"You wish to talk?" Laurentia picks up on your intent before you set into motion through the link you share. You make your way closer to her glowing form and take a seat, much in the way you would next to a friend on a meadow overlooking a landscape.

"I do." You say, settling in in the soft, warm glow of your shared presences. "I wanted to ask..." You're not sure how to broach the subject sensitively. But as it were, that alone was enough.

"I understand." You feel her sigh. "I appreciate the sentiment." She said as she picked up on the topic that interested you alongside your concern, and in turn you could tell that indeed your intent did soften the query for her. "You wish to ask about my past."

She looked to the distance, wistfully. Silent, for a time, but only gathering herself for the plunge into her memories.

"My first conscious memory is of a beautiful garden. A work of art. Much like the one I've showed you last night... in fact, it might have well been the same place." She recounts, the memory loaded with wonder and joy, but veiled by blank spots she was holding to herself partly out of consideration for your sensibilities, and partly because she was working her way forward in the tale. "It felt natural. It felt proper. It felt as a place I belonged to, as if extension of myself. And so I wandered, sampled it, and explored. I found it reflect my will - or so I thought at the time." She made a pause. "Soon enough I learned that I was not alone, and soon after that I learned that I was not the master of this place, either."

At this point, the connection to the blank points eroded.

"It began by sensation of being watched. The sensation grew thicker, and more severe, and at one point I realized the realm responded not to me, but to the hunter. It was then that I had learned fear, and shortly afterwards... I learned defeat."

The light flickered.

You reached towards her in a gesture of reassurance. She drank the sensation.

"I'm sorry, Defier. You understand, I know. That was not the end of it, of course. That was only the beginning I will... spare you the details, if you don't mind."

Through your link you come to an easy understanding to that effect, even though the monstrous instinct within you musters a feeble protestation, all it takes is the notion of imagining your friend get hurt and the black thought dissipates.

You could feel Laurentia's presence sigh in relief, then flare in an apology. Not for the first time she asked herself if it was not time for the nightmare to resume.

Your companion recovers quickly, and elaborates.

"There were many times where I thought I could break free, as you know. The Beast delights in breaking false hope, and it has repeatedly played with me, and the mortals as you know." Again she pauses. In truth, this ties into the other matter you wished to ask about."

"The reincarnations." You nod.

"My poor children, my vessels..." She shakes her head. "First time I thought I had freed myself, I took upon myself a form much like that of Celestine. The first of the elves, a physical body with connection to both physical and supernatural, what I envisioned as a means to escape my captor." She trailed off for a time. "And once again, I was quickly shown my mistake. The instrument of my freedom became a prison that the enemy took great pleasure in despoiling. And... to my dismay, by the time he was done with them, so did I. So I came to suspect that even the idea itself has been forced upon me to begin with. I would be allowed respite, a brief moment of sharing what light I could offer, only to see it extinguished around me, and then within me, until again I would be released from the mortal coil."

She lifts her hand and makes a gentle gesture, prompting several strands of light to take form of an elven woman.

"Ever since the elves became embodiment of beauty and purity, to be admired and adored." She waves her hand and the image dissipates. "But their fate in this realm is to be broken, despoiled, abused and discarded for pleasure of the cruel. As I've come to see would also be mine..." She turns to face you. "Until your arrival. How a monster could become a source of hope for me... remains a mystery to me."

There is no need to apologize over being called monster, as the link shares between you intent of her expression. Not like you were focused on that anyway, your thoughts went back to your own companions - not just elves, not just women; although you were once again made painfully aware of what the enemy you faced had in store for Celestine, Chloe and Olga... and who knows, perhaps Elle's friend Robert as well?

You would succeed. You owed them nothing less. You owed your family nothing less.

Once again you feel yourself drawn into a spiritual embrace. This time, though, you feel as if it's your companion that's taking shelter in your presence. You can't help but try to comply.

"I'm sorry, you should be resting." She says, and you realize you must have subconsciously tapped into your newfound ability.

You regret nothing.

And there is no need for you to speak.

Or is there?

>Reassure Laurentia; her warmth and kindness shows that despite what she went through, she was never truly broken.
>Reassure Laurentia; we cannot change the past, but we will shape the future
>Reassure Laurentia; she has shown us remarkable array of powers, perhaps she is more powerful than she realizes
>Say something else
>Ask about something else
>No, there is not. Just rest

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>>5895201
>>No, there is not. Just rest

wait, why robert of all people ? oh his sister had elven blood, right ? man it's been some time since we last saw them I almost forgot
>>5895201
>Reassure Laurentia; her warmth and kindness shows that despite what she went through, she was never truly broken.

>>5895201
>Reassure Laurentia; her warmth and kindness shows that despite what she went through, she was never truly broken.
>Reassure Laurentia; she has shown us remarkable array of powers, perhaps she is more powerful than she realizes
I think the beast’s anger and cruelty is in part born out of fear of her.

>>5895201
>No, there is not. Just rest

>>5895201
>Reassure Laurentia; her warmth and kindness shows that despite what she went through, she was never truly broken.

>Reassure Laurentia; she has shown us remarkable array of powers, perhaps she is more powerful than she realizes

>>5895201
>Reassure Laurentia; her warmth and kindness shows that despite what she went through, she was never truly broken.

>Reassure Laurentia; she has shown us remarkable array of powers, perhaps she is more powerful than she realizes

Yeah, all this shit and she is still trying to help people? That Beast isn't doing this for shits and giggles, the thing is scared of her. And we're gonna help her sink the knife into its wretched skull once and for all.

>>5897056
>”If the Beast’s victory was certain, then why was it so driven to gain answers about me from you?”

>>5895201
>Reassure Laurentia; her warmth and kindness shows that despite what she went through, she was never truly broken.

waiting warmly, OP

Comfort.

That is what you felt as you stayed in your small bubble of light in the shadowy landscape, relishing embrace of the kindly presence next to you, the sensation amplified by her own emotions shared across your bond. In a way, the circumstance made the dreary realm of shadows almost a pleasant place.

For you. For the moment.

You could relish in it for the time being, and almost began to drift into genuine sleep as you did. But something bothered you still. It was about what Laurentia had shared with you, yet not something conveyed to you across the link - in fact, it was quite the opposite, and that perhaps alarmed you even more, as you realized the goddess was shielding you from extent of how troubled she truly was by delving into the past - could something like that even be true for a goddess? Could her attention be diverted as a mortal's, or was there some other aspect you were unaware of?

The luminous figure next to you turned to you, her expression showing concern that mirrored yours.

However, for this moment at least, an answer presented itself to you. An answer born of your memory as well as convictions. An answer that you're confident carried you in great part to where you currently stood.

"I believe... that you are stronger than you realize." You began to give form to what you felt needed to be said, and shared, with your companion. She gave you a curious look.

"Defier..." You can feel the exasperation from her, but you don't let up.

"I am serious. I think - I feel - that the kindness you show and share now is evidence that the Beast never truly succeeded in breaking you. Even after all you endured, you still shelter the spark of light you are eager to share."

You are almost overwhelmed by the burst of emotion flowing through your link in response to your assertion. Much of it gratitude and affection, but woven among the bulk of shame, guilt and regret.

The deluge cut off as abruptly as it started, as Laurentia gathered her composure and sealed much of what she let slip back behind her emotional barrier.

"Defier, I am fortunate I don't need to rely on words to say I appreciate your sincere conviction, but how can you hold such faith? It's true I have not - I could not - properly convey to you extent of my defeat, but you know well enough what state I was in when you found me. At that time, I would share anything I knew, and I did not only because I knew nothing. Perhaps... perhaps for this reason it would be better if-"

"No." You interrupt whatever line of thought Laurentia may have followed from there. "And I do not wish to blame you for anything - besides, does it not show something that it was interrogating you in the first place? Perhaps it is arrogant from me to offer a mortal's perspective, but I feel strongly enough to do so anyway, because I believe it comes from something greater than myself."

If before your glowing companion looked like she was going to protest, now she looked intrigued rather than offended by what could be construed as hubris. You almost miss the shift, as the thought comes forth that you knew Laurentia should hear.

It was afraid.

The Beast, existing by its principles of force and domination, was scared. You saw it happen before - in your dreams.

And you allowed that revelation to guide you. And it found reflection in the tangible world and shaping of fates around you.

For yourself. For your companions. For your friends, but also for those you barely knew.

"It is afraid... of kindness?" Laurentia shared her incredulity at what you hoped would be source of her own power. There was a tiniest bit - minute, indeed, but its presence still stung you in a way - of bitterness. "It certainly didn't seem to allow itself to be affected by it in the past, and was quick to use it against me in many cycles."

"And yet you never gave up on it."

She does not offer a response to that, instead settling on what you felt was her contemplative stance.

Having said your piece, you settle in next to her, and slowly you let the peaceful aura permeating this small segment of the shadowy plane lull you into a state bordering between dream and reminiscence, reflecting on both the light your parents left you, and the moments where you felt you saw its work - from the rare at first moments of respite shared with Smutkin, Phineous, Sparky and Tithe, through watching Claudia and Klaus's embrace, to furtive smiles you caught occasionally softening Chloe's usually stern features.

As the memories, hopes and dreams mingle, you find your consciousness slowly drifting away into restful void, warm they brought intermingled with that radiated by Laurentia's silent presence - and in her silence you sensed that for whatever else could be said, your words brought her at least a small measure of comfort... and perhaps a little bit of hope she didn't know she had.

It is time to wake up.

Your senses bring you back into the material realm still blanketed by cover of darkness, although your experience in the outdoors told you that dawnbreak was soon to come.

Your movement prompted the ever watchful guardians to give you a nod of acknowledgment. Diana and Minerva stood ready for you to command the camp be broken, and Tithe descended silently, the small gargoyle watching you expectantly.

Looking around showed that you were first of your team to awaken, rest of your comrades still slumbering peacefully. Sadly, there was not much to be done. Rest of this day was likely going to be very much violent.

>Let the group rest, walk away and discuss layout of the mercenary camp with Tithe alone.
>Rouse the group now and plan your advance with them.
>Rouse the group now and head out immediately, playing by ear; if you moved swiftly you could strike before the sun is fully up.
>other idea
>>5903906
I appreciate that. Time is such a precious commodity. Wish all of us the best use of ours.

>>5905454
>Rouse the group now and plan your advance with them.
no problem op

>>5905454
>Rouse the group now and head out immediately, playing by ear; if you moved swiftly you could strike before the sun is fully up.

>>5905454
>Rouse the group now and plan your advance with them.

>>5905454
>Rouse the group now and plan your advance with them.

>>5905454
>Rouse the group now and plan your advance with them.

Looking across the camp you are met with a preciously peaceful sight. Despite proximity of danger, your companions have grown accustomed to tireless vigil of their animated peers - Even Chloe has learned to appreciate the luxury of having Tithe around after several nights she spent sleeping very light indeed. Now she was nestled protectively next to Olga who she painstakingly provided with an extra bedroll for additional comfort.

You took note that the two elves laid at one extremity of your small stealthy camp, with yourself and your oldest companions took up the center and your more recent human companions clustered themselves together at the other side. It followed naturally that Elle as the first outsider started placing her bedroll a bit off to the side; even though she was quick to integrate herself into your team, when the twin scouts volunteered themselves they naturally opted to stick around her most. Now, Maia automatically followed the pattern as well.

You felt almost guilty for it, but the peace needed to be disturbed. You give a nod that the three animated statues interpret correctly; Tithe scurries towards Smutkin, Phineous and Sparky, Minerva exchanges a glance with Diana and following an unspoken agreement heads towards the resting humans. Diana steps back and resumes her vigilant watch of your surroundings, making it clear waking up the elves falls to you.

Luckily that doesn't take much on your part. Chloe's ears twitch as you approach and the ponytailed girl rises, carefully so as not to disturb her liege lying next to her - to no avail, as queen Olga stirs shortly afterwards.

"Rise, friends. We need to plan our attack." You inform them quietly, and Chloe's expectant and watchful expression stiffens into one of determination, more appropriate for someone prepared to discuss violence. Olga somehow manages to lift herself into a regal composure while still half lying and with her rich black hair a bit of a mess.

Regardless, you have more pressing matters to deal with than dwell on superficials. You turn back to retrieve something from a pile of bags, most of which you were carrying here. By the time you're done, your company has already assembled and was awaiting quietly in the gradually growing light of dawn for your command.

First things first.

"Tithe. Layout of the place." You turn to the gargoyle.

"Hold." Queen Olga raises her hand before Tithe begins to relay his findings, and a dim wisp of purple extends from somewhere around her palm as well as ridge of her hand, streaming roughly into the center of your group. "This may help. Please go on."

"Thank you, majesty." Tithe nods and turns back to you. "Light conditions and necessity of stealth made in-depth survey inadvisable." The gargoyle says. "But general layout suggests the camp lies mostly on surface regardless." The gargoyle accentuates his words with gestures drawing in the softly backlit fog provided by the elven queen which translate into a map of the camp coming into existence, showing several simple structures laid out in pattern not unlike what you remember from the forces threatening Levantines. Maia occasionally nods in acknowledgment as she follows Tithe's presentation.

The gargoyle tells you of clustering of tents, much of them abandoned, several half-gone stockpiles, seemingly orderless movement between the dwelling tents and the central structure and perhaps most interestingly of the nature of the inhabitants.

"What?" Maia is taken aback.

"That was to be expected." Olga nods.

Rest refrain from commenting, making their thoughts clear enough with expressions of horror and disgust as Tithe describes the hulking figures corrupted with growths of black flesh and partially concealed by veils of shadow that defy mundane experiences.

"So he was not bullshitting..." Maia mutters while hugging herself. "Kin, you sick bastard..."

"How many did you see?"

"Their shifting features make it difficult to distinguish individuals, but estimate of thirty to forty seems accurate." Tithe says, followed by another small nod from Maia.

"Those are rookie numbers. We should have no trouble here." Phineous raises his crossbow.

"Fool. It is never wise to underestimate the enemy - especially now that we know they are touched directly by Beast's power." Olga rebukes the orc; he reels back and stutters in response. "Focus." She tells him, waving it off and turning to you. "I've rested enough. I will help support you with the arts I command - although I warn you that whatever the Enemy did to these brutes may have made them resilient to my powers."

"I appreciate your support regardless, my lady." You tell her.

"Still, Phineous had a point." Chloe surprises you by speaking next. "Given their numbers, especially if they're as disorganized as Tithe makes it sound, perhaps I could thin them out a bit."

"Absolutely not." Olga surprises her retainer next.

"My Queen..."

"Do not make your friend's mistake and overestimate your abilities when those of your adversary are unknown to you, my shadow. It would take a single mistake on your part to unmake you and put you at their mercy, and rest assured, they have none."

"I don't expect any from my enemies." Chloe says, her crimson gaze meets Olga's amber with a barest hint of defiance.

"I do not doubt your resolve. But you're misjudging the threat you face."

"Perhaps we could lure some of them out instead." Janet speaks up. "We could keep part of the enemy forces occupied with... manageable risks to ourselves."

"That could work, give us a brief window of advantage before you disengage."

"...I was thinking we could keep them locked in skirmish."

"Too risky, as Lady Olga said, we don't know their full capabilities." You point out.

"Respectfully, sir, that is going to be something to face up to regardless of our approach." Harriet chimes in.

That much was true. But you didn't much like idea of spreading that particular hazard across too many smaller groups. Then again, depending on how powerful these corrupt creatures were, you could still get overwhelmed...

>There's no need to overthink this. Your numbers may be lower, but as long as you properly capitalize on having first strike, head on assault should go in your favour.
>Perhaps you could spare some part of your team to draw some of the enemy forces away before you strike. (select team B)
>Perhaps you could have some part of your team attack from a different angle, taking brunt of enemy resistance on yourself. (select team B)
>Perhaps you could try to draw the enemy out somehow into a more advantageous field of battle outside the camp... but how?
>other plan

>>5913950
>Perhaps you could spare some part of your team to draw some of the enemy forces away before you strike. (Chloe and the 2 scouts)
our fastest pals, anons can suggest more

>>5913950
>>5914105
This.

slow weekend

>>5914105
+1

>>5913950
>Perhaps you could try to draw the enemy out somehow into a more advantageous field of battle outside the camp... but how?
Probably a bit late now but... Mouse goes in, makes some noise and maybe clubs a couple of the fuckers in the head then runs away leading them into an ambush.

You ruminate for a bit but the best course of action seems readily apparent... you were going into a fight, so a measure of danger was unavoidable.

"Very well then." Yo announce. "Harriet, Janet, Chloe. I'd like you three to harrass the enemy and draw some away as the rest of us strike with full force." The scouts and the half elf nod in acknowledgment. "However, you are not to allow yourself be caught in melee, is that clear? Better disengage and lead your pursuers back to us so we can handle them together. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir." The twins salute and Chloe gives another nod.

"Before you go, however..." You turn towards the package you recovered and take and open it before the assembled group. "Everyone will take one of mr. Quartzenslab's devices. Since we already know our opponents are visibly corrupted, I'd rather take as few chances as possible."

Going by example you pick up one of the... masks? ...one that was doubtlessly designed for you just going by its size.

"Hmpf." Chloe remarks as she straps hers on. "I thought it would be heavier and mess with my vision more... it's honestly kind of impressive."

"Little Lu did mention the guy knows his stuff." Maia commented as she looked over the one in her hand, seeing if it would be better fit for her or Elle.

The dwarf's ingenuity is indeed impressive. But I believe your powers would do well enough to protect your companions currently, to the extent any mechanical device could. Your spiritual companion talks to you as you watch your friends equip the masks.

Perhaps so, you think back at the goddess, but why not take advantage of something we do have? Laurentia concedes the point, incidentally also admitting that knowledge of how physical manifestation of the Beast actually works is a secret even to her.

Before long you are all fitted out and ready to move. Chloe and the twins take their mounts, bows at the ready. Chloe for her part lets show mild annoyance at being barred from melee by your instruction, toying with an improvised slingshot she had prepared for such contingency. You give one last look around to check on your team and seeing them look back with expressions of eager resolve, you nod at them and especially at Tithe.

"We'll be counting on your vigilance." You tell the gargoyle.

"Of course." He responds and bolts upwards, recognizing the cue.

As do Chloe and the scouts.

You head out.

Morning is split apart by a shrill, inhuman cry. A double shiver goes through you before you quickly resolve none of your companions had emitted the sound - it must be a cry of alarm, or perhaps excitement, as your nimble friends make gain the enemy attention.

You quietly give yourself a brief count, then signal your allies behind you as you set yourself in motion, cresting the fold of terrain that kept you out of direct line of sight until now.

Mercenary camp emerges before you, the image shown between Tithe and Olga's illusion having given you a good idea what to expect and you make directly for the nearest gate in the palisade, ready to open it in brute force. However, you suspect that won't be necessary - and you're proven both right and wrong shortly afterwards.

There's another cry of excitement from a humanoid figure on top of the barricade - even at this distance and despite the hooded cloak it is apparent something is amiss - at very least movements appear unnatural as the deformed person arches back while crying which seems to also convey a measure of laughter... but when you expect other part of garrison to sally forth to meet you head on, no such thing happens.

It will remain a mystery whether it was simply a matter of timing, but another force denies the corrupt mercenaries their choice.

You feel a wave of force gather behind you - although perhaps it would be more accurate the sense is relayed to you by Laurentia as she seems to be bothered by the sensation of dark energies converging. In this case, however, the force gathers to your advantage, as the wave passes through and above you and gains in substance and opacity before striking the palisade next to the gate, parting the dirt and wood like wisps of smoke and sending a wing of the gate tumbling through the air, silencing the sentry violently on its way.

Not breaking the step, not turning around to check if Olga shows a measure of smugness you've learned to appreciate in Chloe, you follow through on the advantage the queen has given you and charge straight into now mildly surprised group of abominations that have gathered in anticipation of the intruders.

And abominations they were. Volt's mercenaries tended to be gruff, strong men to begin with, in an eerie contrast to the many graceful female knights of the alliance, and these seemed larger than even powerful men ought to be - perhaps some of it could be caused by a shadowy aura emanating from them that caused Laurentia to recoil in a mixture of disgust and concern, but even aside from that their skin seemed to have been tinted gray, the bulk of their muscles wrong and - wriggling? Pulsating?

They don't give you courtesy of standing around for you to examine and analyze - and you don't intend to either. Your cry of war joins with their alien howl and the battle is joined.

As soon as you make contact, your mace against their dark blades, it becomes apparent that the Beast had pulled all stops when driving these men. Had these been the mercenary mooks you remember facing before, the fight would have been over after first two swings of your weapon, and their bodies strewn around. Instead, you found yourself having to pick your openings with care, as even if a direct hit would send one reeling back, he would recover while you had to regain your footing to keep yourself from getting bogged down by his peers - and parrying their strikes actually took effort.

By the time you had finally managed to deliver a solid enough blow to actually send one of the corrupt mercenaries facing you to the ground, you realized that had you been alone, they would likely be able to wear you down, especially as their reinforcements arrived - and that there was not much in terms of reinforcements left you with mixed feelings, as you had suspected the enemy would quickly realize that your force is the main threat and abandon pursuit of your scouts. If they were not being careful and got caught in a fight, your three friends could be easily overwhelmed.

Fortunately, though, you were not alone either.

Energetic tune of Smutkin's flute seemed to help you maintain your rhythm as well as attention while at the same time upsetting balance of your opponents - although to that end Phineous's precise shots were also a great help.

Elle, Maia and the golems seemed readily able to finish off any individual mercenaries that peeled off engagement with you, perhaps in hopes of pursuing an easier target, or perhaps not able to help themselves from going after your beautiful companions. In either case, the few that did also felled by spear or sword.

For her part, Olga wielded her powers in your support. However, her earlier concerns quickly found purchase in experience - the corrupt mercenaries seemed to shrug off directed strikes of her eerie lightning bolts. Upon realizing that, the tone of her attacks shifted away from the purplish darkness - and shrunk in intensity, as the queen resorted to arts she was much less familiar with.

Behind her, outside your attention for now, was the small frame of a gold haired boy. Sparky was concealed next to performing Smutkin, observing the fight with sad expression. Support of his healing powers was not yet needed.

The tide of battle seemed balanced for the time being. While you systematically wore down your enemies, you had a chance to decide on how to proceed...

>Keep steady and grind down the opposition. The fight seems to be going in your favour, you only need to hold on - and trust that Chloe and the scouts can keep eluding the enemy until you reach them.
>You can't allow to get yourself bogged down by the enemy - shift into a more aggressive fighting style, you may tax your strength, but you'll give enemies less chance to adapt.
>Call on your newfound powers of light and push forward, shielding your friends and yourself. But will your powers fare better than those you've seen employed earlier...?
>other course of action

>>5924312
>>Call on your newfound powers of light and push forward, shielding your friends and yourself. But will your powers fare better than those you've seen employed earlier...?

>>5924309
>You can't allow to get yourself bogged down by the enemy - shift into a more aggressive fighting style, you may tax your strength, but you'll give enemies less chance to adapt.

>>5924312
>Call on your newfound powers of light and push forward, shielding your friends and yourself. But will your powers fare better than those you've seen employed earlier...?
while waiting for the grind is not something that seems smart in this situation, spending more energy doesn't make me confident either so going with out abilities

>>5924312
>Call on your newfound powers of light and push forward, shielding your friends and yourself. But will your powers fare better than those you've seen employed earlier...?
Better we find out now than later.

As you dance and loom among your enemies, dispensing violence and eluding and mitigating the reciprocation, you realize that this is not enough.

It's not nearly enough. You had some idea of what you were getting into, and the numbers seemed to favour the enemy. In that light, you should be happy that your team is holding up so well. And you were certainly pleased with their performance.

But it was still not enough. This was not the end. Where you were headed, you would be facing numbers a hundred, a thousand times worse, and under direct command of their renowned commander.

You were committed. You would see it through. But to do so successfully, it was becoming apparent you would need more than just determination.

You would need a miracle.

Luckily, you've become recently closely acquainted with a goddess.

You focus, and the momentary lull in your rampage does not go unnoticed by the enemy. Nearest abomination is quick to reverse from stance of anticipatory dodging to push himself into a vicious lunge.

His blade slides harmlessly off an invisible barrier, and the surprised mercenary is left exposed as he follows the momentum. Then Elle, who had fought her way next to you goes for the target of opportunity and ends the corrupt fighter with a smooth, solid thrust of her own.

Another mercenary attempts to strike while the woman is recovering her blade, but is met with a similar fate - surprised by having his strike warded off by a flicker of light, the assailant is promptly disemboweled by the woman by her next move.

"The goddess is with us." She says as she realizes what just happened and begins to fight with redoubled ferocity.

"Don't get sloppy!" You command as you notice your other companions realize the shields around them. "Fight as if all world depended on your ability alone!"

This gets your companions to restrain themselves some as they temper their bolstered enthusiasm.

Response form your opponents is altogether different, perhaps even from what you had imagined. There's not a shred of doubt or reverence, instead they howl with glee as if some new prize was placed before them, and their shadowy aura, if you can call it that, deepens and they launch themselves against you with renewed fervor, abandoning all care for their safety.

As if they didn't even expect you to fight back.

Smutkin's tune shifts from a lively dynamic one into a slightly slower, but brighter and more pronounced one that seemed to resonate with the barely perceptible bubbles of solid light protecting you and your companion, and you found it quite convenient how the rhythm despite its slower pace ended up punctuated with strikes of your mace into exposed mercenary flesh. And there was a lot of flesh to go around, especially as the mercenary reserves showed up to join the fray.

A thought of worry crossed your mind, or perhaps it was Laurentia's, whether your defenses would hold.

After all, you've seen them collapse before more than once, even when called forth by Celestine herself.

You purged the doubt from your heart with another swing of your mace, sending another mercenary's disfigured carcass into one of his peers.

This was not the light that would suffer corruption.

This was the light you were meant to preserve, and share as it was shared with you.

That those who used to be people were throwing themselves at it with intent do despoil it was in a way tragic - perhaps that was what Sparky was so gloomy about - but for now the only thing to do was put them to rest.

The dynamic of the fight has changed. Your entire being was now thrown into the immediate task of ending the threat to those you cared about - and you had all the tools to make good on that intent. Methodically you progressed forward through the tide of darkness that cast itself against you to no avail, and fell on either side, from your weapon, your foot, or weapons of your companions. Perhaps with edge of your perception you still kept track of your surroundings so you were not that surprised when at some point you came up to a gate at the other side of the camp, wide open.

And in them, Chloe, Harriet and Janet, dismounted, approaching slowly, also surrounded by the sheen of light.

The fight was over.

Mercenary bodies were laid around, some groaning and growling in pain, but most unmoving, with stillness of death, covered in wounds that would kill a normal man twice over.

Smutkin ended his song and the party joined you in silently surveying the scene of carnage.

"Some are still alive. I'll try to help them."

Sparky was first to speak, but he didn't rush out immediately, rather he looked at you with an unspoken question.

Part of your reason would tell you that it would be more sensible to put them out of their misery, but between Sparky's clear eyes and Laurentia's silence you simply gave the transformed imp a small nod of permission. Sparky returned it with a small smile and only then did he turn and head out to carry out to dispense mercy that felt almost alien to this world.

Your gaze moved onto rest of the group, most of which was looking at you with mixture of awe and expectance, awaiting your next command. Only exceptions were Maia, who had cleaned and sheathed her blade and was now forlornly scanning the fallen mercenaries, perhaps looking for familiar faces, and Olga, who stepped forward.

"Impressive." She said. "I must admit I didn't anticipate you would be so quick and comfortable in sharing in the goddess's gifts." You're not immediately sure how to respond, but it doesn't seem like Olga is expecting a conversation out of this as she continues. "I admit I was skeptical of pursuing this errand, but now that I'm here, I'm intrigued. I can feel in the air the scent of darkness. That filthy sorcerer was no doubt at work here. I intend to see if I can find something of interest."

"I, I'm with you, my lady." Chloe perks up and trots over to Olga's side. The dark queen nods at her with a small smile and the two elves head towards the central structure of the camp, leaving you with rest of your companions, currently still awaiting for your commands.

>Have the group split into a few groups and look around for clues. With the opposition gone, it should be safe for the time being.
>Send someone back to where you left your wagon to pick up some more supplies before you set out.
>Have them, or a separate group, scour and patrol area around the camp
>other idea

As for you, personally, you will...
>...join Sparky as he goes through survivors, see what they have to say for themselves.
>...join Olga and Chloe as they investigate the central structure
>...search some other objects, like the tents where mercenaries were resting, or perhaps the storage stockpile
>...talk with someone about something
>(something else)

>>5928380
>Have the group split into a few groups and look around for clues. With the opposition gone, it should be safe for the time being.

>...search some other objects, like the tents where mercenaries were resting, or perhaps the storage stockpile
I'm hoping for mercenary plans.

>>5928385
>Send someone back to where you left your wagon to pick up some more supplies before you set out
>...search some other objects, like the tents where mercenaries were resting, or perhaps the storage stockpile
Already this little detour is paying off, that was very informative.

>>5928385
>Have the group split into a few groups and look around for clues. With the opposition gone, it should be safe for the time being.

>...search some other objects, like the tents where mercenaries were resting, or perhaps the storage stockpile
looting time
Outta curiosity, how tall Olga and Celestine are ? I've been picturing them as tall, something like 1.8M-2M, since the begining but now I'm reminded their height wasn't exactly said so I gotta ask how tall are they ?

>>5928385
>Have the group split into a few groups and look around for clues. With the opposition gone, it should be safe for the time being.
>...search some other objects, like the tents where mercenaries were resting, or perhaps the storage stockpile

>>5928385
>Have the group split into a few groups and look around for clues. With the opposition gone, it should be safe for the time being.
>...search some other objects, like the tents where mercenaries were resting, or perhaps the storage stockpile
Nice so our shields do hold up well.

Seeing as your companions volunteered to take initiative when it came to two most obvious concerns, you decided it would be best to sift what was left of the mercenary outpost for clues. So you have rest of your followers split into a few teams, which end up being the twin scouts as one, Maia and Elle as another and Smutkin and Phineous as the third. Out of those, the twins headed out back to patrol the perimeter, Maia and Elle went to follow Sparky as he came to a stop above one of the still breathing mercenaries, and Phineous and Smutkin join you as you head in the direction where larger tents seemed to have been put up.

Your hope that perhaps you could find some sort of plans or commands that could help you navigate your way forward gains first cracks as you view the desolation among the mercenary tents. It's clear some must have been abandoned in a hurry, perhaps even by the marauders you've fought off in the hamlet earlier, the few traveling effects left behind exposed to elements in state of disrepair. It was probably not for very long, but it was still telling nobody felt compelled - or commanded - to clean up and maintain order.

But there was more. Even the tents that showed signs of recent habitation didn't actually feel as if a person dwelt in them.

They reminded you, you thought to yourself bitterly, of warrens of some of the lower ranking inhabitants of the Black Citadel. Creatures with little, if anything, driving them beyond pursuit of cruelty and violence.

And yet, Sparky, as he once was, originally showed up among their ranks - and suffered dearly for it.

Shaking off this line of thought in favour of something more immediately useful you focus on the somewhat larger tent, presumably belonging to one of the officers - if anyone of those would be sleeping in this section rather than near or inside the central structure - and pull apart the entry flap.

You end up having to tear it open further to allow yourself comfortable access. In resonance with your growing disappointment the interior looks much in the vein of the others you've glimpsed on your way just now. Couple of personal effects strewn around, most of them showing signs of having lied undisturbed for days. You move some of them with little hope to reveal something more interesting, to predictable effect - none whatsoever. You're almost ready to give up on the idea and move on to a different location when it occurs you to move the bedroll, the cot itself.

The impulse pays off. Under layer of rags, conveniently arranged to allow access, you find a hidden cache with a half buried satchel. Opening it reveals a small book and some writing utensils.

You open the book at random and see writing in a not very aesthetic or artful, but relatively neat and readable script, and its content turns out to be records of a journal.

It has been a few days since the call, and the anxiety is all but gone. The general clearly knows what he's doing - although that much was made clear during first few skirmishes since we joined up. Still, given our performance so far, march on the dark citadel no longer sounds like a fever dream but more like a goal we actually have a shot at reaching. And the monstrous recruits... it appears they truly care more about merit than appearances. Perhaps something we could learn from them. Perhaps then, B---

Last word in the entry has been scratched over to the point of illegibility. You flip forward a few pages.

Grim news on the political front. There was some sort of noble intrigue in the Arcturus and Levantine domain both and our guys are pinned with blame for it. Word from Vult is that we needn't concern ourselves with it, but is that really right? I'm done having to look over my back with those two faced shits. Perhaps my cautious optimism was (again) misguided. Shared struggle won't cut it. We'll simply have to be strong enough to take what we want. And for that, Vult is the man to follow.

You go forward further, looking for final entry. Eventually you end up reading the penultimate one as well.

Kin appeared out of fucking nowhere today, downright hysterical and oozing shadows. No, really. Apparently the cathedral city got flipped over to the dark queen herself. At least that's as much as we could get from him between his babbling about having been promised something or the other. He set up shop in the command post and threw everyone out. Well, far be it from me to argue with Vult's pet sorcerer.

What happened next got me wondering if I'm on the right side of this mess. Or if there even is any in this fucked up world. Kin apparently figured out how to turn people into unstoppable killing machines. Desperate time calls for desperate measures, he said. Some of the guys bailed, and I refused to spare men to hunt them down. Kin was upset but I managed to convince him he's better off with just guys who are committed all the way.

Now I'm waiting for him to get his shit ready for the procedure. Again I'm asking myself if I'm one of those committed. But I have learned this: victory is never seized by the meek and the timid.

For a moment you flip the journal back and forth. Going back to the first page you find a lot of angry ranting directed at a woman referred to with an array of derogatory terms, perhaps most frequent of them being 'whore', alongside with some rather graphic doodles, though the tone and frequency both reduced over time. Still, it appeared you would not gain anything of imminent value trying to gain insight on a man who was quite likely dead so you close the booklet and give the tent a once over before turning around and coming to face with Tithe.

"Leader. Her majesty and Chloe were signaling for your attention."

"Thank you. I'll go check with them." You nod at the gargoyle who promptly takes off to resume his own patrol routine.

With an encouraging nod at Phineous and Smutkin who were searching other tents in the vicinity you head towards the central structure, presumably what the journal's author referred to as command post. Upon entering the structure you enter a spacious room with some simple, mostly improvised furniture most prominent of which was a table next to which two elves awaited you.

"There you are, Mouse." Olga acknowledged you. "I find you've been a bad influence on my Shadow. She doesn't seem to shirk from defying me."

You turn to Chloe with your eyebrows raised. Although queen Olga was speaking in her usual regal and aloof expression, you think you could pick some playful lilt in her voice. Still, Chloe seemed put on the spot.

"W-wha...? B-but, my queen..."

"Nevermind that. I'm in any case intrigued to see what your judgment here will be."

"Judgment?" You ask.

"Come."

The elven queen points over to a wooden door. The room you were in did not take entire area of the structure, there were rooms and partitions, through one open door you could see what probably passed for an officer bedroom, but those were not door Olga was pointing at.

It was a stairway down, into a sort of cellar. At least that's what it looked at a glance. And as you focused your attention, you realized something was off. Perhaps it was your senses, or perhaps those of your spiritual companion, but there was a feeling of rot coming from that direction.

"You can feel it, can't you?" Olga asked as she walked over. "Cover your nose if you must... as much as these contraptions allow." She tapped side of her mask.

The stench is truly horrid. If you were a human, you could even call it overpowering.

Being what you were, it spoke to the dark essence of your being.

Meantime, Laurentia in the back of your mind shivered with and recoiled with a mixture of grief, anguish and disgust at the sight before you.

You were in a chamber that probably used to be a hastily dug cellar, but had since been converted into a dungeon and a little corner of hell on earth. Several bodies, very obviously female bodies, lied limply against the wall, covered only with dirt, blood and... other matter.

"They are alive." Olga spoke. "I had commanded Chloe to end their misery, that is when she defied me."

There was no playfulness this time. The queen was tense. Despite her posture, you could tell she was troubled.

"If you think they can be helped otherwise, you have your chance." The dark queen said. Then, as if in afterthought, she added. "And mind your step."

You look down and realize that there's some sort of arcane writing on the floor, and a small table with notes and implements, some of which not unlike what you had found in Kin's laboratory in the Cathedral city.

>Take the captives outside this filth and treat them.
>Reach inwards and consult Laurentia on this. Can she help you here?
>Call Sparky over. He seemed impressed by how Celestine handled similar situation earlier, perhaps...
>other idea

>>5928683
>Outta curiosity, how tall Olga and Celestine are ? I've been picturing them as tall, something like 1.8M-2M, since the begining but now I'm reminded their height wasn't exactly said so I gotta ask how tall are they ?

Well I'm going to be pulling stuff out of my ass but I'm going to say they are at 1.7, maybe 1.75 so that Vult can still be taller without exceeding 1.8 (which would imo make him awkward to self insert into for the source material's target audience)

>>5934904
>Call Sparky over. He seemed impressed by how Celestine handled similar situation earlier, perhaps...
time for your redeemer session
>>5934909
alright, thanks. also didn't know vult was the self-insert character of this, well I never really watched besides some clips.

>>5934904
>Call Sparky over. He seemed impressed by how Celestine handled similar situation earlier, perhaps...
we can't take them with us so we can only heal them, give them supplies (hopefully from the mercs supplies in camp), and directions, and then send them on their way.

>>5934904
>Reach inwards and consult Laurentia on this. Can she help you here?

>>5934904
>Take the captives outside this filth and treat them.

You have to help them.

That much was clear from the start. But what were your options really? Naturally, you could - should - take them from this horrible place. But what then? You can't take them with you into an even worse place... your thoughts drift towards the goddess, who shares in your eagerness to save those women. Perhaps there is something you could do with her help.

But there's another option.

"Chloe, would you fetch Sparky please?" You turn to the pony tailed half elf who nods at both you and the queen and hurries off.

"Do you truly wish to expose the- whatever he has become - to this?" Olga asks.

That was not a question you had really considered. Sparky was with you from the start, and he has seen his own share of horrors that rivaled what now laid before you, and more often than not performed by who were technically your allies. Would the transformation he's undergone make him more vulnerable to this?

It was not unexpected queen Olga would think so. After all you had a few reasons to suspect that way as well. But somehow, you did not. You felt Sparky's case would be different.

You believed it would be.

"I do not think his light is so easily extinguished." You convey your opinion to the queen who matches gaze with you, but ultimately slowly nods, accepting your call.

You don't have to wait long. Soon enough the radiant boy enters the cellar. Whether it was simple contrast, or that he had his aura of light worked up from the healing he was performing, the radiance seared away good chunk of the ominous shade blanketing the dungeon.

"Eugh, what a revolting place." The adorable face was momentarily warped with disgust. Then he spotted the principal cause of your concern and his expression shifted to one of grief and sadness. When he looked at you, you could see his own eerie glow reflected in tiny droplets in corner of his eyes. "Mouse, why does anyone... make a choice like this?"

You can tell the answer. Even though drowned in tears of woman who held your grotesque form against her chest, you knew that the urge the beast's voice strived to bring forth was tied to your flesh as well. Pursuit of pleasure could made one blind to suffering of another. And for monsters who embraced Beast's call fully, that suffering itself became a source of pleasure to pursue.

You knew Sparky knew as well. There was no need for you to commit your answer to voice.

"It's enough for me that someone chose differently." Olga speaks instead.

Sparky looks up at her and nods.

"Yes. Thank you, Olga." The boy looks back to you. "What did you have in mind, Mouse?"

"Do you remember the lair beneath the Cathedral City? The one Celestine had purged?"

You can feel as well as see the radiant aura surrounding the winged boy flare as his expression relaxes. "Yes. That was awesome." Then, he looked around. "I think... no, I feel it. Yes."

And then, a blinding wave of of light washes over you.

It doesn't hurt, you realize. You are blinded, but not painfully so. It's more like the reality around you ceased to be and was substituted by something else. The sensation felt not unlike, but also distinct from the warm metaphysical embrace you felt from Celestine or Laurentia.

It did come with a bit of prickling sensation and awe, some of it - you weren't sure how much - Laurentia's.

Gradually, but also rapidly, reality reformed itself around you, and you were all back in the dark, dank cellar. Much of the smell was gone - it was still unpleasant, though the mask you still wore must have sheltered you more than you realized. The arcane script was gone without a trace, dust around where it has been disturbed to mar any leftover patterns. Unholy implements stacked at and around the table were nowhere to be seen. Four naked women on the ground were still unconscious and dirty, but breathing gently, peacefully, in deep sleep, cuts and bruises gone.

You approached them, and the closest one stirred, followed quickly by her peers. The first one you could tell under the layer of dirt was a fit, well built woman, possibly a knight or otherwise of martial persuasion, while the others had softer features.

Quietly you braced yourselves for inevitable round of screaming as the captives came to and noticed you...

...but it never happened. The warrior woman simply slowly opened her eyes and seated herself, as if still halfway in a dreamlike state, blinking at the admittedly bizarre scene before her - a beautiful elven queen, her half elven companion, an armored ogre and between them an angelic boy, with echoes of sunshine reaching down into the dungeon through the rough stairway.

The dwarven contraptions you still had on your faces probably added to the impression.

"Do not be afraid." Sparky broke the silence. "We're here to help!"

"...am I-" The woman begins hoarsely and begins coughing. You take out one of the waterskin you carry and pass it to her. She hesitates, but whatever squeamishness she may feel she quickly overcomes, first washing her mouth, then taking a few disciplined sips. "...dead?"

"No. You are free." You explain. "The men holding you captive have been defeated."

"This may come across as incredible to you, but we're on a quest on behalf of your lady Celestine." Olga fills in without volunteering her identity. "We may discuss more, but I suggest we leave this miserable place, first."

"Yes... yes, that would be... er..." Perhaps for the first time the woman realizes the state she is in and squirms to protect her decency as a blush colors her cheeks.

"If you are able to stand on your own, we will wait for you outside. In the meantime..."

You rummage around things you have on your person and are able to produce some pieces of cloth you might have ended up using as bandages, the warrior woman awkwardly accepts them and the captives sheepishly watch as you exchange nods with Sparky and the elves and then file out of the basement.

Back topside, you leave the mercenary keep behind you and reconvene with your companions under the morning sun. You're not very surprised to learn they found nothing of particular use for your travel. The supplies that were not already spoiled were of inferior quality than what you already left behind in the wagon, and so were the weapons.

What did surprise you was results of Sparky's earlier handiwork. There was about dozen of them, rounded up under guard of Phineous, Smutkin and the twin golems while Maia was interviewing one of them.

They seemed in perfect health, all traces of shadowy corruption gone. When you first saw them, you caught yourself wondering if they would be source of problems. But for now at least they seemed like any fight was washed out of them along with the Beast mutations. Some of them were curled up in fetal position, others resignedly looking into distance, a few seemed to be praying, some of them clearly in direction of Diana and Minerva, neither of them allowed this to sway them from their vigilant posture.

"I could fix them." Sparky explains. "Well... to a point. They can still... unfix themselves."

You gave your transformed companion a worried look.

"...I don't think they want to, though. I... want to believe." Sparky adds.

You contemplate how to proceed and how to assess intention of the restored mercenaries when movement from behind prompts you to turn. Correctly you recognize that the captured women have come out of the structure, clad in some cloaks they must have found inside somewhere. The warrior woman had also found a sword, and before anyone of you could acknowledge them, the sword was drawn and the woman charged forward, the cloak billowing behind her.

"You!"

As quick as you were to decide whether or not to get in her way, Sparky was quicker.

"Stop! There was enough killing today!"

Boy's outburst was enough to stop her in her tracks and for her sword arm to fall. "But what about justice?" She argued nonetheless. "Can you even imagine the amount of suffering and humiliation we endured at their hands?"

"Will their deaths make up for it?"

"You know... there are also other punishments for a man than killing." Chloe voices her opinion, and accompanies it with a snipping gesture with her fingers.

The warrior woman glares past Sparky towards the men, not all of which noticed their fate was being discussed, although some of them simply might not have cared.

One of the men speaks up.

"Er. If I may say something?"

"Speak." You tell him.

"Sir... your healer did what... what we thought impossible. He lifted the chains we didn't realize we bore. And... I can't speak for others, but for me, that's more than I deserve. I will accept whatever judgment the lady wishes to visit upon me."

Looking over his healed compatriots there was no sign of dissent from this stance, at least among those who were paying attention at all.

The apparent sincerity with which the words were spoken gave even the freed captive woman pause, although her gaze was still heavy with understandable loathing, but there was also something else as she glanced to the pleading Sparky, and to you.

"I apologize, sir... er..." She looked up at you, as if realizing for the first time what you are.

"Just Mouse."

"sir Mouse the Just." She misunderstood. "I suppose I should be thankful for being saved, and these... wretches are yours to do with as you please. I just... " She trails off. "I'll deal with it. I just hate the idea of them getting to visit the torment onto anyone else."

She seems hesitant to say any more, but as much as you wouldn't presume being able to fully empathise, despite Laurentia's own aching emotions seeping through, you understand her conundrum. You would have to move on, and if you were to spare the men, you'd be leaving them with the women.

>Perhaps it's simpler than it looks. The culprit seems ready to accept the woman's retribution. Sparky will just have to bear with it.
>No, Sparky has a point, there was enough death dispensed today, and if these people wanted to turn a new leaf, you'd allow it. Spare them and turn them loose. Either group can accompany you for a short while to ensure that the women do not have to share path with their tormentors, repentant or not.
>Perhaps Chloe's suggestion has some merit to it as an alternative to killing them...
>There was enough violence for today, but much more awaits. Press the men into service, they will accompany you into the heart of darkness.
>other idea

I hope this thread will last long enough to collect a few votes. If not, I'll restate the vote in the OP. For now, thank you for bearing with me and see you in the next thread!

>>5938685
>No, Sparky has a point, there was enough death dispensed today, and if these people wanted to turn a new leaf, you'd allow it. Spare them and turn them loose. Either group can accompany you for a short while to ensure that the women do not have to share path with their tormentors, repentant or not.
>The men who want to follow you in your mission may do so
With this we’ll pick only the willing ones so that we’ll have better control and morale.
>>5938692
Thank you OP, see you soon and remember to archive this.

>>5938685
>There was enough violence for today, but much more awaits. Press the men into service, they will accompany you into the heart of darkness.

>>5938685
>There was enough violence for today, but much more awaits. Press the men into service, they will accompany you into the heart of darkness.

their sins shall be washed away in blood and should they die they shall be forgiven as martyrs.

>>5938685
>There was enough violence for today, but much more awaits. Press the men into service, they will accompany you into the heart of darkness.

Rolled 11 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>There was enough violence for today, but much more awaits. Press the men into service, they will accompany you into the heart of darkness.

Rolled 4 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

Rolled 19 - 5 (1d20 - 5)

>>5941261
>>5941263
>>5941265
What are you rolling for ?