Typhon 2012/07/22(Sun)19:54 No. 435339 ID: 120d63
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[ From this point on, in the interests of making it more clear when ichor is or isn't available, research, intel and design results will be received after a mission as opposed to immediately prior. ]

Ichor Unspent: 580 Ichor Spent: Typhon - Attack Strength (40) [Boosted to 48] Base - Laboratory (50) -- Colin (Worker Drone) (0) -- Holding Cells (30) - Observatory (50) - Spawnery (50) -- Ladon (Worker Drone) (50) - Akari Habitat (30) Total Ichor: 880

[ OPTIONS: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Reformation/Spending ]

Let's start by remaking all the units we just lost and your bike. Also I think it's probably worth upgrading Colin to see what else we can science. Also I'm wondering if we can get an inventory of what if any corpses we have. Also, what do we do with people in holding cells if we have already interrogated them? Release them? Kill them and then study the body?

[ Whee, clarification time so soon: advanced drones still provide discounts to basic stuff already available, but no discounts or boosts to advanced stuff made possible through advanced drones. ]

Also, I think we should do the mediation. That sounds a lot more urgent than the other options.

The ichor is out of our reach for the time being, so lets go mediate the border dispute and then try to go around fell territory to wintermole.

we owe the akari, they saved our ass. let's mediate this shit.

let's turn colin into a Science Drone and make a new worker drone n the lab for him. perhaps give him a more intimidating visage for better interrogations.

>>435350
>>435347
oh derp. okay no science underling

Remake Mannimarco and the spiker ticks. That should be plenty of guard for the diplomatic mission. Then promote Colin to science drone and let's use the rest of the ichor on research after checking his capabilities.

A King Worm (76)
2 Elite Worms (120)
2 Spiker (100)
1 Bike (20)

[316]

100 into Spiker Upgrades
100 into Typhon Upgrade
64 into Bike Upgrades


Lets do the Diplo mission, ask more details on the soroi and the exact nature of the situation.

OK while you may have captured the instigator of it, a method for you to lose ichor does exist, so be wary of close combat with opposite color shadow things.

Consider that perhaps you might enjoy ichor a bit too much. It's awesome stuff and all, and your only meat and bread, but your desire of it left unchecked might cloud your judgement at a crucial time. Consider for instance a situation in which you might have to not consume a small amount of ichor, in order to get a large amount of ichor in the future. Could you make that decision?

>>435337
The diplomatic mission is the only time-sensitive task we have on our plate. We should do that.

Reform Mannimarco, Ladon, and another spiderbike. Improve Existing Unit on spiker ticks- push 100 ichor into that. Improve Typhon- dump 40 ichor each into the other three unimproved categories.

Also ask Colin how he reformed himself. Weren't you unconscious?

I vote the diplomatic mission. In addition to being time critical, you owe the Akari a personal debt for their recent aid. You should repay that. In the long run, organic allies without the specif weakness of ichor or either could prove useful.

Additionally, this mission offers contact with a third species. A greater understanding of the inhabitants of this world will be useful.

If I may suggest a topic of research? A unit specifically designed to disable, subdue, and apprehend targets in a non-fatal manner. An abductor, for the purpose of obtaining live specimens. This could prove useful in the next mission- if we end up fighting the Soroi, we can learn from them. And if we take prisoners instead of killing, we may have an avenue for future bargaining or relationships.

DIPLOMANCIES

>>435370
>abductor unit
Good idea! I vote we put 100 towards that new unit, in addition to my other votes here >>435363

Couldn't we research toxins for our spikers and simply have one of those be tranqs?

Diplomacy ho! Also, we should invite Nyx along so that there is a counter-force to any interests we may have ourselves. That way the process is extra impartial. Wouldn't want to leave ourselves open to accusations of bias.

Get worms back then Diplomacies Promptly and properly. Bring Nyx if she wants to come, maybe ask where she gets the ether from.

Typhon 2012/07/24(Tue)14:38 No. 435836 ID: 120d63
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UPGRADE Colin is upgraded to a Science Drone.

"Woah."

More options have been made available for research. There remains 330 ichor for unit creation, as well as research and intel purposes.

That is a good question. Colin, how did you reform yourself while I was unconscious?
"Not really sure. I just kind of... uh... something and then there I was. The animus geists captured Nyx and Ladon was floating around the spawnery yelling his manifesto of profileration or whatever he was rambling about and I came to pull you someplace safe so you could recover."

As far as our captive goes, I leave to you to decide. The only way we're getting more information is through the prisoner's dissection.

"You want me to kill the guy I just earned the trust of and study his corpse? That feels wrong like nothing else I've ever heard from you, Typhon."

I have no opinion on the matter one way or the other.

And I am not some primitive animal. I can ignore ichor if I wish. There has been no need for me to do so at this time.

We will set out for the akari southern border once consensus has been achieved. Nyx is welcome to join us.

Why would I ignore a chance to see you play the diplomat? This is going to be an entertaining failure to witness.

[ OPTIONS UPDATED: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Reformation/Spending ]

Am I correct to assume Cadmea was upgraded in tandem with Colin?

Don't murder the prisoner. We maybe be able to subvert him, or find a use for him the future. Corpses are easy to acquire, if we need one later. There might be merit in studying his system of communication- if we observe his speech long enough, we might be able to discern a pattern or meaning behind the numbers they use to communicate. That's a longer term study though.

I still like researching an abductor, and we should reconstitute enough of our forces so that we can fight should the diplomacy fail miserably.

>you play the diplomat? This is going to be an entertaining failure to witness.
Remind nix your attempts with diplomacy with one race has been successful enough to restore you from death. And that your own encounter has concluded in a surprisingly non-fatal manner, for the moment.

>>435836
I suspect Colin was able to reform himself because he is our 0-ichor drone. The base itself likely can spawn him at will if he is despawned.

Voting again:
Reform Ladon and Mannimarco. (126)
Improve Typhon- dump 40 ichor each into the other three unimproved categories. (120)
Improve Existing Unit on spiker ticks- push the rest of our ichor into that. (84)

Remake units and bike for 292 points I think. The other 38 can go into studying ether. You've got an intuitive understanding of ichor at least, but the latter is pretty alien to us. Though it seems this may not have always been the case.

I'm imagining that link research involves accelerating small bits of ether and ichor at each other in a massive tube until they smash together and recording what comes out.

>>435843
The drones are fine. They're both on our inventory list already.

>>435846
Oh whoops.

>>435843
Revised:
Reform Mannimarco and the spiderbike. (92)
Improve Typhon- dump 40 ichor each into the other three unimproved categories. (120)
Improve Existing Unit on spiker ticks- push the rest of our ichor into that. (118)

Okay, let's get as much science out of this as we can. Reform mannimarco of course and then dump the rest into investigating ether.

We`ll get more dead Fell I`m sure. Leave the guy alive. As for our CU usage we do need to get some basic combat units. 2 Elite Worms. 1 King Worm and a Spiker. The rest should be spent on resarching upgrades for our spikers.

>>435840
Also, that her own attempts at diplomacy were entirely nonexistent, at least regarding yourself.

Typhon 2012/08/08(Wed)17:14 No. 440700 ID: e890e7
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Ichor Spent: Typhon - Health (20) [Boosted to 24] - Attack Strength (40) [Boosted to 48] - Flux Rate (20) [Boosted to 24] - Action Points (20) [Boosted to 24] Units - Typhon Bike (16) [Reduced from 20] - Mannimarco (King Worm) (76) [Reduced from 95] - Spiker Tick (40) [Reduced from 50] Base - Laboratory (50) -- Colin (Science Drone) (250) -- Holding Cells (30) - Observatory (50) - Spawnery (50) -- Ladon (Worker Drone) (50) - Akari Habitat (30) Invested - Spiker Tick Upgrade Research (80) [Boosted to 96] - Examine Ether (58) [Boosted to 70] Total Ichor: 880 UNITS MADE Mannimarco rejoins the group, as does a single Spiker Tick. "Good to be back, Sir Typhon. Let's show our foes what's what, shall we?" Typhon boards his vehicle as Nyx boards her own mirrored copy.

I could insult Nyx's attempts at diplomacy regarding our introductions, but I would feel it much better simply to show Nyx why she is incorrect to judge me so quickly.

I can hear you thinking that.

Am I doomed to never have even the privacy of my own thoughts any more?

Have you ever really had any privacy?

Typhon 2012/08/08(Wed)17:15 No. 440701 ID: e890e7
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It takes most of a day to reach the source of the dispute. We fly over the akari forests. In the night, gentle glowing lights of green and orange flow through their lands. I note that in the distance they seem to converge into a lake of light, shimmering. The mass pulsates like a heart forged of glowing colour. I expect at some point I will need to investigate this curious phenomenon in more depth.

As morning breaks, the glow fades away into the light of day. More forest is covered. Trees as far as I can see. Mannimarco and the Spiker Tick are in a bubble behind me. Nyx elected to travel without any of her own forces. I am informed she has her own plans for combat if it should arise. The way she informed me suggests that she doesn't expect to actually carry out said plans. For her dismissive remarks, she acts as though confident in my success. I am not sure how to feel about this.

I am not sure how to feel about Nyx altogether. Parts of me say she needs to be locked away for my own safety. Parts of me say I need to know her far better than I do. I am unable to distinguish between the suggestions of the minds within my aggregate consciousness and vague, fleeting images and memories that bubble to my subconscious yet elude the grasp of my focused mind.

I cannot shake the feeling she feels this conflicted about me as well.

Typhon 2012/08/08(Wed)17:16 No. 440702 ID: e890e7
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We arrive in soroi territory. There are lakes and rivers as far as I can see. In places I note the passage of water is not entirely restricted to channels within the ground. I crash straight through an arch of water, instinctually gasping and choking as though drowning were a concern for me. These mortal reflexes do not suit my form. There are so many questions I do not know the answers to about this world, about those that dwell on it, and even my own nature. I find it maddening to know so little.

I am shaken from my musing by Nyx tugging at the whisker-like protrusions on the side of my head. "Hey. Typhon. Less philosophy, more negotiation. Come on."

A creature starts to approach me, and only me, in silence. There is a strange quality in how they move. They come closer with great speed, yet do not seem to run as much as skate across the water surfaces, and fly through the air in long floating jumps. They stop in front of me, and stare into my eyes. ))Who are you? This is not your stream. Is it yours? Where are you flowing?((

The others in my group continue wandering, oblivious to me pausing, apparently. The creature in front of me remains, a little close for comfort. ))Why are you here? Who are you? You are in my way. What is your way?((
"I am here to assist in diplomatic negotiations between the akari and the soroi."

Typhon 2012/08/08(Wed)17:16 No. 440703 ID: e890e7
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))You are not akari or soroi. You can assist by removing the akari. I tire of you. Move aside.((
"Move aside?"

I will attempt to remain as polite and cordial as I can be, even though being told so brashly to 'move aside' causes me to dig my claws into my hands. "I will gladly move to wherever these negotations are being held."
))Don't know. Do not care. We are water. Water flows and does not care. You do not flow. It is bothering me.((

I sigh and step to the side. The soroi does not move and continues to stare. ))You do not obey the rules?((
"What rules? What are these rules?"

No response. Nothing but silence and constant staring. I am wasting my time here. "Can you please stop staring at me?"
))I don't understand what you are. You stopped me. Do the rules apply? I am not sure.((
"My name is Typhon, and what are these rules you keep mentioning?"
))I don't know what a typhon is. Are you a typhoon? It is not warm enough for a typhoon. Are you a storm?((
"I'm-- I guess you could say I'm a storm. What are you? You're a soroi, correct? Do you have a name?"
))Soroi.((
"Okay. What's your own name?"
))Name?((
"Sigh... I'm a storm, apparently, called a typhoon. You're a soroi, called what?"
))Not what. I am soroi.((

This was a terrible mistake.

Are tehy like the Akari, but more? that is one mind with many bodies.

>>440703
Okay, they don't use names. They don't seem to be a hivemind, but perhaps it is more like a hive, where everyone has a duty and everything is ordered.

Ask them what they think of the Asari. And where the asari are at the moment.

Not such a mistake. They just have an alien mindset. We need to speak on their own terms, find a way to get through to them.

And for someone who only started naming his underlings a day ago, you're awful hung up on this guy having trouble with individual identity.

"No, I do not flow. I am the storm- my purpose is to change flows, to reshape channels and currents by my own strength and will. I see the flow of the akari and soroi crashing together, as a tumultuous conflict. I seek to divert these flows- to avoid the tumult, to instead craft a gentle mingling of the waters."

...Huh. Ask if there are any more of them around. Maybe we can figure out what about its understanding of the world is confusing it. Ask what their problem with the akari is, too. Is it that they are in the way in some matter that they can't pass? Water tends to go around things blocking it, usually.

It seems like quite a few of the races in this world has an interesting sense of self. The akari have all of their minds loosely linked, these people seem to lack understanding of individuals, and even you have countless subordinate personalities and some kind of mental connection to someone else with the same.

lets try and find the akari, them at least we can talk to.

Don't be so bothered by the staring. It is entirely possible that these beings do not possess conventional eyes or eyelids. Or maybe they have see through eyelids, as is common for amphibious creatures like frogs.

Typhon 2012/08/08(Wed)21:51 No. 440831 ID: e890e7
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I may have only started naming my minions and associates recently, but I saw them less as individuals and more as parts of myself. I am more accustomed to interacting with individuals with names and their own goals and drives. Or, I was.

Yes, I see what you mean. I regret not naming Colin earlier. He in particular is rapidly becoming less a part of myself and more an individual in his own right. I do not know how to feel about this, but I recall exactly what it was like to be an unknowing slave to a master I was incapable of disobeying. The parallels are making me a little uncomfortable.

"I do not flow. I am the storm. I am here to change flows--"
))The storm is changed by the flows.((
"Are there any more of you around?"
))Many.((
"Can I talk to any of them?"
))Yes.((

...

"Can you tell me where they are?"
))Yes.((
"Where are they?"
))Around.((
"Are you being deliberately evasive for a reason?"
))You bore me. This amuses me.((

I start walking away. The soroi effortlessly glides across the water in front of me. ))Do not help the akari. They have no purpose but that given to them by their creator. We have our own purpose. We have our rules piped into the waters. We fought for our freedom from the madness and we earned flesh. The marble realised our dream.((
"Madness?"
))You will know what I mean if you do not already. It spreads like a sickness.((
"The Fell?"
))A marble realised their dream. They are not the disease.((
"You know a lot more than you're letting on to me, don't you? Are all soroi this knowledgeable?"
))Only a curious soroi would seek out the events that have passed. Only a curious soroi would defy her rules to address something that does not conform to the streams and the flows with anything other than correction.((
"You're a curious soroi, then."
))You are a strange typhoon.((

Progress. Maybe I can start asking her more things.

being created does not mean you are un-deserving. you must fight against the world all the same, and the akari will fight against you. but they may lose, not for a lack of trying but because they will face a war on two fronts. then when they are gone, the fell will attack you and not change the flow, but destroy it.

Ask about the marbles. A logical guess might be that they mean Ichor orbs.

Ask what the problem with the akari is. Why do they flow against them? Yes, it is a good thing to have found your purpose, but why does a found purpose necessitate conflict with a god given one? Flow is flow, the age and origin should not matter.

Are these marbles the ichor? (if you can, free up a tiny bit to show) And is this related to whatever happened to destroy the world?

Also, ask why both of their peoples seem to dislike each other. Is it just opposing societal values? Or did someone do something? Note that you aren't currently doing anything for the akari except offering to help protect them from attack if they need it.

When you speak of this flow, which you must conform to or be corrected, it sounds like it represents the rules of your society, and is treated like a part of you. Your race seems to revolve around its customs and follow them very strictly. I don't know how the Akari feel, but I know some would find this disturbing. And many in such a society would likely find life without their customs barbaric. How would you respond, for example, if someone grabbed you and started licking you to provoke a reaction?

Ask more about this... marble.

Also I think you should ask her if there is a way to contact her in the future. She knows so much and we might have new questions later.

But back on topic- we are not here to help the Akari or the Soroi in exclusion of the other. Our aim is to prevent war and reach an agreement between the two sides. The dispute is over land rights, right?

Typhon 2012/08/10(Fri)15:39 No. 441457 ID: e890e7
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"The nature of the akari's purpose shouldn't affect how you view the akari. I myself was created some time ago. Far before the world was how it is now."
))Do you follow your own purpose or that which your creator made you for?((
"Both."
))What is more important to you?((
"...My own purpose, but that is not dismissive of the akari. I am here because the akari have helped me, and the soroi have not wronged me, and I do not want to see either fight. The akari already face a threat to the northeast. One which would destroy your kind with the same aggression."
))We face many threats. The rules of the waterways keep us capable of responding to them.((
"Why do you hate the akari?"
))The akari do not flow. Their rules are solid. They spread like vermin across their lands and it is not enough for them. More, they cry. More land. More plants. More akari. They outnumber us. Our rules have flowed new places to compensate. Our goals are now defense and procreation, as we can go nowhere else. The world is too broken. We cannot survive in the emptiness. Art and knowledge have lost their place. Survival is all we know.((
"Okay. Do you know why the akari hate you?"
))They see us as horrors. The akari attach to each other readily. They form strong couplings, hiearchies of descendants and ancestors. We do not attach to each other so strongly. Water flows. Ice remains. We are not ice. Ice shatters. Water ripples. We block their expansion. This also causes the strife.((

I'll have to confirm this with the akari when I meet them. It does sound that the akari object almost violently to the soroi way of life.

"Okay. Another couple of questions, while I think of them. What is this marble? Is it made out of, well, this?" I form a small ball of ichor in my hand. The soroi looks at it.
))Connections. There are connections, but they are not the same. The marble is old. It was forged by the ancients. The sickness claimed all but the marble. With our flowing rules, and the marble, we are safe from the sickness.((
"I see. One last question. You seem bound to follow a large variety of rules for behaviour. I wonder, how would you respond to me grabbing and licking you? What reaction would that provoke? I do not mean to offend, I am just genuinely curious."
))Condition, collision between a healthy male and a healthy female, not currently pregnant, mutually capable of reproduction. Response, attempt reproduction.(( She tilts her head and I find myself very quickly making notes to never ask anyone about physical contact ever again. ))What would it be like to bear a storm?((

Well, this is painfully awkward, and I have no one to blame but myself for getting into this situation. Is this going to happen with every new species I meet? "Well, that sure is a reaction. Are there any situations you don't have rules for handling? How would you respond to those?"
))Bored of questions now. Are you going to lick me still? I want to carry a storm.((
"No. I wasn't going to lick you in the first place. It was a hypothetical situation. Are you sure you don't know where these negotiations are taking place?"
))Still bored of questions. It will affect nothing. The soroi have no leader but themselves. If you wish to convince any of us, you must convince all of us. You must convince the water you stand in.((
"If I can prove to you I can convince water, will you show me where the negotiations are happening?"
))If you can prove to me you can convince water, I will show you where the words that affect nothing are being spoken. Be a storm, typhoon. Be a storm.((

>>441457
Let's see. Colin made that water pillar before to contain Nyx, so I must assume you have a similar capability. Or you could just shove ichor into the water? Well you're made out of magic, use it. DO MAGIC TO IT.

Well, at least you haven't had any of the Fell hitting on you ...yet. Can you do anything with ichor to move around water? Put a bunch of tiny bits in the water and move the bits around?

>Is this going to happen with every new species I meet?
If you make a point of hitting on them, yes. I would remind you you do not need heed every piece of advice given to you by every adviser.

>>441463
This seems logical. If Ichor is the purest of magics, surely its power can be turned to something as simple as manipulation of the elements. Failing that, we can craft things (creatures or machines) that manipulate the flow of water mechanically.

In any event, in sounds as if the akari are the aggressors in this conflict. They cling to an old doctrine, to spread at any cost. If we are to convince the soroi to cease hostilities, we must first address the akari expansion and treatment of the soroi.

>>441487
Well, nobody DID suggest that. He just went with it. He keeps complaining about how he doesn't want to let any kinds of physical urges affect him, but he sure went out of the way to phrase that question in the flirtiest way possible.

Can you directly manipulate anything that isn't full of ichor? If not, I suppose you could try >>441478 or making some kind of pump or propeller or something out of ichor. Or if your bike flies in a way that's reactionary, it might be able to move around the water.

wafer thin sheet of ichor as a scoop.

>>441500
This one right here did.
>>440846

Typhon 2012/08/15(Wed)19:01 No. 443634 ID: e890e7
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Make a point of hitting on-- Look! Is it my fault apparently so many females of all the species I've encountered find me completely irresista-- This is the wrong way to phrase the point I'm trying to make. It was a mistake, regardless. Do I need to convince you further? I wouldn't mind a single day without the crowd of voices lingering in my head judging my every action.

Anyway. Present business. Maybe I can influence water. As you have said, Colin was able to construct a pillar of water to keep Nyx contained. I reach out to the water and... I'm not entirely sure what I should be doing here. Controlling ichor is like flexing a limb to me. A limb of shape and muscles I have to sometimes learn and fumble with slightly, but it is otherwise as natural to me as moving my own body. I can't seem to just will the water below me to act.

I lower my hand and close my eyes, focusing on the water. A sudden splash to my face causes me to open my eyes again. The soroi looks at me still, as always.

))You have proved you can anger the water. Convincing is the next step.((

Eyes open, I reach out and focus on pulling a thread from the water like I might pull a tendril out of ichor. It is a lot more difficult than working with ichor, but a string of water lazily snakes its way up to meet my arm. I gently guide it into a ring shape, wobbling just above my hand. A sphere would be neater, but I struggle enough to keep the water in its severed tendril state. "Is this enough for you?"
))You do not know how the water flows but you can change its course. I do not know what to think.((
"Can you take me to the negotiations now?"
))Yes. You could perhaps change things.((

Typhon 2012/08/15(Wed)19:06 No. 443637 ID: e890e7
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The soroi leads me to-- oh. This certainly is an impressive sight. The site of the negotiations appears to be a ceremonial dais, with a sphere hovering far above. I imagine enclosed buildings fly against the free movement the soroi value so much. The dais is constructed from flowing water, and glowing liquid flowing a lot more sluggishly. Even the very skies change their colours as I approach. ...Are these other creatures here also soroi?

~Typhon! These creatures do not understand compassion! They do not understand love! They deny us the lands we need to sustain our people as we fight for our very survival against the constant onslaught of the Fell! We are pushed further and further back by their unending armies, and these creatures try to drown us with their refusal--~

>>That is enough, akari Soja,<< hisses the fire-coloured creature. It speaks in a whispering voice, crackling like lit firewood. >>We have nowhere we may flow. To obey you is to need to cull ourselves. We are bound by our rules, and our rules are bound by us. They do not permit such abhorrent slaughter of our own. Would you kill your own kind in volume if we demanded it? I do not think you would.<<

~We do not need to worry about killing our own people,~ snarls the wavering mental voice of the akari. ~The Fell are becoming very efficient at it.~

>>The troubles of your people are great. We will not harm ourselves for your benefit. We face our own nightmares. Ours is an enemy that cannot be seen, and is the deadlier for it.<<

The fire-coloured creature turns towards me.

>>You are not welcome here for much longer, typhoon. I apologise. Your blood draws them nearer. Speak your words, and leave. There is much we regret about this necessity.<<
||It is true,|| speaks the green creature in a soft, chiming voice. ||We are sorry.||

>>443635
Our blood, huh? Perhaps we could use that. An ichor beacon to distract their enemy?

Personally I haven't seen any evidence that they cannot take up the same space. They seem to make water passageways at will; can't they just live up above while the Akari live below?

If that's not feasible, it sounds like they both need help. Why not cooperate? Or switch places? The Fell might not find the Soroi to be as easy an opponent, and the Akari might fare better against whatever the unseen foe is.

So, the Fell are pushing back the akari territory. This is making them try to expand into soroi territory to sustain themselves after losing much needed land. The soroi however need to expand themselves, possibly in part because of another unseen foe, and possibly just because of their rate of population growth requiring more lands themselves. This foe that the soroi mentioned, who are they? Are they taking land belonging to the soroi as well? If the border tensions are because of pressure on both of the groups by attacking armies, you could potentially assist in holding off assault on both. You are literally a one-man army, and are already ready to help the akari. However, if the soroi are only exerting pressure due to population growth, this is more difficult to solve. It does look like their society's rules are geared towards maximal population growth. I mean, that one right there is even pregnant. What is on their other borders? Is there any unclaimed land in the world?

Just to be clear, are they talking about a literal attacker that is invisible, or some kind of curse or mental effect?

>I wouldn't mind a single day without the crowd of voices lingering in my head judging my every action.
That's understandable. We'll try to offer more advice, and less judgement. Although, when you ask a silly question, you're bringing it on yourself.

Gaaah, too many speech symbols.

If our time here is brief, I will be blunt. It does not appear either side wishes to be enemies- you have been driven to conflict by outside forces. Removing these outside forces seems the obvious solution.

The fell have already made themselves my enemy. I have fought them, and I have won. I would gladly aid the akari repel their aggression. I would gladly aid the soroi against their foe as well to prevent this needless war. Especially if it seeks out my blood, and makes itself my enemy.

yes ask if perhaps they could try and fight eachother's enemies, then they could expand away from eachother instead of towards.

If we offered to take the fight to the fell, we could take the pressure off the akari, and thus they'd no longer need help from the soroi. Keep this option in mind as you negotiate, Typhon.

the root cause seems to be that both the Akari and the Soroi have either barely enough or not quite enough land to sustain there populations due to incursions by hostile powers. a point worth mentioning is that if they go to war all it will really accomplish would be opening another front for both the Sorori and the Akari, leeching vitally important resources from there current struggles.

a better strategy may be an agreement of mutual assistance. if the Sorori and the Akari combine there tech bases its possible they could both gain an advantage against there foes. failing that we could offer to help hold the line for the Akari as they divert resources to help the Soroi, who would then help the Akari in turn once there foe had been contained or neutralized.

>>443767
This. If you fight each other, you will both lose. If you assist each other, you will gain new strategic options to surprise your respective enemies with, which could turn the tide of your wars.

Typhon 2012/08/23(Thu)15:54 No. 446641 ID: 0f60d7
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"Why can't you coexist? I've seen waterways in the sky, and surely you can have trees and forests and lakes and rivers all in the same place. Why is this separation so desired?"

There is a tense silence as both the soroi and the akari look anywhere except each other, then to me, then back to each other.

~There is are fundamental differences in our world views. We are incompatible.~
>>There is reason for our differences. We cannot coexist.<<
~Akar would not allow it.~
>>We could never permit it.<<

"Why?"

>>Akari cannot flow as soroi. They anchor themselves to each other so a single death brings untold devastation to so many of them. We keep ourselves free of attachments.<<
~The soroi, among other things, throw their own children to the mercy of the environment and care nothing about their safety. It is disgustingly callous behaviour. None of us can condone it.~

"Would you even need to interact?"

>>Our rivers cannot stay in the sky forever. They drift from the lakes to the clouds as the rules maintain.<<
~We would not allow the soroi waters to cover our forests in such amount. Their water is not just water, Typhon. There would be changes we would not be willing to accept.~

"If you could co-operate, you would be able to surprise your foes. The Fell do not expect any form of attack by the soroi. I do not even know if the Fell know the soroi exist. And as for the enemy of the soroi, well, actually, is it a physical enemy we're talking about?"

>>It is an enemy that reveals itself when its intent is to do harm. It is not soroi. Please do not ask further questions. Wanting to know more of them is invitation.<<
~We know only the nature of the soroi's enemy, Typhon,~ says Soja, concerned. ~We have been too afraid to ask further.~ She looks at the water she stands in. ~The soroi suffer more than we do.~

"I have fought the akari's enemy and emerged victorious. I see no reason why I could not do the same for the soroi's enemy. If I assist both of your kinds, would it ease the tensions between your peoples? Is there nothing you value more than the destruction of the other? To become the very things you struggle against? To fight and claim territory from others, killing masses of the innocent in the process? Can there be nothing more to the relationship between the soroi and akari but a tragedy of violence? You are both sapient species. There has to be another way."

By the Ancients, you're a melodramatic one sometimes. Still, I can't believe you're doing this well, Typhon. You're certainly defying my expectations. Oh. Right. Yes, I'm Nyx. Don't start swinging your head looking around for me, I'm with your underlings watching the whole affair from the skies, doing my best to keep us a little hidden. I didn't want to interrupt things unless you screwed it up, and you can't believe how much I thought you were going to screw things up. Congratulations.

...couldn't you wait until after I'd finished mediating? It's extremely jarring to have you cut into my head like this out of nowhere.

The akari and soroi look helplessly at me, fidgeting and generally looking uncomfortable.

~I know you are people, soroi. There are things that you do that horrify me. I'm not speaking for all akari any more. I find your emotionless adherence to your rules above all else terrifying. I can't see the heart in it. But you don't act heartless. I don't understand it.~ Soja tilts her head down. ~I wish I could understand it. War is not going to help us understand each other.~

The green soroi walks up to Soja, rubbing at her eyes. ||There is more to us than our rules suggest, akari. There is so much more. I see your kind and I see what we want to be but what we never can be. You share your thoughts among each other freely, in harmony, in unity, but we can never have that. Our past before the marble stains us all. We need the rules to keep together, to act together, to defend ourselves.|| She holds her stomach. ||We don't throw our young away. We release them into the care of all of us. Our rules say we must care for all soroi that need care, but our hearts say we will. Young, old, sick and injured, we are there for each other.||

The fire soroi and Soja look to each other. >>Can one really defend all?<<
~I do not doubt that Typhon can help, but his forces are not vast enough to defend either of our kin. Apologies, Typhon. I will return to our forests. There is much that needs to be discussed.~
>>The flows will spread the words spoken here to other soroi. They shall know we seek to help and be helped by akari greater than to kill or be killed.<<

I... did I help this happen? Did I actually change something for the better in this broken world? I feel a great sense of relief and warmth. The akari begin to leave as a small cluster of soroi follows them with curious expressions. The two diplomat soroi accompany them.

Typhon 2012/08/23(Thu)15:55 No. 446643 ID: 0f60d7
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I can't help but wonder on what the nature of the soroi's enemy is. Or what sort of enemy they have that the akari were also advising me not to ask. Maybe it is an illness. The akari come across to me as sensitive to a fault. It would make sense to me that they would consider asking such questions further to be impolite at best and terrible at worst.

=Oh it's not so bad! It's not really a disease, Typhon, it's more like a cure! A cure for a disease they love so much!=

Typhon? What's going on? Do you feel cold too--...

Nyx? Mannimarco?

Colin?

...Ladon?

The world slows to a stop. What is going on--

=Cheating! Cheating! You broke the rules! No outside contact allowed in the pool! How do you not even know the rules?! The pool is filled with them! All dumb rules! Ehehehehe! Want to words at me? I bet you want to words at me. Do you want to words at me now or after the fight? You know we're gonna fight. Just you and me. One on one. No tags, no funny stuff. Wait. No. All of the funny stuff. More of it. Where's it gonna be? Here? No I don't like it the water's too wet. It needs to be less wet. You look funny. Where did you get that fin? That's new. Are you a shark this time? That's great! Maybe I'll be a shark too this time!=

"Okay, I don't know who or what you are, or what you're doing here, or what level of threat you present, but could you just--"

=SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! Aw. That's what I wanted to hear! What happened to freakout Typhon? You cut me into little pieces and ate them and then I had to burst out of you but I'm back and he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it any more! Want to dance? I dance with knives! Claws all flying around the place like bits of a broken god marble! Let's dance, Typhon! Let's dance until the night that never ends!=

Typhon 2012/08/23(Thu)15:56 No. 446645 ID: 0f60d7
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The air is thick and cold. Time holds no meaning. All outside contact prevented.

COMBAT STARTS

Starting Positions: I15: Typhon G15: Unknown Entity Unit Recap Typhon - 7 AP. Attacks: Claw (3 AP).

So... pointless annoying thing wants to fight us. Let's not give it the satisfaction and just dance away, and insist on talking to it rationally until it gets bored and goes away.

Good thing we spent some Ichor to upgrade you, eh?

Go on, attack it. See what happens.

Taste the rainbow. I bet it tastes awesome.

I take it this guy doesn't realize that, while whatever happened didn't kill you, it didn't exactly leave you in one piece. Although it seems he really wants to fight, and I mean, what do you have to lose? This guy acts like more of an old sparring partner than an adversary. Make it clear that you're pretty confused about this, but I see no reason that you shouldn't oblige. Go out and get him!

I wonder, no time means no delay for forming things away from your base. Defy him... form Mannimarco despite his communication block.

Also from his natterings he might be an enemy you destroyed for Wintermol. The breaking of the world remade him somehow... and he might be made of Ichor as well. It would explain his fluid form.

Oh I have a better idea. Rip him to shreds, then arrange the shreds by color. You can make a bunch of little hims then that are all perfectly rational!

Summons wouldn't actually be against his terms anyway, as they are part of us to begin with.

>>446667
The reference to "freakout Typhon" sounds like Discord here was someone we killed during our world breaking demigod tantrum.

I have the worst feeling that Mr. Skittles is going to kick our ass.

>>446737
Yeah, that sounds right about him. And you know what? I think we should apologize to him. Maybe that'll throw him in a loop.

creatures without knowledge would not be contacting outside, but pulling creations from within. they are you ans you are they.

Typhon 2012/08/29(Wed)14:38 No. 449285 ID: 0f60d7
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COMBAT - ROUND 0

Time feels as though it has slowed to a crawl. I attempt to form ichor, but the timelessness of my surroundings separates me from all other aspects of my being. I can't even feel the links between myself and the ichor I know I control. Only my own body, with its emulation of mortal sensations and rhythms. I can feel my heartbeat. I can feel it quicken as I realise how alone I am right now.

"Who are you?!"
=Nothing and nobody! Isn't it grand?=
"Whatever I have done to you in the past, I apologise! I have done a great many things I cannot remember, but I want to work to repair the damage I have done to this world and to so many others!"
=Nope!=
"What?"
=Bored now. Fight!=

Typhon lunges at the gibbering chaotic form before him. He carves strange, rubbery tendrils of iridescence out of something that feels questionably real. It is as though he is fighting a dream or a memory.

The figure returns the sentiment, hacking and laughing in a wheezing, diseased breath. Tendrils whip out of its unreal body and slice through Typhon's limbs and face. They pass through with no resistance. The bitter coldness takes Typhon's strength with it.

=Boring! Back and forth blows are no fun.=

The entity is consumed by the air around it. It is regurgitated elsewhere in the frozen landscape.

=Have fun!=

The world around Typhon disgorges six vaguely shaped things, all rippling and pulsating in sickening ways.

Something formed of ichor fades into vision. Typhon senses it, but it feels unusual. Foreign. Alien. It does not respond to his subconscious efforts to pull it towards him.

Huh, that's interesting. Head down and to the left to get out of the ring, and then attack the nearby blob 5. There's a lot of them, so they probably can be taken out more easily to not distract you in combat.

>>449286
This.

Try talking to the new Ichor thing. See if it responds. It's not time stopped, right?

Eh, walk toward the thing. Stab the closest blob after doing so.

move towards it, strike 4 at the end of the move.

Typhon 2012/08/30(Thu)13:53 No. 449678 ID: 0f60d7
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COMBAT - ROUND 0

Typhon slashes at ??? 4 as he walks towards the new arrival. It boils away into nothing.

The ichor figure continues to hold one arm behind its back, and keeps raised a single finger in front of its face. The only eye visible on it remains closed. "Is victory so certain?"

I see no mouth on this creature, and its words are clear and cold like ice. I try to respond but I find my mind blank. What is it rambling about? Why can nothing in this blasted, ruined world make sense for more than a minute?!

The dancing figure laughs and cartwheels in a sickeningly broken fashion. It falls flat onto the ground in front of it, before rising onto its feet as if on strings.

??? 1 moves towards Typhon, hovering and bobbing up and down in front of him.

??? 2 moves towards the other ichor entity on the field, rippling and swaying.

??? 3 moves towards Typhon, threatening to tear itself apart with its wild violent motions.

??? 5 lets out a shriek like metal scraping against metal and flees from Typhon.

??? 6 floats aimlessly in a straight line towards the north east.

Nothing is certain but such as he cannot end me. May I ask your name?

Go kill 2. I'm not sure why it's going towards that corrupted ichor creature but we're probably better safe than sorry.

get between the figure and 2, attack 2. then see if you can interact with the figure

For the hell of it, try to collect ichor from one, and shape it.

Typhon 2012/08/31(Fri)14:51 No. 450132 ID: 0f60d7
File 134644987717.png - (273.99KB , 1024x768 , 85.png )

COMBAT - ROUND 0

"Nothing is certain, but this one cannot end me. May I ask your name?"
"If you must address me, find your own name for me. I have no name I can give you."

One straight answer. That's all I want. One straight answer from someone. I miss Taja and Colin. They weren't as cryptic as everyone else I've encountered so far.

I try to collect ichor from one of the weird shapes, and to my surprise the thing responds as though I have pulled at part of it. It feels incredibly... slippery, I suppose. I can't keep hold of it for long without it collapsing back in on itself.

I would not want to collect it, anyway. I feel trying to absorb something as shapeless as these entities is as dangerous as trying to absorb anything made of the ether Nyx is made of. Ether may be harmful, but it is not contagious. I don't know the same about whatever these things are made of.

Typhon races towards ??? 2 and ends its existence with a casual poke.

The nameless figure holds its pose, not even flinching as Typhon runs in its direction. Its head turns towards Typhon.

The dancing figure runs in a circle.

??? 1 flies off to the east, gently bouncing off of Typhon and coming to a stop.

??? 3 moves as fast as it can away from Typhon.

??? 5 escapes the battlefield. It bursts into colours and dissolves into nothingness as it leaves the presence of the creature that summoned it.

??? 6 flees Typhon while making odd bubbling noises.

These things are starting to feel pathetic.

I'm a little worried about how easy this is. It seems like a trap. These enemies aren't putting up a fight. Kill the one next to you, I guess, but keep your guard up.

I name you Kali then.

What do you know of this being that has trapped me here?

don't try to hold it, shape it into a sear and launch it at the main creature. very quickly

Why not ask it the obvious question?

If you are made of ichor, why do I not know you? Why can I not feel you you?

Stop attacking the little things and go hit that big thing.

Hm, they aren't attacking you...
Try to shape the portions you can influence so they support and/or make the creature more stable, maybe even give it a something better to talk with.
Otherwise, ask "Kali" if this usually happens and advance towards Discord.

I feel like this is one of those "I am messing with your mind and now you are attacking your friends" thing. Can you try and match the things up to people that were around you when this started?

name the nameless feature "Discord" and the dancing figure "Disharmony"

address Kali/Discord: "Might you be the fragment of me that i do not want to remember? I am missing much of myself, are you part of me that i have forgotten?"

They die when they leave the battlefield too? Stop them from leaving! Try to keep ahold of one long enough so that you can calm it down enough to pet it.

>>450614
That is a good point, especially when you consider the ones making noises. Fortunately there are more blobs around than there were people at the meeting, so if he is doing that trick some of them are still normal illusions (like the one that vanished when we poked it).

Typhon 2012/09/20(Thu)21:43 No. 456392 ID: 0f60d7
File 134820259863.png - (583.80KB , 800x600 , 86.png )

COMBAT - ROUND 0

"I name you Kali."
"It matters little to me. It is for your own convenience."

I can't shape these entities. It is like trying to build with dry sand. They fall out of my grasp and act as though nothing happened. Then, as one, they boil away into nothing. The dancer shrieks, laughs, and falls forward, crumbling into dust.

END OF COMBAT

The timeless air around me shimmers and bleeds into flowing water. The soroi previously around me have kept their distance, eyes and heads darting around in alarm. I look to my feet. Whatever tricks may have been played on my mind, I see no bodies before me.

||They flee! The demons flee from the typhoon!||
>>Do not feel so safe! They withdraw for now. They may return greater in number!<<

Nyx?

Did you just go to a strange place with no time and swirling multicoloured blobs that moved in a circle around you too?

I... I assume so. I didn't see you there. The shapes I saw tried to run away from me or approach me, though.

That doesn't sound right. They moved in circles for me. And started speaking nonsense words. And one of them said something about reunion. I felt like they were a diseased part of me, Typhon. One I couldn't quite--

--grab. One that felt like it should and shouldn't be the same thing as you, correct? I felt that too.

Typhon 2012/09/20(Thu)21:43 No. 456393 ID: 0f60d7
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Typhon... why are there two of you?

Two of me? Wait. The figure made of ichor is still here. The soroi pay it no attention. Why aren't they paying it any attention?

"Who are you?"
"Did you not name me Kali?"
"You didn't answer my question. Let me rephrase. What are you?"

Kali raises its hand and extends a single finger upwards.

"...Again, what are you? Are you a part of me? Why are you made of ichor?"

I am met with a brief silence. "Do you know what I am?"
"No. I'm... I just asked you that. Why would I ask you that if I knew?!"
"So it is clear that you do not know who I am, nor what I am."
"Yes, Kali, this is exactly the situation. I wouldn't be asking you questions I knew the answers to. I have more important matters to attend to than idle, pointless conversation."

Kali lowers its hand and places it behind its back. "When you know who I am, and what I am, you will know who I am, and what I am. If you do not know who I am, or what I am, then you shall not know who I am, or what I am, until you do. This is how the fifth age unfolds."

"Fifth age? What is--

--- 2012/09/20(Thu)21:45 No. 456395 ID: 0f60d7
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There are no shining empires anymore. Too late. Again, too late. So strange to see the same thing twice. It has been a long time. Far too long. Nothing remains. Not a part of you any more. To the ends of the world.

Typhon 2012/09/20(Thu)21:45 No. 456396 ID: 0f60d7
File 134820272154.png - (127.14KB , 800x600 , 89.png )

--this 'fifth age' you're talking about and... what..."

Kali is gone.

I just... for a fleeting moment I saw, I felt, I knew something so very large and overwhelming. Images. Sounds. Moments flashed before my eyes. The holes in my memories are gone, but the memories are still so vague and out of focus.

))Typhoon?((

I fall to my knees, shaking. No. I feel like I learned something terrible. Something so terrible I can't ever recall it. Something that would destroy me if I ever knew it. Worse than knowing I spent my life a sycophantic slave, a slave to an empire I knew saw me as a weapon and nothing more. Somehow, even worse than knowing that.

Wintermol.

I have to see Wintermol.

Nothing else matters.

Wintermol's gone, bro.

Yeah Kali was saying find out for yourself. Go to the site where Wintermol used to be.