, throwing a new wave of worry on her subordinate who now had to handle cooking and delivering all kind of palatable drinks for one of Muribel royal princess and her entourage, four of them being militias whose work consisting of bringing them to justice.

''A toast to being alive!'' Things weren't even prepared when Zhu made this impromptu declaration and, true to her promise, tore into a piece of ham that was dodged by everyone else.

''Did she eat her vanquished foes in the past?'' Banu asked you somberly and you honestly had to pause and think before giving an ominous ''I hope not'' in response.

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Her mood, however -the simple joy of being alive- was undeniably shared by the militias and Fortune handmaiden. The leader herself contented herself with overseeing things happily, watching from a table by her lonesome whilst her people mingled. Random folks were invited to make things interesting, hobbyist musicians played flutes and lutes, things slowly but surely became an animated party that had you, Banu and Shereen si by yourselves as Zhu occupied the table next over by herself with enough food to nourish a squad.

As Fortune predicted, your crow had awakened to a mighty hunger. She couldn't celebrate or pick a fight, too busy scarfing down her weight in food.

You had to admit to feeling a little awkward. Parties like that aren't something you've seen often and you didn't have any ideas what to do, of course, you were happy that everyone was fine and alive but you didn't know how to celebrate it.

Strong and silent type, yeah. Surely that's appealing, right?

''Would it be impolite if I ask to join?'' This voice belonged to the archer Naveed who, holding onto a plate of food, had made his way toward your table to seemingly escape the three ladies sharing his colors, they were throwing a dangerous kind of self-righteous glare that aroused ideas of potentially scorned romance. Scary.

''Weh? Oh... okay.'' Shereen was completely lost in thoughts and barely looked at him as he took a seat beside you.

Hm... maybe you can try dragging Shereen along and get to know some people... Or do something else.

>For now, things are open, you can get to know some folks if you'd like or do something else entirely.

>Get to know those young folks from the militias. This was one hell of a traumatizing fight and they're looking surprisingly well.

>See if you can get to know some of Fortune handmaidens. Without them, things would have been hopeless indeed, their strength likely equal that of your precious friends.

>Have a chat with Fortune. Perhaps you can learn something about the strange gift she named herself after?

>Propose a game of Truth and lies with your current audience to pass the time? (A simple thing that consists of telling one truth mixed with two lies, players need to guess what is true.)

>Free (Speaking about potentially serious topic is also fine, you can find a spot alone.)

>>4022846
>Magic operated with pearls
Oh, so those pearls are artifacts from the pretender age like the Shiki knife. Well now, no wonder they're important. If they allow one to wield magical might on par with the greatest mages or even gods of that age than holy hell there are few lengths those lusting for power wouldn't go to in order to attain one. A deal with Ama or the ruin of an entire nation is but a small price to pay for such an artifact if you're evil enough. She wasn't kidding about their importance then. I guess she did tell us a truth in exchange for a memory. Still not gonna trust her for shit though.

So it's just us, Shereen, and Naveed right now correct? Do we have food? What's available? Anybody looking lonely?

>>4022887
> I guess she did tell us a truth in exchange for a memory. Still not gonna trust her for shit though.
But, as you said, she told the truth and nothing but the truth!

>So it's just us, Shereen, and Naveed right now correct?
Banu can also be added to your little collective if you want, she was taking some fresh air outside.
>Do we have food? What's available?
Matters of hunger can be considered over and done with. There are all kinds of meat, pastries, alcohol, and juices (for Shereen). Fortune isn't a cheap one.
>Anybody looking lonely?
Fortune and Francine (slime) are by their lonesomes. Otherwise, nobody else looks lonely.

>>4022905
Then let us grab a single craft beer (because Arawn ain't a pansy elf but we ain't getting drunk in public), nab Banu, and get to know Fortune and the Shoggoth. They are one of my favorite monstergirl types after all.

Will we get another choice after that before the festivities end?

>>4022923
>Will we get another choice after that before the festivities end?

Maybe. There's so many options available that I didn't note down all possible things, so this is a case of writing without planning. We'll move onto more important things no matter what but don't let that weight you down now.

I'd still like to wait my usual 20 minutes for another vote, there's plenty of things that can be done after all.

>>4022923
Ah, I need to ask for a precision.

Do you mean to bring along Shereen and/or Naveed along as you find the Shoggoth and Fortune? Or go alone?

>>4022939
Bring the whole gang. Why not after all? We need to celebrate!

>>4022963
Oh, whole gang includes Banu. Shereen, Naveed, Banu, and us.

>>4022963
Alright. I caught a sudden wave of drowsiness so I think it'll be better for me to end things tonight and continue tomorrow. Celebrations oughta be written with a clearer head. If there are no other votes in about an hour consider your choice locked.
Fight ended too early aaaah.

>>4022972
We got balls lucky dude, killing Horkus was a "save or die" roll I assume and we made the save so that was that.

Still think a Super Robot theme would have fit that scene better. We did triumph over a great and ancient evil after all. That needed something victorious and hot blooded! Not knocking it though, still enjoyed it immensely.

>>4023009
Once the thread is over I'll feel more free to discuss that Horkus fight in broader term. For now let's enjoy the party tomorrow.

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The plain truth about your avoidance of the festivity was simple enough, you still couldn't bring yourself to fully trust your circumstance. Fortune idle comment about Marleon situation had inevitably gotten you thinking about your general situation: the nuns, the looming gang war, Shereen family, your friend's eventual arrival, the pearls of power, Lady White game... Shereen sudden problem with Corruption had caught everyone by surprise, yet it almost felt like fate meddled its hand in complicating matters then outright tried killing everyone involved.

Horkus was a creature from a bygone era that somehow attached itself to Shereen and... it was dead. Your little sun was completely free from its influence, all the victims of that piggish freaks could finally find some kind of peace. It hadn't truly dawned on you.

This ragtag bunch levied the very same day killed one of the twelve princes of hell from a bygone era. Why or how it had been waiting in ambush inside Shereen soul is something to worry about later; you need to allow yourself celebrations... if only to make your little sun stop worry, too. It seems she's sharing this trait with you.

''Oh, something caught your eye?'' As Naveed finished his meal and spoke with Shereen about potential doctors he knew in the city, his words changed into a question as you rose to your feet.

''You could say that. You three stay here.'' Banu had soundlessly returned from a small open balcony, Zhu was unfortunately caught in a food coma, passed out on her table. ''I won't be long.''

As you walked forward, Mojgan passed by, slithering through the crowd to navigate toward the trio of guardswomen who were being hassled by a trio of men -a surprising numbers of males had shown up, perhaps attracted by the fact Fortune was throwing a genuine party- and made your way toward the bar where a most unusual person stood by her lonesome.

''Hey, Francine?'' She wasn't handling drinks, the sheer uniqueness of her physique had attracted your attention and you could easily tell that folks actively stayed away from her. Are people so easily intimidated by a bunch of tendrils? Pah! ''Want to come with me and keep Fortune company? I'd like to ask you guys a few things, get to know each other after today.'' Her silence made you feel awkward so you reached for a pint and downed a particularly bitter drink; the feeling of warm alcohol burning down your throat was pleasant but the taste of ale was awful. Yuck.

Francine didn't answer, her posture looked incredibly straight and rigid because she'd modified her body naturally huge mass into a proper humanoid form sporting almost natural-looking clothes straight out of Priscilla squad of maids.

Nostalgia made you smile. How quaint. The style of a true maid is universal.

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Francine's body was honestly fascinating to observe. Undulation and mutations seemed to happen at random throughout her frame like Shereen occasional metamorphosis. Glowing yellow orbs would sprout on her body, often opening her uniform like flaps of silks then retract after a few moments, her ponytail swung back and forth with tail-like momentum and mouths would form on the areas outside her main body randomly, coming and going incessantly; it was an existence in a constant state of flux, a living giant patch of corruption with its living mind. Perhaps the most monstrous type of Mamonos you've laid your eyes on.

Francine lower body clenched and gained solidity as she peered over your shoulder. Glowing yellow eyes -genuine bioluminescence- inside completely darkened scleras looked toward the mistress you mentioned and, remaining tongue-tied, the slime-girl nodded and followed you as you made your way toward the other side of the room once more, ignoring the stares you inevitably collected by having the oddest individual of the entire place on your trail.

Fortune had plenty of time to witness your arrival. She had changed into a dress similar to the one she wore when you first encountered her, except completely white instead of blue and had found a replacement veil to regain her lost mystique. ''Would you like our presence, Fortune?'' You asked as you hovered near a seat, the maidenly slime slithered away from your side to stand at her mistress side.

''Of course.'' Fortune straightened her spine. Outside the crystal ball, her table was empty. ''Mayhap I should have hosted quieter festivities.''

As you waved toward Shereen, Naveed and Banu, you decided to begin a discussion with the gang leader. Fortune hand was petting the dark maid head who almost looked like a happy pet as her ponytail swung behind her neck happily.

''Please excuse me if I'm being rude, Fortune, but I'd like to ask... how did you come to know Francine?'' Hearing her name caused a few yellow orbs to pop out of the maid shoulder to observe you as her main eyes remained closed.

''Hm...'' Fortune paused, waiting for people to sit. Shereen took your right, Naveed was on the left and Banu opted to remain standing. ''...She is of a most unusual race, are you perchance worried about her health? Those constant mutations are exactly as you think; Corruption almost laid bare but there's nothing to worry about.''

Stopping her ministration, Fortune waited for Banu to finally take a seat and smiled at her audience; the veil on her face wasn't going to hide her softening facial traits.

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''I've encountered this lost child last year and decide to take care of her despite my situation, not exactly a complicated tale and as you see, Francine isn't able to talk. I don't exactly know the exact circumstances surrounding her birth and how I found her inside the ruins of a village that's been emptied since the rebellion... Mayhap it was an act of fate or a kindly spirit had given the girl enough strength to survive by her lonesome. That's how I came to know Francine, I was the one to give her name.'' The slime nodded, opening in her uniforms happening here and there as ripples broke the solidity of her solid frame. Was it excitement?

''You have a good heart,'' Naveed said, looking at the mistress and her maid. ''Helping someone like this, giving her a home when they have nothing is compassion worthy of the Sun.''

A soft scoff exiting the veiled fortune teller, sounding much more like embarrassment than rude dismissing. ''Let's say that I try. Slimes are perhaps the most unfortunate type of Mamonos because... the reason why people avoid them has merit. Their bodies are primarily made of Corruption, it seeps into their souls and regresses them into little more than animals. Those few who can be considered humans are exceedingly rare... and I'm happy that Francine has been doing well.'' Fortune didn't hide the affection in her eyes and the slime smiled back happily, although her expression was a little too wide to be natural and unfortunately ended up looking creepy. ''Her body naturally consume and break down magic, feel free to give her a meal whenever you want, Arawn.''

You nearly choked on your own saliva, Fortune delivered this last sentence with such a seductive tone... Naveed burst out laughing but stopped quickly on seeing Shereen pouty face.

''I'll, huh, think about it. I think she's doing more than well in your company.'' Francine looked at you quizzically, tilting her head and perhaps misunderstanding something, waved one of her tendrils at you.

''All in due time. Now that I've been graced with the pleasure of good company, how can I help my guests enjoy their evenings?'' Fortune interlocked her fingers together, resting elbows and breasts on the table, looking so naturally seductive that it was almost enough to forget your mishap in the Red World.

>Once more, things are very open in these circumstances.

>Fortune is proposing to host a little session of card reading to interpret people souls. That could be an interesting way to pass the time.
>Play a game on the table. Try your luck with dices or perhaps something like Truth and Lies... some wagers should make things fun.
>The party is still going strong. You might not have any talents with dancing but that's not an excuse to avoid participating, how about inviting someone. (Who?)
>Continue the personal discussion, there's a good mood on the table... (Precise who)
>Free

>>4024978
Can we mix any of the choices with petting Francine? We have a record to live up to after all.

>>4025048
Go wild. Things might go in an unexpected direction but hey, trying is better than nothing!

>>4024978
Ok then, we ask, politely, if we may pet Francine. Kinda torn between a game of dice and that fortune telling she's offering. What would each on entail?

>>4025118
Dice game will be a bonding experience over what numbers you and your friends get, perhaps things can go in a similar direction to that peculiar game you had in Sieglinde room.

Card reading will have Fortune do a little session of reading everyone's soul and describe either their immediate future or perhaps what ''kind'' of personality they have. Fortune telling is hard to grasp but it could be fun, if not poignant, activity to do with present company.

>>4025144
Because I want to see what happens, let's go with the dice game. I do wonder what these people will wager. We still ask to pet Francine though, excessively/disturbing to the general public exotic bits never slowed us down before, just ask Gwen!

>>4025167
Hm, I see. I'll give your vote it's usual 20 minutes wait, let's see where things go.

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Alright, guess it's time for a game of dice. Let's see how people from the southern country hold up against your ungodly luck...
Was expecting card reading but this is fine too.

>>4025252
Card reading is static and would tell us things we mostly already know. Dice, however, dice may reveal a side to these fine folks we have yet to see.

Just to clarify, they can't ask for anything unreasonable can they? Y'know, we can't wager the thing in our pocket or tell them "what" we are other than a recommendation to "read some history" right?

>>4025275
If Zhu wasn't passed out in a food-induced stupor you could reasonably expect unreasonable things. Things should remain fairly safe... depending on what you ask if you win.

>>4025286
Yep, I thought Zhu would do that if she was up. She'd ask us to put our hand in her cleavage or to hand her our V-card ASAP. Guess those crit fails worked out for us. May she never experience them again.

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''With a game of dice.''

Perhaps this would be an answer you regret, neither girls or man expecting to hear this and you earned more than enough set of confused stares that you wondered if they even knew what it was!

''Oh...?'' An amused chuckle followed as Banu, of all people, actually looked enthused by the idea. ''A game of wagers and dares based on dices result? I've played something like that once.''

''As long as things remain reasonable, why not?'' the way she leaned forward to look at you with that single intense eye was genuinely starting to make you regret this idea. Why is she so intense!?

''I have what we need in my room, give me a moment.'' Fortune stepped away, waving at her slimy maid to remain and find a seat of her own. As the music continues to spread throughout the hall grand hall of this room and people kept dancing around to forget their troubles, the tall fortune teller disappeared in the crowd with ominous ease.

''What's that all about?'' Shereen asked. ''Dice, as in... that game commoners use to lose their pay?''

''Something like that.'' Rolling dice didn't seem popular in Muribel, you haven't seen many instances during your explorations. ''What I'd like to do here is to wagers... favors or, as Banu said, dares instead of money.''

''Dares...'' Shereen furred finger tapped her chin. ''This means I can ask my Moon to become my servant for, like, this evening? And make Naveed cooperate in that endeavor?'' The young man choked on the drink he was guzzling down.

You already were a servant! ''I suppose if you win it... wouldn't be possible.'' Sweet Mother, it was good to see Shereen have a genuine smile but that sadistic expression was genuinely unsettling.

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Then an empty wooden cup filled with six dice was slammed on the table as Fortune had already snuck back. ''Leaving things to unpredictable chances is looking better by the moments.'' Said the gang leader, her brilliant eyes shining with a fearsome competitive glint. Oi, this is a friendly game!

''Well... I do suppose... we'll all be equal in fate whims.'' Poor Naveed was still stuck coughing, making his voice annoyingly high. ''I think it'll be fair if Arawn has a game with everyone else first.''

''Hold up, last time I played things went that way because I was the only guy. If you want to throw me to the wolves you gotta follow me since I'm not the only dude now.'' This bloody guy! You got lucky back in Throne Town but doing it again sounds... unwise. Naveed was obviously trying to avoid embarrassing losses by painting a target on your back.

''I think that's a good idea.'' Banu supported him, ack damn it all! ''You've proposed the game, show us how it's done.''

''I concur,'' Fortune added her weight to this pile-up, that wasn't an argument anymore. ''A hero of iron can shoulder this little setback.''

Francine sat sagely in silence, her smile constant like a painting, glowing yellow eyes observing everything with mirthful, but calm, enthusiasm.

...These people are gonna swallow this bullying once they experience your luck!

>Choose your first opponent (Naveed, Shereen, Banu, Fortune, and Francine) [5d6]
>Think of something to do if you do win.

Rolled 2, 3, 2, 6, 6 = 19 (5d6)

>>4025391
Let's see if I still have it.
>Naveed
If we win we should ask about the process of Corpse Disposal here in Marleon.
If we wanted to go further we may want to request his help with Zhu, if we need to deal with her when she wakes up later on.

Rolled 6, 2, 3, 2, 3 = 16 (5d6)

>>4025461
That... is a surprising demand.

Rolled 5, 5, 4, 3, 4 = 21 (5d6)

>>4025391
>Francine
We wish to pet her and examine her tendrils. We are undaunted by her slimy nature!

>>4025466
>>4025461
Welp, both of those beat my rolls.

Let's lock thing here, you guys can chosoe between beating Naveed or Francine.

>>4025471
Let's go with Francine, questions can always come later.

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>>4025477
Your fate is locked.

>>4025471
I naturally support my own roll/choice. It has been too long since we got to earnestly indulge in our favorite vice, exotic monstergirl bits!

>>4025480
Oh, forgot to mention this, but she feeds off of magic right? Be sure to inform her that we are literally tapped out. Like, y'know, in cartoons where you turn the faucet on and sand comes out. Puah, yeah, bone dry. Please be gentile you lovely Shoggoth, we were so lucky to not overcast back there with the Daemon!

>>4025492
You gotta embrace Focus to lose any magic first, so you've got nothing to fear here.

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And thus the first game of the night started, the clattering of dice was quick and efficient; Francine didn't look to know what she was going into but she shook that cup vigorously and lost gracefully.

''Alright.'' You tried your best to be graceful in victory too, even if the ladies looked at you dejectedly and Naveed seemed to have lost some confidence. ''As my first victory, I'll be giving Francine a headpat.''

''Headpat?''
''Headpat...''
''Headpat.''

The three ladies echoed that word with surprising synchrony whilst Francine looked at the result with visible confusion, tilting her head. She observed you silently, a few eyes sprouting on her shoulders, lifting herself off the table to stand a full head below you.

''Are you alright with that?'' All the eyes on you were rattling your confidence. Francine tilted her head again, keeping her hands on her belly and leaned her head toward you. That was as good as a signal as you'd need.

Putting your hand her scalp revealed immediately the hair was an evident extension of her body instead of normal, silky-looking fluff. It was warm and solid to your touch almost like skin, except completely smooth and very, very soft. Contrary to your belief and the extreme flexibility she showed in combat, touching her didn't cause any springing effect, Francine head mimicked the solidity of a skull and thus you could travel downward toward the back of her neck, meeting the same uniform consistency even if you ended up rubbing her white turtleneck.

''Mh...'' France had closed her eyes to the touch, her ponytail crawled around your arm like a snake. Leaning into your head caused her neck to bend at a wholly inorganic angle that didn't cause her any discomfort, dribble of fleshes coming out of her head slowly crawled on your fingers as if slowly engulfing your limb inside her body. The parts of her dress that touched your body peeled off and tapped your legs like a fish flippers, a mouth suddenly formed at the beginning of her spine and a single long tongue came out to lick your hand.

Hovering tendrils that came out of her nest of flesh on the ground wiggled around fruitlessly, you extended a finger toward one and it was promptly enrolled in warm, flexible dark purple flesh that soon enough began to crawl toward your wrist.

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Rolled 3, 4, 4, 1, 1 = 13 (5d6)

Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating, this body isn't slimy at all, she can metamorphose everything and the general temperature of her entire body is uniform and dry.

''Is that a heart?'' Hearing that brought you out of your reverie. A small hole on Francine body had peeled open to reveal a brightly colored pink...? It promptly disappeared when the slime-maid registered everyone stares.

''Oh, she showed her core...'' Fortune chuckled. ''...You might want to lock your door tonight.''

''I huh... I'm not at all meaning anything untoward.'' You reluctantly let go of the somber-looking girl and she let out a whine, the messy mass of chaotic flesh that was her feet crawled above one of your foot.

Hopefully, that was an absentminded gesture.

''Y-you're supposed to have lost Francine, this is looking like victory to me!'' Showing hints of redness on her cheeks, your little Sun had slammed her hands on the table and reached to grab the cup of dices. Beside her, Banu observed you in silent, judgemental disapproval and Naveed... He gave you a quiet thumb up.

''I think I see the appeal.'' He said then looked back toward his comrades, perhaps feeling their stares. All three girls were observing what was happening, pretending to keep Zhu company who was barely regaining consciousness.

''Shut up, wait your turn!'' Shereen barked. ''You damn lusty Moon, I'll show you... roll for your life!''

>No willing out of this one. Roll that 5d6

Rolled 5, 4, 3, 4, 4 = 20 (5d6)

>>4025621
Let's see...

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>>4025632
Three of a kind is pretty good but two pairs still beat it.

I'll only allow one other roll for this, you guys got the devil luck.

>>4025646
If we're going by poker rules 3 of a kind beats a two pair. Granted, it's literally the next highest hand above it but that's what it is.

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>>4025652
Haha, you're right. I think this is a sign that I should stop tonight before my writing get affected too much, let's hope petting the Shoggoth was rewarding.

How are you going to handle this victory over Shereen?

>>4025670
I'll have to think about it. We *barely* beat her and Banu will break our legs if we go full bore with our vice. Plus the whole "living deity" complication. Was she Jelly of the Shoggoth getting a headpat?

Good to know Francine likes us however. Though perhaps our heroics made her swoon a bit too much for our comfort given how we're still trying to keep our V-card ATM. There's a reason heroes get the girls after all. Also did she just do her version of sliding her foot up our leg?

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>>4025703
>Was she Jelly of the Shoggoth getting a headpat?
Yes.
>Also did she just do her version of sliding her foot up our leg?
Yes.
In this case, though it's more like having a blanket of flesh crawling over your foot.
It's far too soon to claim things like swooning, let's stay she enjoyed the pat and since she's treated like a walking biohazard, those aren't given often.

>>4025721
Then, like those who found Gwen's appearance disturbing, they lack culture and perspective. She clearly isn't leaking raw corruption everywhere she goes involuntarily so why fear her? She's also clearly sentient as well. Perhaps not super smart or anything but sentient nonetheless. Perhaps Shereen can give her reading and writing courses. Shouldn't be too hard for her to make a flat tendril with writing embedded somehow upon it so that she may finally "speak" in some form.

Can we fuse a headpat with a request? Like, give Shereen a headpat and ask her if she'd like to try to teach Francine how to read, write, and in so doing, allow her to communicate despite her inability to speak?

>>4025792
>Can we fuse a headpat with a request? Like, give Shereen a headpat and ask her if she'd like to try to teach Francine how to read, write, and in so doing, allow her to communicate despite her inability to speak?

Well, the game isn't really about long or far-reaching ''dares''. Headpatting Shereen for her loss is good enough but the latter isn't something that can be quickly taken care of. You're just playing a game after all, so ordering something wacky and/or lightly humiliating can work too show some guts. I can come up with something to take care of Shereen loss tomorrow, though I honestly think this is a great opportunity for you guys to be creative and mess around.

So to answer your question, I'd say no. It's not really in line with the silly spirit of the dice game.

>>4025830
Hmm... Then I'd ask her what she'd have her moon do while keeping in mind that she lost. Thus, we imply, that she reward us like she thought we did to Francine in beating her.

I do wonder what she'll do with that. It's also a final test from my paranoid side. If she passes she's a most rare soul indeed. They say power corrupts and they're right, and yet...

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>>4025850
>Hmm... Then I'd ask her what she'd have her moon do while keeping in mind that she lost. Thus, we imply, that she reward us like she thought we did to Francine in beating her.

How interesting, actually giving away your privilege and forcing her to imagine her own punishment... Hmm... I'll have to think about that one. Voting and suggestions are still open until tomorrow afternoon, so your choice won't be the final say.

Rolled 4, 1, 5, 3, 6 = 19 (5d6)

>>4025621
Just going to see how the second roll looks.

>>4026887
Damn, that's one hell of a roll. I've begun writing with the one choice above but ti seems like our little sun was fated to lose.

>>4026887
Shit, if that 1 had been a 2 it'd be the best possible hand/roll.

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The clattering of dices followed as silent wagers of fate were made between lord and servant, resulting in collective stupefaction when your second victory was unveiled.

''What would you have your Moon do with his victory?''

A wave of complete confusion washed over Shereen ire as she stared at you dumbfounded, an expression that also became shared -albeit to a lesser degree- by the table of curious players. she looked at her result, then to you, then back at the table, ears twitching.

''Do not dare take pity upon your sun, it is my loss I... I need to accept my fate with grace!'' She said, thoroughly failing to mask her anger and dejection.

''Is my Sun afraid of choosing her punishment? I suppose another headpat will do...'' Since you had stayed beside Francine to answer Shereen's challenge, the Anubis was forced to round the table as she stomped her way next to you, craning her neck upward at an uncomfortable level to look to you.

''Fine then, I'll treat this as my victory since that's what you're implying!''

''Is it?'' You couldn't resist a cheeky grin as she trembled in frustration. ''I remain your Moon no matter the circumstances.'' Her twitch was akin to receiving a sucker punch. This is starting to get dangerously fun.

''One...'' She muttered, whisper unfortunately drowned by the surrounding music that had reached a crescendo marking a song end. Her hand reached up to tug your sleeved so you bent down to hear her properly.

''Be my throne for a while, give me... carry me in a way befit my station!'' Spoken in a high-pitched squeak, eyes closed and standing on her tiptoes, Shereen looked so adorably embarrassed that she undeniably absorbed your share.

''Got it.'' You grinned, your smug expression being the first thing she saw made her immediately worry but you didn't wait for her to changed her mind. You gently grabbed Shereen Roshanak, second princess of Muribel, blessed by the blood of the godly Pharaoh and overall third most important person in the entire realm in your arms.

She had a surprising amount of weight despite her diminutive stature

''Yiip!?'' She yelped, furred legs kicking around. Thankfully still dressed decently, Shereen tried to hug herself in a way that looked almost painful as you carried her like the princess she was; you immediately noticed that the music had grown quiet.

It wasn't because of what you just did. The musicians were taking a break and so, of course, hearing one of their country living god making a mouse squeak gathered many curious eyes, which colored Shereen face in such a thorough shade of red it looked ready to burst.

This girl has a genuine talent for self-sabotage.

''O...Ooohohoho! Do not be-be mindful of your Sun my de-dear friends!'' She suddenly tugged on your collar and whispered. ''Get me closer!''

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Of course, you complied and approached the crowd who had been previously trying their best to ignore the presence of royalty. A few began to move to drop on their knees. ''Nooononono it's okay!'' Shereen said, swinging her arms and legs as you carried her closer; her mind was undeniably working on raw instinct alone because she absentmindedly reached a furred hand to pet the head of a close-by Mamono, the poor girl looked almost ready to die of confusion.

''Tonight is a moment of celebration, do not mind the presence of your Sun; being surrounded by happy people is the best way to honor us yes, yes. You are all blessed folks, I-we-we dearly hope tonight is one to remember, though don't go exhausting our lovely bards!'' Her legs swung around like a child while her arms reached for nearby people, be they humans or monsters, to shake any hands that dared reached forward. You spotted more than a few derisive smirks -especially coming from the men- but you swallowed the urge to punch people as Shereen graceless gesticulations continued, so thoroughly overwhelmed by emotions that she's gone and laid herself emotionally bare before the people.

''Yeah!'' Near the bar stood a drunken manticore lifting a large mug above her head. ''For the Sun!''

Thus was the ice broke and a toast followed throughout the establishment. ''For the Sun!'' People said together and festivities restarted as the musicians began a new, spirited folk song.

Shereen tugged your collar again. ''Balcony! Fresh air!''

Returning at the game is going to wait. Zhu had also joined the others and you preferred to avoid looking at Banu. If... Nah, you didn't do anything wrong... right?

Still unwilling to move out of your arms, Shereen managed to recenter herself after you stood on the small balcony and closed the door with your foot, immediately muffling the noise of festivity into a bothersome brouhaha. The sight was one of Marleon sleeping in the night, darkness occasionally kept at bay by lamps and torches made the main road almost look serpentine. Not a soul in sight and, thankfully, Muribel oppressive heat had been replaced by comfortable freshness, likely brought by the sea.

''Uaaah...'' Shereen whined, vigorously rubbing her eyes. ''...That was stupiiiid!''

'Not at all, you took your loss with grace.'' Spirited green eyes pierced you with disapproval.

''Aren't you a prince? Next time, come up with a good speech!'' She huffed, crossing her arm, looking toward the lonely city nightscape.

The air was refreshing, you aren't a man for parties so the heat and some of that many people inside a building had been eroding your endurance and patience bit by bit.

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''Say, Arawn.'' Shereen spoke, keeping her gaze firmly locked on the boring view outside, it didn't look like she wanted you to put her down either. ''Do you resent being my Moon?''

She already had an answer earlier today, it was obvious how much this single question kept eating at her. ''Of course not, Shereen. I'll admit, I hate the concept of slavery and everything behind the implications of what a Moon is.'' Her lips tightened. ''But I'm not resenting my position -and my time- with you.''

''Will you... do you think you could continue to help me even if you meet with your friends?'' You couldn't refrain a grimace and that caused Shereen expression to drop. This was... a touchy subject to be sure. you went and dodged speaking about your soul links earlier but it was undeniable that she knew about it and, likewise, those four stalwart women knew of Shereen's existence. They're the ones who pulled you up during Horkus domination.

''I want to believe that everyone will be able to cooperate.'' You answered after a moment of awkward silence. ''I'm... I've been having fun here, with you, in Muribel. Despite everything going on, all of my worries and all the dangerous implications that surround us, I've been feeling this positive sense of purpose... that I'm not sure how to place. I don't think I would have been able to meet Zhu without you.'' You took a long breath, gazing down into those gorgeous green eyes; your heart was beating faster, your face felt hot and you couldn't stop smiling.

This sensation was starting to become familiar. ''I'll believe helping you and meeting them isn't mutually exclusive.''

''Okay.'' Shereen ears perked upright. ''I'll help you find them if I can. It's important for me to be a good host, so...'' One of her furred hand reached for your neck, caressing your skin with soft, warm, dark fur, forcing you to repress a laugh as it felt ticklish. ''Your collar broke after your transformation. I'll be giving you a fake one once we return to the palace, so will Zhu. I don't need coercion to keep my Moons, not after today.''

Just like that... one of your worries melted away. On seeing your expression, Shereen smirked, new blossom of red settling on her tanned cheeks. ''I'm a good Sun, yeah?''

>You won't have a better opportunity to talk about your soul links. You promised to speak about the girls you are tied to, do so now.

>You should return to the party... perhaps you can play one more game.

>Free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIoSypI7ONQ