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>>5694520
After hearing that the island of Nostos is only up to this day with living humans thanks to your mother Sivir, you are invigorated with hope to finally seeing her with your own eyes, however the threat of the Sea God lurking beneath her, threading carefully is better than celebrating too early.

After a quick meal with the locals as well as lodging in a large house to settle your inventory, you wonder about their mention of a merrow girl shunned from living on the island, but since the people here are not to keen on those who are kind to other sea creatures, perhaps you should not be public about meeting said stranger.

Which is considerably cumbersome, since you'll be walking in unknown territory, and a dangerous creature that can swallow an entire island might need a lot more than a single man to be defeated.

>Ask for permission to visit the Sea God
>Go search for him without telling anyone.
>Warn your party and bring some of them with you.

>>5694548
>>Warn your party and bring some of them with you.

>>5694548
>>Warn your party and bring some of them with you
Welcome back !
Is good to see you Becchi

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>>5694569
Thanks! Didn't mean to stay away for so long, but a few things got in the way and I wanted to come back fresh and ready so we've had to go on hold for a bit. Hope the struggle wasn't that bad on your end

>>5694548
>>Warn your party and bring some of them with you.
>>5694606
Perhaps its too early to celebrate you coming back Becchi but i had really given hope on the quest. Nice to see i was proven wrong!

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>>5694556
>>5694569
>>5694627
Checking to see how the sailors from the Seahorse were doing, you were greeted by a beaming Roderick, happily doing business along with the local townsman Ishmael and his trusty partner in crime, Magnifico, getting supplies for his men and getting ready to repair whatever the ship needed fixing after the pirate attack for the following few days.

"You guys sure work fast." Serpico attempts some small-talk with his half brother, which goes as well as you expected.

"Shut up and carry this barrel back to the ship along with the others!"

"Aye Aye!" Serpico reluctantly obeys.
"The servant in you needs to go away someday, y'know Serpico?" Hyde is there to give him a supporting hand.
"Baby steps, I guess. At least he's not trying to hit me anymore..."

Relaying your plan with Guts as he cleans his equipment, The Black Swordsman is quick to make some observations.

"Guess it's best to count me out of your field research then. A guy like me would draw too much attention. They see two armed guys with large weapons and they'll know we're after blood."

"Are you sure you're not coming? I could use the help."
"Stealth isn't exactly my forte, few times I did sneaking missions back in the day, I always came out with the feeling that busting the door down would be more effective for me."
"That's fair, but with the others being so busy with the ship, I'm not sure there are many people I can ask for help."

"How about us?!" Puck and Isidro overhear the conversation and walk in uninvited.
"Yeah! I've been itching for a real adventure ever since I set foot on this place! Let's see what that merrow's all about!"

You grimace, hoping to find a way to tell Isidro that you were counting on someone more reliable physically to help you.
"You know, Isidro... I was looking for someone--"
"Stronger?"
"That's not it--"
"Taller?"
"Nothing to do with it--"
"Funnier!"
"That too, but--" Puck takes turns in interrupting you until Isidro catches the hint.

"Better. I know you're looking for someone better. But come on! How am I supposed to get better at all the monster huntin if I never get any chance to shine!?" Just give me a shot, and I'll fry whatever fish we get!" Isidro brandishes his fiery salamander knife, though you're not sure what that'll do against a Kraken 100 times his size.

>Isidro, saving my mother and the island is something important to me, and I can't have you goofing off during this.
>Alright, but do as I say, I'm not quite sure what we're dealing with, so we have to be careful
>You know what? Fair point, let's see how much you've improved.
>...Are you sure no one else is free right now?
>Write-in.

>>5694627
>Not thinking I went in hiatus to emulate the boat hiatus in the manga for max ludonarrative points.
All according to plan!
Main reason was that I had a health scare and thought the eye floaters I was having were due to excess of eye strain so I got a job that didn't involve sitting my ass in front of a screen for the entire day. Thankfully I'm not going blind but I just wanted to play it safe and not risk anything

>>5694650
>Alright, but do as I say, I'm not quite sure what we're dealing with, so we have to be careful

>>5694650
>Alright, but do as I say, I'm not quite sure what we're dealing with, so we have to be careful
I'll have to catch up with the quest.

>>5694650
>Alright, but do as I say, I'm not quite sure what we're dealing with, so we have to be careful
Don't fuck up, monkey. Also welcome back!

>>5694606
I had faith in your return, but all good.

>>5694650
>Alright, but do as I say, I'm not quite sure what we're dealing with, so we have to be careful
>Write-in
"Stay close and keep an eye for anything strange, we ll need to not attract any attention. And if we do attract it, is better to not be far away from eachother."

>>5694713
Ah do check Isidro for see what he has on him, if he lacks some useful equipment or food he should go and grab it from the ship.
Training him is a long process

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>>5694671
>>5694672
>>5694678
>>5694713
"Alright, but do as I say, I'm not quire sure what we're dealing with, so we have to be careful."

"Come on! Since when have we let any of you guys down?!" Isidro scoffs, though Puck is quick to rebuke him.
"You know that only applies to you, right? I've already helped Vlad plenty of times! He knows I'm hardcore!"
"I can't say you've had many big accomplishments on our journey, but that's because we've made sure to let you play safe. One little slip, and we'll be lucky to live long enough to regret it."Stay close and keep an eye for anything strange--"

"Oh, like I haven't heard that one before..." Isidro still considers you to be underestimating his skills, but any sign of overconfidence on his part can prove to be too much for him to handle. "I'll be waiting outside for when you're ready, don't keep me waiting."

"You talk like you haven't been in the 'In dire need of development' bench all this time!" Puck makes fun of him one last time as he snuggles into Isidro's collar.

You can only hope you've done the right thing...

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>>5694720
"So you're going out?" Farnese replies after you warn her and Schierke of your plans.
"We'll be taking a stroll around the town while you're at it. I did feel plenty of bad Od lying around ever since they've mentioned that they sacrifice people in human rituals to appease the Sea God. Don't think this is related to Behelits, but I'll let you know if we find a lead!" Schierke points to her forehead, knowing that despite your interference in talking to Ilos, your telepathy should work just fine between the two of you.

Waving her goodbye, you get your trident ready before feeling a potent tug on your shoulder a few steps away from the front door of the settling.
"Hey." Casca calmly holsters her axe on her waist. "Heard you needed a hand scouting the area?"

"Casca. are you sure you're good to fight? I know we've just given you more Mandragoran Essence, but any more stress and your skin will turn green..."

"Well, much like Isidro, I can't help but feel like I've fallen too much behind, so what's the harm in getting used to the action? If him and Puck are giving you too much trouble in a pinch, I can have your back so they stay relatively safe. Isn't that why Isidro and I have sparred with you back on the shore?"

"That's hard to believe when this sickness you have can take your humanity away. I'd advise you to take your health more seriously--"

"Vlad. I am taking my health as seriously as you are." Though Casca's pride as a soldier is still present, she takes note of how injured you've been in the past few ordeals. "There's a child I need to see and a jester I need to mourn after we are through with this journey. I don't plan to rush into danger, but a little risk to myself is the least I can do when we're this close to getting rid of this damn mandragora curse. We are not arguing over this."

Casca doesn't even give you a chance to respond, already making up her mind. You can see why she went along so well with Guts with how pushy she can be...
You're glad both of your least active fighters are eager and in high morale to improve before they need to be on the front lines, but fighting The Sea God alongside them will be like playing tug of war with 2 kids. They might help a little, but at the end of the day, it's still all on you if they fail.

Oh, to be the responsible leader...

>Make sure you're carrying as much mandragoran essence with you as possible.
>Your priority is keeping an eye on Isidro, don't let him get too far away.
>Get ready to use the axe at a moment's notice, we'll need an escape plan if anything goes wrong.
>I still think you'll be better off resting here with the others.
>Write-in.

>>5694733
>Your priority is keeping an eye on Isidro, don't let him get too far away.

>>5694733
>Get ready to use the axe at a moment's notice, we'll need an escape plan if anything goes wrong.

>>5694733
>>Make sure you're carrying as much mandragoran essence with you as possible.

>>5694520
HE LIVES, STOMP STOMP

>>5694733
>Your priority is keeping an eye on Isidro, don't let him get too far away.

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>>5694736
>>5694746
>>5694760
>>5694836
Well, she did make some pretty convincing arguments. Who knows, maybe she can compare to the likes of Serpico and Farnese once she is healed.

"Your priority is keeping an eye on Isidro, don't let him get too far away. The axe of the giants will be useful in case the Sea God tries to crush us with rubble, and we'll need an escape plan if anything goes wrong. Also, don't forget the mandragoran essence, carry it as much as possible."

Casca was taken aback from the lack of pushback. Usually, she would have to bargain a lot more to get what she wanted, but a smirk and a nod was all it took for the old commander to fulfill her end of the mission.

As you both walk outside, you give one last check on Isidro's inventory before departing.

"Salamander knife?"
"Here!"
"An extra short knife in case you lose this one?"
"Also here!"
"Bombs?"
"All yours, my friend!" Puck shows his pouch full of the miniature bombs guts carries with him."Good to go?"
"Good to go!"
"Hell yeah!"

Isidro excitedly runs ahead while Casca sighs behind him. As you take in the scenery of the island, you notice the luscious green of the grass along the homely stone houses. It's hard to believe this is an island, with how close it resembles a warm mountain top. It's a feeling of relaxation by the positive Od around you not unlike when you were back on Flora's tree mansion. Only this time, there is a visible thin layer of pure energy containing the corrupt astral being below the salty ocean.

As you carefully climb over some rock formations, you finally catch up to Casca and Isidro, who found a seemingly man-made stairs between the landslide where a young blue haired girl wearing a white camisole was fishing.

"So that must be the merrow they were talking about." Puck spots her from far away.
"I don't know what they were shunning her for, she seems pretty harmless." You affirm after checking her warm, bubbly energy readings from a distance.

Noticing that she was being observed, the girl waved her hands in the air and quickly approached you with her fishing spear.
"Big Bro Vlad! It's so nice to finally meet you! Auntie Sivir has told me all about your--" The cheerful girl was cut short as Isidro and Casca readied their weapons against hers, not taking any chances against an unknown assailant.

"Easy there, missy! No touchy-feely without at least knowing who you are!" Puck warns her as she is startled by her unwelcoming first impressions.

Who's taking care of who again here?

>Easy there, folks. She's not trying to kill me.
>'Big Bro Vlad'? Do I know you?
>I am pretty sure I am an only child, kid.
>'Auntie Sivir'? Do you know my mother?
>Write-in.

>>5694870
>'Big Bro Vlad'? Do I know you?

>>5694870
>'Big Bro Vlad'? Do I know you?

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>>5694904
>>5694965
"Big Bro Vlad'? Do I know you?" You scratch your head to the girl's weirdly affectionate reaction to you.
"Nope! I've met Auntie Sivir! And she told me I could treat her as family until I found my mom! Calling her my real mom would be weird, but since I want you to feel at home, I wanted to call you Big Bro Vlad!"

"I'm not sure that's how brotherhood works, I'm afraid..." You question her internal logic. Even if she's trying to be nice, she just ended up coming off as dense.

Well, between Isidro thinking like he's an adult, Benny being depressed like an adult and Schierke pretending to be one, it's nice to see another kid acting her age for once.
"So what's this about you knowing Sivir, did you really talk to her?" Puck inquired for more information.

"Yeah, she used to appear right down that cove! She would tell me all sorts of stories about the world outside the island! She also told me I'm a merrow, which is kinda like a human, but not really! So we're basically the same, right?"

"Not... really?" You tilt your head, wondering what the hell your mother explained to this air-headed child for her to think that merrows and halflings were the same thing, of if she misheard or misunderstood every step of the way.

"... Is that not right? My dad never let me talk to her since she was an important figure of the island, so I had to sneak up at night to hear her stories. I was usually pretty sleepy, so maybe I only remember bits and pieces." She is quick to admit her faults, being pretty easy-going for an outcast.

"What's your name, little girl?" Casca lowers her weapon and signals Isidro to do the same.
"Isma! At least that's what my dad used to call me. No need to tell me your names, though! I remember you three from the last time Auntie Sivir talked to me. Your names are.... hm..." Isma takes a long pause before getting 2 out of 3 names wrong.

"Puck, Cocoa and Sissydro!"
Seeing an unamused Casca and an Isidro about to call her all sorts of names, she giggled uncontrollably before giving Isidro a hug to catch Puck by surprise.

"Just kidding! Hope you didn't take that to heart, I'm just messing with you. At least I got the cutest one out of you right, ain't that right, Puck!?" She caught him with her fingers, patting the elf's head with her thumb.

"See? She has good taste! I'd say she's pretty trustworthy!" Puck melts away on her palm as the head massage convinces him that Isma is indeed kind hearted.

"Guess we readied up our weapons for nothing..." Casca shrugs, disappointed that the call for action was a false alarm.
You'd think Isidro would protest a stranger's hug, but he's too busy feeling her breasts with his face to complain. At least they seem to be around the same age, so it's not as creepy as his perverted antics usually are.

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>>5695070
As she inches close to you and your trio of companions, you feel a palpitation in your heart as you grow accustomed to your first close sight of merrow Od.

Isma's blue silhouette swarms your view as well as the tides of the sea, with a shoal of fish manifesting along with your visions. Everything down from her energy, to the way she seems playful but weirdly charming coupled with her alluring way of enchanting people with her presence... She might not be a fully matured merrow, but the signs are all pretty much there.

Still, you feel as if something is missing here, there is something about Isma that doesn't quite strike her as a merrow who has reached her full potential. Maybe because she's still a kid, maybe because she's not transformed, but you might have to get that answer out of her, along with who knows how many others you have.

>So you know you are a creature of the sea. Mind showing me some of your abilities?
>What happened with Sivir? Do you know where she is?
>Where are your parents? Is your mother missing as well?
>Where does that cove lead into? Is that where the Sea God is?
>Write-in.

>>5695076
>>So you know you are a creature of the sea. Mind showing me some of your abilities?

>>5695076
>So you know you are a creature of the sea. Mind showing me some of your abilities?
Fish-sister, show us your magic fish powers.

>>5695076
>So you know you are a creature of the sea. Mind showing me some of your abilities?

>>5695076
>So you know you are a creature of the sea. Mind showing me some of your abilities?
>What happened with Sivir? Do you know where she is?

>>5694520
WE ARE SO BACK

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>>5695081
>>5695090
>>5695223
>>5695267
"So you know you are a creature of the sea. Mind showing me some of your abilities?" You invite her to do a little presentation of her magical attributes, but Isma quickly shakes her head.

"That's the weird part, I don't have a tail, or swim that fast, since my dad was a regular guy, Auntie Sivir told me that Isma might not be my real name, and my spirit name might help me in figuring out my fish powers, whatever that is" She comically stands on one feet to show her lack of a tail.

"What would your name have to do with awakening your merrow abilities?" Casca asks.
"Well, every spirit like to be called by their real name. If I went down to the Sea God's cove and called him Bob, he wouldn't even give me the time of day! Every creature of the astral is stronger when they are aware of the name their mom gave them. But since I've named mine, that's impossible for me."

That does make you wonder if that same rule applies to you. You've been known as Vlad your whole entire life, but that name was only given by your adoptive parents. If what Isma is saying is true, perhaps there is even more power to be discovered on your end even without clutching Sivir's magical pearl.

"Do you know where my mother is, though?"
"Nope. Ever since winter she stopped showing up to the place she used to visit. I've even tried searching for her, but I haven't found her yet. I'm starting to get worried..."

That aligns with when her orb cracked due to saving your life in Albion.
"Don't worry. I can sense her energy somewhere around here. It's just hard to be precise when The Sea God's stench is so strong."

"Really? That's great news!" Isma widens her smile. "Are you guys hungry? I can give you a little treat on my house as a thank you gift."

"We are flattered, but we came here to look for the Sea God right now, so we'd like to stay focused on our journey." Casca intervenes and remains focused.

"Aw... I know I live by myself, but my food tastes real good!" Isma frowns.

"Come on guys, I'm sure that wouldn't do any harm in visiting! Since she's half merrow and all, maybe we can find something else about the island!" Isidro argues, trying to hide how enamored he was by Isma.

>We didn't come here for sightseeing, let's go inside that cove already.
>Sure, why not? Isma seems trustworthy enough.
>You can stay there if you'd like, but Casca and I are going in.
>Write-in.

>>5695293
>Didn't you know, Isma? Food tastes better after a day of hard work and heroics. We'll look forward to your hospitality after we finish what we came here for - I'm sure we'll be famished by then!
Best to stay focused, but also not to offend.

>Didn't you know, Isma? Food tastes better after a day of hard work and heroics. We'll look forward to your hospitality after we finish what we came here for - I'm sure we'll be famished by then!

>>5694520
HOLY SHIT!
VLAD BROS, WE ARE SO BACK.
Nice to see you up and active again beechi!

>>5695293
>Sure, why not? Isma seems trustworthy enough.
Best to carboload while we can before we do any strenuous activity.

>>5695293
>Didn't you know, Isma? Food tastes better after a day of hard work and heroics. We'll look forward to your hospitality after we finish what we came here for - I'm sure we'll be famished by then!

>>5695330
>>5695388
>>5695392
>>5695398
"Didn't you know, Isma? Food tastes better after a day of hard work and heroics. We'll look forward to your hospitality after we finish what we came here for - I'm sure we'll be famished by then!" You thank her offer, but postpone it in good fashion. It's hard to stay in a bad mood with such a cheery girl around.

"That's alright. More time for me to prepare the food! I'll be right back before--" Isma begins to walk away from your group, until she stops in place and turns around to face the cove.

"Wait... You're not thinking of going in there, are you? It's where the sea god lives! He'll eat us alive if he wakes up."
"Well, it's kind of what we came here to do. I had a feeling that my mother had to stay close to this monster to keep him in place, so we can only conclude that she's at the bottom of the sea along with him."

"Oh! Can I come with you? I want to see if she's alright."
"Sorry Isma, this mission is for the brave boys only! And Casca." Puck tries to put her safety first, but she merely takes a blushing Isidro's hand to assure her safety.

"Don't you worry! I'll be extra careful! You won't even know I'm here."
"Oh, I'm noticing it alright..." Isidro mutters under his breath. For someone who's always quick to boast, it's nice to finally see him meeting someone that matches his energy.

Were it not for the fiery salamander dagger that Isidro carries. you would not be able to see a palm in front of you inside the cove. The once green moss gave way to a dark, purple-ish rock formation that gave you a taste of the deep sea life only a few steps down the surface. The wet and slippery rocks were a challenge to everyone but the rock climbing specialists such as Isma and yourself. Everyone else had to compensate by using the axe of the gnomes to align the terrain, or in Isidro's case, just falling flat on his face.

As the red haired boy places his hand on a wall, he is startled after seeing it moving, realizing that he was actually touching part of the large, sleeping creature that was the sea god, being at least as large as the entire coast, given how you couldn't even see a shape resembling a limb from where you were.

His presence is oppressive. Were it not for Sivir placing him in some sort of spell to put him under, you would already be dead. Trying your best to ignore his giant Od, you grasp for some sort of different reading, only to realize that this monster actually has several corpses of fish, sharks, whales and whatever else that was unfortunate enough to cross it's path added to it's own ecosystem. A live aquarium where it's limitations had the gift of sentience.

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>>5695599
The stench of salt and carcass seems to be unbearable for Casca and Isidro, so you stop just short of a muddy pit as you wonder on how to proceed.

"No one's ever been this far." Isma whispers. "Everyone's usually so afraid of meeting what's under the sea, that they end up doing whatever it takes to stay away from it."

"I'm surprised you haven't gotten yourself killed living down here." Casca replies.

"My house has some decorations made by my mom. Dad said they were charms to keep evil away, so that must have something to do with it. I mostly got that from Sivir, though. Dad was so sad about mom leaving that he usually avoided talking about it..."

As Isidro slips and falls over into the mud pit, he almost is swept away as you find that he actually fell onto a hole that lead into the ocean.

Preparing to place your head underwater, you make some effort to open your eyes to see if that hole led to somewhere, and your instincts did not disappoint.

It was very far away, a very light beacon of white amidst all the purple, black and red, but as the purple gave away to the blue, a multitude of colors bloomed in what appeared to be an underwater garden. Right between the jaws of a monster encrusted with shark teeth, laid a plant woman with her roots encrusted in the sand. Cradling a white orb in a fetal position, her only protection from the enemy was a half closed Oyster about as large as she was. And with the light leaking away into the sea, her hands were unconsciously hard glued into the pearl, trying her best to keep your the energy keeping the both of you alive from spilling.

A mix of emotions swirls upon you. Your mother is finally here, you want to celebrate that you are united with her at last, and can find out more about yourself, your powers, and attain a monochrome of chance to defeat the forces of the God Hand, but given the sensitive spot she is at and all the hundreds of tentacles and monsters laying there before reaching her...

"Didn't think it would be this easy..." You muttered to yourself, trying to brainstorm a plan.

"I'm not sure if diving down there is a good idea." Isma says. "I can hold my breath for 10 minutes underwater, but I've never went that far in. Not good to rush either when you're so deep down there, the pressure can make you sick, and it's bad for your organs."

"And that's if we can safely unroot her without damaging her...." You calmly gauge your options, provided you can actually do anything at the moment...

>Attempt to telepathically talk to Sivir.
>Ask Casca to form an underground tunnel to Sivir (60)
>Cleanse the spirits around The Sea God's carcass and see how far you can get (40)
>Dive underwater and see if you can reach her (80)
>Ask Schierke for a second opinion.
>Write-in.

>>5695624
>Ask Casca to form an underground tunnel to Sivir (60)
>Use a small portion of seeds to grow a support network of roots in the tunnel, to prevent it from collapsing and perhaps connect to Sivir given how close she is.

>>5695624
>Ask Schierke for a second opinion.

>>5695628
I think we should save all of our seeds for when we need to kill the sea god. I wonder what the mandragoras screams can do to it.

>>5695624
>Ask Schierke for a second opinion.

>Ask Schierke for a second opinion.

>>5695624
>Ask Schierke for a second opinion.

>>5695624
>>Ask Schierke for a second opinion.

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>>5695628
>>5695653
>>5695655
>>5695656
>>5695659
>>5695662
Being hasty goes strictly against your character, and Schierke told you that you should call for her in case anything happens, so you relay the information and how you've found Sivir as she is now.

"So The Sea God really is that large? How much energy is inside that pearl for Sivir to hold him down like that?"

"Not sure, but the way I see the Od spilling out of it's container is quite concerning. It seems I wasn't the only one getting weaker thanks to the orb cracking. From all we know this could also have an effect on her sleeping agent on the Sea God, too."

"I'm not even sure there is a spell or a spirit I could do for this situation... I mean, the 4 kings could definitely kill the sea god if we coordinate our attacks, but without bringing the entire island under or harming Sivir? Being delicate with this amount of power is no easy task..."

"Can you do it?"
"I can try, but I'll need your help along with Farnese. We can try placing some runes around him, but it might take a while, and we might not have that much time to do it."
"If you're worried about being caught, we could just do it at night time."
"That's not a good idea... It's going to be a full moon, and The Sea God might act different given how ethereal spirits act during that time period... Come back here so we can--"

Your conversation is interrupted by the distant firings of cannons. The familiar ringing in your ears could only come from Roderick's ship.

"What's going on out there?"
"I don't know! I think the pirates we fought a while ago came back!"
"But their only ship was in shambles! How could they still have cannons working!?"

The ground under you started to rumble as the Sea God readjusted his sleeping position, awakening some of the monsters on the process.

"We gotta get outta here!" Puck briefly stuns the creatures in place with the sparks of light emanating from himself, leaving room for Isidro and Casca to cut and slash at any tendrils or fish creatures that came your way.

>Run back to the Seahorse. We can't let them fire those cannons.
>At this rate the Sea God is going to wake up anyway, might as well stay and fight him.
>Try to freeze the water around him to make sure he's at least partially restrained.
>Something else.

>>5695689
>Try to freeze the water around him to make sure he's at least partially restrained.
>Run back to the Seahorse. We can't let them fire those cannons.

>>5695689
>Run back to the Seahorse. We can't let them fire those cannons.
I'd say freeze the waters to if it weren't for the fact that last time we almost drowned under ice that was attempted. I'm sure it wouldn't be that catastrophic now if we fail the rolls on freezing the waters but still I'm too scared to vote for it.
But can you imagine?
>Legendary quest comes back after months of hiatus
>It ends immediately in less than hundred posts as main character dies to bad rolls

>>5695689
>Try to freeze the water around him to make sure he's at least partially restrained.
Fuck it.

>>5695705
Not gonna lie, it would be pretty funny.

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>>5695692
>>5695705
>>5695720
Alright, let's give it up for the first roll in a while!
A 1d100 to see how much we can coat Not-Cthulhu in ice as a preemptive measure. The giant octopus is still sleeping so there's not much pressure on rolling high here since nothing's really at stake yet. Unless you critfail this

Roll away!

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>5695759

Rolled 2 (1d100)

Holy shit that was close, lmao.

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>>5695765
>>5695729
Sometimes it really feels like we burned through our luck stats when we double crit Guts on the first thread.

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5695759

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>>5695759
>>5695765

>>5695762
Thankfully

Anyway, i think we can expand on Schierke plan. Vlad and Schierke can do the runes, while Farnese creates a connection between all of them.
Perhaps we could plant some seeds for defend the runes or create plants that can both defend and attack the incoming tentacles.
The rest of the seeds can be used for many other means.

Also this is the old list of ideas from the previous thread, some stuff is probably outdated.
List of potential stuff to do :

- Make a plan for produce more of that serum.
- Swim
- Make a special spell for create a sort of algae/coral suit around our armor and maybe Gunpowder too, for fight underwater.
- Become friends with the undines
- Upgrade all our gang gear to runic
- Become more skilled : better control of our plant powers, purging od, weapons mastery and so on...
- Spend money for get more stuff for Ilos
- Create a new type of golem, instead of stone one of wood. Agility, speed and regrowing blades. Infused with some of our Od, for make each of their strikes poison to apostles.
- See about forcing the mutt out of Guts, place it in his sword or something else. Or attempt to make a deal (not ideal)
- improving Farnese ring

>>5695937
>Make a plan for produce more of that serum.
>Swim
>Become friends with the undines
>Upgrade all our gang gear to runic
These are done, or at least partially so I guess you can cross those out

>Become more skilled : better control of our plant powers, purging od, weapons mastery and so on...

That's in progress but that'll probably depend on Sivir's bouncing ball, the rest can come later down the line but you'll have to remember to bring that up.

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>>5695762
>>5695765
>>5695806
You've had plenty of time to get accustomed to your Trident of the undines, but have you progressed enough to freeze a giant enemy like this?

Motioning your weapon upwards, you create a water wall tens of meters tall that crashes on top of what you can see of the Sea God as you walk outside. While the base of your reverse waterfall was flowing well, it started to become thinner at it's peak, the ice coat turns less reliable the further it is from sea level. Perhaps with a few more layers, you could make a perfect ice cocoon around him, but that would require more time, and a more delicate movement that you can't do while you're in a rush.

The Crowd Control Casca's Axe has is incredibly useful. She can effortlessly walk on walls due to the gravity defying powers of her weapon making it so every surface is sticky for her. And while that does not apply to you and the others, she is considerate enough to solidify the mud pit you were standing under to elevate you through the rock formation and open it towards sunlight, making sure to close it back just in case it freed the Sea God in any way.

It seems that while the monsters are horrifying by nature, she seems more at ease when fighting non-apostle enemies, which proves her quick mastery of the elementals despite an axe not being the weapon she's used to equip.

"This feels pretty weightless in my hands, so doing any acrobatics while fighting will be easier than usual."

Making back to the docks in record time, you arrive to see the approaching Pirate ship a few knots away from the island, firing it's cannons as Roderick and the sailors gets ready to shoot his own load back onto them.

"Cease fire! There's a monster under the island and he'll wake up with the sound of the shots!"
The sailors would have kept doing their business as usual if not for Roderick giving you the benefit of the doubt and signaling them to stop.

"Those are concerning matters indeed, Vlad. But it's either this, or getting our ship wrecked. We can stop our cannons from firing, but I'm not sure they'll stop theirs."

"There's a chance their cannonballs hit the island or somewhere around where that monster is, so even missing their targets is a net loss to us." Serpico adds as he drops the supplies he was carrying to get ready to fight.

"We can't let the ship go down! What would Gunpowder think of dying on the sea?!" Puck worries about the stallion of the team, likely oblivious to the sound outside.

>Set sail and approach their ship, it's safer to fight them off the island. (35)
>Is Hyde here? Violet can drop us onto the pirate ship so we can deal with them there. (40)
>I can make a few ice walls to protect the ship, Casca can help me out with her axe too. (50)
>Do you think we can negotiate with them? I have enough money to bribe them.
>Maybe I can tip their ship over with my trident. (70)

>>5695985
>Set sail and approach their ship, it's safer to fight them off the island. (35)
BOARD THE ENEMT SHIP.

>>5695985
>Set sail and approach their ship, it's safer to fight them off the island. (35)

>>5695985
>Set sail and approach their ship, it's safer to fight them off the island. (35)

>>5695985
>Set sail and approach their ship, it's safer to fight them off the island. (35)

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>>5696024
>>5696027
>>5696072
>>5696082
Going for the safest one? Nothing wrong with that, no point in betting on high stakes this early on.
Roll me a 1d100!

>>5696141
AHOY YE SCURVEY DOGS YARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>5696141

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>5696141

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>5696141

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>>5696169
>>5696179
>>5696181
"Did ye lads think ye could escape from Ol' Cap'n Bonebeard!?" You hear the captain of the pirates screaming his lungs out after you've approached their remaining ship.

"Funny, last time we fought, you were the one running away..." Roderick removes his binoculars, ordering his men to go full speed ahead in a frontal assault.

Thanks to Serpico's swiftly guiding the sail with his sword like a maestro, the sylphs were in charge of redirecting whatever damage their guns could do to the land by letting their cannonballs sink into the ocean.

"How the hell are we supposed to fight against a PIRATE SHIP without any of our artillery, genius?" Magnifico doubts your chances of effectively retaliating against Bonebeard without using regular means, but Puck is quick to defend you.

"See, this is where Vlad's genius really shines! It's like he has the brain of a tactician with a frontline soldier mixet together in the same skull! Dude has a plan for just about everything, and not just one, he's got Plans A through Z fully independent from each other so he can coordinate his attacks ordering people around, so even if his attack doesn't fully work — Which is usually the case — Everything else is still in his favor!"

"Aren't you overselling him a bit?" Even Isidro doubts your adaptability with the way Puck is describing you.

"Don't believe me? Look at his pose. Back straight, furrowed brow, hand on his chin, mouth slightly open in case he needs to chew on his nails: This is Vlad at his Vladdest, folks! It's like he's going in an alternate dimension just to think!"
Your thought process is ruined by your self-consciousness coming from Puck describing your pose. Have you really done it that often for it to be your signature thinking pose?

"I bet he's going to say something real smart right now!" Isma hypes you up, wanting to see you at your 'Vladdest'.

The vote of confidence is appreciated, but fighting the pirates isn't the hard part, it's doing it without causing much noise...

>Throw some seeds at the ship and have them grow to break it's foundation.
>Serpico and Casca can plug the cannons if they get close enough to them. Approach the side of the ship and have them explode themselves.
>Freeze the water in front of them and break their ship with a crash.
>Tip their ship over with a giant wave.
>Bring Gunpowder out and combine your ability to turn water to ice and his Sonic speed to go through their ship.
>Tell Hyde to drop you off on the pirate ship with Violet. You've been missing a little brawl.
>Something else.

>Bring Gunpowder out and combine your ability to turn water to ice and his Sonic speed to go through their ship.

This just seems incredibly funny. Can’t fire their cannons if they’re sinking because of a stallion sized hole in their hull, can they?

>>5696235
>Bring Gunpowder out and combine your ability to turn water to ice and his Sonic speed to go through their ship.
Gunpowder needs blood and glory or he'll be pissed. Man, he's going to fucking hate Elfhell.

>>5696235
>Bring Gunpowder out and combine your ability to turn water to ice and his Sonic speed to go through their ship.

>>5696235
>Bring Gunpowder out and combine your ability to turn water to ice and his Sonic speed to go through their ship.
Lets go

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>>5696239
>>5696247
>>5696250
>>5696258
Let's roll for damage then! Another 1d100 should do the trick!

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>5696288
Watch as we roll another 1 and drown again.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>5696288

Dice-gods hear my prayer!

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5696288
lol, lmao even

Rolled 71, 83, 42, 80, 65 = 341 (5d100)

test roll

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5696288

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>>5696301
>>5696316
>all the good rolls are now used up

>>5696294
>>5696298
>>5696299
"It's your lucky day, Gunpowder!" You wake him up from his slumber as he had already given up any chance of an interesting fight while inside this boat.

"Did Vlad arrive on island already?"
"Not Elfhelm, but I'm gonna need your help." You show him the sonic armor and that automatically makes him stand on his back hooves from sheer excitement! It's been a while since you've seen him like this.

"Finally! Vlad remembered Gunpowder exist!"
"My mind never drifts away from you, pal!" You pat him on the back as you finally mount him with your own armor, entering in sync as both your energies are shared.

Extending your trident to the point of it looking more like a giant fork with how wide it's spikes were, you explain the simplicity of your plan to Gunpowder, and he wastes no time following through.
"Think you can ram through that ship for me, GP?"
"SMASH!"

The sheer acceleration from zero to breaking the sound barrier almost pushes you off from your old Stallion, but keeping your back straight and fully strapped onto GP, you extend the spikes of the tridents as they solidify into pure Ice, as he falls onto water, you are surprised to see that you didn't even need to freeze the surface of the water, as Gunpowder runs so fast that he can walk on water without sinking, and by the time the undines freeze the water, you've already way over where they were.

"Easy, Gunpowder! You're going too fast!"
"Not fast enough!"Gunpowder throws caution to the wind, being on too much of a high to care about the strain on his body and ears, achieving an even greater speed than his peak. Which unfortunately hinders your plans.

By the time you tilt your head forward, you have a split second to avoid faceplanting onto wooden hull of Bonebeard's ship.

Gunpowder crashes through the ship with the force of a catapult, obliterating a large crater beyond repair as their rudder is destroyed. Looking back at the gunport's containers falling on the remainder of the ship, you see the enemy's vehicle being nearly snapped in half as it goes further and further away from your sight.

You're still in one piece, so is Gunpowder, the trident in your hands, and the giant hulk of the hull that's still stuck on the spikes, nearly obscuring your view from the crazy ass horse sending you as far away from the island as you can go.

You doubt you'll get to Elfhelm before Gunpowder's body gives out, so you have to find a way for him to turn a 180 real fast.

>Tell him to slow down
>Try to swerve him manually
>Use the trident as a makeshift sail to slowly turn him back to Nostos.
>Taunt him into ramming the ship a second time.
>Something else.

>Taunt him into ramming the ship a second time.

We got to make sure, you know? ;)

>>5696411
>Try to swerve him manually

>>5696411
>Taunt him into ramming the ship a second time.
I love this murder horse

>>5696411
>>Taunt him into ramming the ship a second time.

>>5696411
>>Taunt him into ramming the ship a second time.

>>5696411
>>Use the trident as a makeshift sail to slowly turn him back to Nostos.

lol Vladdest

>>5696411
>Taunt him into ramming the ship a second time.
This is a certifiable Vlad moment.

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>>5696412
>>5696440
>>5696463
>>5696468
>>5696551
Brace for impact then! Let's see how well that goes with your rolls!

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>5696610
Watch this easy 80+ roll anons!

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>5696610

>>5696629
KABOOM

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>5696629
YOU MADLAD, you fucking did it.

Oh my god. What the fuck is up with my rolls? Holy shit. I

>>5696629
>>5696641
The clutch is unreal

>>5696646
This is my third fucking roll on this quest. Truly, the godhand are a stain upon this world.

>>5696629
What the fuck is happening??
>>5696650
İnşallah we will clean stain upon the world.

>>5696629
REEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>5696641
GOD IS GREAT!

>>5696611
>>5696629
>>5696641
Appealing to Gunpowder's common sense won't get you anywhere and you should know him enough by now to not even consider that a possibility. This mad bull reincarnated into a horse only responds when his pride is on the line.

"Hey GP. You missed a spot, their ship is still up and running!" You lie, ignoring the fact that Bonebeard's ship was halfway sunk already when you last checked it. But Gunpowder doesn't need to know that.

Making a sharp U-Turn while swerving in the deep sea, your mount maintains it's speed while you try your best to hold off on him without flying off.

"O Cap'n! My Cap'n!" One of the pirates hugs Bonebeard as they both stand on top of their fallen battleship, turning upwards with each passing second as their men jump and flail onto the water. "Is this really the end of our sails?"

"Get yer stinkin hands off' a me! Die with some pride, why don'tcha! Me swimming is worse than any of the lads I've worked with, and ye don't see me crying me eyes out!"

"Are you sure this was all intentional? He's going pretty far away..." Magnifico observes you with his binoculars, wondering if you would ever come back to Nostos.
"See? He's so good at deception he even has us doubting him sometimes!" Puck shrugs.
"Don't worry Big Bro Vlad! I believe in you!" Isma cheers you on just as you start to recover your momentum.

"How did they find a harpoon this damn big to fire at us? I don't even see the damn set!"
"Well, at least we know they ain't firin a second time. A spear that size is too heavy for a ship to-- WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT!?" Bonebeard is scared beyond belief as he sees what he mistook as a projectile coming back to destroy his ship a second time.

Bonebeard and his mateys flying away into the air along with the nails and boards of his freighter, with their captain faceplanting a few inches away from Isidro, who proudly stops on his head, as if taking the credit for beating the sea thieves.

"Into Davy Jone's locker with you, ye old barnacle!" Puck makes fun of him as the sailors of the Seahorse approach him with a pair of ropes.

As for yourself, you somehow manage to stick the landing by summoning a geyser to slowly decelerate the ravaging Gunpowder before both your innards could splatter at the nearest rock formation on Nostos, sending him upwards to lose his horizontal speed, you slowly diminish the potency of the water pressure keeping you steady as you descend back ono the ship.

"Sorry for doubting you back then, Vlad. Seems like you really had it all covered from the start."
"You'll get used to it eventually, Roderick." You bluff, pretending that you also took into account Gunpowder severely overshooting his ramming speed.

"Now, what to do with this recently retired captain?" Roderick stares at the angry Bonebeard glaring back at him.
"Ye might have took me mateys, but me pride won't die with me!"

>>5696641
loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

>>5696676
>Scavenge their weapons and their gold. It won't be hard to do thanks to the Undines.
>I feel bad about letting them drown, let's throw a buoy out for the ones who are still alive.
>Let's arrest them at the island, I'm sure the sea god will appreciate the offering.
>No point in adopting more pirates and there's nowhere to drop them, have them walk the plank.
>Something else.

>>5696678
>Scavenge their weapons and their gold. It won't be hard to do thanks to the Undines.
>I feel bad about letting them drown, let's throw a buoy out for the ones who are still alive.
>Let's arrest them at the island, I'm sure the sea god will appreciate the offering.
A combination of these three seems the most prudent no?

>>5696678
>>5696680 +1

>>5696680
+1

>>5696680
That works for me.

>>5696680
Supporting.

>>5696680
Support
Let s grab this pirates, best they don't become free food for our foe.
I guess we could ask them some questions about their activities, they probably raided around and seen many places. Could amount to nothing or give us some interesting pieces of news between their insults.
We have avoided making too much sounds so the plan for create those runes around the demon can still be done i think.

>>5695961
Nice

>>5696852
I chuckled a bit when I thought about asking them this but hear me out:

We ask them, if they have any buried treasure they would like to exchange for their lives.

Because, you know; pirates.

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>>5696680
Using your trusty weapon to control the water, you raise Captain Bonebeard's inventory up to the Seahorse while Roderick and the others help the pirates out.

A wide range of cutlasses, harpoons, and fishing nets were found. For a boat that crashed into pieces with only a few pounds of Gunpowder, they sure had some high quality equipment. It seemed that their ship was even properly decorated, judging by the marks and sculptures you managed to scavenge from underwater.

Magnifico, having some knowledge in treasury, assures that the weapons are all legit and in good quality to boot, likely from several of their past victims.
"So long, Captain Sharkrider, ye were the best boat that ever sailed this side of the sea..." Bonebeard mourns his fallen ship, but Roderick and his men are quick to push him into the island as they sailed back to Nostos.

"Weird thing you say when you're still on the Seahorse, dumbass."
"We'll find a good place to put you in, pretty sure you won't be able to pillage the place you're stranded at."

A quick negotiation with Roderick and Magnifico ends with on a 50/50 split, and though they didn't have that much money, it's good to make some profit every now and then considering your expenses.

Current Earnings: 85 Gold Coins

Schierke and Ivalera show up at the docks with a sigh of relief, aware that everything was settled with as little noisemaking as possible.

"Big Bro Vlad's attack was so cool! And what about when you stomped on the pirate's head, like 'take that, you meaniehead!'?"
"Yeah, and I'll have you know this isn't even 10% of my power, I'll have you know I once defeated 10 trolls all by myself when we were fighting a horde of them to protect a village!"
"I don't know what a troll looks like, but that sounds awesome! Tell me all about it!"
Isidro was boasting to the oblivious Isma about the greatly exaggerated feats of strength he has displayed in your journey, which ponders Schierke as to who the mysterious girl was, especially after reading her energy.

"Oh, and who might you be?"
"I'm Schierke, and you are?"
"Isma! Auntie Sivir never spoke about you, but you look pretty cute, can we be friends?"
"Don't get close to Schierke, Isma! Her nerd germs will get all over you!" Isidro pulls Isma away before she can get too close to the little witch.
"Ew! Really?"
"Please, don't let there be two of those brats..." Ivalera sighs along with Schierke under her witch hat.

>What did you find investigating the island Schierke?
>Do you have any plans on how to get rid of the Sea God?
>Isma, try to get along with Schierke, please. She's a great asset to the team.
>Tone it down Isidro, keep boasting like that and you'll only disappoint her when showing off.
>Write-in.

>>5696999
>Do you have any plans on how to get rid of the Sea God?

>Tone it down Isidro, keep boasting like that and you'll only disappoint her when showing off.
Be quiet money

>What did you find investigating the island Schierke?
>Isma, try to get along with Schierke, please. She's a great asset to the team.

>>5696999
>Isma, try to get along with Schierke, please. She's a great asset to the team.
>What did you find investigating the island Schierke?
Don't listen to that dumb monkey

>>5696999
>What did you find investigating the island Schierke?
>Do you have any plans on how to get rid of the Sea God?

>>5697006
>>Do you have any plans on how to get rid of the Sea God?
+1

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>>5697006
>>5697051
>>5697053
>>5697099
"Tone it down, Isidro! The more you boast to Isma, the more you'll let her down when she asks you to do something."
"You weren't even there on the village when I did that!"
"I was, and ya definitely didn't take any trolls down without my help, kid!" Hyde chimes in just to burst Isidro's bubble.

"No need to lie to impress me! I'm sure you all have great stories to tell me anyway!" Isma really didn't seem to mind being taken for a fool, so long as she learns more of the outside world.

"Also, try to get along with Schierke, if you can. She's a great asset to the team, and I feel like you two could also have a few common interests."
"Really!?" Both of them speak in unison with wildly different degrees of enthusiasm.

"Yes, for starters, I'm sure Schierke was smart enough to investigate the island while we were off, and has likely found a way to get rid of the Sea God, ain't that right?"

"Well, not exactly..." Schierke is flattered, but otherwise pretty uncertain of what to do in regards to said problem... "First of all, we should decide on whether or not we should warn the townsfolk of our mission. while it does seem like they do their offerings and sacrifices out of fear rather than any sort of respect towards that monster, they still consider it the most effective way of keeping themselves alive, and if they feel like we're interfering, they have the authority to expel us from their territory."

"We could do it behind their backs and avoid the confrontation, but then they'll just react with more intensity to whatever their initial thoughts already led them to say." your thought process aligns with Schierke.

"Given how they treated Dad and I, they will hate anyone who is even aligned with the merrows! Seeing you with me is already reason to be made fun of..." Isma frowns, remembering past instances of interacting with other kids her age.

"I know a short distance teleportation spell we can do, but it would require one incantation circle around the Sea God and wherever we'll send him to so he doesn't destroy the island when waking up. Not sure if we can do that in a single day, but it beats forcibly waking him up and have him destroy the island in the process."

>The townsfolk have a right to know. Their life is on the line, after all.
>We're in a rush here, we can deal with their complaints after we've saved them.
>Teleporting him away to fight him seems like the best idea.
>Maybe purifying him while he sleeps seems more efficient.
>What if we just wake him up and fight him before he can do anything?
>What if we try waking up Sivir? She's the one holding him off, we just need to find a way to reach her.

>>5697184
>What if we try waking up Sivir? She's the one holding him off, we just need to find a way to reach her.
Honestly with the right amount of luck and a good amount of pluck I think we might be able to avoid a Sea God Awakening. Singing is what sealed it/put it to sleep to begin with, our plant affinity can help make backup singers in the form of mandragoras, and plantlife in general is WELL known for producing a wide range of soporifics...many of which may well be what Sivir could already be using. If we amplify our efforts with Sivir's, we might be able to tamper the sea god's rising consciousness throughout the full moon.
And, of course, once the moon is waning we stand a much better chance of purifying something so fucking big over time. Purified Sea God would be an absolute MENACE to have on our side, I won't lie.

>>5697184
>>We're in a rush here, we can deal with their complaints after we've saved them.

>>5697184
>What if we try waking up Sivir? She's the one holding him off, we just need to find a way to reach her.

>>5697184
>>Maybe purifying him while he sleeps seems more efficient.
Or kill it, i don't mind really. This thing is a behemoth, so we must strike at it hard. Sivir is "connected" with it in a sense, its very dangerous waking her

>>5697184
>>5697206
I'll change my vote to support this >>5697237

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>>5697202
>>5697206
>>5697236
>>5697237
>>5697239
"We're in a rush until nighttime, so it's best to deal with the townsfolk's complaints after we save them. I'm sure I'll get a pass to some of them since I am the son of their savior. For now, let's just try purifying it with Od. In case we clear a path to Sivir, we'll think about the safest procedure."

Schierke goes back to their settlement to call for Farnese, while you, Casca, Isma and Isidro go their way back to drawing all the possible purifying runes on top of whatever exposed parts of the Sea God you can find.

While Isidro's drawing skills are very poor, you counted on him along with Casca to get better at cleaning up the perimeter from whatever smaller monsters that found their way up to the surface. One could better train their skills and have fun showing off to Isma, while the other could get accustomed to fighting apostle-like monsters on a safer environment with lower risks

Fast and cautious don't go well together, but you had to make sure that all would go well.

Isma made sure to keep you all well fed inside her house. Due to her small kitchen, she wasn't used to feeding so many mouths at once, but it's the thought that counts.
"Don't worry about the food, Isma! The small portions don't matter as long as the food is good."
"Yeah, Vlad's eaten worse." Isidro glares at Farnese, who looks the other way, pretending she doesn't know what he's talking about.

"I've noticed the strong Od readings from a few starfishes and seashells around your house." Farnese ignores the monkey-boy and makes the most out of her unintentional diversion.

"Yeah, my mom told me these would protect dad and I from any danger! It's how we've managed to live down here without the Sea God eating us!"

"And what happened to your father?"
"He passed away four years ago... Last thing he said to me was that my mom would come search for me. Auntie Sivir says she's saved a few merrows in the deep sea when running from the Sea God, but she never had the time to see if any of them were my mom..."

Isma sniffles, trying not to think about the implications of her mother already being devoured, prompting a rare moment of empathy from Isidro.

"Hey, don't cry... Vlad never gave up about finding his mom and he's gotten this far. I'm sure we can find her when this is all over. Ain't that right, Vlad?"

You stand up and smile, not wanting to make any promises when you've barely started working.

>Roll a 2d200. First one is to see how much you can find of The Sea God to purify him, second is to do it without being caught.

Rolled 56, 4 = 60 (2d100)

>>5697384
DOUBLE CRIT INCOMING.

Rolled 22, 38 = 60 (2d100)

>>5697384

Rolled 47, 37 = 84 (2d100)

>>5697396
A reminder that kiais are bullshit and that you shouldn't call out your attacks against the God Hand

>>5697396
>>5697426
>>5697454
And boy, weren't you glad that you did not make any promises...

For starters, standing on top of the Sea God was a lot harder than it seemed. Not only is the surface of his skin slippery and prone to summoning monsters, his wet flesh made it hard to mark him with any strong enough paint or carvings that didn't risk waking him up.

Even worse, not only have you discovered that half the monster in underwater, but the parts that you do reach inside the cove give way to several rock formations where other undead marine life were hiding. Sunlight did not kill them, and they could attack any who found them with ease.

By the time the sun was setting, you already came to terms that most of the body part's that weren't underwater were holding the foundation of the island steady. In the best case scenario where you instantly killed the Sea God, the slightest movement of his carcass dropping down to the deep sea would crumble several lodgings of the island.

You would be lucky to have covered a tenth of his size with all 5 people present constantly working on it. And just to twist the knife while it's in, some bastard managed to spot Isidro while he was climbing the rocks, and they were sure to call the rest of their buddies to ask what you were doing.

"How dare you taint the Sea God's nest?!"
"I've told you not to get close to the daughter of a merrow!"
"I bet they're hypnotizing them to kill him with her singing spells!"

Some of them try to approach Isma, but Isidro is quick to flare them with his weapon.
"Only way you folks will be touching Isma is over my dead body, ya hear me!? You're all so scared of anyone stronger than you, that whoever shows up that threats to kill you is all it takes for you to pray under their name!"

"You're not really helping our cause, Isidro..." Farnese warns him that a bunch of strangers showing up and doing two of their forbidden rules in the span of a single day shouldn't be so fast to retaliate and expect any good faith of the Nostians.

>Apologize to them.
>Explain that you can solve this, they don't have to live in fear anymore.
>Appeal to authority. What are they going to do about the son of their savior trying to get rid of the threat of the island?
>Bribe them into evacuating the island, it will soon be nighttime, and you can't vouch for their safety.
>Write-in

>>5697483
Hm, a tight situation indeed.
I think maybe the best thing to do here is to probably apologize to them and try to explain that we were merely curious of the islands inner cave formations.
These people don't seem to be the types to leave a place even when we tell them danger is near, and if you factor in that this is their ancestral home, I think the odds of that working are near null. Reminds me of the kinds of old people who refuse to leave their homes when a natural disaster is occurring next to their home.

Here's what I propose guys: We apologize about our intrusion, give an excuse that we were curious about the island and were looking for our mother in here, then we give an apology gift by making a few trees that have plentiful delicious fruit.
Whatchu think?

>>5695937
I would also like to add to this an idea I had in a previous thread:
- Experiment using our plant powers to create/breed powerful poisons in plants to be applied to weapons.

>>5697501
Is an interesting idea, something to keep in mind. We already use our pure od for coat our weapons and armors and get extra deadlier. More the merrier

>>5697500
I am not sure they can buy that.
The apology perhaps.
While we were looking for Sivir, we also want to save her if possible and defeat the Sea God too because such thing cannot be left here to poisons the seas.
We were also clearly doing something here if they can see some of the runes we applied, and I do imagine there is some amount of monsters corpses around or their blood. And not to mention we are very much armored and armed too, with companions, sailors and soldiers.

>>5697483
>Apologize to them.
>Explain that you can solve this, they don't have to live in fear anymore.
>Write-in
"Nostians i ask you, do you dream of day were no sacrifices need to be made ? Do you dream of a day were you do not fear your own home ? You know the answer for that already, you want this monster to be gone. It cannot continue like this and if not for you then for the sake of your children and families. I want to aid you because no men should suffer such fear every single day of their lives, and no one should have such a grim future ahead of them."
"I will end this for you and for save my mother, the one that aided you."

>>5697552

This works for me.

>>5697552
+1

>>5697500
>>5697552
>>5697552
>>5697642
>>5697670
Taking a deep breath to plead to their emotional side, you accidentally feel the Od of the entire island, or rather, what it was before The Sea God invaded generations ago.

Nostos was actually quite bigger than what it used to be, with an uneven population that mostly came from ship stowaways that had to give way to erosion, and the monster of the sea. Most of their rituals and sacrifices were made without any good knowledge of the magical arts, rushed in an attempt to appease the monster that eat the alive and controlled the undead. An enforced culture instead of natural change, much like you have seen the Holy See doing around Midland.

Feeling a wave of compassion coupled with your sensitive way of seeing their perspective, you've found a way to convince them without anyone bringing forward any pitchforks.

"Nostians, may I ask you, do you dream of the day where no sacrifices need to be made? Where none of your children, wives or other dear family members are killed to empower a monster you do not stand for? Do you dream of a day were you do not fear your own home?" You take one step forward to shield Isidro and Isma, waiting for a reply that does not come from the townsfolk.

"You know the answer for that already in your heart, this monster needs to go away. I understand that we are total strangers to you, much like you have been strangers to the outside world, yet think of your future, if not for yourself, then the one of your childrens and families! Do you truly wish to see them feel the pain you feel right now? Will you live well, knowing you could have broken the cycle? No men should suffer fear every single day of their lives, and no one deserves hold these thoughts in their mind with the ones they love."

"Real charming talk, outsider! But what proof do you have that you will end this?" One of the men at your side doubt your claims, to which you turn your back and walk backwards towards the tall cliffside, a few inches close to a free fall.

"How about this: I will end this for you and save my mother, the one that aided you. Should my words and the proof of my bloodline not be enough, I will compensate all of you and lead you to a safer land not far away from here. Should you have any complaints and the need to defend The Sea God, feel free to push me off this cliff, for I am his sworn enemy."

Your conviction in your plans are enough to make them gasp, Farnese and Isma included due to their concern for your health. Thankfully, after a moment of staring you down, none decide to step forward, only silence, an accord being done without the use of words.

"You better keep your end of the bargain, Vlad. I hope you know the lives you are putting at stake here." The oldest of the group scoffs as he walks away, leaving you and your group to proceed with your plans.
At least now you know where their true intent lies.

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>>5697677
"Don't scare me like that, Big Bro Vlad! I thought you were going to get yourself killed when you offered them to push you off!" Isma is the first to voice her concerns after the nostian group left.

"It's just how I tend to operate with these social situations. This one was the easiest by far, but only because they are so isolated from other beliefs, plus the preconceived trust they have thanks to my mother. People who are lost tend to flock to those who promise salvation. Should their leader be a true or a fake is something they won't know until they are already at a point of no return..."

Despite being somewhat mad at you for the sudden suicidal scare, Farnese holds your hand after hearing the latter end of your speech, knowing that self deprecating comment stems from your self doubts, and the knowledge of what other corrupt leaders are capable of.

"I'm just glad to see someone taking my side for once! I've always knew that's how they really felt like on the inside. But I never knew how to use the right words to use! Not like they would hear me, with how stuck up they were. But it's hard to be mad at them... They're just doing what their mom and dad told them, same with me, their dads, and their dad's dads."

Isma comes over to give you a hug, though she stops midway after looking behind you, seeing the full moon already rising above the horizon.
Every hair in your body stands up as the once peaceful Od readings of the island were completely overshadowed by the Sea God below. Farnese has to hold you in place so you don't fall from the sheer oppressive force of the kraken. It's almost like you are seeing the future, with his tentacles moving as they drag you down into the unknown, joining him as one more of his undead pawns.

The monsters spawning from it's holes seem a lot more threatening now. Crabs the size of horses, sea slugs larger than Isidro, and tentacles that could destroy a ship with a single swipe. Though the Sea God is still sleeping, he is prone to involuntary movement at night, seeing as the bright shining from Sivir's orb had also shown his more alert activity.

Astral beings are always blessed by the full moon, a blessing that applies not only to it, but to you, Sivir, and perhaps Isma, as well.

>Let's continue as usual. Now that we were permitted access to the cove, we can call the rest of our team to help out.
>Let's not look for more spots at night. There's a chance we might get blind sighted by a strong creature. There's still plenty of time, so focus on containing these fish.
>Maybe we can try out Schierke's idea to teleport him away, Casca can make sure the island stays in place thanks to the axe.
>Sivir's readings have gotten stronger, perhaps I can talk to her now.
>Maybe we can try tapping into Isma's merrow abilities. Be on the lookout for any that pass by the island.
>Something else.

>>5697702
>Maybe we can try tapping into Isma's merrow abilities. Be on the lookout for any that pass by the island.

>>5697739
+1

>>5697739
+1
Anons is it just me or do you also believe when we fight The Sea God at least somebody in the party will die if not Vlad himself? I just can't see it going anyway else.

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>>5697833
>Vlad
>Sivir
>Isma
>Someone else at the party
>The entire island
>Total party wipe
We are at close to Mid-End so I guess you could start placing your bets on who dies first. Would feel pretty fitting given Vlad and his hatred for Krakens since day one but it'll only be more badass if he actually pulls through with his crazy no casualty plan.
Someone's definitely dying at Elfhelm, and I ain't saying who.

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>5697854
Magical dice choose who might die

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5697856
Shot was going to roll a 1d6

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1.05 MB PNG

>>5697739
>>5697756
>>5697833
Fishing shouldn't be so hard for a guy that can make his own tides with his weapon now, should it?

Vlad's Od reading is pretty much a sonar at this point so roll me anything higher than 40 and we'll be good. Now where's that pesky 1d100?

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>5697859
damn

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>5697859

>>5697833
>>5697854
such grim fait must be avoided


>>5697888
fishing master vlad

>>5697915
meant fate

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>5697859
"I always say morning instead of good morning, because if it was a good morning i'd be fishing" - Vlad

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>>5697888
>>5697891
>>5697986
Of course! You just remembered that when searching for your mother with astral projection, you had found a group of merrows singing in the general direction of where Sivir was. Now that the barrier between the astral and physical world were broken, there is a chance that they will come to aid their ally with their healing and empowering magic. Should Isma manage to turn into one of them, it would already help greatly in your plans.

Meditating a few meters away from The Sea God, you focus on trying to find any sort of sapient life away from that monster, you ask for Isma to hop in the water for a reference on how the blue energy readings of her species are. As she takes her clothes off and complains about the cold, you wonder how she can still be this carefree. Forget being ashamed of being naked, jumping on a whim on this water is just straight up unsafe.

Still, coating Isma with your Od as you imbue her with your power, her energy seems to generate from it's own source as she shines a turquoise blue aura, turning herself into a beacon that attracts anyone of similar constitution.

"Heheh, I feel all sorts of tingly!" Isma feels funny after having her spiritual self empowered, however she slowly grows more serious as she hears something inside her head. A beautiful song, layered by several voices, a flock of merrows, slowly hypnotizing you and her with the same enchantment you have blessed others with before.

Their choir is soon shown in the distance, as the gorgeous women of the ocean show themselves, guiding their kin to the same direction. Having a human torso and a fishtail, they wiggle and jump over the water to signal their location.

"Whoa... So they're really here." Isidro is surprised to see another benevolent race approach you, let alone in the hundreds.

"Speak. Chant. Say it. Say the name. The name given you that you know not. Your one and only true name, Doris." A familiar voice speaks inside Isma's mind, one which reveals her true name.

"D-Doris? What a lame name..." As Isma comments to herself, she can feel her body transforming. Her hips stiffen as her legs glue together and get covered by scales. She increases in size and length to accommodate her new body. Her ears double in width as they are turned into gills. Isma is now fully aware of her true self.

"Whoa... Big Bro Vlad! Look at me! I'm a real merrow now!" Isma swims around in circles at three times your top swimming speed, managing to breathe underwater and talk while having her head under.

"Not only has the legendary son of Sivir shown himself to us in his prime. He has also gifted me with the chance of falling The Sea god that haunts us all, and to finally reunite with my daughter...From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Vlad Santana." One of the merrows takes Isma's hand, and as she familiarizes herself with her kin, she is quick to tear up.

"...MOM!?"

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>>5698062
"Welcome home, Doris... Or should I say... Isma?" The unknown merrow hugs her daughter as the little one bawls uncontrollably, finally making up for over a decade of estrangement.

"Man... Can't say I ain't a fan of happy endings now..." Even Isidro seems slightly emotional at the scene.
"Oh, this is far from over." Casca replies as Isma approaches the two.

"Isidro! Casca! I got a true name! Mom told me all about it! I'm called-- Mhmhm!" Isma is impeded from speaking thanks to a fishtail covering her mouth.

"I would advise you not to tell your true name to all but the ones you truly trust. Merrows and other kindred spirits are easily influenced, and should only be named as such to those who can empower them without corruption."

The remaining merrows all circle towards you, bowing with their heads. If they could kneel, they would, and seeing hundreds of such gorgeous looking creatures show you nothing but absolute devotion despite never meeting you is enough to make you blush.

"We have done our part in keeping her safe as much as she has saved us in the past. Though we could never convince the locals to evacuate the island or fight the sea god by themselves, we know that it was only a matter of time until you arrived here to increase our chances with your ever-gracing hope, Vlad. My name is Ino, and I, as well as all the merrows here present, are glad to finally be at your service."

"Please, no need to be so humble." You are flattered at their subservience, but you wish to have a more normal conversation with them, instead of being merely worshipped without actually doing what you came here to do.

>What do you know about Sivir?
>What can you tell me about the Sea God?
>What can you and the merrows do to help me fight the Sea God?
>Can you take Sivir out of the bottom?
>Can you bring me to Sivir?
>Can you focus on saving the people who fall from the island? Whatever I do to the Sea God, I know it will have pretty big casualties.
>Write-in.

>>5698079
>>What do you know about Sivir?
>What can you tell me about the Sea God?
>Can you focus on saving the people who fall from the island? Whatever I do to the Sea God, I know it will have pretty big casualties.

>>What do you know about Sivir?
>What can you tell me about the Sea God?
>Can you focus on saving the people who fall from the island? Whatever I do to the Sea God, I know it will have pretty big casualties.

>>5698079
>What do you know about Sivir?
>What can you tell me about the Sea God?
>Can you focus on saving the people who fall from the island? Whatever I do to the Sea God, I know it will have pretty big casualties.

>>5698079
>>What do you know about Sivir?
>What can you tell me about the Sea God?
>Can you focus on saving the people who fall from the island? Whatever I do to the Sea God, I know it will have pretty big casualties.
Do mention that currently we were applying runes across the surface of the creature, when we are done above we will likely need to do the part under for truly finish. What’s the best way for them in their opinion ? Counting the undead sea life under the monster and that we have companions with us.

>>5698118
>>5698198
>>5698273
>>5698344
"What can you tell me about Sivir and the Sea God?"
"The magic orb Sivir holds is otherworldly! From the little we've gathered in her demonstrations, it's power is to transform thoughts into actions. She was the one who aided us in our fight against The Sea god 20 odd years ago. See, our power comes from singing, controlling nearby animals and enchanting powerful humans to fight on our side, however despite our numbers and speed, we are not capable of dealing significant physical damage. Sivir came here in the name of Flower Storm Monarch Danann herself, after being forbidden from entering Elfhelm. Miraculously, she managed to use her power to send the Sea God into a deep slumber and severely limit his movements while we sealed him at Nostos, all with no casualties from our side. She even offered to take care of Isma in my stead, given how she was a half merrow, I could not bring her with me."

"Auntie Sivir is the best!" Isma smiles, not resenting her mother in the slightest.
"Were there any other plans to defeat the Sea God? Seems like imprisoning him onto the island was merely a temporary measure." Schierke asks.

"Some of us tried to encourage Sivir into using the pearl for herself, but given how it was tied to your life, and how she was not a master of magic, she was afraid of misusing it's power and destroying the island along with him. Since we couldn't rely on her, we were preparing our own secondary weapon"

"Is she really that strong?" Isidro doubts the power to take down entire islands that could potential be passed down to you.

"Yes. However, ever since she tried using the orb a few months ago, her energy has been weakening, to the point of where she needs to receive the power from the orb to stay alive. We have sung to her periodically to keep her rejuvenated, but unless she absorbs the energy for herself – Which she's refused to do in the past – we are not sure on how to proceed either...

These are troubling news, indeed... You have finally understood what powerful gift Sivir was saving for you when you eventually managed to find her, one that can bring forth thoughts into reality! Enough power to take down an island! Perhaps more! You would have been made into be the ultimate weapon against Femto and the God Hand! But not only has it waned over time, to obtain said destructive capabilities, it seems that you will have to choose between taking away her life, or let the opportunity pass you by to save her life.

Were she awake to talk to you, you are sure that she would gladly give her life to you, but to make the decision for her would be the same as to kill Sivir without her knowing... You feel a thirst for power... A need to clutch this one in a lifetime chance, that you will never find again to defeat your enemies, but is it really worth sacrificing the life of the dear mother that made this all possible, when she wouldn't be in this state if it weren't for your mistakes...?

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>>5698517
"...So what was the alternative?" You push your mind out of the moral dilemma to focus on the rest of the information.

"We were very afraid of what could happen if The Sea God managed to eat her or the orb. We haven't found a way to use it's power, so maybe it is an item exclusive to you and her. Yet given it's power to give life to the dead and repurpose others into his commands, we did not want to entertain the possibility of it happening. It's why we have been developing a song that could stop his heart. Should the worst come to happen, we were ready to sing for as long as possible to see if we could outlast him."

"Wait, how would he not die from having it's heart stopped? Is the song short or what?" Isidro asks an important question to Ino.

"Every part of The Sea God is alive. Every teeth, every shell, every extension of himself, it is all detachable and transmuted as an independent creature. He has eaten so many ships that he likely has a graveyard laying on his stomach. His heart beats so strongly that you cannot reach it's chest without it's beat hurting your ears. He has devoured so much that it's a miracle for Sivir to even have him staying still. It is truly an army controlled by a single mind."

"Well, I am glad that you are all here, then... This suddenly got a lot easier. Can you focus on saving the people who fall from the island? Whatever I do to the Sea God, I know it will have pretty big casualties." Taking into consideration how likely is for Nostos to be destroyed, and that the Seahorse will likely not stay afloat if all of them tried to evacuate aboard, having an army of merrows ready to help the fallen was a blessing you weren't hoping to receive tonight.

Yet that still leaves you wondering on what else to do with their help. Is it too late to change into a better plan? Should you combine them together, or keep doing the purification runes?

>Proceed as usual. Now that the merrows are here, you can have them mark places you couldn't reach before.
>See if the merrows' song to stop his heart can work against the Sea God.
>What if we try cleansing him from the inside? Slowly threading our way into his heart?
>Find a way to go down, you need to decide on what to do with Sivir's orb.

>>5698539

>>5698539
so much power

>Now that the merrows are here, you can have them mark places you couldn't reach before.
>What if we try cleansing him from the inside? Slowly threading our way into his heart?


the song would need us to defend them, i believe the sea god would probably awaken.
We need to decide who to take with us and who remains outside. And probably have a way for breath under water like the idea of making a spell using algae and corals for cover ourselves in a breathing suit

>>5698539
>>Find a way to go down, you need to decide on what to do with Sivir's orb.
I'll play the part of the powerlust stricken corner of Vlads mind. We NEED the orbs power to last even a nano second against a godhand with the intent to kill us. Think of all the death and suffering in the silver eyed clan! It will all be meaningless if in the end we still lack a way to resist the godhand! And I'm sure our mother will support us taking the Orb completely.

>>5698792
For team i am considering us, gunpowder, serpico, hyde, guts. All coated in pure od. Putting runes on their bodies too with paint.
We could put guts outside if it s not enough for keep that evil in check from getting out of his body.
The rest outside, Farnese and Schierke can feed the runes outside od while preparing other precautions against the sea god and spells for us. The others can protect the girls.

For plan B, gunpowder train of death aided in speed and agility by serpico winds and the water of the undines. And guts/hyde making holes with cannonballs/bombs. We can prepare to impale the heart while running towards it, with a giant spear made from our seeds in one hand and the trident in the other.

I don't trust taking the orb now, this kind of power needs to be learned. And the sea god will likely awaken if we take it

>>5698539
>What if we try cleansing him from the inside? Slowly threading our way into his heart?
What does purifying him actually do anyways?

>>5698841
Given how it's worked before in the past, it would disintegrate the evil around him, which is 100% so it would just make him disappear.

>>5698841
>>5698792
>>5698793
Give it up for a 2d100 then. First one will see how much ground the merrows will cover around the Sea God, and the second will check out how well entering him will go.

Rolled 58, 13 = 71 (2d100)

>>5698915

Rolled 83, 46 = 129 (2d100)

>>5698915

Rolled 54, 18 = 72 (2d100)

>>5698915
Check this crit out anons

>>5698937
That is a strange looking crit anon.

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>>5698931
>>5698933
>>5698937
The help from the merrows was crucial in how much they could help in the span of a few hours. Not only did they find several spots to draw the runes exactly as you've shown them, but with absolutely zero casualties. Charing your Od around those runes and their connective lines spanning hundreds of meters at this point should do considerable damage to The Sea God, yet you are still not sure if this leviathan would be brought down after charring around 30% of his body. Even while you are empowered by the full moon, you would be lucky if the remainder of his body was affected aside from the most outward layer of his skin.

With how much you have done after a full day's work, you come to terms with the fact that at this point, The Sea God is not affecting the island, The Sea God is the island, and you will need somebody to stay behind and keep Nostos from falling.

Casca swears to try her best in keeping earthquakes from happening, using the anti gravitational pull from the gnomes to help out occasionally by chucking boulders at the undead monsters from afar. Schierke and Farnese likewise stay at the island in case they need to cast additional spells and activate the purifying runes.

Hyde and Isidro stay at the safest, yet at the least opportunistic position when it comes to attacking. Mostly dropping their artillery from above with Violet while slowly swerving around to check for anyone Roderick and the merrows did not find.

That left you, Guts, Serpico and Gunpowder to enter the monster's jaws at midnight. While it is likely not a good idea to leave a horse deep underwater, you're pretty sure his sonic armor can work better as an escape route than swimming to the surface, the mobility will also help you in case you need to plow through his circulatory system.

Serpico will stay on it's throat as a middle ground, in case the interference from the Sea God's graveyard becomes too much to contact any outside help while Guts will help you clear your way into his innards.

Not one step landing onto his tongue, it already recognizes you as something different from his ecosystem, and treating you like the virus you are to him, his gigantic mouth the size of a royal entrance hall starts drooling uncontrollably, the remains of skeletons shapeshifting into several slimy monsters made out of his fluids.

"What a welcoming host..." Guts pulls out his dragonslayer as Serpico deflects the shards from his teeth, who spread around your direction like thousands of pin needles.

>Freeze the slime monsters. Saliva is all water. (30)
>Pyke at his tongue. (40)
>Fire a soul arrow at his uvula (35)
>Plant your trees around it's mouth and keep him from clenching it's jaws (50)
>Grow the mandragoras to stun all life here present (60)
>Blast your way inside him with Gunpowder's speed (70)
>Something else.

>>5698954
>Plant your trees around it's mouth and keep him from clenching it's jaws (50)
To prevent a what could be a tk, seems like a good idea to me and
>Freeze the slime monsters. Saliva is all water.
As a good(and safe) combat opener (although can our party members traverse and fight on ice? I'm not sure but it has a low roll so)

>>5698987
+1

>>5698987
+1

>>5698987
>>5698990
>>5699064
A 2d100 to seal the deal then! Let's hope Sivir's magic is some sleeping beauty-tier spell.

Rolled 79, 82 = 161 (2d100)

>>5699085

Rolled 40, 64 = 104 (2d100)

>>5699085
Check 'em...dubs

Rolled 58, 62 = 120 (2d100)

>>5699085

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>>5699153
>>5699157
>>5699171
The Sea god's lifeforms derive all their power from water no matter what part of his body you are at, and just your luck, you're carrying a weapon that's perfectly adjusted for your these conditions!

"No need to rush, I'm not going anywhere!" Unstrapping one of your legs from Gunpowder and sliding off to the side, you hit the one of the slimes expanding their mass towards you as they start to freeze all his teeth at a rapid pace.

As he attempts to move his tongue to remove the ice plaques, the salt from the seawater accompanied with the one inside his own body and from the blasts of water you can produce from how humid the air is here swirl into a chemical reaction that turn the ice freeze to even colder temperatures, effectively spreading it's effect at a much faster rate than you anticipated.

Whatever attempts at regenerating new layers of life from under the ice was frozen along on top of it.
And just to test the durability of your freezing abilities. Guts strikes down one of the petrified slimes with his greatsword, shattering it to pieces. Incapable of regenerating as it had long since lost any signs of life.

"Good call, Vlad! Nothing lives past a certain temperature, be it hot or cold!"
"Yeah, but the same applies to us. Try not to snare us into your iceberg." Guts says as he carefully skates forward with his iron boots, trying his best not to fall.

"Why risk falling when we can just slide down his throat?" You take out some of your trusty magical seeds from your pouch as they grow together into tree trunks as thick as a tower. Planting 5 of them in different spots of his esophagus, you reinforce the already difficult task of making the Sea God close his maw, as well as marking some landing spots for your allies to hold stay at in case it gets to slippery. Serpico's sylph coat should redirect him and Guts is big enough to force a break if he needs to with his Dragonslayer, but it is a good safety measure nonetheless.

With the four of you sliding down it's throat, several tendrils start expanding and turning into different creatures, this time, into a flock of deformed manta rays with stingers at their extremities.

Twisting his hips and gyrating into a full swing, Guts makes quick work of them as his sword slashes through several of them in half, but The Sea God's immune system is far from defeated.

Serpico isn't too far behind. Having fantastic mid range as his sylph sword extends his slashes several meters from where he truly is, making his enemies fall before they even figure out what hit them.

"Don't know about you folks, but I can keep at this for a few hours." Guts grins, having had a full day's rest and in high spirits, his stamina is far from being drained, and he is not in an angry enough state for the beast of darkness to entice him. Let's hope it stays that way, as you are not experienced at controlling the Berserker armor as Schierke is.

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>>5699194
"I'm more intrigued as to how it's not responded to anything we've done so far. I sure would get up if someone stuffed my mouth with a block of ice." Serpico adds. "Either Sivir's magic is that strong..."

"Or we haven't done significant damage for him to awake..." You complete his sentence. For all that you know, he could have several mouths that can form at any of his extremities. His anatomy is a maze, unlike any live creature you have opened and impaled before. If not for the faint beating of his heart, you wouldn't be sure to even look for his vital spots.

The manta rays grow thicker in mass, making Guts put more strength into his swings as he presses forward. Spiking the base arm that sticks them to it's innards, you find enough strength in you to rip them out individually as the spikes on your trident expand and contort into different directions, their mollusk-like arms being impeded from growing as you run a second layer of ice from the other end of your weapon, with Gunpowder's galloping aiding you in covering as much ground as possible.

You still don't feel like you're being considered as a real threat to it, perhaps that is a blessing in disguise...

"Well, this is where I'll be leaving you, gentlemen." Serpico turns around after hearing the Sea God's heartbeat growing louder. "Someone needs to guard the front door. And I've had enough misadventures on the deep blue. Don't keep me waiting" He exclaims out of breath, though still holding you a thumbs up.

Wondering when a true challenge would come to face the three of you, Guts notices that there are actually three tunnels connecting to his mouth, two downwards, which you imagine it to be his respiratory and circulatory system, but one upwards, as well.

"So which way are we going again?"

>Up, that must be where his brain is, and I doubt he can stay alive without it.
>Down, that's where I'm hearing his heartbeat.
>Want to split up and see who gets there first?
>I'll freeze a large artery of his and see to which tunnel it leads to.

>>5699210
>Down, that's where I'm hearing his heartbeat.

>>5699210
>Down, that's where I'm hearing his heartbeat.
Unless it's for the stomach. uhmm do we feel which direction has a stronger presence ? i am considering splitting but being together allows to aid each other and much more like combined attacks.
Are we leaving runes behind us while walking inside ? If we are doing it, put some ice above them so the undead marine monsters can't just scratch them or the sea god just engulf them in demonic meat. Freezing the ground works to our advantage
Beyond that whats the status on the amount of our seeds ?

>>5699210
>Down, that's where I'm hearing his heartbeat.
I'm in such a fear of a beloved character getting keked unceremoniously that i can't vote for anything but the safest looking option (which of course can also get someone killed due to not taking initiative)

>>5699459
You still have plenty of seeds to do the same trick you did on it's mouth a few more times. A few days of not fighting helped you stack them more than usual.
You've not carved any runes on the monster yet since it's all frozen on it's tongue, not sure you would have the time given all the monsters here.
>>5699468
Me? Oneshotting a character for a bad roll? Never! At least not until the Sea God wakes up

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>>5699425
>>5699459
>>5699468
With one octopus arm spawning behind you, your premonition skills prove to still be useful here despite the oppressive aura of the sea god being a bother to you before. Perhaps the roar of the astral world has increased your tolerance of ill-intended creatures.

Nevertheless, Gunpowder gallops in place until the mollusk is successfully yanked out from it's base. Despite it's increase in weight, the both of you can still take down these enemies individually with not much trouble.

"Only one way to find out which is the stomach and which are the lungs..." You drop the chopped off undead monster onto one of it's holes, and hearing a slight sizzling sound after a wet sloshing sound, you were sure not to accidentally drop on it's stomach.

Being a more sensitive organ, you do not expect a lot of difficulty entering the inside of his lungs, yet the amount of sea slugs do not recede. What appear to be his follicles are encrusted with sea sponges, finding a way to reside inside as the air was pushed in and out with enough force to knock you over.

"Try not to do too much damage around this area, if the smoke from your cannon sends him into a coughing fit, we'll be bouncing on these walls until we're mashed together." You warn Guts, as he already jumps on your shoulders to slash at the deformed torsos attempting to clutch you from it's ceiling.

"I'll play nice for now." Guts spin kicks onto the ground as he cracks some of the coral reef under him, having to put more force into each of his swings as even here, their numbers and size are only increasing.

Playing stop and go to the Sea God's breathing is annoying, especially when it's heartbeat is getting deafeningly loud, to the point where it hurts your own heart to synch itself to it's rhythm. Relying on the imbuing of Od on your weapon and armor, you poke and scratch at your enemies so they can disappear into the air without leaving any large remains, something Guts seems to have trouble doing. Stealth and clean kills really aren't his forte...

"Watch out!" Guts shots as you feel a giant corpse approaching you from behind, forcing you to splash it with water and sticking it to the walls of the monster's lungs. After ravaging a large shark, it's carcass flew as the lung pressed the air in, being a floating obstacle that could obstruct your journey. At least he was nice enough to warn you he screwed up...

Sliding vertically as each beat of his heart tensed every muscle of your body, you've realized that the monster's main circulatory organ was actually a way for it to tire out any adjacent life form from entering, as the forceful spasms were exhausting the three of you while you were barely hurt with it's mere existence. No light was to be found this far in, and you were only being guided by your instincts, growing tired with each step below.

>>5699562
You place your hand on a nearby wall as you feel an electric pulse that burns at your armor. Either part of it's walls are made out of jellyfish stingers, or this is the pulse of his heart. It's hard to tell if you're exactly there given how loud it is wherever you are, but it's a safe bet that you can push through here to enter it's weak spot.

>Break through the reef manually. (60)
>Fire a soul arrow through it. (50)
>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor. (55)
>Look for another entrance.

>>5694520
Test

>>5699564
>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor. (55)
Gunpowder may actually be perfect for this, he’s already deaf so the heart of the sea god shouldn’t hurt him much if at all.

>>5699564
>>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor. (55)

>>5699564
>>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor. (55)
Prepare to counter the electricity. The heart needs to be damaged, we could impale with the trident and our halberd, while Guts slash at it with his sword.
We don't want those beats to last too much

>>5699757
Of course any wound to the heart will be likely painful, and there will be much bloodloss. Freezing it will be good, but it will last only for a while.
Has a bonus it should kill even faster the sea good by blocking and accumulating blood

>>5699564
>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor. (55)

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>>5699683
>>5699717
>>5699757
>MFW It's a Gunpowder thread
And here I thought Casca and Isidro would get some time in the limelight

Alright then! Give it up for a 1d100!

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>5699771

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5699771
Gunpowder is too fookin based to let us down

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>>5699788
DAMN I MIGHT BE ON TO SOMETHING

>>5699788
Causality has answered our calls.

>Verification not required.

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>5699771
This is Gunpowders world, Vlad just lives in it.

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>>5699775
>>5699788
>>5699818
"Gunpowder! Think you can do that trick a second time?" You tap at his back, hoping his hearing won't be completely destroyed after enduring
massively hypersonic speeds so often.

"Had too much time resting. This is nothing." Gunpowder tries to play though, but just to make sure, you share some of your energy with him as you expel your healing powers to him.

Telling Guts to sit behind you, you hold the middle of your trident as you repurpose the undines into a double ended hose, widening the passageway from the lung to the Sea God's heart by cutting at his flesh with highly pressurized water. A wide slash that let the pressurized gusts of wind escape into his heart.

As Gunpowder gallops at full throttle, your vision becomes pure darkness as your stallion blasts through the darkness, creating your own tidal wave as the three of you turn into a living bullet, piercing through meters and meters of the kraken's innards despite it's resistance. Every bone in your bottle rattles as it ignored all your constitution, three living legends pummeling the living hell of this colossal creature from where it's eyes won't see.

The three of you finally reach to where it's heart resided, a large cave, where the pulsating organ the 10 times your size is seen a few steps away. Gunpowder stumbles as he tries to break the fall, as Guts tries his best not to behead you and him as the dragonslayer flies above your necks.

There it lies. A heart, with several veins pulsing with electricity, keeping you away like an invisible forcefield. Several eyelids appear to stay closed around it's aorta. Somehow, for some sort of miracle, the sea god has still not awakened.

However, as if knowing it's imminent danger, the hemorrhage from your entrance at his chest begins to flood your surroundings. His blood, acid to the touch as if it was his stomach juices, made Gunpowder jump to higher spots, afraid of being melted away. Guts tries to speak to you, but his voice is unintelligible in-between the beating of it's heart.

God, that noise, that maddening noise! A second of silence followed by an eardrum shattering thump, the mere fact of blood being in it's veins poses a threat to you and to all around the sea. You are all stunned and shell shocked by half a second as your movements become delayed. Guts tries to reach for his dragonslayer, but becomes increasingly slower as he exhausts himself from just standing still, resisting the hypnosis from the demonic heartbeat of the leviathan.

"What a beautiful melody... Telling you to rest easy... While inviting me out to hunt..." You think the one speaking to you is Guts, but on closer inspection, you find the beast of darkness gambling on the opportunity, hoping to see Guts fail to complete this voyage without tapping into the Berserker Armor's power.

>>5700001
>Contact Serpico for him to activate the spell.
>Tell Serpico to make the merrows sing.
>Attempt to reach the Sea God's heart.
>Use your soul double to dispel the hound away from Guts.
>Fire a soul arrow onto the heart.
>Use your mandragorans to scream at the heart.
>Something else.

>>5700003
>Something else
>Use some of our remaining seeds and try to impale the heart with trees
You guys think this would work?

>>5700003
>Tell Serpico to make the merrows sing.
Then
>Fire a soul arrow onto the heart.

The spell is a little bit of insurance, for now. Besides, I'm certain that Farnese and Schierke would know to activate the spell themselves if they see it as the right opportunity.

>>5700220
+1

>>5700003
>>Tell Serpico to make the merrows sing.
>Fire a soul arrow onto the heart.
Soul arrows are a bit difficult, but we can freeze the place and use the seeds for impale the thing if needed

>>5700220
AAHHHH I'm gonna fucking lose it anons. We're gonna get obliterated by this thing! What are we doing in it's fucking heart?Even If it just got excited the accelerated hear beat would be enough dismantle us! It's so over yet it hasn't even begun.
On an another note hopelessness posting is more fun than I thought.

>>5700220
Oh I meant to 1+ this btw forgot in the previous post

>>5700220
>>5700500
>>5700509
No need to doompost just yet, all's gone well so far! Save it for the poor rolls which you might get if you fail this 2d100 dice check right now!

ROLL AWAY

Rolled 26, 80 = 106 (2d100)

>>5700546
so sad

Rolled 12, 61 = 73 (2d100)

>>5700546

Rolled 52, 10 = 62 (2d100)

>>5700546

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>>5700553
>>5700570
>>5700586
Even contacting Serpico seems to be an issue, as any time your spiritual self tries to form a line of connection between your two minds, the insufferable thumps of it's heartbeat makes it feel that your head will explode if you try to focus any further. Feeling the bleeding of your ears, you grow tired of it's insistent attempts at rendering the two of you insane, you fire a soul arrow that pierces right through hit's main artery, going far up as it seemingly phases through the sea and into the sky.

"SERPICO! TELL THE MERROWS TO SING! NOW!" Is all you can muster to say as you hope to stun the Sea God on it's place, much like he was doing to you before. Though you are not even certain that it reached him, thanks to what was about to happen...

All the remaining eyes of it's heart, bloodshot and wide open, stare back at you and Guts, firing up it's frequency as it of shoots more blood around the place. It's chest cavity morphing as it finally unleashes a shred of it's potential. The acid blood spewing from itself morphs into an army of indescribable monsters, trying to patch up it's hole as Guts is swarmed by the undead creatures squirming his body.

"Well, no point in keeping it silent now..." Guts fires off the powder on his cannon, waiting for them to constrict him again to better attract them to his area of effect.
The sea worms attempt to gnaw at you, but your Od bursts from your body are enough to make them kill themselves by approaching you.

The Sea God is still not aware of it's own death, so you'll have to fire a few more shots at it to make sure it's heart fails to work properly.
As it's heart flutters with each passing shot, it's frequencies go weaker, with the sea worms losing their strength as Guts grows increasingly exhausted of holding them off. As they all seem to crush him under their weight, you hear the singing of the merrows from far away.

Unbelievable... Serpico was successfully contacted, and their chants make all ill intended life around you be completely stunned. You feel yourself floating upwards as part of the Sea God sinks into the sea, and though you worry about Gut's safety, he manages to lift the mass of corpses above him, smiling with confidence as you have both defeated the monster without even using the Berserker Armor.

"Very well, you have stopped me for now... But how long will you last, without needing my help again?" The Hound inside Guts makes his empty threats, before being put to rest once more in the back of his mind.

Though the main enemy is dead, the monsters around him are still not letting up, only growing more alert as it wants to sink you down with it's full body. Counting that with the increasing hemorrhages, you will have to race back to the exit if you don't plan on drowning on it's blood.

>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor one more time.
>Save the energy, you can exit manually.
>Ride the blood waves, it will do some damage, but you can push yourself out.

>>5700624
>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor one more time.
Use the trident for freezing blood waves or incoming waves of enemies, Guts is on official duty for blast even more openings with his cannon hand and his sword.
Time to use our seeds more too be for kill enemies or open our path further. We will race out of here with the tools at our disposal

Don't use the spell for now.

>>5700624
>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor one more time.
It ain't over for doom posting yet! The streaks of 80's and 90's will surely end! Now we have to somehow avoid drowning in it's blood (although I'm sure we can survive at least one bad roll on Gunpowder(unless it's a 1roll))

>>5700624
>Use Gunpowder's sonic armor one more time.

>>5700645
>>5700668
>>5700777
Gunpowder's hard carrying this part of the island arc, isn't he?
He's getting pretty tired after all the strain of the armor, but if you pass this roll, we can call it quits on the sea god colonoscopy,

Roll the 1d100 already!

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5700858

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>5700858
>>5700921 ...I think it might be over for doom posting,in my defense how could I know Gunpowder would be super MVP?

>>5700925
It's reverse psychology doing it's job, see how every time we call for good rolls we get shit ones?

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>5700858

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>>5700921
>>5700925
>>5700939
"Gunpowder, my boy. I know I've abused you a lot today, but I'm gonna need you to boost for me one more time!" You take Guts' hand as he mounts once more on the ever growing tired horse of the old Falcons, pleading for him to still be able to listen to you after all the disorienting trials you've put him through.

"Vlad...Not dying... Today..." Between huffs and neighs, GP tries to remain steady as he focuses on the crater he made in the Sea God's flash not too long ago. Knowing that even as you've charging him with all the energy the three of you could muster, it still might not be enough to escape.

"Running out of time here..." Guts chucks his bombs at the enclosing tentacles, but Gunpowder still chews at the metal of his armor, staring down at the hole as if he had something to prove. And after realizing what he wants, he had good reason to be evaluating his odds. He's just as smart as his owner...

Galloping at a regular speed, Gunpowder walks over to the hole, looping from wall to wall as if trying to pick up speed. As you moved the undines to control the monster's blood flow, you've managed to propel Gunpowder faster and faster as you reduced the strain on his hooves, and after a perfect synch of your efforts, you shout the signal he was waiting for.

"GO!"
The horse manages to walk up a 90º degree angle as you splatter a vertical tunnel on top of the one you've left on him before, creating a path to the surface that not even The Sea God could have predicted.

As you torpedo your way out the water, the merrows around catch each of you and help you get back onto the surface. Farnese and Schierke activate the runes you've left in order to redirect where the monster was falling. Casca carefully manages the shaking of the island as she impedes any large boulders from causing any disasters on Nostos. And with Serpico coming out of the monster's jaws unscathed, you almost refuse to believe how well this went, a sudden boost of confidence overwhelms you like you have never felt before.

Bask in your glory for the time being, count your victory! you've more than deserved the cheers that are heard from your team and the sailors at the Seahorse. You have conquered your fears of the deep blue sea, saved an entire island from the clutches off a giant monster that would put fear on even Ganishka and Griffith's apostle band, all the while not wasting a single innocent life.

The pegasus is finally freed, as the last tentacle coiled around it's clipped wings are cut down. You have broken the Santana curse. And you have yet to claim your prize at the bottom...

>>5701000
Another W for the charging cavalier!
>nice trip

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>>5701000
"Ay! Great job, Vlad! Ten outta ten! Five stars! A+ Rank and whatever other scores are out there!" Puck exclaims as he flies around you while Ivalera sticks a golden starfish on your forehead, wherever she found it.

It also seems like you weren't the only one being showered with praise, as when Guts reaches the mainland, a familiar moonlight child appears behind a rock to hug at his leg.
"Lucio?! What are you doing here?" You remove your helmet to stare at the boy, who flicks your forehead after recognizing you in your disguise. You forgot the kid hasn't taken a liking to you for some reason...

"He's shown up around after the time you've got inside the monster." Casca smiled, finally being able to approach Guts without having her memories easily triggering her into a panic attack, though from how active she's been today, it seems she is finally learning how to get over her fear of apostles and demonic entities on her own terms. "Would you mind if I borrowed him for a bit, we don't get to talk very often."

You give them a nod, letting them get their own leisure time as you wrap up your tasks for the night.

"The sea dragons at this region will catch the scent of it's disgorged blood and descend upon the sea god to consume it's flesh. This monster will be forgotten in due time, and we from the merrow tribe... No, of all that live in this region from the sea, will be forever in your debt, Lord Vlad!" Ino and her merrow friends once again take a bow to you, with Isma soon following after them.

"I told them that we were going to Elfhelm, and the merrows just happened to know which direction that is, so they can lead us there when we sail in the next few days! How cool is that?!" Isidro proudly rubs his nose, taking the credit for the bargain, though if his energy reading is correct, he is still frustrated over not doing any big monster killings like he wanted to.

>Don't be so proud of yourself, you haven't done much.
>Good idea Isidro, up top!
>You've done your best for today, and that's good enough for me.
>More time with Isma for you, huh? Let me know if you need any tips to get along with the girls.
>Write-in.

>>5701013
>You've done your best for today, and that's good enough for me.

>>5701013
>You've done your best for today, and that's good enough for me.
>More time with Isma for you, huh? Let me know if you need any tips to get along with the girls.

>>5701013
>Good idea Isidro, up top!
>More time with Isma for you, huh? Let me know if you need any tips to get along with the girls.

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>>5701023
>>5701046
>>5701101
You're too happy to act like a nag to Isidro. Unlike you, Guts, Farnese, or even Hyde, he's managed to live so far in this wretch of a world without ever losing hope that he'll live to see a brighter day. And despite his stubborn, rebellious nature, in a way, you've been fighting for him for as long as you've been fighting alongside him. You won't say it to his face, but you're happy that he's keeping his head up.

"You've done your best for today, and that's good enough for me. Make sure to step up to the plate when I ask you though, I don't wanna see you getting comfortable until you do half the stuff Guts and I can do, ok?" You tough love him with a speech that reaches to his heart, as well as a ruffle on his hair for good measure.

"Hey! Watch the haircut!" He pushes your hand away as he pouts, wanting to look good in front of Isma. No point in stating the obvious, so you will not embarrass him in front of his crush any more than he already does it on his own. You will, however, be an ass about it since you're in a good mood.

"I know the real reason you wanted to go with the merrows was to have more time with Isma, so let me know if you need any tips to get along with the girls!" You chuckle to him as you spill the beans just to get a reaction out of him.

"Wh-Wh-- No! That's not why I- Isma, you--" Isidro tries to save face, yet seeing how he was blushing just as much as her, Isma can't help but give the goofball a big, warm hug in response.

Given how Hyde is distant from his wife, Guts and Casca are reconciling with their breakup after figuring out they have a child, and the ever bumpy road that was getting engaged to Farnese, you are happy to see at least one romance bloom as naturally as the flowers of the plains.

"Well, there's only one more thing left to do then..." You talk to yourself, staring at the bottom of the sea where Sivir was, still pondering on what to do to get there, and what you would do with her orb...

"Vlad, If I may, I believe I've found a way for you to reach your mother safely..." Serpico offers some assistance, a shock, given how the last time the two of you diving under went.

After mastering the power of the undines and conquering your fear of the sea, you've found yourself with a perfect condition to synergize with Serpico's sylphs, managing to form an air bubble that could be moved around and resist the popping from touching other surfaces, even letting something else enter it's thin surface if you wished to.

"You know, if you weren't my brother-in-law, I would have a feeling you were trying to kill me as payback to what happened at the beach."
"Who, me? Nah, we both have thought of better places to die on our head during our missions than right now. Besides, when have I ever put you in any danger?"
"You're lucky I need to focus on this bubble staying round." Serpico quips along with you, really wanting to bonk you on the head.

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>>5701119
You slowly thread downwards with the makeshift submarine bubble you've made, carefully guiding sylphs and undines together as the merrows push you in the right directions. The anticipation is mesmerizing, to finally meet your birthmother is something that you have been relishing, hoping that you would get to her safely, and after finally doing so, the cold uncertainty of the moral predicament she is in scares you beyond belief.

What are you going to do with her? What opinion do you even have of Sivir? Despite her abandoning her responsibilities as your mother, in an odd sense, all this whole search culminated in the journey of your life, one that made you into the man you've became. The self discovery, the strengthening of body and bonds. Yes, you have been battered and bruised beyond repair along the way, but you would never choose another man's life than your own.

Truly, there is nothing more that you wish to do other than have an open heart to heart with her: Get to know who she really was, make up for the time you've lost as a survivor of the Silver Eyed Clan massacre... But does your mission really call for her to be alive?

Despite your successful tests of strength and tactics, you start doubting on the fact that your victory just now wasn't a fluke, a part of The God Hand's plan to give you fake confidence... Would you really manage to do this flawlessly a second time? Against stronger opponents, no less?

You need the orb's power... You wish it didn't have to kill Sivir in the process, but the fact that she is in this state is also entirely your fault...

"Serpico..." Growing desperate, you seek support from the only person that can hear you right now. "...What would you do if you were in my place?"
Despite being quick to joke around, Serpico is experienced as he is sensitive, if guiding Farnese around during her dark years were anything to go by.

"That depends. As your friend? I trust you to make the right decision, and I won't judge for whichever one it is..." You hear his voice dropping in octaves, as he remembers what he's only now facing the consequences of killing his mother, his relationship with the half-sister he's been raised with having a significant fissure.

"...As someone who was forced to kill his mother in the past... Don't do it, Vlad. It's a memory you will not live down. Part of your self respect, your sense of self will die along with you, and given what you've been dealing with so far and the lengths you've gone to protect who you see as your family... I don't want to sit by and let you do the same mistake I did when I know I could have stopped you."

Serpico absolutely sees himself in your place, and wants to make sure you don't lose yourself, changing who you are in your essence as you take your mother out of this world for the sake of more spiritual power...

>>5701136
The bubble finally reaches Sivir, the tall, green-ish plant woman who has mixed herself with the algae and the watery flowers beneath her. As the orb finally reaches your hands, you notice that they have stopped leaking thanks to her spell not being active. You make an attempt to telepathically communicate with her, a hollow hope at waking her up, but it only proves her that she is still unaware of her surroundings.

"H-Hedwyn!? Go away! Don't touch him!" She clutches the pearl away from your direction, mistaking you for your own father... Was his treatment of her really as awful as she makes it out to be? Or is your face just too similar to his now for her to recognize you?

You are terrified of staying in this bubble, the torture of having to choose one of the outcomes and live with it are ones that rival the sacrifice rituals of the Behelit itself... However here, there will be no marks, no demons. Only bitter regretfulness awaits...

>Push the orb onto Sivir and let her absorb it's power. She deserves to live.
>Close your eyes and take the pearl to yourself. Farewell, dear mother.
>Leave her as is. You don't need this power for now, and she is out of danger, fate can remain as it is now.

>>5701142
>See if you can find some way to bring her to the surface. Perhaps those seeds of yours can find some use in this task, as the corpse of the sea god should provide plenty of nutrients for them...
I don't want to lose the orb forever by having her absorb it, nor do I want to kill her by taking it while she's asleep. If we're to get the orb, I want it to be while she's awake and cognizant enough to make the choice to give it to us.
I also don't want to leave her down here when things around bound to feast upon the sea god's corpse soon. I want to bring her with us, even if she's comatose.
Perhaps if we let her feel our od and work with her telepathically over a period of time, she'll realize who we are and start to awaken. But the first step to that is to get her out of here.

>>5701142
>Close your eyes and take the pearl to yourself. Farewell, dear mother.
YES just as Hedwyn intended! With this power aquried the wholesale sacrifice of the silver eyed clan has meaning! Their suffering wouldn't be for nothing! There is a chance against the godhand! This is surely what fates intent for us considering Vlad's origin anons.
>What about our comrade in arms heartfelt warning about killing one's mother?
Sshhh don't think about that anon, think about the power to defeat the godhand!

>>5701142
>>Push the orb onto Sivir and let her absorb it's power. She deserves to live.

>>5701142
>Push the orb onto Sivir and let her absorb it's power. She deserves to live.
Vlad's a good boy

>>5701151
I honestly doubt we'll ever have much of a chance of actually defeating the god hand even with the orb's power. Gaining more power didn't help Ganishka, did it?

>>5701201
>I honestly doubt we'll ever have much of a chance of actually defeating the god hand
Anon how can you say something so cruel! To say this is to say the silver eyed clan was slaughtered and tortured over nothing! And as for Ganishka... As a human all the power went over his got him acting unwise. Clearly a halfling will do better!

Joking aside how does this story not end with The Falcon Of Darkness and his little army murdering Vlad and everybody he loves? What's "winning" for Vlad? Making a sustainable alternative to Femto's little kingdom? Defeating Femto?

>>5701202
An absolute victory would involve the creation of an uncertain future. The shattering of the chains causality, surely.
The inability for all to see that which lies ahead is preferable to having one's path be determined by parties in bad faith.

>>5701142
>Push the orb onto Sivir and let her absorb it's power. She deserves to live.
Power alone won't kill the God Hand. We need love too.
The love of friends.
The love of a wife.
The love of comrades.
Love is the most powerful weapon against the hand of god.

We have all the others, now all we need is the love of the true mother; Sivir.

>>5701142
>Push the orb onto Sivir and let her absorb it's power. She deserves to live.

>>5701204
If such a thing can be done it would truly be a victory but that seems even harder to do than defeating the god hand.

What do other anons think in this? What would you call a "victorious" end to the quest anons?

>>5701235
Honestly with the way things are going, the only way I see the story ending with no casualties if with Vlad staying at Elfhelm and not giving a shit to what Griffith does, and that's being very optimistic considering how snakey Griffith is, he says he did not consider Vlad his enemy until he went out of his way to make one, so perhaps he'll spare Vlad an his team?

A very good faith and unrealistic scenario, but so is fighting a war against apostles without anyone on your brigade dying.

>>5701201
>>5701160
>>5701210
>>5701217
Taking a deep breath as you remain steady in your judgement, you come to terms that one choice might be as selfish as the other, and you will have to live with the consequences either way, so you need to make sure that said choice remains true to yourself.

And Serpico has said it best: You have not walked away from a kingdom and back just to betray your own judgement. You have spared worse people than the ones you love. Perhaps by doing this, you are crushing your chances of fighting Conrad and Femto, but still... You have something that neither apostle nor higher being in the strings of causality can say you have...

A heart that strives for benevolence.
Slowly pushing the orb onto Sivir, you see her absorbing the entire thing as her skin and the pearl become one. Shining with the light of a thousand suns, all are blinded as a similar feeling you've had when the astral world and the physical became one, only this time, the energy overwhelms you with a feeling of certainty.

Serpico looks over you behind his shoulder with a smile on his face, feeling like he prevented an emotional breakdown. As Sivir's roots turn into a pair of feet, she calmly yawns and squints her eyes, getting accustomed to reality as she realizes that she is still alive.

"...The Sea God!" Are her first words when she jolts awake, afraid of having let the monster eat the merrows given her spell not being active. Upon seeing his dead carcass and the merrows bowing her head to her, the plant woman is confused as to what just happened, yet all becomes clear, when she sets her eyes upon her dearest halfling.

"VLAD?! But-- That means... No, you didn't have to save me... What about..." Sivir instantly puts her worth below the world's, yet you are quick to embrace her.

"There are times when a man has to make difficult decisions. This was not one of those times, for I wanted to thank you for placing me in this world, ever since I've come to know you all those years ago..."

There are no further exchange of words as you both ascend back to the docks. Two man-made weapons, raised and treated as artillery and cattle, finally meeting and having a chance to each other that they indeed, had a right to feel.

"...But why? I have been away from you for so long... I have ran away from my duties as a mother, and yet you still wish to thank me for it?"

>Michelle was the one who raised me as a Santana, but I see nothing wrong with having two mothers.
>I don't consider you a present figure in my life, but perhaps we can make up for the time we've lost.
>I have killed enough people in my journey, I should be allowed to be selfish every once in a while.
>Write-in.