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...

You wake up with the gentle swaying of the carriage.
The cobbled road shook the transport little.
And still carrying the dizziness of awakening you crawled out of the makeshift bed and looked around.
Piecing together your mission, the last time you were awake felt so distant that it took you a while to remember.
But before the puzzle in your mind could be organized, a sharp pain coursed through your body.
Someone next to you elbowed you in the ribs.

"Morning princess, it took you long enough to wake up.
We thought you had died, and that would have been very anticlimactic.
We are in the middle of an adventure!"
Emilia was next to you, pale as always and chuckling.
You can't finish understanding what the elf is saying

"What happened?"
"Oh, we figured out how to make booze out of the Chimeras ammunition and you might have drank too much. You slept 20 hours straight."

You have no memory of what happened, but you really feel like you've slept for months.
You look at Emilia, and behind her genuine smile that you are still alive, you realize that there is something she is not telling you.
Her twitching ears and nervous hands inform you that she is probably more responsible for your momentary amnesia than what she would like to admit.
But you didn't care too much for now, so you asked about the mission.
"Have we arrived?"

"Yeah, we're a few minutes from the city." Emilia mentioned looking at the entrance of the wagon.
"We were waiting for you, you are supposed to charm the guards with your demonic appeal."
She said that to tease you, you remembered that Rakta was going to take care of the guards.
The pilgrim costumes and how ugly they were came to mind.

She stood up, dusting off her leather armor and extended a hand towards you.
"Come on, let's get some grub. I bet you're starving after hibernating."

What do you want to do?
>Breakfast (slow reintroduction to NPC’s and plot, its been a long time since last thread)
>Ask Emilia something. (what would you like to ask?)
>Lets approach the city.(Begin the quest proper)
>Write in

(2/2)

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Hello...
It's really been a long time since the last thread.
I feel guilty for not starting before, made another failure of a quest in the meantime to test some mechanics.
Sorry for making you wait.
If you have questions about context or stuff I will answer them though the quest.
Had to reread the old ones before sitting down to write.

I finished the chart!

welcome back
>>5936802
>>Breakfast (slow reintroduction to NPC’s and plot, its been a long time since last thread)
I guess chatchup is in order

>>5936802
>Breakfast (slow reintroduction to NPC’s and plot, its been a long time since last thread)

>>5936802
>Breakfast (slow reintroduction to NPC’s and plot, its been a long time since last thread)
Yesss, we're so back!

Welcome back Qm
>>5936807
the chart looks great your art improved, looks a lot cleaner now

>>5936802
>Breakfast (slow reintroduction to NPC’s and plot, its been a long time since last thread)

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>>5936964
>>5937076
>>5937119
>>5937661
Hello!

>Breakfast (slow reintroduction to NPC’s and plot, its been a long time since last thread)
You got up with the help of Emilia and between the two of you hid your human origin.
So used to not having to hide during your stay in the capital of the Remnants that you needed the help.

When you were finally ready you got out of the carriage.
The sun was rising and the small caravan of real tyr and elves where at a distance.
The stoic nature of the chimera guards who pretended to be pilgrims, disguised with dense fabrics and many holy symbols, intimidated them.
You had brought 20 of the flesh-grown automatons, and they did their job of protecting you well.
Emilia told you about the rumors that were circulating about them.
Disgraced crusaders of a failed campaign, the presence of Rakta sold the idea more.
A useful rumor.

Letting yourself be guided by the elf, she walked with you over to a small fire where the group was cooking some wild game.
Looked like a fucked up mantis the size of a rabbit.
Frankie was the first to say something.
"Creator! I see you awaken just in time to enter the city.
Truly a masterful plan to avoid the tedium of traveling."

The abomination seemed cheerful despite the situation, blinded with whatever delusion would make you perfect.
Born a few weeks ago from an experiment of the chimeras, she was gigantic monster you were trying to socialize.
She was too brazen, but you were managing to lessen her superiority complex.

Hildra raised her hand to greet you while she was cooking.
You had known her since you came into this world, always chasing glory that never satisfied her.
"We still have some of the liquor if you're interested. A shot to wake you up."
In her lap, the mercenary was hiding Potato from wandering eyes.
An infant spriggan you adopted, successfully integrating him into civilization after several months.
Hildra handed you some of the food and discreetly pointed to Rakta, nudging you to talk to her.

Rakta was sitting a little further away from the group, hunched over and covering her face with her hands.
Deeply trapped in thoughts.
The Chosen One of Qothos had had several theological crises since she started accompanying you.
You sat down next to her, starting the tyr warrior.
"Oh, hello."

She wasn't wearing her armor, but a tunic.
Very strange, this was the first time you had seen her in public without it.
"Are you okay?" You asked, noticing the uranium sword that she still carried.
"Just tired, the tyr who follow us expect sermons from me, holy scriptures spoken by a Chosen One.
After everything I have seen, I feel bad for lying to them.
I will get them all off our back after we get inside, don't worry."

"Do we know what to expect when we are inside? How to find the newborn god?"
You should have talked to her about this a long time ago, but it was never timely.
Not even if she wants to now.

"Bellow the giant towers there’s a facility.
I don't know much about it apart from being deep underground, its the only place I can think off where they could keep a god."

You weren't too worried that she didn't know much.
The group had contacts, Rakta within the church, Emilia swore she knew a couple of smugglers and Hildra had the mercenary guild.
The challenge was using them correctly.

What will you do?
>Talk to someone in the group(Who? What do you want to say?)
>Make some preparations (Anything you want to do or leave out of the city?)
>Go inside the city [Auto success]
>Write in


[Game of distortion]
You submit an image and I incorporate it into the quest, the more complex the image the more prone it will be to getting warped.
A box will be a box a forest could become a nature elemental.
>What lies withing the dungeon?
I have a few ideas for the place the newborn god is, I will alter them or add more layers depending on what you submit to the game.

QM Note:
I'm going to take a page out of the game Blades in the Dark.
You will be able to have the preparations made as you go and do things as you proclaim.
So dont worry about mico managing the preparation.
example:
-You are running from someone.
-"I jump out of the window and land in a wagon full of hay we put there before the heist"
-You roll
-If you succeed, the wagon is there and you successfully escape.
-If you don't, the wagon is not there, so you don't jump and keep running.


After a heated debate with myself, the city will not have a map or assigned locations.
You don't have to use the game of distortion to get a specific thing, if it makes sense, it will be on the surface.

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>>5937776
>Talk to someone in the group
Maybe talk to Rakkta about our own faith or beliefs, help her find something else that maybe she can believe in?

>Make some preparations
Any spells we want to preprogram, anons? I'm blanking right now, but might be a good idea.

>What lies within the dungeon?
The burgeoning cult of a new divine, those who are true believers in the infant god and its potential. Maybe some failed Rakta-adjacent experiments?

>Game of Distortion
Pic related.

>>5937878
>Maybe talk to Rakkta about our own faith or beliefs
What are those anon?
I think the general consensus is Christianity, you have previously spoken to Rakta about Jesus.
But also about Buddha and philosophical spiritualism if I remember correctly.

>What lies within the dungeon?
This is the game of distorsion, the image is going to be what you find in the dungeons.
But dont worry, the new cult like thing and posible Rakta experiments were already in the workbench.

>The image
I'm going to sleep on this one.
Many things that we could do.

>>5937899
>What are those anon?
Could always have a subvote about that. I'm inclined to default to Protestant Christianity, though.

>I'm going to sleep on this one.
Get hype.

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>>5937878
>Maybe talk to Rakta about our own faith or beliefs, help her find something else that maybe she can believe in?
You were worried about her and didn't know how to help.
Since you met her you had tried to get her to see the truth so that she would be free from her suffering and you have succeeded.
She no longer see a demon but a human ,and that has blurred in her understanding.

You try to offer her advice by showing a kinder path.
You had spoken about this, about the human gods and their comparison with those who were in this world.
She laughed softly with your words.

"I really appreciate that you try to take care of me.
And I find the notion that your human God could accept me very ironic.
But... Qothos never loved us like... Not even like an artist loves his works.
We were his tools. We are, I think.
And even though I'm starting to hate him, I can still use his miracles, I can call his voice.
Milagros said that he was no longer there, that he was a corpse that couldn't die.
Should I cry for losing a father who didn't love me?"

You continue your conversation about theology for a while, about faiths and if that is enough to create connections with the gods.
But it seems to you that her wound can only be healed with time.
There will never be closure, no answer to her questions.
And that is okay.
Accepting what is, is always the first step.
[Rakta understands the nature of her gods, she may call miracles from any divinity]

You start to clean up the camp a little, Hilda, I congratulate you for relaxing her.
"Look at you, acting the priest. Any words of wisdom for me before the battle?"
"With any luck, there won't be any fights."
"AH! Emilia's liquor made you funnier. "
She said passing you the roasted bug. It tastes odd, like a crab but drier.

What will you do?
>Talk to someone in the group(Who? What do you want to say?)
>Make some preparations (Anything you want to do or leave out of the city?)
>Go inside the city [Auto success]
>Write in

There was no vote to enter the city, I'm not going to force you.
The game of distortion will be open for prompt until you enter the dungeon, not the city.

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>>5937776
>What lies withing the dungeon?

>>5938717
>Go inside the city [Auto success]
The time has come, I think.

>>5938717
I want to cum inside Rakta

>>5939035
Better add something to the Game of Distortion, then, coomer anon.

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>>5939045
I WANT TO CUM INSIDE RAKTA!!!!!

>>5939127
I... Don't think this picture is going to produce the result you desire, but it's an amusing addition to the game anyway.

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>>5939143
I WANT TO TASTE THE SWEAT OF HER ABS!
I WANT HER TO TENDER HOLD ME AND SAY I MATTER!
I WANT THOSE STRONG HANDS TO RUB MY BACK!
WHY CAN'T RAKTA BE REAL! WHY LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT HER!

>>5936807
the art is actually beautiful

Will post 2-3 h late
Sorry

>>5939336
Yeah, QM has come a long way, and the art was never bad to begin with. >>5938717 in particular really impressed me, though.

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>>5938958

You gathered what was left of the camp, saving materials and putting out fires.
The pilgrims cautiously approaching in search of guidance.
Rakta gave a word and organized them to follow you.

"Anon, come here. I want to see the look on your face when you see the city."
Emilia said, grabbing your arm and pulling you up to the front of the wagon.
A few of the chimera soldiers flinched when she grabbed you, but did nothing.

The rest of the group hopped behind, telling stories about the fortress they were going to.
Rumors and experiences of other people about what those walls contained.
The only thing they claimed to be unquestionable truth was that the obelisks were the work of Philgo, architect of magic.

Once you passed over the last hill of your journey, the city completely came into view.
Nestled between forests and mountains a mound of stones and bricks.
All chaotically built around two black fingers of polished stone.
Symmetrical creations casting their shadow over thousands of lives.
Looking down, at the foot of the tumult, a carved stone wall sheltered between medieval like houses.


You turned your head and saw Emilia watching you.
"Cool place, right? Nobody usually sees stone twins the same. Gods shitting on our minds."
You stop to think about it a little, and look back.

"They are pits?" Frankie says in confusion at her own perception.
Hildra pats her shoulder, acknowledging the aberrance in thought.

...

Entrance to the city was without problem, Rakta spoke with the guards explaining a pilgrimage mission.
The soldiers looked exasperated by the long line of people they had to check, so much work at once.
They looked over your group quickly for being the first and the company a Chosen One.
They let you pass into the zigzagging streets of the city.

Frathe Fort was the name of this place.
You learned it by reading a sign at the entrance, but the name didn't feel right.
It was the city of black stone fingers for you.
And while you were passing through the business of equally named strangers, the plan was proposed.

You knew that what you were looking for was underground.
But getting there would require connections and information you weren't sure you had.

What will you do?
>Emilia knows a lowlife bar, there must be someone who will sell you information. (Any specific idea of what you want?)
>Hildra knows the leader of the mercenary guild, and the mercenaries take on strange security jobs sometimes.
>Rakta has connections with the church and inquisitors, very risky but they will have reliable information. (How would you introduce yourself and what would you order?)
>Frankie proposes using explosives, many. Theoretically it would work. Not ethically.
>Potato informs you there are spriggans in this city. If someone deals in intrigue is them, but there is the problem of approaching them. (How would you make an approach?)
>Write in (Who would you like to search for? What would you like to do?)

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>>5939176
I feel like I have used my skills for evil.
Like, this whole world could have been more noble-dark than grim-dark.
I'm questioning if the mental damage I have inflicted on you can be undone.

>>5939336
>>5939595
>>5937661
Okay, I have to say both the Rot eaters and the Demon slaves are AI images I edited and painted a bit.
And Rakta from last post and the Outsider god portrait are very derivative of actual paintings.
The elven plutocrat is traced from a photo of a Rothschild (or something similar, don't remember.)
I take bits from so many places I cant remember any.
Please, I'm a hack, other QM's are authentic. Don't praise this.

And if you guys want to change text or art from the chart go ahead.
The main objective was making something easier to understand than a 20 page word document about the lore.

>>5939703
>Emilia knows a lowlife bar, there must be someone who will sell you information. (Any specific idea of what you want?)

>>5939709
I am a QM, and you're doing fine. Quite good, even. What was your reference for the pic in >5939703?

>>5939772
>Emilia knows a lowlife bar, there must be someone who will sell you information. (Any specific idea of what you want?)

You had used Emilia's contacts before, and they had not disappointed.
Although she made it clear that she couldn't take the entire group.
Too many people at once, it would seem that you are looking for a fight.
After evaluating the benefits and disadvantages, it was decided that Emilia, Hildra and You would go.
Frankie would cause a scene and Potato could trigger detection spells.
And the 20 chimera guards, you didn't even think about it.
Rakta would babysit them.

While Emilia took the three of you through a network of alleys she explained the plan.
"Okay, I've only been to the place once. It's big and there are a lot of exits so don't get lost.
Hildra, you will mix with the dwarven fencers... fence? smugglers.
I've never been able to make deals with the males, maybe you will have more luck.
Anon, I'm going to leave you talking to the bartender, he's the owner, he knows everyone.
I'm going to get us the funds to buy the information you guys find."

"You are not going to a loan shark, right?" You asked a bit worried
Emilia clapped her hands and made a smug face.
She then produced a plastic album from her bag and showed the contents.
It was... a collection of stickers.
Clearly human made, but only stickers.
Some were anime girls, some were scratch and sniff fruits.
"Found this in the Demon Capital. I'm going to sell it to the collectors there."
Were you all going to die?

...

(1/3)

After a couple of turns between alleys that seemed impossible, you arrived at your destination.
It looked like all the other houses around with the exception of a sign hanging over some stairs leading down.
"The Drowned Rat", charming name.
Your descent was greeted by thick air with mingling scents of liquor, smoke and dried blood.
The dim lighting from a fireplace at the back of the room and some candles barely penetrated the haze, lengthening the shadows of the many patrons who occupied the premises.
A soft music of which you could not identify the origin was heard under the murmur of conversations and clinks of glasses.

Hildra was the first to split, seeing her targets from a distance.
"See you at the counter later."

The elf guided you through the sea of bodies, all of them ignoring you.
Most of them played what you recognized as poker.
The cards had other suits, but the principle was the same.
It was only when you snooped in their games that they began to keep an eye on you, covering their cards while you passed.

Emilia dragged you to the bar, where only a couple of lonely souls sat so they could ogle the waitresses.
Behind the wood, the bartender didn't even bother to look up to see you approaching.
An elf with only one arm, Emilia made a show of introducing him to you and he grunted.
And so she left you there, putting some coins on the table so they could give you a beer.

How will you talk to the bartender?
>Ask him directly
>Try a -

"Anon. Good to see you, would you mind sitting with me?"
Someone said behind you.
You froze, the voice was familiar.

(2/3)

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You turned around, eyes wide.
And there sitting alone at a table, was Metis having a pint.
He was more ghoulish than what you remember.
Teeth sharp and pale as a corpse.
But it was him, with his suit and smile, and those gigantic glasses that prevented you from seeing his eyes.

He was the elf who had caused everything.
The one who had led the group to the ruins where they summoned you trying to save their lives.
The one who had leaked altered summoning rituals trying to cause a war between the Empire and the Democracy.
The one who was trying to free Gaia from her prison.
And he was having a pint.

"The All Mother knows why you are here, so do I. Sit, Anon. I want to help you."

What will you do? (Roll 1d20 Bo3 Speech)
>Ignore Metis, try to get information from the bartender. (DC:18)
>Sit down with Metis, hear him out.
>Sit down with Metis, ask him something (What?)
>Attack Metis (DC:???) (what's the plan?)
>Cast a spell (Which one?)
>Write in

>>5939772
The mountain is from Bob Ross painting
https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/LJmiqx7-asset-mezzanine-16x9-M13GLyq.jpg
The city I splashed paint on the center and drew around to make the buildings in a random pattern.
A better example of "I'm a hack" is this image I used to copy the left arm for Metis to be done quicker.
https://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=3766822

>and you're doing fine. Quite good, even.
The Quest is okay,the writting is okay. the setting is good.
but I'm not a good painter.
I'm only good at imitating.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5940597
>Sit down with Metis, ask him something
>>What exactly do you BELIEVE I'm doing?
>>What is it YOU'RE playing at?
>Hear him out.

>>5940600
Imitation of another is how most artists get started, and it's easy to use good references and still come out looking janky as hell. You're too hard on yourself.

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>>5940782
Although the best thing for the world would probably be to see Metis dead you weren't sure if it was a wise decision.
Surrounded by criminals you doubted they would let you attract that kind of attention.
Not counting Metis himself, he was crazy but not stupid.
Unless he's bluffing, he must have some tricks up his sleeve.
You were unable to read him.

You took a seat in front of him, at least you would hear him out.
In the worst case scenario you would just be wasting your time.

>What exactly do you BELIVE I'm doing?

You asked, probing his knowledge.
"I know you are going free a primordial truth. Rescue the All-Mother's granddaughter.
If I had known you saw the injustices of the world as I did I would have recruited you to the cause.
Gaia also holds love towards humans."

The elf's clairvoyance was still working, he knew.
You never found out why he had this ability, but his words confirmed your suspicions.
A gift from Gaia.
You didn't think necessary to ask how much he knew, it was probably everything.

>What is it YOU'RE playing at?

He tilted his head in confusion, smile unwavering.
"I don't understand your question. I want to help you because it's the right thing to do.
The All Mother weeps for her granddaughter, they are both trapped. Drowned.
Isn't it logical that I would come? And isn't it logical that I would ally myself with anyone who shared my resolve?"

>Hear him out

"Okay, say what you have to say."
He nodded and began to explain.

"Gaia wants to open a path for you. We will go to a warehouse no one goes to and she will part the earth.
Then we will descend into one of the depths of the dungeon.
It will not be the layer the child is in. You will need to descend.
Its too... crowded to conduit the All-Mothers power well.
After that, you will ascend and I will reopen the way out. That's it."

"You said that like you are planning to stay back, letting me do all the work. Why dont you want to go down? "
He does not even flinch when you accuse him.

"Alas, Gaia refuses to whisper to me what lies bellow.
I have concluded I'm not supposed to know, so I should not venture down.
Its the only reason I have waited for you, savior."

You are not sure if Metis is lying about his lack of knowledge.
But it is true that if he knew, he could have rescued the child himself.
So it's not so much his machination as Gaia's.
Is that better or worse?

What will you do?
>Accept his offer, he is a wildcard but he wants the best for the newborn god.
>Reject his offer from him, you cant trust Gaia. (You can try talking to the bartender or another avenue from >>5939703)
>Ask him something else (What?)
>Write in

Note: Could have drawn Metis again, but Emilia and the stickers she is going to try to sell to some criminals was more fun.

>>5941427
>the wiggling ears
Oh no, Raktabros, I feel the need to breed this elf.

>Reject his offer from him, you cant trust Gaia. (You can try talking to the bartender or another avenue from >>5939703)
Talk to the bartender. Gaia has no special love for humans that I recall, sow e already know she's BSing Metis.

>>5941462
For the bartender we should probably roll please.
at least to convince him you are not a cop.

> Gaia has no special love for humans that I recall
This is one of those fun things can be debated.
Gaia did marry a human, but quoting Milagros "Mom got VERY attached."
That's not necessarily love, just obsession.
AND not necessarily transferable to the rest of humanity.
Then again, her love for her actual creations is... weird.
She loves the elves, but so does she love the spriggans that eat them.
And she leaked the rituals to humans during her imprisionment.
To the benefit of the natives, but the humans did interact with Gaia, there is a big chunk of her in the capital after all.
And we are not counting her interactions with you personaly.
so, does she love humans?
I dont know.

This is one of those things I love about worldbuilding.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5941544

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>5941544
I am filled with DETERMINATION

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>>5942130
>>5941548
>>5941462
>Reject his offer, you can't trust Gaia. (Try talking to the bartender)

You stood up from the table slowly.
"I don't trust Gaia, Metis. I think he is lying to you and your entry and exit plan depends entirely on her. I cannot accept your offer."
"Wait." Metis said, trying to reach you.
He paused for a second to think, adjusting his glasses.

"Maybe Gaia led me here not to help you, but to talk to you. If so, may I ask for a favor?"
You simply looked at him, surprised as the muscles in his face began to move.
"Don't entrust the divines. They are not people."
There was an emphasis on the word people, a disgust that he was trying to externalize.
He was really trying to stop smiling for this message, and he wasn't quite succeeding.

"The child, because she is a force of nature.
Milagros, for she abandoned her creations when they did not live up to expectations. Deadbeat goddess."
After his outburst, his smile and calm returned.
"I do hope you will change your mind, but best of luck."
(You can return to Metis if you want)

You pushed what Metis had said out of your thoughts for the moment.
You approached the bartender and expressed what you were looking for.
And you told him what you were willing to offer.
[Roll 18 + 7 ; DC 18; Success]

He pointed to a tyr playing a game of cards, he was wearing an old and worn military uniform.
"Herk had an "incident" working in the dungeons, he was not properly compensated according to him. If you right that he will be a friend."
You took note and waited for Emilia and Hildra to return.

...

They did it within a few minutes.
Hildra was disappointed with her results, finding nothing useful.
And Emilia with a medium pouch of what you assume are imperial gold coins.
You were a little surprised that she had even sold the stickers at all.
Emilia seemed disappointed.
"Had to fucking lowball it so they would take them.
Had I found a collector of demon artifacts I would have double this."
It seemed more than enough to you.

(Gain Bag of Money)

You waited until the veteran finished his game before approaching him.
He had lost all his money, so it seemed like a good opportunity to buy him.
There was little negotiation, he wanted the money you offered.
"I can give you a key to the entrance through the sewers and make you a crude map of the interior.
There are levels where I had no access, I was just a guard."
"Can't you guide us?" You asked a bit frustrated.
"Fuck no, I'm never going back in there.
That fucking pit of flesh, suicide.
If you want to die there, go alone."

What will you do?
>Buy the key and information from him (Lose the bag of money, gain entrance key and map)
>Try to get something more from the man (What?)(Roll 1d20 Bo3 Speech)
>Leave, try another approach ( Select from >>5939703)
>Write in

>>5942526
>Buy the key and information from him (Lose the bag of money, gain entrance key and map)

>>5942526
>Buy the key and information from him (Lose the bag of money, gain entrance key and map)

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>>5942533
>>5942673
>Buy the key and information from him (Lose the bag of money, gain entrance key and map)

You accepted the deal and handed him the bag of coins.
"Good, now an important question. Do you have any papers?"

...

The map was very simplistic.
But at least he had added directions on how to get to each point.
Enter the sewer under a nearby residential area, avoid the nearby guard post.
Stick to the left wall and go down the stairs you find.

There would be paths towards storage and if you keep going down, a garrison.
That is connected to a cavern that is used as a prison.
Many criminals and heretics according to him.
Steel doors blocked the path to lower levels.

But, there were two alternative routes if you couldn't open it.
Through the prisons and through a pit that went from the surface to who knew where.
When you asked what was underneath the prison, he couldn't answer.
But he was able to confirm that they used Chosen Ones exclusively as guards.
In addition to that, you examined the key he had given you.
A simple thing that would open all the doors that the basic guards had to go through.

You had exactly the same thing Metis had offered you, except for a fixed escape route in case something went wrong.
But as long as the alarm was not raised, it would be the same.

>Do you have any questions for the former guard? (Which?)

You left the joint and the world seemed much brighter than when you left it.
Momentarily dazzled by the light, Hildra asked you a question.
"Are we ready?"

Are you ready?
>No, we need more information (pick another lead from >>5939703)
>No, we will need more people (Where and who do you plan on recruiting?)
>Yes [WARNING: The descent into the Dungeon begins. NPC or even YOU may die by choices made. Without a roll, pick wrong and you can die.]


[QM Note: You will get every simple item you might need in the dungeons for free. Complex items will require a roll.
The only thing you can get in the surface that won't be available in the dungeon is info and people]

>>5943268
>Do you have any questions for the former guard? (Which?)
Does he know anything about the alarm functionality, or the patrol schedule.

>Yes [WARNING: The descent into the Dungeon begins. NPC or even YOU may die by choices made. Without a roll, pick wrong and you can die.]
As longa s we're bringing Rakta and Frankie, too.

>>5943296
>Does he know anything about the alarm functionality, or the patrol schedule.
"In theory there should be a patrol every 20 minutes per block, but we only did it if there was a commander on site. Otherwise it is when ever.
And the only places where you will always find guards at the main entrance, the barracks and the prison."

"And alarms?" you asked.
"There are buttons on some walls. "They illuminate a light in the garrison" He said pointing at the square just above the prison.
"They won't know what happens, but they will know the general area the button was pressed. It's a shit system, we didn't care. Nothing ever happened."

>As longa as we're bringing Rakta and Frankie, too.
People available are:
-Emilia
-Hildra
-Potato
-Rakta
-Frankie
-20 Pre-War Chimera warriors

>>5943346
Let's do this thing, then. Bring everyone who wants to come; give them a final opt-out. Maybe leave a couple Chimera warriors (and Emilia or Rakta, they can pick) to make sure we aren't blindsided by an ambush as we leave.

>>5943359
>>5943296
>Who stays behind, Emilia or Rakta, they pick.

You met up with the rest of the group and explained the plan to them.
Rakta was a little worried about there being more Raktas as guards at lower levels. "Maybe we should leave a couple Chimera warriors and one of us on the entrance to make sure we aren't blindsided." You propose.

Rakta agrees with you.
"It's a good idea, Frankie and Hildra should come with, there aren't many dwarfs in the city, they would draw attention. That leaves Emilia watching the rear."
"Hey! Why me? Doesn't it make more sense for it to be you?
We already have enough muscle, I have more skills than just stabbing things." Emilia seemed offended that she had been discarded so quickly.

"You are better at negotiating, if someone is snooping around you can push them away."
"You are a Chosen One! They will listen to you more than me."
Rakta sighed.
"Don't you think it would get more attention if there was a Chosen One?"
"We know there are tons in this city," Emilia dismissed her point quickly

"And if things go south down there, how are we going to differentiate you from the Rakta guards?" She pointed out
"All Raktas are not identical, Emilia. Dear Qothos, I'm saving you from going on a suicide mission."
"Fuck off, you just want to go down to get yourself a god to replace Qothos."
Rakta got really angry with that.
"You just want to go down to steal whatever you want that isn't bolted to the ground! Stop pretending its anything else."
"I'm not, I'm just honest."

...

10 minutes later they were still debating, but it had entered personal territory.
"Anon, tell her to stay on the surface!" Emilia exclaimed.
"Why are you dragging me into this?" It was the first thing you thought and said.
"She is always whimpering to you, she will obviously listen."
Rakta interrupted her before she could say anything. "Gods, give me patience. Emilia, you will be more useful up here."
"Doing what, sitting on my ass. I can use stealth, not like you in that armor."
"I can cast the miracles of the gods, that is more useful than the ability to walk slowly."
They kept bickering for a while, and you were tired of their shit.
Hildra was laughing her ass off and she didn't want to interrupt.
Frankie patted you on the back, trying to comfort you.
"Don't judge them Creator. It's only natural they would want to keep close to you, they want to ensure the survival of their mate.
Dumb, because nothing can harm you, but see the passion of the inferior creatures. Is it not amazing? "
"What the fuck, Frankie!" You're not sure who said that.

>Do you decide who stays or do we toss a coin?
1d2 Rakta-1 Emilia-2

>Yes, you are ready.
Your entry into the sewer system was unproblematic.
Crossing it only had the inconvenience of the horrible smell.
A piercing odor that made you vomit a couple of times before diving into the tunnels.
"Anon, next time we are storming the damn entrance." Hildra said, realizing the liquid waste was getting stuck on her fur.
At least there was enough room for all of you to stand.

The rusty iron door opened after a couple of tries, the key clearly having never been used.
And the chamber under the obsidian obelisks was strange, sealed pipes and machines constantly transporting something upwards.
A spacious hall with no ending in sight, ever extending upwards.
Nobody knew exactly what all this was.
It reminded you of a steel mill in your world, but only in atmosphere.
Everything seemed alien, almost organic.
You followed the ex-guard's instructions, you stuck to the wall on the left.
And eventually you reached the point that connected this level with the lower ones.
A metal door, closed and barricaded.
Slightly bent outwards, as if something had tried to escape.
Next to it, sitting in a box, the biggest Tyr you had ever seen.
In armor and with a 1000 yard stare, frozen in time.


What will you do?
>The map indicates a pit that connects to lower levels. Go down using it.
>Kill the guard (Who will attack?)[Autosuccess?]
>Capture the guard (Who will attack?)
>Talk to the Guard (Who will talk to him?)(Ask what?)
>Write in

NOTE: I couldn't make art today, I'll make a couple tomorrow to make up for it.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5944171
Rollin'!

>Capture the guard (Who will attack?)
Hildra and Frankie. Anon can cover.

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Yesterdays

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>Capture the guard (Hildra and Frankie do it.)

You needed to go through that door, and that guard had no sign of starting to move at any moment.
You had to deal with him.
It was decided to send Hildra and Frankie to subdue him.
Rakta was better at summoning miracles, and the chimera warriors had difficulties using non lethal force.

The two “dwarfs” would look out of place, but that would be an advantage.
Hildra decided to take the lead and told Frankie to follow along.
She approached him, weapon hidden and Frankie close behind.
"Hey! You Herk? Command hired the Lady of Steel's mercenaries to assist with security.
And aren't you supposed to have a partner?"

Hildra didn't know how to lie, so she was using the name of her real mercenary company.
And it wasn't convincing if you thought about it calmly.
Luckily, the man was too out of it.
"There’s a cemetery of delusions beneath our feet, and command wants more graves?"
The guard spoke, looking at Hildra with a mixture of disappointment and anger.
And he went into shock when he saw Frankie.

"Turn around soldier, a freak has escaped."
He said standing up and taking a defensive stance.
"Nah mate, she is still a dwarf, lower the-"
They both moved at the same time, him lunging at Frankie and Hildra attacking him.
The Tyr was able to react and avoid the blow, at the cost of the impact being received by his weapon.
With the handle of the ax broken in half, Frankie took the opportunity to punch him with her mechanical arm.
One of his pauldrons was shattered, but he stood.
"To the pit of flesh with both of you!"
He grabbed the box behind him and threw it against Hildra, making her lose balance.

He stepped forward to take advantage of the opportunity but Frankie knocked him down with her tail.
Once on the ground, the chimera had little trouble subduing him.
She seemed to be enjoying his struggle more than the fight.

[Ropes and Chains are a simple item]

Once the guard was well tied up, his fight was barely noticeable.
And opening the door was not difficult.
A spiraling staircase illuminated by some runes scattered on the walls.
All carved in the rock and bathed in dried blood.

"What's down there?" You asked the guard, it was a logical question.
He seemed to be trying to bite his ways out of the chains.
"HEY! What 's down there?"

He paused only for a second.
"Things that won't die! CLOSE THE DOOR!"
It wasn't very useful.

What will you do?
>Ask the guard more questions (What?)
>Keep going down
>Leave some people here, then keep going down
>Use the Pit to go down
>Write in

What will be the fate of the guard?
>Take him with you
>Leave him here tied up
>Kill him
>Release him
>Throw him down the Pit

>>5945091
>Ask the guard more questions (What?)
Like, are they really tough to kill, or are they literally immortal? If they're so tough, how is a single door and guard meant to stop them?
>Ask Rakta about this as well

As for Guardo here...
>Leave him here tied up
Maybe we can zonk him out with a sleep spell and prop him up, though, so he doesn't shout for help or draw attention from anyone who isn't looking closely?

>Ask him questions

"Like, are they really tough to kill, or are they literally immortal?"
This was an important question that had to be answered before moving forward.
The guard looked at you in disbelief at the calmness with which you seemed to take this.
"They are weak, they just won't stay down no matter what you do. Please, close the door."

"How is a single door and guard meant to stop them?"
You kept asking, this didn't make sense.
"I- What? It's not. The... Are you planning on going down?"
The shock of your questions seemed to have calmed him.
"Maybe. Why so much panic if you can only prevent them from ascending?"

"Wait, are you with the damn scientists from the lower levels?
Why are you still trying to go down? We just lost the barracks, whatever you made down there got up to the prisoners and turned them.
I- you need to collapse the tunnels so they can't get out."
"Are they still in the barracks?”
"No, they took everyone down. I'm the only one left."

>zonk him out with a sleep spell and prop him up

This was enough information and you doubted I could tell you anything more useful.
A sleep spell and he fell unconscious to the ground.
You took some time to position him sitting next to the door.
From a distance it shouldn't be noticeable that he had his hands and feet tied up.
Although knowing that he was the only guard left, nothing would happen until those guarding the entrance came.
How long would that take? Maybe until nightfall.

>Ask Rakta about this as well

Rakta was worried about the situation.
"The only thing I can think of is that the infant god is granting miracles to the prisoners.
But that goes against what miracles are, they are bursts of power not something constant.
I also don't understand how all the prisoners could channel divine essence.
It 's a talent. You either have it or you don't."

"Any way to dampen divine essence?"
Rakta shook her head.
"Divine essence is like gravity, you interact with it and it cannot be suppressed."

...

There wasn't much debate about what to do, we had to go down.
The portal to the abyss called you.
You took appropriate security measures and began clearing ground.
The spiraling stairs descended into walls of jagged stone and geometric root formations.
It would look like an odd but natural cave formation if not for the weathered steps.
The foggy lights always roiling just barely away, shushing sounds too early.
Steps muffled barely after they are made, words just after they are heard.

(1/5)
Note: I kind of went crazy writting. We can take a 1 day break if people needed to cach up.

The storage and barracks were completely empty of life.
Abandoned in an instant and stained by the signs of battle.
Echoes of what had happened flourished in every corner.
Doors broken in, improvised barricades knocked down and lakes of blood.
The guards must have fought for a long time to drench the floors like this.
But their enemies were immortal, and that explained the lack of any corpses.

All that was left was to continue going down.
The monotony of this journey was forced to stop when the crystal overtook the walls.
Bright white leaked from the crystalline, dazzling you slightly

…

The final step arrived mundanely.
Opening up to an empty chamber, another guard post carpeted with blood and guts.
But their vessels were not here, and the stagnant smell of blood was broken from time to time by the breaths of the open door at the end of the chamber.
A metallic fortification bent open to let the caverns breathe.
Carefully you entered this last room.
There was nothing behind, the danger only ahead.
You could hear strange sounds from where you were.
While your companions approached the other connected rooms, some holding simple beds while others hosting esoteric machines.

You had a lapse of judgment as you step towards the breached vault door.
Sticking your head through the opening.
It was a natural cavern with built in layers, pillars upholding the unstable rocky firmament.
The path of your descent now revealed to be a lighthouse in the center, pushing back cosmos at the edge of the light.
A vastness that mirrored constellations and celestial bodies.
Shadows danced obscuring the nebulas, their silhouettes never well defined.
All cheering the gruesome play at the axis of this place.

2/3

File: Cave.hell.png (1.4 MB, 1051x736)

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[Game of Distortion: >>5937878 (Eternal Conflict, Endless Gore) >>5939127 (Swollen Sculpted Flesh, Buff Doctor) ]

And in the center of the coliseum there was chaos.
Warriors and abominations fighting, splitting and mixing bodies.
Moans and screams as they separated into new shapes.
All sculpted bodies are too deformed to belong to a living creature.

You were seeing them move but you couldn't finish understanding what they were.
Like a figure passing too fast, everything was blurry.
But you knew what was happening, you felt their anger and fears as the skulls crushed and reformed into the adverse flesh.
A horrible dance of slender purity.

The only other thing there was was the breathing pit.
Its raspy sound now more organic, more like a voice that never learned to speak.
You would have continued observing from your hiding place, transfixed by the sights.
But Hildra pulled you, and warned you without making a sound that there was a way to continue going down.

…

And there it was, a gigantic steel door.
It would probably weigh a ton.
Sealed and blocking progress.
How is this supposed to open?
There were no locks or handles.
It was basically a metal sheet.

What will you do?
>Investigate the door (ideas on how to get it open?)
>Try to descend through the pit (how?)
>Fight your way through the abominations, there should be a way down there. (the plan?)
>Cast a spell (Which one?)
>Rakta miracles? (what God?)
>Write in

Note: nvm it was not that much, looked like a lot becouse I had it in several tabs.

>>5945876
Do we have the MP for an anti-magic sphere? if so, we could kite the abominations to us, then cast?

>>5945980
You have all the MP you want, you can set up a killzone, you get any item you want.
But divine fuckery is not magic.
Example is you are inmune to ilusions but Milagros still looked like an elf.

You have "infinite" resources for any plan you want to do.
But even with that this dungeon is supposed to be hard.

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>>5945980
The anti magic sphere will not disable them.
Writting an update about a plan that would just fail becose I couldnt answer close enough feels wrong.
I will wait till tomorrow.

Have an image of sculptures I'm making

>>5946320
>>5946699
I'm bad at puzzles, so the only other thing I can think to try is to fight our way down with Spatial Torsion or to grant us all Invisibility and sneak down. IF the latter isn't immediately doomed to failure, let's try
>Invisibility for all our friends, then sneak down

>>5946780
>IF the latter is not immediately doomed to failure
>>Invisibility for all our friends, then hide
[Roll X + min 5 + 15 (Spell); Auto Success]
Total aberration used: 66 (22 people * 3 per spells)
[NOTE: I will give you success but no more magic, thats more mana that you realistically could have.]

You really wanted to avoid a confrontation with these things, at best it would be a battle of attrition and you would lose that.
The Spatial Torsion spell could probably clear them, but it was a dangerous spell.
And so you opted for a classic.
A massive invisibility spell for the group.

Getting so much mana was somewhat problematic, you had to empty your batteries and more.
But some well placed runes and keeping the chimeras very closed together you did it.
A curtain of light fell on you, a resplendent illusion that allowed you to enter the stomach of the beast.
You left the lighthouse and stepped onto the bloody floors of the prison.

The hosts were busy dancing between blows that released the flesh and bone.
They didn't notice any of your or the ripples of your steps in the gore.
Among the rags they were wearing you recognized some guard uniforms.
If these were trophies or clothing from their lives you couldn't tell.

Approaching the misty peripheries of the improvised coliseum.
The dancing shadows dissipated, opening a perfect tunnel forwards.
As if you saw a pipe from the inside but with the size to pass a car.
It was impossible.

So you walked away again, searching with the former guard's map for the passage.
On the top level at the end of the cells.
You managed to climb up, and the black fog did not leave the walls of the cavern.
You found the point the map said, and again a perfect tunnel.
As if a giant had put his finger through the rock.

You looked at Rakta, who claimed that this was another miracle of the rising god.
So you went inside.

[You have descended to the last level, congratulations.]

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[Game of distortion;>>5938922 Penitent Machine; Holy Suffering]

When did the sky open?
Lost in a desert of flesh, the sparkling lightning touched stalactites of suffering.
You were all still together, you could see them.
You were alone, the replicant moon was hollow.

The sighs of the wind accompanied the exhausted screams of her mother, her protruding head was not able to bite her tongue.
This was wrong, the bone plates echoed her presence.
Enveloping twisted love that protected the infant, or perhaps bound it.
Intentions without clarity transformed into truth, you noticed the pulsing machinery under the living ground.

Each breath of air felt repeated, suffocating.
The mother kept screaming, why didn't she shut up?
There were so many corners to hide from the sound, so many mountains to climb.
Was it too late to turn around?
Had you delved too deep?

You heard the screams of your companions.
Rakta was crying in front of the pleading head of her reflection.
A self in another life perhaps, an extension of her flesh.
Hildra walked in trance through gardens of skin, floating in delirium.
And Frankie enjoyed crushing the pleading eyes that wept like pustules.
Potato keeps tugging at your clothes, asking you why so much life was void.

What will you do?
>Explosives, you must destroy this place (Pick one place in the image to place the explosives)
>This must be a dream or illusion, so dream logic must apply (What do you want to do?)
>Rakta miracles? (what God?)
>Enter one of the crevices. (You will progress, you will be alone)
>Write in

Just in case you do something that might kill you,
lets do whats basicaly a saving throw.
Just in case.
1d20 Bo3

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>5947562
>This must be a dream or illusion, so dream logic must apply (What do you want to do?)
>Rakta miracles? (what God?)
If dream logic applies and this is a sort of 'other self' of Rakta, perhaps she can pray... To her own twisted reflection, for an answer to the terror which now consumes us all, and a way through to end the suffering and improve the world?
>>5947575
Rolling!

>>5947608
>Rakta prays to the "Other Self" for a way through to the end.

You reached for your friend, placing your hand on her shoulder.
Rakta did not react, kneeling frozen before the bleeding effigy.
So you whispered the idea in her ear.
If this is a dreamscape, she could reach the dreamers within herself.
Is it not praying to the gods turning inwards to find them?

The rapture of dread was broken, a ritual motion taking her body.
Hands clasped for communion, head bowed to a skinless earth.
The sky falls silent and empty, the pillars of marrow surround you all.
The chimeras recall your companions, forcing them closer, for in this madness the androids remain impassive.

And then dawn breaks, and all the pleading eyes turn towards the chosen one.
The bust focused all of her attention on the paladin.

[Roll for Rakta, Bo1 as she does not have the Chosen skill]
[Roll 9 + 8 (Insight) ; DC 20 (See note) ; Results=Failure]

(1/4)

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And the screaming began anew, ever louder, arising from your friend.
The ground made into embers, the sinews turning to ash and bones to coal.
The sky aflame and Rakta was lifted.

Floating among strands of suffering she had something taken.
She had something given.
She had something broken.
And the nightmare peeled away into rubble.

...

You did not wait to take in your new surroundings, you rushed to Rakta.
Her body was splayed on the floor like a broken doll.
You stood next to her looking for wounds, something to point and fix.
Her armor shattered and her skin covered in burns with electrical patterns from head to toes.
Her eyes were closed but tears of blood ran down her cheeks.
Your only consolation is that she was still breathing.

You had no magic left to heal her wounds, but you knew that would only be a superficial healing.
With a lump in your throat, you didn't know how to react.
And it wasn't until Hildra began treating the burns with some of your supplies that you were taken out of shock.
Then you began to help.
The mercenary had seen many things in her life, and she silently covered the Chosen One in a sea of bandages.
A mummy with a heartbeat.

Hildra looked down on her work, a mix of sadness and shame on her face.
And she picked the woman up, using both her arms to carry her.
"Anon...look around." She said, you were still busy holding tears.
Your comatose friend broken past recognition.

Around you there were extensive ruins.
A disk of destruction that had brought down most of the walls of this floor.
It all mirrored the dreamlands from before but reconstructed with steel and stone.
All with the exception of the gigantic obsidian needles impaling perhaps dozens of people.
All dead but disturbingly similar in appearance to what your Rakta now had become.

You tried to focus on the obsidian, a hollow crystal with veins of gems running through it like blood vessels.
Colored opals taking almost recognizable shapes.
Always in change.

…

In this mess there was no hope of becoming lost, the new god beacons you forth.
Step by step you plunge into the darkness, the horror within too stark.
The crater of his actions is decorated by victims of curiosity.
You step from destruction into man made halls with animosity.
A drop of water reverberates, his horizon sees a sun sets.
Some of the tiles break under your steps, you hear a song coming to an end.
A prisoner's hand brushes your skin, the sky bleeds a crimson akin.
Your hand placed on the last cell, scream a name you will forget.
Look back filled with regret, trees bloom on this beautiful day.
The night is broken by a howl, you are forced to fall down.
You are inside and the journey is over, the altar of change is forced closer.

(2/3)

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You managed to push through whatever all of this is.
Your companions are still to your back.
And forth looking you see the end.
The stone carved walls transitioning to polished granite, all illuminated faintly.
This whole place reminds you of the interior of a church.
Its tall columns and laborious carvings imply that it was never intended to contain the infant.

For in the center, a pyre of hollow light limited by iron etched in runes.
And there, absent, was the snake with a hood of flowers.
Singing hymns tainted by experience.

You can see the god, but you are afraid to get close.
The emptiness compared to the destruction outside does not send a clear message.

Who will approach the newborn god? (Note: We will switch to the perspective of the person approaching)
>Yourself, you can't ask someone else to do it.
>The chimeras (how many?)(They need very clear instructions to follow to do this, write them)
>Hildra, she follows honor above all else, she has a clarity of purpose.
>Frankie, she has a will of steel and the resilience of tungsten.
>Potato, he can see what others can't, maybe he can empathize better than you.

QM Note; The DC is so high because this was not "Another Self".
They were other Raktas, suffering in a "machine".
The DC is so high becouse she spiritually connected to a torture stream of herself in HD.

>>5948447
...Oh fuck. Ooooh, no no no.

>>5948450
>Potato, he can see what others can't, maybe he can empathize better than you.
Best guess I got. One weird monster chidl to another

>>5948450
>Us and potato
dont really wanna sacrifice anyone else but potato can see shit, what could a tiny creature that fits in our palms do? Thats why we go too.

>>5948447
This breaks my legs
This makes me get stuck in my cycles of guilt.
I wonder if the outcome would have been different if I rolled too.

>>5948713
If two of us can go, yeah, I'd like to accompany Potato.

>>5948713
We'll never know, anon. This is the way things must be now. I only hope we can help her.

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>>5948713
>>5948719
>Us and Potato

You couldn't ask anyone to do this, you couldn't sacrifice anyone.
So it was up to you to make the approach.
You knew you could die, but you don't want to endanger anyone else.
And yet you knew that this could be too big for you.

So you asked Potato to accompany you, at his choice.
The spriggan had proven to see the raw nature of magic at times and that could very well save you.
He, as always, didn't quite understand or care about the gravity of the situation and accepted.
He abandoned Hildra's pocket that you had put him in so he could socialize with more people and clung to your arm.
He looked like a green sloth.

And without further delaying all this, at the zenith of your destruction, you advanced.
Each step heavy, the closer you got to the god, the more difficult it became to move.
Whether your muscles were failing or the air you pushed with each step was getting thicker, you weren't sure.
Each breath of air was a suffocating effort.
The vision of your world reduced to a few inches, everything surrounding you was darkness.
You felt like a fish in the open ocean. exposed, alone, a prey to greater things.
Tremors took to your flesh.

"Don't take it all in,"
You managed to turn your eyes to Potato, gripping your arm.
His greenish skin shifted through the many colors of the forest.
Amber eyes through his wooden mask.
He spoke again
"You are being greedy."

You couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all.
What exactly were you absorbing? Manna? Divine essence?
Did it matter?
You let go, and the god noticed your presence.

You look at your hands, trapped by entropy, limited by your time and slaves to sensation.
You raised your head to the vision of a recreation of reality, limited by your nerves.
You couldn't do anything other than cry, blurring the imperfect image created by your brain.
You understand why that thing looks down at you.
With envy, with joy, with rage, with sadness.
You faintly hear Potato scream at it to stop that.

Are you another supplicant, desiring form?
A pilgrim in search, would perdition change us?
Eternal seconds of reflection under this oppressive figure.
How did I plan to get you out of this place, strange creature?
I don't know how to save you, forgive me.
You reach down from the altar, the flesh bound ape foaming from the mouth.

There is a bundle of plants trying to shake it awake.
It reminds you of the flowers a Mother once brought you.
But Mothers were just an imitation, they left once given.
This world is so cold and small.
A glass falls from a table and shatters.

You stop singing in the hope of hearing its melody.
You look at your face and it suddenly no longer belongs to you.
It belongs to this thing that is dying, alone in its body.
It's scattered on the ground, trying to crawl.
You gargle a fragment of the songs, the world sifts so you can take a closer look.
So similar yet odd from Mothers features, distant from the penitent ones.
What am I?
A skull lies in a muddy field, worms consuming what little remains of the rotting flesh.

You rotate your body on the ground, paralyzed, betrayed by your muscles.
You see Potato now clinging to the infant, he is asking for something.
The godling just looks down, confused by the touch.
We are alone, no angels will descend to the altar.
You don't understand what's happening, everything is so heavy.

You remember that you are already dead and you regret everything but you would change nothing.
You're sorry they came to rescue you, you are happy you are not alone.
A wave breaks against a rocky shore, scaring the crabs that cover the shore.

Little by little, the gurgle of music reappears.
Broken imitation of ancestral songs created by the infant.
Soothing something deep in your entrails, drunkening your judgment with calm.
Why? We both cry, trapped in ourselves and unable to understand.
Potato tries attacking the godling, one of her eyes bleeds.
There is only pain, there is no injury.
What do you want?
Death will not take us, we are anathema.

We have lost something in the path here.
But you have no arms to reach out.
What could you do for them apart from crying?
The sound of the rustling leaves touches a lonely cloud in a bright blue sky.

What will you do?
>Sing to the human, is the only thing you can do (What do you want?)
>Call for Mothers, they don't come back for you, maybe they will come back for him.
>Do not sing, we are born to be alone, return to your place.
>He is cold, bring him to the fire.
>The Potato screams, why can't it see? Touch it.
> Take it home, he should not be here.
>Write in

[Warning; Anon can die here. No dice rolls. I want to be crystal clear, you are controlling the god, he does NOT know better.]

>>5948713
>wonder if the outcome would have been different if I rolled too.

If you go to the pastebin with your stats the first skill is "Chosen", Its the integrated mechanic to explain the Bo3.
Despite Rakta being called the Chosen One, she does not have the skill.
That's why most enemies only get one dice roll.
I would have still taken the first roll even if you rolled too.

>>5949235
>OP says he's bad at art
>produces this
I don't buy it.

>>5949238
> Take it home, he should not be here.

>>5949276
>>5949238

Can the newborn really send us home?

I tought connection to our side is impossible.
Could it be because the newborn is not using magic and the spell used in our summoning is using conventional magic rules?

I dunno what to vote for, maybe ...

> Change our shape to mimic his perhaps we could understand them this way?
(child god tries to take on a form similar to ours, or something like that)

>>5949901
Yeah, okay, I'll back that... If it's even possible.

>>5949238
Changing my vote (>>5949276)

>>5949901
I should have locked the vote.
The update will be a bit late, I'm starting again.
fuck.

>Can the newborn really send us home?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

>Could it be because the newborn is not using magic
The gods dont use magic, its something else.
The how it works doesn't matter, the limits are unclear to mortals and me.

Have a list of some miracles I made, maybe it will shed some light on what this fucker could do.
https://pastebin.com/C3vrxGXa

>>5949976
Sorry, QM. I'd rather stay here than go home anyway, I just wasn't sure that the others wouldn't kill, derange, or mutate all our friends. :(

> Change our shape to mimic his perhaps we could understand them this way?

Poppies bloom in a distant field, mirroring veins the same,
They will never reach this blooming frame.
Touch of change, in mirrors dance,
Echoes made in your fleeting glance.

In mirror act will you finally confide?
She takes your flesh, not to hide.
Reflecting truths, then covered stark,
Only mirrors of the eyes are not in the dark.

...

You take a deep breath,
like someone waking up from a nightmare in which he was drowning.
Your hands are still shaking, you manage to sit up.
The pressure in the room had disappeared.

And at your feet there was... a humanoid, human like?
She was touching the granite ground and transforming it into flowering bushes
Then watching as Potato used his magic to change their color.
Then she would change their shape, and so on.
Like drawing over each other's doodles.
And then it looked up to you.

Window eyes to electrical storms and currents ichor.
She looked with a neutral expression, waiting for you to do something.
"Are you okay?" Potato asked.
You focused a little more on him, the altered him.
His vibrant colors had been replaced by ceramic sheets interconnected with cables.
Only scraps of his former nature left growing between the cracks.
"What happened to you?" you manage to utter.
"Us." He corrects.

What happens to you? Roll 1d6
1- She mirrors you and you mirror her, something in between.
(You are no longer human. Strength, Aberrance and Corporeality become unknown.)
2- You have gone back in age, you have 3d4 + 5 years.
3- All your past wounds bloom flowers, you don't know if you can remove them.
4-Your eyes shine like lanterns, they project light.
5- You have lost the sensation of touch in your arms. You can use them, it's just that you can't feel.
6- You become androgynous

You can't do anything except push what happened to you aside and focus on the girl.
You approached and extended your hand, she grabbed it.
Her touch was too hot, it seemed like she had a fever.
And the maelstrom in her eyes only seemed to worsen.
Time was limited before whatever power she had internalized would go haywire.

[The newborn god has turned the excess of energy inward to stabilize this form. You have two days before she "Explodes"]

File: Blooming one.jpg (1.7 MB, 4937x2856)

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You guided the newborn to the group, whatever it had done to itself the danger seemed minimized.
Hildra looked worried, unsure if this was part of your plan.
She took a baby-talking to the god, and it did not react.
Frankie seemed more concerned with the fact that her creator had been changed from his "perfect" form.
And thankfully the Chimeras still recognize you as the same person.

Fuck, you need to get out of here.
But you assumed you would have had more time to prepare a place for the godling to "explode"
Where the fuck can you take it less than a few days.

Where are you aiming?
>You can probably get to the edge of the wastelands, but it will be painfully obvious to the Empire who took the newborn god.
>There is a river nearby, you can steal a boat and be on the coast in a day. The problem would be you are going in the opposite direction to the Remnants.
>South, to the deep forest. The danger would be what the "explosion" will do to the wildlife.
>Write in.


Note: I posted before the art was done. will post it in a bit.
Have pictures of the diferent variations of the sculpture of the god.
The wings are rotting becouse I didnt preserve them well enough. Seperations of fotos is around 5 months.

>>5949988
Don't feel bad for changing your vote.
And I will not confirm what any of the options I gave would do.
We live by the paths we take, not the ones we don’t.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5950167
Oh jeez. Okay, rolling.

>>5950171
>You can probably get to the edge of the wastelands, but it will be painfully obvious to the Empire who took the newborn god.

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>>5950179
Right on.

File: God.kid.png (603 KB, 1017x708)

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>>5950181
Kek

>>5950171
>>5950181

If i remember correctly in thread 1 Anon is described as a young boy or "shota" around 15yrs old?
We picked the student preset and all that.
It seems we basically became Astolfo, hope we did not lose our strength.
Heck our enemies may underestimate us because of our delicate frame, not knowing it houses the strength to fell giants.

The mental image is quite surreal, a girlish looking young boy wielding a big halberd a magically enhanced "gun" killstick that tears our enemies a new one if it touches them.
lol

>>5950179
>support
Idea: what if we use her (voice of change explosion) to turn the wasteland into a lush jungle creating a natural barrier to the rest of the world? She already seems to have an affinity with plants.

>>5950690
15-17, I think, yeah.

...How old in human twrms are Emelia and Rakta?

File: Experimentation.png (684 KB, 764x726)

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>>5950179
>>5950690
>You can probably get to the edge of the wastelands, but it will be painfully obvious to the Empire who took the newborn god.

You needed to return with Remnants quickly, there was no point in delaying your arrival.
The Empire would learn it was you who took the newborn god, be it by Gaia’s meddling or some other factor.
And minimizing what damage this goddess power going haywire could do would be null in the wasteland.
You also need to take Rakta to the Charon, he is a doctor after all.
He can probably fix what has happened to her, right?
You grab onto that hope and begin getting away from this cursed place.

You walked forward, holding the goddess hand.
Her deep eyes looking towards the exit, somehow even larger than before.
Had she never left this room?
You gave a light squeeze to her palm and she tilted her head looking at you.
She squeezed back with confusion.
You needed to get her out, Milagros had a plan, you just needed to deliver her.


-[INTERLUDE SO I CAN HAVE A DRAFT FOR THE WASTELAND]-


“Oh, look at this one. Do you think it's in pain?” Flora asked, thrilled by the craft.
A toad covered lichen was being eaten by flies.
The sadistic spriggan had a lot of talent and knowledge, but her creations were meant to be toys.

Ghal would have kicked her out if not for his master's orders.
She was useful and followed every order, but it was a pain in the ass to work with.
The Wasteland revitalization project had an importance she did not care for.

“You made it to have nerve endings in every pore, so yes, it's in a lot of pain.” He fought the urge to strangle her.
“So it would make a good prey animal. Could generate so much mana, we could get some predator species to cast spells.”
“You can engrave runes into living creatures.” Ghal interjected with an annoyed voice.
“Sure you can, why do you think you are still alive? It's not because you still have a heartbeat.”

“I mean it's dangerous. Any genetic deviation could lead to…” He left it there, unsure of what could really happen.
“Have a little fun, Ghal. We are playing god!” Flora said, poking the agonizing animal.
“And they are all fuck ups. No, take this seriously. And don't call me by my name, parasite.”
“Sure thing, sir ass.”


>Build the animals (1 per player)

Spreed [0] / Danger [0] / Longevity [1] / Size [0]/ Genetic Stability [0] / Intelligence [1]

//You have 5 points to distribute.
(These statistics can go from -5 to 5,
Example: Longevity -5= Lives for a couple of days. 5= Lives 100 Years.
Intelligence; -5 sea cucumber; 5 People)
If you put a -5 you earn 5 points to distribute elsewhere.

Animal kingdom and place in the food chain will be assigned according to stats.

Flora's modification (optional):
The animal will be perfect livestock. Intelligence gets set to 3 and cannot be changed.

>>5950690
>Anon is described as a young boy or "shota" around 15yrs old?
I have never described Anon.
It is something by design, for Anon is the chosen window for the players and not a person.
But the chosen background was Student and I joked the elves had summoned a shota in a typical elf fashion.
Someone panicked for playing a minor and we decided to set uni student.
I think.

>>5950699
Dont ask a lady her age.
They are young adults.
but elves live up to 65 years and tyr up to 40 years so the math of who would be older in human terms or so is off.

The ascent was without trouble.
When the goddess had turned things inwards the strangeness that affected the dungeons was lifted.
The impaled bodies now rested on the ground and the immortal abominations laid dead.
The nebulas surrounding the lighthouse dispeled.
What influence she had bleed to the world was gone.

Emilia greeted you on the exit, relieved when she saw you.
“Thank the gods, Charmer... Is that the godling?” She crouched down to its level.
The kid gripped your leg firmly and was looking around nervously, mesmerized by the open sky and clouds.
Emilia extended her hand a bit, reaching for her, but decided against it.
She got up and looked a little closer at you.

She then went straight to joking.
“Hey, what happened to you? Is it permanent? The good news is you can probably charm everyone now. Fitting.”
You didn't really respond, just pushing forward as you always do.
“Hey are you okay? It 's not bad. It's a rideable face.”
Then she saw Hildra exit the tunnel with Rakta on her back.
You faintly heard her swear under her breath.

…
It had been hours, and the city was long behind.
And Rakta was not waking up.
No matter what spells you used or healing items spent.
A heavy sensation stirred your guts.
And a voice in the corners of your mind began to wonder if she would wake up.

You sat next to her laid body inside the wagon.
The newborn god was safe but you had lost one of your companions.
And alone with your thoughts you began to speculate ways to fix her.

Charon may be able to do something, the scientist android.
So could the goddess Milagros once she came to pick up the kid.
Or the kid… Could she restore the chosen one?
But what if they bring her back and it's not her?
Should you just wait? Will she wake up on her own?

Hildra interrupted the spiral you were falling into.
“Anon, there is something I need to ask you.”
She had been sitting there with the goddess in her lap.
Pointlessly brushing the untamable hair of the infant.
The godling was looking at the floral pattern in the dress she had been put in.
You nodded at her, indicating you were listening.

“What is the plan? After we give away the kid, the Empire will come knocking.
Are you planning on fighting all of them? I know I’m always looking for the next challenge, but I don't want to die, Anon.
We did a good thing getting this baby out of there, but what's the next step?”

>>5950953
>Spread [1] / Danger [1] / Longevity [1] / Size [0]/ Genetic Stability [3] / Intelligence [1]

“I…” You know she is right, you have been working hard on getting everything back working.
But if the Empire comes in full force you may need to break open the old armory of humanity.
You may need to slaughter thousands.
Shit, maybe you need to ask Milagros to intervene, or get Fhilgo, the god of magic, involved.
You should be able to contact the god of magic though magic right?

Hildra spoke again.
“Dwarfs say courage is a fire that pushes back fear. But all fires need fuel, do we have a plan?”

What will you say?
>Yes (Explain briefly)
>Yes <lie>
>”What do you think we should do?”
>No
>Change the subject (To what?)
>Write in


Note:Odd no votes. Anyway, the “Build an Animal” was to make time to figure the next few posts.
I will post art once I get the postures right.
Might be in the morning.

>>5951663
>rideable face
Emilia, not in front of Potato! Or the other vegetable! Hahaha, aaah... Poor Rakta :(

>>5951667
>”What do you think we should do?”
Though...
>Yes (bust out the armor, manufacture defensive chimeras if needed, and hunker down)
Not that we WANT a war, but honestly, it was probably inevitable when they learned we existed and were rebuilding in the wasteland. Let's at least try diplomacy, though.

Not that odd to have no votes (though I got in on it at >>5951664 just now). We seem to have two players, and I was busy.

>>5951667
Finally caught up, welcome back QM
>>5951677
Support
And let’s not fall into despair yet, Rakta can still be saved and plus, our new look can be used for some better seduction, mainly on Emilia.

>>5951667
Hey Qm
Will the jungle explosion still happen?
Or it will be just a regular explosion.
Do we know about it?

Part of the plan would be to introduce the empire its own vietnam, using the newly created natural barrier the jungle (if it happens).
Then support
>>5951677
This anons plan with restarting the remnants industry.
If the wasteland turns into a jungle then we'd also have plenty of biomass to harvest.

File: Taking-care.png (579 KB, 619x689)

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>>5951677
>Or the other vegetable!
Lol

> We seem to have two players, and I was busy.
Dont worry. Life comes first.

>>5951979
Hello!

>>5952096
>What do we know about it?
Nothing, but thats the next post so...

Next post will be on normal schedule.

File: Wild.Wastes.png (1.29 MB, 931x737)

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>Yes (bust out the armor, manufacture defensive chimeras if needed, and hunker down)

You explain the basics of your plan to Hildra.
At the end of the day you have something the Empire does not have, heavy industry.
For all the lack of manpower, you can make more.
For the lack of magical warfare, you have gunpowder.
And for the lack of a dead god backing you, you have the capacity to create a hostile environment.

Hildra seemed relieved, a weight lifted from her shoulders.
“So, no Hejil Fire. Good, I’m afraid to die, but I was also afraid your only plan would be to use them.”
“Hejil Fire?” You asked
“Yeah, like the place. The fire that killed Qothos, everything in the lake nearby is still dead and a lot of the sea into which it flows. ”
She was talking about nukes.
You didn't know if there were still any, Cedalion had certainly never mentioned any existing ones.
And knowing some of the spells you had, maybe they were not necessary.

…

The rest of the way was peaceful.
No hitches.
But everything was unusually quiet.
Emilia kept outside, silently regretting her last conversation with Rakta.
Hildra took to care for the godling, keeping an eye on her while she concentrated in the most mundane parts of the world.
And Frankie knew to give you space for now.

When you finally arrived at the wasteland you almost didn't notice.
The greenery from inside the cart seemed the same.
But Frankie’s swearing made you look out.
The sight was odd to say the least.
…
[FROM LAST CREATION AND THIS ONE]
Propagation[1] / Use [2] / Longevity [3] / Vitality [1]/ Growth Speed[0]/ Genetic Stability [1] (Bush. Brings subterranean water up to be used. A necessity that's difficult to exploit.)
Propagation[3] / Use [0] / Longevity [3] / Vitality [3]/ Growth Speed[0]/ Genetic Stability [-1] (Vine like trees, Not useful, based on Kudzu, let's make them float for fun.)
ANIMAL
Spread [1] / Danger [1] / Longevity [1] / Size [0]/ Genetic Stability [3] / Intelligence [1]
(Very average, Good stability. Most average animal in the glove is Deer (cervids). Everywhere. So here too. But smaller.)
…

A land of gigantic mushrooms and and vines that reached to the sky and seemed to attach to the permanently cloudy sky.
natural pillars holding up the heavens.
And you started to see creatures begin to inhabit the lands.
The ground still kept its gray, but everything else seemed so normal.
You weren't sure how stable this ecosystem would be, or how long it would last.
But for now it was enough.

Hildra called you over before you could act.
“Anon, the kid is boiling. I have been following the temperature and it's only getting worse.”
that was probably the sign that its powers were going to go haywire soon.
that left a question to be answered, was anyone going to stay with her?

Like, you could leave the kid here alone, go to a safe distance, and then come back.
But the problem was leaving the kid alone.
Maybe you should leave a chimera.
They are expendable soldiers, machines made of flesh.
Whatever happens, she is not going to hold much longer.

Is anyone going to stay with the Goddess?
>No, its only going to take a minute. Leave her alone.
>Stay yourself, put on the power armor and endure it.
>Ask someone else to do it.
>Order a chimera to do it (give it some instructions)
>there must be some other way (Write in)


[Game of distortion]
You submit an image and I incorporate it into the quest, the more complex the image the more prone it will be to getting warped.
A box will be a box, a forest could become a picture of a forest.

>Give something to the goddess to concentrate on.

This game will be a bit meta. It's something fiscal you are going to give or words spoken to the goddess.
So anything you submit without explanation will be transformed into something you could give her.

File: GlowingShroomForestFromAvatar.jpg (75 KB, 700x394)

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>>5952453
>[Game of distortion]
Close your eyes, imagine a forest with tall over arching trees. Their crowns intersecting as if they were holding hands. Here and there a stray ray of sunlight pierces the canopy, revealing the net of lianae hanging from the trunks. Further down on the forest floor. various ferns and cycadaceae hog the few places that the sunlight reaches. Everywhere else various fungi make their home in the wet and malleable soil the perfect place for them in the dim and foggy atmosphere of the forest.
As night falls colonies of fluorescent fungi make their presence known on the lower layers light purples, pale greens and countless other shades of vibrant colors creating curious shapes and spectacles in the cool evening fog.

TLDR: Its the dark forest from minecraft but with a slight damp neon rave vibe at night.

I dont know if we should leave her alone for this. If this works out it might be a pain to find her again. Then again last time he was exposed to the weirdness Anon became a twink.
We have to whisper the instructions in her ear while and maybe hold hands so she doesnt freak out more than needed. Maybe if someone is there to calm them down the outcome will be less horrific.

>Stay yourself, put on the power armor and endure it.

File: a friend.png (274 KB, 510x298)

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>>5952453
>Stay yourself, put on the power armor and endure it.


>[Game of distortion]
A hand to hold at the end of the world.

>>5952453
>Order a chimera to do it (give it some instructions)
Just ease her along till she explodes then we can come back afterwards.

I'm going to lock it.
I dont know when i will be able to post.
Maybe in 6 h from now

>>5952844
Might want to get in on the Game of Distortion before OP starts writing, anon.

File: Mirror.intention.png (1.05 MB, 734x735)

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>>5952501
>>5952502
>Stay yourself, put on the power armor and endure it.

Game of distortion
>>5952501 a description of a forest, words spoken softly.
>>5952502 A encouraging hand, accepting what will come.
…

You would not let anyone stay here and face the consequences of your decisions.
And you would not let the child remain here alone.
So you ordered the group to keep advancing and once things calmed down to come back.

Emilia and Hidra were very much against the idea.
They were very vocal about it, Hildra more so since she had seen the dungeon.
You were undeterred, you had survived once and you could do it again.
To the surprise of no one, Frankie agreed with you.
So she helped in your plan along the chimeras, forcing them onto the wagon.

Thankfully it did not escalate beyond you getting called an idiot and a few more things.
It did not matter , you eventually found yourself alone with the goddess.
Hoping for the better while the fever of the kid got worse.
She did not seem to mind it, understanding as much as you of what was to come.

You had donned your power armor in the hopes of better withstanding her powers.
And in hopes of redirecting them you offered your hand to comfort.
She took it, looking up to you with her big blue eyes.
The maelstrom within reflecting a cosmos without limit.
You decided to walk with her, waiting for the inevitable.

You had some theories on how her powers worked.
And with a calm voice you began to describe a jungle beyond reality.
You asked her to envision such sights, wishing this would focus her gift into that image.
You also expected some big explosion, a cathartic transformation of energy.
An outburst of the mystic worming its way through reality.
Non came, she just tried to speak your words and the world changed.

Hues of blue burned into the sky, the gray ceiling above flaking away.
Trees and ferns painted into space, a chaotic world made so peaceful.
The fungi and mud born from below coating the air with the smell of an autumn's breeze.
The godlings melodic voice is a poor imitation of your speech, no true words spoken.
A grip of the self sliping, you could see once again the snake blooming below her skin.
You could see both depending on the angle of outlook, you gripped the air tightly trying to grasp her hand again.
To your surprise it worked, the deity returning to its humanoid form.
The fever gone and her eyes deep lakes of serenity.

Once the first sun rays pierced through the canopy, the neon strikes through the plant life came to life.
It was not the jungles you envisioned, but a forest of soothing chromatic colors.
In the madness this place had to offer, peacefulness was radiant.


[The sky curse is lifted, the rain and sunlight will return to the Wastelands.]
[The godling retains its humanoid form]

Almost a week later the group arrived at the Capital.
And in that time Rakta had still not woken up.
Whatever had happened to her seemed permanent, and the only reason her body did not waste away was due to constant healing spells.
Emilia had tried to cheer you up, but didnt know how.

In the times of the travel, Hildra and Potato had tried to coax the godling into speaking.
They had failed, every noise spoken was a song that carried too much weight.
The only good news was that the fever was not returning.

Your entrance to the ruins was met by the echoes of industrious machines under the fog of night.
Small fields of crops scattered between the buildings, offering protection from the harsh winds that still roamed.
The androids tending the crops made for a surreal image, so much life brought in the heart of destruction by machines.
And then you reached the familiar building you had been calling home.

Cedalion was glad you had come back alive.
He either didn't care for your altered appearance or couldn't tell you had changed.
“General! The sky is cleared! Did you destroy that hateful city and stopped its machine?
Old masters know I tried and failed many times to breach its walls.”
“No, the godling fixed it.”

“the divines… The Empire will come for us, but I’m thankful to be able to see the stars before that happens.
I assume we should start making preparations.”
He was right.
The Empire was a fractured war machine, but they will come.
Preparations must be made when the goal is to make a stand, but…
“Call Charon, Rakta needs treatment.”

[Empire’s attack: 60 days more or less.]

CIV TURN:
>Create a project/quest/task. Assign a commander (if you want) and a number of units to carry it out.
>The time varies with the complexity of the task and resources at hand.


Civ Resources:

-Water and Food = Supplies to sustain 600
-Power (Electrical) = Nuclear Reactor
-Industry (Bio-mechanics) = Slow
-Arcane (Minor spells) = Slow
-Bio-weapons(Gases) = Low
-Ruins = Many
- Basic materials (Stone; Iron; Steel, Flesh) = Medium
-Transports(Armored Vehicles) = Low
-Manpower(Androids) = 540
-Military(Chimeras(Various))= 273
-Military(Defenses) = Medium
-Mining equipment = Advance

Commanders:
-Cedalion(+++Military,+Diplomacy)
-Charon(++Science, +Industry)
-Ghal (+Agriculture, +Science)
[Promote someone?]

In progress:
Chimera production (“Frankenstein” design; 100 units) [250 days till completion]

(This turn you can set up plans,then we will go to the normal format and maybe a time skip)
[Note: There are probably a few mistakes but i'm tired. This is the best I could do.]

>>5953326
Well... That went better than expected.

>assign Charon, Ghal, and Flora to remedying Rakta if at all possible
>begin defensive military build-up
>ask about nukes

>>5953326
Can we use the military to lower the vegetation in certain areas to trick the empire to using the slightly clearer paths? Then use mining equipment to create tunnels underneath those paths and lace explosives to detonate when half of their convoy passes by while mining the sides? Are there any rivers that come near our city or cuts into the wasteland? Can we do scouting drills to get the military prepared to navigate the jungle?

>>5953380
>Assign Ghal to study the forest for any dangers, abilities, or animals in the new biome.
>Assign Charon to help recover Rakta.
>Assign Cedalion to use any information gained from Ghal to scout the forest and begin training for guerilla fighting.
>Bring everyone together to estimate the viability of lightly clearing paths to trick the empire into following them and using mining equipment to make tunnel trap and minefields to create designated kill zones. Also add bio weapon gasses at the edge of the wasteland to activate either on scout command or two weeks after the empire begins their siege.

>>5952996
Sorry was on mobile
>>5953326
>Assign Charon to fix Rakta
>Prepare defences
>Scout area to find strategic/notable terrain
Time to bunker down boys we got a hell of a fight on our hand. Though I will have to be reminded what our tech level is compared to the Empires.
>>5953380
Can’t we just make regular mines? I feel like that is within our reach.

(I’m going to put the prompts out of order)
>>5953336
>>5953467
>>5953786
>Assign Ghal to scout the area to find strategic/notable terrain and study the new biome.

Your war council was small.
In a small round table you sat opposite to Cedalion,
Charon and an empty seat at his sides.
To yours were Hildra and Ghal, the only two people left in your group with combat experience.
In the center of the table, a map of the lands and the skull of the human general from the great war.
A piece Cedalion had not buried, and instead kept out of sentimentality or as a warning of what failure ment.
He never answered.

The first point was finding advantages in the terrain.
They would come to you, so it was only logical to pick the battlefield.
You left Ghal incharge of this task.
Before being imprisoned he was a bandit and waged a guerilla war against humanity.
The weapons had changed, but the strategies would remain.
But he already had some knowledge to share.
“The wastelands as they are now are not difficult to traverse, we did not introduce any dangerous elements when revitalizing.
As it is now the advantage is to the bat like chimeras having more places to hide in the sky. But I will scout the goddess' work.”

[Scout (Area and new biome)[Ghal]; 3 days]

>Prepare defenses (Minefields, tunnel traps, kill zones,guerilla fighting.)
>Begin defensive military build-up

Next came to the meat of discussion.
What defenses you would muster.
Cedalion turned towards the empty seat, expecting Rigek to lead this discussion.
But what had been his companion for centuries was long dead.
He turned forwards and began to explain the situation without a hint of emotion in his voice.

You would have a numerical disadvantage, large, maybe 1 to 20.
And without capturing civilians and turning them into chimeras, production of soldiers had halted.
You could still manufacture androids, but they were not meant for war.
Cannon fodder that was too costly to mass produce.
That left you with the more animalistic chimeras as an option.
The bat like things, they could not follow complex instructions but you would make due.

The designating kill zones were better news.
There was a lot to be done but they would be effective.
The mine fields you could make were vast, not all the way, but enough to redirect the army into paths you could set traps in.
The gas weaponry was better for artillery strikes but you could use them with remote detonators to annihilate or pin down enemies.
You still remember when Cedalion flooded the city with the acid mist and how it forced the expedition into the metro.


(1/3)

“The war of extinction, the Great War, was very chaotic.”
Cedalion began to speak, trying to remember ancient battlefields.
“The Empire uses defensive magic to close the gap and survive the acid mist. The offensive mages take out priority targets.
The weakness lies in the constant need to replace the casters who become exhausted.
If you break them into smaller pieces, they fall quickly. Or used to, its been a few centuries since hell came to our doorstep.
You should run while you can, take your friends and survive. We were supposed to fall long ago.”

“Fat chance.”

At the end of the discussion you had to choose where you would set up the battlefield.
>In the city (You will have a large defensive advantage, but mobility will be reduced.)
>On the periphery (Balanced battlefield)
>On the outskirts (You will be closer to their command structure, but more exposed.)

Chimera production (“Bat” design; 60 units) [30 days till completion]
Android production (Standart design; 200 units) [30 days till completion]

>ask about nukes

Charon spoke before Cedalion
“def Nuke(0): For in range != 0: return “Disassemble protocol””

Cedalion translated.
“Yes, there are none and we are not supposed to make more.
But we could technically make another one on your command.
But apart from costing us power output from the reactor…
Well, the plan was already to force a meltdown if everything was lost.”

>Assign Charon and Flora to help recover Rakta.

The meeting ended on that grim note and everyone left for their assignments.
You accompanied Charon to the medical bay of this facility.
Where Rakta had been left to run some tests.

Upon arrival you saw Flora was also there, reading some documents.
Her reaction was of surprise and joy, another act to get you to lower your guard.
“Anon! So good to see you alive, don't you dare go dying like her.
I would miss you very dearly. Love your new look by the way, skin worth holding on I tell you.”

She handed the documents to Charon who began scanning them.
“Anyhow, you came back with a new company.
Whom Ghal has prohibited me to approach, would you kindly lift his command.
Its terribly inconvenient to move around the place needing to avoid entire areas.”
She was talking about the goddess, and Ghal seemed to know her better than you.
You ignored her and asked about Rakta.

Charon did not sugarcoat the bad news.
Part of her brain was dead, whatever shock she had suffered burned parts of her nervous system.
The damage was spread out so the situation was made more complex.
There was still a chance she would wake up on her own, and there were some options to try to repair the damage.
All carried disadvantages, and none would leave Rakta the same as before.

(2/3

He was explaining them to the best of his abilities when he got interrupted by a scream.
“HUMAN! What have you done! Did you eat lead as a child or you actually believe being a white knight is going to save your fucking ass?”
Oh, its Milagros.

“Dont oh me, kid. I had to leave the preparations half way done to come here for your shit.
WHY in the fuck did you pick up the kid before the city was turn to dust.
I specifically told you to wait!
Now the Empire is going to come here, and I’m going to have to clean up whatever mess is made if not Mom outright breaking out of containment.
Do you even think before you act?”

What will you say?
>Well fuck you to Milagros
>What is going to happen to the godling?
>Can you help with Rakta?
>Take the kid and go.
>Write in

...

Miscellaneous questions I cant figure how to integrate:

>Well... That went better than expected.
You chose calm and simple stimuli. The result had to reflect that.

>>5953380
Yes to most of this post except the rivers.
I will post the map.

>Though I will have to be reminded what our tech level is compared to the Empires.
The Remnants have 20th century tech + flesh craft facilitated by magic and integrated into technology.

The Empire has a pre industrial society supplemented by a large commoditization of magic.
[ spoiler ] Also, the fact they can clone Raktas proves they have some very advance industry stolen from the Remnants or their magic is more powerful that they let on.[ /spoiler ]


>Also add bio weapon gasses at the edge of the wasteland
This I will have to reject, the edge of the Wasteland is too large to cover in its entirety.
The designated kill zones can be placed near(25 Km) the Capital, but so far out you have a logistical problem with spreading too thin.

(3/3)

The update was too long so I cant make art.
maybe in the future if I have time.

File: Chouxia.png (5.67 MB, 5618x4310)

5.67 MB PNG

the map.
I forgot.

>>5954056
>On the outskirts (You will be closer to their command structure, but more exposed.)
We can use hit-and-run tactics, and fall back if needed.

>>5954059
>Can you help with Rakta? If not, fuck off.

>>5954063
Qm how large is the area affected by the little godess's explosion? Can you mark it on the map?
If its rather large then would night time harassment operations be effective against them? Using the vegetation to whittle them down and ravage their supply lines adding their resources to ours or destroy what we cant take.

How long it would take their army to cross the no mans land?
Would it be plausible to turn the north western part of the lake near Hejil into a swampland?
Also between the mountains foot and the lake shore. That small wasteland part south-east from Hejil.
An army marches on its foot after all, it might sound nasty but forcing them to fight in a damp environment should cause the majority of the soldiers to develop trench foot also sanitation problems too.
Their pre industrial society should not know about the perils of ww1.
Additionally firebombing could work too, using a type of fire bomb that creates a sticky oil spill like efffect that floats on water.

>>5954056
>On the periphery (Balanced battlefield)
Start off balanced but we can back for heavy urban fighting after.
>>5954059
>Well fuck you to Milagros
>Can you help with Rakta? If not, fuck off.
I think these are good

Also question QM, we can still make our own spells right? Perhaps it’s time we start doing that again, or do we still have access to our black hole spell?

>>5954124
I assume their magic can be used for long range bombardment and protection so we are gonna have to figure out a way to neutralize the mages.

>>5954135
>Making a spell
Maybe something to restore or revert tissue damage and trauma?

File: 1710713351822025.png (3.52 MB, 4050x3107)

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>>5954124
>Qm how large is the area affected by the little godess's explosion? Can you mark it on the map?
I will mark it.

>If its rather large then would night time harassment operations be effective against them? Using the vegetation to whittle them down and ravage their supply lines adding their resources to ours or destroy what we cant take.
Yes, the problem is mobility.
The bat like chimeras can harass but they are animals.
Stealing is above them.
Androids and chimeras could do but inquire more losses.

>How long it would take their army to cross the no mans land?
The wasteland , 12 days.
In a battlefield, who knows.

>Would it be plausible to turn the north western part of the lake near Hejil into a swampland?
It would be possible, just hard.
Easier with the godling if you can figure out how it works and how to keep it.


Once the army enters the wildlands you will be notified.
You will be taking these actions as they go, you will be able to adapt to them.

>>5954135
> we can still make our own spells right? Perhaps it’s time we start doing that again, or do we still have access to our black hole spell?
Yes and yes

>>5954137
That is one of the options.
Every option will be presented in todays update.

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>>5954135
>>5954099
>Set battlefield

There is a tie but thats okay.
We can vote again in the future when they get here.
no hurry.

>>5954059 #
>Well fuck you too, Milagros.

“Fuck me? You are the one that's going to get us killed!
You broke the status quo and didn't even bother to cement the new one with blood.
Did i not tell you what happens if too much magic is cast at once?
Moms prison gets weakened.
What do you think a war entails? Sharing biscuits?
And if not that whatever man made horrors you both lunatics bring to the table.
I have killed the Emperor 3 times, and 3 times he has come back.
And you, another human with a righteous cause.
You saved a city from its hubris and are going to take the world hostage.
Are you also going to blackmail me with the shard of Gaia you got?
I’m seeing very little against snuffing you out.”


>Can you help with Rakta? If not, fuck off.

She looked over your shoulder, noticing Rakta at last.
“You broke your toy. Go get a new one and let that poor woman rest.”
You wanted to speak out, to call her out on her bullshit.
But you could not, your body did not respond.

[ Divine curse: You are paralyzed ]

The goddess body glows through the disguise as her powers exerts over you.
She seems calmer, less angry, more disappointed with you.
“I very much hate using my powers, forces me to enter mortal minds. Demanding me to understand why they are.”

She approached the comatose chosen one, studying the imperfections made during her creation.
A coarse imitation of a person she knew, and a monument to the rotten circumstances of this world.
“I could patch her, I do think it will be hilarious when she puts you down trying to protect her people. Would that be enough punishment? You do deserve it.”

She stayed there, thinking.
Meanwhile Charon had approached you and was trying to figure out what happened to you.
Flora sneaked away, avoiding drawing attention from the goddess.

“I should take my niece and leave, letting you rot there. But that would mean nothing, innit? It would be a joke without a punchline…”

[ Divine curse lifted ]

“When did this shit stop being funny?”

How do you want to cure Rakta?
>Healing magic (She will wake up, but also remember the suffering from all the Raktas. Her personality will become meek)
>Cybernetic implants (She will wake up, but her rationale will become similar to the Chimeras. Her priorities will be changed.)
>Milagros magic (She will wake up, but she will have memories of the original Rakta. This will change her perspective on humanity.)
>Hope she wakes up on her own (Roll 1d20. On a 20 she will wake up fine. On a 15+ she will permanently have difficulties moving. 14 or lower and she will never wake up.) 1 roll.
>Write in (be creative, I will post in 8h time to offer benefits and disadvantages to your options.)ç

You can also speak to the Milagros, if you think thats a good idea.

>>5954730
I'm >>5954099, and will back >>5954135 for battlefield positioning.

>Healing magic (She will wake up, but also remember the suffering from all the Raktas. Her personality will become meek)
Sounds theoretically fixable. t doesn't override her personality, just leaves her with trauma to work through.

Can we research magic to rewire neural pathways, to bypass or reduce the physical damage caused by traumatic events?

>>5954730
>Healing magic (She will wake up, but also remember the suffering from all the Raktas. Her personality will become meek)
We will have to help her through her trauma but this seems like the option with the least consequences.

QM, what long-range artillery/weapons do we have available? From what the other anon pointed out, these guys are not at the level to understand the horrors of ww1 so a pretty easy solution to this seems to be a copius amount of trenches, MGs and artillery.

>>5954751

>Sounds theoretically fixable.
You may curb it, but it's not going away.

>Can we research magic to rewire neural pathways, to bypass or reduce the physical damage caused by traumatic events?
The physical damage done is none, only psychological now.
You want a modify memory spell don't you?
I apply the rules from my DM days when a player got too trigger happy with it.
The bigger the ball you are trying to hide, the more it scratches the walls of the guy's mind.

>>5954761
>what long-range artillery/weapons do we have available?
Any artillery you want, any 20th century weapon you want.
No planes or drones, only a handful of tanks.
Nothing left that could level a city.
If you can think on any weapon with integrated magic or bio- mechanical bits I will only add a cost variable on complexity.

>>5955018
>You want a modify memory spell don't you?
More like something to help adjust the actual physiological effects trauma has on the brain that, for issuance, causes one to go into fight-flight-freeze mode, to relive the memories, to become hypervigilant or hypersensitive, etcetera. It's fine (for a given value of "fine") if she remembers the horror, but if we can help her avoid reliving it or having it affect her physical well-being, that would be tops. You know, reduce the spontaneous production of stress hormones and whatnot, at least.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181836/

>>5955021
I think i understand what you want and only see to avenues for this.
Whats basically a neurosurgery spell, that does not sound like a good idea.
Or a suppressant spell, one which she will become addicted to if my experience with opioids serves me right.
If you see any other path do tell me.
I need to enter work so i will post much later.

>>5955018
>any 20th century weapon
This opens up a lot of avenues for us.

So anons 20 HIMARS and we are done?

>>5955034
Maybe we could do less of an opioid spell and more of a psilocybin spell, coupled with counselling and/or therapy if we ever find someone up to the task? Less addictive, with some evidence to suggest it's perfect for this very PTSD application.

>>5955356
>HIMARS
I support this, if QM will allow it. they WERE developed and tested in '98...

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>>5954751
>>5954761

>Healing magic
The chosen means of healing were of the arcane.
She would be reconstituted as herself, unadulterated.
the only fear that she would remember too much.
And as you started preparations Milagros began to leave, knowing she was not needed.
She did make a final joke before disappearing.

“From a paladin of justice to a broken warrior and now a submissive toy. You really made her follow Qothos footsteps. I hope you die screaming, human.”

[You have earned the animosity of Milagros; You will never benefit from one of her miracles and will be more vulnerable to harm from them]
[The Godling has left your care, Milagros has taken her in]

You paid the god no mind, you had work to do.
The spell was not too complex, just large.
So many runes drawn over her body, covering scars old and new.
Flora ended up coming back to help you, even if only to not fall into worst graces.
And once the tedious process was done, it only took pouring aberrance into the circuit.
Colorful bands and curtains of light stretching across her skin.
Vibrant and dancing displays seeping into the flesh, only to leave you waiting for something else to happen.

And then she rose up quickly, awakening in a cold sweat.
In the state of panic she almost fell from the stretcher, hands reaching for a weapon that was no longer in her person.
You were forced to hold her, grabbing her from her shoulders, making her stop.
She looked up, her eyes finally adjusting to the light.
A constant stream of tears waking its way down.
There was a moment of recognition, your altered appearance not confusing her.
and she latched on to you.

She grabbed on to you, burying her face in your chest and dampening with weeping.
Between her bawling cries you could hear her speak.
“I’m done now, I’m done. I can't do it.”
Rakta was cured, but the noble warrior had never left the dungeons.
Still trapped in the suffering.

…

It took her a few hours to stop crying, and then just held you in silence for more.
She only let go when sleep forced her, something she had been trying to escape.
You could tell she was reliving the experience in dreams, she raked her nails though her skin.
A few bouts of semi consciousness before the nightmare took her again.
You started making plans for her recovery, arcane or medical.
A detail you notice while in her delirious state is that she was apologizing.
To whom, you didn't know.

It was the middle of the night and felt trapped still within the hospital room.
Once you made sure Rakta had someone watching her over, you took a stroll trying to clear your head.

Who do you find on your moonlit walk?
>Jericho, the elven student, mulling over some thoughts.
>Emilia, on another midnight looting.
>The Mothman, doing mothman things?
>[Stop the filler, lets make a time jump towards content][Jump 3 days forward in time]
>Write in

Note: I could not figure out how to draw Anon so I will leave it at that.

>>5955034
>>5955363
After thinking more about it, the neurosurgery spell still sounds like a bad idea
but the suppressant spell would be a simple anxiolytic (Charon has access to those), they are addictive but it's not meth.
A psilocybin would be more on the antipsychotics (maybe?) , but okay lets say that works.
So it would depend on how it's administered, if self medicated and so on.
If its a spell the problem is tha tRakta can learn it and atminister at will.
Anyway, I would prefer to integrate that in the quest about it rather than discuss it outside the narrative.
we can go for it a bit later, but sure, go get her some therapy if you want.


>>5955356
>>5955363
>So anons 20 HIMARS and we are done?
If you compromise to not having tanks I will accept the exange.
But, in good faith so you know what to expect, have the official numbers in the Imperial army that's coming.
Free intel.


118.000 Tyr and Elven Conscripts (30 days training as soldiers, can cast simple spells.)
37.200? Kobold warriors (Untrained militia)
15.200 Tyr soldiers (Trained soldiers, all can cast simple spells.)
3.450 Dwarven Mercenaries (Shock Troops)
2.500 Chosen ones (Elite Units, can cast miracles and simple spells)
1.400 Dedicated spellcasters (Complex spells)
580 Priest (Can cast miracles)
200 Giants Corsairs (Shock Troops, Gunpowder proficient)
12 Spriggan Nobles (Less proficient than Flora, but still good)
2 Shards of Qothos (???)
1 Emperor, Shepherd of law.
+menials for logistics and nobles accompanying their armies.

>>5955547
>The Mothman, doing Mothman things?
Let's bring Rakta if she's up to it. If she can't be a warrior, it doesn't mean she has no purpose but being a 'broken toy'. Milagros is a bitch, and Rakta is a good friend with a good heart. We'll find her something comfortable to do, like perhaps tending a garden with the peaceful moth-folk.

>>5955555
>Anyway, I would prefer to integrate that in the quest about it rather than discuss it outside the narrative.
Fair.

>HIMARS instead of tanks
Well, let's think about this... HIMARS are great for fixed targets, but not great for spread-out, mobile forces. Maybe Predator drones would be better? More versatile?

>>5955581
Gah, that art! I feel like shit. I broke the waifu with my vote and my roll.

>>5955547
>Emilia, on another midnight looting.
I want to see what she feels about the upcoming war
>>5955555
>178545 troops
Holy shit but 155,200 are shitties. It's the numbers of the Shock and Elites that worry me.
Since our tech level is 20th century we would have chemical weapons at our disposal but do we have a stockpile of whatever we choose or will we have to manufacture more?
>>5955581
QM said no to drones. As for strike capabilities, you would be correct considering the intelligence report. Since 20 HIMARS apparently takes up all the tank slots I suggest we get like 3 of them to snipe the mages, priests, Spriggans and the hero units. I don't really know what will take up the tank slots so QM will have to confirm but we can maybe get a bunch of MLRS with cluster munitions since they are operating at pre-industrial society levels they are mostly likely going to be in large clumped up formations which means that a solid barrage can do untold damage in both men and morale, obviously their mages can probably up magic shields or something but we will have to see which one will win out in that situation.

Obviously, we are going to need a few MBTs and IFVs for fire support but what else do we need? Chaff clear can be handled pretty well with mine field+MLRS+regular artillery but what about the special units?

>>5956019
If we can shock-and-awe a few of them with massive devastation, we can hopefully get them to leave without having to kill EVERYONE. I' thinking we issue a warning, destroy one major, impressive group or resource, issue another warning, do that two or three more times... And then hopefully they rout for a while?

>no drones
What about bomber planes with chimera crews?

>>5956024
see >>5955018
Also, I don't think we can just make them go away with shock-and-awe. Milagros said she attempted to kill the Emperor 3 times and he came back every time. If she had to intervene personally I think this is larger than we think. I do agree that if we kill a large amount of the army in one go I think most will desert, leaving only the diehards left which will be more manageable.

My big worry is the hero-type units and the mages

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>>5956048
Oh, damn, nevermind I'm dumb. No air support except bat-monsters...

Bat monsters...


>>5955555
Can we use BAT BOMBS? They only failed IRL because the bats were unreliable and unpredictable. Our bat monsters are loyal and can be given vague cmmands, right?

>>5955555
Hey QM, can we use something like this
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARAUDER
Lasers too, there were a couple attempts before the 2000s

>>5956059
>hordes of kamikaze bats
This could be ungodly funny

>>5955581
>Milagros is a bitch
I prefer to think she is complicated ( but she is a bitch)
She didn't kill you or curse you despite being very angry at you.

>perhaps tending a garden with the peaceful moth-folk.
That would be for the best


>>5955589
You didn't break shit, the dungeon was dangerous and you took minimal losses.
Example, if you had blown up the giant head instead of sending Rakta, that save roll would have been made by everyone.

>>5956019
>stockpile of whatever we choose or will we have to manufacture more?
You have a stockpile but the one humans used most was the acid mist.
With a little damage resistance you are immune but it breaks gas masks.
Giants, chimeras and you are naturally immune.
Spells can protect you from it for a time.

>>5956059
>Can we use BAT BOMBS?
Sure.
Give grenades to the bat chimeras and hope they don't blow themselves up, something like that.
Bat chimeras are the size of a dog.

>>5956068
Where do you even find this shit???
And nuclear lasers? How does this work?
Dont this have the same problem as railguns with “the projectile goes so fast it breaks the gun”
Or the energy requirements, at best its stationary and can shoot once every few minutes.
And would this delicate machines survive 450 years of no maintenance?
Humanity went to another branch of the tech tree.
I’m usure this is a good idea.

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>>5956100
>Where do you even find this shit???
Honestly, one day I was wondering if plasma weapons had ever been developped in real life, so imagine my surprise when I end up finding that they apparently built a fucking real plasma railgun that shoots toroids at 3% light speed and scrambles electronics.
>And nuclear lasers? How does this work?
From what I can see, they were part of the SDI(Strategic Defense Initiative) and they were meant to shoot down nukes or something. Xrasers and Grasers work pretty much like lasers because they're also made of photons, except they're stronger because they actually penetrate shit much better. Though I'm not a physics major so I don't actually know how it works, but there were complications to how the science worked.

Yeah the energy requirements are pretty insane considering MARAUDER needed a fucking 1.9 megajoules capacitor to work.

Honestly I was just asking for the funnies because you said only up to 20th century and it turns out they had some insane technologies. If you wanted to allow it you'd probably need to balance it out by saying it's an experimental piece of shit strapped to a tank chassis and it can only shoot every once in a while against an important enemy.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

I have the second part ready, lets beark the tie for the first one.
Mothman-1
Emilia-2

>Emilia, on another midnight looting.

The night was accompanied by an attentive moon.
It was funny, you barely remember any times the moon was not full.
She was always there, attentive and illuminating her creation.
Distant but always present.
Your meditation guided you through the recently restored streets, passing under electric stars.
The buildings were still rotting tombs, but the time would come to rebuild them.

These ideas were interrupted by the sound of a metallic object falling from a great height.
Its crashing sound echoing through the streets.
After a bit there was swearing from a feminine voice.
You decided to check it out.

And on the sidewalk was Emilia, trying to use a crowbar on a safe path that had slammed against the ground, deforming it.
She noticed you quickly and hid the crowbar behind her back.
Once she realized it was you she relaxed, waving you hi with it.

"Lovely night for a stroll, right?"
She had a goofy smile, jokingly pretending she had done nothing out of the ordinary.
"By the way, you wouldn't know how to open this right? I have been at it for hours and not even throwing it out the window worked."
You looked up and indeed there was a shattered window.
The safe on the other had been beaten so bad the lock was unable.
Only brute force would open it, and you told Emilia as much.

"ah, dammit. Well, can you help me with it?"
You did, and the contents inside were a smashed gold watch, probably broken in the fall, and many crumbling papers and photographs.
She surprisingly ignored the gold and shifted through the documents.
They were too damaged to be readable, but the photos still held up.

"Not the obvious valuable?" You asked
"Not obvious," she picked one of the photos and passed it to you.
There were two humans along with a tyr.
Together they held what looked like a baby sea monster. Some odd fishing trip.

"That is worth more than the gold.
So many people would want that, either to destroy it or to frame it on a wall.
oh, this is worth more."
You peeked over it slightly.
It was a photograph of a human woman next to the same tyr from before, holding an infant that you couldn't see well.
"You may deny it, but humans are deviants... speaking of deviants, how is Rakta?"
"Awake, but not good."
"step by step."

(1/3)

Some damaged photographs later and you found a drawing of the war.
A sky in flames and blackened earth, corpses partially buried in a trench.
The observer sees that he is hiding under a corpse.
And above the trench, searching, the silhouette of a chimera.
Emilia stoped shifting through the papers,observing every detail.
An image of the past, an omen of the future.

You decide it's a good time to ask.
"How are you feeling with the whole war thing?"
"Good. Good, good, good.
I have an escape route, so if the worst comes, you better take it with me."
There was a lump in her throat that didn't let her speak.
Those last words almost drowned out.
She was keeping her smile, but it looked fragile.
She kept looking at photos trying to distract.
And he silently handed you another one that was intact.
A photo of a beach.
It was deserted.

...

The next morning comes accompanied by the screams of Rakta, her nightmare finally awakening her.
You should have probably left her at the hospital, but that was done.
The day began with a slow drag of a routine long forgotten.
The calm before the storm.

A few blands conversations with the group, to see what had been happening in your absence.
Tog, the kobold artificer, had been traveling the city alone more often.
Odd knowing how cowardly he had been in the past.

This piece of quiet was concluded when Cedalion came for you, the war would come and preparations were still in order.
And when you were finally sat in the war room he began with the next point.

“We have resources but not enough manpower to use them efficiently. We need to consider finding allies.”
Charon was very direct with his message, managing to hide the disgust he felt towards the idea.
Letting strangers into the final resting place of humanity.

“The first that comes to mind is the giants, humanity made allies out of them in the past.
They will probably come if only to cripple the Empire for future raids, but we need to go search for them.”

Hildra commented on the idea.
“Wouldn't that cut short the other possibilities? Its going to be hard finding someone willing to fight WITH the Chimeras, but also Giants?”

“True, we might be able to promise tech to kobolds and gain a small army, maybe with some elves and dwarfs would come to our aid if enough is paid.
But those armies could betray us…”
Cedalion had thought about this moment of war for so long, and now that it was here he was stuck.
“The chimeras have been a blight on the continent, marauders.
I don't think we have a real chance of getting any on our side. That's why we have another possibility, like in the times of the Great War.
There is an elven city relatively near here, if we take them prisoners and convert them into chimeras we will have enough soldiers.”

(2/3)

Ghal laughed at the plan.
“You know our master will never allow that. Why propose it?”
“All the cards must be on the table.”
“And subterfuge? Bribe some of the tyr nobles that want to make a power grab and kill the Emperor?
Even when Qothos still walked the earth there were those in his court.”
The comment made you realize how old Ghal actually was.
Cedalion countered with his own argument.
“Do you know how to contact those nobles?”

There was a silence
“Another two other options to my mind.
The ferals, even if we have tried to exterminate them,they would come to aid us if we promised carnage and paid tribute…
And asking Gaia for aid. I do not know her price.”
Hildra asked a very obvious question.
“Why not capture ferals to make the chimeras?”
“They don't let themselves get captured alive or care for surrender.”

These were all terrible options, but they were yours to make.
The Remnants might not survive, your vision of the future might stay like that, a vision.
How much are you willing to compromise?


Who do you plan on contacting? (You may pick several)
>The Giants, call on ancient oaths (Who do you send?)(How do you plan on finding them?)
> Kobods, you will need to buy them. (Who do you send?)
>Elves and Dwarfs, this will require a lot of diplomacy. (Who do you send?)
>Fuck it, raid the Democracy for bodies (incompatible with previus one)
>Try to contact some tyr nobles, break the army before it comes (Who do you send?)
>Contact the Ferals (What tribute will you give?)
>Negotiate with Gaia
>Write in


>>5955581
>Let's bring Rakta if she's up to it
She is going to get a few scenes only for here, let's leave the spotlight for someone else.

>>5956115
You know what, you are right. It would be funny.
But let's give mechanics to this madness.
Token system.
You can spend, at any time, tokens to acquire any object you want.


_Army_
[Infinite] Kinetic Rifles
2800 tech tokens (not all equal. 20 computers are 1 token)
340 Power armors (need pilots)
220 Explosive tokens (+ means of delivery)
150 Chemical weapons tokens
40 Heavy vehicle tokens
15 Biological weapon tokens
10 Futuristic tech tokens
1 Experimental superweapon token


540 Androids (Programed soldiers)
58 Bat chimeras ( Skirmishers)
126 Post-war Chimeras ( Shock troops)
86 Pre-war Chimeras (Shock troops)
3 Butcher Chimeras (Shock troops)
1 Mothman (magic immunity)
1 Dwarven mercenary
1 Ancient Spriggan
1 Elven Mage
1 Kobold Artificer
1 Elven soldier
1 Human

(3/3)

>>5956610
>The Giants, call on ancient oaths (Who do you send?)(How do you plan on finding them?)
Do we have any records of where they used to live or operate? Any likely location for where such records might exist? And what do we know about giants, anyhow?

>>5956609
I for one believe the Emilia route is the best one
>>5956610
>The Giants, call on ancient oaths (Who do you send?)(How do you plan on finding them?)
These are probably the most feasible. Obviously ask those present where we could find them and who would be willing/best to go.

Now as for those tokens QM a few questions
1. +delivery means it comes with or extra tokens to get the delivery system? I just wanna clarify
2. Futuristic tech tokens break through the 20th century tech restriction or still working within it?
3. Does artillery fit in heavy vehicle or explosive tokens? Stuff like SPGs, Towed, HIMARS, etc.

>>5956696
Emilia is the cutest, but Rakta needs our support as a friend if nothing else.

>>5956697
This is true, but considering what is coming may I suggest an heir?

>>5956610
Exactly how far can we go with futuristic tech and experimental superweapons? Like say what would a central super A.I. buried somewhere that can control unmanned weapon systems be considered as?

>>5956813
I think QM said nothing more advanced technologically than 20th century, right?

>>5956698
You think now's a good time to knock up one of our friends?

>>5956815
Yeah yeah I know but well there is a high possibility that we will not win the upcoming fight so backup plans are required. At the very least though I think Anon should sort out affairs before the big one just in case.
Or maybe we can convince the Emperor to fuck off, who knows it may work but better safe than sorry in my eyes.

>>5956820
I think the fact that we might die is a good reason NOT to impregnate anyone right now.

>>5956823
I disagree but at the very least we should make sure we don't have any unsaid feelings. It may be a death flag but still.

>>5956815
Well,''more advanced technologically than 20th century'' is a weird thing to think about considering the U.S. during the Cold War was working on insane projects like MARAUDER, Railguns,SDI and more. Hell they technically already had unmanned turrets like the Phalanx CIWS in 1978, although it can't distinguish between friend or foe. Humanity is a bit more advanced than a lot of people think. I think the other tokens are limited to 20th century shit but that futuristic tech might be able to go beyond that.

i'm wondering if the remnants still have tactical nukes though. This could be useful against the chaff.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_artillery

>>595663
I will answer in the update.
Since you picked only one option, you can still pick more, i will dedicate more time.

>>5956696
1-
Comes with
2-
break through the 20th century tech.
You guys seemed to be having fun so go nuts.
Just made it so its not common enough to spam, the problem I had.
Other restrictions apply. No planes, no leveling a city, so on.

>>5956813
>would a central super A.I.
With the whole flesh machines you could make one for free.
But i would count that as 4 futuristic weapon tokens or so.

>>5956829
>tactical nukes
No, the whole reason the Empire is trying to kill you is becouse they want to avoid you making nukes.
That would break their entire motivation.
That was why Milagros wanted the kid to destry the city, so they would not do this.

Fuck
>>5956696
3-
Artillery counts as means of delivery

>>5956888
So we can make some weird organoid cyborg A.I for free? But an actual mechanical A.I. would be 4 futuristic tokens

>>5956890
If you use tokens you get it immediatlyand it works great.
If you do it for free we will have a post about sourcing your meats anon and
would take time you might not have in the future.
You dont have to cash in your tokens now.
You can cash them in during a battle to get things you need.

Does it make sense or am i thinking it wrong?

>>5956893
Okay, so for free it takes time, and cashing in tokens makes it come immediately. That makes sense.
What about building unmanned ground based drones to compensate a bit for lack of firepower. Strap them with machine guns and stuff and then have said A.I. control them. Stuff like this:
https://www.qinetiq.com/en-us/capabilities/robotics-and-autonomy/maars-weaponized-robot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripsaw_(vehicle)
What would that cost

File: MAARS.jpg (98 KB, 800x450)

98 KB JPG

>>5956897
Manpower I mean, and forgot pic

File: Giant.png (549 KB, 624x731)

549 KB PNG

>The Giants, call on ancient oaths
>Information gather

From all the possible allies to call, the most likely to answer your call for aid were the Giants.
And would probably be the ones who contribute the most.
The Democracy and the Kobolds would never openly support you, at least for now.
And the other options were not very appealing.
But you had very little information about giants, only heard of them.
So you asked the group for any insight they could provide.
“Do we have any records of where they used to live or operate?”
It was a simple question, but important.

Cedalion had the answer.
“They are a civilization from outside the continent, if you cross the ocean going east there you will find their strongholds, in the untamed lands.
Humanity made an outpost there, but we assume it lost since the Great war.
We don't have vessels that could make the trip, so our best chance is finding a raiding party within the coast.
They are not common, but they stay in temporary outposts for a time before crossing back.”

So, an actual civilization that lived entirely in the Wildlands, and from what you remember they are creations of Gaia.
They remind you a bit of vikings.
And so a possible way to find them would be to scour the coast, hoping to get lucky.
Hildra contributed with her own knowledge
“I have only seen one, our company got hired to kill it. They eat a lot, so we could trail the raided farms to its location.
Its probably better to find them like this, but we will need to stop in a lot of cities to get an accurate map.”

“There is also the option to order Flora to do it.” Ghal said, mortified that he had suggested relying on the spriggan.
“Letting her work alone would track them faster, I have seen her do it during our work on the animals. But it requires loosening her leash, something I advise against.”

Those were some solid plans, but you still know little about the giants, so you ask.
The consensus was clear, they hate the pantheon and the civilized races.
Humanity was an exception due to the war they lost to them, learned metalworking and gunpowder from them as part of the aliance.
According to Charon the Confederation used them to wage a proxy war with the tyr in times of peace.
They stayed with flintlock weapons due to their massive size, if you shoot a boulder you dont care it takes time to reload.
The fiscal descriptions were… unreliable, as with anything in the wildlands.
The only constant trait were the multiple heads that didn't need to talk to each other.


How will you contact them?
>Try to scour the coas for any sign of them (How many troops/people/resources will you commit to this?)
>Send a group to travel to elven settlements to track them (Who will go?)
>Use Floras talents, risk her escape attempts.
>Write in

Note: After tomorrow I will be posting once every two days for maybe a week. I will be on the move so I wont be able to stay consistent.

>>5956897
Let's say you get 2 for 1 tech token
Fair?

>>5957496
>Use Flora's talents, go with her to keep her under control

>>5957496
>We can get 1000 drones for 500 tech tokens
RIP the Tyr army I guess.

>Use Floras talents, risk her escape attempts.
As much as I don't like it, its probably for the best but we have to absolutely make sure to list out a bunch of clauses to cover any attempt she could make.

>>5957527
Fuck it I'll support that, we need to review the contract
>>5957496
>2 for 1 tech token
We can actually build Skynet and give it a battalion with this holy.

>>5957527
>>5957634
>Use Floras talents, risk her escape attempts.
It was probably the option with the fastest results.
There was a risk that she would attempt an escape attempt while she was not under supervision.
She told you as such when asked, she could not lie.
The specifics were always blurry, she never gave a clear plan.

"I'm trying to figure out some anti-magic barrier that won't kill me."
"I think I could burn this body so you can't use it against me, but it has an obvious problem."
"If I wore the skin of some old guy would you feel disgusted and let me go?"

And even if she didn't make an escape attempt, If you gave her too much freedom to find the giants she could end up hurting people.
You agreed with Ghals plan and asked for her help devising the instructions you would give her.
He had as much, if not more, experience dealing with spriggans as you.
The meeting closed with the two of you rereading the contract.

>>5957527
>The contract one anon made at the risk of going mad.
https://pastebin.com/qGVDBgMp

The contract was solid, the question left was how many clauses she could overlook to find them.
You would order her to find the giants.
She would need to use magic, but what about her revealing herself as a spriggan?
She would also need to reveal your nature to them and the contract to explain why she was there.

In the end the instructions were simple.
Find them as soon as possible, use and take only whats necessary.
Once you find them, explain everything and guide them here.
Do all as fast as possible.
>Do you want to add anything more/change it?
>Write in
[Flora will find the giants in 1d4+1 days]

You were satisfied with the result, and took a moment to rest.
Leaning back on the chair you closed your eyes and took a deep breath.
When you opened them again, instead of finding a ceiling you saw the endless cosmos.

File: Negociate.png (1.16 MB, 893x741)

1.16 MB PNG

And amongst the stars, an amoeba darker than heavens looked back.
“That is Philgo, he doesn't talk much.”
You quickly looked back down, realizing your surroundings had changed, and the origin of the voice sat in front of you.
It was a elderly tyr in a modest tunic, he had long hair and blue eyes.
It was the most odd tyr you had ever seen.
The features of his face are less angular than others of his race.

Then you looked around, a white desert of black obelisks, an earth of unfamiliar continents in the sky.
The table with the teapot in front of you clashed with this place.
You deduce this is the moon, but this is not logical.
“I ARBITER. YOU NEGOTIATE.” A echo of a voice said, you assume it comes from the god.
He looked so inhuman compared to his sibling.
While you were distracted, the tyr served the tea for the both of you.

“A few people call me Atropos, but you probably know me as the Emperor. May I ask for your name?”
You looked at him confused and asked the only thing on your mind
“Is this real?”
“No, Philgo is projecting us into this place. The place is real, we are real, but we are not here.
Think of it as connected dreams. I wanted to speak to you to avoid what's to come.”

He took a sip of the tea and putting it down in disappointment.
“The tea only has the texture. But, more importantly, is there any way i can convince you to surrender? I truthfully only need to make an example out of the Remnants. I would prefer if you survived.”

“What?”
“I can offer you and quite a few of your … associates?
I can offer a quiet life as the baron of a coastal villa, not a day of work if you don't want to.
A quiet life, a good life, a place you can settle down.
The only conditions are that you don't reveal yourself as a human and you leave the Chimera Capital, we need to destroy its industry and weapons.
We can probably negotiate specifics if you want, we can leave the city intact, you could maybe participate in the imperial court.”

What will you say?
>Ask Fhilgo a question (Which?)
>Ask the Emperor questions (Which?)
>Negotiate with the Emperor the terms of your surrender (elaborate)
>Negotiate a peace treaty(How???)
>Ask to leave
>Try to strangle the Emperor (It will fail)
>Write in

File: Emperor.png (658 KB, 565x736)

658 KB PNG

I can probably post tomorrow. Will keep you updated.

>>5958236
I'm thinking we add someone to the contract and send them with her. Hildra, maybe? She's familiar with giants, moreso than any of the rest of us at least.

>>5958239
>Why are you offering us this? Aren't e 'demonic'?
>Why should we trust it?
>What will happen to the mothmen?
>What will happen to Cedalion, and Frankie?

>>5958239
I was not expecting this
>>5958242
Was not expecting that face either
>>5958260
I will support sending someone with Flora to rein her in, besides it does not seem it will take her long to find the Giants so they will be back quick.
Also support the questions, we gotta extract as much info as we can before we make a decision.

I don’t want to surrender and I will happily fight it out but I think we can negotiate a peace treaty, he does seem reasonable so far. Does he know what will happen if a full scale war between us starts? What Gaia will do? It’s best we try to find a solution.

>>5958260
>>5958331
>Ask the Emperor questions
>Why are you offering us this? Aren't e 'demonic'?
He gave you a look of disappointment and then acceptance.
“I know you are just a human, there is nothing evil about your nature.
And I’m offering this because you saved Frathe , the city the godling was held.
Milagros informed me of the whole thing after it happened,”

He sighed heavily, picking up the cup of the tasteless drink again.
“You saved a lot of people that would want to see you dead.
That tells me you do not hate this world, you are just another victim forced to live in it…
I suppose I should apologize for using humanity as a common enemy to unite the Empire.
But to be fair, the chimeras are parasites and you were not supposed to be here. Humans were not supposed to end up here anymore.”

>Why should we trust it?
“I understand your mistrust, I assume that's why you are relying on the chimeras.
The safety.
I can tell you I just want a better future for the tyr, and I don't want it to be the human one.
I have read your books, one of my favorites is The Grapes of Wrath, I know what technology brings because humanity told me through its writing.
That's why I need to destroy the factories and the infrastructure you have been trying to rekindle.
It's not about you being human, it's about what those factories and machines mean.
That's why you should believe me when I say you are not the target of this conflict.”

>What will happen to the mothmen?
He took a sip of the tea again, giving you a confused look.
And spat out the tea into the cup.
"Philgo tried to fix it, it tastes horrible."
He raised his hand, asking you for a minute to recover from the drink.

"I have never heard of mothmen. I assume it's some kind of chimeric creation?”
You explain the situation and what they are.
“I don't know. What do you want to happen?
I would propose we find them a place to settle on the southern territories.
They can pretend to come from the Wildlands, it happens with trolls sometimes.
The order is to leave them be and this should not be any different.”

>What will happen to Cedalion, and Frankie?
“More creatures like them?”
You had to also explain who these people were.
He had a somber look when you explained who Cedalion was.
“I didn't know there were sapient chimeras. Why didn't you tell me?”
He asked to the skies, with a tinge of frustration.
“POINTLESS.” The sky answered back, the gods' response was as distant as his mind.

The Emperor turned back to you with a stone-faced look.
“Cedalion I would like to judge under the law, he would be executed.
For so many years we have thought of the chimeras as an automated war machine, raiders without purpose.
I wonder if I could have baited him, if I could have ended the war without besieging the capital.”

He took a moment to think, scratching his head.
“This Frankie, I have no grudge to.
As long as this creature does not recreate the advanced human machines during its lifetime, I will leave it at peace.”

>Do you know what will happen if a full scale war between us starts? What Gaia will do?

It was a logical question.
The Emperor had shown so much understanding you wondered why he would do this.
Risk the world to avoid it changing.
He believed it would be for the much worse, but still.
He looked at the chalky ground to answer.
“She will break free, and she will change the world.
I don't want to share my strategy plans for now but I will try to minimize the risk.
I can't back down.”

“Why? What's holding you back, aren't you the absolute authority”

“There are many rumors about you, and the many failed summonings across the continent.
The nobles and clergy demand action,
they see the uncomfortable balance we had tilt towards the abominations and demand action.
Whether I win or loose this war, I will have options.
But doing nothing will be the end of the Empire, and that chaos we will not survive.”

What will you do?
>Ask Fhilgo a question (Which?)
>Ask the Emperor questions (Which?)
>Accept his deal, negotiate with the Emperor the terms
>Negotiate a peace treaty (How???)
>Ask to leave
>Write in

>>5958331
>Was not expecting that face either
What did you expect him to look like?

>>5958260
>Send Hildra with Flora
>She will take two days more to find them.
>Someone will have an eye on the spriggan

Note: No art becouse the unabomer-Emperor drawing looks like shit.

>>5959024
>No art becouse the unabomer-Emperor drawing looks like shit.
Disagree.

Also, I'm open to other anons' input to change my mind, but I feel like he;s being reasonable.
>Accept his deal, negotiate with the Emperor the terms
Assuming he's being honest...

File: Main.inspiration.png (314 KB, 465x734)

314 KB PNG

>>5959034
> Assuming he's being honest...
You can roll insight if it will make you feel more safe.
Bo3

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5959067

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>5959067

>>5959034
Let's assess him before accepting
I'm still hyped for a fight...

>>5959034
>>5959149
Personally this feels like giving up the remnants

>>5959024
>What did you expect him to look like?
When you said Milagros got rid of the Emperor 3 times I thought he was some type of self resurrecting guy that would be a physical powerhouse. He just looks like a homeless guy that lives near my grocery store. I am not ripping on your drawing ability its just funny QM.

>Negotiate a peace treaty (How???)
This isn't really a final answer but to gauge his tolerance. See how far we could get with promising to create no more Chimeras (only creations like Frankie from now on), and a promise not to produce some of the worst WMDs (Nukes and stuff).
>>5959034
I don't really want to lose the remnants, we chose Martyrdom and if I remember it correctly it means we are reviving this wasteland and those in it. Plus I don't want to give up our guy Cedalion, we worked too hard to prevent his suicide and getting him to accept life again.

>>5959162
Yeah I don't really want to lose them.

>>5959162
>>5959232
I get what you mean, and I like Cedalion, but a LOT of people will die in the war if it happens. People who, unlike Cedalion:
>want to live
>aren't still pitching horrifying war crimes

>>5959259
At least we can try to negotiate anon, no need to jump the gun.

>>5959232
I'll support that. I don't exactly feel like surrendering

>>5959024
Qm How much of our stuff relies on magic?

His argument against our advanced tech kinda falls flat when they use the very resource that is keeping Gaia in check.
To my knowledge what we use is advanced biotechnology and little to no magic. What we have seen so far is that most people have no understanding how to really use magic or what is it really for.
There will always be wars if not against the remnants then against each other and with that magic will be used too. The expedition that summoned us was looking for weapons,artifacts and powerful magic to bring back. The arms race they have is magic based how does the emperor know that the "cold war" they had going on before our arrival will not turn hot?

By capturing the wasteland capital, it will seem like that the empire acquired what the autocracy wanted for themselves.

>>5959232
Can we add that we dont have any nukes and dont plan on making more?

>>5959232
>>5959543
>Negotiate a peace treaty
>Discern if he is lying


The offer he was making seemed too odd to be true.
He was willing to help a sworn enemy, a spiritual adversary.
Your guts told you nothing, and that made you even more nervous.
Was he really telling the truth? Betrayal would be so easy if you agreed to his terms.
You studied his factions, his voice, trying to see if the mask had slipped.

[Roll 18 + 8; DC 15; Result= Critical success ]

But there was no mask, the Emperor had not spoken a lie.
His offer was earnest and that was a bit worrying.
He was a pragmatist with a goal that ran opposite to the future you had been trying to create.
And he would not compromise that vision.

Nevertheless you tried to make him see something less extreme.
Not refusing his offer outright, you tried to see exactly what the limits of his conditions were.
Try to find a common point on which to start.
He was basically asking you to throw away the remains of humanity, to let them be destroyed.
In exchange I would give you peace and the freedom to live in this world as you wanted.
He was trying to bribe you into letting go of the old world.

The more you spoke, the more you tried to make him understand that things could change,
the sadder he looked, his eyes slowly lowering the cup of tasteless tea.
He did not interrupt you, only retreated more and more from the table.
When he spoke again he had a somber tone in his voice.

“Its not just about the chimeras or the weapons. It's about technology in general and about the impact it can have in societies.
I know you remember your birthplace, remember the damage it does to individuals.
Even here you can see it with the kobolds and their rat race to the top, using machines with no regard for others, cogs to the system.
And you may tell me its something the Empire has the option to not participate, but that choice will not remain.
Technology changes societies in ways that force people to use it or become disenfranchised.

I know what you want to do and I respect it, but you cannot design the world on paper.
People will not make rational choices with the tools given, and some will do evil with them.
And that will result in people becoming dependent on the ones that take advantage of the machines and systems you set up.
Just look at the Raktas, clone chosen ones deprived of individuality. And the Empire has become dependent on them, a horrible thing facilitated by technology stolen from humans.
I allow it for now out of technical necessity, and I hope one day to stop all of it, like many other technologies stolen.”

(1/3)

And I know what you will say, you can't stop technological progress.
But we have an alternative, we have magic.
Something everyone can learn to use, something not dependent on a provider, something that makes us equal.
And its expansion and use is not limited by its users, but by Philgo.
It's not self regulating, it's monitored by something impartial that only cares for the how and not the why.”

He knew you were not convinced, and his expression wore clear dejection.
“Is there really nothing I can say to save you?”


>>5959577 (Note: Thank, I have like 3 pages of different monologues for him and I got to use a bit.)
>Challenge his points on technology and the war.

His whole ideology seems flawed to you and said as much.
The fact that magic uses the very resource that is keeping Gaia in check is problematic.
If there was some large population growth or new magic development and if Fhilgo does not adapt it might free Gaia.
And most people have no understanding how to really use magic or what it is really for.
The consequences of abusing it are unknown to the common man.

“That is true, but not the full picture. Philgo is constantly expanding and fixing his work.
And there have been times when spells have threatened that balance before and they simply got cut out, like transmutation, you can no longer cast any of the old spells.

And ironically the lack of understanding in how it works is good, that means we have a lot of difficulty creating new spells.
They still get made, but sometimes take decades,
that's more than enough time for Philgo to intervene by “banning” it or helping the researchers optimize efficiency.”

So his plan was to grind civilization almost to a halt.
Avoid change that would threaten Gaias prison or the world he envisions.

...

But there will always be wars if not against the remnants then against each other and with that, magic will be used too.
The expedition that summoned us was looking for weapons,artifacts and powerful magic to bring back.
The arms race they have is magic based.
How does the emperor know that the "cold war" they had going on before our arrival will not turn hot?

(2/3)

“That same question I can ask you.
How do i not know if left unchecked the civilization you seem to want to create will not destroy us.
Because you promise? What about 100 years from now?
The tyr will never forgive whatever you create for the sin of killing their god, its not fair, but there will never be peace.
And at least now there is a chance at victory, and with a good plan Gaia will not break free.
But in 100 years, when chimera armies are legion. Impossible.
Thats without counting our own internal conflicts, this cold war with the southern states and the democracy will resolve itself peacefully. I promise.
Once the Chimera capital is dust, we will cede part of the territory to democracy.
If there is a war with them, it will be skirmishes or trade blocks.
Nothing like the chimeras.

Its not perfect,but I’m trying to do the right thing .”

[Martydom route]
You have always tried to help everyone, to do the right thing.
And the Emperor has chosen the same path as you, but this conflict seems inevitable.
You wonder if you should take everything and leave the continent.
How can you make peace with a civilization that cannot heal from a wound made by your people?
They have a hatred nurtured for hundreds of years, how do you stop it?
There is no great unifier that can make amends.

What will you do?
>Accept his deal, negotiate with the Emperor the terms [Path of Resignation]
>Make an ultimatum (What?)
>Ask to leave [Path of Violence]
>Write in

(3/3)

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Note: Fun to write, not sure what do draw. Requests?

>>5959232
> type of self resurrecting guy that would be a physical powerhouse
That was one of the ideas very early on, 40K Emperor vibe.
But like this he is more of a foil to the player than a “Urh, I kill you because you human. WAHHHHH!”

>>5959162
>Personally this feels like giving up the remnants
That's because it is, he plans on breaking everything.

>>5959577
>How much of our stuff relies on magic?
Some very specific equipment might use more, but in general its very little or none.

>>5959993
>Make an ultimatum (What?)
Same deal as before, We cease the production of War Chimeras and only allow creatures like Frankie to be made in order to repopulate the wasteland and the banning of WMDs.
The crimes of the past mean nothing to us. Was it not the Empire and the other races who brought humanity here in the first place and made them war slaves? They are as much to blame for this unending hatred as we are and though there may be no great unifier we must at least attempt to do something otherwise why else did we choose the Martyrdom route?

Furthermore please point out his poor logic.

>I know what you want to do and I respect it, but you cannot design the world on paper.
>People will not make rational choices with the tools given, and some will do evil with them.
>And that will result in people becoming dependent on the ones that take advantage of the machines and systems you set up.
All of this applies to magic as well.
>And its expansion and use is not limited by its users, but by Philgo.
Instead of letting it regulate itself, you let a schizophrenic eldritch entity be in charge of it? The gods in this world are not the friends of the mortals and eventually problems of the same caliber will arise.

Basically, all of his arguments about 'muh technology bad magic good' can just be turned around and it doesn't take 20/20 hindsight to realize that the exact same thing is going to happen with technology or not, it will just be replaced with magic.

To sum up: his arguments are bad and he can accept our deal or he is in for a fight, and if Gaia is freed because of it he has no one to blame but himself

>Note: Fun to write, not sure what do draw. Requests?
Qothos shards
>But like this he is more of a foil to the player than a “Urh, I kill you because you human. WAHHHHH!”
A welcome surprise