"I made him what he is today and I owe it to him to attempt reform. I understand your reservations and will take them into consideration and keep a closer eye on him, but I can't simply discard him like an unwanted tool. Please don't take rash action, if you're right I may not be able to stop him from responding in kind."

Woo shitty dialogue attempt.

You will not betray such a crucial ally. The phylactery voices say that his mind checks out, he's loyal. Sure, he's nutty and violent, but a dog always is when trained right. And he's a damn good one. It won't bite the master.

And we're fully capable of dealing with his potential threat. No, we will not murder an ally, it isn't right. We've got a lot of redeeming to do and hurting Spidrift is just like us going back to our old ways before the phylactery took over.

Another angle: "Would you have me begin my redemption by ensuring the damnation of my most faithful ally?"

"Didn't you hear him say 'thank you?' Clearly, that just means he likes you."

"Yeah he's pretty awful."

The Revenant Mage 2013/04/25(Thu)00:53 No. 507629 ID: 25fe40
File 136687641994.png - (7.04KB , 800x600 , 35.png )

"He is a dark, violent man, but he is well-trained." I pray silently that what I say is as true as I think. "He will not bite the hand that feeds. His sinful nature is on my head, Advocate, and I cannot abandon him. Your eagerness to give up on his soul disappoints me."
Astrea is taken aback. "Well. Don't expect me to come to your aid when he goes for your throat."
"I will not, Astrea. Don't worry. I shall take what you've said under advisement. But I see the possibility of redemption in the Butcher Mage, and it is not possible without my hand at the rudder."
Spidrift comes back into view, and Astrea stiffly returns her attention to the road.

We follow it, eventually, to the great granite gates of Dorow Town. The guardsmen along the pallisades saw us a mile out, and a man with a partisan stands above us as we reach the heavy wooden entrance doors. "Halt, strangers," he calls. "Not another step. State your names, from whence you came, and what business you seek in Dorow's walls."

We are the three hedge mages Larry, Moe and Curly and we come to Dorow seeking knowledge. It's getting late so open the gates and let us in for a well earned rest.

Why not just use the fake identities that didn't quite work in the previous location we were at? That only happened because Astrea recognized us.

Also, Creator... I must express concern. You do not seem to be making any plans as for how to change Spidrift, only recognizing that you can. Is this because you do not realize how to go about it? Perhaps it is time to inform you that he is operating under a list of rules you gave him while mad.

He is disallowed to:
Engage in pleasures of the flesh
Cook any meat
Bathe in warm water
Show mercy not accorded by his master
Take herbs to soothe pain or ache

When we brought up the prospect of changing them or removing them, he seemed hesitant. As if he did not mind, or maybe even that he liked having these rules. If you bring it up with him, you should be careful. Also, I have just realized we just now got him to show mercy, which is not something consistent with the guidelines he was given.

The Revenant Mage 2013/04/29(Mon)01:35 No. 508124 ID: 8950d8
File 136722453851.png - (9.66KB , 800x600 , 36.png )

"Three Hedge Mages from afar, in the area to learn of the old conflicts of mages and learn from the local Preceptors," I call. "I am Jerruv, the Scarred Mage. This is Tom, my second, and this is, ah,"
"Astrea," calls Astrea. "What need have I for show and falsity?" she whispers. "I am just."
"Yes. Well. We have come to Dorow to rest and seek what knowledge we can. Will you open the gates for us?"

"Hold," calls the guard. He disappears from view.

>>507770
Interesting. I wasn't aware of these restrictions. You're right, of course. Repealing a few will do wonders for Spidrift's emotional health and self-sufficiency, one hopes. I make a mental note to find the time to speak with him about these stringent laws I made in my dark prehistory.

The doors rumble their way open. A mustachioed guardsman pokes his head out. "If you're a mage, you're a person of interest," he says. "And Captain Willas says all persons of interest are to report to him as soon as possible."

Ask if it's about the bandits on the road. You took out some of them on the way here.

Then we better go meet this Captain Willas fellow post haste! Tell the guard to lead the way.

Also you should tell Spidrift to grow a mustache. It might do wonders to his emotional health and quicken his recovery.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/08(Wed)14:56 No. 509274 ID: 400dc8
File 136805021120.png - (12.04KB , 800x600 , 37.png )

"Is this about the bandits on the road?" I ask. "Because Willas need not waste his sweat on us. My companions and I dispatched a few we found on the road the way here. Some fled, some dead." I wave the idea off. "They're nothing we need fear."

The guard harrumphs. "Then it's certain Willas has business with you, ser battlemage. Don't get too big for your britches and bring your spellcraft to bear in Dorow, mind. We keep the peace here."

Our fearless peacekeeper leads the way to Willas through winding, earthen streets and a town with considerably more permanence than the tiny village I encountered earlier. A great deal of the buildings are tall and stoneworked. It is no castle town, but the place is hardy enough.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/08(Wed)14:56 No. 509275 ID: 400dc8
File 136805021724.png - (10.16KB , 800x600 , 38.png )

We are ushered into a squat, ugly guardhouse. "The captain is on the second floor," my mustachioed guide tells me with no brusqueness spared. "Jump to, hedge wizards."

The stairs creak and give slightly beneath my feet. At their top stands a narrow hallway, a door, and an armored man. He wears a full greathelm and a thick, padded coat. His thick sleeves hang limp and billowing. I would sweat just at his sight, if I could produce sweat any more. The weather is chilly but certainly temperate enough to go without such gear head-to-foot.
"Mage," he says.
"Ser guard," I say.
"You were the one to kill them bandits, then," he says.
"That news certainly traveled fast," I say.
"Many things are more fleet of foot than Officer Guthrie, bless his soul," he says. "I am Calidore, the Thrillant Mage. I suspect we will spend some time together, being as they always make me watch the visitor mages. Willas is just inside. But tell me before you see him: do you mean to kill more bandits? Because if you do I shall need time to pack my things."
"Your things?"
"I told you; any Dorow business with mages, I trot along with them."

Hmm, bandit hunting will get you some good will here.... but do we need it?

>>509275
Maybe, if we can get some extra monetary reward or something? It wouldn't hurt to get some extra resources at our disposal. Our main purpose here is to get information though, let's not forget that.

You had not planned on it. You merely acted in self defense, and will do so again if necessary.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/10(Fri)17:21 No. 509774 ID: 400dc8
File 136823168006.png - (10.53KB , 800x600 , 39.png )

"I acted in self-defense," I explain. "Should my hand be forced I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, but I am not so sure I wish to be a hunter of men just yet."
"Well." Calidore puts a hand on his hip. "If you change your mind, you'll have my sword with you, as well as my eyes."
"You have my thanks," I say, reaching for the handshake.

"Ah-ah, ser mage. I think you will find I'm a little unarmed for sallies of that sort," laughs Calidore. He brushes his right sleeve, which I only now realize is empty, then extends his left hand instead. I quickly retract my outstretched arm and switch to his example.

"Jerruv," I say, trying my best to hide my discomfiture. "The, ah, the scarred mage.
"Scarred mage." Calidore nods. "I spose we've all been marked in one way or another. You'll be wanting to see the captain, then."
"Yes. Shall I see you later?"
"You don't have much of a choice," says Calidore. "Neither of us do. Be well, Jerruv."

"That was awkward," whispers Astrea as they enter the office.
"Hush," I say.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/10(Fri)17:25 No. 509775 ID: 400dc8
File 136823194528.png - (10.85KB , 800x600 , 40.png )

"Close the door behind you," Willas says, his voice sharp and nasal. "Right. You lot are the hedge mages, then."

"Correct," I say. "I am Jerruv, this is Astrea, and this is Thomas."

"And you're the ones who killed those bandits," says Willas. "I see. Well, you went and excited Calidore and now he's running about with ideas rattling around his pot helmet again."
"The man outside?"
"Aye." Willas puts down his quill. "Our only mage, he, and still a stripling, almost. Big lad, but if he has a beard he worked months to sprout it. He's been wanting to go hunt down them bandits for nearabouts a year, now, but of course we old regular folks lack that kind of deathwish. I suppose he's doing handstands out there at the thought of someone else going after them."

"I wouldn't want to disappoint him, but we didn't come here for bounty," I say. "We're here for knowledge about an infamous mage by the name of Ansirous."
"Ansirous, eh?" Willas sniffs. "Can't say I've heard of him, but if you have a chance at finding him it's in the archives below the Proper. Old Estus runs it. Good with names and dates and that. Now you won't cause him any hassle. He's too old to deal with hotblooded magi in their prime. I'm sending Calidore with you whether you go kill yourself some bandits or peruse the archives, but the boy's on the jumpy side himself, God knows, so don't you go overboard, you hear?"

"I do," I say. "Thank you, Willas."
"And if you do look to sell your sword, by the by, the bandits are the lesser of our worries," says Willas. "It's that thrice-damned Rootax at the crossroads, what plagues the king's roadss the most these days. But I suppose he's a big fish for three scholar-magi to fry. Bandits aren't known to eat manflesh."

Zaealix 2013/05/10(Fri)17:46 No. 509783 ID: 665445

Wait, manflesh? What is this Rootax being? A man? A monster?
Hey, I wonder if Astrea knows anything about this thing...

it probably won't like the smell of you at all if it eats manflesh, you'll be rotting. Our identity might be a dead giveaway if we try to tackle it with Calidore

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/10(Fri)18:26 No. 509786 ID: 400dc8
File 136823556164.png - (8.95KB , 800x600 , 41.png )

"Astrea? Do you know anything about this Rootax?"
"Rootax are cliff wyrms, I believe," says Astrea. "One of the smaller maneaters."
"Could the three of us handle such a beast?"
"I don't know." Astrea scratches her neck. "Perhaps. But surely a greatbeast this close to a settlement would warrant some sort of response from the Camarilla?"

"The Camarilla have too full a plate to unroost a Rootax for a bunch of peasants," says Willas. "They'd much rather use their court mages to entertain the king into giving them more gold or blast one another in the Provings. Useless ponces. And now with the war on in the west and all."
"But surely one coven would suffice," protests Astrea. "They could spare that."

"Aye? Well, they haven't," grunts Willas. "Now if you're finished here I have a great pile of chits to sign and a nap to take. Calidore will take you where you decide you need to go. He's in charge of the bounties too, by his own request, I might add, so take any of that up with him."

>>509786
Research Ansirous first. Other tasks can wait until after that.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/10(Fri)21:26 No. 509821 ID: 400dc8
File 136824639593.png - (45.38KB , 800x600 , 43.png )

I am here on a mission, and the mission will always come first.
I have Calidore lead us to the archive. He takes us to a narrow side door built into the impressive stone Proper, and down a flight of stairs in need of increased use, or perhaps just a dusting.
He ushers us to an old wooden door and raps twice on it with his good hand.
"Estus!" he calls. "Ho! Estus! Out-of-towners to see you!"
He knocks again for good measure.

"Lord above, boy, I'm lame, not deaf," an old, folded-up voice calls from inside. The door creaks open and the room's occupant creaks out. Estus is a hunched, stocky old man, leaning on a gnarled cane. "Who're these, then?"
"I am Jerruv, the Scarred Mage, and these are my companions," I say. "We have come to Dorow Town in search of knowledge and answers."
"Well isn't that something," says Estus. "Just once I'd fancy meeting a mage looking for a question or two."
"We seek information on a mage called Ansirous," I say.
"Ansirous. Ansirous." Estus tuts to himself. "Well, there've been a few Ansirouses in history. Ansiri, you could call them! Hnah! My little joke. Well, that's an old Giorazian Plains name, if I'm not mistaken. And if you've come for information on Giorazians, you could have done worse. Where we stand here used to be just outside the old metropolis, before the Revenant business. That was before even my time, of course. And all its records vanished with it. But Ansirous, eh? Ansirousousousous. Well, I suppose it can't hurt to look through the earliest things I have, even if I can't read them all. Follow me."

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/10(Fri)21:27 No. 509822 ID: 400dc8
File 136824644616.png - (24.50KB , 800x600 , 44.png )

Estus leads us to a sparse rack of scrolls near the back of the archive. As we pass the shelves of old farming records, trade ledgers, obituaries, and folk tale compendiums, no particular volume stands out to me as magically significant.

I am a little hungry.

"Here we are," says Estus. "Pre-Dorow records, as far back as I can take you. Now just who was this Ansirous?"
"A mage," I say. "A particularly powerful and dreadful one, as well, I believe."

"Magic. Hmmm. I'm sure I had the writings of some old magician or another around here somewhere. Calidore, come here."
"Why?"
"You're probably going to have to give me a boost."

Estus retrieves a stack of scrolls and I look through through them.

One appears to be a short peerage of the battlemages under the oath of Doge Someone-or-other. Useless.

Another is a blotted treatise on the origins of the Word of Power Acridum and the mage who discovered it. There's frustratingly little about what it actually does, but I make a note to perhaps test it in future.

It is the third scroll where I am given pause. This is a discourse on residual battlemagic, including discussions of the sites of famous mage duels. It mentions "thy byter fraye betwixte two magen, foese whom evene deathes inky cloake could not compose, and thyre rendynge asundere thatt famouse peake GERTSSBRUAM, a most bloudy battel".

"What do you suppose that means?" I ask, tapping the brittle parchment.
"No clue," says Estus.
"Nor I, milord," says Spidrift. "It's all just scrabblings, like a three-legged spider trying to run away across the sand!"
"Yes, well, that's writ in High Giorazi, that is," says Estus. "Seems all these old papers are. It's a dead language, went out with Giorazia for the most part. Reckon there's hardly anyone still alive who could read it."

>>509822
Well I can understand it quite well.

Translation

the bitter fray between two mages, foes whom even deaths inky cloak could not compose, and their rending asunder that famous peak GERTSSBRUAM, a most bloody battle.

Sounds like a couple liches fighting to me... perhaps this is the clue we've been looking for. Ask if they know of a place known as GERTSSBRUAM. Though the place may have been renamed if its destruction was thorough.

>>509822
"the bitter fray betwixt two mages, foes whom even death's inky cloak could not compose, and their rending asunder that famous peak GERTSSBRUAM, a most bloody battle"

Sounds like you and Ansirous fought on a peak named Gertsbraum or something similar, and busted up that mountain good. That's a good lead, now we just need to find out where the peak was. Ask about it.

I'm almost curious on what looking up your own name might bring up. And your lover's, perhaps. Documents may be here somewhere. If if we know most of what's necessary to know about you both, anecdotal things related might prove to be quite useful.

God, I hope Rebecca is a relatively uncommon name in this world.

We also might want to inquire more about Rootaxes, as we have heard there is one nearby. (Hopefully we can get some idea of if it is something we can beat, and also subtly find out if it is something we can 'eat'. Having those two problems take care of each other would be delightfully efficient.)

>>509829
Be sure to explain that you're a student of languages before revealing that you made sense of it.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/13(Mon)00:15 No. 510269 ID: 0eef61
File 136842935157.png - (10.53KB , 800x600 , 45.png )

"I am a student of many languages," I announce, "and I can read this rather well." I clear my nonexistent throat, for show. "The bitter fray betwixt two mages, foes whom even death's inky cloak could not compose, and their rending asunder that famous peak GERTSSBRUAM, a most bloody battle."

"Lord above," says Estus. "What, man, are you even older than I am?"
"No, but perhaps more well-traveled."
"Because when I was a boy, I tell you. They hadn't come up with dirt yet. We all just stood on sand."
I stand up. "Gertssbruam. Gertsbraum? Do such places ring bells?"

"Gertßraum," says Calidore, automatically. "The Gertßraum Range. That's across the Channel Parvyle."
"How do you know about Gertzsroms?" asks Spidrift.
"I was born around Gertßraum," says Calidore. "And, well, Gertsßraum peak's got that great big fissure in it, but of course no battle fought by mortals could make anything like that. I suppose that's some kind of folk tale about how it came to be. Hmm. Novel."

"Perhaps," I say. "How would I get there?"
"Well, you'd have to get to Parvyle Port and charter a ship, I spose," says Estus. "Cost you a great deal, I'd wager."
"We don't have a great deal," says Astrea.
"Maybe you could sell this one. He's bulky enough." Estus prods Spidrift with his stick.
"I am not a foodstuff or pack animal!" protests Spidrift. "Except for if you were a cannibal. Which would be reprehensible. Most certainly."
"Or your hat," says Estus. "That's a mighty tall hat."

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/13(Mon)00:15 No. 510270 ID: 0eef61
File 136842935997.png - (13.51KB , 800x600 , 46.png )

I page through a few more scrolls, looking for my name or Rebecca's.

I find no mention of any Ferrucio, living or dead.

Rebecca, to my shock, brings dividends.
This scroll tells me that there was a Giorazian sorceress named Rebecca who could charm the wild animals of the Pirinian Doge's menagerie until they bore her harmlessly upon her back. Whether she did it by charm or by spellcraft remains unknown, but whoever wrote this suggests Philen as a word of power she might have used.

I don't think he caught her likeness quite right.

Hrm! Famous girlfriend. Nice catch, Creator. I am... not sure what applications that word would have.

If we're going to need money, perhaps we should do some bounty hunting after all. Inquire as to what rewards there are.

I wonder could we could try charming the Rootax...
Probably too risky, safer to use words of power that we are certain will work.

And it's probably best we go after the bandits since well get a reward and they might have some valuables for us to blunder.

But its getting late and you should find some lodgings and have some dinner.

>>510270
i wonder if it would work on humans. we'll try it on Spidrift later.

oh god I think we just unlocked a game breaking spell

God, what if you mixed it with your spell voice magic that lets you speak?

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/14(Tue)22:41 No. 510900 ID: 0eef61
File 136859651841.png - (12.26KB , 800x600 , 47.png )

"Calidore, how much do those bounties provide?"

"There is a three-hundred lira bounty on the head of the bandit leader, with twenty lira for every lesser bandit you bring alive or dead," he says. "The Rootax bounty is up to 800 lira, now. I put 50 of that up myself."

"You have some grudge?"
"You could say that," says Calidore, brushing off his right sleeve.
I follow the motion. "Did it, ah, did you-"

Calidore nods. "Aye. The Rootax took two fingers from my right hand."

"But, ah, did, how did you, that is to say, lose the,"

"Oh, the rest? That was something else."

"I never agreed to hunt bounty with you," mutters Astrea.

"You may have no choice," I whisper. "How much money do we have to spend, Sp-Thomas?"
"Fifteen lira, milord!" Spidrift reports, cheerfully.
"And how much are lodgings?" I ask Calidore.
"A night at the Hardbranch would cost... four lira and a halfcoin for the three of you," says Calidore. "Of course, if you go after the bounties in the morning I'm sure Willas would find you lodging in the guardhouse. I could speak with him."

>>510900
If Astrea doesn't want to come, she doesn't have to.

>>510901
Yep.

you know, it occurs to me that she never stated precisely what she is traveling with us for, though now is not the time to discuss that with her.

>>510900
And chartering a ship would cost a great deal... what would we even have to sell? If Astrea wants to come with us to investigate this lead, she should help us with the bounties. Unless we can persuade her village to donate funds?

I just know we need money, and it has to come from somewhere. Bounty hunting is a clear method for us to get money. But, y'know, we did kill some bandits already. Do we get money for those?

>>510900
didn't we already kill a bunch of bandits? we should go back for their bodies or something

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/19(Sun)01:16 No. 511650 ID: 0eef61
File 136895141604.png - (10.36KB , 800x600 , 48.png )

"What if I have already killed a few bandits?" I ask.
"Do you have proof of their deaths?" asks Calidore. "Because that is what we'd require. Perhaps you should revisit the place where they fell and retrieve some."
"Like an ear?" asks Spidrift.
"That would, ah, that would suffice," replies Calidore, heading for the barracks. "I'll just go see to your lodgings, then. Will you be accompanying us, milady?"
"Of course," says Astrea, brightly.
"Of course?" I whisper.
"Shut up."

"I won't need any sort of bunk, Calidore," I say. "I prefer to sleep with a little more privacy."
"And I as well," says Spidrift, automatically. "I sleep privately with him."

Calidore is given pause.

"Right," he says. "Of course. One for the lady, then."

I give Spidrift a look as the young gallant makes his exit.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/19(Sun)01:17 No. 511651 ID: 0eef61
File 136895144019.png - (3.40KB , 800x600 , 49.png )

I firmly lock the door to my room and ensure the curtains are drawn before I make any attempt to disrobe.

I settle in the bed, drawing the covers around me. I'm satisfied. It was a productive day. I must simply focus on productive days, one at a time, and I will find redemption.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/19(Sun)01:17 No. 511652 ID: 0eef61
File 136895145123.png - (91.37KB , 800x600 , 50.png )

Ferrucio.

I feel a heat on the back of my neck.

Get out of bed, Ferrucio. We gotta talk. We have business to attend to.

Don't worry. I'm here to help.

>>511652
Uh, what? Who are you? A demon, perhaps?

Talk and I'll find out about that later. Don't waste time convincing us of your allegiance. Get to the point with your business and leave. No disrespect, but we'll be responsibly paranoid and nothing will change that, if you'll understand.

Is it a badger

>>511676

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/28(Tue)01:41 No. 513064 ID: 0eef61
File 136973051713.png - (86.05KB , 800x600 , 51.png )

"What are you?" I ask. "Are you a demon?"

A demon? Ferrucio, my friend, when His Stuffed Shirt Holiness wishes to grant you the radiance of his presence, he sends some underling to do his dirty work.

I am lifted gently from my bed. I stand on a path, now, the dirt and gravel coarse beneath my bare, rotting feet.

Me? I'm a little more hands-on. I have too much respect for your abilities to do that to you.

Something softly, rhythmically taps the back of my head.
A dead, mottled corpse sways limply in the breeze behind me. Its hair is long and lanky. Its tongue is swollen and black.
More hanged men dot the road toward a figure in tattered black, leaning on a long walking stick.

Now I ain't here to steal your soul, Ferrucio, and I ain't here to tempt you down the primrose path. I am a dishonest one, Ferrucio. Lord knows. Yes he does. But I've no other choice: I'm here to help you.

The figure beckons me forward.

You're fighting a threat to all creation. Big and small. Living and dead. Good and, well. The other one. Way I see it, anyone who has the ability has the duty to pitch in.

Why don't you come on a little closer, Ferrucio?

This apparition vision thing is a bit tacky. Could it have less hanging men and more, well, professional business talk on a table or something? Or is he just having his fun?

Ok, THAT'S DISTURBING! Please ask him what in the world is worth good and evil teaming up?
I rather don't like the sound of whatever's going on here.
You have our attention, now let's not burn your bridge, mister liar.

>>513064
I think that hanged corpse in front of you is likely to come alive and take a swipe at you as you pass to get closer to the devil himself. That's the sort of prank I expect.

But approach anyway.

As if he's say "Hello I am here to tempt you" if he was.
Anyway, ask what exactly is the nature of this threat that has the devil of all people worried. (Also, it occurs to me to wonder what this evil superwizard has been spending all his time doing while we were busy being crazy.)

"I can talk and listen just fine from here, thanks."

Possibly the corpses are there in an attempt to intimidate you.

Like that would work.

>>513122
This. Tell him if he wants to help, he can start by telling us what exactly we're fighting. We'll have to be sure not to believe everything he says, though.

Man you guys, chill out. The evil one does not need to resort to petty trickery to achieve his ends. Indeed, simply lying to his would-be victims would often completely fail to achieve those ends. He seeks to guide souls WILLINGLY down the path to his door.

Be wary as prudence dictates, but assume that what he tells you is in at least the general shape of truth. Do not assume that the options he suggests to act upon that truth are the only ones available.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)00:18 No. 513285 ID: 0eef61
File 136981191688.png - (47.16KB , 800x600 , 52.png )

"If you want to help me," I approach him, creeping gingerly around his hanging corpses. "Then tell me what I am fighting. Tell me what makes the Devil work with the Divine."

The greatest thing a man can become before he becomes a god, Ferrucio. The most powerful mage the world has ever seen. Ansirous is the logical end of the Lord's little experiment, Ferrucio. The conclusion. The dot on the i. And the Lord, in all His wisdom, has charged you with stopping it. I suppose He's too busy restringing his harp.

But He knows everything, and He knows you can't do it alone. You're already accruing a little list of lapdogs for yourself. That's good. That's very good. You'll need them. But God isn't going to give you direct aid. He's not going to point you the way. He's not going to catch you when you fall.

There is no face. Not really. Flakes of dried blood drift and spin from where it should be.

He expects me to do all that, I suppose.

I am here to offer you a companion, Ferrucio, if you'll take it. Satan's little helper.

He must understand that you require a token of trust. Something to incontrovertibly ensure that this is not elaborate sabotage.

>>513285
"The Lord has offered me redemption should I not stray from the path. Will this helper be obedient? Will taking him endanger others? Will he listen to me, before you? Will I stay the course, if I take him?"

if he wanted you dead, you would of been dead a while ago. no, i think you can trust him.

>>513290
He is the personification of Dishonesty
WE CANNOT TRUST HIM
even if he is on our side

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)01:09 No. 513293 ID: 0eef61
File 136981499081.png - (54.95KB , 800x600 , 53.png )

"You are the personification of dishonesty," I say. "If I am to trust you, I need incontrovertible assurance you can be trusted. Will your helper be obedient? Will he endanger others? Will he heed my call before he heeds yours? Will he stay the course?"

My assurance, such as it is, is yours. As is she.

A creature of liquid, sinuous grace steps from the darkness of the Great Adversary's robe.

She is coated in downy, dark fur. It ruffles gently in the breeze. She moves with the assured, molten step of a panther. Her hips sway with a feral, unabashedly lubricous gait, like a cold, black tide.
She looks at me with pale, lidded eyes that sparkle with a foreboding luster.
Parts of me that I thought long since rotted away thrum and course with the tread of her slick hooves.
She has hooves. Fur. A narrow snout. I should not feel this way.
It is an untenable feeling of unregenerate want. Were I weaker, younger, more flesh than I am, it would threaten to overpower me.

It does not.
I think of Rebecca. I think of my soul. The tumescent, lizard coils of my brain reorder themselves.

Command her to be silent, and you will never hear a word from her. Command her to hide herself from your presence, and you will never lay eyes upon her. Command her to kill, and she will kill on the instant. Your word is sacrosanct, synonymous with her will. Call her... a gift. A familiar. Or Layla, if you would give her a name. She is a mage of no small power, a tool to surmount the obstacles that lie thick and fast in your way. And she is yours. In power, in mind, and in body.

Command her to stop with the weird succubus rays. We'll have to bat off Spidrift and numerous other men, possibly even an army over her. Spidrift has good resistance but if it's quaking old rotten bones than there's no fucking chance he can hold back.

Personally I find this suspect. I think we can have victory without resorting to this...though it might be more difficult...

It might be considered immoral just to have such a creature, to dominate the will of a sapient creature. Practically mind control. Can we really condone such action?

>>513295
We could work to redeem her just as we must with Spidrift. Perhaps redeeming others shall be the road to our own redemption. Certainly, she already exists, and from a moral perspective we would be better company for her than the alternative.

>>513296
But Can we redeem ourselves from engaging in MIND CONTROL. Redemption means nothing if she isn't in control of her actions. As a succubus we cannot trust her if she is in control of her actions leading to the moral quandary of how we can have her as a companion without Some sort of evil taking place. Either by our hands or by hers.

IS IT mind control or perfect obedience?

The more the merrier.
Although this is certainly a trap of some kind. Hopefully it's merely an attempt to sway you from your path, I'm sure we can handle that.

>>513300
is there a difference?
Look, the big evil dude even said and I quote,
"Your word is sacrosanct, synonymous with her will"
If it's 'perfect obedience' and she still has some manner of choice, we cannot trust her to always obey us. She might even pervert our orders.

We cannot afford to take on this companion if we are to have a moral victory.

>>513304
And to anyone who says 'Oh just tell her not to pervert our orders' or some variation on that

Restricting her action is inherently immoral as it is furthering the effects of mind control.

Remember she is not following us out of loyalty like Spidrift
She is either bound to our will, in which case accepting that binding and utilizing it are both immoral and evil acts

OR she is Obeying her master, The Lord Of All Evil. In which case her obedience is unreliable and she will likely be a corrupting influence on our party.

In both cases, accepting her assistance would be in itself an immoral act.

>>513293
Uh, having a succubus on our side seems like it might ruffle a few feathers. I mean, how do we go around claiming to be a normal person if there's a hellspawn following us around at our beck and call?

Does he have any ways to assist us that won't scream "I'm working with the Devil"?

Hrmmm...
So. The guiding hand of good, versus the empowering aid of evil.
I... Suspect the idea is this: take the path of good, and know the thing to do. Take the path of evil, and nothing can stand in your way. But if we profess to be good, and yet still use this demon, or whatever she is... Yea, that would be a problem.

>>513293
at what price?

as long as there is no cost or strings attached, very well.
first order of business: never attack me, be hostile to me, offend me, deceive me, tempt me, flirt with me, arouse me, try to stray me from the path of good - the path of redemption, or from Rebecca. all of that (except for that last one) goes for any companions i have now or will acquire along the way.
you will not try to peruse any of satan's agendas without my explicit consent and knowledge of their full extent and nature. you will hold no alliances other then to me, you will not knowingly advance any agendas other than ones i will consent to
and know fully about, you will not deliberately hide information that i will find even the least bit interesting from me.
and lastly, you will warn me whenever you or Satan's interests, agendas, plots, ploys, desires, endeavors, attempts, pursuits, ventures, or intents will conflict with my own.


secondly, more than power and companions we require information.

>>513323
That won't work. The nature of this succubus means we cannot trust her actions without subverting her will.

This is an obvious trap don't fall for it.

Also, if he can offer nothing stronger than his word, then regardless of the morality of accepting this servant we cannot do so. His assurance, such as it is, is worthless. Politely turn down the offer.

>>513331
i'm not sure. if she has her own will, but still follows orders perfectly, we can prevent her from backstabbing through a Code she'll follow and deal with the rest as it comes. if she doesn't have a will of her own, can she even be considered sapient?

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)15:32 No. 513439 ID: 0eef61
File 136986673423.png - (84.34KB , 800x600 , 55.png )

"If I am to take you," I say, "how would I justify a hellspawn following me?"

She can take care of herself. Can't you, Layla?

"Yes, Revenant," she says. Her voice is long nails scratching silk. "I can will myself into cloaked invisibility upon command. Until you have need of my skills, I am air."

"And will you cease with your succubus aura?"

"My what now?"

"I cannot spend all my time beating my male adherents off you with a stick."

"Oh." She laughs, low and syrupy, and raises one eyebrow. "I'm not a succubus, Revenant. A succubus would be useless to you. I am a warmage." She grabs her chest. I look away. "And there isn't really a way to shut off the Twins. I'm, uh, glad you approve, though. I... could throw on a sweater? Or a habit?"

"I cannot condone a servant with no will of her own," I say, attempting to change the subject of conversation.

"My will is to save creation, kill the mage Ansirous, and earn glory, astonishing bragging rights, and a place of power in the kingdom of Hell," says Layla. "My Lord the Southern Dragon and Great Foe tells me the only way to do that is to serve you. Your will, therefore, is mine."
"You are a demon."
"And you're a Revenant," she laughs. "My place is to punish souls. Yours is to destroy them. In the eyes of God, you are ten times more wicked, and ten times again. What does it matter, what we are? What matters is what we do. And I will do," she says, her marshfire eyes narrowing, "whatever you would have me do."

>>513439
In total fairness, we are a pretty motley crew here. I think a Demon Mage is not going to be too out of place with a Revenant Mage and a Butcher Mage.

>>513439
she has will of her own and she doesn't want or need redemption. there is hope here, as long as we can mitigate her influence on our own redemption.

make sure we can dismiss her at will, make a bunch of rules for her to follow to cover our ass then accept her. if she ever does damage we'll toss her back here and we can probably handle whatever it will be. if possible, ask that if we decide she did us harm that she will be punished when she returns - as extra incentive.
right now the worst she could do is interfere with our companions - Spidrift's redemption and getting Astrea to trust us. we will need to include something about that in the rules.
>>513323 would make a good start, but it's far from complete.

>>513440
Yeah, true.

Also, she has to teach us her own Words, right? So there's that. Besides, we can redeem her, too.

I don't like this....Everything about this encounter screams Trap...

I have a feeling we can be victorious through our own merits rather than relying on the power of a servant of hell.

>>513439
Uh, okay then. She is just unnaturally attractive because she's a demon, probably. Or perhaps the curves below the neck and above the knees are close enough to human for your instinctual libido, Creator? What distresses the mind may not worry the body. It is irrelevant, whatever the case may be.

She should know that we plan to be a goody-goody two shoes. She should behave herself if she wants to stay in our good graces. That also means no tempting mortals down the path of evil, not that she is likely to be able to while invisible almost all the time.

Aside from that, yes. We need the help, and with motives like that we can trust her to ensure Ansirous dies. I'm not concerned with her backstabbing us after the fight, as long as Ansirous dies.

>>513447
first rule of opportunism. even if it is a trap, we should use it to our advantage.

>>513445
remember, she has will of her own. She does not necessarily NEED to follow our orders, she chooses to so that she can prevent her own destruction, as well as Gain glory and power. Her intentions seem to run parallel with ours for now, but there is no way to be sure they will in the future, especially after Ansirous is defeated. And I say defeated not killed. While it is unlikely we can defeat Ansirous without killing him, I would at least like to keep the nonlethal option open. This companion has deliberately stated a will to kill Ansirous. Accepting her will make it more difficult for such an outcome to be possible.

Why do we need to take her along with us anyways? Could we not just have her as support for the final battle? We would not have to worry about her influence then. She is already a powerhouse, I doubt we will be able to improve on her abilities much.

If this devil guy really wants to help us now, ask him to give us some words of power rather than send along a companion who we cannot trust.

>>513450
>at least like to keep the nonlethal option open
What Ansirous does is MORE EVIL THAN EATING SOULS.

Why would you not want to kill that.

>>513452
What is a greater symbol of good than showing mercy even to the greatest of your enemies.

What could be more redeeming?

If it was possible to ensure that Ansirous was no longer a threat without killing him, It would be the most noble of acts. He may be a being of pure evil now, but recall, so were we. We were given a second chance. Is he no more deserving than us?

>>513450
that's not what it says on the label.
"Your word is sacrosanct, synonymous with her will." if she could pick and choose orders than she is no good to us at all, but i don't think that is the case.

>>513459
It's not that she can pick or choose which of our orders to follow. It's just that she can still act on her own, and she is not loyal to us. we merely share a cause. She has several other motivations that may come into conflict with our own. She may become a corrupting influence on us and those around us.

Even if these negatives CAN be mitigated, why take the risk. There is simply no point in her accompanying us. Her power will be best used and least risky in the final conflict, not against the standard threats of the world.

>>513467
If we just asked for words of power we could gain more versatility without so much risk.

Sounds like she will be accompanying us... I reccomend we explain her presence to the other two mages in our group as soon as we can do so safely. This way, we'll be able to watch each other's backs, as it were. Due to our position as leader, by Spindrift's loyalty and Astrea's...Resignment to her fate, corruption on us may end up corrupting our quest.
I'd like to turn her down, or at least have her work seperated from us, somehow, perhaps by spying on Ansirous and his movements/ spell effects, learning his words of power, and what not. A Mage with her eyes on a palace in hell could be far worse for our PR then Spindrift ever could be.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)23:15 No. 513537 ID: 0eef61
File 136989453851.png - (58.68KB , 800x600 , 56.png )

"There shall be rules," I say. "I will think of them, and they will be most restrictive."

"Does this mean you accept me, Revenant?"
"It does," I say. "With great, wide swathes of caveats and regulations. But it does."

She breaks out into a jagged, flashing grin. A thin tail rises from behind her and swims through the air. "Whatever you think is best, Rev."

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)23:16 No. 513538 ID: 0eef61
File 136989456174.png - (68.36KB , 800x600 , 57.png )

Look at this. So many new friends made in one evening.

The pale pilgrim steps between us.

It warms my heart to see it, Ferrucio. Layla is fresh, and she is untested, but I see already that the two of you will be an excellent fit. Take her and use her however you would use her. We're all counting on you, you know. Our lives are in your hands. If you should fail, Ansirous will grow and swallow the sky and remake the Earth concomitant to his unspeakable soul

So let's not let that happen, hmm?

You're gonna take care of him. And if you don't, and you fail, then in the twilight of the world, before he drags us all into oblivion,

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)23:16 No. 513539 ID: 0eef61
File 136989457527.png - (98.44KB , 800x600 , 58.png )

I

will take care

of you.

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/29(Wed)23:16 No. 513540 ID: 0eef61
File 136989459388.png - (5.21KB , 800x600 , 59.png )

I awaken.

My shredded lungs are a billows with my labored breath. My ruined heart flutters and thumps.

If I fail, I shall deserve it.

>>513540
Where God uses a carrot, the Devil uses the stick.

Layla is probably here already. One simple guideline is "Don't do anything evil." She likely has a better understanding of evil than us, considering she punishes evil souls.

>>513540
if she is here already you need to set the rules BEFORE you sleep or you risk her doing evil stuff during the night. up creator, there is work to be done.

Suggestion 2013/05/30(Thu)10:15 No. 513558 ID: 1cf691
File 136993410997.jpg - (75.55KB , 500x500 , She_rules_you.jpg )

Tell Layla to show herself, it is time to lay down the law!

The Revenant Mage 2013/05/30(Thu)19:47 No. 513588 ID: 0eef61
File 136996843033.png - (6.74KB , 800x600 , 60.png )

"Layla?"

It is dark and silent in the room. I sit up and crane my neck. Perhaps she is invisible.

"Layla?"
My voice is breathless and flat, absorbed quickly by the enfolding bedclothes.

Above me, Spidrift snores and turns over.

Was it a dream? It could not have been.

End of Part 2 The Revenant Mage 2013/05/30(Thu)19:47 No. 513589 ID: 0eef61
File 136996843592.png - (215.28KB , 800x600 , 61.png )

A dream could not give me this leaden feeling in the pit of my stomach.