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Klesiah magical reserves: 10%
Shereen magical reserves: 30%
Arawn magical reserves: 50%
Mina magical reserves: 70% (She can use all of her capabilities in battles)

Convincing Adam of your plan happened only when Mina showed her adaptable height and capabilities in levitating inside their small room whilst lifting a quiet Leena in her arms, only after that display did Magitek Man support the strategy (and apologized about his stubbornness). Of course, she wouldn't be able to filter through walls with a little girl in her arms but that was something to handle when the time comes.

Adam and Mina will be making their way into the warehouse once the fighting begins. If fate allows, at least.

Now... all you had to do was wait. It didn't ease the tension but, in a way, you and the girls had found some kind of equilibrium with your incoming trials. Shereen didn't look so hostile now, having let out her emotions and found understanding with the people around her had undeniably done wonders to lift the weight on her shoulders, coupled with her calibrated corruption and the end of Horkus nasty influence, you knew she was alright when she caught your stare and returned you a gentle smile.

Zhu, always one to shift around in near-constant excitement, was sitting sagely, one hand on her heavenly artifact, waiting -perhaps even resting- for what was going to be a busy evening. You could only hope you've paid four years of interests by now and while she's undeniably a wild card when it comes to battle, she should understand that fighting Ari'el isn't going to be the ''fight of her life'' you've promised her in the past... Hopefully. Her talent with that blade will be vital soon.

Hildegarde remained an enigma of stoicism that made Banu look like a happy grandma. She stood a meter away from everyone, keeping a keen ear on what was happening with the party whilst simultaneously listening to what was happening outside: guards kept yelling to herd people outside and enough handbells rang to make it near impossible for anyone to find out about your party, but she left nothing to chance. Her talents need no proof anymore, Anais Swanhil Wilhelmina bodyguard is a dedicated, fearsome woman indeed... You should have known that the moment you got her out of that strange icy desolation of shades. How did she even survive in there? She was imprisoned for at least a day.

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And finally, there was Klesiah who, unlike everyone you've been linked to, had to endure an entire year under Ama thumb. It doesn't seem like the witch had been particularly cruel, nothing like outright torture seems to have happened but... you can only wonder how the witch constant trials affected her. Klesiah heart had hardened, even if her core remained this stalwart, almost idealistically kind, knightly lady you've felt enough of her emotions to know that she wouldn't mind being drenched in blood to accomplish her duty; namely, supporting you. Her attitude with the bandits -former comrades- told as much, how will she handle peace again?

Perhaps Mina has been her saving grace during that time.

''My lord?'' It seems she hasn't grown out of that habit yet, despite your constant reminder. ''I would like to speak with Leena, I think trying to know her is important.''

''Mh...'' Nobody knew how much time there was until ''the world imposed itself'' as that kid said, Ama had decided to make her the center of her game... What was her reason? Leena looked to be an unfortunate child, would the witch take advantage of a little girl so insidiously? ''...I'd like to know her too.'' You settled on this response, prompting a smile to rest on your knight.

''Then let's try a little exercise.'' She scooted closer, making her armor rattle gently. ''And no, there won't be any need of magic. Our link should allow us to synchronize, Mina had an idea you see... Shereen, could you also come?''

Your little sun obeyed the request in silent puzzlement, allowing Klesiah to gently grabbed one of her furred hands, she did the same with you, forcing your fingers to interlock. ''Next, you'll need to detach that gauntlet and hold Shereen hand and remake your temporary soul links...''

Klesiah explained a quick, simple ritual, soon making you feel dumb to not have thought about it. By internalizing and visiting your knight soulscape with Shereen you could traverse the spiritual bridge linking her with Mina and share senses with the divine elemental, all without needing to consume a drop of magic: the infrastructure was already constructed, so to speak, by your first visit today. Of course, this would make a rather precarious equilibrium -three will remain difficult to handle- so this shared perception will stop if Mina makes too many sharp movements in quick successions unless you reinforce foundations with actual magic.

Cooperation truly is a wonderful thing. Shereen was very eager to participate, leading into Klesiah feeling no end of welcoming, amicable warmth toward your little sun.

''It should work... it'd make communications easier too.'' Klesiah allowed herself to puff with a little pride. This was likely the very first time in her life that she taught you anything related to magic. ''All of us hold hands and stay in harmony under Father Sky all-knowing, benevolent gaze...''

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Concentration was a skill you taught yourself after all of your magical exercises, finding the proper equilibrium for Shereen demanded a little time as always but soon enough, synchronized Internalisation happened and you soon proceeded into Klesiah dreamy landscape to travel into a bridge of rainbow cobblestones...

...and your viewpoint changed. Opening your eyes allowed you to keep your gaze into the dreary darkness of the warehouse but closing them completely changed your presence in the world: such a sudden, sharp contrast was enough to almost cause vertigo, thankfully there wasn't any other side effect. Shereen and Klesiah hands remained your anchor in Mother Earth realm to handle this changed perspective.

''Are you okay?'' A soft-spoken voice asks hesitantly, Leena is sitting on a crate, legs dangling, looking to you -to Mina- worriedly.

Your head goes up and down without any conscious thoughts. You are looking through Mina eyes; a passenger she allows inside her head. It will take some getting used to... but communicating will be much easier and intimate now. It's a blessing that Mina has taken a more regular height, the sharp change in the word were she to become sparrow-sized could... be difficult to handle.

You, Shereen, and Klesiah wills all streamed together into one uniform river flowing into the divine elemental essence with you as the ''core'' because of your position as host of many soul links. Your strong feelings would inevitably ripple into everyone but as usual, there was still enough distance to conserve individualism thank to holding onto each other physically, there was also no hint of Mina's inner beings to be felt... was it because she and Klesiah were separate entities despite inhabiting one body?

''Communication with your anchor makes you look a little aloof.'' That was Adam, his voice had a naturally grave tone to it even as he whispered and you finally got a good look at him.

He's a tall broad-shouldered man. His entire body beside his head was clad inside an armor of white metal (aside from all the pieces of Magitek he preciously wore, they adjusted into the armor somewhat awkwardly). Heavy pauldrons gave his arms and face further protection and a strange material lined his chest, seemingly replacing the metal. Dark blue fiber stood out, covering the front side of his chest, descending into his grown whilst right in the middle of his body was a purplish ornament that looked similar to a starfish, his runic belt had also been clasped on his waist. His helmet was on a nearby crate, sculpted in an almost insect-like fashion from a mixture of silver, white metal, and gold. The eyes were big, round purple protuberance that jutted out, almost by mistake, out of this otherwise elegantly weird piece.

Coupled with his independent pieces of magiteks, this entire armor looked... mismatched. What an odd, fascinating thing.

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The room this trio stood in looked similar to a small bedroom with a small high up window as a singular source of light. With approaching nightfall, Mina multicolored bioluminescence was becoming an agreeable source of light.

Holding up a shiny finger, the divine elemental used her usual method to communicate by writing in the ether of the world, this time in a pretty leafy green color. ''Do not worry.'' You could feel each movement resonating right into your limbs. ''I would like to know you, Leena. I'm sure you understand we have many questions, would you be comfortable with speaking about yourself?''

''Mmmh...'' The girl hesitated, green gaze looking at the roof. ''...Does it matter?'' She asked in turn, looking hesitant.

''Yes.'' Adam commented. In his armor, he forced himself to move carefully as he lowered himself on a makeshift bed to avoid making noises. ''You've been targeted by a witch, can you think of any reason? Do you think your parents caught the fox's attention?'' He measured his voice and words to avoid making her uncomfortable.

''Not really.'' Leena answered casually, rolling a strand of long wild hair around a finger. ''Mom and dad aren't here anymore, they were dragged into the evil garden beneath the church and haven't come out for a long time.'' With the multicolored hue of Mina luminescence, Leena dark face showed a moment of sadness. ''It's okay, because today is when things end'' She commented in a singsong tone and you buried your urge to ask her some precision about that ''garden.''

''Is that what the witch promised?'' Adam continued quietly, Mina stopped writing a response midway.

''Mmhm.'' Leena agreed, swinging her legs playfully and, realizing her volume, touched her lips to remind herself to keep a whispery voice. ''I'm happy it wasn't the bad player that got me because my part in the game would have ended very quickly otherwise, but it'll still bring an ending too so that'd be alright.''

You felt something akin to a spiritual cold sweat at the implications, Mina finger shone in green. ''Arawn and Adam are good players, weren't you scared to be found out by the bad ones?''

''You guys won't let anything bad happen now, right?'' Leena flashed a cocky grin. ''If things end in a tragedy then that's that. Had I been found by the bad duchess then my throat would have been slit.'' She added the grim gesture of trailing a line on her throat with a thumb. ''And with that, all of my troubles would be gone, which is a good enough ending I suppose. Bit boring though.''

To witness the sheer disregard of one existence in someone so young was... sad.

''Is that... Has the witch forced you to play her game?'' She and Adam must have had a lengthy discussion already but you could tell he had been hesitant to plunge into this subject. His voice and demeanor translated into awkward care.

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''I wasn't forced at all.'' Leena responded, grinning, toward the armored man. ''The Great Witch of Contracts, The Wound of the World, the Fox of Poisoned Knowledge... These titles are super cool, why wouldn't I help her?'' The small orphan girl wiggled her fingers in the quiet darkness of the hidden room. ''It takes a great witch to make someone like me the center of the world for a little while. All I had to do is hang on and endure until her game started and you know what? The entire existence of my tormentors has already been completely trashed and I didn't have to do anything.''

She laughed a cold, cruel ''nishishishi'' whilst gazing at Adam and Mina.

''That guy has been stalking me for a long time... and kept angering his harem, all it took for the witch to destroy this daily life is a few hours after starting her game, soon enough the entire city of Myrtidal will be upheaved by the world because everyone needs The Black Cat to find the ugly treasure trove beneath the church...'' Leena balanced her head left and right, creepy happy smile on her lovely features, whispering these words of destruction with joy. ''...Eeeeveryone wants it.''

''What if a player is more concerned about your well-being instead of the evil thing under the church?'' Before you could process the little girl tirade, Mina had already begun writing after moving in front of Leena to catch her attention.

''Eh?'' Leena blinked, clearly confused. ''That doesn't matter because we've got to play the witch game.'' The way her voice stayed so level-headed did tug at your heart, you briefly wondered if Klesiah and Shereen were feeling something similar. ''We'll need to find something special to open the way because I don't know how myself, it's something the witch left behind.''

''Left behind? Hold on...'' Adam quietly got up after this latest comment and carefully rummaged in the general area of a thin, lonely bed. He extracted a strange item out of the covers with a pinch of two metal fingers.

It was a long, thin ornate pipe. An engraved tube full of engravings ended with a thin golden stub for herbs whilst the beak was made of polished copper, the entire thing was very thin and long enough to be unwieldy.

''Earlier today, I felt the witch influence in the city.'' Adam began. ''And this is what I found, an undeniable connection with the witch; following its smokes is what allowed me to find you, Leena.''

Leena carefully got on her feet and approached the armored man, green gaze locked onto the object as a knowable smile slowly came to rest on her face. ''That should work!'' She exclaimed excitedly and promptly put a few fingers on her lips as she remembered to mind her volume.

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>Encourage pragmatic inquiries. If Leena has some kind of knowledge about Ama or the state of the game in general that she can share, now's the best time to get informed as you're unlikely to get any chances once hostilities erupt. What is that pipe? What did she mean about that ''Evil Garden?''

>Shelve questions about the games and focus on question about Leena as a person. Things like hobbies, interest or the general way she lived her life... Such things are important to know and you could tell Shereen and Klesiah were quite worried about the quit. On a more pragmatic term, having a positive relationship with Leena could be beneficial in case you get separated... If another player grabs her, having her actively try to keep herself in your group company would be immensely helpful.

>Free

>>4344480
Oh my, starting way earlier than usual dude, might be another hour or two before more show up.

I had a feeling Ama would have a pipe like that. It fits who and what she is. The fluffy one sensually puffing on a pipe as she tempts you in one form or another. Can't remember off the top of my head if she's used it inside that room in our soul she drags us into every now and again.

Could Mina examine that pipe? You said it had engravings on it. Are they akin to artistic decorations or enchanting runes? Can the two be one and the same?

This "Evil Garden" is probably related to that spiritual webbing that's all over the place here. Damn town looks like Quelaag's Domain from that plane (especially this church).

Would it be possible to be quick and simple with the pragmatism before trying to get along better with Leena? The full, detailed answers will reveal themselves upon our entry into the final room where it'll all end but having a vague idea of what we may well be dealing with can't hurt.

After that, Get on Leena's good side. As things stand now, she seems like she'll just let herself get snatched by the other players. I'd like her to at least kick, scream, spit, claw, and bite on any attempted kidnapper in the future.

>>4344548
Oh, and on the paranoia front, no, Mina does not touch the pipe. That could end badly for everyone.

>>4344548
>Oh my, starting way earlier than usual dude, might be another hour or two before more show up.
That's alright. If I didn't force myself to start I'd have likely made the intro even longer, I needed a stopping point.

>Could Mina examine that pipe? You said it had engravings on it. Are they akin to artistic decorations or enchanting runes?
The engravings are looking decoratives. It seem to be one giant wave covering the entire cylinders with a few markings in there that could maybe pass as rocks or, perhaps, letters.

>Can the two be one and the same?
Yes, especially if the item is of dwarven origin. It's impossible to say if the pipe is magical

>Would it be possible to be quick and simple with the pragmatism before trying to get along better with Leena?
Not in this case, the conversation will go a certain way if you want Leena to give you some information. Afterward, if you have time, you can try being friendly.

>>4344559
So we gotta prioritize then? Well, Mina did just say she cares more about her well-being over the evil below the church. Plus I'm betting she will clam up if we go straight for business.

Thus, I'm leaning towards getting on her good side first. Like I said, if we're successful we'll get our answers in full. I just hope we get enough time to ask about the webbing too before the fighting begins. How long would it take to inform Adam of that? Also, how the fuck can he sense Ama's presence? We have an aspect and nabbing one takes being cursed by the Fluffy Bitch or otherwise cutting a deal with her. He specifically said "felt", not detected so it ain't some ring Tui might have made that he happened upon.

Heh, might be why he's so disdainful of Klesiah. Methinks he may be venting a little. The "Ally of Justice" cutting a deal with or falling into the snares of the devil. That'll cause some self-loathing and guilt that'll need an outlet. Keep that thought to ourselves though, no need to piss him off right after we got him to start acting rationally.

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>>4344579
>So we gotta prioritize then?
Mmhm, time, alas, isn't your friend...
>Plus I'm betting she will clam up if we go straight for business.
Nor really. The general positivity going on in the party is enough to convince Mina to trust you a little.
>Thus, I'm leaning towards getting on her good side first.
Duly noted. I'll give this a solid hour wait for another vote before starting to write.
>How long would it take to inform Adam of that?
It'd enter in the pragmatic option, but I'll see about potentially sneaking it here.
>Also, how the fuck can he sense Ama's presence?
That'd be interesting to know huh?

>''Earlier today, I felt the witch influence in the city.'' Adam began
My my. Could Adam also be in the Witch's clutches like Arawn is?

Gonna do some baseless guessing here: "Evil Garden" could refer to the village where the Death Pearls Shereen's Sister had come from. Fortune did say that "people go there and die, cultivated like plants".
The Black Cat being needed to "Open the way" implies that there's a magical gateway/portal under the Church.
Again, baseless guessing but to me the logic makes sense.

>>4344480
>Shelve questions about the games and focus on question about Leena as a person. Things like hobbies, interest or the general way she lived her life... Such things are important to know and you could tell Shereen and Klesiah were quite worried about the quit. On a more pragmatic term, having a positive relationship with Leena could be beneficial in case you get separated... If another player grabs her, having her actively try to keep herself in your group company would be immensely helpful.
It seems to me a little that people in Leena's haven't cared about her very much. An indifferent environment can raise indifferent people...

Alright, two votes to get to know the little girl.

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Maybe there is something as too much pragmatism, didn't Ama say that she labored for emotions?

You allowed simple empathy to squeeze your heart, your will joined with Klesiah and Shereen to filter into Mother Earth elemental; this was the summit of your power in term of influencing Mina but, thankfully, she listened with a gladdened heart.

At least, that's how it felt like; information naturally conveyed into your instinctively through Klesiah.

''Leena.'' Mina grabbed the lonely pair attention with this glowy sentence hovering in the air. '' What is it that you like to do? Any hobbies?''

The girl impetuousness came to a crashing halt as she stared at the now gone sentence in disbelief. ''Ah...?'' She rolled a strand of wild white hair around a finger, green gaze fleeing toward Adam and his pipe instead of the fantastical entity that was Mina. ''Does it really matter?'' She huffed, suddenly confrontational.

''Yes.'' Mina answered simply, tilting her head.

''What's yours, glowy?'' Leena looked away for an instant, crossing her arms. She gave Adam an awkward smile an equally awkward frown.

''Getting to know girls is one of them.'' Responded the elemental, you felt your body chuckle, that did not sound good at all!

''Super creepy.'' Leena answered, anger changing to pouting.

''I know, whatever you like to do cannot be worse, right?'' Mina wrote back, her movements were a little too quick to be confident. Ah! Sound like Mother Earth avatars aren't the smoothest sort.

''I guess...'' She still hesitated, her mood quickly grew into inner conflicts as she tugged at her hair some more. ''...It's not really important, I mean I like to do things here and there.'' Her gaze turned to Adam, he nodded in encouragement. ''Do you think, I mean you two have you like, explored abandoned places?''

''A few times.'' Adam responded. ''It was always dangerous.''

''Right, I mean, not really abandoned places like, say an empty house.'' Leena hesitates again and points to the ground whilst her other hand comes out of a pocket to roll around a strand of hair again. Quite the fidgety one, this child. ''Like, the tunnels below or maybe some kind of abandoned castle or a haunted house. Places that are completely dark, that people fear, you know exploring those kinds of places sounds cool...''

''You've spent time exploring Muribel tunnels?'' Mina silent, neutral question is enough to encourage the girl.

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''A little.'' She answered quickly and need to clear her throat to readjust her voice. ''Mostly below the church because my parents didn't stay in the countryside for long after dad was wounded, mom never liked it that the priestess allowed me to explore below whenever I wanted... I like the full moon too.'' Leena was slowly finding the courage to open up with the silent audience of Adam and Mina. ''There's all kinds of curses and rituals that happen on a full night right? I... I like to ghost haunt I guess? Feeling scared I suppose you can say? There are all kinds of creatures beyond the Eternal control, I wanna know all about them, but I also wanna speak with the deads and explore the places people are afraid of. All knowledge is good knowledge, that's the kind of things a witch does.''

A passion for the macabre or general creepiness? That's certainly an... unusual interest, one you can expect wouldn't be easy to accept for the judgemental people of Muribel.

''Did you have a chance to explore many places?'' Mina question made Leena bit her lips, yet her eyes burned with a simple need to share things about herself.

''Not really. I lived in the countryside before that rebellion, dad was a miner back in the day and was often away from the house but I was too young to do much of anything... When he got wounded...'' A noticeable angered pang from Shereen briefly distracted you. ''...we moved into the city and I sometimes managed to sneak in the tunnels beneath the church, though mom often came to find and scold me.''

From what she's saying, her parents didn't sound like bad people.

''And after that, the duchess decided mom and dad had to go into the evil garden, I was supposed to go with them actually.'' The sheer neutrality in her voice didn't sound like someone holding back emotions, in a way, Leena seemed to have completely accepted this injustice as simple reality. Adam shifted uncomfortably at this sudden subject, armor audibly clicking.

''I was getting beat up by the girls so that's why I missed that appointment.'' Leena smiled as she looked at Adam, seemingly finding joy in his discomfort. ''Though I did manage to escape into a tunnel that led into the church basement the only thing I accomplished was to see my parents being forced into a portal by the two snakes and getting caught.''

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Part of you wished you'd allowed Shereen to kill that snob asshole. Leena barely looked a day older than twelve summers, how she's mentioning being ''beat up'' sound like someone who was forced to grow up quickly and not in the right way.

''That fucking snake was all about helping the downtrodden.'' Adam can't help himself, he speaks through clenched teeth. ''Guess some destitute are more equals than others.''

''That's just what it means to be a human in Muribel, maybe the entire country. That's what my dad always said.'' Leena continues indifferently, a surge of intense emotions from Shereen briefly destabilize you.

A silence linger, one long enough for noises from the outside world to filter into the room; constant, undying activity from the guards helped you feel a little secure as they were likely too busy so search the church in detail.

>Ask Leena about Ama, the circumstances of their meetings. Perhaps that could give you some insights...

>Move onto asking more pragmatic things. What did Leena mean with this ''Evil Garden''? How can she open the way? (Add more things if you want)

>Let the girls speak with Leena by themselves, you can't think of anything peculiar to ask.

>Free

>>4344718
>Ask Leena about Ama, the circumstances of their meetings. Perhaps that could give you some insights...

>>4344718
>Ask Leena about Ama, the circumstances of their meetings. Perhaps that could give you some insights...
The Evil Garden may be alluding to Solemnval or something, based on its description from Armin in Thread #39.

>>4344718
I see, so in these parts "human" life is held as less valuable than mamono life if all else is equal. Thankfully Shereen seems to vehemently disagree with this notion. Poor Leena, girl's broken on a fundamental level. Speaking of which, we seem to have a propensity for running into these kinds of girls.

Can't think of anything better than speaking about Ama. This is about all she can think about in regards to speaking about herself it seems.

On a side note, Shereen *really* needs to ascend to the throne at the end of all this. This nation seems close to collapse/open conflict along racial and class lines. Only someone like our cute doggo seems to have the drive and inclination to tackle these problems. She'll need help against a hostile elite though. Didn't Anais's mom pull off something similar in her nation? Reform it in the face of a hostile ruling class/nobility for the benefit of all commoners? I'm sure she'd love to share some advice if we all manage to live long enough to make it possible.

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>>4344753
>Didn't Anais's mom pull off something similar in her nation? Reform it in the face of a hostile ruling class/nobility for the benefit of all commoners?
Yes, primarily by using business acumen to re-energize her country economy (this is what kept the moderates nobles and priests in line) and her husband martial talent to ruthlessly crush the first rebellion; the general social position for Monstergirls -in her demesne- is the best ti can possibly get in the Allied Kingdom current general culture. She wasn't completely successful, but things certainly are good for Mamonos in her place.

Bordering the Swamp help with social progress.

Sorry for the wait, didn't expect things to expand as they did. Gonna post soon.

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You did your best to imagine the damnable white vixen, to create a tangible image that'd spread into the joined consciousness inside Mina and it seems she registered your intent, her finger hovered in the air in a moment of hesitation and, after a few seconds, the independent divine elemental agreed to carry your inquiry.

''How did you meet the witch?'' The softly glowing woman wrote carefully and Adam leaned closer.

''During a night... three months ago I think?'' Leena standoffish attitude melted with the good memory.

Three months... That predates your arrival by quite some time.

''I was going to jump off the church cause one of the ladies broke something in my arm, it hurt really bad and I didn't really have any money for a potion.'' With Mina lacking most of her face, Leena concentrated her gaze on Adam and his expression provoked a cruel expression to settle on her face; she was taking obvious joy in unhealthy self-derision. ''Then a blond girl with scary teeth interrupted me.''

Leena interrupted herself to poke at her own, slightly unhealthy, teeth. Little blond girl with unusual teeth? Yeah, now that's a familiar sentence.

''She was an apostle of the witch and held onto that pipe.'' She pointed at the item Adam still held. ''That's how I got to know the great Witch of Contracts.'' Fidgety and excited yet still mindful of her noises, Leena went to sit on the only crate of the stuffy room.

''She wanted me to help her out with a game because nobody else in the entire world could, she promised me that I'd become important, that great things will be happening if I can be patients and that she'd help me whenever she can without anyone knowing because the Eternal herself would like nothing more than choking out witches.'' Leena paused, smiling without any negative twist, the first one you've seen on her.

Ama came in her moment of greatest need and... swooped her off her feet, of course, it wouldn't be hard to wrap a little girl who's been trampled and beaten for years around your finger!

''I would have liked to become friends with that apostle but the girl had things to do... still, the great witch helped me. Her magic somehow allowed her to find all kinds of things for me and she gave me enough money to stop being hungry and get treatment for my arm. Also taste amazing pastries!''

''Yet she did nothing against your tormentors?'' Adam asked bitterly.

''She offered but I didn't want to, in fact, Ama wanted a contract with me to make absolutely certain her help was fair but I didn't need any of that!'' Leena puffed her chest in pride, hands on her hips. ''Since the great witch work against the Eternal, I had to avoid suspicion so I figured keeping that harmless bullying going was the best way to help her.''

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She... Gods, what is Ama angle here? In fact, what in the world is she doing in this country, having dragged you here to meet Shereen and Banu... According to her, the kidnapping of Anais happened outside of her plans and whatever is going on here with that freakshow of a ritual infesting the entirety of Myrtidal is unlikely to be her own doing. Her angelic apostle is here, raising a ruckus but her authority has always been loose with her followers; the ease with which you found Klesiah is a testament to that, the one who tried to ambush your group was Ari'el, not Ama.

''Endure until the day come where I am the most important person in the world... Doing something like that isn't easy, I had to give the witch some help you know?'' An embarrassed giggle escaped Leena, she was truly blossoming with happiness. ''There was a little complication yesterday, but I know she really cares about me without needing any contract.''

Looking to Adam and Mina happily, Leena spoke softly. ''I think that lizard girl was really in love with that guy who kept trying to drag me into his home because yesterday, her patience snapped. She and her snake friend dragged me into an unfamiliar area of the slum and beat me really, really hard.'' She rubbed her cheek, smiling at the memory. ''Like, harder than ever, tooth spitting hard, blood gurgling pain, oof it was painful to endure; I sorta blacked out and awoke back in the church completely fine!'' She wiggled on her seat, touching her nose which must have been broken, poking a few teeth that must have been spitted out.

''Yesterday?'' Adam asked in disbelief. ''That's... something like that, a girl of your age, being beaten half to death wouldn't have escaped the guard's notice at least, it would have been serious news, human or not. I'd have heard about it''

''Well, it was inside one of those slum squares, people were watching and doing nothing as she kept screaming for me to stop tempting her man or something.'' Leena shrugged. ''People were watching and nobody did anything, you guys are the only people who ever really did -something- besides my parents and the witch.'' Her expression never lost that peaceful happiness. ''Thanks.''

The sheer rage emanating out of Shereen was an all-encompassing wave of fiery destruction that it would have shattered your connection to Mina had it lasted a few seconds longer: her opinion of Myrtidal residents might just have reached a dangerous low.

Klesiah was a mess of confusion and, of course, anger with more than enough gentle empathy that you'd have teased her as being motherly if the mood was less tense.

You had already hardened your heart for the coming conflict but Leena small story snuck a constant heart pang behind whatever wall of pragmatism you've raised. You felt true empathy for the girl... and while your opinion of Ama was obviously negative, you decided to respect her opinion on the witch.

At least, until you see for yourself how this game end.

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Mina suddenly leaned forward, placing a finger on her inexistent mouth. It would seem that being in her head didn't mean sharing senses because you only heard the concert of footsteps reaching this floor a few seconds afterward. Based on the all the clicking noises, you'd say there must have been four, maybe five guards; the distinctive noise of metal gave away their identity.

Leena stood very still and Adam carefully stood on his feet, putting Ama pipe inside a protective case on his waist.

''---''

''---!''

''---''

Unfortunately, the conversation going next door was too muffled by the walls and distance to hear anything until a few minutes where the squad spread out.

''We've already looked here.'' A grave woman's voice said.

''And we're gonna look again.'' Another, sounding similar, retorted. ''Anku got good authority that our target is in the church somewhere so, look I guess.''

''But where? Not like there can be hidden room in this stuffy place.'' A sudden thump startled Leena but she managed to avoid making noise, her smile told that she was having fun despite the situation., The guards were beginning to thump the walls and one of them had done it on the one directly masking this place of refuge.

''Hell if I know.'' A faraway voice responded. ''She's gonna meet the priestess so hopefully, that woman can answer. Notice how there's no acolyte? This place is shady, man.'' Thump, thump.

This was certainly a way to test your nerve. Adam silently slipped on his full helmet but didn't activate his armor right away.

Seems like... the world is catchup up to its most important little girl.

>Grab the initiative and enact your agreed-upon plan right now. You have to get Leena out before the situation gets complicated. (Will remove your active vision with Mina)

>Wait in silence. You've got a plan, stick to it. The guards must be on the verge of finding the cults murders down in the basement...

>Free.

We will continue tomorrow.

>>4344987
>Wait in silence. You've got a plan, stick to it. The guards must be on the verge of finding the cults murders down in the basement...


If we stick to the plan, there are less unexpected things that could go wrong.

>>4344987
You know what time it is GM:

About what time is it and how bright would it be outside? Can Mina dim her usual "glow" effect in human form? How fast can she switch between pixie and human forms? Can she pulp a bitches brain instantly with her bare hands? Is she "pro gamer" tier in securing headshots rapidly with her bow? Can she do stealth kills? Will that wall they're rapping on sound unusually hollow or was Adam smart enough to put some shit against it to prevent that? Any exit besides the one that maybe involves that wall the guards on on the other side of? Is Anku the priestess what sacrificed Leena's parents because human are lesser beings in her eyes?

Not gonna lie, after this revelation, I don't think Gardy would try to stop us from doing what Hilde wants when this shit kicks off (nor will it now have a significant negative impact on the party). He was the guardian of Humanity's pretender god. Thus, he probably wouldn't like people seeing human life as "lesser" than others. He especially wouldn't abide people acting on that sentiment. About how much reserves does a heavy spell take? I think we're still set to "ice" and will need to switch to fire to start the blaze Hilde has in mind.

Granted, it's still screwing over "innocents" but if all the witnesses just let what happened to Leena, well, happen... Yeah, from the bottom of my cold black heart, fuck these people. They get the full pawn treatment now. They are useful to us as distractions, meat shields, and blood banks and shall be employed as such!

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>>4345207

>About what time is it and how bright would it be outside?
Roughly 6pm, most the sun is gone behind the horizon, there's still plenty of light but it's diminishing fast.

> Can Mina dim her usual "glow" effect in human form?
Yup.
>How fast can she switch between pixie and human forms?
One round, so 6 seconds.
>Can she pulp a bitches brain instantly with her bare hands?
With her current mana? Yeah.
>Is she "pro gamer" tier in securing headshots rapidly with her bow?
Yes, she'll put Mongols to shame with her firing while moving capabilities. (Mostly cause she flies)
>Can she do stealth kills?
She can try but that's not a specialty, especially since she doesn't have weapons.
>Will that wall they're rapping on sound unusually hollow or was Adam smart enough to put some shit against it to prevent that
The guards already tapped the wall they are hiding behind, it doesn't sound any different.
>Is Anku the priestess what sacrificed Leena's parents because human are lesser beings in her eyes?
No, Anku is someone else.
>About how much reserves does a heavy spell take?
On average, 10% but circumstances and emotion can (and often do) mitigate the cost.
Casting in battle mitigates the cost to 5% (because being in active combat always stimulates the body and soul).
>I think we're still set to "ice" and will need to switch to fire to start the blaze Hilde has in mind.
You switched to fire actually. Remember the smoke scare you used to cover your escape after letting Adam take Leena?

Your measuring perk is pretty much complete but I've been debating with myself on how to properly employ it. For now, I'm leaning on keeping percentages instead of hard numbers because emotions and circumstances will always cause sudden spikes in magical reserves and mitigate the cost of spells and having perfect knowledge of your magical reserves (as in a hard number) isn't something I particularly like, I feel that you guys could invent a Magitek trinket to give you perfect magical measurement or something. Knowing your magic is like listening to your body idiosyncrasies: there should always be an element of vagueness.

I feel that going with a % when you aren't in battle is a good compromise. When fights come, Arawn can't concentrate that effectively on knowing his magical reserves.

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>>4345243
Ok then, I'll sleep on it but for now I say we wait as the wall didn't sound suspicious and I suspect doesn't look suspicious. So long as nobody makes a noise or shines a bright light through a crack they'll be reduced to randomly bashing in walls in the worst case (i.e. desecrating the church).

I don't think they'll want to do that unless, again, something gives them a reason to smash Adam's particular wall in. Please tell me Adam was smart enough to search for random cracks and seal them somehow. He's had prep time, that's basic bitch level Even a black piece of paper tacked over it will hold up to everything save the most minute levels of scrutiny!

Also, yeah, we will try to invent that trinket once we get some time. I fear Bad Fluffy will never allow us to have it though. It'd be a best seller among mage trainers and trainees. A concrete way to know if you're improving your magical efficiency. A way to put cold hard math to the concept. We'd be rich and potentially famous! Ah, the joys of capitalism and industrialization.

>>4345308
Oh, a few last things before I retire. Can Mina shoot her bow in pixie form? Can she emulate a flashbang or solar flare in either form? If we're getting particularly malicious could she shoot an arrow right down their ear canal or eye socket to do downright nasty things if push came to shove in pixie form?

Adam has flashbombs yes? He's prepping one right now yes? That's actually the winning play. Flashbangs are better, but in this particular case the flash without the bang would actually be better long term. If he has a "bang" bomb then things get even better for us provided he's as smart as I hope he is.

I must sleep now. Hopefully if we do as Hilde wants once the rubber hits the road the worst doesn't happen. Errr... we aren't in a "human" population center in regards to this city right? Because given the info we just garnered Hilde's plan *will* backfire horrifically on the moral level in the eyes of everyone if this part of the city is majority/significant minority "human".

That is to say the "guards" will just slaughter all the people fleeing into the streets summarily as who the fuck gives a shit about those inferior lifeforms running for their lives from their burning homes anyway? Still an effective distraction yes, but still an absolute dick move so callous and horrific in hindsight that both Anais and Gardy would most assuredly balk at it despite our current situation.

After all, if nothing else, I'd bet Hilde would fear above all else the indignation of her own charge all things being equal. She'd never even consider lying to her save in a circumstance that'd directly save her life at the cost of her own. So if it came to her attention that we set ablaze a human sector of a city that quietly despised humans and got them all genocided as a result of her urging/suggestion. Yeah, Anais won't be happy about that at all.

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>>4345438
>Can Mina shoot her bow in pixie form?
Unfortunately not.
>Can she emulate a flashbang or solar flare in either form?
Nope.
>If we're getting particularly malicious could she shoot an arrow right down their ear canal or eye socket to do downright nasty things if push came to shove in pixie form?
Most dangerous thing she can do while downsized is to charge into someone's eyeball.
>Adam has flashbombs yes?
He's got only one, his last remaining bomb is red sand (incendiary grenade). He's (non-mage)Magitek man, not a combat alchemist and he also had to use most of his stock before setting up inside Myrtidal.
>Errr... we aren't in a "human" population center in regards to this city right?
No, most humans are concentrated in the slums.
Also actually creating a wildfire is something I'll need a vote on so.
Do you guys agree to use a heavy spell and create a ten minute long wildfire in your corner of the city?
>Yes/No

>>4345457
I think that decision is better made later once we inevitably leave the warehouse to intercept Leena/Mina on the way to aiding Adam and see/sense how things are going.

That's when the decision will have to be made. Risk the death of innocents to improve our odds of making it into the basement's "Evil Garden" without complications or not. Either choice will have consequences, but it will be a thing we'll have to, ultimately, make in that immediate moment.

I just hope we get a chance to feel Klesiah's intentions as well as observe the looks in the eyes of our quasi-harem as they'll almost certainly have an instinctual understanding of what major action we're about to take. Once we chose to either start the blaze or not it'll be obvious to even those without a soul link... I just hope we make the right call.

>>4345464
Hm, that's good logic. It can wait then.

>>4344987
>Wait in silence. You've got a plan, stick to it. The guards must be on the verge of finding the cults murders down in the basement...
Could Arawn or Shereen separate from Mina's essence by themselves, or does everyone have to separate at once? And how fast would said separation be?

>>4345891
Since everyone is joined together in a ritual, any separation will be communal. The speed of it is nigh instantaneous.

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Having these people walk around the room, separated from no more than a few centimeters of wood, instilled a potent sense of urgency that made it difficult to keep a cool head, especially after hearing Leena story but it seemed that you and Mina were of one mind because the divine elemental wrote a silent sentence for her two companions whilst her body lost its golden luster. ''Keep calm, we know where to go.'' She wrote in a noticeably dimmer green.

Adam face, concealed by his helmet, was unreadable but it seemed that Leena had grown comfortable enough by the present company to be a little afeared of the reality of being snatched away. She nodded at Mina and sat motionlessly: the only thing they could do now was waiting.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Walls all around the floor, including the one separating this secret room from the outside world, were victimized by metal-covered knocks from the squad of guards.

''What are we supposed to do anyway?'' The closest one spoke after knocking on the wall a few times. ''Anyone got an axe?''

''A sword should do the trick if you want to try hacking a secret wall I guess.'' You heard a low, barely perceptible noise of rattling metal.

''Hold up, I've no intention of getting fucked in the ass by a moaning priest bitching about vandalism or something, at least not without Anku taking the fall. She's the one leading us, remember?'' More muffled noises followed as this guard walked somewhere.

''Then what? The kid -is- somewhere in the church.''

''Well, maybe she got lost in a tunnel or something, let's just check the tower and spend our evening up here I guess.''

''Sure.'' Then came a click of metal. ''You, go check out the belltower.''

''I ain't going alone.''

''Fine damn it, just take a buddy or something!'' This irritated sentence was punctuated by an irritated stomp. ''Don't shit your trousers while you're at it.''

Minutes stretched agonizingly in this atmosphere. It would be far, far too easy for the trio to be heard given how clearly you've been able to understand the guard's conversation. Mina and Adam were completely motionless (the man was especially careful with all the metal on him) while Leena smiled in growing triumph. It would seem the squad that had come up here wasn't perceptive enough to find this secret passageway but how long would that last? The snake priestess here isn't to be trusted and if she babbles to the guards...

A full ten minutes passed as you and the girls continued to share Mina perspective. No dialogue was possible, every movement was calculated to avoid any noises, the guard's conversation moved from general complaints about their position to who they'll be ''shaking down'' in the coming week and the general state of their finances - which was quite poor apparently- because alcohol prices had climbed?

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A noise akin to a clap of thunder suddenly exploded, resonating into your ears two ways: a rumbling noise muffled by walls managed to shake the entire floor. Your elven ears rang because of this sudden inexplicable burst and it immediately shattered your connection with Mother Earth independent avatar.

''The fuck!?'' Zhu almost screamed, jumping on her feet, hands grasping her blade.

''Guess things just happened,'' Hildegarde commented with much more poises. She promptly went to lift the huge piece of wood used an archaic lock for the doors; the total lack of windows made it impossible to see anything.

The surrounding noises weren't subtle. Barely a few seconds after the unexplained explosion (that must have been heard throughout the city) that screams echoed nearby, melding into a single whole that felt as if you were inside a giant, breathing being that had decided to yell.

''Our friends were discovered, Leena was surprised by this... this explosion!'' Behind Klesiah, Shereen got up on wobbly feet, still disorientated from the forceful change of perspective. ''Adam burst through the wall, there are five guards!''

''Whatcha waiting for!?'' Zhu clapped Hildegarde's shoulder and the maid returned a sharp ''Wait!''. Barely a second later the cacophony of a dozen metal boots resounded from the street right outside your hideout.

''Okay, they seem to be handling things well.'' Klesiah reported in a whisper. ''Though the noises will probably attract more enemies...''

Hildegarde opened the heavy doors swiftly and your group streamed outside without further delay.

The sun had disappeared under the horizon but the world wasn't ready to accept nightfall yet, the sky had become a familiar shade of increasingly dark blue that drenched the world in shades. Torches and lamps had been lit here and there: visibility was good.

Things had gotten intense really fast. From the west -the direction of outlying farms that was the cult stranglehold- you saw a packed street. Guards piled together in a line to hold out against a sudden charging crowd, people on the surrounding roof were throwing all kind of objects on the guards below whilst metal-clad reinforcement helped one another to jump on the roof with impressive feats of bodily reinforced athletic teamwork. A similar scene was going on the other side of the street, the path you used to get into Myrtidal, although here the guards were handling the sudden riot much more effectively.

The church itself was just on the other side of the road and didn't seem to be -too- damaged at a glance. All the windows had been shattered from whatever had happened inside, a few pieces of furniture had even somehow flown into the garden and the gates had been opened, not because of the explosion, but due to a squad of six Mamonos who had run here to inspect what was happened and became suitably flabbergasted by the sudden entry of your group emerging out of the opposite -off-limits- warehouse.

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''What the hell, who are you people!?'' One of the monstergirls bellowed, waving a sword in your general direction.

Quick headcount: six guards, four of them lizard women of various colors armed with a single sword, two lamias with polearms, all of them garbed in solid plate armor.

First of many complications. Ama game has reached its final stage now... Your veins lit up in ominous grey, Klesiah glowered an eerie reddish-blue and of course, your little sun embraced her talent of blood.

Bodily reinforcement: High

>[Assault]Immediately order your party to attack the enemies, overwhelm them as quickly as you can with an overwhelming offensive. (Will you use any magic, or keep to your physical prowess?)

>[Support]Have Zhu, Hildegarde, and Klesiah attack this squad as you remain behind to protect Klesiah and oversee the fighting. (Providing ranged support with your gauntlet is also possible)

>[Diplomacy]Try to intimidate or persuade the guards to leave, there's no need to shed any blood.

>[Intimidation]Use this opportunity to start on Hildegarde's previous suggestions. Starting a wildfire is as good as charging the enemies, you don't have time to waste! (Will use a heavy spell)

>Free

I'm going to try and avoid rolls for the coming fights and stick to a format of choices. I've grown to heavily dislike Bo3 because it robs battles of their tension; in this case, making choices based on Arawn general capabilities will matter much more, especially since the action will be party-based.

Though rolls are still likely to happen.

>>4346520
>[Support]Have Zhu, Hildegarde, and Klesiah attack this squad as you remain behind to protect Klesiah and oversee the fighting. (Providing ranged support with your gauntlet is also possible)

We should aim to do our best to delay / deal with any reinforcements that are probably going to turn up shortly, with magic in order allow for the others to have the space they need to deal with the guards blocking our path.

>>4346520
Wait, why would we remain behind to "protect" Klesiah? Don't you mean Shereen?

>>4346546
Giving this a 20 minutes wait time before I start.

>>4346555
Yeah, I mixed up the names. Ops.

>>4346557
Ok, so the intimidate option is the same as assault but instead of attacking the guards we set fire to the buildings behind them?

>>4346520
>[Assault]Immediately order your party to attack the enemies, overwhelm them as quickly as you can with an overwhelming offensive. (Will you use any magic, or keep to your physical prowess?)
Physical.
Personally I think we should save Arawn's reserves for now.. He's only at 50% and we have no idea how much fighting there's going to be.

>>4346559
Oh, another consideration, what's Shereen's range on her magic. Zhu's about to generate some blood and I don't think it needs to be "pure" to be used as a weapon. Can Shereen make some Blood Spikes we could hurl with our soul arms or she herself hurl with her own magic? How much mana would that cost her?

>>4346559
Yeah, though it'll be buildings to the sides to avoid the general vicinity of the warehouse. You can also mix intimidation with support in this case since staying behind to oversee the fight and guarding Shereen make equal sense.

>>4346562
>Shereen's range on her magic
Only two meters.
>Can Shereen make some Blood Spikes we could hurl with our soul arms
Creating that kind of weapon is possible yeah. Arawn isn't that skilled at throwing though so in doing that will have me roll (a single time) for him.
>she herself hurl with her own magic?
That is possible.

It'll be a medium spell, so 5% for her. Per spikes hurled magically

>>4346560
Duly noted.

>>4346569
Ok, say we charge into combat. What would Shereen do and how much danger would she be in? I'm afraid they know about "geeking the mage first" sadly. That means their prime targets are us, Shereen, and Klesiah.

>>4346572
>What would Shereen do and how much danger would she be in?
She'll remain out of the way of the melee but close enough to not be easily picked off, she'll just stay out of the fighting.

>>4346569
>Arawn isn't that skilled at throwing though so in doing that will have me roll (a single time) for him.
Man we need to fix that so Arawn has some ranged options going for him. (When we have time of course.) If I have any say in it our Elf will have a throwing arm to match Goblin Slayer!
Reminder that swords can be thrown in a pinch, and the best way to do so is to throw it like a spear.

Is anyone in Arawn's social circle talented in throwing weapons or is he stuck with learning it by himself?

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>4346546
>>4346560
Gonna commit to the rolled choice in 10 minutes.

>>4346587
>Is anyone in Arawn's social circle talented in throwing weapons or is he stuck with learning it by himself?
That'll be something to learn by yourself I'm afraid. Though maybe they know someone who's good at it.

>>4346576
Ok, given what our skills and specialties are, I think "support" is the best option as it frees our allies to focus entirely on the battle instead of worrying about Shereen and the possibility of her getting ganked by a surprise attack.

We won't be too far away though. How close would we have to be to, say, block a blow one of our allies doesn't see coming? We still have our shield and acting in a protective manner grants us bonuses right?

>>4346587
Hopefully throwing weapon proficiency is within our lost memories (that we'll be regaining ASAP once this is over since we got the soul links to do it with and we *need* that absolutely massive power boost to our base, non-fusion self that regaining all our lost abilities immediately entails).

We did seem pretty adept at "gravity gunning" objects with our soul arms though. Raw talent needs polish and training of course but it shouldn't be too hard if we don't luck out in the memory retrieval.

>>4346597
>We won't be too far away though. How close would we have to be to, say, block a blow one of our allies doesn't see coming? We still have our shield and acting in a protective manner grants us bonuses right?

You'd be able to prevent a projectile you see coming but not a melee blow.

Support it is.

>>4346603
We can reactively cast soul arms right? What's the reach on those, 2 meters? Couldn't block but maybe deflect or interrupt?

>>4346591
Wait wait wait I forgot something important.
Hildegarde -is- fairly skilled at throwing, I just didn't think of her because I didn't consider her inside Arawn social circle yet.

>>4346633
>We can reactively cast soul arms right?
Yup.
>What's the reach on those, 2 meters?
Yup
>Couldn't block but maybe deflect or interrupt?
It can definetly help, but you've also got a big shield. -That- is much more helpful.

>>4346638
>Hilde not in our social circle yet
Why not? Yeah, she'll go back to Anais after all this but after that rescue by Sieg and the gang I'm pretty sure Anais will start showing up regularly in Throne Town. Both are, after all, potential waifus and it is the duty/fate of the protagonist to gather them all. The only hard part is choosing one. Once this is all done we'll face an even graver peril than the fox, romance! And no, we ain't romancing *that* particular fox. Bad fluffy is bad and should feel bad for all the bad things she does.

So, the best option if it happens is to hand off the shield to a soul arm and use that to block from range?

>>4346650
To be fair, Hildegarde and Arawn do not really know each other very well on a personal level. at the moment, they're closer to comrades-at-arms than true friends.

>it is the duty/fate of the protagonist to gather them all. The only hard part is choosing one.
Don't forget that we *still* have one lady companion(whose name has frustratingly slipped my mind) from Arawn's past we need to meet. The list grows ever longer...

>rescue by Sieg and the gang I'm pretty sure Anais will start showing up regularly in Throne Town
Man, I *REALLY* hope that goes smoothly. If Anaïs gets hurt in any way I'm afraid Hilde is going to hold a grudge for Arawn dragging her to Mirtydal.

>>4346638
Say. This may be a bit of a premature question, but when it comes to Arawn creating weapons with his magic would studying a physical version first make it easier to create a soul copy of it? Y'know, the length of the weapon, handle shape, blade width and thickness... that kinda stuff.

>>4346671
> This may be a bit of a premature question, but when it comes to Arawn creating weapons with his magic would studying a physical version first make it easier to create a soul copy of it? Y'know, the length of the weapon, handle shape, blade width and thickness... that kinda stuff.

Definitely, it'd help with keeping the weapon grounded in reality and thus, make the magic ''stick''

>>4346680
So, basically, once we get "soul weapon" it'd behoove us to essentially ape projection/trace magic and become budget archer?

>>4346693
It'd be possible, yeah.

How do you think angels weapons and armor work?

>>4346698
>That spoiler
Oooh, so if we master it we can project angelic/divine weapons and armor eh? I think those are vastly superior to anything not sporting top tier enchants so hell yeah I hope that's in our memories!

I wonder how you'd have handled the power level difference we'd have right now had we managed to retrieve our memories before this BS happened. Methinks we'd be way, way stronger with our previous life's full spell list and masteries.

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''I'll stay with our sun, make it quick girls.''

There was no time or need to argue, these guards -these thugs- were the city authority but they were little more than gangsters.

They barely had time to registers your group intent when Zhu was upon the two of them, having already stepped into the church courtyard, preventing them from making an effective line to keep your party out. Empty blade coming out of her scabbard, she used the item effectively the deflect a downward chop aimed at her face. Klesiah glaive whizzed on her left flank barely a second later, forcing the lizardwoman to step back whilst Zhu kicked the knee of a third woman.

Hildegarde had managed to not only climb on top of the protective walls but also hold onto the very sharp metal points with her palms without wounds. Carried by the momentum of a bodily reinforced jump, the maid flipped into the courtyard, landed on top of a grave and shattered it then promptly grabbed a pair of debris and hurled them while getting up. One whiffed completely, the other struck the chest of a lamia trying to deflect Klesiah glaive allowing the weapon to struck true, crashing onto the metal shoulder of a guard, denting the armor. Hildegarde promptly charged the last of the unengaged lizard woman who promptly slashed her blade down but the maid limbs were akin tosolid steel, all she needed to do was raise her arm for deflection, endure the following desperate kick and promptly grab the lizard throat. The next second, she lifted the poor woman off her feet and threw her down with a semi-circle of momentum and dropped to one knee on the armored Mamono throat, causing a sudden ''Grrlg!'' that, maybe, also carried with it a snapping noise: it was impossible to tell for sure.

You moved to take cover near the gate and gestured for Shereen to stand beside you as you covered your flank with your shield. ''Gotcha!'' You suddenly heard Zhu, ''Fuck!'' a guard said immediately after and you heard the distinctive noise of slashed flesh.

Out of a street of the main thoroughfare that was being heavily assaulted by cultists was a trio of guards, two of them armed with crossbows and upon seeing you and Shereen, the archers aligned and let fly. ''Kii!?'' Shereen nearly screamed, cowering behind you. Your shield absorbed both projectiles... And the trio ran toward the front of the church, apparently leaving their comrades behind.

Whatever was going on there must be important. ''I-I'm sorry for being u-'' Shereen didn't finish her sentence because of a sudden explosion. Two of them in fact.

You heard a distinctive clap of thunder coming from the church roof, reduced to nothing more than a squeak as the following burst dwarfed everything else. Wind, fearsome wind, blew from the inside of the church like a short-lived, raging hurricane, shattering the wooden doors you could see inside, causing all the furniture to fly and break into walls, even the walls shooks. Whatever was going on in there was serious.

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''Agh!'' The only remaining combat was the lamia who'd been destabilized by Hildegarde throw and she'd attempted to retreat inside the church, only to be thrown on the ground by the burst. ''Wait, wait please!''

Klesiah didn't. Her glaive sang a bloody note and the lizard head was severed, ending the skirmish. All the thugs had been killed or incapacitated, from what you could see, you'd say three deads and three grievously wounded. Zhu sported many grazing wounds, having momentarily endured the assaults of three swordswomen, but otherwise remained healthy. Her artifact had gone back where it belonged, now holding onto a bloody sword.

How long had this fight lasted? 20 seconds?

''Mina is coming!'' Klesiah pointed to the sky as you and Shereen entered the courtyard's protective walls. In the increasingly dark sky was the divine elemental holding onto Leena protectively. Unfortunately, the angle of the church made it impossible to see Adam yet but...

''Aaah!?'' There was a collective scream from your group as a bolt of light streamed toward your flying comrade.

The only thing she could do was to shield the little black cat and turn her back at this sudden projectile. Another thunderous boom resounded throughout the city and the elemental silently fell in the middle of the eastern road.

A harpy zoomed in the sky, not stopping to inspect the damage, the thunderbird flew toward the front of the church.

Fucking bird!

A concert of screams also emerged from the western road. Without reinforcement, the guards couldn't hold against the riotous cult and the line folded, allowing Mamonos to begin running toward the church. They were women of all shapes and sizes, armed with makeshift armors but their weapons revealed how much preparation had gone into this day because the majority of these cultists held onto solid kite shields, swords, cudgels, and wooden maces, a few also held onto axes and war scythes... How the hell did they sneak all of that into the city!?

''Vengeance!'' You began to hear. ''Vengeance! We will live again!'' They screamed, hacking their armored opposition to pieces, running after the few that managed to flee. Many of them were running toward the church, making it seem like they aimed to fight your group.

''S-savages! bloody savages!'' Shereen voice was a gargle of rage and disbelief.

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>Go rescue Mina and Leena immediately, together!

>Keep one of your warriors in the courtyard to keep it secure. You -did- plan to make the warehouse a temporary headquarter. Once you grab Leena and hopefully Adam, you might be able to strategize before any of the heavy lifters come snooping around...

Bonus action.
Use a heavy spell.

>Unleash your planned blaze directly toward the approaching cultists. It should help in slowing down this faction reinforcement, thereby making the conflict in the church longer... Though you're liable to kill a lot of people.

>Once you get close to Mina, aim a fire spell in the nearby residential area, it's time for a distraction.

>Let the temptation of causing a fire die. Myrtidal people are trash but they don't deserve to a wildfire, even a temporary one.

>>4346716
>I wonder how you'd have handled the power level difference we'd have right now had we managed to retrieve our memories before this BS happened. Methinks we'd be way, way stronger with our previous life's full spell list and masteries.

Well, I think you guys might have been more eager to find the villains in Marleon, so I'd say things would have likely gone differently.

>>4346733
>Keep one of your warriors in the courtyard to keep it secure. You -did- plan to make the warehouse a temporary headquarter. Once you grab Leena and hopefully Adam, you might be able to strategize before any of the heavy lifters come snooping around...

And it might be worth it to hold off on the magic for a little and see if we can set the Harpy on fire with our first strike so we conserve or magical reserves.

with any luck it might end up spreading depending on where they land.

>>4346733
Shit, looks like we done fucked up big time.

Damnit all to hell why didn't that bitch die when we skewered her with that ice spike! It was a high roll too! And why can't Mina use holy shields? You'd think a shard of the goddess could at least do that much.

How many cultists are we talking, how far away are they from Mina, and how long will it take them to get to her? How far away are we from her and how long will it take us to get to her? How fucked is Mina? Is she now combat ineffective? Is there a chokepoint the cultists will have to pass through? If there is can we just wide AoE fire blast the lot of them? How many guards seem to be heading in the direction of the warehouse?

Going to call it, Ari'el's in the church and if he ain't fighting Adam he's hot on his tail. If Mina's down for the count we're pretty much collectively fucked as we don't got the mana for a fusion attempt.

>>4346733
>Go rescue Mina and Leena immediately, together!
We need to move and *fast*. That damn bird... Once we spot her I say we activate our Magic Dampener and taunt the shit out of that feather face.
>Unleash your planned blaze directly toward the approaching cultists. It should help in slowing down this faction reinforcement, thereby making the conflict in the church longer... Though you're liable to kill a lot of people.
Undeniably cold to put it lightly, but we have our own to protect. Besides, they are armed and armored. They've made their choice and are no longer bystanders.

>>4346724
>''Kii!?'' Shereen nearly screamed, cowering behind you
...Is it just me or is Shereen slightly traumatized by arrows and bolts? Not that I blame her, she did get shot when she tried to be diplomatic during a rebellion IIRC.

>>4346680
Eeexcelleeent. This means we could easily learn how to make a medium shield with magic, swap to a fore-arm mounted buckler to free one our hands and cast the Soul Shield around/over the buckler or into one of our Soul Arms.

We'd also have technically unlimited "ammunition" once we learn how to use and handle throwing weapons.
Doesn't mean we shouldn't carry physical throwing knives/axes/javelins or whatever just to throw other people off. "He's out of ammo! Quick, charge h-" *thwack*

>>4346764
>How many cultists are we talking
Easily 40, it's a growing number.

>how far away are they from Mina
Mina fell on the opposite road where guards have things under better control, the cultists won't be able to reach her at all.
>How far away are we from her and how long will it take us to get to her?
A few meters so you'll just need to run in her direction, reaching her will take around 20 seconds max, she's obscured by the church is all.
>How fucked is Mina?
Impossible to tell for now.
>Is there a chokepoint the cultists will have to pass through?
Yeah, the road that leads directly into where you are.

I think editing the map will help, give me a few minutes.

> If there is can we just wide AoE fire blast the lot of them?
Yes, though that'll be directly aiming to kill many, many more people than my choice.
>How many guards seem to be heading in the direction of the warehouse?
None that you can directly see.

File: Mirtydal1positions.jpg (1.29 MB, 2925x2867)

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Red circle = Party
Blue square = Incoming cultists streaming from the road
Purple circle = Where Mina fell.

>>4346794
Map isn't to scale so the church and general areas/streets are bigger and much more numerous but it's a good representation nonetheless.

>>4346778
>Mina fell on the opposite road where guards have things under better control, the cultists won't be able to reach her at all.
Well then, in that case I'll change my>>4346765 vote on the blaze to
>>4346733
>Let the temptation of causing a fire die. Myrtidal people are trash but they don't deserve to a wildfire, even a temporary one.
We can pull the cultists to the guards and retrieve Mina and Leena in the chaos.
Save the blaze for either the guards or that accursed harpy.

I'm heading to sleep. Good luck anons.

>>4346778
Well, as always I'm against splitting the party. Those guards are fresh kills so Shereen can use them to heal Mina and patch up Zhu right? How long will it take them to reach the chokepoint? Would starting the fire simply force them to make a long detour? The fire option is now a choice as to which side we screw over and thus indirectly help the other? And don't you mean inconveniencing the cultists will make the church fight easier? Are there any guards incoming that'll end up meeting the cultists if we don't start the fire?

>>4346794
So my chokepoint idea means we'd have to stay behind and wait for them to hit it seems. Am I right?

>>4346803
Duly noted.
Two votes to not split the party and go help Mina. What we need to know now is if we light up the night...

>>4346816
>Those guards are fresh kills so Shereen can use them to heal Mina and patch up Zhu right?
Zhu's wounds are so superficial that she doesn't want to waste time. Whether a divine elemental can be healed with blood magic is something to be seen. She doesn't have time to collect blood right now so you'll need to bring any wounded here for fresh blood.
>The fire option is now a choice as to which side we screw over and thus indirectly help the other?
Yes. Cultists are about to get a whole lot of reinforcement. That street is packed. People will still be able to use the side roads but creating a fire on the chokepoint will slow them down significantly. Doubly so with a wildfire on this corner of the city.
>And don't you mean inconveniencing the cultists will make the church fight easier?
No? That's impossible to say right now.
>Are there any guards incoming that'll end up meeting the cultists if we don't start the fire?
The only guards you can see are blocking the main street leading into Pilgrim Way and Craftman fortune to the east. What they'll do, Arawn can't say.

>So my chokepoint idea means we'd have to stay behind and wait for them to hit it seems. Am I right?
No, you can do it right now and go see Mina.

>>4346763
Actually, I think this anon voted not to light up a fire. I'd like to know if that's true, anon.

Alright gonna go with
>Go rescue Mina and Leena immediately, together!
And
>Let the temptation of causing a fire die. Myrtidal people are trash but they don't deserve to die in a wildfire, even a temporary one.

This doesn't shelve the option of causing a wildfire but I won't push for it anymore. It'll be something you guys need to pursue. Gonna let this float for 15 more minutes, this seem to be the majority opinion.

>>4346878
Sort of, it was more to try and focus on helping to sure up and consolidate our own position, by taking the opportunity if it arose. Before everyone would pivot to focus on the Cultists.

>>4346917
Any other roads that guards could potentially stream in through into this area? If no, purge the cultists in flame. If yes, we'll, always nice when enemies fight each other.

>>4346956
They'd easily be able to reach the front of the church which is where the majority of guards seem to be located. Otherwise it doesn't seem like there's going to be any incoming squads. I'll lock the choice on not lighting up the night since I already began writing.

>>4346964
So the cultists are going to stream in and presumably head for the guards at the front of the church. The more chances we can engineer for both sides to get into fair and even fights with each other the better.

God I hope Ari'el's tied up with someone besides Adam right now. I would bet money he's inside the church. Hurricane force wind generation seems to be the domain of high rank angels or wind mages and wind mages don't seem to be all that common so that kinda narrows it down.

File: 28.png (177 KB, 574x804)

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As you see the streaming numbers of Mamonos running out of the road, your gauntlet whizz with power, your mind directed at your party and the people you have to protect... and ultimately decide that it'd be too hasty.

At least that's the excuse you want to believe.

''Let's go! Mina is fine, it'll take much more than that to knock her out!'' Klesiah points at the general direction of her fallen friend. That fall had still been around ten meters, Mina had been flying rather high... Hopefully, Leena is fine too!

With overjoyed screams napping at your heels, the group makes their way into the open street and where the divine elemental made landfall. Hildegarde takes the rearguard as you shield Shereen but the cultists who ventured into the same street as you don't seem to give your people many thoughts; the women eyes are squarely locked on armored people when your group round the corner, a group of ten Mamonos crash into several guards holding a line on the street with barbaric frenzy, screaming words like ''Enough!'' or ''Our catharsis!'' immediately changing the balance on this side of the road. A squad on the roof, using whatever projectiles they could find to rain injuries on the crowd, jumped down to reinforce their sisters.

What the cultists lacked in armor, they made up in ferocity but good equipment remained difficult to overcome.

In the middle of the large street, you saw the faintly glowing elemental: nobody stopped to take stock of the situation, your party feet stopped when everyone could stand shoulder to shoulder with the disorientated holy entity.

''You okay!?'' Klesiah screamed and Mina simply nodded, her magical body must absorb damage particularly well... Or she's hiding her injuries. One hand on Leena shoulder, the Black Cat kept rubbing her eyes, looking adequately confused at the surrounding pandemonium but otherwise healthy.

What a tough little girl.

You were midway toward entering the large central plaza of Myrtidal now, allowing you to get a good sight of what was happening. Your ears rang when a volley of thirty crossbows shoot at once, filtering inside the overly large church built in Zerase honor. The main square was reinforced by a hundred fully plated guards... no, soldiers and more were streaming in from the slum, and further still from what you used to be the duchess manor, their numbers will double in a few minutes. Shields and heavier two-handed weapons were being distributed to the soldiers, helmets fleed off the merchant's stalls, all overseen by lamias officers.

Around thirty people peeled off toward the west to contain the breach you allowed to continue.

File: Minotaur11.png (15 KB, 276x397)

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A distinctive snake lady with piercing red hair and an equally sharp cape on her shoulders stood in the middle of the largest group of soldiers, protected by twelve other lamias wearing form-fitting armor, equipped with shields, heavy spears and a sheat of triple javelins on their backs. Beside her was someone who, at first glance, looked wholly human in stature although, their face was concealed inside a golden mask you couldn't identify because you could only look at this individual profile. The glaive in their hands, at least, hinted at this person's capabilities.

A sudden loud metal thumps a few steps away from Mina nearly motivated Klesiah to behead Adam in retaliation. The man had -quite literally- jumped off the third floor of the church and landed on the cobblestones, irreparably damaging his landing spot. His Magitek pieces glowered their faint lights -purplish-blue, white, gold and orange- whilst a similar glow light up his eyes and the strange fabric in his chest. A sudden puff of pinkish smoke belched behind him -coming out of his head- as he stood to his full height.

''So-''

''THE KID IS HERE'' It took unbelievably strong lungs to be heard above the cacophony but whoever screamed this possessed them. ''People! Here is your Lord demands!'' A Minotuaurus big enough to be considered tall for her own kind screamed these words with all the strength of her large body. Garbed in protective metal from head to toe and holding a deadly, large, and mean two-handed sword, she pointed her weapon toward your group for emphasis. Her face was tanned by the sun and her entire head was shaved beside a single, long brown ponytail.

twacktwacktwacktwack

Another crossbows volley resounded and your heart nearly stopped but the return fire from inside the church -five fireballs- made you understand that they weren't aiming your way. Yet. However that sudden scream had been heard by everyone, hells even people cowering in their home of the opposite street were glancing at your group.

Okay-

A part of the church roof promptly exploded. The Minotaurus, joined by a group of ten soldiers with greatswords and greataxes charged toward your party and the somber individual beside who you assumed to be the duchess also peeled away, following the big bull woman.

You didn't bother to look up. For once, you didn't dare to.

>Direct the party into Pilgrims Way, the guards of the area seemed to have regrouped in the plaza and the bigger houses in that district should make it easier to lose your pursuers!

>Double back toward the warehouse as planned! The city guards and the cultists are still ripping each other to shreds, it's enough over to run away where you've agreed to go!

>Free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w21YjLymB4U

Continuing tomorrow.

>>4347145
>Double back toward the warehouse as planned! The city guards and the cultists are still ripping each other to shreds, it's enough over to run away where you've agreed to go!
Meant that it's enough -cover- to run away where you've agreed to go.

>>4347145
Enemy composition. How far away and how long until they're on us? What maomons besides that Minotaur are we talking? Any mages and what color are they glowing if there are as it's pretty much night so we'd be able to see it from a distance? Is Mina back up and combat ready? Can she snipe the dutchess with her bow? You said she's a crack shot even while moving so we can do this no matter the choice.

Wait, we don't know the mamono type of the dutchess, but Adam does. Which one is the most likely to be her and can she get sniped? Will headshots insta-kill mamono? Will it stop the Minotuar? How fast can Mina pop off? If she can pick a few of them off as we run that'll drastically increase our collective survival odds. Adam still got that flash bomb? Now'd be a great time to use it if Mina can fire as it'd give her free headshots as they recoil from the flash.

Also, err, how fast can Mina dematerialize into Klesiah or go into spirit form/out of phase and how fast can she pop back out or re-phase back into this dimension? Last ditch defensive measure to prevent her death potentially.

>>4347171
>How far away and how long until they're on us?
The group with the Minotaurus are roughly 12 meters away from you, reaching you at their current speed will take around 12 seconds if you stand still, so you have some time to make a little headway. (2 actions/rounds gap before melee.)
The dark silhouette is a good 30 or so seconds away, she'll need to make some headway.

>What maomons besides that Minotaur are we talking?
All of them are older looking lizardwoman armed with greatweapons.
>Any mages and what color are they glowing if there are as it's pretty much night so we'd be able to see it from a distance?
You can see glowing lusters of blue, orange and purple amongst the guards but nothing from your pursuers
>Is Mina back up and combat ready?
Yes
>Can she snipe the dutchess with her bow?
She'll need to stand still for at least one round to adjust her aim, the duchess is quite far and there's still no guarantee she'll hit the woman. (I'll have to roll 1d100 without modifier, the duchess has her royal guard too.)
>You said she's a crack shot even while moving so we can do this no matter the choice.
Yeah but she'll still need to fire at an enemy within 5 meters to be accurate while on the move. Think of her as wielding a shortbow, actual sniping will need a longbow and for her to actually aim instead of relying on reactions.

>Wait, we don't know the mamono type of the dutchess, but Adam does.
You don't have time to ask him.
>Will headshots insta-kill mamono?
Depend on the species and the strength of the victim. Still, it's highly likely to kill or incapacitate.
>Will it stop the Minotuar?
Getting headshot is gonna hurt.
>How fast can Mina pop off?
At her current mana level? 2 arrows/round while moving 3 while standing still. She doesn't have much range with fast firing though
>If she can pick a few of them off as we run that'll drastically increase our collective survival odds.
If she rolls well...
>Adam still got that flash bomb?
No. He used it against the roof guards to make sure nothing would happen to Leena.
>Also, err, how fast can Mina dematerialize into Klesiah or go into spirit form/out of phase and how fast can she pop back out or re-phase back into this dimension?
Dematerialization is nigh instantaneous, coming out of Klesiah body however, needs around 30 seconds.

It's the biggest drawback of independents fusions

>>4347198
So if Mina dematerializes it'll take 5 rounds for her to get back in the fight. Ouch. Does she heal if she does that? Again, really want her to live through this for bestest buddies sake. It also means we can safely use her as a distraction to lead others away if we're avoiding combat, but these fuckers won't take the bait.

So Adam's still got his thermite grenade. Could we use that to start the firestorm distraction? How big's the blast/heat radius? It's bright as fuck but magic can screw with how it'd actually function so I don't rightfully know what it'd be here. Can he channel the kool-aid man and just smash a wall to get into the church without need of a door? Shit's loud enough for that not to carry far yes?

So our pursuers got no mage and all other mages are quite distracted yeah? Can we make a choking, noxious smoke bomb/thrower to both blind and slow em' down as they hack their lungs out while also giving us some concealment from archers and the like?

Finally, does the armor they're wearing look enchanted and would magical lightning be extra effective if it ain't?

>>4347276
>Does she heal if she does that?
No, damage work differently for Mother Earth shards. They can take quite the punishment, I'll say that much.
>Could we use that to start the firestorm distraction?
If he say yes, sure.
>How big's the blast/heat radius?
Two-meter sphere, the fire can spread really fast.
>Can he channel the kool-aid man and just smash a wall to get into the church without need of a door?
Not the exterior walls. The church is really damn big, he'd be good for the interior as long as it's not stone.
>Shit's loud enough for that not to carry far yes?
Well... I suppose yeah.
>Can we make a choking, noxious smoke bomb/thrower to both blind and slow em' down as they hack their lungs out while also giving us some concealment from archers and the like?
The best you can do is redo the smokescreen you used to escape the guards previously. Your gauntlet is fire, not poison.
>Finally, does the armor they're wearing look enchanted
Impossible to tell from a glance.
>would magical lightning be extra effective if it ain't?
Lightning and metal will always be close lovers.

>>4347281
Even normal smoke will cause you to choke if you breathe it in if it's thick enough. So I guess the real question is can we make a smoke bomb/thrower that'll both obscure us and cause our pursuers to start hacking and coughing if they try to charge right through it. I think it did last time.

>>4347290
Right. You can't quite make a ''smoke bomb'' so throwing smoke out of your palm will work as it did last time, wha'ts important is the degree of magic you put into it.

Heavy = Thick dark smoke that lasts an upward of ten minutes, impossible to breathe in as it causes immediate choking. The sheer mass of the smoke will spread into the closest streets and buildings.
Medium = Equally dark smoke but breathing it in isn't as debilitating. Last, for 5 minutes, the volume you can create will be enough to obscure your entire side of the street.

Both enchantments lasts for 10 minutes after the initial mana cost.

>>4347298
So we can project smoke at will for ten minutes after we cast? Sounds quite useful here as it'd also make us able to pick who "wins" or at least prolong any fight we see.

Yeah, gonna sleep on it but as of now we use a heavy spell and make these fuckers choke to buy us time and add to the overall chaos here (as for us the more chaos the better in regards to our enemies). Any alternate ways into the church? Our primary objective is in the basement after all.

>>4347302
Oh, and I think we did throw the damn spell last time. It acted more like a Smoke Grenade rather than a bomb though. That is, it just kept emitting smoke rather than creating an explosion of the stuff.

>>4347302
>So we can project smoke at will for ten minutes after we cast?
Yes but you cannot create any other spell out of your gauntlet for the length of the enchantment if you want to keep the smoke.
>Any alternate ways into the church?
Who knows? Maybe you have the information.

>>4347303
I'll need to review it but I remember Arawn just throwing smoke out of his palm to choke out the guards.

>>4347307
We don't, but Adam sure as hell does. And I'm pretty sure we did. We projected for a bit, then chucked the thing away to further throw off our pursuers as we made for the safehouse location Adam provided after we let him take Leena.

After all, a house full of smoke but no fire would be pretty damn suspicious and if we didn't they'd just follow the smoke trail once it dissipated enough to not be choking right to us...

>>4347311
If you can find a moment to talk and question your companions, maybe you can get some more info. At it is now, it doesn't seem like anyone knows an alternate way in.
>And I'm pretty sure we did. We projected for a bit, then chucked the thing away to further throw off our pursuers as we made for the safehouse location Adam provided after we let him take Leena.

Arawn threw smoke everywhere to cover the party track and panic the local population, he stopped after reaching the safehouse, letting the heavy smoke spread on its own in its general area. Creating an actual sphere of magic that belch smoke isn't possible with the gauntlet. It gotta come out of it

>>4347311
Found it, last thread. Post: 4298676
>As you made headway toward your destination, you threw the small sphere into a courtyard whereupon smoke exited in renewed vigor

It was a heavy spell though. So the medium version probably wouldn't be as effective. It was a smoke grenade when thrown. Doubling down, I vote for a heavy smoke spell that we chuck towards whoever looks like they're about to "win".

>>4347316
Well crap, look like I momentarily forgot my own rules of magic. But yeah, only a heavy spell can do that.

>Doubling down, I vote for a heavy smoke spell that we chuck towards whoever looks like they're about to "win".
That honestly doesn't help your situation. Using a smokescreen to escape the coming ten soldiers and minotaur is how I'd interpret it, so I'd still need a vote to know where you're going.

Standing your ground work too.

>>4347324
I'm also going to sleep on this but I also vote to retreat towards the warehouse as that seems to be where a nice good and proppa WAAGH is happening between guards and cultists.

Though I gotta ask, can we get those bitches to start choking than throw it in the direction of that incoming mass of soldiers? Any other places we can think of to chuck it once we got those cunts choking as we retreat to the warehouse if we go with that?

>>4347330
>can we get those bitches to start choking than throw it in the direction of that incoming mass of soldiers?
The only nearby mass of enemies is the melee between cultists and guards on the road leading into the two big residential districts of Myrtidal, you can absolutely do that while retreating toward the warehouse. Choking people out is one way to calm people down. You can only do that IF you retreat toward the warehouse, escaping into the residential district won't let you get close enough to throw your sphere into the cultists-guard melee.

>Any other places we can think of to chuck it once we got those cunts choking as we retreat to the warehouse if we go with that?
Nothing too obvious. Throwing it inside Pilgrim Way to cause a fire scare is the only thing Arawn can think of for now; you don't have time to strategize.

I'll take it you have a hard choice for.
>Use a heavy spell to enchant your gauntlet in smoke, concentrated into a magical throwable sphere. Use this to cover your retreat and make distance with the approaching minotaur and her elite comrades.

Where we actually go remain to be seen.

>>4347338
Like I said, for now I vote to go for the warehouse. I'm kinda leaning towards chucking that bomb into that mob you mentioned once the dutchess's bitch squad and herself are hacking their lungs out as it'd draw both factions and that bitch we're gonna kill nice and slow away from the entrance of the church in an effort to aid their allies. That's a good thing for us.

>>4347145
>Double back toward the warehouse as planned! The city guards and the cultists are still ripping each other to shreds, it's enough over to run away where you've agreed to go!
Best stick to the plan, I think.

I'm worried about the spread of the smoke. We're in an open plaza right now, yes? Won't that mean that the smoke will have room spread too thin to really cause people to start chocking on it?
If we're running through an alley then I have no worries.

>>4347554
It's magical smoke so it's not going to thin out despite the open area, going back toward the warehouse will also make you go back into the thinner streets.

Now I sleep.

>>4347556
Oh, another consideration. Could Mina stick our smoke bomb onto her arrow and shoot it? Kill an evil bitch and put the smoke where we want it would be an awesome twofer.

>>4347663
Oh, also, I just remembered. We turned down the chance to sneak into the church via a back door next to the warehouse as we didn't wanna test our luck with another roll. So yeah, there's an entrance next to the warehouse.

Definitely wanna head back now after choking out our pursuers. Kinda wanna chain the decision but it can wait. We either go for the warehouse or the back entrance into the church. Will the smoke filter into the church? I hope a bit does as it'd mean we got free reign so long as someone can see through it and I bet either Mina or Adam can. They can lead us into the basement. I love it when a plan comes together in the face of contact with the enemy.

>>4347663
>Could Mina stick our smoke bomb onto her arrow and shoot it?
Nope.
>>4347690
>We turned down the chance to sneak into the church via a back door next to the warehouse as we didn't wanna test our luck with another roll
The entrance is the back of the church where you killed the 6 guards, I might not have made it too obvious back then. There's no third entrance in the church.

Two votes to go into the warehouse and one vote to use a heavy spell to make a smokescreen o cover your retreat. I'll roll a dice to see if we use the spell in an hour as I begin writing. More votes is always helpful.

>>4347957
Eh sure, let's smoke things up. It'll eat into our remaining reserves but we can't really allow the Duchess' elite cronies to follow and fighting where we are seems ill advised to me.

>>4347957
How far is that back entrance from the warehouse and could we go for that instead?

>>4347985
Yeah, especially since I'm pretty damn sure Ari'el just burst out of the roof. We do NOT want to fight that Angel in an open space where he can easily surround us with his cronies.

Hell, we don't want to fight him without Elina's aid period but I don't think we're going to get a choice on this one. The fucker's here, he probably knows we want into the basement, and he ain't going to let us in there peacefully. At least not-Kamen Rider is on our side now. Hope he's got an anti-Angel device.

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Your arm buzzed with power again as traces of magic filtered into the magical cortex of your modified Magitek gauntlet. ''Stick to the plan!'' You warned your party, discouraging Hildegarde and Zhu from meeting these new charging foes in a melee: your magic coalesced the next second into a heavy spell, reforming the same phenomenon you used this afternoon. Smoke belched out of your palm and you shook your limb sideways to create a screen of thick, dark smoke that completely hid the coming enemies, quickly masking the crowd from view.

''Okay! Let's go!'' Surprisingly it was Shereen who moved first and that provided the needed spark to get your party moving.

Mina floated a few meters above everyone as a ball of golden light in her hands quickly grew into a shortbow, an arrow -little more than a thin golden tube- was notched as she moved like a skating ballerina. Her anchor was the one who took care of Leena. Keeping her glaive in one hand, Klesiah quickly grabbed and lifted Leena, she actively helped the paladin getting a good hold. Adam stood beside you, insisting on rearguard actions, where Klesiah was undeniably most vulnerable.

Your party quickly rethreaded old grounds in the next few seconds, all the smoke made it impossible to gauge your pursuers progress and with all the surrounding cacophony -screams of dying, clangs of metals, roars of rages- consolidating into this utter mess of noises, you couldn't even hear the effectiveness of your spell. The corner of the eastern road was the most chaotic melee you ever saw: no order, no lines, only people without armor trying to kill those protected in metals, the stream of cultists reinforcement was slowly but surely changing the balance of power... nobody glanced at your sizeable squad and as your group rounded the corner and entered the street properly, you threw the magical smoke sphere somewhere deep inside that carnage and the smoke immediately began to choke people out, adding another layer of confusion in this utter mess: people began to flee in the street and alleys for breath, anyone with the misfortune of impeding Hildegarde or Zhu way was shoved on the ground.

The backstreet of the church wasn't heavily populated, thankfully. Your party arrival coupled with the sudden smoke in the melee had forced the closest cultists to move away to try and assess the situation.

''Yooooouuuuuuuuu!?'' You barely made half of the way toward the warehouse when this broken familiar scream rang out with such force...

You barely registered what happened next. You saw tow golden flash and felt a sudden burst of magical explosion when Hildegarde rushed forward.

''Gu!? Let go!''

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Myr must have exited the church back entrance. Armed with her remaining tonfa and a wooden kite shield with two noticeable arrows embedded in its surface, the force of Mina projectiles must have thrown her briefly off balance because Hildegarde was holding the tonfa, already trying to wrestle it out of the dark elf grasp. The magical explosion had damaged Hildegarde clothes significantly: holes had appeared all over, almost reducing her vestments to tatters but she held onto that weapon and shoved the elf on a nearby wall, slowly but surely out-muscling the frenzied enemy!

''Hold!'' A masculine voice came from the sky and the elf calmed down somewhat, the maid didn't release her hold so Myr struggled to free herself.

Above in the sky -perhaps no more than five meters- was a levitating angel. Six peerless white wings spread behind him, flapping so gently it could be described as harmonious. Above his head of short brown hair was a glowing golden halo, his handsome face -soft, even- looking down at your party with surprising neutrality. A blue plate armor covered his body and in his left hand was a simple blade, neither short nor overly long with a handle fit for one or two hands.

He didn't look particularly intimidating, but you knew better.

''Now is not the time to harm the cat.'' His voice matched his appearance: soft and warm. Behind him was the harpy responsible for your complications, throwing murderous daggers down at you.

Of course, she'd be healthy now with an angel help!

''Archon! Archon!''

Screams from the east revealed that you weren't the only one to see this angel. Cultists coming out of western street saw their leader and ran closer, dozens of incoming combatants.

''Direct our sisters on the western flank, the church priority has lessened significantly now, you don't need to worry.'' The man ordered the flying bird woman and with only a second of hesitation, the thunderbird flew off with a nod.

You nearly succumbed to the temptation of ordering Mina to let a few arrows fly.

''Please, let us not be overly hostile. Nobody can afford to harm the important Cat.'' His statement made Leena look up at him curiously and he nodded when they crossed eyes, even shaking his free hand in a childish greeting. ''Hi, I'm sorry it took me so long to find you.'' His smile would have been perfect for a loving big brother.

''Shut up, don't try to infect her with your lunacy!'' Adam voice, filtered by his mask, came out grave and metallic. ''I don't give a damn about any truth anymore, that kid isn't going to become another one of your puppets!''

Behind you, your magical smoke remained thick and heavy. Combatants began to slowly but surely peel off the melee as they threw themselves on the ground for breath: there weren't any signs of the duchess warriors yet so, at least, that was a silver lining.

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Unfortunately, your magical smoke was going to affect everyone else in the party, You are the only one who would be able to navigate there and breathe. Adam might be able to follow because of his armor, but that's not something you can confirm right away...!

''Get into the church!'' Hildegarde grunted as Myr continued to struggle. ''I've got this one, quick before more comes!''

''That would be most unwise.'' Ari'el responded. ''Please don't hurt the most vulnerable amongst us.''

What do you mean, us!?

>Immediately order your party to retreat into the nearby district of Craftman Fortune. You've got to lose this angel!

>Forcing your way into the church will be... difficult. Perhaps even suicidal but the cultists are getting closer, you might not have another chance.

>Indulge Ari'el wishes for dialogues. It might give the duchess people enough time to get closer and that means a distraction.

>Free

>>4348289
Oh for fucks sake! Worst possible outcomes right off the damn bat all because we didn't kill that fucking harpy when we had the chance! Why?! We rolled high and had the intent to kill back then why is she still alive to ruin everything for us!

Bitching at our horrendous and abysmal luck aside. Why isn't Hilde headbutting Myr into submission, breaking her arms, or poping her ultimate and searing her to a crisp? That'd get Ari'el to peel off and do some healing. Or at least try to before Mina would interfere. Fair trade, the asshole tried to ensure the death of one of ours back in Throne Town so we could make him choose his comrade over us and have Mina delay a bit before dematerializing back into Klesiah.

Where is everyone in relation to the angel? Are those cultists still heading towards us? Can Mina match him in speed and manuverability in aerial combat?

>>4348355
You hurt her enough to make her flee after a single strike, alas...

>Why isn't Hilde headbutting Myr into submission, breaking her arms, or poping her ultimate and searing her to a crisp?
Well, she's under the impression that Myr is an unwilling enemy because of the geas so trying to kill her outright isn't something she's attempting... yet. There's not a whole lot of time to make decisions and also, Myr is making it difficult too, she wrestled the elf on a wall but that doesn't mean she's having an easy time despite her advantage.

>Where is everyone in relation to the angel?
Your party assumed a diamond formation with Klesiah in the middle. Zhu is in front of your paladin, Adam moved to her flank and you're at at the back; Adam is directly facing Ari'el whilst you and Zhu are at a diagonal angle. Mina is a two meters lower than him flight wise but he's within range of her bow.

>Are those cultists still heading towards us?
Yes, they'll get close enough to become a problem next turn if you stand still and you'll need to contend with them if you try to force your way into the church.

>Can Mina match him in speed and manuverability in aerial combat?
Impossible to be confident about this. Klesiah rarely saw Ari'el fight, she honestly has no idea about his potential in aerial battles but Mina -is- pretty good in the air.

>>4348380
Err, can she not see the angel right there? Myr has quick access to holy healing, therefore, she can afford to get pretty damn rough and still be confident that she won't die as, again, she has heals right next to her. Plus it sounds like her clothes are shot to hell anyway so going full nude as a result of poping her ultimate isn't much of a concern.

Going into nearby district means going through our smoke grenade yes? Will the cultists attack us the instant they get here if we're talking to the asshole? How far away are any guards that we can see?

>>4348380
How's our link with Elina feel? Approximately how close is she?
I don't suppose Hildegarde is strong enough to fling Myr at Ari'el as a distraction?

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>>4348412
>Err, can she not see the angel right there?
I mean, yeah but she hasn't started to try and outright kill Myr right away despite his proximity because things haven't escalated yet, especially since he stopped the dark elf aggression. If she'll escalate things further will be seen next turn depending on what you do.

>Going into nearby district means going through our smoke grenade yes?
Only if you direct the party that way. You've run half of the road, leaving you a dozen feet or so from the church courtyard and the warehouse. Escaping with your party in Craftsman Fortune is what Arawn will do if you want to keep group cohesion. Going into your smokescreen is possible but I'll have to roll to see if anyone gets separated, especially since Ari'el won't exactly let you go.

>>4348429
>How's our link with Elina feel? Approximately how close is she?
Her emotions feel especially intense now that you're in battle, Elina is desperate... but the feelings aren't strong enough to distract you, meaning that she must still have quite some distance to travel.
>I don't suppose Hildegarde is strong enough to fling Myr at Ari'el as a distraction?
Unfortunately not, the two women are similar in height and build.

>>4348456
How far away is Hilde from our group and the angel? Again, I also ask if we see any guards nearby.

Also, isn't soul reinforcement a thing? Doesn't that mean people can, when reinforced, lift/throw/punch/etc. much heavier and harder than their build would suggest and wouldn't one's degree of mastery increase that factor?

>>4348472
>How far away is Hilde from our group and the angel?
She wrestled Myr on a wall 6 feet away from your group.

>Again, I also ask if we see any guards nearby.
Nothing here. The entire eastern road is full of thick smoke going inside the building now, a few cultists are coming out to get some air but none of them are guards.

>Also, isn't soul reinforcement a thing? Doesn't that mean people can, when reinforced, lift/throw/punch/etc. much heavier and harder than their build would suggest and wouldn't one's degree of mastery increase that factor?
Yes, Myr is also reinforced so that means she'll put up a fight against being thrown WWE style. It's not impossible for Hildegarde, so ultimately doing that will need a roll for her and Arawn will need to tell her, too so it won't be easy since everyone will know what she's up to.

Being bigger and heavier than someone also translate into having more strength when being reinforced, nature -does- play a role in this. It's why the Warrior Races can be so fearsome.

>>4348482
Oh right, as for the angel she's a good 6 meters away from his floating position.

>>4348488
So Hilde's close to us but has some distance from the angel?

A few more considerations, can wind disrupt/dissipate our smoke? Are the cultists heading for us nice and clumped together? Do Angel's need to breathe and can smoke make them choke?

>>4348289
Hmm. Splitting the party when we don't have a method to communicate over distance, or have a set point to regroup in seems quite dumb.
Meanwhile, trying to buy time guarantees nothing. For all we know, the Duchess and her elites have completely lost our trail.

*sigh* we need to come up with anti-angel tactics, tools or spells in the future, the feathered menaces are dangerous

>Immediately order your party to retreat into the nearby district of Craftman Fortune. You've got to lose this angel!
Risky, I admit. Escaping from an aerial opponent won't be easy but I honestly see little other viable options.

>>4348503
>can wind disrupt/dissipate our smoke?
Yes, only strong wind will do and it won't be particularly effective, but the smoke will get displaced after each gusts.
>Are the cultists heading for us nice and clumped together?
Yup.
> Do Angel's need to breathe and can smoke make them choke?
Wind magic can help them breathe but Arawn doesn't know how that can be accomplished, only that it's possible.

>>4348507
Duly noted.

>>4348520
Angels also get holy magic and the shields that implies right? If so he'll just shield his allies and go into kill mode the instant we try to nuke his friends.

Ok, how fast can we conjure another smoke grenade and how much of our reserves will remain if we do? If we can isolate Ari'el from his cronies and Myr and get him into an enclosed area we may be able to take him out if losing him appears impossible.

>>4348530
>Angels also get holy magic and the shields that implies right? If so he'll just shield his allies and go into kill mode the instant we try to nuke his friends.
Yeah, but he might not be within range to do that. It's a bit of a leap of faith since you have no idea how big his sphere of influence can be.
>Ok, how fast can we conjure another smoke grenade
Can be done as an action, so just two or three seconds.
>how much of our reserves will remain if we do?
Your reserves feels low, though not dangerously so. This is a combat scenario so the magical mitigation applies.

>>4348553
Ok, so more cultists besides the ones immediately incoming are filtering into the area right? If so nuking that group just buys us a few rounds but a smoke nade at a chokepoint will buy us a few minutes. If more besides that group are coming we follow the advice of Desert Punk: "A real man knows when to run like a little bitch!"

Pop our smoke as we do and drop it in a choke point, preferably one with several directions one can go in so as to ensure his cronies can't follow us. The plan is to either lose Ari'el or isolate and assassinate him.

>>4348561
Oh, I meant drop it in a choke point behind our party as we flee. We don't wanna smoke our people. Hope that angel chokes hard on it. Sad thing for him he has a glowing halo, that means once he gets to the edge of the screen he'll be visible and we won't. Free shots for Mina!

>>4348561
Alright so essentially you want to do like this anon >>4348507 while using another heavy spell of enchanted smoke as a cover to flee from the angel.

Hm, I'd like to ask if players are okay with using more magic but I'd like to pump out more updates today, so I'll go with that.

>>4348561
>The plan is to either lose Ari'el or isolate and assassinate him.
That'll only have even a chance of work if he comes down from the sky. And personally i don't see him doing that any time soon considering the amount of cultist cronies Ari'el has. And given how low on reserves the mages in our group are, I'd rather not fight the angel at all.

And really, even without the cronies? As a high-tier Angel Ari'el has *no* need at all to leave the sky on his own volition, he can tear our group apart with wind magic.

...Or he would, if we didn't have the Cat with us. Suppose that's one silver lining in this situation

>>4348574
It's more to keep his cronies from following us. That's the biggest problem right now. That whole group will follow us unless we prevent them from doing so somehow.

>>4348578
That is exactly why he'll come down, especially if we isolate him. He wants the cat alive and thus won't risk her life. That means no AoE attacks.

I'd rather lose him as well and wait until Elina gets here so she and Mina can double team him, force him onto the ground, and get him within range of Zhu's blade without any way to dodge or block. Angels are pretty resilient so I think the only way to actually kill the fucker is a straight up decapitation.

That's what I'd *like* to happen, but it doesn't look like we're going to get that. Thus, we must make the best of a horrible horrible position. Again, we wouldn't be in this mess if we had killed that fucking harpy! I shouldn't have suggested the ice spike, fire probably would have killed her. Note to self, do not give INH any possible way to spare our enemies in the future. It'll always bite us in the ass.

>>4348603
Fire would have been preferable, yes, and had I been there for that vote I would have voted for it. But what's done is done.

I wonder though. Perhaps we can apply the principle behind our smoke to the gauntlet's Ice element. What I'm thinking is a cloud of freezing mist that accumulates on whatever it touches (sort of like what freezing rain does). Eventually forming into thick ice. Ideally it would weigh down flying foes and hamper staying in the air.

>>4348574
Oh, questions. Since it's connected to the gauntlet before being thrown, can Arawn control the smoke that's belched forth?
Can Magitek smoke be ignited?

>>4348679
>Since it's connected to the gauntlet before being thrown, can Arawn control the smoke that's belched forth?
Yes.
Also, I've modified the action a little bit because it's in character, you won't suffer anything bad from that.
>Can Magitek smoke be ignited?
Well well, that's an interesting experiment huh?

>>4348695
>Yes
Nice. Gotta keep that in mind. Doesn't necessarily help with our current situation sadly.
>Well well, that's an interesting experiment huh?
I only ask because it's *Magitek* smoke. Normal physics(?) like auto-ignition get muddled when Magic is added to the rules.

>>4348718
Yeah, Magitek magic tends to be ''grounded'' insofar that reality accepts its presence more easily (hence why Magitek magic tend to be elemental or based on bodies). However, it might be possible with a strong enough intent if you aren't afraid of trying to swing the balance a little and risk equipement malfunction.

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There were only seconds to assess the situation, seconds to coalesce your magical will into another heavy sphere of magical smoke, one second for Hildegarde to understand your intention as she glanced at you and promptly headbutted the elf violently.

''Kuh!?'' Myr struggled, managed to block the following knee strike toward her guts with a thigh, and pushed Hildegarde away by using her shield, something the maid let happen to make some distance.

''I said hold! There's no need to be so barbarous in the presence of our important Cat!'' Ari'el swung his sword for authority, his body lit up in a sudden luster of gold, making him look almost fragile.

''I'm-'' Leena, in Klesiah arms, tried to talk.
''In the alleyway!'' You screamed and a sudden burst of golden purplish colors nearly blinded you as you waved your spell toward the incoming cultists, briefly engulfing Myr and Hildegarde.

Mina and Adam had thrown projectiles toward the angel. The divine golden arrow shone with blinding strength, having grown dangerously thick but a golden obstruction was raised nigh instantaneously... yet the arrow smashed right through. Unfortunately, Ari'el had been savvy enough to extend his shield backward at an angle that deflected the arrow a few degrees to his left, making the projectile whiff by such a short distance it sizzled his armor!

Adam lightning projectile raised images of a jumping spider. Six tendrils reached forward connected into a bulbous core and crashed into another golden obstruction but the spell spilled over the shield like a crashing wave, two tendrils still aimed at the angel who swiped at them with his sword. The electricity connected and traveled all over his body. He barely flinched.

Seem like he can raise two shields in very quick successions. Elina was only able to do one. Sure, she made them equally quickly, but her limit was one of whatever size she wanted.

From the corner of your eye, you saw Hildegarde jump, grab something on a nearby wall (a lamp?) and with the strength of a single arm, pull herself on the roof as everyone else adopted a single line because of the tightness of the street. Being the last to go in the alley, you waved your arm all around to spread as much smoke as you could, Myr angry choked screams revealed that she was close, far too close!

A bubble of unearthly wind separated your smoke like a boulder thrown in the water, you raised your shield in defense and endure the crash, your entire metal protection slammed into your body and you nearly lost your footing but something heavy and sticky began to surround your legs!?

''Come on!'' Adam, grabbing your belt, pulled you out of this phenomenon. Your smoke had already reformed itself, masking the angel and everyone began running with Zhu leading the charge whilst you kept holding your sphere behind you to choke out any ground pursuers.

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Ari'el wouldn't be lost so easily. The angel flew perpendicular, a dozen or so meters in the air, easily keeping track of your position, golden halo shining like a new star in the sky.

The next thirty minutes were frenetic. Your party ran in Craftman Fortune like madmen -perhaps you were in a way- with an overhead angel keeping close and you kept hold of your magical enchantment, willing the smoke everywhere you could, forcing it to enter people homes or to invade all the direction of an intersection you didn't take... Adam, Mina and Hildegarde managed to keep Ari'el at bay. Every time your group paused for a second to decide on a direction, Magitek Man and the divine elemental would pepper the angel with projectiles to force him away and Hildegarde who moved from roofs to roofs (utterly demolishing any makeshift wooden houses she came across) either added her own ammunitions or threatened to outright jump on the angelic man.

Mina effectiveness was, perhaps what truly prevented him from stopping Zhu and thereby stopping the entire party. She always notched one, single, big arrow as he got closer and flew right at him for a sure shot and he always backed off... and this made you realize something.

Ari'el aerial movements looked awkward, he could fly with some serious speed but going up and down quickly or maneuvering away from a projectile looked difficult for the man so he always used his shields. Could it be that he's not good in the air...? Six wings oughta prove differently! Maybe he's being careful?

It was at the third intersection that you decided to throw your sphere. If the cult was following their prophet -or Archon as they said- then by now they were deep, deep inside Craftman Fortune, the richest residential district of Myrtidal. You willed the object to go completely out of control, to belch as much smoke as it could absolutely everywhere, to go inside people's windows and homes, forcing them outside not so much afeared of fire than a pure need of oxygen.

It wouldn't be as effective compared to an actual wildfire but maybe it'll slow down the cult and the duchess people, although by now you must almost be on the opposite side of the city!

All this while, Ari'el never stopped his chase. It was easy enough for him to keep track and as afraid as you were of this damnable angel, his persistence was starting to make you believe you'll need to get violent.

At least you've separated him from his allies.

Leena was the only thing that prevented him from crashing right in the middle of your comrades, no matter how hard and efficient Adam and Mina were with their magical projectiles, holding the Cat hostage really was your best advantage.

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''I've never been so deep inside this district, go forward I guess!'' Adam screamed to Zhu and she led the party forward after reaching the sixth intersection. Two puff of pinkish-red steam exited from behind his neck and the next second, his gauntlet roared with renewed electrical vigor. He's thrown six bolts now, each one as deadly as the last. Hildegarde had also been forced on the streets because of the nearby houses being too tall for her acrobatic abilities.

The path quickly led you into a sudden opening in the nearby tall houses of stones that you quickly realized to be a park of some kind. It was a big square with a large fountain in the middle, empty stalls lining the walls, trees and healthy grass making for picnic area... and an angel crashed on a wooden table, obliterating it, causing a sudden shockwave of wind that sent trees dancing.

He was ten meters away, obviously understanding Adam and Mina reach now.

You quickly identified three more exits, each one similar to the one you used to get in there: simple wide openings at the edge of this square community. Hell, it almost felt like a town within Myrtidal. Shereen suddenly dropped on her knees, desperate to gulp air even puking: the poor girl hadn't complained once but it was obvious this long sprint had brought her to the edge of her endurance.

She'll need to be carried if you want to run again.

''That's quite enough cat and mouses.'' Ari'el rose himself to his full height, somehow managing to be heard across this distance without straining his voice. ''All I need is to hear you, gentle Cat, there's no need for violence; you are the authority in this game.''

''Shut up!'' Klesiah barked, having let go of Leena, the paladin swiped the air with her glaive and quickly pointed at the angel who took a forward stop. ''Don't move you damn lunatic! Why do you even need Leena!? Didn't you call the pearls poisons to your followers!?'' Ah, seems like Klesiah has the same idea as you: Leena can open the way into Solemnval.

''Everyone deserves vengeance. I was told that you, dear Leena, deserve one, perhaps more than anyone else in this damnably ugly city.'' Ari'el held his sword perpendicular to his body, shining a mixture of blue and gold in the night. ''I care not for secrets, all I want to know is your story.''

''Ah...? You mean, you're not a bad player like that snake?''

''Don't listen to him.'' Adam retorted, putting a metal hand on her shoulder. ''You've said it yourself, the world came crashing down on your tormentors and that's happening right now to Myrtidal, this chaos will affect everyone, even those who didn't lift a finger to help you and especially the villains who ruined your life.''

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''Is that really enough?'' Ari'el asked, this time committing to a forward step and met a raised wall of weapons as a result. ''Everything you've endured, everything you've suffered can be so easily swept away? Your anger deserve to join the righteous, your age doesn't matter... nay, especially now, it matters much more, I'd even call you the most important little girl in the girl.'' His face relaxed into this gentle brotherly smile...

''What makes you believe you even have a chance against us?'' Hildegarde spoke, walking to stand beside Zhu as the one closest to Ari'el. Her vestments were now little more than tatters yet all the holes in her pants and shirt somehow kept her modesty.

''I wouldn't be so arrogant to call my victory in a feat of arms absolute, you are indeed mighty and many.'' Ari'el relaxed his stance. ''But I have to try nonetheless, for my people and myself. Every second that I spend away from them is enough to kill a Brave, if you are to be my tests instead of that infernal snake...'' His blade whizzed in the air for emphasis. ''...so be it. The cat story is what I need to be complete.''

''Complete?'' Leena said, blinking. Could it be his words were reaching her?

''Ah! Complete!?'' Zhu spat, still holding onto the sword she stole from a guard. Was she keeping her blade capabilities hidden as a way to ambush him? Smart. ''Big bro sound like a kiddy diddler, kinda reminds us of someone huh, Leena?''

The little cat answer was a wince.

The angelic man grabbed his sword with two hands. ''Nobody is above vengeance if I have to waddle through arrows and swords to prove it to you, young cat, I shall. Please watch me.''

Things were about to turn dangerous. Mother Mercy, did this guy have this much faith in Ama? She's the one who seemed to have promised this, after all, how else could he be so convinced of Leena worth?

You do know that angels are heavily influenced by emotions and from his stare, his stance, his words... Ari'el believed every words he said and also held his followers in high esteem. An angel believing in his cause so wholeheartedly might just be the most terrifying thing in the world.

>Retreat once more, try to gain time. Ari'el has have been away from his followers for a while, perhaps the fighting is going against them now. If he cares that much about them, he'll go back!

>Commit to a fight. Ari'el is alone and isolated, he's your most dangerous foe and all of your allies are healthy.

>Speak to him, try to know him, know his cult. If you can debate him if you can maybe poke holes in his logic and instill doubts... It might be the most effective thing you can do to overpower him in battle. But can you? What can you even say?

>Free

I can try making a mspaint map to represent the arena but it won't be of much help since Ari'el can fly and there are no obstacles. Red circle is your current position. This answer took a little longer to write than I wanted, so it's best to continue tomorrow.

>>4348937
I saw the posts you deleted. Nothing really changed though, you just added more details.

Ok, this sounds like that one fight at the end of KOTOR 2 where you could weaken the boss by talking to him and getting him to have doubts.

"Sorry Ari'el, kinda hard to have a civil conversation in the middle of a warzone where everyone wants you and all your comrades dead and I didn't exactly trust you to not simply sic your followers on us at first opportunity. I think you understand why. So, make your pitch demagogue. Convince me, us, that allowing you to attain your desires is the right thing to do and that once you've gotten what you want out of Leena you won't just kill her or toss her aside like a sack of garbage. I'm trying to protect her, what are you trying to do?"

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>>4348975
I nearly had an aneurysm when I noticed I forgot to post how you got in the park.

We'll see what other players will say tomorrow. An attempt at dialogue will be interesting... There's no right or wrong answer in this case. At least the option to talk is open since none of his close lieutenants died.

>>4348979
So if we *did* kill that harpy or Myr back then he'd be so pissed at us that he'd go right for the fight (a.k.a Vengence) or otherwise be actively seeking to kill us?

>>4348988
Yes

>>4348990
Still less than optimal as we may have been able to sneak into the church in the confusion had Mina not got shot. But then again, Myr was in there and her berserker roar probably would have gotten his attention.

Oh well, at least that's a silver lining to her unfortunate status of being alive. Has he figured out who we are yet? It has been a year after all and last time the gauntlet was lightning only.

If he hasn't I bet he'll remember our voice after the dialogue option. I hope I get support, we need this guy to have doubts or else he's going to take someone with him if a fight happens. I don't want to break our "no friendly deaths" streak here!

>>4348992
Oh, I should also add that if he tries to appeal directly to Leena and ignores us we inform him that it's in poor taste to use all those years of experience to manipulate children. If he insists on just convincing Leena we inform her that he helped kill a whole bunch of innocent kids just like her in Throne Town last year. We and Klesiah were there, and so was he, helping to bring in monstrosities from beyond the veil to devour the kind and innocent in the name of some petty Vampire Lord's vendetta against Daiyu. Actually, now that I think on it, this place is like the dark reflection of Throne Town

He's painted himself as an avatar of *righteous* vengeance. He is no such thing.

>>4349156
I don't think we should even wait, just immediately fire back with his involvement in the Throne Town Invasion. Especially the 'Everyone deserves vengeance'? 'No one is above vengeance' lines are very juicy ammunition against him.

Maybe we could get him to talk about *why* he's instigating a revolution/rebellion against the Duchess. Nothing takes the wind out of someone's sails like putting holes in their motivations behind their actions.

We could possibly also call his morality into question? 'Vengeance is a cycle and nothing good comes of it' and all that.

Man, all these ways to debate with the angel but I have no faith in myself being able to turn them into actual arguments. Though I should say I'm less concerned with actually winning any debates than devaluing Ari'el in Leenas eyes, if that makes sense.

>>4349528
I'll have to think on it a bit more. You are correct in your sentiment though. Devaluing him in the eyes of Leena is akin to filling him with doubts and, like I said, we need to get him to start doubting himself if we want to win this without any casualties as I really don't think we can truly avoid a fight without just giving him Leena and no way in hell is our party going to just accept that choice. Klesiah and Adam do *not* like this guy (neither do we, given how he essentially tried to ensure Sieg's death), they want him to get fucked for damn good reason I'd reckon. We do too, but our hate isn't such that it clouds our logic.

The bit about firing off immediately about Throne Town has merit as well, but I kinda want to let him dig his own grave a bit. Y'know, state how right and just vengeance is against the deserving, then try and get him to justify the slaughter of Throne Town. Yeah, a few of them weren't all that nice to us, that noble using her daughter as a pawn against Vilma was a cunt but the daughter and her posse weren't in the end. Likewise, most everyone we met was ultimately proven to be a fundamentally good person. This place is a dark reflection of Throne Town. Here, everyone's pretty much a fundamental asshole. There, everyone wasn't. Had Leena been born there and not here, she'd have experienced a far happier life.

The people here may well deserve what's happening now, but those in Throne Town didn't. Not even Daiyu, whose sins (the near extinction of the Dwarfs and Elves) are more accidental than intentional and she really seems to be seeking repentance. That's another needle in his likely arguments. Say the sinner seeks repentance and earnestly regrets their past actions. Is Vengeance still justified if they'll seek to make it right in the eyes of the one they wronged?

>>4349648
Oh, also, Elina was stated to be quite desperate right now. Would that increase her speed in any appreciable amount? I'd think it would, but it'd probably mean that if she arrives in a timely manner now she'll be almost out of mana having poured it all into a hypersonic speed boost.

Still would be an epic big damn heroes moment if she arrives in time to matter in the upcoming battle.

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Hm, interesting discussion. I won't be able to incorporate all the arguments from the get go but there's plenty for Arawn to say that's for sure.

>>4349686
>Oh, also, Elina was stated to be quite desperate right now. Would that increase her speed in any appreciable amount?
Last time she was desperate in Throne Town, something quite amazing happened didn't it? Though the distances involved here are much, much bigger.

Time for a little discussion with one stubborn winged man.

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''What's supposed to make you so righteous? You're making a pretty grandstand but all I've seen from your hard work is an orgy of violence.'' You spit at the angel Anger and dread mixed in your guts as you remembered Throne Town assault, this damnable man has been a part of it, he's got innocents blood on his hands.

A girl held onto her friend dying corpse whose leg had been torn apart by a shambling corpse, desperately screaming... and by the Mother Mercy, Elina reaches them in time to save the dying summoning cadet.

''True vengeance isn't shackled by righteousness.'' His response is firm but his stance relaxes as he realizes battle wasn't going to start right away. ''Myrtidal people have been shattered by civil war and bleed dry by tyrants, this violence is the only thing that can save them, the catharsis will stop the atrophy of their souls.''

True vengeance isn't shackled by righteousness!? You step forward, walking away from Shereen and Leena side, separating Hildegarde and Zhu, bridging the distances by a few meters as you thrust your magitek hand forward to point at him. ''Tell that to all the kids you've murdered in Throne Town you hypocritical piece of shit! Hundreds of cadets from twelve to sixteen years olds murdered by the shamblings horrors of your comrades while you followed a deluded vampire like a good little dog!'' Ari'el blink, his face tighten in frustration, a change in his previous solid demeanor. ''I'd say I've got a damn good case of vengeance against you and I'm not the only one. All the mothers, sisters... The entire nation of Throne Town has already moved against your mistress in revenge!''

''Throne Town was a tragedy.'' Ari'el response is calm, empty of the rage that's filling you. He stands straight and unmoving, golden halo brightening. ''I was led astray by that damnable vampire, believing in her cause, in her revenge against the reigning demons when the only thing motivating her was pride and greed, I mistook her grieving for her kin as genuine instead of self-serving, making me believe she was righteous.'' He shook his head. ''All she wanted was blood and death, it took me far too long to understand that I can only rely on myself when it comes to ideals!''

''So, you throw away the lives of hundreds of girls as a simple mistake?'' You don't know why but the fiery hot anger that had heated your head cool into a cold, cold rage. ''How many of your people have you led into a slaughter tonight?''

''This isn't Throne Town!'' He points at you with his sword. ''I gave my Braves a choice and they took it.''

The subject of Throne Town assault was a sensitive one but... Ari'el had a year to make up his mind about this incident, accepting it as a mistake, a source of constant guilt, an example to remember and always do better. That, you believe, seems to be his conclusion about that entire mess.

You can hear movements as your party converges closer.

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''If true vengeance isn't righteous then what -is- it?'' If you can't attack the past, you'll have to aim for the core of his belief.

Ari'el stands straighter. ''Only the catharsis of revenge can heal the wounded soul.'' His gaze isn't directed at you, his eyes concentrate on Leena. ''To endure without release is to atrophy your soul, knowing that whoever hurt you so, so deeply -be it a single man or an entire organization- can continue their lives without trouble is an agony that is all to often escaped by self-destruction.'' He holds out a closed fist covered in his blue armor, he was believing every word he said. This was no half-baked demagogue -knowingly- leading people astray. ''It would be so easy if victims could forgive and move on but is it not human to be unable to do such a thing? Weakness isn't shameful. Without satisfaction -without catharsis- a victim cannot even start healing as the trauma remain always fresh and ultimately, the only refuge comes in drugs and alcohol. There are no distractions in the entirety of Muribel, resentment builds and builds without release...''

''People aren't so psychopathic!'' Adam voice come out, the man had walked beside you and he points his blue gauntlet at the angel as you did. ''Criminals who hurt people so deeply aren't allowed to do as they please, they are captured and judged by their peers, punished to give the victim justice! Is it easy? No! Is justice perfect? No! But people surrounding the victimized are -always- inclined to help!''

''Are queens and kings held to such a standard?'' Reply the angel.

''The only right of life and deaths that nobles have in the Allied Kingdoms is with their knights, who knowingly allow their lords this privilege!'' Adam yells back.

''Do Mamono enjoy this protection?'' Ari'el shakes his head and a growl escape Adam. Undeniably, the situation with monstergirls was the great hypocrisy of the Allied Kingdoms. ''We are -not- in Throne Town or the Allied Kingdoms. The tyrants of Muribel are absolute, their followers take and take without end, gorging themselves on people misery, I'm not sure how long each of you has stayed in the city but... Leena, you know more than anyone else how much these evil metal people truly are with Myrtidal inhabitants, right?''

Being put on the spot leave the little Cat uncomfortable, she holds onto one of her elbows and blurts out. ''It's not just them.''

You haven't spent enough time to truly know how deeply rooted the problems of Myrtidal are but you've seen more than enough city guards bleeding the people dry of whatever money they didn't hide.

All those plate armors didn't exclusively come from the nearby mines.

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''And who is it that allows such a travesty?'' The angel straightens his spine, his six wings flap as he holds his sword, pointing it at a certain someone who had gotten enough breath to stands back on wobbly feet. ''Shereen Roshanak, third of the Eternals. Your mother empowers Myrtidal tyrant, letting her do whatever she wants to the people here; this explosion of revenge was the only possible result, much like the rebellion not so long ago.''

Being put on such a spot make your little sun immediately uncomfortable, her entire spine straighten. ''You're a... You're -the- princess?'' You hear Leena say beside her in genuine disbelief. Shereen opens her mouth, nothing more than broken syllables come out. Adam, too, is looking at her, his helmet completely concealing his face.

''I will ensure that all the suffering, silent voices of Muribel people will rise as one against your rotten family so that people here can finally start living again! This is no promise of an easy or happy life, but they'll at least have the chance to actually start living, instead of enduring. Do you see, gentle cat?'' Ari'el raises his sword in a high stance. ''You, too, can heal yourself from the traumas of Myrtidal and not only stand on your feet but find many, many kindred spirits! Here stands a third of this country woes!''

Gu...! This damn guy! Shereen closes her mouth, biting her lips and hesitate in taking a forward step. Is she...? Does she want to speak with him?

>Allow your little sun to speak her mind. Can you even find any holes in Ari'el logic? He's a complete fanatic! (Arawn will take a more passive role, do you have faith in Shereen?)

>'' I have a case of true vengeance against you, angel. Not only did you have a hand in the murders of teenage girls but you've robbed me and my close friends of an entire year of life, you've allowed your comrades to hurt my knight and now you've besmirched my Sun! Drown in your belief, angel!'' (Will open hostilities)

>Put forward more arguments, he's laid down his belief now... can you poke holes in it? Can you hurt him, Arawn? (This is a free choice, one last attempt to hurt the angel emotionally.)

While I don't want to make things easy by giving the good argument in greentext, I'd rather avoid a deadlock and/or indecision so if you guys can't think of anything to say I will default to one of the above choices.

>>4350274
I say we trust Shereen. Though we do have other arguments we can present if the opportunity arises. Evil tends to defeat itself long term, what you put out eventually returns to you, the judgement the other eternals warrant is already in the process of being meted out, the lack of faith in the real and living godess here leaving vengeful and wounded souls with no succor save drugs or violence, etc.

Besides, Shereen's one of the kindest people we've ever met. If she were to assume the throne you can bet she'd get right to fixing all the problems that led to this. It would be hard, but we know someone who took their shit country and turned it around. They'd be happy to help her do the same. Basically, he's fucking up again, just like in Throne Town.

>>4350332
Duly noted.

I'll give this up to an hour, or maybe even two, of wait time for more inputs as I feel it is important. Though if everyone agree to let Shereen speak, I'll proceed.

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>>4350274
Ari'el is short-sighted fool, from where I see it. This vengeance business of his is nothing but a short-term band-aid, no better than the drugs and alcohol he condemns and just as self-destructive. If not more so.
Let's say he succeeds in toppling the Duchess' rule and routs her soldiers. What comes after that? How will Ari'el keep 'his people' safe from the country's military - which WILL come crashing down on him once word of this insurgency reaches Zerase's ears. Not a question of if, but when.

Then there's the question of what becomes of the people who are not apart of Ari'el's cult, who are and *will* be caught in the crossfire of the cult's action. Were they given a choice? Who knows how many have already suffered in the ongoing conflict, and how many will come to suffer once Zerase's indiscriminate methods reach them?

Ultimately, Ari'el's cult of vengeance will only sow more pain, destruction suffering than it will supposedly heal. All he is doing is leading his 'people' to certain doom.

Anons, should we tell him about the 700 soldiers marching to Myrtidal as we speak? By my very rough guesstimate, Ari'el's cult can't have more than two or three cultists in it, *without the casualties the cult has already taken*... not very good odds for Ama's pet angel, I'd say.

>>4350339
>Spoiler
DAMMIT, that's supposed to be "two or three HUNDRED cultists"

It's late, don't judge me pls

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>>4350341
I almost feel like judging you. You're putting forth a nice argument.

>>4350345
Can we both let Shereen speak and put forth more arguments?

>>4350274
>Allow your little sun to speak her mind. Can you even find any holes in Ari'el logic? He's a complete fanatic! (Arawn will take a more passive role, do you have faith in Shereen?)

Since we both agree that the the current situation within the country is bad and that things need to change, the people that are currently standing in our way are the local guards and their masters,
We could probably leverage a voice at the table after hostilities have concluded in return for some sort of truce / ceasefire Not immediately activating whatever is in the basement. while we deal with the guards and attempt to uncover what they have been up to.

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>>4350348
I'm thinking long and hard about it honestly and even now I can't settle on a clear answer. Ari'el is likely to open hostility after another round of speech, so combining both successfully will be difficult... but it honestly depends on what you want to say.

Let's see, a way to go about it could be that you'd want Arawn arguments to take precedence or instead, support Shereen with something a player said but you might not have the chance to say it in the first place. The answer is still brewing in my mind, but taking a more active role in supporting Shereen could be... difficult. She's got things to say, too.

Hell, maybe you could make him doubt himself midfight if it come to it!

>>4350353
Hm, letting your little sun speak out huh? She's been with you for a long time... Time for an honest, unfiltered opinion.

Testing to see if that electrical failure I just had - besides startling me - also changed my IP
>>4350345
Noooo I'm just a man who's being done dirty by the Time Zones, have mercy!
>You're putting forth a nice argument.
Why thank you. I'm honestly surprised how relatively easily I put that together I suppose I have my moments.

>>4350363
I'd have preferred for Arawn to speak... but seeing as I'm outvoted, I can deal with Shereen speaking instead. Perhaps she'll surprise us!

Anons, I think we should engage our Magic Dampener. If Ari'el is going to start flinging wind magic around, the dampener could keep us from being blown away and let us surprise the angel. I'm also curious if the Dampener can let us keep a mage from casting altogether, if we were to grapple said mage with the dampener active. I just hope our reserves can support it...

Insert, is Arawn still keeping ears hidden? I'm asking because I would have expected Ari'el to be able to recognize him given that the angel accompanied Ama on one our unvilling meetings with her.
...Then again, it *was* a little over a year ago in-quest. Plenty of time to forget a face.

>>4350402
>Insert, is Arawn still keeping ears hidden?
Not this time. The fact he hasn't commented on your history is entirely on him, he know who you are, he remembers.

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The brilliant divine elemental floated down near Shereen, the girl is awash in agony, the sudden silence that followed the angel proclamation stabs into her like daggers; your mind reel with indecision, part of you is already forming an argument against him. Everything you've seen, all the abuses Leena suffered, the disgusting attitude of Myrtidal inhabitants... Nothing good can be found here. Nothing at all.

''What do you even... know?'' Her voice is quiet, almost choked out by the echoes of combats. Impossible to tell if people were getting closer.

''Shut up! Don't speak! You'll just put words in my mouth!'' She barks at the angel when he opens his mouth. ''How dare you call your people braves!? What makes you believe your brainwashed cultists are any better than the soldiers putting boots on people faces!? I've yet to see a single human amongst your people!''

''That's because humans are forced in the slum like cattle!'' Ari'el retorted. ''My people -my Braves- are taking control of their lives and healing their souls and so will Myrtidal people!''

''What makes you think they deserve it in the first place?'' Shereen words hold so much hatred that Ari'el manages to look genuinely taken aback for the first time. A sentiment that was almost shared by everyone else. Klesiah agreed, that was her sentiment. ''My mother... my sister too, they're bad people. Very bad, gods -no, Mother Mercy-'' Shereen interrupted herself, looking at the floating elemental next to her. ''I get it now, they don't deserve to rule, especially not after kidnapping Anais for... whatever reasons and letting this city get so bad!''

Your little sun body was shaking all over and she turned toward Leena, putting her furred hands on her shoulders.

''Leena, in the name of my mother and sister, I'm sorry for everything that happened to you.'' Shereen ears couldn't be any flatter

For being put on such a spot, surrounded by violent strangers and in the middle of a city tearing itself apart, Leena looked surprisingly comfortable. ''I-It's okay.'' Said the small orphan, the only person that was smaller than Shereen. ''I already had my revenge anyway, you never did anything to me. I don't think any Eternals ever visited here.''

''R-really?'' Shereen had to clear her throat.

''Mmhm. I kinda like that you didn't kill that guy, he's always going to remember what happened now and those girls who kept beating me up were abandoned like trash, now they're stuck in this mess.'' Leena shrugged. ''I dunno how you're responsible for something that you didn't even know.''

''Thank you... but that's not quite enough.'' Leena wince when Shereen furred hands squeezed her shoulders. Your little sun let go of the Black Cat and slowly walked beside you, her body shone red in the night, magic coursed and traveled doing... something, you couldn't see inside your little sun body after all.

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''There's something insidious going on in Myrtidal. My mother is responsible for something here.'' What you've seen during that otherwordly exploration had left a deep impression on Shereen. ''And you're in the way, angel. You, the people you've duped into getting slaughtered into battle and the duchess trying to bury this truth. I'm going to find it, I'm going to stare deep into the ugliness of my mother and sister with Leena help, you're not going to stop me! Don't you see!? Your revenge is meaningless! My mother doesn't give a damn, the people themselves don't give a damn, they'd rather be comfortable in their misery and watch a little girl being beat to death or take the easy words of a lunatic instead of doing -something- on their own! This entire city is UTTER TRASH''

So filled with rage, Shereen needed a second to let out one, long scream of wrath and her voice became magically amplified. Blood magic coursed through her vein, her neck became thicker without her even noticing and her jaw broadened, enchanted by a mixture of corruption and magic.

''Hear me, Myrtidal people!'' Before the angel -no, everyone - stupefied eyes, Shereen screamed at the dark starry sky, her voice projected with enough force to... maybe be heard across the district, perhaps no more than the nearby houses. ''I, Shereen Roshanak, third of the Eternals, hate every. single. one of you! I condemn you all to a life without the Eternals prosperity!''

Out of breath but still stubborn, Shereen pointed at Ari'el to interrupt whatever sentence he was about to say as the subtle changes to her body are reversed. ''Shut the hell up you misguided fool. Myrtidal is a diseased city and you know what? The only cure is destruction. Root out the core of the disease -my mother influence-, forces every single people to choose for themselves instead of growing complacent in that tyranny. I have no intention of ruling this country, I'd rather people shoulder the burden of freedom instead, shake them out of their dream built on the bones of the weak.''

Ari'el clenched his teeth. ''You truly do share your mother's blood, lunatic one and all. What you say will create endless warlords and bloodshed, let alone satisfy the people need of vengeance!''

''There's a warlord right in front of me.'' Shereen retort makes him grimace in disgust, his expression change to anger as he understands the implication. ''If Myrtidal is a mirror for the entirety of Muribel, then maybe this country doesn't deserve to continue. My mother's leadership has failed, I feel like she never even cared.''

She didn't say ''my country'' a single time. It truly does seem like Shereen has completely distanced herself from her birthright. Though... you know very well how emotions tend to overwhelm her. This, it seems, has been something that's been brewing in her head ever since she came into this ugly city.

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''Perhaps justice can be revived after all.'' Adam muttered, his equipment whizzed with renewed life. ''My homeland could certainly need a little shake-up.''

''Do you see now?'' Klesiah spoke toward the angel, her feelings were peaceful and resolute. ''I've told you this entire endeavor was a bad idea, but you had to play her game didn't you?'

''I will not let my Braves die in vain!'' Ari'el screamed and burst of wind akin to a clap of thunder resonate throughout the park, Shereen threw herself on the ground; battle erupted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVr0IUQ6BwE&t=5s

>[Assault]Join the party to fight Ari'el as a group. (Will you use magic or keep to your physical prowess?)

>[Defense.] Concentrate on interrupting and helping your friends against the angel assaults. (As always, need precision for magic)

>[Support]Help Klesiah in keeping Leena and Shereen safe, doing so will allow Mina to readily join the fight. (Will you try supporting your group with your Magitek gauntlet?)

>Free

I'll try to do one more update tonight. Since I want to try decision-based fights, answers shouldn't be too long. I might not be able to update more than once tomorrow since I'll be meeting my family, so I'd like to compensate for that tonight.

>>4350580
Did we succeed in instilling doubts in our foe?

>>4350596
Not a complete success. Shereen shook him but he's not quite doubtful of his purpose yet.

Taking an action to further sink him is, of course, possible. This will make you hang back with Klesiah to protect Leena and Shereen

>>4350603
I forgot to add that he's still affected battlewise, just not as much as actual doubts.

>>4350603
Damn, well, at least Shereen's response maxed out party morale and cohesion. That other anon, like you said, made a good argument. Let's go with it. We could also add that over 700 troops are heading for this city and will arrive by daybreak. If he wants his brave's deaths to count he needs to ignore us and take out the duchess and her elite guards (i.e. decapitate their command structure) so his remaining forces will have a chance against them. I thought it'd be hard to just weaken him right off the bat.

Besides, Mina's our only flier at the moment. If he gets free aerial superiority we're going to lose someone fast. She needs to get in there and challenge him on that front.

>>4350580
>[Support]Help Klesiah in keeping Leena and Shereen safe, doing so will allow Mina to readily join the fight. (Will you try supporting your group with your Magitek gauntlet?)

We should be aiming to wear down Ari'el slowly, delaying and drawing this engagement out because things are likely only going to turn in our favor after either more guards (hopfully ranged) or Elina eventually shows up. since I don't think we're going to easily be able to hurt him enough to put him out of the fight without either someone else getting injured badly or running our magical reserves dangerously low since we are likely going to need them for the rest of the day's fighting.

>>4350639
Oh, in case it wasn't obvious, as trying to further argue with him locks us into the support option I vote for support and trying >>4350339 arguments.

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With a face distorted by rage, Ari'el flew close to the ground, charging forward after an explosive start of magical wind, aiming right at Shereen! He was eating the meters so quickly you wouldn't even have time to walk two feet!

Hildegarde and Zhu charged at him from the flanks as you ran back, holding your little sun hand. Two golden obstructions were raised against the girls, the maid ran facefirst into a shield and loss her balance whilst Zhu ducked under the obstruction and, with her steel sword held in a lower guard, managed an upward slice that connected with his chest armor.

Clang!

An awesome gust of wind exploded throughout the courtyard, concentrated on the left ''Gah! Fuck!'' Zhu screamed as she, quite literally, was sent sliding on the ground by the crude but effective magic.

Arriving beside Klesiah and Leena, you nodded at your knight. ''I'll stay and guard the girls, help out our friends!'' You nearly stumbled on your words as you looked at the divine elemental who, holding her shiny golden bow, looked briefly hesitant but the chaos of crashing steels and whirlwinds promptly motivated her to rush forward.

Adam was the one who stopped the angel. His entire body glowered in gold and he somehow managed to not only endure Ari'el tackle but completely ignore his magical wind, standing like an unmoving rock.

''Stop you lunatic! You're not going to achieve anything!'' You screamed, holding your shield to protect the smaller girls of the group. Your knight took the other flank, glaive raised. ''Seven hundred soldiers are arriving here by daybreak and you've left your followers for almost an hour; how are they faring now!?''

Both men struggled for a few seconds, Ari'el blade slid on Adam armored side and he grabbed his hand with his left, sleeker magitek hand, the angel feet touched the ground then a burst of energy came out of Adam bulky right hand. A blue blade, a phenomenon you never saw before, somehow buzzed into life in a similar manner to Zhu sword, swiping at the angel.

Unfortunately, Ari'el dodged, two shields appeared to block Adam's knees causing him to stumble, a concentration of magical energy inside the angel hand burst in another wild show of nature wrath. You barely heard Adam scream when he was sent upward more than two meters in the air...! Mina caught him. Both plummeted on the ground slowly enough to prevent injuries.

''The entire military of the queen will rise against your people after you topple the duchess and you've seen for yourself the complacency of Myrtidal inhabitants! How many deserve to be called braves!? How many will bother to reach their catharsis!? How many innocents will your band of lunatic hurt and make themselves targets of true vengeance!? Your crusade will implode on itself when you reach another city!''

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He swung down at Hildegarde reaching him from the left and the maid raised both hands above her head in protection but the angel sword suddenly disappeared and he grabbed both of her wrists and, using her momentum, lifted her right off her feet! Both span around and Zhu nearly collided with the maid, your companion threw herself back to dodge a painful collision.

Ari'el promptly let go of the disorientated maid... but she didn't. Holding onto his wrist, Hildegarde swung her heavy legs to find purchase on the grass again in an impressive pirouette and swung at the angel elbow, connecting with bone-shattering strength!

But the only thing to crack was his armor. Seeing movement, Hildegarde released his limb and threw herself right onto her butt as three protrusions swiped at her, missing by a breath. On the angel other side, Zhu dodged a similar attack. Noise of singing steel and crackle of magic resounded.

Adam and Mina had thrown magical projectiles, one to land on the angel back coming from Magitek Man whilst the elemental flew at an upward angle with one of her powered arrows but both missiles met with a pair of heavy -costly- shields, completely absorbing the impact.

''That is why listening for the Cat will make it all worth it!'' Ari'el spat back at you, barely out of breath. all six of his wings had taken a grayer shade, all the soft feathers transformed into slick pointy metal. The angel entire six wings had turned into weapons and from the look of Zhu now useless steel sword -having been sliced right in the middle as if it were mere paper-, they were damnably sharp.

This... Will complicate things. All six of these wings look capable of moving independently with a similar reach to his arm, now coupled with his sword, that gave him seven weapons. The silver lining, at least, was that he didn't seem capable of flying anymore.

''You already know Leena's story. Damn it Ari'el you're making the same damn mistake as Throne Town by assuming everything you want to hear!'' He shook his head. ''To stop us now is to allow Zerase to win, you've heard yourself the resolve of her youngest daughter. Do you think that false god-queen will show clemency to your people!? The entire city of Myrtidal needs to change but that'll only happen with Sh-''

''Shut up!'' You might have gotten through, at least a little bit. ''Our witch wouldn't make this entire game into a farce! My braves deserve their night of catharsis! ''A coalescence of blue spark reformed his sword.

On his left, Hildegarde was poised, ready to strike. To his right was Zhu, holding her empty blade. Behind him stood Adam, equipment buzzing with renewed life, electricity traveling his blue gauntlet. Above was Mina holding onto her bow flying in dizzying pattern as if skating on ice, golden bow shining with power.

And to his front -no more than 3 meters- you stood with your knight, joined souls, joined intents.

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His assurance has been replaced by rage. If that is a sign of doubt, then you might have been successful in rattling him.

>[Assault] Join the melee, leaving behind Klesiah to protect the girls. you and everyone else need to pound him to submission! [Use magic?]
>[Ranged support] Use your Magitek gauntlet to provide support for your friends. [Consume at least 3xmedium or 2xHeavy spell]
>[Defense] Hold your ground with Klesiah, wait for him to get near and repulse this misguided angel. [Use magic?]
>[Coordination] When Ari'el suffer another combined assault from the party, join the fight with your knight with as perfect coordination as you can to hopefully overwhelm him! [Use magic?]
>Free

No promises for updates tomorrow, I'll try. I might start asking for rolls depending on how things go... I think you've gotten a good idea about Ari'el strength now. Choose wisely!

>>4350857
>Our witch
Speak for yourself you deluded dumbass. She ain't ours in any capacity save for our tormentor!

Damn, if only we had an idea about his mana capacity. I take it he isn't going to listen to us anymore right? Because Ama labors for emotions and oh, what a bountiful harvest Ari'el would provide in this situation. The game a farce, his follower's deaths meaningless, his witch his betrayer, played from the very beginning like a cheap fiddle. We should know, it's what she does, and it's the reason we're her "favorite toy". This whole situation, with us here and now, was probably the very situation Ama was hoping for. She knows us, knows what we're likely to try and do, and so set everything up for this moment. Literally couldn't have happened if it wasn't for us, the wild card she inserts into her games because we're like a magical spice that, from Ama's viewpoint, never fails to make everything better. I almost feel sorry for this asshole, almost.

So he's switched to full assault mode sacrificing flight and wind magic for maximized killing potential on the ground. Furthermore, it seems any mundane equipment won't do a damn thing to stop his weapons so everyone except Adam and Zhu are essentially unarmored and unable to block or parry his attacks. That means if he wants to skewer us there ain't much we can do about it, but he'll have to actually run towards us instead of being able to burst right up into our face in an instant.

Y'know, that one anon had a good idea. Can we switch to ice and try to envelop him in a freezing mist that'll cling to his weapons? That'd add weight and blunt their edges slowing his attacks down as ice accumulated on them. We can't do that if we're the primary target though and it looks like we just shot ourselves to the top of his shit list.

What do our reserves look like? Seems he can only form two shields at once so if we, Adam, and Mina all fire at the same time from 3 different angles he'll be forced to choose which attack to face tank. Damnit, even if he's doubting himself now he's still overpowered!

>>4350921
>Can we switch to ice and try to envelop him in a freezing mist that'll cling to his weapons?

Yeah, though you'll need to get into medium range (2 meters) to make it work. I'll also need a roll for success (and this time I'll go with best of 2) with the dc depending on medium or heavy spell. this spell has got potential, so I wanna trust the dice gods here.

>What do our reserves look like?
Significantly drained. Arawn would guess he's one heavy spell away from having 1/3 left in the tank
>Damnit, even if he's doubting himself now he's still overpowered!
Doubts help but this isn't Kotor 2! Besides, you've been away for a while and talked for a good stretch of time too... Battlefields moves independently of anyone will.

>>4350933
Ok, battlefields moving and all, how much noise did we all just make? With Ari'el's wind blasts and Adam's lightning bolts I'd wager we've just rang the dinner bell and both factions are converging on this position as we speak. Who gets here first determines how this all goes.

Important question, do we have our backs towards an exit? If we do we need to change that ASAP. Nothing sucks more than a surprise arrow/bolt/spell to the back.

>>4350946
>how much noise did we all just make?
A bloody ton. Shereen screamed with magical enhancement too.

>Important question, do we have our backs towards an exit?

Yup, you came from the eastern entrance and haven't moved. There are three more entrances in each cardinal directions of the park.

>Nothing sucks more than a surprise arrow/bolt/spell to the back.
Klesiah and/or yourself can move the girls at a protective angle, though joining the battle won't be possible if you do that because you'll make some distance with Ari'el.

>>4350952
Can we do that while shooting at him with magic? It's looking like his next move is to charge and try to skewer us. Also, how far away did those shields materialize from him when he threw them up during all this? That's likely his area of influence and knowing that'll matter going forward.

>>4350974
>Can we do that while shooting at him with magic?
Yes. I'll need to know if you'll go medium or heavy or try for something even bigger than heavy.
>Also, how far away did those shields materialize from him when he threw them up during all this? That's likely his area of influence and knowing that'll matter going forward.

They didn't seem to go further than a meter away from him. He's able to make some incredibly precise ones since he managed to trip Adam.

>>4350985
So one meter, but two at once and total control of their position within that sphere. What's the biggest they got? That's the other part of this equation that'll allow for the "force him to face tank an attack" option.

Also, if we can still try words, I'd like to inform him that if he cares so damn much about his braves he ought to go and help them instead of taking us on. Hell, if he just drops this BS and lets us go into the church and do what Shereen wants we would probably let him listen to Leena's story. He already knows it, like we said, but we also have a time crunch on our hands. Does he want to listen to her story now while his followers die in vain or listen to it during a battle that his followers, lead by his lieutenants, actually have a chance in hell of winning? Decapitated command structures don't fair well against intact ones. Just saying.

>>4350998
>What's the biggest they got?
The two shields he used to tank Mina and Adam projectiles had the siege of tower shields (meaning around 120x60 cm and roughly 45cm of thickness ((for the one used to stop the golden arrow)) those were BIG protections.

Trying for more discussion/negotiation is another full action of course, though you can move somewhere protective while doing it.

>>4350985
Oh, "bigger than heavy" is an option? I'm betting that has a chance of breaking our gauntlet. Good to know the option is there though in future fights. If it comes down to it and our blood is extra hot that's when it happens!

>>4351011
So it seems Mina's arrows are the biggest threat and thus the attack that will *always* get blocked no matter the mana cost. Good to know.

We're the reasonable Elf. We try to always be reasonable. He's already doubting himself so that would probably push him over the edge. Hell, he might even tag along willingly or send an envoy with us. Solemnval is the key to the worst end, the death of all within this nations borders to grant Zerase and big sis either true immortality or some form of true apotheosis. We get there, we fuck it up, we stop the worst end.

I think you said that it was possible for us to "befriend" apostles of Ama. Might as well start seeing if we can. Besides, going for "option Z" would amuse Ama to no end I'd wager.

>>4351033
So you vote to...
>Try to reason with Ari'el. He -need- to oversee the situation of his Braves and he know now your party won't give up Leena.

>>4351035
We won't give her up until we've done all we need to with her. Hell, my whole argument is "You get to listen to her either way, but killing us all now to do it means all your braves die in vain for a story you already know or you let us do what we want and you get to listen when their deaths counted and maybe, perhaps, land all the survivors a happy ending in the end."

Again, once she opens the way and we fuck up Solemnval (with or without his help) it's not much of a thing to let him listen to her story. We're reasonable, and we can understand what it's like to get played by Bad Fluffy. Hell, best case is he sees how downright evil and manipulative she is and becomes a double agent. Not likely given how she's instantly aware of any plots against her but hey, we can dream right?

>>4351052
So, to summarize, my vote is to try and reason with Ari'el as we reposition Leena and Shereen so as to ensure they don't eat a surprise attack from whomever's coming for us.

C'mon you damned lunatic, don't be stupid, please listen to reason! I mean for fucks sake, he was there when we did that full fusion, he has to know the other part of who we are. Even now, we're trying to protect everyone! It's literally the core of our being!

>>4351095
Hmm. I think we should try to put him more on the defensive with Freezing Mist before yelling at him more. If he backs up to try and thaw he might listen better, since backing up means he's not trying to attack someone or blocking blades and magic. The more we use this Gauntlet of ours, the more i love it. It's so versatile!
We should point out that Ama herself doesn't care about the Braves, therefore she won't care *how* this game proceeds or ends - only that it does reach a conclusion of any sort.
Either way, this should be the last time we talk to him - if he won't listen after this then he never will.

>>4350571
>''Thank you... but that's not quite enough.'' Leena wince when Shereen furred hands squeezed her shoulders
Hm. Did Shereen lightly claw Leena for blood to fuel her voice amplification?

>>4350575
>''Shut the hell up you misguided fool. Myrtidal is a diseased city and you know what? The only cure is destruction. Root out the core of the disease -my mother influence-, forces every single people to choose for themselves instead of growing complacent in that tyranny. I have no intention of ruling this country, I'd rather people shoulder the burden of freedom instead, shake them out of their dream built on the bones of the weak.''
*Whistle* preach it, girl!
Welp, she's renounced her mother and sister.Time to get her adopted into the Jawahir family. Daiyu would coddle the daylights out of Shereen.

>>4351238
I would agree with you, but that'd leave our two non-combatants with their backs exposed to a potentially hostile enemy. If the guard faction shows up first they may (hell, it's been an hour so probably) have the order to shoot/kill any brown human girl on sight. That means, if they get here first, Leena's gonna face a "save or die" roll unless we reposition her *now*.

Also, if we succeed with that Ari'el will probably eat big damage. That will send him into a berserk state. He won't listen to anything after that as he'll be more concerned with survival and the elimination of his immediate adversaries.

The mist may well prevent him from charging us though. It's essentially a defensive measure and if we have full control over it like the smoke it has no chance of screwing with our allies. Can we create the mist as a deterrent as we move Shereen and Leena to a safer position?

>>4351289
Oh, also, Shereen yelled and declared her presence, so that means if Ari'el's folks show up first it'll be the same thing, but it's Shereen who'll have to save or die.

Basically, if we don't move those girls right the hell now one of them risks a save or die roll. We didn't work this hard and come all this way just lose someone because we got stupid and forgot that we had our backs to an open entrance/exit!

Since I'm unlikely to update today, I'll leave more time for you guys to decide what to do. For now we have a vote for

>Use a freezing mist to debilitate the angel (Will need 1d20, Best of 2. WIll have Arawn join fight)

I'll also need to know about the amount of magic needed, otherwise I'll default to heavy.

>Try to reason with Ari'el. He -need- to oversee the situation of his Braves and he know now your party won't give up Leena.

>>4351289
>Can we create the mist as a deterrent as we move Shereen and Leena to a safer position?
I don't see why not.
>>4351295
>because we got stupid and forgot that we had our backs to an open entrance/exit!
It wasn't quite forgetting, Arawn stayed there in case he needed to run with Leena and Shereen.

>>4351499
So that's one vote for each option listed right? Could we fuse them and move Leena and Shereen away from the exit somehow?

Ok, that mist spell. Say we succeed in casting it. Is it like our smoke grenades? That is, will it stick around for a few rounds and let us emit for a period of time while having complete control over it until it either runs out or we chuck it? If so I'd like to add that to my "try to reason" choice.

After all, if it sticks around for a few rounds we can, if he fails to listen to reason, just move in and slap him with it if we didn't already. He only needs to get slown down a bit for our party to land a telling blow and I think he knows that.

Hold on I just realized that I had a big brain fart, answering questions right after waking up wasn't the best idea.
Using Freezing Mist will REQUIRE a Heavy spell because you'll be changing element.

>>4351565
>So that's one vote for each option listed right?
Yes.
>Could we fuse them and move Leena and Shereen away from the exit somehow?
Yes but the mist effectiveness will be significantly lessened, I won't use a roll in this case since the spell will be used as a defensive option against Ari'el instead of an assault and he's a bit far, still surrounded by the party. So I'd like more voices to see if you guys want to do it, since Arawn reserves have gotten slim now.

>Is it like our smoke grenades? That is, will it stick around for a few rounds and let us emit for a period of time while having complete control over it until it either runs out or we chuck it?
No, the enchantement will last 2 rounds because a Freezing Mist spell act very differently from smoke, it'll be coming out of Arawn palm and he can swing his arm around as needed. Muribel is also still pretty damn hot despite the night so that doesn't help.

>Activate a Freezing Mist spell (Heavy Spell because of elemental change) while trying to reason with Ari'el one last time. (Also move the vunerable girls of your group away from the exit toward a more defensive location.)

That'd be the ''combine'' option. No rolls needed.

>>4351596
So only 2 rounds eh? How fast is activation? Crap, we'd have to push the button so reflexive isn't an option. If only we had a way to will a switch in element when necessary.

So if used defensively it won't be us trying to hit him without hindering the party but more a question of if he tries to charge through it and thus automatically gets hit?

>>4351609
Yeah. Combined option will be purely defensive since the talk will take much more than 2 rounds, but he will be at least forced to listen for a little while.

>>4351613
I'm leaning towards combine then as it really looks like his next action will be to bum rush us. I don't think our shield is going to do much to stop the razor wings or his normal sword unless we blunt them somehow.

Thus, if we wanna live long enough to say our final piece we need to make him reconsider that option or ensure that we aren't insta-skewered by his weapons.

>>4351622
Alright, one vote for using a heavy spell defensively while trying to reason with the angel/instill more doubts.

Gonna leave this open until this evening, as I won't be able to start writing until much later today. I'd like to know more voices, otherwise I'll roll between the options here >>4351499

Of course, speaking with Ari'el will also cost a heavy spell as was discussed here >>4351596

>>4351665
Yeah, sure let's go with the combination option. After thinking about it, if we can convince Ari'el to go back to leading his cult instead of breathing down on our group's collective neck the Duchess will have split attention between the angel and us.

>>4351665
We really do need him to leave. Plus, He's an angel. If the people he's in charge of are dying in droves then HE'S DOING IT WRONG.

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Alright, sound like we've got our descision. We'll see what happen with that tomorrow.

>>4351696
Hopefully he does what he planned on in the first place, breathe down the necks of her party thus forcing her to focus on him entirely. Even with the doubts we've filled him with it's undeniable her and her party deserve to die a gruesome death.

That will also have the double benefit of, like I said, decapitating the Command Structure of the guard faction. Hell, if Ari'el gets a sudden moment of clarity he could/should ask for Shereen to issue a written order for the incoming soldiers to disperse complete with her family seal that she can probably form with a bit of blood magic. For the crimes of Sedition/Treason/Being a cunt, she's been executed and all her orders are now thus null and void by authority of the Eternal Shereen Rhoshanak. Return to your bases and await further orders there.

That'd stop that incoming problem for his people dead in its tracks. Sparing all cultists and civilian survivors of this night for at least a week. Good thing that by the end of it Shereen's probably going to be the last surviving Eternal. Daiyu, Sieg's party from Zipangu, and Anais's parents and their posse are probably going to kill Zerase and Big Sis quite dead in their rescue attempt. Hell, they even know that they face Death Pearl Magic and hopefully how to resist counter it as I think Sieg's party had an exile from here in it who would know all about it. Gotta love it when everything comes together!

>>4352652
Oh, also, that may be a further reason to try and fuck up Solemnval. It'd be hilarious if we managed to coincidentally negate the Death Pearls right when Zerase/Big Sis planned to turn the tables on our allies.

Double funny if we can just convert a few pearls into pure mana with no side effects. Refill ourselves, Klesiah, and Shereen to full, pump Mina into Overdrive mode with our collective reserves, have her cleanse the whole Evil Garden with power to spare. Hell, maybe even clean up the interference enough to just port us right to the capital. Oh man, so many good things can happen...

If this fanatic vengeance fetishist is smart enough to realize that that is!

>>4352652
Ah, just woke up, we should throw that into our argument as well.

Yeah, those guards are coming, but we/he has a way of just sending them back home provided his faction wins the night before daybreak. That'll only happen if he goes back to leading his faction and annihilates the duchess and her elites right the hell now. I'm quite sure Shereen'd be very happy to comply with that plan. It would, among other things, make her not useless and indeed, quite pivotal towards ensuring a happy ending!

>>4353154
I have to wonder if Shereen has enough political clout for that to work. I honestly forget how well known she was in the capital, but given that she was a shut-in for good stretch of time it wouldn't surprise me if she wasn't as well know in the rest of the country.

Still worth a try, I suppose. Worst that can happen is that the commanding officer of those 700 soldiers disregards any written order as 'forgery' and keeps their troops marching.
But how would we get the order delivered?

I have to admit that I wonder if Ari'el actually, truly cares about his 'Braves' or if that is a lie he has managed to convince himself to be true. See, if he *did* care then would he be so damn focused on Leena's role as the Black Cat in Ama's game?

>>4353243
I'm willing to bet that there's some kind of royal seal that's hard to forge. People in this country clearly have no scruples. If forgery of official documents was easy the whole bureaucratic shebang would have fallen apart already as people shamelessly forged the shit out of them. Knowing how things work around here, it may even require a life to create. Fortunately, plenty of those around that we can take guilt free. Just need the "help" of a local guard.

We're about to find out, as if he doesn't care about them our little argument won't work for shit. Though I got a feeling he does as he does seem to actually regret the Throne Town massacre.

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Pushing the familiar button with your nose activated the familiar phenomenon of your gauntlet: brief openings from the inside, crackles of energies traveled throughout its frame, all gems lit up in their respective colors before settling into the color of your choice and a heavy amount of magic was taken from your reserves.

''Let's move this way, to the left!'' You spoke before the girls as you pointed at the coming angel with your palm.

You had kept your options open by standing near the exit. Had the worst happened you could always try running but all the noises of battles had made it obvious for any pursuers to know your location and potentially take you by surprise, thus you move your backs to the nearby wall of a taller building undeniably full of people cowering in their homes.

Ari'el was forced to stop approaching because of your magic. The mist that came out of your palm was filled with brilliant, tiny magical crystals that shone in the light of surrounding torches. The chilliness of your spell was a welcome change to the temperature and the thing stuck to surrounding trees, grass, and the pathway like a new coat of shiny paint, creating a slick surface that'd make it difficult to walk into without stumbling. None of it came close to touching the angel of course but he had to stop moving as he watched in a mixture of puzzled disbelief and Zhu quickly changed direction to stand in front of him.

All six of his wings pointed at her like braced spears.

''Listen to me, angel!'' He's certainly listening even if he doesn't want to. ''Do you honestly think that witch care about -any- endings? No! All she wants is to see for herself who wins her damnable game, she doesn't favor triumph or tragedy! And if all three players kill each other here, who is it that's going to benefit!? Who is the target of your Braves in the first place!? You've abandoned them!''

''I'm not abandoning anyone! I -have- to get the cat! There has to be a reason why she's so important...'' Ari'el spits and waves his sword, all six of his wings swipe the air with impressive agility.

''What makes you think we won't let you listen to Leena once things calm down!? You can already guess her story, you know damn well how much of a rotten place Myrtidal truly is for humans, let alone orphans kids!'' This, perhaps for the first time, actually seem to get through his thick skull. Leena looked at you in confusion, she must be wondering how you know about her past. ''But you need to decide between the safety of your Braves and the success of your rebellion.'' You couldn't find a better word for it. ''Or to keep drowning in stubborn fanatism because you somehow believe that witch and a teenager are going to validate all of your belief! You aren't going to touch Leena without killing us all and that's not going to be an easy feat.''

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As you talked the party kept their distance while surrounding him, the magical ice that changed the terrain inevitably evaporated but Zhu being in the way at least prevented him from reaching you easily in a fit of rage.

''We will struggle to defend Leena for however long we need and that's something you can't afford because you know damn well that being away from your Braves only give the duchess a bigger advantage! Don't you remember Throne Town? Don't you remember -what- I am?''

He did, you could see it in his eyes. He hasn't voiced it out but he did.

''I'll continue to defend her even if all I'll gain from it is your spite. You might kill one of two of us but it won't be easy and all you'll gain from it is the death of your people because we're going to hold out and fight you with every fiber of our beings.'' A surge of anger had you punch your shield. ''And it'll all be for nothing because we know that'll only help the duchess! Which players want to kill Leena!? Us three can at least reach a damn compromise!''

Then, Zhu's sword suddenly lit up. That magnificent golden blade stretched out of the empty pommel like molten gold, attracting the angel gaze.

''Sorry, took a while to work out the nerve. You're being one obtuse piece of shit ya know?''

''That blade... it doesn't belong to you.'' He says in what sound an exhausted breath.

''Oh yeah? Well, it sure as shit didn't belong to Zen emperor either. A thief thieving from a thief ain't a bad thing.'' Zhu reply, making a few swipes with one hand. ''since you're in the know about what it is, I think ye can understand things ain't gonna go well for any of us now. Hell, I don't even know Leena story, I'm curious as all hell now.''

''You can take that blade price so casually...?'' He asks and Zhu shrug, from your position you could only see her back but her body movements had her point toward her eye.

''Ain't the first time.'' Replied the swordswoman. ''I'm more than happy to fight ya into a little mutual self-destruction but it just so happen that I'm the Moon of one stubborn harmless princess so you'll have to force me into going all the way. Would you? That'd be downright swell!''

Surrounded, alone, and undeniably doubtful, the angel stood silent -almost pitiful- with wings of murderous steel, all the combatants surrounding him weren't about to attack, no, they were going to react whilst his people keep dying by the minutes. Waste precious time, knowingly holding out as each moment worsened his people's situation...

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''You said you already have your vengeance, gentle cat.'' Ari'el voice remains firm and strong despite everything.

Leena nods, intimidated. ''I don't like the city, I don't like the people but tonight, everyone's having a bad time... Though that snake ruler really shouldn't be allowed to win.''

''Ah.'' A laugh escapes him, his halo flash between bright and dim. ''Yeah. Would you like to meet once everything is over?''

''Sure!'' Leena bounced and waved to him. ''If it's possible really, cause going under the church is when the game is supposed to end and that's where everything ends! So if we can't speak right after, let's make it a promise for the future!''

''Okay.'' It's working! Sweet Mercy, he's actually -not- that far gone!

''W-what!?'' Shereen suddenly screamed next to you. ''Someone here's sto-!''

>Roll 1d20.

Talking always take longer than battling... Since you're being ambushed, I'll only take a single roll: Arawn barely has any time to understand what's happening.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4353543
OH GOD OH FU-

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>>4353550
I shouldn't have rolled

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>>4353550
This is gonna hurt.

>>4353556
Welp, there goes our streak of no friendly deaths. Well, maybe, it looks like we just converted Ari'el to our side which means we *finally* have legitimate heals! It wasn't a 1 so it wasn't an insta-kill right?

Ok, holy magic can heal mortal wounds if administered shortly after they are taken right? After all, you're still technically alive for a minute or two unless you ate a decapitation/headshot. You can't revive the dead but plugging a slashed carotid or a pierce through the heart should be possible right? What about a severed limb? If it's a clean cut and ya hold it to the stump just right will it reattach?

>>4353568
>Ok, holy magic can heal mortal wounds if administered shortly after they are taken right? After all, you're still technically alive for a minute or two unless you ate a decapitation/headshot. You can't revive the dead but plugging a slashed carotid or a pierce through the heart should be possible right?

Yup.

>What about a severed limb? If it's a clean cut and ya hold it to the stump just right will it reattach?
If holy is administered very quickly after the wound and continuously delivered for hours afterward, a severed limb can be reattached yes but the holy mage -really- need to be there the moment it happens.

>>4353572
Can Holy magic heal tissue that's already undergone necrosis?

>>4353574
Not on its own.

>>4353575
Care to specify the exact kind of pain we're about to experience? It's gonna hurt you say. In what way?

So, like, healing potion plus heals to heal necrotic damage?

What about blood magic healing? Can it repair mortal wounds if administered quickly and can the wounded's own blood be used as a catalyst? Can an innate mamono blood user heal themselves with a mutation and would it be permanent in that case? Like, say Shereen eats a sucking chest wound. Could she mutate it shut with some ugly, monstrous mutation? Could they inflict that mutation on another to save their life?

>>4353649
You will see very soon.

>So, like, healing potion plus heals to heal necrotic damage?

That'll be a good start, though one needs better alchemical healing + holy for necrosis.

>What about blood magic healing? Can it repair mortal wounds if administered quickly and can the wounded's own blood be used as a catalyst?

Yes. Though it's... difficult with blood magic.

>Can an innate mamono blood user heal themselves with a mutation and would it be permanent in that case?
They'll need foreign blood to heal themselves, doing via mutations is possible but highly difficult.
>Can an innate mamono blood user heal themselves with a mutation and would it be permanent in that case?
No, mutating someone else will kill them.

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You saw two columns of bright colors. One blue and cold streaking toward Klesiah who threw Leena behind you, your knight pulsed with exhausted magical might. The other was a sharp orange, hot and deadly like the fiery breath of a dragon. Shereen grabbed a stumbling Leena and wrapped her hands around her, protecting-

You only had time to raise your shield and brace with your second hand. The girls had nowhere to go, you're the only one who stood between them and hellfire! The magic slammed into you with the force of a fully grown man, your entire body slid a few centimeters as you dug into the grass with your boots and then something grabbed your shield.

One hand, giant and clawed, of clay-like dark skin, pushed against you. Your gauntlet whizzed with power as a medium spell coalesced, you had no idea what but anything would do! In this same second, another one of those big hand grabbed the edge of your shield and managed to overpower your pushing aside your defense.

''You-kah!'' Whatever you said died in a gurgle of agony when something entered your belly. One glance revealed a dark, bony tail effortlessly penetrating clothes and flesh, blood spewed out of the wound.

It was self-preservation instincts that saved your life as you stepped back upon seeing a blur, turning your face away to avoid going blind. One of these big bestial hands had come swiping at your face and it found your skin, grinding down from forehead to shoulder in one movement; blood and pain explored, you could only feel dizzy at the sensations.

This is how warriors die. Taken by surprise, obliterated in seconds.

You managed to get a good luck at this enemy. It was the woman who'd been standing beside the duchess, albeit undeniably monstrous now. Her clothes bore several holes out of which extended those modified limbs of hers, revealing a mixture of porcelain skin and corrupted dark grayish shapeshifted muscles. Her face remeaned clad in this golden mask, metallic white hair emerged out of her hood, small horns protruded -almost decoratively- from the sides of her head.

Smoke exiting the openings of her goat-like mask, coming out of her eyes sockets and mouth. You let your magic flow in desperation: a small explosion of iced shrapnels perforated the heavy leather clothes she used for protection yet all it did is make her crane her neck -at an impossible angle- looking directly at Shereen and Leena...!

Despite that tail making a mess of your guts and trying to push you off, you stepped right into this monster face and pushed her away with a nice punch in the chest despite your weakening strengths and that made her face you, you immediately protected your mauled face with your arm.

You've sworn to yourself that your little sun deserves protection!

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Fire came, pain followed screams and magic dizzied your sense, blood gurgled out of your mouth, your hair, your arm, your shoulder... everything was cooked. A jolt shook your bones. But you remained firm, your mind was going back, back somewhere that wasn't inside this hell of pain, you took refuge in metal. You need to stand.

Sheer and utter desperation sparked somewhere that wasn't inside you... yet still parts of your being. All of them shared such intensity, such worries. Help him please! Help! Please I can't reach, help!

''I hear you!'' A zap of thunder deafened what remained of your ears, the creature you were wrestling with shook when lightning traveled her body. Something metallic was embedded in the ground not too far, emitting thunder that somehow didn't hurt anyone but the intruder. Klesiah veins had grown into a shade of red, mixing pretty purplish-blue with blood. Her reserves were empty yet somehow she found the strength for another spell. holding onto her blade, her entire body was enchanted in lightning and an explosion of energy burst out of her sword to crash into the lightning rod that was her glaive created a row of thunder that crashed into the unknown Mamono back, sending her crashing forward.

The tail in your belly exited violently. ''Glg!'' You choked as blood erupted, this time also coming out of your mouth, your knees buckled but... you stood firm. Something touched you, noises reverberated as a battle -much closer- erupted. One of your eyes was dead, carved out and the other had been nearly burnt to a crisp, you couldn't see... Gotta stand. Nothing gets close, NOTHING.

You don't know when sanity returned to you, only that it did. Freshness cooled your nerves, your body and soul understood the presence of a healing wind. The pain lessened, the damage was restored you understood now that you didn't need to take refuge in metal anymore...

What did that even mean?

When your vision was restored, you saw Ari'el standing roughly six feets away, wings returned into their previous soft white, hand extended toward you, a familiar white steamy fog coming out of his palm to cover your body.

''A-Arawn... I'm sorry for being so useless...'' You heard Shereen sniffle. She and Leena were still behind you... Ah. You must have continued to defend them subconsciously because none of your friends stood close.

Everyone was facing this new foe who, realizing her position, was assessing the situation much more carefully now. The glaive she'd been armed with was nowhere in sight, her two arms had grown distended compared to her general build, with grayish skin instead of the milky white you could see on the holes of her dress. Occasionally you'd see a mouth mutate open inside those palms for a few seconds before disappearing.

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''Somehow she managed to throw fire and ice out of those hands.'' The angel explained, lowering his hand once he finished his healing. ''It seems the duchess was prepared, I have to return to my Braves.'' He bit his lips. ''If that woman can spare that monstrosity, the situation must have gotten worse.''

Or, that... monster had been following ever since you came into the plaza.

''Just get to the church!'' Adam suddenly said, his body pulsed with strength, Magitek equipment reactivating with renewed energy as two more puffs of steamy, reddish-pink smoke exiting his neck. ''Finish this damn game! We can't let Leena die!''

''I ain't about to let some gal who cooked my man continue walking, this ain't no moment for a big damn hero.'' Zhu retorted, smiling broadly, single eye fully open... She looked almost ecstatic. ''Fucking bitch you nearly robbed me of him for the second time and we still haven't gotten our reunion fuck yet!''

As she gripped her artifact with two hands, the length of the blade changed, growing strangely erratic. It was disappearing and reappearing so quickly you wondered if it was vibrating. A wave of stupefaction from Klesiah left you momentarily dumbstruck, though she quickly shelved her emotions.

You knight... would undeniably suffer overcast once everything is over. Her veins weren't bulging anymore but still shone brightly, this time much redder than her usual blue. Seeing you healthy, she walked closer, silently examining you with eyes and soul.

Well... At least Ari'el has been throughout. No scars, your hair was back; you don't know what fully convinced him to heal you but you won't go rejecting that.

''I will stay too.'' Mina voice usually so soft and gentle, was firm, almost hostile. She floated above the protective line made by the party, golden arrow notched, bow aimed at this new enemy. ''Returning to you, my anchor, will not be difficult. Us three can contain this woman until you reach the church.'' She added when you felt Klesiah worry.

''Big damn heroes huh?'' On the opposite street of the park, the violent woman spoke, sounding surprisingly delicate. ''Nothing personal, I just need the kid to get paid, don't need to kill her.''

''I'm more than happy to make things personal.'' Zhu replied, jaw snapping shut loudly as if willing to shatter her teeth.

It... might be impossible to convince your companion to flee. She's worked up to a paroxysm of rage.

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>Allow Adam, Mina and Zhu to fight this new threat while you escape with Ari'el. [Your companions will concentrate on preventing this Mamonos from following you. You can't afford to waste more time, this game has to end! you might also be able to gain the cult as impromptu allies!]

>Fight this new threat with your party! Separating is never a good idea... but what if that means reinforcement starts coming in? [Ari'el will leave to rejoin his forces. It could be difficult to make the cult understand you aren't enemies without him.]

>Free.

Alas for me, you guys didn't kill any of Ari'el people and continued to speak to him so this cannot be a threeway fight... Arawn has been nicely healed up, thankfully. Also, leaving people behind to fight this Mamono isn't auto death or anything, though things might not go well. Who knows what happening back in the church. Going back there will at least take 15 minutes.

>>4353809
>Allow Adam, Mina and Zhu to fight this new threat while you escape with Ari'el. [Your companions will concentrate on preventing this Mamonos from following you. You can't afford to waste more time, this game has to end! you might also be able to gain the cult as impromptu allies!]

Evacuating the area would probably be a good idea, since those remaining behind are likely going to be going all out.

Elina probably felt that, she should be turning up shortly anyway.

>>4353809
>Allow Adam, Mina and Zhu to fight this new threat while you escape with Ari'el. [Your companions will concentrate on preventing this Mamonos from following you. You can't afford to waste more time, this game has to end! you might also be able to gain the cult as impromptu allies!]
I am SO FUCKING DONE with this game, holy shit.
Thank fuck we spoke to Ari'el as much as we did, doing that allowed Arawn to survive my shitty roll. *That was Too. Fucking. Close*

>''Fucking bitch you nearly robbed me of him for the second time and we still haven't gotten our reunion fuck yet!''
...One of these days I'll get Arawn to ask if sex and fighting is all Zhu thinks about, just to see how she replies.

How does Elina's link feel? I imagine feeling Arawn have a near-death experience must have been quite a shock, to put it mildly.

>>4353809
Oh I can bet a certain fluffed one might have had a say in the healing department. Us dying to a surprise attack after getting Ari'el to cool off is such a boring way to lose her favorite toy. That or Ari'el has the ability to read emotions and saw the desperate pleas for help through the links and, not being a total dick, responded.

So it seems the guard faction is dead set on finding the girl whose head has quite the large bounty on it. So we, Shereen, Ari'el, and Klesiah will leave Adam, Mina, and Zhu behind if we go with him? Any way to get any reinforcements to follow us instead if we do that? I'm actually confident in their chances if it's *only* this bitch they have to fight. Besides, if we can do that we can lead them towards cultists and "normal" guards probably stand fuck all chance against Ari'el. One shots. He can probably one shot the regular guards/adds.

We can take adds, but adds will fuck up the fight with that thing for them. We need to ensure that no adds show up for them if we go with Ari'el.

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>>4353826
Everyone felt that.
>>4353829
>I am SO FUCKING DONE with this game, holy shit.
She's not done with you.
>How does Elina's link feel? I imagine feeling Arawn have a near-death experience must have been quite a shock, to put it mildly.
She's so enraged that Arawn can't even put a distance on her anymore. She has entered a... dangerous state of mind, though it look like she's calming down since Arawn isn't being burnt and sliced alive.

I'm starting to feel my usual mental fatigue. However, I would really, really like to coincident end our thread with the game, so I'll push myself as much as I can; there's more action to be found. For now, I'll be answering tomorrow but it seems like we've got our course of action.

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>>4353841
>Any way to get any reinforcements to follow us instead if we do that?
If you do happen across enemy reinforcement, they'll be likely to come for you because of Leena. Ultimately, it's impossible to be sure, but you'll be going back to the church with the angel and he's not a subtle one.

Now, the failed roll against Jab wasn't an auto death, Arawn got fucked up so hard because he was the only thing standing between her and Leena; it was a nasty ambush though, the circumstances in how it'd happen are what truly mattered.

At least Leena and/or Shereen didn't die!

>>4353851
Her name's Jab? Sounds like a JoJo villain's name.

So a crit fail would have cost us one of them as we'd have totally incapacitated eh? Eh, nature of the beast. It seems our nature as being also-Gardy kicked in.

How are our reserves now and how long can someone delay overcast? If we get a reprieve can we donate some of our supply to her to prevent it and will that amount increase the longer she's been delaying up to that point? Can we will a message to Elina once she's in range to go for that plaza and give that bitch an ambush of her own? I want her to know how it feels to get insta-fucked out of nowhere!

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>>4353845
>She's not done with you.
I KNOW AND I HATE IT AAAAA
pic related

>At least Leena and/or Shereen didn't die!
And that's what matters. Gardy would be proud -though he most likely would be badgering us to get proper armor in the future, were he here.

That was a fair amount of damage Arawn took, and Ari'el healed it pretty much just as fast as it was dealt. Out of curiosity, how does his healing rate compare to Elina's ?

>For now, I'll be answering tomorrow
And that's my cue to go sleep as well! I really need to stop staying up so late

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>>4353864
>How are our reserves now
If your reserves can be described as a river, now it's a village well. Arawn would say he's got less than 1/3 left. Defending Shereen and Leena cost some mana, how much now is impossible to tell
>How long can someone delay overcast?
Until they exit Focus and bodily reinforcement, so as long as they remain conscious.
>If we get a reprieve can we donate some of our supply to her to prevent it and will that amount increase the longer she's been delaying up to that point?
Unfortunately, you won't have time to try that, there's no time to calculate the correct amount of mana she'll need to prevent Overcast.
>Can we will a message to Elina once she's in range to go for that plaza and give that bitch an ambush of her own? I want her to know how it feels to get insta-fucked out of nowhere!
No, Elina is coming -fast- and there's no way to tell her anything, especially with how muddled the link still feels. Once she gets in range for you to get some details about her feeling, things are gonna explode.
>That was a fair amount of damage Arawn took, and Ari'el healed it pretty much just as fast as it was dealt. Out of curiosity, how does his healing rate compare to Elina's?
He's quicker than Elina, you didn't even fall on your ass before he repaired the damage. The damage came and went, but it still left an emotional scar... maybe not on Arawn though.
Sorry for wrecking your sleep anon!

So, it's time to separate the party.

>>4353887
Hmm, so we got about 3 big spells (give or take) left in us before we're out I'd reckon. Hopefully we'll have nabbed the measurement perk after all this. I'm betting Elina's going to cry because of this and we've made Shereen feel even worse about herself. She needs to meet Deru and get that blood magic properly leveled up.

Will Mina have to physically return to Klesiah? I'm pretty sure we're too far from the church to fall within her usual range. Also, does absolutely livid Zhu fight better than normal Zhu? I'm kinda touched that she actually cares so much about us even if she's still a total pervert.

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>>4353915
>Will Mina have to physically return to Klesiah? I'm pretty sure we're too far from the church to fall within her usual range.
It's not at all like sharing senses as you did for exploring the church, Mina only needs to be within around 50m of Klesiah to return quickly.
Though your paladin won't be able to report on the fight, of course.
>Hopefully we'll have nabbed the measurement perk after all this.
Your perk is already fully complete, I'm just imposing some limitation. See here >>4345243
I haven't rolled 1d6 once so far too. I just need to update the sheet.
> Also, does absolutely livid Zhu fight better than normal Zhu?
Absolutely. I'm a bit sad that you aren't sticking around to find out, but let's just say there's a reason why she chases excitements and strong emotions/battles.
>I'm kinda touched that she actually cares so much about us even if she's still a total pervert.
A lady can care in her own way!

>>4353931
Oh, wait, what about Hilde? Is she OK?