Ask who she is.

"Who are you?" I ask. I really am curious. She is strange, mute...

She holds up her hand, then smiles, placing it against my chest, against where my heart beats. Small runes of Life, Man, Body, Spirit and the like float away and into me.

Ask her if she is the manifestation of Runes.

>>127088
She thinks for a moment, placing a finger against her lips as she looks up, contemplating.

She shrugs, then places her hand on my head and against my heart, in that order. And then she places her hand over her own heart.

>>127083
She's using the Life rune. She can't possibly be mortal. I guess she could be a god, but aren't they supposed to not be able to come here?

Also I think you died. She's resurrecting you.

Ask if you created her. Ask if she's the manifestation of something within you.

>>127095
I don't know. I don't feel...
Well, how would I know? Maybe I am?

"Am I dead?" I ask.
She smiles, shaking her head.

"Are you a god?"
She holds up a finger.

Her fingerprint is in the shape of the Gods Rune. She opens her hands, revealing six fingers on each hand, all her fingers oddly etched with the twelve letter runes. She parts her hair to reveal a single, sublime line, an inch long, on her forehead. Along her arms, I note, are the twenty-four least runes, twelve to an arm.

She smiles quietly, innocently placing a finger against her lips, turning slightly away.

>>127106
She IS a god. Nothing else could possibly know TRUTH.

Hm, you've seen Truth, the Lesser runes, and the Least runes. Where are the Greater runes?

>>127110
I don't see them anywhere. I do know that the Greater runes are always displayed in a circle, so that a six-point star could be drawn with them as the points. Even if the least are in a list, and the lesser are in a line, the greater will always be written as a circle.

A god? But... why can't she talk, then?

>>127113
Well if you're not dead, then I guess you are asleep. Perhaps some weird dream logic is preventing her from speaking.

Ask her if she can help you defeat Achilles.

Ask her why she is silent.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/02/06(Sat)23:13 No. 127126 ID: 6faa8c
File 126552678822.png - (24.59KB , 640x480 , Ahelpfuldiagram.png )

"Why are you silent?"
she smiles and taps my head, grinning.

"Can you help me defeat Achilles?"
She thinks deeply for a moment, closing her eyes and crossing her arms. And then she taps my head, twice, then gestures to the space around her.

"Why not?"

She draws in the air quickly with glowing power trails.

>>127126
Well that explains things nicely. She can only manifest in your dreams.

Ask if she can help you out with learning new runes at least. If not, ask if there's anything you can do to help *her*.

>>127137
"Can you help me learn new runes?"
She shakes her head, placing her hand against my chest yet again.

"Well, can I help you?"
She thinks for a moment, then smiles. Her lips move slowly.

You already have.

It's darker. Darker. I can't see her anymore. Darker.
I feel soft lips. My eyelids are heavy.

>>127370
Mumble incoherently.

>>127371
That's about all I'm capable of anyway.

My breaths come in short. It feels like my whole body is... off, somehow. Erratic. I place my hand on my heart.

Thump. Thu-thump-ump. Thump thump. Th-thu-thump.

I knew it. My breathing, too. I can't take a full breath. I can't even open my eyes. But I can recognize voices.

"He's awake!" Asala cries out, and I can hear the relief in her voice as she slumps ober me holding me tightly, liftimg my mostly limp body from the sand.

>>127374
I think that thing you did didn't just cause you to pass out this time around. It stopped your heart. Good thing Asala knows the medical procedure necessary for that king of thing. She was pushing air into your lungs and massaging your heart through your chest.

See if you can recover enough to talk or simply open your eyes, then check on the situation.

>>127375
"What's the situation?" I mumble.
"Y-you shouldn't talk..." Asala says quietly. "I'm uncertain how stable you are."
"Don't care."
She sighs.
"The woman leading the slime things is dead. She was... she was controlled by some weird creature you ripped out of her. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to survive without it. Without her, the creatures also evaporated, as did their equipment."
"So..."
I can hear Jai scoff.
"Back at square one, only the demon is even more pissed, likely."
"Is everyone okay?"
Jai laughs.
"Really? You were technically dead for a whole minute and you're asking us? Oh, we're peachy!"

Check your hand. Your palms. See if there's a symbol there now.

>>127377
A full minute? Yeah, you need rest. After you recover a bit, check yourself for any physical damage.

>>127378
I can't see anything. My eyes refuse to open.
"Asala. My hands... Are there any markings?"
"N-no. Y-your feet flashed and then there was this loud cracking sound. And... and then..."
"And then you were holding up a huge squirming eyeball, and you crushed it. Like... there was no intervening time." she sighs. Your boots are toast, by the way. And you might have trouble walking for a while with those burns."

Hey, you know how augment lets you write runes on anything?

Try writing augment on yourself, and then having Asala apply the healing rune to you. Tell her size 2-3, at her discretion.

>>127382
"No way." Asala states simply.
I agree. There was only one case where human etching was tried. It... didn't end well. They used Augment and lightning, and...

Their body simply became energy. They vanished in less than a second and no one saw them again. Human etching is seriously off-limits!

>>127383
Well just get some of that bottled Healing water Asala can make then.

>>127384
"Alright. But I can't give you too much at once. It only speeds up natural processes, after all. If I give you too much, your heart will stop."

Should I transfer you to someone else? If so, who?

Or... you could try Augment and Healing on your armor!

>>127386
"Well... Maybe when you're up and moving. For now... we have to be really careful. You're lucky to be alive at all."

Right okay... I guess you can pass us to Asala, since Jai already got some time with us.

>>127400

Goodnight.

@#$$%^#$@@#$@#

Oh my god, I can't believe I did it. I mean, yes, Hattori taught me, but... incredible. I... I saved him from the brink.

>>127438
Wait, you know Hattori?

>>127438
Did Hattori treat your injuries?

>>127441
He was a friend of my father. We met sometimes. He taught me some techniques. It was after his son had left for the Rune Academy, though...

>>127443
Y-y-yes, he did. I was very lucky, he told me,

>>127444
Um, Antares is Hattori's son, you know.

>>127447
Yes, I know. How could one mistake such bravery and selflessness? He is so kind and gentle... But I am far too brutish and wild for his sort. Not graceful at all...

>>127449
Oh you. I don't think he cares too much about that sort of thing. Besides, isn't that a little bit of a sexist viewpoint? Why would it be wrong for a woman to be big and strong? Men are simply more easily shaped into that mold.

>>127464
Well... My mother passed away before she could teach me anything, and my father wasn't much help... So I read. I read a lot of stories. And... when I asked my father... he said I should be the knight and not the princess. But...

I want to be the princess. I... I want to rescued. I don't want to be strong. I want to be graceful and smart and pretty...

>>127467
You can start now if you want.

>>127467
Well you ARE pretty, that's for sure. I can't tell how smart you are from what we've seen though. Just haven't known you long enough for that. Finally, shouldn't you have learned graceful moves from your training, or was it all just power-based stuff? Maybe you can get some lessons in finesse. Jai might have some tips, I dunno.

Hmmm. Your father, when he taught you swordsmanship, did he teach you techniques, or did he take more of a organic approach to it?

Considering how skilled you are at using a sword, and.. I assume you can dodge too? these things require agility and... grace, believe it or not. I'm sure if you applied yourself, you could soon be dancing with more skill then the poofiest princess... and you'd have some skills that'd actually be worth something too.

>>127521
My father taught me first to use hafted weapons, like hammers, maces, and axes. While I am more skilled with those, I find swords to be more... elegant. So I taught myself in their use.

>>127473
My father preferred to teach me how to end fights quickly. With hafted weapons, enemy armor is far less of an issue. Even if you don't penetrate, you are likely to deal internal damage.

I... I'll admit that I have a great deal of precision when it comes to my ability as a warrior, but... I cannot dance. At all. It's all too complicated to me!

Right now I'm making a poultice for Antare's feet. The damage he dealt to his own body is incredible. His muscles are severely torn, his feet are badly burned, and his heart, while resusitated, is beating irregularily. I am of the mind that we send him home as soon as we can and as covertly as possible. If he gets into another fight, it's highly likely he will die... or render himself handicapped for life.

>>127569
How bad is it, really? Will he need to be monitored or can you and Jai leave him be and go fetch some panacea from the Orcs?

Or are you overreacting for whatever reason? He's a tough boy, after all. He's not going home. ... Unless we can get a vorn mount from Vorana to head to the mainland, get him healed up by his dad, and return him posthaste. Ask Vorana about that, and about the approx time involved.

>>127576
Vorana, who has now settled in, shakes her head.
"We need to rest every couple of miles." she says quietly. "If I could, I'd take him home myself."

And... I'm not worrying unduly. Once he gets enough food and rest, he can walk, run, maybe fight if he's careful, but if he does what he just did again? He'll be lucky to be in a wheelchair.

Me and Jai speaking with the orcs? That sounds like something to do... Are you sure it's a good idea? They are known among the goblins here for... certain proclivities.

How much is enough? Can he be operational again within a day or two?

You and Jai can take care of yourselves, but I'd rather not put you in a position where you could, say, drown under a pile of Orc corpses, and loathe as I am to say it, even the most capable people can get captured.

>>127585
At best, he could be up and fighting in a day. At worst, it will take three.

You're right, I could get captured...

But if I get this thing that Antares really really needs... maybe...

... Maybe?

Maybe what?

Also, ask Vorana if she'd be comfortable with defending him while you two were out, if it comes to that. Don't want to leave him alone, you understand.

>>127587
Erm, let's not forget that Sal'an is around to help.

From what we've heard it sounds like we'll need to either use stealth or brute force. We should scout out an orc town to see if we can find out where they keep the panacea, and how heavily fortified the town is.

>>127657
Maybe... Jai can scout it out and I can... ugh... brute force my way in?

>>127660
Alone? That sounds like a bad idea. They have guns, you know.

What runes do you know aside from Healing?

>>127664
None...

Well, from what I've heard so far, Orcs would rather capture than kill women. I'm certain I can evade capture.

>>127665
Rather?

What if they, say... shoot you in the leg?

>>127667
W-w-well, nothing ever got done by worrying!

Or at least that's what my father says. Besides, I don't think Jai wants to waste her ammo when a perfectly good hammer will do the job just fine.

Oh, that reminds me. I've decided what to reforge my father's hammer into.

>>127675
Oh, do tell us what it is.

>>127689
A sheild with his crest on it. More like a buckler, but it'll be so thick and heavy only someone of my ancestry could use it properly. My father always wanted to protect me, after all.

Also... I want to be... with Antares. You know? So I really want to.... to help him.

We should do a covert scouting mission.

Can you make your armor black or something so you and Jai can sneak in and ascertain the location of/possibly retrieve the panacea under covor of night, possibly using the vorn as a means of communication with Sal'an who will wait outside to burst in and play hero if you need help with extraction?

>>127693
But that would mean sharing it with Jai...

Plus, while covert is graceful, it is as inelegant as a brute approach.

Oooh, I know. I could have Sal'an come with me! It's not like he wants to be with Antares. Yes, yes, Jai goes and scouts, and finds a weak point in their defenses. Then me and Sal'an will charge in and take it!

>>127695
Asala...

Are you entirely sure you aren't fantasizing about getting in trouble and having Antares charge in to save you? Because as romantic as that would be, it'd also probably end badly.

Anyway, do you REALLY want to face all those orcs at once? Without a single ranged weapon? Just so you can be the hero?

>>127700
N-no...

I just... I just don't want to fall behind. Everyone but me... I'm not stupid, you know? Jai and Ysl and even Vorana... But not me. But... I don't know what to do! I... It's like... It's like to him I'm not even a choice.

>>127711
EH!? Nono, he hasn't done anything with Vorana aside from that one thing, and that wasn't personal. He's interested in Jai, and Ysl seemed nice but we haven't seen much of her... He is interested in you, I know that. There haven't been a lot of opportunities for interaction, really, beyond that one moment in the boat. We've been busy fighting.

I don't even think he considers Vorana a choice. At least not in that way. He did things with her, but I believe it was made clear that there was no commitment involved.

Actually, if I'm being honest I think it's between you and Jai... and I think you're the frontrunner.

>>127719
You really think so? I... I don't know, I shouldn't jump t-
!!!

Ysl!

Oh my god, she just stumbled out of the forest. She's reallly badly hurt! Oh no... Oh no... Wait, she's leashed. This is all very confusing...

A tall man in simple armor steps out, grinning wildly and chuckling.
"You Asala?" he asks, looking down at me.

Oh god. Two orcs step out beside him.

>>127751
RRGH.

"Who are you, what do you want, and what have you done with Ysl?"

Do you have your sword? Do they have weapons? Battle stance! Call to your allies if they can't see this.

"Who wants to know?"

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/02/07(Sun)20:28 No. 127779 ID: 6faa8c
File 126560331077.jpg - (22.36KB , 328x328 , Rance_6_-_Rance.jpg )

>>127763
>>127763
The tall man blinks, then throws back his head in wild laughter. The orcs join him.
"Who, me? I'm High fucking warlord!" he chuckles. "And this girl lost to me in equal combat! Fair and square! She's mine now." he chuckles. "But she said that this belonged to Asala, so I decided to humor her and deliver it myself. Ain't that kind of me?" He tosses the buckler out and I catch it.
"Yass, boss!" one of the orcs grunts.
"Now, a little birdie told me some kid managed to kill Alexia."
His eyes... it's like he's looking right at my soul.
"Do you know who did this, young lady? Don't you lie to me, now."

Ysl is looking at the ground in shame.

"Maybe. Why d'ya wanna know? And will you trade me Ysl if I tell you?"

>>127779
Assume combat readiness.

"I'll tell you... if you defeat me."

>>127786
Uhmno

No need to start shit like that with these stakes. Just no.

>>127784
"I want to know because I have a great deal of interest in the movements of the Great Demon, young lady. And no. I won her. It's not like she'll be treated badly, you know. Good food. Hard work. And, well..." he rolls his eyes up and laughs harder. "Not to mention what a great shame it is to her people to run away from anything. Goblins never try to escape, they just endure. Admirable... and useful. So. You going to tell me, or should we two make a wager?"

>>127791
Ask what kind of wager. What we want right now: Ysl, and panacea.

>>127791
"What would you have in mind for this person, if you found out who it is?"

>>127799
"I wanna shake 'is goddamn hand." he says, crossing his arms. "Bitch 'as been terrorizing my tribe for months. I was a little worried."
"But I thought the orcs worked wi-"
"Not mine!" he roars. I actually have to take a step back, he's so loud. He calms... "Not mine. The Woman-Takers are better than that!"

"Hmmm. He's wounded. If you promise he won't be harmed then I'll take you. You're on your... *pause and say with a bit of disgust* Honor."

If he promises, then I say introduce him.

>>127804
Alright, he seems legit. Tell him that Antares nearly destroyed his body in the effort though so he's not going to be much fun to talk to.

>>127810
He draws his sword, rushing at me.

!?

I bring out my sw-
His is at my neck.

"Listen to me closely, young lady. I ain't an orc. In order for me to lead a band of green, crazy warmongers, I have to keep up a certain reputation. Every single fucking day I have to fight for my life."
I whimper, and he grabs my head, forcing me to my knees.
"So if you would please stop being such a god damn bitch and just show me where your pal is, it would be immensly..."
There's a sound of thunder, a loud clang, and the sword is at my neck, smoking and slighlty dented. "Appreciated. Oh, and if you try and shoot me again, this fine young lady gets her neck opened up wide. Thank you."

He steps away, helping me up and dusting off my trousers. Then he gestures for me to lead.

>>127837
Like I was SAYING, let's go along with it.

>>127842
Hey, can't fault me for being careful. I suppose I could've asked our lovely host here to be a bit more respectful, but how was I to know he was epic?

Anyway, do what he says. Obviously.

>>127842
I lead, and Jai joins me, looking at her gun.
"He blocked it." she mutters.

"Lotta assassins think that anything with a bang is unstoppable." the big man calls out behind me. "I learned a long time ago how to protect myself. Sorry for the scare, there."

We lead him to the hut, Sal'an looking up and walking towards me.
"He's sitting up again. Talkin'." he mutters. "Who's this?"
"Orc warlord." I reply. "He wants to see Antares."
Sal'an sighs.
"Ah suppose."

He pulls aside the cloth, and the big man steps inside.

%^#$^#$$$%^

A big man in heavy armor steps into the hut, grinning with sharp teeth. He sits beside me and chuckles.
"Holy shit, man, what didja do to yerself." he says, looking me over. "Sorry. The name is Rance." he holds out his hand.

>>127846
If you can move, I would advise shaking his hand. This man is serious business. I would also like to note that he is NOT allied with Achilles. I wouldn't expect much help from him, but maybe you can convince him to part with two doses of panacea.

This man is extremely dangerous/capable. He's holding Ysl, after having defeated her in combat apparently. He managed to take Asala completely by surprise before she could draw her weapon, and deflect a bullet with his sword without interrupting his line of thought. He does however seem... honorable in his way.

Shake his hand. If he wanted you dead you'd be in 6 pieces right now. He's also apparently not aligned with Achilles.

>>127849
I shake his hand.

"I'd like to personally thank you for saving my tribe." he says. He reaches into a bag and pulls out a bottle, it glows red. "With my many thanks." he places it on the ground nearby. "I know why you're here, kiddo. You want to save your mom. That's fine. But I want you to know, we could really use your help. This same asshole who killed the oldie, the same who tossed your friends like ragdolls, he destroyed my group when we came out here, three hundred years back."

Ask him what he was out here for 300 years ago.

Also ask him if there's any way you can convince him to let Ysl free.

Antares, just between us, Are you willing to risk your own life, and the lives of everyone in your party, to fight this Achilles fucker?

>>127860
"Well... It was me and ten others. The strongest self-sworn to ever live, sent here to figure out what the godwall was all about. Well, we fond out, all right."
he sighs.
"One by one, our group thinned. They would vanish, or die... only half of them are still alive, I'd wager. And the ones who died are better off. The demon made it so none of us age. I managed to escape before he.... changed me, but the other four weren't so lucky. He ruined them. Took their muscles. Replaced it with some... monster. Alexia was the first to go. She was a strong leader, a great tactitian. You saw what happened to her."
I'm not sure what to say.
"Listen, you want to go home, I don't blame you. But I'll make you a deal. All the ladies of my clan... the ones we've earned, I mean... will be yours, if you help me take out Achilles."
"What about Ysl?"
"Down payment. We got a deal?" he holds out his hand again, sharpened, filed teeth gleaming in the thin lighting.

>>127866
Just accept.

>>127866
Accept.

>>127876
>>127875
"We have a deal." I shake his hand, and he tugs at the leash.
He hands it to me, smiling.
"I'll send an orc in three days. Then the real fun starts, awright?"

"Awright, say, how much of this stuff is required for healing? I'm tempted to use some of it myself, but obviously I want there to be enough for my mother."

>>127882
"For the shit you clearly put yourself through, it's worthless. Unless you start hacking up green blood or some crazy shit, it won't do you any good."
He rises.
"Say, I never caught your name, kiddo."
"I'm Antares. Antares Delarosa."
"I'll be sure to catch the spelling later. I'd hate for your dad to get mad when he finds out your grave was etched imporperly."

And with that, he leaves.

>>127881
Three days. That should be enough time to attune to one or two more runes.

While you're recovering I wonder if you might experiment a bit more... Try Augment 1, Undeath 1 on your dagger. Or Augment 1, Courage 1 on things other than weapons. Like your gloves, or a ring or charm.

Oh, he's gone now so I guess we can talk to Ysl a bit. She's quite wounded; how about you give her a little Healing water to speed her recovery along?

Also take off that leash. Keep it around, though... Heheheh.

>>127898
>>take off the leash
>>keep it around though

I approve of this course of action.

How many jars do we have anyway?

>>127895
More runes?
I'm not sure if I can. I'm already at the edge of my limit, and etching is somewhat tiring. I'm to rest and relax here until I recover.

Ysl lays beside me.
She begins to cry.

Awww. Give the poor girl a hug, why don'tcha?

>>127907
Oh, etching is tiring?

Erm... I hope Rance didn't force Ysl to do anything yet. It sounded like she had only just been taken.

Ask her if she's alright.

>read note
>hug Ysl

I hold the girl close, and she presses her face into the area between my shoulder and neck, the tears wet and hot against my skin. I reach up to unhinge the leash, but she stops me.

"Don't. They are... enchanted. To take it off is to kill me."

>>128347
Well. That's just lovely.

I hope we can find a way to nullify the enchantment, then. I will not be comfortable having her walking around on a leash all the time.

At least she can just hold it herself, I guess. Maybe use it in battle if it's indestructible or something.

>>128380
I'm uncertain. I've heard some runes can disrupt enchantments, but I'm worried about something that could kill Ysl, especially something so simply cosmetic.

>>128509
Alright, it stays on then. For a while anyway.

Assure her that you won't treat her like you own her.

>>128541
"I won't treat you like I own you, or anything."

She chuckles.
"Either way is fine for me." she says softly. "This is my problem. Do not worry yourself upon it."

Ask he what she means. Knowing more about this whole goblin shame/honor deal would be useful, likely.

>>128951
"What do you mean?"

"When a Goblin has fallen into danger, by their own actions, it is shameful to assist them. After all, it shows how foolish they are to be unable to forsee the trouble they were putting themselves in..."
she sighs heavily.

"I am yours." she says quietly. "At least it is better than the woman-taker."

"We're not assisting you. In our culture it is shameful to hold someone who is not our enemy in bondage. Thus, as a matter of honor, we must give you to yourself."

(Assuming your morals are similar to ours, Antares)

"We're not assisting you. In our culture it is shameful to hold someone who is not our enemy in bondage. Thus, as a matter of honor, we must give you to yourself." I say gently.

She mutters a small sound of protest.
"I... I do not trust myself anymore." she says softly. "I... I failed myself. I acted poorly. I allowed emotion to control me."

>>129045
"How do you think I ended up like this? I did the same thing as you."

>>129048
"No. You succeeded. I have failed." she says simply.
"The woman-takers are... strange." she goes on, trying to change the subject.

Eh, what the hell. We can wait until we've gotten her confidence up, I guess.

Strange how?

>>129054
"Strange how?"
"I hear stories. Boys will go there to rescue a girl they lost in a fight or something. Only... The girl won't want to leave."
"What."
"Yeah, you know? I heard stories about how the women are treated lavishly, how the men are turned away by women who loved them..." she shrugs. "I thought it was the collars, at first, but it isn't. The collar is only temporary. Rance said it's removed after the first night."

>>129058
Hah. Sounds like they're good at 'taking' women. To bed. SEX.

That's disturbing. We'll have to ask Rance about it if we get a chance. Or say we will but never do.

Ask her if she knows any runes.

>>129064
That, uh. Er.

"You're blushing." she notes happily. "Maybe you're realizing something?"

>>129076
Antares. The collar is deactivated after SEX.

>>129082
What.

No. That can't be it. Correlation is not causation!

>>129089
It's too bad, though, with the condition you're in right now.

You should still have Jai come in and check. Since you can't, y'know. And since Asala would be scarred for life.

Or at least think about it.

Really hard.

Anyway, maybe you should give us to Ysl, or at least see what she thinks of that idea.

>>129091
I... ack... Hish, you! I'm not supposed to exert myself in such a condition.

Ysl is making a weird face at me.

>>129094
I, uh, what?

No, no! I don't think I want to get shot! At least not until the pain is really excrutiating!

Ask her what she's thinking.

>>129101
"Wh-what are you thinking?" I ask quietly.
She giggles.
"Well, at first I thought that... well, that this horrible perverted man would be holding the leash. But now... it's you. And I find myself not so worried anymore."

We could make her worried, if you want Antares.

We'd be willing to do that for you.

Also, D'aww.

>>129103
I think you've noticed that we can get rather... intense. Don't worry, we mean no harm by it. You hold the final say in any case.

I wonder if maybe the leash just deactivates after the first night no matter what happens during that night?

Anyway, thank Ysl for her faith in you, even though you could just be hiding your perversion.

>even though you could be hiding your perversion.

Work this into your response to her.

>>129207
"Thank you for your faith in me."

"I know you wouldn't be stupid enough to try anything on me anyway." she mutters quietly, laying against my chest.

Ask her why she believes that? Wouldn't her honor stop her from kicking your ass or something?

>>129440
"Why is that?"

"I threw you through the sky, and you saw what I am capable of."
Er... She's right.
She smiles, catlike as she kisses my forehead. "Sleep, Antares. You need your rest." she lays beside me.

Okay, so we've got Jai- clever and kind yet bristly, Asala- strong yet conflicted and needing someone to make her feel feminine, and Ysl- pint-sized powerhouse with a playful, warm heart. I guess there's Vorana too but she doesn't appear to be very interested.

The choice is harder than I thought it would be.

>>129610
This is true. But... I do not want to hurt any of the girls. They are trusted allies and companions. I'd hate for one of them to be hurt by my actions...

What time is it, is it nighttime? Day?

If it's day, give us to a girl so we can advise her, if it's night...

actually the same. Ask Ysl how she'd feel about it, it out to be Asala or... Vorana.

Can you give us to Vorana?

I don't think there's any possible way you can choose one of them and not have one of the others feel rejected.

There's another way of looking at it though. We are in a very dangerous environment. They could die in the very near future. On one hand this means your choice becomes easier if girls are eliminated in this manner. On the other hand this means you cannot take their presence for granted.

>>130357
>I don't think there's any possible way you can choose one of them and not have one of the others feel rejected.

My father once told me romantic popularity is a curse bestowed generously on the good.

I never believed him until now...

All the girls are up and about save Ysl right now.

>>130457
Well, Hattori had 3 to choose from. They were Ella, Shi, and Arryn. Hmm... Maybe even Raven was interested in him. Dunno, tough, we never got to see that much of her.

>>130458
Yeah, but he already knew Arryn didn't really work out as a permanent thing, and Shi uh... Well, Shi turned out to be a lot of trouble. I don't know how things would've turned out if he had chosen her. It would have definitely been more tragic.

Here, we know that all three are good people.
Jai could have the most parent-related complications if you chose her, and picking Ysl might insult the other two candidates. Not to mention the cultural difficulties. Picking Asala would make the others wonder if you just felt sorry for her.

Also, each candidate has ways in which they need you. Jai needs to open up more, Asala needs a man to make her feel feminine, and Ysl is bound to you.

Yet, there are reasons NOT to pick each girl for reasons that effect them only. Jai wants to remain detached so her heart won't break, Asala needs time to recover from losing her dad before entering into an emotionally demanding situation, and Ysl feels that she must solve her problems without outside assistance.

My opinion? Wait and see what happens. Try to figure out who you simply cannot live without. Then again you were going to do that anyway weren't you?

>>130460
I'm.... rather stunned.
That's strong advice. Very well. I shall wait, and see. Would yo folks like to assist someone else, or is this all for tonight?

Give us to Vorana. I think we could do the most good there, and we haven't really gotten to know her yet. And considering that she's in the best position to tell us about the state of affairs on the island (except for possibly Ysl, or Sal'an) I think it's just a good idea. :D

Yeah, maybe we can help organize the construction of her new lair.

>>130737
Very well. I signal Vorana inside, and she arrives quickly, robed more modestly than usual, her face looking more human than before.

"Yes, Antares?" she asks gently, quietly, to avoid awakening Ysl.
"Legion wishes to assist you."
"Very well."

@#$%@#$%ahundredvoicesasinglemindatrillionbodies%^#$^%^

I don't believe we have met.

>>130743
Greetings, we are Legion. Many, yet one, like you. We've not met someone with so much in common... Hmm.

Can we help you with anything?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/02/13(Sat)16:02 No. 130765 ID: 6faa8c
File 126610575893.png - (9.71KB , 640x480 , Voranasnest1.png )

>>130753
Well, it's rather more like I am one yet many. We are, in fact, opposites: I am one voice advising thousands, you are a thousand voices advising one.

Still...

I do need some help figuring out exactly how to lay out my new hive...

There's three things a hive needs: a Spawning Pit, a Feeding Area, and a Queen's Chambers. The other areas are roughly the same size as my chambers. There are optional chambers, but right now I am most concerned with these three.

>>130765
Hm. Well, the functions of each room seem fairly self explanatory, but could you explain them in more detail? For instance, would Vorn be vulnerable while eating or during the spawning process?

GL12!JQq0cR/.GM 2010/02/13(Sat)16:28 No. 130780 ID: a64482
File 12661072959.png - (36.34KB , 1216x688 , pitlayout.png )

>>130765
What goes on in the spawning area? Will you be there alot? Is it a bunch of defenseless eggs/larvae? Are there generally always tough creatures wandering about waiting for orders?

A tentative layout design. Let me know if this presents any problems you can see, I tried to allow room to expand. Is there any way you could block a tunnel off in case of invasion? Ideally I'd like a sort of rally room directly behind a choke point, where we could have an arbitrarily large number of defenders engage a the minimum number of invaders that efficiency allows us to limit it to (and have this be the only way in/out, except for perhaps a private escape tunnel)

>>130780
The spawning pit is where A) Takers are born, and B) Taken 'mature'. There are Vorn that I create for the specific purpose of breeding Takers, and they spend their life in the spawning pit.

The Feeding pit functions as a rest area and an area to eat. Idling for ready orders takes place in either Gaurd Posts, or in the Feeding area.

How about you put the vulnerable rooms like the Queen's Chamber and Spawning Room behind a twisted multi-level labyrinth? That would be especially useful if you and your children can sense vibrations with enough accuracy to tell where invaders are at all times.

GL12!JQq0cR/.GM 2010/02/13(Sat)16:59 No. 130798 ID: a64482
File 12661091577.png - (37.05KB , 1216x688 , Pitlayout2.png )

This might be better then. The guard post would of course be a secondary priority when it comes to setting things up. And this leaves plenty of room for expansion, the feeding pit would allow vorn to stream out to defend you, if such a thing is required.

Off the subject, how bad is it if Achilles captures one of your less burly children? In a world we have experience in, creatures which can fly very high and have great eyesight will relay information about enemy positions to commanders like you. Sort of like the thing we did with the spear and the small vorn. Could you make something so we could get an overview of Achilles' main base/troop movements?

Also, how do you feel about placing a container of water or something in the walls of your chamber, or in the guideposts? Like a big stone jar or something one of your minions would have to pierce to get at? Perhaps we could ask Asala if she's be willing to create a healing rune on such a jar, so in emergencies your children (and anyone else in there at the time) could heal their wounded and become combat ready faster?

Also, I'm supremely interested in your response to this man, and would totally not mind completely scrapping my plans if it becomes prudent.

>>130793

>>130793
That would more likely confuse myself as well. Keep in mind that while I am wholly capable of guiding my children by the thousand, recalling a complicated layout for them may lead to... issues.

((Imagine playing a videogame with four controllers, one for each hand, and one for each foot. Now imagine that you're playing IWBTG with each one.))

>>130798
This is remarkably similar to my old layout. I'll take it.

As for Achilles... his primary abilities are the bending of living minds, dead bodies, and the air itself. He cannot subvert my children while I hold control of them, for he cannot subvert myself. I also doubt he would be able to control someone you were helping, rather, he may recieve painful feedback.

One other thing: Achilles rarely captures. He more often kills. The humans he 'captures' and subverts with small creatures are being punished, made an example out of. I've only seen this done to those he feels directly oppose him.

Lastly, he seems to have a grudge against human beings in particular.

How hard is it to create a new type of Vorn?

how many Vorn are under our control now, roughly?

What do you know about Achilles's defenses/armies?

These next questions are a bit more personal, if you do not wish to answer, I'll understand.

Why fight Achilles? You're not human. Did he mean to destroy you too?

How do you feel about Antares? How attached are you to your children, does every loss pain you, are you jaded by war, are they just tools? Something else?

What is your daughter's name? Because she is adorable.

>>130814
Hmm, can't you just... mark the proper path to get around in a way only Vorn can see? Or some other secret code that lets you navigate the maze easily without needing to memorize the layout?

>>130842
Keep left.

?

>>130847
Then invaders will be able to do the same thing. Also if the maze is any good at all, following one wall will take forever to reach the other side.

>>130891
Wait, do Vorn use pheromones?

>>130895
No. Our link is done via a specific subneural electric signal. The Orcs know intuitively how to strike it, and are the only race thus far able to do so. This is why we usually try to find a copper deposit where we nest: Vorn that eat copper are more receptive to commands.

My daughter's name? I've named her Anataire.

>How hard is it to create a new type of Vorn?
It requires finding a race that matches closely to what one desires.

>how many Vorn are under our control now, roughly?
I have roughly 80 Vorn workers and 20 brutes under my control.


>What do you know about Achilles's defenses/armies?
His creatures MUST be struck in the eye. Like us, they recieve commands directly from their leader. Unlike us, these commands are required even for their heat to beat.

>Why fight Achilles? You're not human. Did he mean to destroy you too?
Humans are the best breeding stock available to Vorn. If he manages to reach the populated continent first, he will take them all, and then wipe us out.

>How do you feel about Antares?
He is strong in a way I cannot pin down. Attractive, physically and mentally. I do not actively persue him because I am too busy keeping him safe.

>How attached are you to your children?
My children and myself both know what sacrifices must be made in order to acheive the goals we plan. Further losses indeed shake me.

>>130946


How old are you, have you been fighting Achilles all your life? Do you remember when he first showed up? Do you know where he spends most of his time?

>>131486
How old? You don't ask a lady that!

I really do wish we could use that maze idea... but if not, how about you put a guard post vertically above the entrance corridor so that Vorn can jump down upon intruders to ambush them?

>>131497
She's not even human, she's prolly beyond such petty trivialities. Right Vorana?

>>131486
I've been fighting him as long as I can remember, since before the kobolds gained their natural armor and strength, and before the dwarves were forced under. I am uncertain of my age, as I do not bother to count the years, but I can estimate at least a thousand if not ten thousand years of age.

The vertical post would work, however...

So install it then.

What's your goal after Achilles is dead, then?

Are there other hives of Vorn? Can you get them to help?

How good are your children at digging? Could we have them dig a tunnel to get us inside Achilles fortress of evil if need be?

>So install it then.
Already on it.

>What's your goal after Achilles is dead, then?
I merely wish to live in peace. I also hope to figure out a way to avoid killing the hosts of my people...


>Are there other hives of Vorn? Can you get them to help?
Not anymore...


>How good are your children at digging? Could we have them dig a tunnel to get us inside Achilles fortress of evil if need be?

While my race is very good at digging... Well...
Perhaps it would be best to show you what my advance scout sees.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/02/15(Mon)12:40 No. 132047 ID: 6faa8c
File 126626642166.png - (18.60KB , 640x480 , Zazv3.png )

>>132032
>PROPER IMAGE

>>132047
More ideas for hive security:

Undermine corridors so that you can collapse the floor and trap/ambush invaders.
Make thin walls so that Vorn can bust through for ambushes.
have one round chamber with like 50 tunnels leading to it, so that you can swarm an invading force. Make the entrance collapsible so they can't get away.

Do you have ants or something similar there?

Could you make tiny carnivorous Vorn which would swarm out of the walls/floor at your command and fuck an invader's shit up?

Small flying insects would be good to. Maybe sparrows if those are too small. Is there a lower or upper size limit? Have you ever heard of leviathans? Could you take one or more of them as a host?

Also, a friend of ours did what had to be ALOT of damage to Achilles' assets. Do you happen to know how much?

>>132032
Hmm, how exactly do the hosts die? What is the reason?

Also, that is indeed a giant flying fortress. Got any way to produce large fliers so that we can get people up there?

>>132333
Er... the last one plucked my soldiers from the sky. One by one, Achilles turned them into red biomass lumps.

Which he then used to create flying soldiers.

Which then slowly tore apart my mother.

It is not a particularily good memory. I had to sever her head to prevent Achilles from taking our transmission ability secrets.

As for our hosts... Our young gain their true genetic signature from their hosts, however, when they grow, they inadvertently cause drastic cranial failure.

>>132167
Too small... The smallest I've managed are rabbits. I believe you've seen the size of a Taker, yes?

As for leviathans... we cannot swim. It is... frightening to me. And thus it is frightening to my people.

The recent assault managed to destroy the previous flying fortress and several members of the Crying Legion, notably, the Muse and the Flayer.

There are ten members of this elite group, and Antares has killed one. Erhgal destroyed two with his explosion. This leaves...

The Angel, the Hammer, the Sheild, the Mage, the Berserker, the Lancer, and...

The one we know nothing about. We know he exists, but his title and abilities elude us.

>>132060
I will install the thin walls in the posts. The rest will be installed when I have time.

Why do they need to be in brain tissue? Is it some special requirement, or is that just a convenient point of entry? Could takers enter through a wound? Or other... orifice?


Moving on swiftly.

You cannot swim. We could probably rig something up with a bottle and Antares' speed abilities. Do you think you'd be okay with that? Do you think you could take over such a large mind if we could find a way?

>>132611
I am... Uncertain. It would be difficult, to say the least. Not to mention once reaching maturity I may have trouble controlling it due to my fear of water. The way it presses in... the way I can feel it inside my body, ch-ch-choking me... Blocking everything... $%@%.... It... The black, plated hand holding me dow-^%#$^%down...

>>132656
Calm down. You don't need to go into the water if you don't want to.

>>132656
Hey! Stay with us! The Berserker is dead. Antares killed him on his own shortly after your hive was destroyed. Right before meeting Ysl at the beach, in fact.

>>132661
S-sorry... The memories @%@$$%@hurt. A lot. There is something you should know about Achilles that is very important.

He will let you win until the last moment.

So he can utterly destroy your hope. He may seem to create thousands of creatures, all he can truly do is destroy. Families. Minds. Peoples. I know that... that you are but an entertained group of watchers. But please. I beg of you.

Kill this monster.

>>132664
...

We shall do our utmost. I apologize for hurting you, I was only looking for a tactical advantage.

>>132670
I-it is fine. It was never your intention.

Sleep beckons, my good friends. I shall send you to Antares for the night. Sleep well. May the earth be soft and the air be warm.

@##$@#$@#$

Rune Attuned!
Wounds

May be inscribed normally on: Bladed weapons
Effects:

1: Works to stop coagulation of blood, causing excessive bleeding. This works as a small feild around the sword, projecting roughly an inch from it in all directions. Be warned, hand wounds will not heal if you weild a weapon so engraved.
2: Like 1, but also increases the chance for infection incredibly for wounds opened in the feild caused by the rune. The feild also increases in size to six inches in every direction.

3: Like 2, but increases the likelihood of diseases, pathogens, and parasites spawning in the wound and areas in the field. The feild increases to a foot.

4:(only usable on zweihanders or axes due to size restriction) like 3, but increases the power of all effects a great deal. Field increases to 2 feet.

5: (see 4 for limitations) like 3, with more drastic effects. Also adds organ failure to the list, and in this case, the effect is not tied to wounds but merely the field itself. Excercise extreme caution, as the field is 5 feet long now.

>>132676
The morning comes, and with it, new worries. The good news is, I can stand and walk without much worry.

The bad news is the news I got just now.

"Achilles comes with his enterouge, the whole Crying Legion." the orc stammers, kneeling before me. "They do not carry weapons of war or even of deuling. They are moving directly towards your position."

So, Legion. Any ideas?

>>132694
He's coming at us on the ground? He's vulnerable.

If only you had your full strength you could just get within running distance, Blessing 5 your shoes and kill him. If Asala and Jai came with you and stayed out of sight they'd be able to carry your comotose body back to base once the deed was done.

Otherwise... well, the Crying Knight enemies are only vulnerable at the eye. Even unarmed they are a serious threat. Still, if we can wound Achilles in any way he will likely retreat. His telekinesis will be near impossible to get through...

Maybe he just wants to talk? He did say you had a week to leave. Hahah.

How far away are they? ETA? Ask Vorana if she thinks the hive is ready for an assault. Also, where is Anataire?

Try etching a rune of blessing on a digger vorn. Smallest version possible. I want to make sure you're still rune-ready.

>>132713
I am fully rune prepared. The only thing I can't do at the moment, is fight. With that in mind, I'm wearing minimal armor to reduce weight. Merely a chestpeice of leather for now.

Vorana says she cannot prepare a mass assault, so she lends me two bruisers.
Along with Asala, Jai, and Sal'an, I think I'm prepared.
As for ETA...
"Good morning, Antares." murmurs the soft, yet strange voice. "Good to see you're up and walking. Did you like the date I sent you?"

I count six others with him.

"Yeah, she knew some great dance moves, a bit strange though. Say, didn't you give me a week? I'm afraid I'm not yet prepared fully, you have me at a disadvantage."

>>132729
"Did I say that?"
He smiles wide, revealing needle-like teeth.
"I lied. I can't have you going back to where all the other people are and tell them all sorts of nasty rumours!" he chuckles. "Now, I am not uncivilized. I will grant you a choice. This goes for all of you... except the tin man."

He draws a long sword of bone and flesh with an eye on the hilt, and stabs it into the sand. He then has young man with a throbbing... thing in his chest stand beside it. Lastly, he steps forward.
"You have three options." he said simply. "First of all, you may surrender. If you do this, I will grant you a single requiest of your choice, aside from my own death, and if you tell me the names and descriptions of your family, I will avoid harming them to the best of my ability."
"Second, you may resist me." he holds up a writhing creature in his hand made of tentacles and an eye. "...And eventually join my army. Whereupon I will scour your memories and have you kill your family."

He shrugs.

"Lastly, you can simply ignore me. Eventually, I'll run you down with the rest of the planet, but it will be swift and painful, I gaurentee. Upon your decision, I will return to my home, with or without you, and plan accordingly."

He crosses his arms.

"Decide."

>>132748
Vorana told us something recently: Achilles likes to play with his opponents before dealing the final blow. He'll let us win for a while. So let's resist.

>>132762

I'm going to second this. Vorana would know him the best, as of yet.

Even if you were to surrender, our families wouldn't last long as the sole survivors of their respective races. Ignoring him leads to the same fate, only quicker. At least resisting him, we have a fighting chance.

>>132762
Very well.

"Jai, please convey my feelings to him in the universal language, would you?"
"Certainly."
The writhing creature in his hand explodes into gore as thunder roars, and Asala steps forth.
"You have killed my father, nearly crippled my..." she pauses, "My friend Antares, and harmed Vorana beyond compare. It is my duty, no... my pleasure to stand against you."
Sal'an smiles.
"I'll be happy to grind that smug grin from your face."
Vorana smiles as well.
"You already know my awnser."
A rock rockets from the forest, and Achilles hoplds out a hand to stop it. The blue energy grips it, but only slows it. The rock slams into his hand, breaking his bones and crushing it against his shoulder, then falls into the sand.
Achilles seems breifly stunned as I see Ysl wave from the woods, then walk to my side to join me.
I've never seen a face so utterly enraged as the one Achilles wears in that moment, his other hand passing over the ruined arm, repairing it instantly.
His smug grin returns. "Very well. And I'm assuming that Rance feels the same. Very well, Antares."
His eyes narrow.
"You will be the last to die." he promises, before turning around. his servants leave with him.

All the tension leaves my body at once, and I slump to the earth, panting.

>>133013
What? WHAT? Are you okay? Hey, Antares, answer us!

>>133015
I'll be fine. It was just... the pressure was intense. He could have killed me at any moment. But...

The rock. The fact that he couldn't stop it in time... it proves he's not as invulnerable as he thinks.
The goblins. The Orcs. The Vorn. Jai, Asala, myself. Sal'an.

We can do this. We can hurt him! We can... we can kill him!

>>133019
You're right. In fact, if we put big Blessing rune on Jai's gun, that should punch through his defenses too!

>>133036
I am not certain whether that would work. Unless we catch him by surprise.
"Ysl did well?" she askes with a smile as she helps me up.

>>133314
Smile and praise her.

>>133323
"Yes, you did."
She smiles radiantly.

Asala wanders into the trees, and Jai sighs.
"We will need more than a hut if we're to oppose someone like that..."

>>133332
Alright, where can we get some building materials? We can't use anything organic, mind you. Stone, metal and glass.

>>133373
I think for a moment, pacing.
Vorana sighs.
"You may utilize the Hive now. It is prepared."

I can see red eyes glowing in the forest. Watching and waiting. Poised, like stilled movement. There's... a lot. Enough that I can tell the ones in front block the sight of more behind. They shine though lined visors of steel and bone.

>>133708
The hive? Against that many Crying Knights this is going to be a tough battle. Barely any time to prepare, too. Ugh. We set up the hive with ambushing in mind... I guess if we were to use a choke point it would be at the entrance.

I have an idea, though. Inscribe some bottles with size 3 Undeath. They should be thrown at the enemy.

Also, make sure everyone has Blessing on their armor. Hey, also when they start advancing, inscribe Blessing on everyone's shoes as well. Plus the other related enhancement combinations you've figured out.

Speaking of figuring out runes, are you healthy enough to do some serious experimentation again?

>>133804

>Speaking of figuring out runes, are you healthy enough to do some serious experimentation again?

Depends. What have you got in mind?

>>133808
Hmm. How long has it been since you wore an Undeath ring? There could be some spirits around. Maybe Erhgal hasn't moved on yet, and we can talk to him a bit about the enemy.

Hey, try Augmentation and Undeath on a charm.

>>133815
Hey, good idea.

Inscribing:
Augmentation 1. Undeath 1 on: Charm.

I see my body fall to the ground. There's a long white strand connecting me to my bo-wait what

>>133825
Well you're not DEAD, at least. I mean, we couldn't talk to you if that were the case.

Look around and see if anything looks different.

>>133828
Everything does.
There's no trees. There's just rolling plains, dotted by leather walls. Here and there, trails of smoke.

And the sky...
The sky has three moons.

>>133836
Um... Call out to see if anyone is there.

>>133836
Inscribe a ring with Undeath and wear it.

>>133846
The world flashes. I sheild my eyes from the light, but instead of a thousand I expect, there is only one. A young woman, with hair of fire, weeping. Around her lay the bodies of heavyset, short people, armed with large axes and heavily armored. And then I realize... there is only the armor. There is no bodies within.
I look around, and I see other fantastical creatures, mourning for piles of dead races only discernable by their inorganic armor.

There's only one feeling in the air. Despair. It tastes like blood, like death. Like poison.

>>133851
This... is the Land of the Dead that corresponds to the continent you're on. The continent that has no faith. Are these dead gods stuck here, unable to bring their champions into the afterlife because the God of Death cannot reach them?

Well, see if you can talk to the one closest to you. Call out and ask who she is.

>>133876
I walk up to the young woman, and her head snaps up.
"Please." she manages, her face covered in tears. "Believe in me. I'm here. I'm trying! I'm trying!" she stammers, fires jumping from her hands to the bodies. "He took them... they stopped believing..." she looks up at me. "Please!"
Uh... the other ones, nearby, are starting to notice... and her cries are growing more and more desperate.
"They won't move anymore! No matter how much I try to bring them back! They believed in me!"

>>133880
Start backing away and get ready to run back into your body and erase the runes on the charm.

"It's impossible for my belief to reach you, this land is barren of faith. Tell me who you are and I'll try to help fix things."

>>133888
"I am... Etena, Goddess of fire, magma, craft and war." she looks at the earth. "You must leave, human. The gods here are... hungry... desperate... for the warmth of a soul."
Her hands twitch, and she holds them against her chest.
"H-hurry..."

>>133895
Run like fuck! Get back to your body and erase the runes on the charm!

>>133901
I turn and run.
"No! NO! STOP! MINE!" she screams, and her hand touches my shoulder. The agony is terrible, but I manage to slip away.

I grab my own hand, erasing the runes, and I gasp for air as I get up. I look to where the goddess grabbed me, the leather burned away. In its place is a triangle, with three lines radiating from the tip of one of the points. the burn does not hurt to the touch, but the scar is hot.

>>133905
You've been marked... That's Etena's symbol. I wonder... will she be able to resurrect you like she did the dwarves? Better not count on it.

By the way you should probably have a Courage amulet, ring and/or charm active at all times from here on out.

>>133916
Sal'an approaches.
"Yer aight, kiddo? Yer jus..." he pauses. "Yer shoulder." he says simply. "What happened, boyo."

His tone is rather intense.

>>133924
Go into as much detail as you can while explaining what happened.

>>133926
He blinks.
"Etena." he mutters. "No one has worshipped 'er since the loss of the Stonehead Clan." he looks to the sky. "Well... I had a symbol to her, once. When I was... normal. It was almost like I could see where the metal had impurities... what shape a charm wanted ta be..."

>>133930
Take a close look at the charm you have.

>>133971
Reflexively, I look down at the charm that hangs from my belt, and he shakes his head.
"Ah meant when I made them meself. There's a reason I went above, boyo. We're a people of tradition. When a Clan dies, so does the god that gaurds it, like. So... people didna like me thinkin' about Etena much, eh?"

I hope our rune goddess didn't just get injured...

I'm considering telling you to inscribe undeath on a tree. I mean, we need something big to help us here, and an entire forest turning into blightland would be helpful.

>>134210
I will not force undeath on another living thing again.

>>134239
Hey, Augmentation and Courage made weapons bigger... try it on a rock.

>>134404
I do so.

?

It seems to-

!!!

The rock shakes.
Uh.

>>134424
Take cover!

EVERYONE HIT THE DECK.

>>134425
I cry out and duck for cover.

Now that I think about it, doing this was half the reason I'm so fit.
The rock's shaking ceases. It... opens in the back. A hatch opens outward.

>>134441
...

Wat

WHAT

WAIT, HUH? Examine opening!

>>134444
I look inside.

A full suit of plate armor, a sword, and a sheild sit inside.

Only they're all made of rock.

>>134447
...

Thisisthebestruneever.jpg

>>134447
Um... Pick them up I guess.

>>134450
The sword alone weighs twice what the Freedom does. It's incredib-
Ysl plucks it from my hand and smiles, hefting it easily.

I hear a commotion in the woods, clashing of blades.

Ysl, get changed. The rest of us, we have to help whoever's being attacked.

Don't feel like retreat isn't an option though, this is a tactical decision to save probable allies.

>>134447
Oh I know what's going on. Rance's orcs are attacking the Knights. See if you can get together a force to assist them in breaking through enemy lines. Don't forget to use runes on everybody's stuff. Including gauntlets and footwear.

>>134470
Ysl quickly arms herself and I watch as Rance and Asala crash through the brush, Rance holding her down by the shoulders. She's disarmed.

"You're thinking too hard!" he says, in a tone that reminds me of my father when he taught me about fencing. "Let your instincts do half the work and you'll go far. You'd do better with a small mace or hatchet. You're fast, but not fast enough for a sword. You need to use that strength, that fire in you."
He leans close to her and whispers inaudibly. She looks away and blushes heavily.

...

Call out to Rance, see if he'd like to spar. Use runes for massive nonlethal damage.

I really have no other ideas.

What, we're not going to fuck over Rance and lose the alliance. Besides, Antares can't fight.

I personally think that a little exposure to Rance could do Asala some good. She wants to feel feminine, and Rance can certainly do that!

>>134619
I... Hm.
But...
Ergh...
I've sort of liked Asala since our practice. I just... ergh.

>>134619
>.>

I suppose you have a point.

>>134621
I kind of like Ysl better.

>>134628
Yes, well, you are a voice in one of a thousand. I still have my personal preferences. I can understand why you like her so much, though...

>>134621

Shouldn't we go off who Antares likes instead of who we like?

Still, this is puzzling, I'm not sure how to advise him, and honestly Rance is probably more experience then all of us combined and multiplied 3 times over.

Antares, joining the sparring session is probably your best bet, if you want to win over Asala. I can't think of anything better at least. Don't challenge him or anything, make sure it stays friendly.

Alternately offer to bless her boots to see if it gives them a more even footing?

>>134642
Very well.

"Rance!" I call. He looks up.
"Ha, walking around already." he says, getting off of her. "What is it?"
Oh shit... here goes.
"I'd like to spar with you."
He pauses. Then laughs. He stops his laughter to breathe, then starts again.

>>134642
If Antares spars with Rance, Rance might not hold back, even if he knows that Antares isn't 100%. That could permanently cripple him. BUT if Antares spars with Ysl, she knows Antares is hurt, and will hold back so she doesn't hurt him any more.

>>134667
Hey. Inscribe Augmentation and Wounds on your armor.

>>134685
I do so.

Hurm, I don't feel any different. But I don't feel worse either.

"You sure, kiddo?" Rance asks. "I'll hold back, but not by much. You're our ace in the hole, you know?"

>>134702
Try poking yourself on the finger with your dagger, and see if the wound seals up immediately or something.

>>134716
I do so.

The wound doesn't heal.

It simply ceases to exist.

>>134732
You're ready.

Oh, wait. Maybe you should put some Blessing on your gauntlets and boots.

Hey. You called the sword Freedom. How do you know its name? At any rate, use it as a weapon, maybe the fight will reveal another one of its abilities.

....

That's fucking awesome.

>>134737
I bless my boots and gauntlets, then smile.
"I'm ready."

"Alright! Let's see what you can do!" He rushes at me, and I lean back away from the first slash, parrying it away. I feel a boot in my gut, and he pushes me down.

As I hit the ground, I grab the leg and throw him behind me, jumping up in time to block the next assault. Each slash is precise and perfect, his smile wide and feirce.
"You're good! You learn fast!" he says, "But you focus too hard!"
He leans in close, and his wrist slams into my jaw, making me stumble. He steps forth again, into the space I occupied, and his elbow slams hard into my gut, sending me back, bouncing on the sand.

As soon as he sees me getting back up, he rushes again.

>>134754
Go for his legs, push them out from under him.

>>134754
You're focusing too hard? Okay. Devote a bit of yourself to thinking about something else.

>>134776
U duck under the swing and sweep at his legs with a kick, and he stumbles back,tripping a little. taking advantage of the opportunity, I knock the blade from his hand, pointing it at his neck.

...Did I win?

>>134795
OH. Think about Asala.

You could be her first you know. Would you like that?

>>134800
Wait, what? You won? I was honestly not expecting that. I was expecting him to eventually beat you, and go "Oh, nice fight!" and stuff.

Check yourself for wounds and stuff. Also, him.

>>134814
Something doesn't seem right, or I'm being too genre-savvy at the moment.

>>134800
Ask that. Don't get cocky, or he'll turn it on you SO FAST.

>>134819
He laughs.
"Haha! That glowy shit is better than I thought." he says simply. "I almost had you. Most people don't get up from that."

Asala looks... contemplative. But also very embarrassed.

>>134828
Help him up, like a gentleman.

>>134835
I help him up, and he brushes himself off. He then eyes me, and Asala, and Ysl, and Jai, then me again.
"Can I have a word with you?"

>>134875
Okay.

>>134899
"Sure."
We walk.
"First of all: Achilles will be gone for a day and a half at least. You look tense. Lighten up. Second... make up your fucking mind."
What.

>>134901
Heheh. Well, we do have some time without Achilles breathing down our necks. I submit that you should spend all of it figuring this thing out.

In the meantime, tell him you haven't known any of them for long enough to really figure it out.

>>134919
"Well, I haven't known them long enough t-"
"Then get to know them." he says. His face is serious. "This demon you face may very well kill you. At the very least, before you die, fall in love and die in love." he sighs. "That's the best advice I can give you."

Serirance is srs.

Looks like you have a decision, boss.

>>134968
I know. I know!

Who do I choose?

[]Jai
[]Asala
[]Ysl
[]Vorana

>>134987
You might not choose Ysl, but I do.

Okay okay, let's hang out with Ysl first. I want to spend some time with Jai too though.

>>135017
Right then, Ysl.

I approach Ysl, who is toying with her removed collar. It seems that Rance undid it.
She's smiling peacefully to herself.

>>135042
"It must be nice having that collar off."

>>135085
She looks up.
"Y-yes. It is." he stretches, inhaling deeply. It's rather flattering.
"Walk with me?" she asks, and I nod, taking her hand.

We walk.

>>135088
What time is it? Ask her if she thinks it's a nice day out.

>>135155
"It's a wonderful day, isn't it?"
"I suppose it is." she replies. "The wind is warm, a friend walks beside me, and the sky is..." she pauses, looking up. Then she tackles me aside.

I barely have time to speak before a large arrow and two bolts slam into the earth I once stood upon.

"The liar." she growls.

>>135166
Damn it fine alright, make sure you've got Augment/Wounds on your armor so you can fight. That's priority one. Priority two is giving Ysl a boost somehow, if she's using anything. Blessing her armor if she's wearing any since we don't know about any possible after-effects of augment/wounds. If no armor, throw something on her weapon.

Final priority is blessing boots. Then gloves I guess if you know it's perfectly safe.

Wait. Can Ysl wear gloves? Oh lord, I want to see what happens when her strength is enhanced and she throws something at an enemy.

 

>>135172
She's still wearing her stone armor.
We rise and run, as I bless and augment my equipment, giving my armor a 4 wounds. I feel definitely safegaurded. My boots receive a blessing, and Ysl knocks me down again.

"I hope this gets to be a habit, I quip, as I bless her armor and gauntlets. She smiles, and I look up at my foe.

Black wings, four of them, flap at the sky while her feet reload a longbow that they hold from a quiver on her leg, and she loads two wrist crossbows. She says nothing, her face showing no emotion.

>>135175
Okay, Ysl is our ranged attacker here. She can either throw rocks or toss the arrows back at her.

You... Ah hell, you'd need to bless your gauntlets to get anything done. If you can manage that while dodging arrows, do so.

>>135180
Too busy hiding!

Arrows and bolts pelt the tree behind me as Ysl hurls huge boulders the size of carts at the monster.

She's frustrated because none of them are connecting, clearly.
"You stupid nnngha! bitch stop flitting about like some gods-damned rrragh! butterfly!"

>>135190
Maybe Ysl can punch a rock to send shrapnel flying, instead of a single projectile.

What stuff is around you? Apparently there's trees and boulders...

>>135193
Trees and lots of boulders. Ysl is now experimenting with smaller missiles of greater velocity, with no success, swearing loudly and shaking a fi-

Wait.

I have an idea.

>>135198
...please tell me you aren't thinking about throwing Ysl or something.

>>135200
Close.

"Ysl, how accurately could you throw a person?"
"Pretty well, I'd s-" she narrows her eyes. "You cannot be serious."
I draw Freedom and smile.
She sighs. Should I go through with this? Or do you guys have a better id-my goodness that arrow was mighty close.

>>135204
Better bring along some sort of shield. Cut a chunk off a tree perhaps? Don't forget to Bless it.

rolled 3 + 2 = 5

---

>>135214
I find a large log.
"Throw this, then me, at her. I'll grapple in midair and force her down. Then you deal the last blow."

rolled 7 + 2 = 9

---

>>135222
"Well, if you insist." she says, throwing the log as she fires, then myself.

>>135227
...damn. Incoming pain, Antares. Try to fight through it. Stay awake, and get that bird out of the sky.

rolled 15 + 2 = 17

---

>>135230
!!!

Argh! It's like someone rammed into my belly headfirst! I split the log before me and reach out to grab onto he-
Er, ah, not there... There, I got her shoulder. I rear back my sword as she readies her bow...

rolled 15 + 5 = 20

---

>>135232
The pain is incredible. Intense.
But the pain of losing a friend would be worse! I drive the blade into her wing, holding on tightly as the bones break beneath the swing and flesh gives way. The crossbow fires, taking a bit of my ear. I rear back the sword again.

I won't let you hurt my friends! I won't let you terrorize this continent any longer!

rolled 16 + 2 = 18

---

>>135235
As we begin to gain speed, I rise and manage to barely stand atop her, looking deep into the red eye of the creature.
And thus into Achille's.

"When I come for you, it will not be a man, or an army. It will be the weight of the world that hates you, crushing you under its heel."
I leap, and let my blade impact the eye as we both hit the ground.

>>135238
Good work! Also you're going to pass out again.