>>337990
>attune antimagic bubble to self
Oh god do this do this DO THIS!

Can you imagine meeting the Lich King, getting a big speech about how everything up to this point was planned by him, so that he could kill you and take your raw power for his own use so that nobody could ever challenge his rule... then he can't use any magic at all? So awesome. Of course then he will probably be a sore loser and sic some big undead thing on us, but hey, we could also have some backup of our own, right?

Also, how's the mage soul healing? The one we used a chunk of?

I'm not entirely sure we should agree to a spot where he could've set up a shitload of traps. Why don't we suggest a different arena? How about the island we killed the second lich?

>>337992

say yes, take your anti-magic gizmo with you and go alone as promised.

>>337992
Heh. He thinks we're preparing for a war. That's hilarious.
I don't think it occurred to him that we would be setting things up so everything would be on track for a golden age of peace and enlightenment.
We need to be able to leave Tom with Minci so the lich king can't do anything to Tom. Minci can host him when his body gives out, and with all those souls they should eventually be able to resolve that problem on their own.
That means Minci will be your successor if needed, FYI. Might want to tell that to her and Tom.

>>337992
"Lich King, though I have no reason to trust you, your graciousness and amicability have surprised me. I agree to your terms, and will meet you at the said location. I've put this off for far too long, any ways. Is there anything you'd like to talk about before we disconnect for the moment? As you are my magical progenitor, I do feel some desire for familial small talk."

How'se this work?

Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)02:00 No. 338002 ID: c811c4
File 131279402574.png - (38.45KB , 600x374 , 653.png )

Unfortunately, Tom is still, in actuality, linked inside of me. His soul is simply projected to the temporary body. I believe that the second Lich could only rip Tom out because I let Tom outside of me. If I don't do that, he, nor the Lich King, would have anything to grab onto. Also, I had a lot of trouble simply moving specifically Tom temporarily. At the moment, I can't seal him permanently inside of a body without my constant, active magic keeping him there. If I die, I'm pretty sure Tom will die with me, so Tom and Minci most likely can't be a successor until I figure out how to deal with Tom. If I can learn to resurrect Tom in a construct, though... succession would be a good thing to think about. I just don't have the time, right now.

There's not a reason why I can't keep projecting Tom's soul stay in his temporary body or with Minci, I can always pull him back if he's needed for some reason.

The mages's soul is repaired now as well, having rested for over a couple of weeks.

Minci says she's got the bubble's magic attuned to allow my own magic through, so that should be quite the trick, and technically I won't be breaking any deals since I'm still coming alone! I should suggest a different spot, though.

"How about the location of where the second Lich was destroyed?"

>"I insist. My actions may appear whimsical, but I am no liar. There are no traps or allies of mine in this location. It simply is a nostalgic spot, for me."

He says insist, but it sounded as heavy as a demand.

"...okay. You've been pretty nice, even though I don't have a reason to trust you. Is there anything you'd like to talk about? Since you made me... I'd like it very much if we could talk."

>"Small talk, made to get acquainted and personable with another. Yet these orbs are anything but personable. We will chat to length in person, when we meet. It is best if you are not confused, anyway. You should go, soon, as I expect you to be on time. Goodbye for now."

I guess that's settled, then. Anything I should bring other than the bubble?

your staffsword and some ninja stars.

>>338002
Just the assortment of ranged weaponry you usually carry, alongside... that protective amulet that Ears was using. You can never have too much defense, I say.

Plus I would say even though you're going alone, having skilled warriors on standby a few minutes' flight away could be useful. You know, in case we seal the Lich King in rock or something while he's in the antimagic bubble so that we can go find and destroy his phylactery, and he decides to bring help to break him out.

>>338002
>[Tom's] soul is simply projected to the temporary body. ... At the moment, I can't seal him permanently inside of a body without my constant, active magic keeping him there.

Um, how possible is it that this is what the Lich King is doing right now? As in, Tom is actually originating from him, and projected into you? Would you be able to detect the trail of magic?

OH OH CHEE

Bring something that's easily destroyed. We have a terrible terrible theory that I hope is not true but we'll need something like that if it is.

...um, is there any way to verify that your soul in there actually belongs to you? Y'know, just in case bitchyChee actually did defeat the Lich King, and decided to create a triple phylactery that would itself take out her rivals after figuring out how to take their souls out of their 'fenced-off areas'. I mean, the soul you think is yours is fenced off from Tom... We know that there's time magic involved, right? Maybe there's a failsafe that works via time magic, so that if you died while you were young and unpracticed, time would simply be reversed so you weren't in any danger.
That would explain why you were conveniently absent when your village got massacred.

It's a pity your 'brother' had his memories altered. I guess we might be able to get some useful information out of him anyway. Ask him what the sacrifices were all about, and what he remembers of you.

1/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)03:06 No. 338010 ID: c811c4
File 131279798340.png - (9.37KB , 600x600 , 654.png )

>Staffsword
>Ninja stars
>Leave a few strong forces somewhat close by.
>An easily breakable glass bottle

>>338006
>"I think I could detect if he was doing something like that. It's possible he's hidden it somehow, but I have no idea how that would be possible! It's a stressful thought, but I don't think that's the case, as I imagine it would be harder to project Tom somewhere else if he wasn't truly within me. I think he did manage to seal Tom permanently. As for my own soul, well... I can only assume it's my real one, I couldn't imagine it's of.. my head hurts.

Alright! I've casted magic for a portal, it merely needs the physical components. I've left Minci directions on how to build them. They're not actually that complex in construction, it's merely the magic and plain resources that make them uncommon. With her coordination of it, she should be able to have it complete by the time I'm back.

My.. little brother, I guess, just says the sacrifices were because another me wanted bodies. He suddenly seems really shaken though, and only makes sense half the time. I've left him in the care of... oh, I'm really putting a lot of work on Minci.



That must be it. I'm a little early.

2/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)03:07 No. 338011 ID: c811c4
File 131279802269.png - (203.77KB , 600x600 , 655.png )

This has to be the place. I'm a little early, but he should be coming around nightfall.

3/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)03:07 No. 338012 ID: c811c4
File 131279807341.png - (73.25KB , 600x600 , 656.png )

Oh, and yes, I do have my bubble. I was able to flatten it, so I could conceal it underneath my clothes.

i don't like this one bit

but that's mostly because i'm bracing for mindfuck

>>338012
May as well get a little reading done while we're here. Also that cave looks fit for investigating.

Hmm. Did you ever give any thought to putting your soul in a phylactery? I guess there wouldn't be a lot of point to that since only your soul would be preserved, while all the other souls in you including Tom would disperse. Kindof odd that Tom didn't disperse when he died, actually... I mean, the Lich King grabbed him after he died, and I doubt he was right there when the paladins were fighting him, so he was probably dead for a while before he got conscripted. Does Tom's dead state count as a soul?

aye, read it. let's see what's so damned special about this place.

1/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)03:39 No. 338016 ID: c811c4
File 131279996047.png - (12.85KB , 600x600 , 657.png )

Tom's case is a bit special, I think. Apparently he became the devourer by getting hit by an unstable artifact designed to work with souls, so it's possible that even when he died from the paladin attack, his soul didn't leave the body as should happen. That's just a single possibility though, maybe the Lich King was just waiting for him to die? There's lots of possibilities, but no way to know.

Well, I may as well read these stones while I wait.

>Here lies Zizi.

>Kiki's brother, a draconic kobold, was buried here after dying peacefully of old age after a long life. It is a rare sight to see successful lich hunting without innate magic, however, with use of enchanted weaponry and sheer ingenuity, his life meant the end of a great deal of liches. His hunt ended as he grew older, fell in love and began to settle down into a loving family.

2/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)03:40 No. 338017 ID: c811c4
File 131280001469.png - (13.95KB , 600x600 , 658.png )

>>Here lies Kiki.

>Zizi's sister. Like Zizi, this kobold spent her life hunting down an equally impressive number of undead necromancers. Unlike Zizi, Kiki focused on necromancers, but her accomplishments were no less impressive as she wittled away their numbers with little magic and great determination. Unlike her brother, Kiki never settled down. She continued her battles after her brother retired, and a great deal of time had passed before age had caught up to her, in which a group of necromancers and their undead army had finally slain this hero. Together, these two serve as the draconic kobold's ambitions of glory, serving as proof that even a race reputed as weak can produce the greatest warriors.

3/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)03:40 No. 338018 ID: c811c4
File 131280003136.png - (56.93KB , 600x600 , 659.png )

That's odd. I wonder why the Lich King would bring me to someplace like this? I have a bit of time before nightfall. Should I explore the cave, or wait?

>>338018
Well, you're a lich hunter now, aren't you? Perhaps he plans to kill you here, as a statement that even the strongest kobold lich hunters cannot stand up to the Lich King.

Yes, let's check out the cave.

time to play CAVE EXPLORER

1/4 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)04:48 No. 338031 ID: c811c4
File 131280411021.png - (75.16KB , 900x600 , 660.png )

It's.. more statues. These look like monuments, not tombs. Oh, gosh! That's me?

2/4 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)04:49 No. 338032 ID: c811c4
File 131280414170.png - (30.66KB , 282x557 , 661.png )

>Dedicated to Doron the Silver

>Founder of the Silver Cross, this paladin only saw fit to vanquish foes of great caliber and evil. Even amongst questionable races as the draconic kobold, he became friends with all but the most evil of beings. And even of great undead monstrostities, Doron never felt hate or resentment, only a wish that he could have turned them to do well. Always a welcome sight, Doron was a paladin that always preferred doing well by nurturing the good in beings over crushing the evil of beings. Yet he knew when one must fight, and so he lived a long while in these lands, where the greatest undead power rises. He lived a long life, as he slowly shifted his battle from the front lines to organizing was is often considered the greatest paladin guild in known history.

3/4 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)04:49 No. 338033 ID: c811c4
File 131280417250.png - (6.76KB , 248x548 , 662.png )

>Dedicated to Su

>Incredibly modest, this cleric never felt the need for titles and always insisted on simple 'Su'. This woman was not great of physical strength, but had unimaginable healing powers. Unlike the elongated process of magical healing, Su could, without exaggeration, completely renew a person from even mortal wounds and missing limbs in a simple, yet illuminating flash. It was with this great power that she was able to slay the innumerable undead that stalk these canyons as though they were helpless fodder. It was when her loved one was killed and raised as a zombie, that she swore to come to these lands and fight. Eventually her life led her elsewhere, but with her great healing no doubt came an extraordinarily long life.

4/4 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)04:51 No. 338035 ID: c811c4
File 131280427505.png - (3.56KB , 206x561 , 663.png )

>Dedicated to Chee the Relentless
>Behind the exterior of a weak, mammalian kobold was a determination that trumped all others. Like the draconic kobolds of lore, Chee barely had the capacity for magic. And yet, with weak trinkets and weapons, she would charge liches as though she were a fearless warlord. Many thought her as insane, as it was never clear why she hated liches so. Yet despite any misgivings, it was inarguable that her strange devotion powered her assault, leading to surprising successes for one such as herself. Eventually she would go missing, presumably having finally met her match. Despite her relatively unimpressive record compared to other heroes recorded, she inspired many with her unbending will that transcended strength.

There's no date on these markers at all. and after some searching, I haven't found anything. I don't want to rough this place up with earth magic, that would just be... wrong.

>"Chee! I have arrived. Come out, and let me see you."

walk out of the cave LIKE A BOSS.

Pop the Chee statue outside, in case he's gonna trap us, or just to troll him.

>>338035
Walk out and say hello in the same casual tone you would use if you were inviting him in for tea, then ask him why he chose this place.

Su must be our healer soul.

Also I'm glad to see that bitchyChee did manage to kill some liches. Hmm. Maybe you really are her. I was probably worrying over nothing.

Let's go out and have a nice little chat with the Lich King before we kill him. Like, for instance, what is his name?

>>338036

this. because you are a boss.

1/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)06:07 No. 338053 ID: c811c4
File 131280882777.png - (114.63KB , 411x541 , 664.png )

>Walk out like a boss
>Casual Tone
>Not going to desecrate own statue

>"Hello, Lich King, I- I-"

>Yes, this place is significant to who you once were. Or at least, whom you were modelled off of. No doubt you have questions, I'm sure. As I told Minci, I did not intend on becoming a lich."

2/3 Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)06:10 No. 338056 ID: c811c4
File 131280902341.png - (55.20KB , 600x600 , 665.png )

>"It was no accident, but rather so I could keep on exerting my will. And yet, I cannot accomplish my goals as a Lich. My ambition has only grown, and the forces I wish to take down cannot be fought by a Lich. I require a living body. Yet for a resurrection, I need a perfect body to match my own. Not just that, but I need immense power, the power of all the mages, all the clerics and all the paladins. Once I complete your purpose, I will be able to complete my own."

CheeQuest - Part 7 : End Cheelop 2011/08/08(Mon)06:10 No. 338057 ID: c811c4
File 131280904956.png - (69.93KB , 600x600 , 666.png )

>"I once hunted petty liches, and yet even weak ones could fight me, no matter how hard I tried. And in one fateful event, I became what I hated, just for a chance to kill more. I have rose to become King. But why stop there? There are very gods out there that are mighty, yet seldom alleviate the strife of their very followers, let alone kobolds. Instead, they curse and meddle with living beings who they think give them the slightest insult based off their arbitrary ideals, like petty school children drunk on power. Most mortals cannot see this, but I have."

>"I'm going to kill them, Chee-construct. I'm going to kill all of the gods, so that I can put an end to the endless abuse of this power, and let mortals live their lives without the invisible puppet strings of the gods interfering."

>"And to do it, Chee... I must take my new body, with all of the power and souls that have been attached."

Say yes.

>>338057
Chee, you are better than her. You are smarter, stronger, kinder. She wishes to cast down the gods? She is no different. Where was she when we asked her to alleviate the suffering of the millions the second lich killed?

She's just another petty godlet with delusions of grandeur.

>>338057
WELP.

I guess my worries weren't unfounded after all. Also... I think maybe you should drop the name Chee. That is not who you are anymore. How about Lop? She uses the first half of the name, so you use the second half. Just like you are her second life.
Now, time to give her a good tongue-lashing.

Does she not realize what she did to you? To the world due to her inaction? We came to her for help when the second lich was turning half the world into zombies! She did nothing! She is a true lich, absorbed by her own ambition to spit in the face of the gods. Well, guess what, missy. We're not your tool.

We can decide whether or not to shove her soul in the bottle and smash it after we're done yelling at her and she responds.

>>338057
"So you became what you hated, and now you think causing more suffering is the way to fix the world? Why did you start hating liches in the first place? What did they do that could possibly be worse than standing idly by while half the world is harvested as fodder for battle?
Look at what you have done, fake Chee, look me in the eye, and tell me you've really been making the best use of your abilities to help the world.
My plans to defeat the gods are already well underway, and it reduces suffering from the start. I will inflict upon them the greatest injury and insult they could ever face; to be ignored.

You lost your way, and for that I pity you. If there is any part of you left that wishes to do what's best for the world, then take solace that I will make the best use of your abilities."

>>338057
Cool, that's actually a pretty admirable goal. Provided that the Lich King can keep from meddling herself. Anyway, you have to ask how she plans to bring that about and what will happen to you if she succeds.

we should probably ask for more background information. how she became a litch, and why she hates the gods.

>>338057
"King, have you researched what would happen if you killed the gods? It would be terrible if it was your actions that destroyed the world."

>>338061
yeah totally, "lol i'll let almost everyone die just to prove a point instead of HELPING PEOPLE"

basically, accuse her of becoming that which she hates.

Or just shiv her in the kidney while she's in mid-monologue.

>>338112
That's silly, liches don't have kidneys, or even any sort of weak spot that you can do massive critical damage to.

>>338105

Yeah, this whole killing the gods plan might have a few holes in it.

I'm not seeing the problem here. Surely these two very powerful and skilled necromancers can whip up some new bodies for Chee and Tom's souls to occupy? We can afford to give up the skill souls too, Chee only wanted a simple life anyway.

>>338145
Request this of the lich, please.

>>338145
The main issue with our Chee is that she doesn't actually have a soul of her own. At least, not as far as we can tell. I guess it could be one of the souls inside Tom, not separated like the one that our Chee thinks is hers. (It's actually this lich's. our Chee is STILL A PHYLACTERY!)

>>338116
I would suggest using a healing knife, but right now I just want to see if we can knife a god to death.

>>338173
>knife a god to death.
That would be fun.

>>338161
Chee's soul is there. Or rather, the "original" that was templated to become Chee. Tom has said as much.

Our major concerns should be as >>338145 had said: ensuring our continued existence and that of our friends.

... this is, of course, assuming that this necrobold is even what it is telling us it is. This was kind of expected to be revealed, but you never know. Ultimately, I have a feeling that we would be best acting together.