"Yes, yes, formalities and whatnot. I'm afraid "revealing" myself is a bit impossible at the moment, as I've yet to complete the finishing touches on my new image-translocating artifact yet...ahem, patented, by the way. Days of paperwork to finally get it approved, and I'll not have my ideas nic'ed from under my nose, thank you very much, I...er...where was I?

Ah, yes, I'm sorry to say I can't show myself, as I am not currently...erm, present, I guess is as good a term as any. The golem you see before you is currently under my direct remote control. Genius, I know, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of...what? No, Illia, no tea right now, thank you...

What? No, its not that I don't apprecia...no, I'm in the middle of a very important discussion with someone, thats all.

Anyway, I regret that I can only offer my introduction. I am the mage Mordre, and it is a pleasure to meet you...sir Densly, was it?"

Suggestion 2010/05/12(Wed)22:30 No. 176692 ID: 6834bc
File 12737286505.gif - (279.96KB , 256x192 , Calisto Yew laugh.gif )

>>176668
Start some muffled snickering using the "Mage Mordre" voice, like you're trying to hold back a laugh; then burst into full-blown laughter - holding your stomach, shaking uncontrollably (but not so uncontrollably as to break our loot,) and slowly stop laughing, gasping for breath. "Ho- hold on, pwwahahahaha, hold on, Sir Densley, I'll be with you in a mo- pfffahahaha! Moment..."
Clear your throat, regain your composure (maybe let out a few fleeting giggles here and there,) and let him know that you're the great Mage Mordre, the only Mage ever to devise a means of controlling a Soul Grave remotely. As such, it's impossible for you to show yourself - you're not even in this state, much less the continent.
Apologize for the laughter - it's been a stressful day, and it's always funny when people start to look at you the way Densly was.

>>176691
Oh dear, three longwinded introduction posts.

What do?

Stop all motion and pretend to have left those controls alone. "So sorry my good chap! If you want to meet me in person before continuing this conversation, you will have an awfully long wait. I am not nearly as spry as I once was, hoho. And in any event I AM already in my pajamas. I do hope that speaking this way will suffice? I am the mage Modre, and... and my cat has gotten into the control spindles again, just a moment. Sally! Come get Mister Muffins his milk, he is demanding attention again!
Where was I? Oh yes. I thank you for providing the distraction I needed to finally catch up with these two. They have been harassing my test subjects for weeks now. Ah yes, thank you Sally."

Also, the fewer details we freely give out, the better off we'll be at keeping the story clear and straight. The more complicated your cover, the more you have to make up to link those facts and keep your story straight, hence the more opportunities they have to catch you in a lie.

Hence, we should freely volunteer as little non-potentially useless information as we can get away with, and not tell them where we 'supposedly' are and what we've been doing unless specifically pressed on the matter.

This guy is not our friend.

>>176691

"Yes, yes, formalities and whatnot. I'm afraid "revealing" myself is a bit impossible at the moment, as I've yet to finalize my new long range full-body image projector array... well, you know how the testing process goes. Ahem, in any event I'm sorry to say I can't show myself, as I am not currently... present, I guess is as good a term as any. The Soul Grave you see before you is currently under my direct remote control. Genius, I know, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of...what? No, Illia, no tea right now, thank you..."

>>176682
>>176697

"No, quick close the door befo-wonderful, you let Mauser in the room, that has never ended poorly before... ...Just.... just put the tea down, Illia, I'm somewhat busy. ...Aha, Yes, as I was saying earlier..."

[+4 HAM Points TOTAL HAM points: 24 NEXT REWARD: 25]

I make my first movement since I begin speaking to my attentive audience, neatly bowing to them as I carefully keep my hand, loaded with my spoils save Dulu's staff, before I continue.... and happily noting that their reaction thus far has been one of pure confusion. Excellent, they shall be easier to sway from here on out.... and I admit to having some measure of enjoyment I derive from acting out this farce.... Strange, I do not recall when that started.

"I am the Mage Mordre, and it is good to meet you... Sir Densly, was it?"

Densly, previously so sternly focused on me, seems completely perplexed by this turn of events, and has let control of the conversation fall from his grasp. I believe I could take the initiative now, and try to steer our dialogue towards a topic of my choosing. After all, there are some things I'd rather not be too thoroughly questioned on, so I should take advantage of this opportunity while I have it.


What topic should I bring up, and what should I say or do?

>>176830
Bring up the rebels, and the Core Being.

Possibly even ask if they know what our wooden friend is.

haha, ive got a funny idea. lets soulfire the entire state army! think about it, we'd get 500+ souls plus a mage soul. We wouldnt have to worry about anyone trying to flee, as we can outspeed and outlast any human. AND we'd have an entire fortress to ourselves! Anyone agree?

>>176842
Uh, actually...

Soulfire destroys souls. So we'd get nothing. Also, these guys are representing an entire STATE. If we piss them off we're in trouble. We COULD probably take over the fort and hold them off but then we wouldn't be able to do much of anything else.

>>176842

NAY.

>>176830
"Just what has happened to Azelhaedran state? I knew there would be some cleaning up to do when I arrived, but this is so much worse than I could've ever imagined. I've seen terrible things, villages that weren't enslaved to the whims of greedy bandits became the scenes of massacres. I've slowly tried to restore some sense of safety in these war-ravished lands, several villages that I managed to liberate are regaining some sense of order now. I can't fathom what the rest of the state looks like, if what I've seen so far is any indicator, there is work to be-*meow**meow* not now, Mauser. It's been a long day.*meow**sigh* ...fine. *purr* So, can you give me any insight on the situation, Sir Densly? Also, don't be alarmed if you see a group of some twenty big burly creatures bounding towards this field, they are my Alchemical soldiers."

>>176842
Hey, Mordre, use this soul next time you need to consume one, 'k?

Anyway, Core Beings, the Rebels, owning this outpost, using any of the army here. Anyone wanna ham up the conversation and lead it to us owning this outpost? That's my general view right now.

>>176848
We'd track down all the flee-ers, if any. The state would never know it was us

>>176852
haha, funny...really funny....

>>176859
Because it's totally possible to catch 100 people running in ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS before they get to someone else, amirite?

Can it. It's a silly idea.

>>176697
>Where was I? Oh yes. I thank you for providing the distraction I needed to finally catch up with these two. They have been harassing my test subjects for weeks now.

Still seems relevant. Need some explanation for why we are here, and since our "test subjects" should be arriving in the not too distant future, it would be good to have mentioned them before hand. And don't give out too many details about our plans for setting up shop in the Arcanoworks, but do mention that it has been cleared out and the local militia is defending it. We don't need the state coming and kicking US out just yet.

Also: sound of breaking glass, sound of yowling cat, golem stands on one leg and starts slowly listing to the left for several long seconds, recovering just at the last moment.

>>176851
This seems like a pretty good start to dialogue. It details what we've been doing in a suitably vague manner, and keeps Densly answering our questions instead of posing questions of his own.

>>176862
well we can travel a lot faster then them, and we don't tire out like humans do. Aside from losing their tracks, and the fact you pointed out that an entire fifth of the state soldiers here would run without a doubt in their mind, i think we can do it.

>>176877
Maybe one of them can magic a message away? We don't know anything about these people.

Attacking these guys currently is silly, anyways. Modre is not a Chaotic Stupid "Kill everything, including obvious plot hook npcs"

>>176877
No.
Shut up, go away.

>>176866
Do this.

We should only kill these men IF they set themselves to opposing us. Their fates will become known once they supply us with the information we seek.

>>176851
This.

>>176866
With the golem's leg slowly lifting up and listing to the left.

Let's not kill these men. Why? Well first of all it's simply not worth it. We'd get no souls out of the deal if we burn them with soulfire. The fortress would be nice, but we don't even have enough men under our command to staff it. Then there's the problem of being caught, so what if we move faster than they do, dozens of scattering humans is still a difficult task. Who's to say one could slip out of sight or use some hidden magic against us. We'd be caught even if we managed to kill all of them. Losing an entire army of men and a commander is not something the state would overlook, they'd send people to look at the battle site. This isn't even mentioned that we'd also lose the use of these people as potential resources. They've just seen us aid them in a battle that would have probably proven to be fatal for their warriors. They can spread word of us as a friend to the state and as someone who has had great success freeing it from bandit and insurgent control. We can use them as a potential foothold in our climb to power in this state. Think of the big picture, we're not here just to capture a couple of research outposts when we can go for so much more with a bit of subtlety and a touch of acting.

I thought ignoring a troll was the proper practice.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/05/13(Thu)19:34 No. 177011 ID: d1210a
File 127380447965.jpg - (182.68KB , 380x590 , Sam Vimes.jpg )

>>176851
>>176835
>>176852
>>176866
I take advantage of the uncertainty gripping those I address, and press onward.

"Just what has happened to Azelhaedran state? I knew there would be some cleaning up to do when I arrived, But this is much worse than what I had expected I would find. I've seen terrible things, not the least of which being a Core Being, With villages that weren't enslaved to the whims of greedy bandits... Ending up the scenes of massacres, even children dead on the ground. I've been trying to restore some measure of safety to these war-ravaged lands, And several villages that I managed to liberate are regaining some sense of order. I can't fathom what the rest of the state looks like, if what I've seen so far is any indicator. There is work to be- *meow* ...As I was say- *meeeooow* Not now, Mauser. It's been a long day.*meow* I said no! Now, where wa-*meow-meow* *meeeooow* .....Fine. *...purrrrrr* Now go away.... alright then."

[+2 HAM points. Total HAM points: 026 Amount required for next reward: 050]
HAM POINT REWARD:

NEW UNIT IN THE AZELHAEDRAN STATE (2/3):
SAMUEL 'SAM' VIMES
RETIRED SOLDIER TURNED CAREER WATCHMEN,
CURRENTLY HEAD OF FREELANCE SECURITY FORCE
GOOD FRIEND OF DEL ROGO
PERSONIFIES STUBBORN DETERMINATION
EXPERT OF BLOOD COMBAT MAGIC,
AND A MASTER OF BLOOD RAGE
SUSPECTED TO HAVE HIRED LIFE GOLEMS,
WHICH SERVE IN HIS PLATOON
FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE

"..Where was I? ...Oh yes. I thank you for providing the distraction I needed to finally catch up with these two. They have been harassing my test subjects for weeks now, And it is good to see them finally put down. Hopefully, I should be able to get some proper research done now. So, can you give me any insight on the situation, Sir Densly? Any insight as to how the situation not only got so bad, But also why it has persisted in such a state for so long? Why has the situation grown so grim that trouble is to be found everywhere? ..Oh yes, don't be alarmed if you see a score of armored giants enter the field, They're just my Alchemical warriors, the test subjects I mentioned earlier? ....I seem to have outpaced them in me efforts to get here, aha."

Densly says nothing as he visibly processes the glut of information I directed at him, but before the silence has long to exist, one of the braver (or one of the mentally deficient, hard to tell) speaks up, the words the tumble out of his mouth seeming to surprise even him.
...Definitely not one of the brave ones, then.

"So you're a mage then?"

I start to reply before another voice chimes in immediately. ....Is it some sort of custom here for conversations to be communal?

"Well, he said he is, didn't he? And how could he control it remotely if he wasn't a mage?"
"It's just, how do we know for sure he's a mage?"
"So, the flying fire people, the red... line, whatever that was the made things freeze and burn, those are things ANYONE could make a golem do, is that it?"
"I jus-"
"Not to mention the fact he's operating the bloody thing from a distance! I'd like to see a non-mage manage that!"
"...Right, never-mind then."
"SILENCE!"

At their commander's orders the troops grow silent once more, as Densly rejoins the dialogue.

"...Well, 'Mage' Mordre, you said you have assisted some villages, could you be more spec-"

"About which one, Trekel, Glenston, Shellik, The Republic of Trepany, the new-"

"Right, I recognize those names, I.... I... Wait, what? The Republic of Trepany? What is that?"



How should I respond?

>>177011
Oh, my sincerest apologies. The town of Droba has seen a bit of conflict in recent times and so has decided that a minor renaming was in order, to commemorate their renewed dedication to self-defense. Nothing to be startled over.

I do forget that you fellows seem to have been fighting for the past month or so. A bloody affair, I can tell. That you weathered it so speaks volumes for yourself and the capabilities of your men! Consider this old man impressed.

Linking with my earlier query, if I may ask, what do you intend to do now? I can't imagine that this is the only insurgent bastion in the area if they're THIS well-equipped. Including this one, that's at least fortresses with advanced arms and equipment that I've been forced to siege since arriving here.

>TWO fortresses

my bad.

>>177011
"Some of the villages I liberated were nearly burnt to the ground, the most of the survivors opted to rename their homes. The "Republic of Trepany" was once known as Droba, but such changes are irrelivant at the moment. What villages and outposts lie further beyond here? I am ready, willing, and able to assist the Azelhaedran military in cleaning out these monsters, but time is not on our side. There are big things afoot here, Sir Densly. The wrong people are dabbling in the wrong sorts of magic, and this state is paying a VERY hefty price for it."

Let's not mention Keddic for the moment.

>>177024
>>177026

"Oh, my sincerest apologies. The town of Droba, Or so they tell me it was once named, Has seen a bit of conflict in recent times, a great deal in fact, And so has decided that a minor renaming was in order, To commemorate their renewed dedication to self-defense. Nothing to be startled over, as I understand it."

"If Droba has decided to secede from the State and declare itself a 'republic,' that is bloody well something to be concerned about. Just because a tax collector hasn't been out this way does not mean you aren't part of the State, this is still Azelhaedran soil."

Ah.... so even in such dire straits as these, fear of betrayal runs deep. ...Perhaps it would be best not to mention Keddic just yet, as with such suspicion abounding, it could be hard to convince Densly that Keddic isn't helping Trepany for his own gain, to set up a tiny kingdom of his own.

"I do forget that you fellows seem to have been fighting for quite some time, In your efforts to reclaim the land that was lost during the State's earlier complacency. A bloody affair, fighting to reclaim your own land, sometimes against you own people. That you weathered it so speaks volumes for yourself and the capabilities of your men! Consider this old man impressed. But really, I think you may have the wrong idea about Trepany, As all they have done is work to restore safety and basic needs to themselves, As well as the neighboring villages: In effect, they are doing your job for you. I sincerely doubt treason is on anyone's mind."

"Say what you will, but my orders are clear on this: Once I have managed to secure this location, I will have to appraise this 'Republic' myself, to assess whether it must also be classified as a threat to the state. With the troubles rebels have brought us, the State has adopted a very harsh view on the matter of treason. ...Well, that won't be for at least some time, this outpost still needs to be dealt with."

"Linking with my earlier query, if I may ask, what do you intend to do now? I can't imagine that this is the only insurgent bastion in the area if they're THIS well-equipped. Counting this one, that's at least two fortresses with advanced arms and equipment that I've been forced to siege since arriving here, and I sincerely doubt that is all of them."

"For now, we shall move to secure this outpost, and will hold it against all who come until such time a new regiment and commander picked to run this facility are dispatched. Once relieved, I'll have to check on this Trepany you mentioned.... Judging from the fact you said you have encountered at least two fortresses, if this is the second, where is the first?"

"I admit I know not what it was originally called, But the outpost to the North-East of here, that was the first. I excised the bandit presence controlling it, And I have since been working from the outpost, Which I have titled the Kyogrock Arcanoworks. Currently, my apprentice is commanding it."

"...Okay, north-east.... that would make it the Outpost Nine, and with Outpost Four here already taken..... ...Look, I'm not even close to a high enough rank to know what to do with you. I recognize that you saved the lives of many of the soldiers here, and we likely would have had to withdraw in failure if you had not intervened, and I recognize that if what you say is true, you are providing an incredible service to the State. But that still does not give me the right to make a judgment on behalf of the state concerning you, so....

Mage Mordre, you are hereby asked to await a representative party of the Azelhaedran State at Outpost Nine-The Arcanoworks, if you prefer. You are to cooperate fully with the representatives, and they will decide what approach is appropriate for you. ...Beyond that, I feel that it would take far too much time to satisfy my curiosity about you, and I have more pressing matters to attend to. If there is nothing else, I must ask you to vacate the area, as until we have properly secured this outpost protocol dictates that no non-military personnel are to be allowed in the vicinity.
.
...And thank you, for what you did today.... you saved a great deal of lives, and my report will reflect this."

Densly turns away from me to start shouting orders again, the mass of troops about him seething with activity. Shortly they start pouring into the nearby outpost, pushing their prisoners before them as they take the wounded inside.

....I cannot help but note I am not all alone on the battlefield, with all the delicious souls and Blood iron of the fallen State soldiers still ripe for the picking.... if I were to tap their resources, I could more than double the gains I come away from this exchange with.... though I imagine some of those soldiers still alive might object to such treatment of their fallen comrades. As I ponder this, the wood creature manages to surprise me, playfully butting it's head against my leg as it regards me with curious eyes. As I still have seen no sign of the Premen, I imagine I truly must have put a great deal of distance between us, perhaps I shall run into them on my way back.

[SECRET BONUS 006 DISCOVERED: THE GOLEM'S WHITE WHALE]
>--requisites: Dulu must be killed, and given enough time for his Soul to escape.
>--BONUS KNOWLEDGE: Balboa and Daobo both served the same mage, Archmage Weinsho. This is the same Weinsho that those who commandeered the fields about Trekel(One group summoned a Core Being and died for it, another was slain by THE CREATURE before they could act out the ritual) had stolen notes from. Weinsho is also an employer of Dulu.
>--BONUS KNOWLEDGE: A mage knowledgeable in Soul magic can place bindings on a willing soul such that on death, the soul will return to the caster of the spell.

[SECRET BONUS 007 DISCOVERED: SOUL GRAVE HERO OF THE PEOPLE]
>--requisites: Prevent the death of mage Densly, and insure the victory of the State forces over the rebels.
>--requisites: Do not kill any members of the State army through your actions.
>--BONUS KNOWLEDGE: Alexander Armstrong, a Warmage in service to the Azelhaedran State, is currently in the southern region of the State, working to reclaim outposts controlled by mercenaries.
>--BONUS KNOWLEDGE: Sam Vimes, a mercenary captain hired by the state, is currently tracking down a mage to the north in command of several outposts.


What should I do, or where should I go?

>>177097
Take Balboa's body with you. Though burned, his skin has not been cut or severed, so may still suffice.

Once out of sight of the State forces, and back among the Premen, devour the Blood Iron.

Offer some to the Golem. ALso, pet it.

We must confer with our associates. Send a Preman runner to Trepany, and request an urgent meeting with Sir Keddic. This concerns him, too.

BY golem, I mean wood creature, btw.

Just clarifying.

We're going to have to ask a little favor of Kyorto.

She seemed capable of a lot of illusion magic, so in her tower, she should be capable of a great and simple illusion: An old man holed up with a bunch of cats and a few servers. We need someone to run to her and ask, but in doing this, it should tighten up our story.

Aaaanyway. Ask if you may use the Blood iron and souls within the men around you, so they may serve the State even after death. Should the reply be negative, don't bother, and simply return to Arcanoworks. We have some work to do there:

1) experiment with the morphic metal,

2) Confer with Arkus,

3) gather our hero units,

and

4) choose whether to stay or to move. Since the loss of you is the loss of your army, it should be a decision that everyone takes part in.

We already have a store of blood iron, and asking them such a thing about their recently deceased comrades is going to irreparably damage our image.

"Mind if I eat the blood of your fallen?"

>--BONUS KNOWLEDGE: A mage knowledgeable in Soul magic can place bindings on a willing soul such that on death, the soul will return to the caster of the spell.

o_0.

So Weinsho is a powerful soul mage.

This basically means that, until we devise a means of defending against soul magic, we can't really best him. Even the Yeti-elders with their Pseudo-Soul-Magic were a dire threat. An Archmage, though? Fuck me...

>>177113
Dude, phrasing.

"My golem may benefit greatly by harvesting some things from the fallen here, namely blood and souls. May I do so, so that they may serve the state even after death? I would not be surprised if you declined. I am merely making the offer."

OH FUCK GUYS

We can better control blood iron with magnetomancy, right?

MAKE BLOOD IRON AMMO FOR OUR BLADE LAUNCHERS.

>>177118
The idea is that it shows a distinct lack of respect for the dead, however you phrase it. These guys have been grinding themselves bloody for over a month against this fortress, and asking to feast on the fallen, no matter how you couch it, is still asking to feast on the fallen.

It's an incredibly dangerous gamble with our image even if we WEREN'T still under suspicion by Densly (which we still are, in all likelyhood)

Alright. Then we should just leave the bodies alone. It's too much risk. Poor Mordre has to consider his image now, so just get the already-spilled blood. If anyone asks, simply say you'rew cleaning the battlefeild, as blood can have a negative effect on plant life and soil.

It would be considered poor form to ask to consume the souls of allies in the slow hellish fires of a golem's interior. Heroes are one thing, their souls persist and are not used as fuel. But the rank and file deserve whatever afterlife these fleshy beings get, not slowly burning into oblivion.

They probably don't need their blood in the afterlife though. That might be worth asking about.

>>177097
It has already been said once, but it bears repeating: DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!

We could harvest under the guise of burying the dead.

Basically, we don't harvest souls, and IF, IF we harvest the blood, we make damn sure no one can see us do it.

And if we can't make sure that no one sees, we don't do it

>>177132
Hmm. I wonder, could we use our magnetomancy to draw out the blood extra slowly, so that it's not terribly obvious? If we don't know, don't try it since the risk is too great, but it would be worth experimenting with in the future.

Regardless, harvesting the blood and souls of the State troops, or even recovering our ammunition, probably isn't strictly necessary here. As much as it would be great to get our hands on one of those lightning cannons... I doubt they'd just hand one of those over, either. Would it be terribly rude to ask, you think?

>>177162
Probably not. We just need to express interest in the rune-theory behind the cannons, and request a sample as salvage.

Oh yeah, see if there is anything in the gunman's bag of tricks that the tree creature is interested in eating.

Don't forget to give it some of the Blood iron.

Ask to look at the technology - at least a little. Possibly barrow one to defend our own Station.

Bring up the devouring of souls and blood thusly: Ask if he knows about a Soul Graves. If not, let's come up with some nice BS about souls being not used as fuel and let us use these bodies for experimentation or something. If he does, just ask for the bodies for experimentation or something.

Next, lets gather up the Premen - make sure they're ok. Then lets head...mhm...I wanna check the rest of the villages we've freed. Maybe talk to Densly about the other villages and does he need the Representative of the State to do anything before we leave.

...asking to experiment on the freshly dead?

That doesn't sound sinister?

We should limit our soul sucking and blood iron draining for the corpses of our enemies, not our allies.

>>177246
...why?

>>177248
Because it jeopardizes our longterm goals by breaking down the image we've created.

Mind you, this is just for when people can see us do so/care. The premen don't seem to mind, given that we've drained battlefields before in the aftermath, and Heroic Souls like Ozmand's seemed amenable to it. But that's largely because he wasn't facing annihilation as a result of it.

>>177248
No matter what Mordre really is, we have an image to maintain. Mordre may be a crazy awesome unstoppable soul-fueled badass, but his problems are not something solvable by him alone. We NEED the resources that can be given to us by the state. Therefore, it behooves us to act politely, humanely, and kindfly to both those in our employ and those of the state. We will leave their bodies alone unless there comes a time when it becomes clear there is simply no other option.

Until such a time, we shall treat them, and their dead, with respect. Period. There is to be no harvesting of innocent souls or blood iron, ESPECIALLY not from those who helped and assisted us! If the army hadn't been here, we would have been alone against an entire fucking army, and while Mordre is tough as nails and we might have survived, we would have lost a great deal more resources than we stand to gain by ruining our reputation.

Furthermore, if we can make it to the point where we are such a goddamn hero the sentient golem anathema thing won't matter, all the better.

Mordre, and thus, us, must think politically as well as militarily from now on. Remember that!

Harvest souls and blood iron discretely. I'm not sure what soulsucking looks like, so if you can't do it quietly and without anyone noticing, just get some blood iron, but don't rip it out of the bodies or anything.

>>177250
I agree with you except in the sense that we NEED their help. If necessary we could do all this by ourselves, it just makes everything ALOT easier to have their support. Its a shame that we are gonna betray em in the end though.

>>177255
We are? As I recall, our goal was to be a Conqueror-Hero, not Conqueror-Tyrant.

Did this change at some point? Also, what purpose would betrayal serve?

Also, I think you vastly overestimate our capacity if you think we could take on Superpower Nations by ourselves.

>>177255
By resources, I don't just mean souls or blood iron or even magic.

I mean popularity.

Think about it: Even the most terrible monster on the planet is only a monster because of its deeds. If we were to show the world just what a sentient golem can do, for the people, for the stability of a nation, we won't need to betray anyone!

>>177255
Oh, wait, nevermind, you're talking specifically about the State of Azelhaedran's government.

I thought you were refering to our actual allies.

In any case, I think the goal we have with the state government is to get as much of their military and citizenry as possible to side with us when push comes to shove.

Kinda like how Caesar got his troops to side with him instead of the Roman Senate. They liked him so much and were compensated so well specifically by him that when push came to shove, they knew where they're loyalties belonged.

>>177259
>>177250
Coming from the perspective of a sentient soul grave, why do we care about humanity? We are powered by their souls, all we need from humanity is fuel. We don't need their respect, nor their reverence. Humans would never accept us into their society.
If the state army had never been here, we wouldn't even had bothered engaging them at all. However the army was there, we took advantage of human civil war, and now we deserve the rewards, the primal motivation for us to take part in the actions of this world, human souls.

>>177259
No, no, humans are not like that, THEY like to be on top of the food chain. Look at the Justice League, they were always trying to help and without them the world would have been effed many times over, but the humans still tried to take them down because they were scared of their strength. If a power greater than humans exist that actively moves in the world and in lives, that they are not in direct control of, they are gonna try to even the score and the fastest way to do that is with assimilation or extermination.

I think they'd probably notice if we harvested blood iron. And trying to be discreet about it, in addition to possibly not working, would take time, which would be better spent heading back to the Arcanoworks and researching stuff there, or the Republic, and sorting things out with Keddic to make sure these guys don't hunt him down for making Droba turn 'Traitor'. We're working hard to build up a good image, and we shouldn't risk that for short term gain, particularly for resources that we can find in abundance in this war-torn nation. If we want to get more blood iron and souls, let's get them when we're out of sight of people: Blood magic is viewed with great suspicion, and Soul magic is punishable by death pretty much everywhere, remember.

>>177269
I would launch into some grand speech about our goals and morals but im just going to say screw that and say this, If we just move through the current world and say eff everyone, we are gonna get taken down. Even Kyorto who is long DEAD can eff us over. The amount weaknesses to a construct in the world of it's creators is infinite.

>>177269
And finally, stop trolling.

>>177269
Except we're not a primal being. We are a creation given sentience. We are not OBLIGATED to act in any specific way whatsoever, beyond what is needed to pursue the goals we set for ourself, and what is needed to stay alive.

And actually, if the state army wasn't there, Balboa and Dulu* would have gotten away, as the fortress was allied with them, and their attention was almost entirely focused on the State military for the duration of the engagement.

We've already taken numerous rewards from this battlefield. Acting like a Greedy Glutton is just being weak and having no real self-control and causing needless hindrance to us in the long-run.

ANd however much disdain you may hold for mortal fleshbags, they have demonstrated they can be useful to us in innumerable ways outside of simple sustenance.

*Yes, I know dulu still got away. Fuck him.

>>177275
There is a difference between trolling and stupidity.

>>177275
>>177300
I r cunfuzzed. whats trolling? lolzorz

To discussion! Seriously, stop feeding the troll - He's given enough ass-stupid suggestions for anything he says to be ignored out of hand.

Anyway, if we think there is no way to get a body, then I would just ask what else we can do and ask for a cannon or to study any items in this station.

>>177108
I grab Balboa's corpse, appraising his skin for breakages. ...Hm, while I see no outright cuts in it, his body seems to be covered in the same type of cracked burns that festooned Verther's form. While his clothes seem to have sheltered most of him, his face in particular is a ruin.... but lacking any outright cuts on his body, it may be possible to use his skin. I add his form to the pile of goods in my left hand.

>>177112
>>177127
>>177128
>>177131
>>177252
Having yet to see anything about the harvesting of souls that could be called 'subtle,' I decide that even with the State forces moving off the field, I should leave the souls of the fallen warriors still lingering about this battlefield alone.... but drawing Blood iron from the ground and corpses alike is a much less overt action. Still, some could object to it if I was seen, so perhaps if I had a cover, a reason to peruse the fallen state forces... ah. I call out to Densly before he vanishes into the keep along with his men.

"I understand you have much to occupy your time, sir mage, So perhaps I can assist you: I have no qualms with burying your dead, A task that normally is considered quite backbreaking."

"...Why would you offer this?"

"Because I have seen evidence of Soul Magic about this land, And based on that one can never be too careful, especially with the fallen. So once more, I offer to bury your dead so that your men can be put to better use."

For a moment Densly stops shouting orders as he regards me, and I briefly wonder if he shall call my bluff and seek an explanation for why burial would prevent a Soul mage from employing the dead, before he decisively nods and barks out a reply.

"...Strip them of their arms and armor and leave said equipment before this outpost,
Then you may bury them however you must to prevent their manipulation. …Macabre, I know, but until we regain more outposts the state resources are stretched thin, and none can be wasted, not even theirs."


>>177162
>>177166
>>177224
Another thought occurs to me as Densly once more moves to enter the outpost, and I stop him again with a query.

"Very well, I shall do so. One more thing... I must admit being fascinated with the cannonry here. I'd love to pick apart the runes involved, and understand their working.... Mayhap I could procure one such cannon for study?"

Densly once more regards me in silence, pausing just inside the massive wood doors of the fortress that now surrounds him, and scowls in my direction.

"If you want one of the ones that was rendered inoperable, fine, you can have one of the Skyfall cannons, but all working goods are to remain in the State's care. I'll have someone wheel one of the damaged cannons out, if you want it."

At his words, the salvaged togas, cloak, and runed swords in my hand give me cause for concern, until I recall that with my fingers cupped about them and Balboa's corpse added to the pile, my spoils are unseen.

"If that is what I must make do with, Then so be it, I gladly accept the offer."

And with that, warmage Densly vanishes into the keep, as I make my way about the field, collecting the scattered State troops, those whose blood I have yet to harvest, and slowly concentrating the mass of corpses into a single spot. I drag corpses by the dozen without ever touching them, pulling them about the ground with Magnetomancy as I march. While I do so, I pull the Blood iron from any blood I see spilt upon the ground, but leave the corpse alone for the moment. In short order, I have a massive mound of dead before me, behind which I carefully stow my handful of spoils before setting to digging graves. With my size, strength and inexhaustible stamina, I have a mass grave ready in relatively short order, ready to accommodate all who died.

I set to my task, removing the arms and armor of each corpse before placing it in the pit, pulling free all the Blood iron they have whilst I de-equip them. Working without pause, the sun now stands at it's zenith as noon arrives, heralding the completion of my task... as well as the accrual of even more Blood Iron, bringing my total harvest of the material to some seventy pounds. The multi-slot scabbard I have been constructing with the procured Blood Iron is no longer flimsy, now a veritable slab of metal with slots to hold the swords I also claimed as prize. I scoop dirt over the now filled grave, carefully recollecting my spoils and protectively cupping them in my hand before turning back to the outpost. Sure enough, a bent and warped cannon now stands before the gates....

I unfurl the Sable Executioner, and carefully wrap it's metal ribbons about the offered artillery, before I set out, leaving behind the first official representatives of the State I have yet encountered. I direct my Magnetomancy inwards for alacrity, and depart the field, heading northeast. It is high time I returned to the Arcanoworks, there is much to be done, much to be prepared for.

>>177259
>>177262
>>177271
As I march backwards along Balboa and Dulu's trail, wondering when I shall run into the Premen, I consider how this first contact went. ...All things considered, I believe I left a largely positive image in the minds of the soldiers, I saw more than a few look at me with gratitude as I maintained my charade of being a mage controlling this form from afar. And while Densly was terse, and still seems suspicious of me, he seemed more than willing to afford me some measure of respect, at least recognizing that I could have harmed them and did not, instead choosing to aid them. For him, I suspect actions may speak louder than words.... which makes me wonder how he would have viewed me had I not been so overwhelmingly altruistic in how I acted towards the State forces.

In any event, their response gives me an idea, one that addresses some of my longer-term goals. If I continue to maintain the image of 'Mage Mordre, friend of the people,' I may one day be able to hold a rebellion within the state to claim more power of the political sort, the largely bloodless kind of insurrection where the majority of the fighting populace sides with me, should I find some means of ingratiating myself to the State military. ...No, ingratiate is the wrong word, I need to find some way to make them prefer me over the State government. ....An ambitious plan, to be sure, and one that would require time, patience, and effort.... but one that could pay off immensely.

I snap out of my reverie as I spy a familiar sight, Oggroth on his mount leading the Premen forces in a forced march, clearly intent on reaching my side to offer aid. But as he spies me already on the trail, he commands the group to draw to a halt, and looks at me in curiosity. I note several Premen glancing about, seeking something, and with a start realize I have yet to see the wood creature return since I sent it away during the fight. I put that train of thought on hold as Oggroth speaks, having trouble deciding what he wants to say.

"...Where.... What is tha-..... Is there any more glory to be won? Any further slaughter to be had?"

"I am afraid not."

Oggroth visibly wilts, clearly having been anxiously anticipating the coming conflict. And I hear him begin to grumble about his 'stupid mount being too slow'. I take the initiative and get our forces turned about again, and we resume our march back to Kyogrock Arcanoworks,. my form laden with the spoils of war. Among them:

-Balboa's corpse, possibly viable as a mage skin for Kyorto
-A warped Skyfall cannon with intact runes
-Dulu's morphic staff
-15 Blood-Togas (I claimed the one left behind by the first one seen bearing such garb)
-1 Blood-Cloak
-14 runed swords
-1 heavily runed cleaver with lightning engravings
-~70 pounds of Blood Iron
-Balboa's backpack (unsearched)
-Six handcannons

There is still a significant amount of light left in the day, and it will likely be sometime midday tomorrow when we return to the Arcanoworks, as the Premen cannot match my maximum speed, so we travel more slowly than I would alone.


What should I do with this time? Should I speak with Oggroth or some of the other Premen?
Or should I start searching for the absent wood creature?
And what (if any) things should I have the Premen work on tonight at camp?
[If you want to just timeskip to returning to the Arcanoworks, that is also viable]

>>177097

>the wood creature manages to surprise me, playfully butting it's head against my leg as it regards me with curious eyes.

>>177364

>I have yet to see the wood creature return since I sent it away during the fight.

Erm...Which is it?

>>177364

Send word to trepany for a meeting so that you can let the trepanese know about the state forces approach.

>>177371
[Vanished since then, with no notice of it's departure. That leg-headbutt was the last you saw of the creature, which occurred prior to the multi-hour grave digging. So pretend my post said 'not seen since leg-headbutt' or some such, rather than 'since sent away']

Sparring and English for tonight's activities. Then timeskip.

>>177396
Ah.

Then we find it.

Why don't we take out chunk of metal, put a rune on it for it to see and have that fly through air on magnetic fields to find the wood creature?

It will return when It is hungry, if it does somn bad then claim that it ain't yours.

Have the Premen work on learning the humans language. Then brief them on the new equipment we saw the insurgents used, such as the blood togas, so they will not be unaware of their effects should we face them again. Search for the wooden creature whenever the Premen take breaks to rest, make our steps as loud as possible. The creature should be familiar with the sound of us marching along and be drawn to it.

Find the wood creature when your troops rest for the night. May as well do something productive to pass the wee hours of the night.

Oh yeah, now that you don't need it to carry around a bunch of loot by yourself, EAT ALL THE DELICIOUS BLOOD IRON NOMNOMNOM OH GOD DELICIOUS

>>177528
No, we should keep it till the Arcanoworks so Arkus can organize it all properly.

>>177364
We should spend some time talking with the Premen on our march, describing what happened, its results, and our thoughts on each of the groups involved. They're not stupid and they are quite loyal, so leaving them in the dark with nothing more than a forced march and a lack of glory would be a needless blow to their morale. Besides, we don't particularly need to keep those events secret, and a well informed servant is one who might provide useful insights or show initiative in a helpful fashion.

>>177557
Actually, this is a very good idea. We haven't really talked with the people we lead very much. And not even because we think we should keep it secret, simply because the idea has never occured to us. I say we do it.

>>177394
I make a mental note to inform the Republic of Trepany of their coming inspection, or send a runner with such a message. For now, only I could carry the information to them, as only I can speak the common tongue amongst this group, and I have need to return to the Arcanoworks first and foremost.

>>177402
>>177446
>>177557
>>177612
As I continue to peer about the forest surrounding us, seeking out the now familiar form of my missing wooden companion, I realize how little I share information with my followers beyond the bare essentials, and choose to remedy that. The Premen marched as swiftly as they could, and still were denied their chance to fight, so it seems only fair I tell them what transpired in their absence. I address no one in particular as I ruminate on what happened.

"The trail we have followed belonged to one named Balboa, Who happened to be an accomplice of Dulu, th-"

"Dulu? That was the warrior that escaped Mordre before, when we hunted the false king in forests west of here?"

"That's correct. As it turns out, Dulu was the maker of the second set of tracks. They both were fleeing to an allied fortress, in the care of State rebels."

"'Rebel'? What is that?"

"..A rebel is someone who betrays their professed loyalties, And tries to usurp power from those in command. ...Well, it will serve as an definition for now."

"And these 'rebels'... Who are they 'rebels' against?"

"Well, the Azelhaedran State government, Those who rule this land, or claim to. Some of the loyal warriors of the state were also present, When I caught up to our quarry, And they were engaged with the rebel forces. Thanks to my intervention, they reclaimed the rebel-controlled outpost."

"...Why did Mordre help them?"

"Dulu and Balboa both were allied with the rebels, And as I sought to slay them the rebels came to their aid, So that in the process of claiming their lives, I ended up assisting the State forces. Actually, this appears to be a good thing."

"Good? Why is it good? Mordre has not aligned with the State, yes?"

"Well, besides their presence delaying the rebels, And thereby making it easier for me to catch my prey, There is the fact the State created all these outposts, Each apparently packed with wonderfully useful magitech. That, and the fact I intend to set up dedicated supply lines, Means I have good reason to get along with the State, And to desire good relations with them."

Oggroth scratches his head after removing his helm, his face locked in a grimace as he considers my words.

"So...State not true ally, but useful to not be at war with, useful to trade with?"

"More or less, yes. That may change some day, But for now, It is better to have them as friend than foe."

Oggroth nods at my words, his earlier confusion dispelled. I continue to answer questions about the specifics of what occurred, but request the Premen to put their questions in the common tongue rather than their own, to force them to continue practicing with their linguistic knowledge. The questions become more simplistic and halting, but their interest in what they missed (as well as their apparent lust for tales of brutal and glorious war) pushes them onward, and we continue to talk until the sun has set. As of this point, I still have seen no signs of the wooden creature, which is starting to worry me.

As we set up camp, I set them to sparring, and with the tales of my recent conquest fresh in their minds, they exuberantly put forth their all, engrossed in their practice. I take part as well, after carefully setting down my spoils, after Oggroth requests a bout, which sets the whole lot of them to clamoring to spar against me. Several hours later, as exhausted Premen start dropping off into sleep, I find myself pleased with their progress: The Premen are seasoning nicely under my command. Funny, they what are slowly becoming elite and loyal warriors started as those rejected from the Drazken Clan.

After assuring myself the Premen camp is secure and my spoils carefully watched by those on guard duty, I set off into the night, seeking the wood creature that vanished at some point while I dug graves. I try tromping through the woods with no effort to mask my heavy footfalls, hoping that the sound of my pacing will attract my missing companion, but I am rewarded with naught for my efforts. After two hours spent searching, growing increasingly frustrated I have no name to call out to attract the wood creature (Why did I not name it?), I pause to re-appraise how I should be approaching this.

>>177420
[Since when did Mordre know runes that could do that, and when did Mordre start learning how to do rune inscription himself? I don-.... wait...]
>177420
>420
[.....heh]

As I stand there pondering how I shall find the missing creature of bark and root, I hear a rustle in a nearby bush. As I turn to face it, a blur leaps forth, plastering itself over my face, obscuring my vision. I recoil, reflexively moving to assault that which blinds me so, before I hear a familiar, creaking purr emanate from my assailant. I lightly pluck the creature from my face, to find the missing wooden entity happily staring at me, it's beak ajar and a tongue-like root lolling out. Before I can take further action, the creature leans forward, and runs it's root/tongue over my face, managing to get dirt and grit on my previously pristine form.
Wonderful.

I let the creature go, and make my way back to camp, finding it once more sticking to my side as before. ...Strange, I could swear it was smaller the last time I saw it. In any event, it is late, and only those on watch are still awake besides myself and the wooden creature.

....Right, that does it.

It is getting too awkward to mentally refer to this thing in absence of a name, and as it is my ward, I feel it only appropriate that I name it.


So what should I name the wood and root creature?

Moss.

I mean, you're mordre, it's Moss, get it?

... eh, yeah. Sorry. I got nothing.

>>177682
wow. I am sort of ashamed at how long it took me to get that.

I like Moss. Or maybe some old word for 'tree' from Mosmordre.

>>177677
it seems smart, let it help you on a name

>>177682

Moss does kinda fit with his whole "made of tree" motiff.

Alternatively, if you want something more forboding or something, maybe something like "Withermane", what with his devouring world-magic.

when we get back to arcanoworks could arkus possibly copy the runes on the skyfall cannon and apply to the anti-golem cannon?

>>177725
I'd rather he didn't, as that would defeat the Anti-Golem Cannons purpose.

>>177726
We could have arkus apply the runes to our "test" section though...That way we'll be able to find out what they do...

>>177727
Why don't we NOT apply the untested runes that were being used on a device that detonated metal with lightning strikes to our own body?

How about...something that isn't us? Or alive, for that matter.

>>177728

That's true...I'm just concerned that your method would be too slow. Arkus barely has a handle on the runes that already exist for modre and modre doesn't have a clue about runes...If we experiment the completely safe way...I suspect it will take a long time before we see tangible results.

Risk vs. Reward...

>>177677
It found some food. Perhaps we could ask it to lead us to where it found it. Then we could add that to our 'map' of world magic nexuses.

>>177733
Why does it matter if the runes are used on us or a cannon? I fail to see how testing mysterious runes on ourself will yield quicker results then testing them on, say, a cannon.

And its not like theres any rush. We have literally nothing but time at the moment.

Suggestion 2010/05/15(Sat)10:23 No. 177795 ID: 903f16
File 127394422272.jpg - (174.97KB , 543x508 , FO3_Harold.jpg )

Spruce or Harold would be fun choices.

I agree with 1777339 and also when we get back to the Arcanoworks we need to learn as much about runes and soul magic as we can.

Moss works so well. That, +++.

Don't put those runes on YOU yet, let Arkus study and test them first. Same with Dulu's runes.

>>177682
>>177715
>>177716
>>177812

"...Well, I can't keep calling you 'that wood creature,' So I need a name to call you by. Do you already have one?"

The creature regards me obliquely, craning it's head about, it's beak gaping wide open, but while it's root tongue waggles in the air, naught but the sound of creaking wood emerges.

"Well then. What do you think of this: I name you Moss..... Moss Withermane."

Moss snaps it's beak shut, and nods it's head as the stone housed in it's torso briefly glows. It turns it's gaze back upon me.... and I notice it's eyes now have a greenish tint that was not present before. With no further incident from Moss, I turn about and make my way back to camp, Moss diligently following along at my side.

>>177739
Still thinking about the change in size since the last time I saw Moss, I turn once more to my companion.

"You seem larger. Did you find food?"

Moss looks somewhat confused, and makes an aborted attempt at nodding before amending it, and instead shaking it's head as it whines. It looks off to the east, to a patch of forest north of the outpost I warred against earlier today, but seems to have trouble picking a specific direction, it's head bobbing back and forth. In any even, I make a mental note that something is to be found out here, even if I do not yet know what.

I make my way back to camp, and spend the rest of the night contemplating what has been set in motion today. The State is now aware of my existence, Trepany and the Arcanoworks both are going to be visited by State representatives in the future, Dulu's soul having eluded me....

...But most of all, I think about the fact I have a name to lay blame before, someone who seems involved in much of the strife afflicting the State: Weinsho.

There is much to be done.


GOLEM QUEST ARC 3: MEETING THE STATE COMPLETE
NEXT ARC, ARC 4: REBUILDING AN EMPIRE IMPENDING
[Feel free to use this thread to discuss stuff until it's archived and the new thread is up]

>>177828
OH LAWDY I CANT WAIT