[Display current number of AI and real players] [Check pawn status] (Just to make sure everyone is okay.)

Jer, quietly gather your gear and get dressed in the hall so you don't wake Eliraz. We'll message Pink to tell Artemis to meet you at the crypt entrance. [Message to Pink: Jer will be heading down to the crypt shortly. Please have Artemis wait at the crypt entrance for him.]

Before leaving the palace see if you can speak with the sultan; Most everyone is asleep right now, so she's probably available. She's been oddly absent this last day and I'd like to ask why, among other things.

Bob, a new god-player showing up could be a grave danger to this world, because unlike us they have a body out there. From out there they could end this world with a push of a button if they so wished and there's nothing we could do to stop them. Needless to say, it's imperative we get every bit of intel on this god-player we possibly can.

I'd hazard a guess that The King Clad in Gold (who I'll refer to as the "King in Gold" from now on for brevity's sake) has taken such a bold move to try and get the new god-player on the King in Gold's side in this fight. Does that sound likely, Bob?

I also speculate that the daemons' ability to see possible futures failed here because we and this new god-player operate on variables outside this world; Variables the daemons can't see. This means that predictions involving us players would, at best, be limited in scope and accuracy.

Kaktus 2014/05/12(Mon)14:01 No. 574141 ID: 65a774
File 139992847493.png - (19.33KB , 900x450 , 54.png )

>[Display current number of AI and real players]
[There are currently 346 AI players active! There is currently one Player playing the game: Player Teal. There is currently one Player in the lobby!]
>[Check pawn status]
[“The pebble”: Annoyed. “The Thief”: Sleeping, Satisfied, sore. “The acolyte”: Sleeping, Satisfied, sore. “The scholar”: Sleeping, Satisfied. “The Heir of Savagery”: Sleeping. “The Shaman”: Sleeping. The Avenger: Sleeping, Satisfied, sore.]
>[Message to Pink: Jer will be heading down to the crypt shortly. Please have Artemis wait at the crypt entrance for him.]
[Message sent!]

>Is he talking about Ragnar?
Who? Oh, you mean the berserker that Steve is dealing with? No, not him.
>Bob, you lied to us about that grapes and bread metaphor and we want an explanation.
Indeed I did. I deemed it necessary that you… trusted me a bit more back then.
Lying isn’t really good for gaining trust, you know.
You already know that the other ones are worse than us. We don’t need more of your trust.
>If you can feel all possible paths there is in existence, how can you feel one that isn't supposed to be at all?
That is a conundrum, isn’t it? Oh, and we don’t feel, we live. I’m experiencing everything at once in a sense. In a way, I’m talking to you several times at the same time.
>I'd hazard a guess that The King Clad in Gold has taken such a bold move to try and get the new god-player on the King in Gold's side in this fight.
That’s is one possibility, yes. That’s why you need to get to this player first.
>I also speculate that the daemons' ability to see possible futures failed here because we and this new god-player operate on variables outside this world; Variables the daemons can't see.
Yes and no… you are, while the most influential aspect of this world, still part of the other time lines. This isn’t the first time you’ve been the Prince of the Serath’s, so to speak. But… this new player…
>Now, if you were going to be purposely vague about this dubious decision and its effects, this personal visit would be pointless and borderline insane.
As fun as seeing you confused is, my vagueness at the moment is because I’m lacking the necessary information. All I can say is things… are different from what they used to be. In fact… I’m… hmm… I’m here to… I hate to tell something like this to an inferior creature like yourself but… I’m feeling something akin of what your kind call fear… and I need make sure you start to follow a more familiar path before we’re left completely in the dark. It just felt… more… comfortable? Hmm… it felt better making sure you got the message personally…

>Before leaving the palace see if you can speak with the sultan; Most everyone is asleep right now, so she's probably available.
(But where are I suppose to find her? Oh, hey, a letter! “Jer, your squid friends really wanted to try out some things with the magic dagger so I left it here for you. Oh, and I was able to order those golem around in the crypt like you said, but there are some traps down there we’ve yet been able to progress trough. Love- your sister in law- Elizah.”)
What is… what is that knife!?
Huh? What do you mean?
It’s all… wrong! It’s not supposed to be here! WHAT IS IT!? PUT IT AWAY! NOW!!! …P-please…
*Grumble* But mother… I don’t want to go to school today… I want to stay home and bake cookies with you! *Snore*

Insert What is this feeling you call love? It burns us!_

>>574141
What? Bullshit, if we didn't have that knife, both Jericho and Eliraz would have been killed by Grey. We are supposed to have it.

Tell him he'll have to tell us what will happen if we win. The Dark One thinks we won't like it. Why is that, hmm?

That is a knife that kills wraiths. Part of me wants to re-name it "insurance", but you already appear to have fallen off your high horse.

Do you have any advice for contacting this player-god or crypt raiding going forward?

Also, that prophesy with the arrogant prince, would you care to elaborate on that? Is it possible it refers to Eliros?

Are you alright Bob? There is no need to feel such fear, we wouldn't use it deliberately on you.

Though now we can see this is obviously not something that was in your life-times.

Oh, ask if he knows why Magus doesn't have any future sight past tomorrow.

Jer, put the dagger away before Bob has a panic attack. Bob, I see some strange shadows forming behind and above you. Is that your doing? If it is, please stop; It won't help things here.

Now, tell us as best you can just what is wrong with Elizah's dagger. You saw us use it to take down Gray, so it's not the dagger itself, is it? It's that it's here when all the future time-lines you're in it isn't, right? Did all those time-lines shift to include it once you saw it or are they as before?

Let's do a test to determine if your extra-temporal observation is totally inaccurate even in the short term. Jer, take three coins and toss them in the air. Bob, call which sides should land up.

Until we figure out what is causing this and fix it you're going to have to come to grips with the fact that you can't trust what you see in other time-lines is what is going to happen or has happened and adapt to it.

Have you spoken with the other daemons on your side and determined if they all have the same problem as you? Is there any indication that the daemons with the King In Gold's have it as well? 'Cause if they don't then things just got a hell of a lot harder for us.

>But where are I suppose to find her?
Ask the night shift guard captain where the sultan usually is at this time. He ought to know since it's the guards' job to protect her.

Kaktus 2014/05/13(Tue)07:07 No. 574226 ID: 65a774
File 139999006849.png - (14.82KB , 900x450 , 55.png )

>Jer, put the dagger away before Bob has a panic attack. Bob, I see some strange shadows forming behind and above you. Is that your doing?
That blade is freaking me out, alright?
>What? Bullshit, if we didn't have that knife, both Jericho and Eliraz would have been killed by Grey.
…no, you killed grey with a magical icicle while your prince distracted her, right?
“My Prince” cleaved her skull with this dagger.
Then it’s worse than I thought. Hmm… Heads, tail and side…
Huh?
You’ll see.
>Now, tell us as best you can just what is wrong with Elizah's dagger.
Hmm… it’s… not… right. It’s not supposed to exist… it’s not… it’s like… hmm… the world is a board game, with us as it’s pieces… you’re pawns, we’re queens… but that blade… it’s… like someone picked up a saw from outside the chess game and starting to saw the board in half.
>Tell him he'll have to tell us what will happen if we win. The Dark One thinks we won't like it.
Our world will be sealed from yours. We’ll go back to our normal lives, creating culture and the fine arts… while your kind does… whatever your kind does? Frolicking in the grass, dying for your pointless beliefs or go around suffering or something. Either way, we’ll be happy and well fed on our side while you’ll live your lives without our intervention. Both sides win.
>Let's do a test to determine if your extra-temporal observation is totally inaccurate even in the short term. Jer, take three coins and toss them in the air.
Call!
Already did.
…heads, tail and… did that coin land on the side?
>Have you spoken with the other daemons on your side and determined if they all have the same problem as you?
Yes, those I’ve spoken to so far. We’ll have a proper meeting soon… hmm… never thought we actually needed to have a meeting…

>Oh, ask if he knows why Magus doesn't have any future sight past tomorrow.
He will die. His mind has been in this world for too long, so when his link to this world is severed he will die… or his mind will die. His body will be… reborn, so to speak.
Are you sure he’ll die!?
Yes… at least I hope so. The other fate that can befall him is to horrid to even consider.
>Also, that prophesy with the arrogant prince, would you care to elaborate on that?
It came to past a moment ago, didn’t it?
…I was the savage Tribal?
You were rather savage when you had the argument, no? With all that screaming and cussing…
DID YOU SPY ON US!?
Of course not, I simple came to talk to you but you were busy… don’t worry, I left as soon as you started plunging your spear into your poor prince. I have to admit, the way you manage to turn that argument into role-play was rather… fascinating.
*Ugh* Why did you even write that?
Your prince was a bit of a dodo head so I simply messed with him a bit.
…dodo head? Did you really say-
>Do you have any advice for contacting this player-god or crypt raiding going forward?
You’ll be on the other side of the great sea soon enough. As for the crypt… there is death down there… now, I really need to get going… I’m starting to get hungry… Goodbye, Jericho.

>Ask the night shift guard captain where the sultan usually is at this time. He ought to know since it's the guards' job to protect her.

Hmm? Jericho? What are you doing here?
I wanted to talk to you… err… ma’am…
Really? Well, what is on your mind, son?
First off, we’re have you been all day?
…hmm… can I trust you?
Err… I th-
Not you, your voices. I know that they have a tendency to rattle away people secrets so… I don’t know if I can trust you with that information.

Insert Insert Insert Insert Insert_

Well, considering that one moron or douchebag out of all of us could divulge that information to whoever it felt like and the others would have no way of stopping him, no, probably not if it's especially important.

It is the issue of us being the voice of many, one voice can speak and yell the rest.

We can simply port ourselves to another person however if need be so we don't hear.

>>574233
That depends on Jericho being able to keep secrets from us if someone asks him. Given that we live in his head, that's not certain.

If we're asked to keep a secret, or it's blatantly obvious it's something we should keep secret, we'll almost certainly keep it secret. It's the other times we have a bit of a tin ear for what to keep our mouths shut about. So if Leanah tells to keep a secret, we'll near certainly keep it. But if she doesn't trust us she could write it down for you to read when we're not around.

Leanah probably already knows this, but tell her that Mor'Kay is Red's pawn, and ask if they agreed to Mor'Kay's demand to visit the crypt; It wasn't clear from what Eliraz said if they did or not. Oh, and ask her about Elizah's dagger and where it came from.

[Scan Sultan Leanah] I wonder if she's still a pawn.

Jer, you had an argument with Eliraz? What was it over?

>>574226
Shit, if the Magus dies and a new demon is born in his place, that new demon might not be friendly anymore!

We should prepare for that eventuality. Somehow. Um. Also we should probably tell Magus.

Kaktus 2014/05/13(Tue)12:46 No. 574259 ID: 65a774
File 140001041073.png - (15.34KB , 900x450 , 56.png )

>[Scan Sultan Leanah]
[“The lord of the wastes” are currently unclaimed! Warning! This pawn will fight back!]

>Jer, you had an argument with Eliraz? What was it over?
(Him being a bit of a bigot… of course, he does have a point. The tribes aren’t really helping their case by how they act, are they?)
>It is the issue of us being the voice of many, one voice can speak and yell the rest.
(That’s the problem when everyone has power, eh? There’s always some idiot ruining things for the rest of us.)
>We can simply port ourselves to another person however if need be so we don't hear.
(Well, If the secret is important, sure…)
>That depends on Jericho being able to keep secrets from us if someone asks him. Given that we live in his head, that's not certain.
(I’m pretty sure I can keep secrets from you. In fact, I’m going to keep what I did tonight a secret from you forever and I hope you respect that.)

>If we're asked to keep a secret, or it's blatantly obvious it's something we should keep secret, we'll almost certainly keep it secret.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Some say you should trust them, others say that there might be one or two of them that will leak it. Your call.
…well, it’s not really something you need to stay awake at night about… just don’t tell my daughter about it… not just yet. I spent most of the day reading a book I’ve been meant to finish.
Err… Aren’t there like a… crises or something about to happen?
I’ll have you know, for the last few years I’ve slowly been giving my duties over to Elizah, to prepare her for taking the throne. Two months ago I gave her the last of my duties, at least, those that aren’t about looking like a sultan and shaking hands.
So you wanted her to deal with everything alone, to make sure she’s ready?
Indeed, but… well, I didn’t believe there would have been an undead army involved. I just thought we had a bit of a health problem and a small band of tribals coming. If I had known it would be this bad I might have stayed and helped her more. Either way, when this is all over, I’m planning on starting the preparations to step down as Sultan and let Elizah inherit the throne herself.
>Leanah probably already knows this, but tell her that Mor'Kay is Red's pawn.
Yes, I know he’s back. I just hope it doesn’t turn out like last time.
>Ask if they agreed to Mor'Kay's demand to visit the crypt.
That’s is in Elizah hands right now… and if I know her, she will let here come. Alone and heavily guarded, of course.
>Ask her about Elizah's dagger and where it came from.
Hmm? That dagger? Let’s see… oh, right, honeybun dug that up, didn’t he? If I remember correctly, my husband found that when he was spelunking in some ruin down south in the marches… I believe he found it floating in midair, surrounded by strange symbols that disappeared when he touched it. After we determined to be harmless it was given to Elizah as a souvenir of his travels… and yes, we’ve had several different scholar try to determine what was up with the symbols, but the only thing we could find was that it was lightly anti magical. Now, any more questions?

Insert Because Floating in mid-air is a really mundane attribute_

Oh crap, the dagger is an OOPArt. We have no comprehension of what it does, so we literally use it by poking things with it. Like using a mortar shell as a club; works fine for beating on things, but hit the wrong part once and it'll run the day of you any everyone nearby.

That dagger managed to scare the fear into the literal Daemon of Fear to the point where he was unable to function at its sight.

Needless to say it's origin is something that the Daemons didn't even expect.

>>574259
I wasn't aware you guys had fireworks. Seems like an odd time to celebrate, though...

The dagger basically doesn't belong in reality. It can destroy more or less anything, and scares the Daemon of Fear pretty damn badly.

Say that times are soon going to get far more "interesting" than any of us could have imagined. Something that hasn't happened since before the Dark Age is about to happen, and nobody, not even the daemons with their view of the futures, saw it coming: A new god is about to enter this world. The implications of this are, to put it mildly, fuckin' huge; Not the least of which is that it means the gods aren't dead!

Tell Leanah that I'd be mighty surprised if her daughter hasn't figured out by now what she's doing; Elizah's a smart and clever lady, after all. And even if she hadn't caught on, after we told her she's going to be sultan in nine months she's almost certainly put two and two together by now.

Ask Leanah if she knows what the source of old Red's insanity was and in what way it changed him. I suspect he was exposed to daemonic corruption, either from a wraith infection or other source, and that Gray was effect to a lesser degree from the same source.

Now lets get down to the crypt. We got a vault to reach before daybreak.

Kaktus 2014/05/14(Wed)08:39 No. 574358 ID: 65a774
File 140008197994.png - (16.83KB , 900x450 , 57.png )

>Oh crap, the dagger is an OOPArt.
It’s art? Who’s Op?
I think they mean the daggers doesn’t belong where we found it… but, while I admit it is strange, the design of the dagger and all the markings on it fit with the rest of the artifact we have found in the ruins around here.
>That dagger managed to scare the fear into the literal Daemon of Fear to the point where he was unable to function at its sight.
That means we have a weapon against them, don’t we? A bargain chip. Suddenly we aren’t as powerless as before. You should keep it; you’re probably the one most likely to have a pawn run into a daemon.
>Needless to say it's origin is something that the Daemons didn't even expect.
Hmm…
>The dagger basically doesn't belong in reality.
That is a possibility, yes… but if it is from… wherever it is from, why do it look like an ancient dagger? Ilbir has showed me paintings and descriptions of artifacts that the god brought from the heavens and they don’t look like a normal, if a bit regal, dagger. They are generally all about ever burning flames, spikes, more jewels then metal and all that kind of stuff… and they are generally too big for a normal person to ever dream of wielding, for some reason… I mean, Ilbir showed me a picture of some shoulder pads that where bigger than the wearers head! How do you wear something like that!?

>I wasn't aware you guys had fireworks. Seems like an odd time to celebrate, though...
Didn’t you know!? Elizah made a festival for everyone so she should easily evacuate the lower city. It seems like the fools guild find some fireworks left over…
Aren’t you going down there to join them?
No, it’s too… crude. It’s a party for the common people, not royalty and nobles.
>Tell Leanah that I'd be mighty surprised if her daughter hasn't figured out by now what she's doing; Elizah's a smart and clever lady, after all.
…maybe you’re right…
>Ask Leanah if she knows what the source of old Red's insanity was and in what way it changed him.
Didn’t we already… hmm… or was that someone else? Either way, I’m pretty sure it was the corrupting influence of a daemon that did it… just like what happened to gray.
>Say that times are soon going to get far more "interesting" than any of us could have imagined. Something that hasn't happened since before the Dark Age is about to happen, and nobody, not even the daemons with their view of the futures, saw it coming: A new god is about to enter this world.
…a god? ...that’s some… interesting news, alright. Now, the real question is, why? What does this new god want? Who is this new god? Hmm…
Well, Bob did say the voices are going to meet it soon, so we’ll just have to wait. Now, Leanah, thank you for your time but I need to get going.
No need to thank me, Jericho, you can come talk to me whenever you wish. We’re family, after all.

>Now lets get down to the crypt. We got a vault to reach before daybreak.
I’m sorry, my lord, but only people who’s been approved by the royal family can enter.
Well, I do have these papers with the prince’s signature…
Hmm… and there’s the seal. Very well, my lord, you’re clear to enter… oh, greetings, lord Jericho... and… err… golem…
I’m Artemis! Not Golem! ARTEMIS!!
Err… lord Jericho!? What are you doing here this late!?

Insert Going Spelunking for an big golden Idol with only a whip, my wits, four bombs and four ropes_

>>574358
It's not from heaven. The analogy the Daemon used was that if the world including the heavens was a chessboard with Daemons and mortals as pieces, the dagger is a saw someone is sawing the board in half with.

>Err… lord Jericho!? What are you doing here this late!?
"Same reason you are"

>>574358
Mummies don't sleep. Well, Ilbir, want to see what's past those guardian golems down there? Maybe get to see a Word of the world?

Kaktus 2014/05/14(Wed)10:47 No. 574368 ID: 65a774
File 140008962411.png - (19.81KB , 900x450 , 58.png )

>It's not from heaven.
Well, wherever it’s from, it’s not from around these parts…

>"Same reason you are"
Ah, yes, of course. The curiosity kept you awake, eh?
>Mummies don't sleep.
Indeed you don’t…
Here I thought you would be exhausted after your date…
As I said, my curiosity of this place is too great to rest, even after going out with her.
Oh! Did you two dance!?
Err… sure, I danced with her… um… oh, this is the vault!?
I don’t think we’re there yet.
Either way, this place is outstanding!
Prince Jericho? Ah, sorry for the crossbow, lord, we’re just making sure.
No problem…

Insert If this was a movie, there would be a green tint right about now_

>>574368
>even after going out with her.
Um, shouldn't that be "him"? Something isn't right here. Don't move.
[scan all those present]

...Jer, Ilbir said "her," not "him;" Last I checked, Kranhon's a guy. He also didn't know that undead don't sleep, and I'm pretty sure the real Ilbir would have known that we couldn't have opened the vault yet. [Scan "The Scholar"]

I'm 99.9% certain we have an impostor here, Jer. This should prove it: [Display status for "The Scholar" | Echo output to "The Pebble"] Oh, and this too: Ilbir, raise your hand if you can hear this!

Once the impostor is confirmed summon the Spear of Light, spin around, and stick him with it. If he's daemon corrupted it'll put him down, and if he isn't then he'll just end up stuck to the Spear but unharmed. Make sure to yell to the guards that he's an impostor as soon as you've struck so you don't get peppered with crossbow bolts.

>I’m Artemis! Not Golem! ARTEMIS!!
After we get out of here suggest that from now on she wear a name tag with "Hello, my name is Artemis" written on it in large letters. It might help.

>>574386
Dude, the only time the spear didn't hurt someone was in an illusion!

...there's also
>“The scholar”: Sleeping, Satisfied

This is ABSOLUTELY not Ilbir. Ilbir is asleep! Get away from him, Jericho. Have the guards point their crossbows at him; find out who he really is.

>>574390


He might've taken a nap actually

*Scan Ilbir*

If our suspicions are correct then have the guards arrest the imposter. Also, pull the dagger.

Kaktus 2014/05/14(Wed)13:46 No. 574405 ID: 65a774
File 140010037575.png - (19.76KB , 900x450 , 59.png )

>[scan all those present]
[Neutral Creature (Friendly): Serath Guard.] x6
[“Magic’s bane” belongs to player pink!]
[“The Scholar” belongs to player Teal!]
>[Display status for "The Scholar" | Echo output to "The Pebble"]
[“The Scholar” Status: Sleeping, Satisfied.]

>Um, shouldn't that be "him"? Something isn't right here.
I heard it too… something is not right.
>This is ABSOLUTELY not Ilbir. Ilbir is asleep! Get away from him, Jericho. Have the guards point their crossbows at him; find out who he really is.
What is her name?
Err… who’s name?
The one you went on a date with.
Err… um… Susan?
Stop right there, imposter! Hands up or you’ll become a pincushion!
DIE!!
Oh sh- Take it down! FIRE BOLTS!! CHANGE TO FIRE BOLTS!!!
*Argh!*

Insert Let the paranoia commence!_

>>574405
Wow, a new enemy. It can fool our scans, too!

BURN IT.

Jer, rip the shapeshifter's barb out but hold on the fire magic! Even engulfed in flames it could still strike, flee, or even just jump into the water to extinguish itself. Freeze it sold instead. That'll root it down so you can stab it to death with the Spear.

[Check status of "The Pebble"] I hope you're not infected with anything from the shapeshifter's strike.

>[“Magic’s bane” belongs to player pink!]
...Wait a second. I thought Artemis' scan designation was "Daemon hunter." Pink called her that back here >>/questarch/564815. Maybe Pink used a different name for her? [Message to Pink: Confirm Artemis' scanned name as "Magic's bane" or "Daemon hunter."]

Sever whatever that thing stuck into you, remove it, and fall backwards into the water to avoid friendly fire.

Kaktus 2014/05/15(Thu)09:03 No. 574540 ID: 65a774
File 140016978717.png - (20.60KB , 900x450 , 60.png )

>[Check status of "The Pebble"]
[“The Pebble” Status: In combat.]

>BURN IT.
>Freeze it solid!
>Sever whatever that thing stuck into you.
>and fall backwards into the water to avoid friendly fire.
YAY! I’m helping!
FIRE!!
ARG!!

Kaktus 2014/05/15(Thu)09:03 No. 574541 ID: 65a774
File 140016979815.png - (20.94KB , 900x450 , 61.png )

…is it dead?
Hit it with a halberd to make sure.
It’s dead.
That was… easier than expected…
We hit it with four fire enchanted arrows while you hit it with your ice magic and the golem was ripping it to shred with his bare hands. Surviving a barrage like that would be impressive even for… a thing like that.

>I hope you're not infected with anything from the shapeshifter's strike.
It wasn’t able to pierce the mail I have under the armor, so no worries.
>...Wait a second. I thought Artemis' scan designation was "Daemon hunter."
Voice called me hunter of daemons because they are magic and I eat magic! Magic is yummy!
Right…
Aren’t anyone else worried about the implication that the enemy have access to something that can mimic someone’s form perfectly?
Nah, they probably just have one or two of them, tops.
*Gasp!* What if we’re already been infiltrated by them!? Maybe you’re one! Or you! Or all of you! Or even me!
Yes, of course you’re a weird blob monster.
OH GODS! You got to arrest me at once!
…gods, you’re a moron…

Insert Iron man isn’t a dick, he’s just a Skrull_

Climb out of the pool and whisper to Artemis to ask if any of Pink's pawns are awake who could relay the news of this new threat to the sultan. She can get the ball rolling on dealing with this without having to wake Elizah. Also, since she's skeletal undead I'm 99% sure a shapeshifter wouldn't be able to pass as her, so she's safe.

Point out to the (moron) guard that if the enemy already had a shapeshifter down here they most likely wouldn't have need to send another one. So it's unlikely that anybody down here is a shapeshifter. That said, we're still gonna check everybody down here to be sure.

Tell them nobody enters or leaves this level until you're done and to line up. Summon the Spear and walk down the line, giving each of them a small cut. If they pass Artemis will get their name and whisper a set of four random words to them to memorize; That way she can ask them for it later to validate they're not a shapeshifter.

>It’s dead.
As far as I'm concerned it ain't dead 'till every part of it is burned away. Tell Artemis to suck all the magic she can out of whatever bits of the shapeshifter weren't burnt to a crisp, then pile them up so you can finish incinerating them. Then order that anything that its blood or other fluids landed on or in is to be burned or scrubbed clean.

Once that's all done lets get to the vault ASAP so we can get out of this hole and deal with this new threat.

Right now the only ones that I can think of that we can trust aren't shapeshifters are Artemis, the skeletal undead, and our own pawns after we've checked if they can hear us. Everybody else gets thoroughly checked. Also, the shapeshifters very likely can take the form of animals too, so they'll all have to be checked as well.

>>574541
Look, just tell the guards to keep guarding, but from now on not to let anyone through unless they can summon the spear that you just summoned. That list should include you, Ilbir, Eliraz, Tera though she shouldn't be down here alone anyway, the princess's personal bodyguard, and Temrock. There's one other that could summon the spear but he's not in the city yet.

We'll continue on to get past the golems, now.

Kaktus 2014/05/16(Fri)08:54 No. 574686 ID: 65a774
File 140025565082.png - (16.11KB , 900x450 , 62.png )

>Climb out of the pool and whisper to Artemis to ask if any of Pink's pawns are awake who could relay the news of this new threat to the sultan.
Done and done!
>Tell them nobody enters or leaves this level until you're done and to line up. Summon the Spear and walk down the line, giving each of them a small cut.
Did that spear just phase through our hands?
HE’S A SHAPE SHIFTER!!
It’s probably just some illusion or magic or something, geez... you need to calm down!
WE’RE DOOMED!!
(Err… the spear going right through them means they pass, right?)
>If they pass Artemis will get their name and whisper a set of four random words to them to memorize; That way she can ask them for it later to validate they're not a shape shifter.
The words are “Artemis Best Golem Potato!”
>As far as I'm concerned it ain't dead 'till every part of it is burned away.
Consider this place cleaned, sir!

>We'll continue on to get past the golems, now.
Sir! Look out for the spears in the ceiling! There is some kind of gravity magic cast there!
Thank you for the warning.
HALT! Identify yourself or be incinerated!
Any imitator or impostors of the immortal line will be immerged into the inferno of our inflame.
Immediately!

Insert My mind is infested with irritating ideas of invading idiots_

"For your information and illumination I insist my identity is indubitably Lord Jericho Drak'hon the Second." Once they've accepted your credentials order them to stand down and step aside. Oh, and also order them to treat Artemis as your guest as long as she's down here.

The gravity inversion trap shouldn't be a problem if you can reach the chandelier to either climb or swing across. But if you can't get within reach then Artemis can help you. She can either throw you across or pick you up and just charge forward at full speed. Get enough forward momentum and it'll carry you past the spears before you fall up to them. Of course then you have to deal with falling back down.

I see the IV:The Emperor mosaic depicts The King Clad in Gold. Figures he played a major part back in the Ancient Age, but I wonder if that part was as traitor or if that came later.

Jer, I just realized that the Dark One most likely sent one or two of those shapeshifters up to the palace to attempt to assassinate you. Not a danger to you down here, but if they get all the way to Eliraz's quarters they'll kill him in lieu of you. Better tell Artemis that so Pink can get extra protection for Eliraz.

>(Err… the spear going right through them means they pass, right?)
Yep, and it also confirms the Spear doesn't harm those who aren't daemon corrupted, so you can use it freely to check people.

Did Artemis get replacement clothes since the last scene or is that an art error?

>>574686
Tell them you are a member of the royal family and they must let you and the golem pass. Also ask if one of them can guide you through the rest of the vault.

Hey, how do we know Artemis isn't a shapeshifter? Ask her to tell you some random interesting fact that happened in the recent past.

Kaktus 2014/05/16(Fri)14:48 No. 574730 ID: 65a774
File 140027692296.png - (11.36KB , 900x450 , 63.png )

>Did Artemis get replacement clothes since the last scene or is that an art error?
Art Error.

>Hey, how do we know Artemis isn't a shapeshifter? Ask her to tell you some random interesting fact that happened in the recent past.
:AremisRUST: Hmm… we defeat the big bad guy a moment ago!
Further back than that.
…You asked me to read about big bad guys. I found that bad guys like grapes and stale bread.
>Jer, I just realized that the Dark One most likely sent one or two of those shapeshifters up to the palace to attempt to assassinate you. Better tell Artemis that so Pink can get extra protection for Eliraz.
Alright, she said she will take care of it.

>Tell them you are a member of the royal family and they must let you and the golem pass.
I’ll ignore you indefinitely if you use improper wording.
…for your information and illumination I insist my identity is indubitably Lord Jericho Drak'hon the Second.
Ideal impression. Introducing your immortal identity into information bank! *BEEP* “You are cleared to enterer, my lord”.
>Ask if one of them can guide you through the rest of the vault.
*BEEP* “Unable to move from location.”
At least tell me what I’ll be facing.
There will be three tests. One of courage, one of power and one of wisdom. Between The Lovers and Temperance is the test of courage, where you’ll be met with one hundred traps to avoid. I’m sorry, but I have no knowledge about the two other tests.
Ignorant imbecile! You didn’t use I!

>Artemis can help you. She can either throw you across or pick you up and just charge forward at full speed.
Throwing time!!
Wait, no! DO-
WEEE!!!
AAAH!!! –Off!!
Silly Jer, you’re supposed to fall down!
…luckily I’m already dead…

Insert Now, this is a story all about how, My life got flipped-turned upside down_

Is that...Theen in one of the windows?

Hmmm, this is getting rather odd and creepy, but press on.

>>574730
Alright so:
VI is Lovers. Wait, is that Steve and Dooriya? It IS! I didn't notice before, but Steve has bright yellow eyes.
VII is Chariot. Not sure what to make of what's going on in the window. A lizard being carried by a human and a lizard, both pissed off about it?
VIII is either Strength or Justice. Probably strength.
The traps being "between Lovers and Temperance" means you have to get to XIV before the traps end.

None of these people are familiar to me, still. You should be within earshot of the golems, so ask them if they can explain the meanings of the stained glass windows to you. All the windows, if they can.

As for the traps... well, I see some water either dripping onto the ceiling or spurting out, and the sword is suspicious. Tap anything that looks weird with the spear.

Oh, and if bright yellow mantis eyes means demon, then the High Priestess is a demon/mantis hybrid. Which suggests she's Steve's daughter. Which means the High Priestess is either someone in the future (which the golems know the name of somehow?) or Steve has had a child before. Or it's some sort of time loop. Try asking the golems when the High Priestess is born.

...Ouch. Well, pick yourself up and check if any of your bits are broken or bent out of shape.

Jer, could you please describe to us what the three windows depict; Our view of them isn't that good.

There's a decent chance there are illusions active here, so do the usual mirror-n-Spear check just to be sure.

The Spear of Light will make for a good trap checker here since not only can you swing it ahead of you and use it to poke things but you can also throw and recall it back to you. So start using it that way by throwing it varying distances to test for gravity changes. Then use it to poke every spot you'll put your foot down and swing it through the air you'll be stepping into to check for traps.

And whatever you do, DO NOT TOUCH THAT SWORD until both you and us have thoroughly examined it. In fact, lets see if we can do this: [Scan suspicious sword]

>>574742
I'd agreee that VI:The Lovers does depict Steve, but given it's from the Ancient Age the other mantis is most likely not Dooriya but rather the mortal wife he was forced to take back then. And honestly, even if it was Dooriya we wouldn't be able to tell it was her without that red antenna bangle she wears.

>>574779
As well as asking what the High Priestess' name was, where she was born, and what she is.

>>574782
The female mantis in the window is wearing Dooriya's military colors, though.

Kaktus 2014/05/17(Sat)08:39 No. 574808 ID: 65a774
File 140034115482.png - (11.92KB , 900x450 , 64.png )

>[Scan suspicious sword]
[Object: Sword.]

>...Ouch. Well, pick yourself up and check if any of your bits are broken or bent out of shape.
…ugh… I think only the little self-respect I had left is broke in that fall…
>Jer, could you please describe to us what the three windows depict; Our view of them isn't that good.
Um… well, you guys did describe them pretty good… let’s see, VI shows two mantises starting at each other, while some weird yellow thing float above them… and the yellow thing and the mantises forms a heart between them. VII Show a blue eyed lizard… um… standing above a human and a mantis that is angry at each other for some reason. VIII shows… a man praying while a big mantis in a mask sneaks up behind him?
>VI is Lovers. VII is Chariot. VIII is Strength.
If you say so…
>Is that...Theen in one of the windows?
Going by the antenna, I’m guessing that’s a mantis… the mask doesn’t look like Theen’s either… or Thaark’s. It’s all angry and stuff.

>You should be within earshot of the golems, so ask them if they can explain the meanings of the stained glass windows to you.
Insufficient intel to inform you of your inquiry.
Is it something that happened in the past or… will it happen?
It is.
It is what? Past or future?
It is.
Past?
It is.
Future?
It is.
Right now?
It is.
>Try asking the golems when the High Priestess is born. As well as asking what the High Priestess' name was, where she was born, and what she is.
She exist now, she existed in the past and she will exist in the future.
That doesn’t help at all!
She is called mother by a few, she exist where the eye of the sky watches the world and she is a mother of some.
You guys are messing with me, aren’t you!?
Possibly.
Give me a straight answer or I’ll order you to dismantle each other!
That is not a threat. That’s a motivation to not tell you anything.
…I… what? Ugh, you guys are just weird.
>it's some sort of time loop.
Then stop loading the last save you made every time you don’t get the ending you want.
…I don’t get it? What… err…

>Oh, and if bright yellow mantis eyes means demon, then the High Priestess is a demon/mantis hybrid.
I don’t know… the high priestess eye was more… golden while the mantis in the lovers is more… bright yellow.
>As for the traps... well, I see some water either dripping onto the ceiling or spurting out, and the sword is suspicious. Tap anything that looks weird with the spear.
Tap tap tap… nothing nothing nothing… are you sure there are a hundred traps in here?
Tens upon tens of traps!
>There's a decent chance there are illusions active here, so do the usual mirror-n-Spear check just to be sure.
…err… the mirror is completely black? The heck? Doesn’t help if I poke myself with the spear either…
>DO NOT TOUCH THAT SWORD.
What’s up with the sword?
Pull it~
I’m not stupid… hmm… nothing happens when I touch it with the spear…

Insert Someone forgot to activate the traps_

That the mirror is completely black makes me think that at the least the illumination down here is illusionary. The reason the Spear didn't dispel it is 'cause it only works for daemonic or wraith illusions, not divine ones. Take out your light crystal and check the mirror again.

[Message to Pink: How did Elizah know there were traps past the golems? Did she actually send someone in or just take their word for it?]

>>574808
Okay, the thing about The Chariot is that the card represents a driving force leading to conquest. The two figures below the lizard are the driving force, and the lizard is the one trying to get something via that force.

Strength represents discipline and control. Usually the card shows the taming of a lion. The layout of this window doesn't match any Strength or Justice cards I know of though...

Is the water on the ceiling coming from a hole? If so then maybe the sword could be put in that hole instead. For now though maybe you should just leave it and continue on, unless a lit mirror reveals something.

Kaktus 2014/05/17(Sat)15:18 No. 574835 ID: 65a774
File 140036510849.png - (13.18KB , 900x450 , 65.png )

>[Message to Pink: How did Elizah know there were traps past the golems? Did she actually send someone in or just take their word for it?]
[Never got past gravity trap. Golems told us of more traps ahead.]

>Is the water on the ceiling coming from a hole?
The water is dripping from the floor… err… roof? Um… from where the chandeliers are… man, this is weird…
>That the mirror is completely black makes me think that at the least the illumination down here is illusionary. Take out your light crystal and check the mirror again.
I hope it still works after that fire in the academy… hmm… well, at least the crystal works, but the mirror is still as dark as ever.

>For now though maybe you should just leave it and continue on…
Tap tap tap… no traps anywhere… hmm… wait, are you fallowing me?
You’re the most interesting thing that has happened since the last time you were here, and I don’t want to miss when the traps cut you to ribbons.
Didn’t you say th- wait, last time I was here?
You said it was a time loop, therefor you have to have been here before, right?
That’s not… I… urgh, didn’t you guys say you shouldn’t leave your post?
They said it, not me. Now, go on and die already. Oh, I hope as spectacular as last time… just, don’t do it like you did three times ago, that was a real letdown…
…You’re starting to confuse me here… Have I been here before or not?
Not telling unless you give me something in return…
And that would be?
I’ve already told you what I want.
You’re really starting to get on my nerves…

Insert Boredom or insanity? Maybe both…_

Okay now there's The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, and Justice.

Hey, hang on. Ask the golem if they want you to order them to disassemble eachother. Also, why?

For this room, looks like gravity switches a couple more times. Toss the spear in there.

More importantly...Something somewhere in here has blades, lots of em, and the skeletons are scattered in their placement but they all seem to have 'down' as their gravitational setting...Which either means the gravity reverses up ahead OR once rendered lifeless you aren't affected by the gravity weirdness...Doubt it though.

>>574835
Oh, I just realized all these skulls are lying around... decapitations? You might want to crawl. Where are the rest of their skeletons though?

Kaktus 2014/05/18(Sun)07:29 No. 574909 ID: 65a774
File 140042335824.png - (13.43KB , 900x450 , 66.png )

>Okay now there's The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, and Justice.
Let’s see… a human with a lantern, a… wheel with… wait, is that my dagger? It kind of looks like my dagger, doesn’t it? …and… justice is… what is that? Some weird… grey… thing… almost looks like that form player gray took… hmm…
>Hey, hang on. Ask the golem if they want you to order them to disassemble each other. Also, why?
Because we remember. We remember every time you fail and come back here… over and over… we want to rest… forever…
But if it’s a time loop won’t you be here when I came back again?
It’s not a time loop. You come back after when you’ve never been here.
I… err… what? That doesn’t… how… huh?
Kill us and win. Promise me that and I’ll tell you everything I can.
…well, if you tell me stuff I’m pretty sure the chances we’ll win goes up radically. So, it’s a time loop or?
There are three futures ahead, One where the daemons come and feast upon your people, killing most of the world and leaves the tribes to rule over their new kingdom. Another is when the daemons are sealed away, all the voices in the world see the chaos the daemons have wrought and decides that this is the best moment to expand their own kingdoms, thus the most terrible war the world have ever seen will scourge the world in fire. The third future that comes is… a slow death. Slowly, everything stops growing, recourses just disappear and the very sun dims and dies… because of something your voices have done. Every time you fail, every time you come back and try again.
What did they do?
Don’t ask me, I’m just the janitor of this place.
And the windows? What do they mean? Who’s the High priestess?
She isn’t important… well, some of her actions are important but not that important. Let’s see… the Fool is voices, The Magician hasn’t been decided yet, The High priestess is a woman you’ll meet across the great sea soon. The Empress, The Hierophant, The Chariot, Strength and The Hermit are the same, people you will meet. The Wheel of fortune on the other hand is… well, the future you get.
And that weird… gray thing?
An angle descending from the very heavens, who’s journey across the endless sea in the belly of a metal god is finally over.
…right, and the rest? The ones that are coming up?
I’m sorry, I don’t know.
But… you knew the rest of them.
The ones you haven’t seen haven’t been decided yet, thus I can’t know about them, but the ones you’ve seen have always been, therefore I know.
…you’re giving me a headache, you know that?

>Something somewhere in here has blades, lots of em, and the skeletons are scattered in their placement but they all seem to have 'down' as their gravitational setting...
Right… blade traps… can’t you say where the traps are?
No can do. I don’t know where they are this time around.
>You might want to crawl.
Yes, keep me head low and make sure with the spear that I don’t step on something I shouldn’t step on.
>Where are the rest of their skeletons though?
Cleanup is a bitch.
>For this room, looks like gravity switches a couple more times. Toss the spear in there.
The gravity seems to switch right after the wheel widow… hmm… now, how do I get down there?
Jump?
I was lucky last time none of my bone broke… let’s not try out that luck again, shall we?
Dive! Swan dive! Right into the water! Do it!

Insert I’m pretty sure I ordered some traps to be place here somewhere…_

>>574909
So, we're stuck in a no-win scenario... no wonder we keep loading our save. However, this run is different. I think we did something last run that altered the timeline for this one, just as killing this golem will affect future timelines, if there are any. We probably put this dagger into the game ourselves. It sounds like the endings are Heads, Tails, and Destroy the Coin or maybe No Flip. We need to land the coin on its edge. Ask the golem if we've ever tried getting all the nations to sign a peace treaty before sealing the demons away. I mean, if they agree how to divide up all the land before a war starts, they won't need to fight over it. Alternatively, we could get this "angel" to help keep the peace somehow.

How come the reversed gravity doesn't affect the golem? As for getting down safely, you could try building a platform with ice magic to get you closer to the floor so you can jump into the regular gravity without as much of a fall. Also ask her (that is a female lizard model right?) to walk ahead of you to check for traps.

So, the wheel represents our potential futures. Three such futures were named.
However: there are four points on that wheel. Hope remains.

>Dive! Swan dive! Right into the water! Do it!
It's four feet deep! You'd break your everything if you dived into that! Ask the golem why the heck its suggesting you do that when it'd make it very unlikely you'd be able to give the dismantle order afterwards.

Show the golem your blacked out mirror and ask what's causing it to be blacked out and why. My guess is it's a illusion placed over the mirror to prevent you from using it to see through all the other illusions here.

>It's not a time loop. You come back after when you've never been here.
I think I know what it is: It's save states. The state of the game world and everything and everyone in it is written out and saved at certain points. Those save points can then be loaded back at a later time, remaking the world as it was in the save. So it doesn't actually go back in time, it just remakes everything as it was. Ask the golem how close I am to what it actually is.

I'd guess the golem knows what happened across all the reloads 'cause it, or at least its mind, wasn't remade; It was removed and then reinserted back into the world after it was remade. Ask it how come its been excluded from being remade by the reload. Is it because it's a agent of the game system or something like that and it resides outside the game? Also ask what others in this world remember like it does.

As for how to get past the gravity flip: Remember when you fell down the shaft at Ilbir's dig site? That was much farther than the distance between the floor and ceiling here and you didn't break anything then. I think as long as you land on your feet here you'll be fine.

First, take your chestplate off and drop it to the "floor" to lighten yourself up before you do this. Lay face down this side of the gravity switch with your feet facing the way you want to go. Then push yourself along with your arms so your legs cross the gravity transition. Keep pushing yourself along and eventually enough of your weight will be on that side you'll fall towards the "floor" feet first. Try to land where your spear landed.

Oh wait, it isn't simply heads-tails-etc, it's a progression. The first ending is us losing the fight against the demons entirely. The second is winning but not preparing for the future. The third is winning, and stopping the forthcoming war, but we fuck up something with the world in the process. So we just need to figure out how to not fuck up the world, and we can get the fourth ending where everything works out.

Kaktus 2014/05/18(Sun)14:38 No. 574940 ID: 65a774
File 140044911741.png - (11.79KB , 900x450 , 67.png )

>So, the wheel represents our potential futures. Three such futures were named. However: there are four points on that wheel. Hope remains.
I freaking hope so.
>Ask the golem why the heck its suggesting you do that when it'd make it very unlikely you'd be able to give the dismantle order afterwards.
Boredom maybe? Insanity? Both?
>Show the golem your blacked out mirror and ask what's causing it to be blacked out and why.
Is this reality? Is this just some fantasy? How do you know the mirror is real? That this place is real? That you or me are real? Everything is but an illusion, shielding you from the hard, cold truth of reality.
So that’s a… yes? No?
>I think I know what it is: It's save states. The state of the game world and everything and everyone in it is written out and saved at certain points.
No matter how many times you reassemble the board, you’ll never get the die to show a seven.
Not unless you cleave it before it hit the ground.
…huh?
Right through the middle, which means you either get a six and a one, five and two or three and four… seven!

>Ask it how come it’s been excluded from being remade by the reload.
We are supposed to make thing run smooth, but nothing is smooth anymore. If only I should wipe my own memory and take part in the game like your friend…
>Ask the golem if we've ever tried getting all the nations to sign a peace treaty before sealing the demons away.
Yes, but the artificial gods where created to wage war so there will always be war, a war no one can win.
>The first ending is us losing the fight against the demons entirely. The second is winning but not preparing for the future. The third is winning, and stopping the forthcoming war, but we fuck up something with the world in the process.
Maybe? The first one is correct but the others… I don’t know…
>How come the reversed gravity doesn't affect the golem?
Because I will it to be so and so it is now and forever again in the past.
You’re just throwing words together by this point, aren’t you?
>Also ask her (that is a female lizard model right?) to walk ahead of you to check for traps.
I do not have a gender. I am what I am. But very well, I’ll walk in front of you if you so wish.

>As for getting down safely, you could try building a platform with ice magic to get you closer to the floor so you can jump into the regular gravity without as much of a fall.
Hmm… or a slide… and ice slide…
…you got to be kidding me!
WEEEE!!!!
…really?
I so have to show this off to Eliraz!
While your drowning in your own glee, let me present to you the hall of statues… hmm… let’s see… “Lord Jericho Drak'hon the Second. Killed by a blade Trap.”
Wait, what?
And the windows? Hmm… interesting… three demons for three windows, eh?
What was that about a blade trap?

Insert All the traps! ALL OF THEM!!_

>>574940
Are you fucking kidding me? There's ONE trap. See that raised stone in the middle of the second line of statues? Just don't step on that. Just how many times have we been through here, if you fell prey to such a simple trap at least 10 times?

This is The Hanged Man, Death, and Temperance. The Hanged Man represents a change in perspective leading to good things, Death represents a great change, and Temperance represents unification and harmony. Hanged Man is appropriate for Steve since he changes his perspective to that of a mortal in order to live in happiness. Death is appropriate for Bob because he's orchestrating the exile of most of the demons. Temperance is appropriate for the Magus because uh, he lives in harmony with mortals I guess?

The note said to choose Temperance... Hang on, what if we avoided exile altogether and just set up more of those undead power source rooms for all the demons? Then they wouldn't have to feed on the suffering of mortals, and could live amongst them peacefully, enjoying whatever they happen to enjoy. I find it hard to believe we didn't try that before, though. Maybe that's the third ending, where everything decays? Why though?

>>574944
That probably means there's a second trigger around here somewhere.

>>574949

While unusual, the black orb in bob's circle seems to be a bit oddly colored compared to the rest of the glass.

Kaktus 2014/05/19(Mon)09:32 No. 574996 ID: 65a774
File 140051717921.png - (11.51KB , 900x450 , 68.png )

>Hanged Man is appropriate for Steve since he changes his perspective to that of a mortal in order to live in happiness.
But didn’t this Steve guy have yellow eyes? …and wasn’t he wearing purple in the lover’s window?
Why would Steve have two windows dedicated to him, hmm?
Then who is it? I’ve only met two daemons… and that Steve guy who apparently gave me the spear…
You haven’t been around the world yet, have you?
…so… There’s one more?
>Death is appropriate for Bob because he's orchestrating the exile of most of the demons.
Yes, Bob is… a being of change, isn’t he?
>Temperance is appropriate for the Magus because uh, he lives in harmony with mortals I guess?
Daemon and human… two opposites… yet, he’s the first of a kind…
>Hang on, what if we avoided exile altogether and just set up more of those undead power source rooms for all the demons? Then they wouldn't have to feed on the suffering of mortals, and could live amongst them peacefully, enjoying whatever they happen to enjoy. I find it hard to believe we didn't try that before, though. Maybe that's the third ending, where everything decays? Why though?
Tell me, do you believe the daemons will be satisfied with that? Will the voices be satisfied? Is giving beings of war access to weapons that can destroy nations the wisest of decisions?

>Are you fucking kidding me? There's ONE trap. See that raised stone in the middle of the second line of statues? Just don't step on that.
…what happened to the hundred traps?
What are you talking about, they are right there! See, you passed the test, now get over here.
…how did I die countless of times on this one trap?
This place changes every time, it’s never the same…
Hmm… “Lord Jericho Drak'hon the Second. Became a pin cushion for several spears.”, “Lord Jericho Drak'hon the Second. Burned to a crisp by an exploding arrow.”, “Lord Jericho Drak'hon the Second. Crushed by a falling statue while being distracted reading it’s plague.”? Err…
>That probably means there's a second trigger around here somewhere. The black orb in bob's circle seems to be a bit oddly colored compared to the rest of the glass.
…no… something isn’t right here…
But I walked over here, didn’t I? Nothing happened, see?
So… if I just happened to levitate some ice past that oddly colored part of the death window…
Wait, do-

Kaktus 2014/05/19(Mon)09:33 No. 574997 ID: 65a774
File 140051719498.png - (18.89KB , 900x450 , 69.png )

*Click*Swing*Splush*Crush*Klonk*Sound*Effect*Pling*Trap*Happening*Stuff*Blowing*Up*And*Shit*Weee*
OH GODS MY EYE!!

Insert I’d buy that for a dollar!_

HOLY SHIT! Get down! Bolts incoming from behind and above! Full sphere thick ice barrier, now! Keep casting ice around you! ICE IT ALL! FREEZE EVERYTHING FUCKING SOLID!

I hope your eye isn't damaged beyond use, 'cause otherwise you're gonna be waiting until Varius' attachment technique is figured out to get a new one.

If the warmongering AIs are the problem, then what if we somehow remove them from the game? Take them out and leave the ones who're less war inclined behind? No idea how we could do that, though.

>>574997
Create a shield of ice around yourself. Bolts are coming from all directions, you can't dodge them. Then start freezing all the moving parts so you can get past.

It sounds like we need to shut down the AIs, yeah... but wouldn't that be murder? I'd prefer to force the AIs to inhabit single bodies so they can't warmonger as effectively anymore.

Also I don't agree that the Magus' setup is usable as a weapon. He's stuck in one place!

>>575027

Yes but he was created weak as he was, the other daemons likely wouldn't be that weak as they are naturally themselves.

As it is Jericho use the statue's to shield yourself and wait it out.

Kaktus 2014/05/20(Tue)07:08 No. 575109 ID: 65a774
File 140059489965.png - (11.77KB , 900x450 , 70.png )

>HOLY SHIT! Get down! Bolts incoming from behind and above! Full sphere thick ice barrier, now! Keep casting ice around you! ICE IT ALL! FREEZE EVERYTHING FUCKING SOLID!
>use the statue's to shield yourself and wait it out.
ICE AND STONE, PROTECT MY FREAKING BONES- *BOOM!* EEEE!!!

…

Are you still alive?
No…
I mean undead… not dead dead.
*Ugh* …I probably broke a few bones, a bolt pierced my eye (and other places on my head, legs, arms… ), my bandages are torn on several places, I’ve got some fire damage, I was crushed by a falling statue and I think I got a bolt or two lodged in my butt… but I’ll “live”… Already being dead does have some upsides.
You’re just lucky that armor of yours protected the core from all those bolts. But never mind, let’s keep going!
…I’m not stepping on that trap again.
Don’t worry, you’ll be fine… just hop on over.
…the trap activated when I levitated that ice ball past the window… the window depicting death? Hmm… well, being killed by traps would be considered a change, wouldn’t it?
Stop moping and come over here already, your next test awaits.
I’m not stupid, you know… I got to find a way past the trap first.
>Then start freezing all the moving parts so you can get past.
…I don’t know where the moving parts are currently. They were moving too fast a moment ago and… hmm… I can’t see how they popped out of from the walls in the first place.

>I hope your eye isn't damaged beyond use, 'cause otherwise you're gonna be waiting until Varius' attachment technique is figured out to get a new one.
…With my luck, I’m going to lose my other eye too before this is all over.
>If the warmongering AIs are the problem, then what if we somehow remove them from the game?
And how would you do that, I ask?
>Also I don't agree that the Magus' setup is usable as a weapon. He's stuck in one place!
He’s a lot weaker then he used to be… he’s practically mortal by now… He’ll die like one soon too… Now, you’ve already sprung the trap, so let’s get moving.
…so not trusting you about the trap… hmm… there got to be a way past it… or to destroy it…

Insert Nuke it from orbit, it’s the only way to be sure_

Shatter the window maybe?

>>575109
You could try making an ice staircase over the window entirely, or break the window. Actually, I wonder if you could go around by breaking through Hanged Man and reentering through Temperance.

Tell the golem that you're not going anywhere until it moves this statue off you and plucks out all the bolts stuck in you you can't reach. Pull the rest of the bolts out, gingerly check which bones are broken and put yourself in as much order as you can. However, if you have any major broken bones or other damage you should turn back and get it fixed by a necromancer and then return.

Maybe there's a connected space behind the windows you could use to bypass the traps or access their mechanisms to break them. I say smash a hole in the bottom of the XII window, but take precautions before you do in case it triggers the traps. Hunker down behind the left most statue and layer up a thick ice shield over yourself. Then form up a ice spike and levitate it at high speed through the window. Alternatively you could pick up a chunk of statue, head back to XI, then hurl it through the XII window and hunker down in the pool under XI.

...Of course, since this is supposedly a test of courage it may mean we have to have the courage to just walk through here now. Though, we were told it was a test of courage by that golem, and I trust it about as far as I can throw it. I'd rather try every other possibility before resorting to this one.

Why is Artemis not with us, by the way?

Kaktus 2014/05/20(Tue)13:27 No. 575136 ID: 65a774
File 140061767112.png - (12.37KB , 900x450 , 71.png )

>Why is Artemis not with us, by the way?
…that’s a very good question. She should have caught up by now.
Last time I saw that lucky thing of a bitch it was stuck on some spears in the first gravity trap.
>Tell the golem that you're not going anywhere until it moves this statue off you and plucks out all the bolts stuck in you that you can't reach.
I used to be someone! And now look at me! Plucking bolts out of the butt of some smelly Mummy!
Hey!
>Pull the rest of the bolts out, gingerly check which bones are broken and put yourself in as much order as you can.
*Urg* …I seems to be… functional… hmm… I think I got a broken rib… and pelvis… and a leg… but I don’t really seem… affected by them. In fact, I can walk on my broken leg just fine…
You’re bound together by magic, not bones.

>Shatter the window maybe?
>You could try making an ice staircase over the window entirely.
Hmm… but what if it still activates?
It won’t, now move it!
>Actually, I wonder if you could go around by breaking through Hanged Man and reentering through Temperance.
*Crash!*
HEY! What are you doing!?
Hey, there’s a small corridor between these three windows back here…
Well, yeah, it’s for the lightning… hey, you’re not supposed to go back there!
*Crash!*
HA! Walked right around that stupid trap!
What!? No! You’re not supposed to do that!
>...Of course, since this is supposedly a test of courage it may mean we have to have the courage to just walk through here now.
The trap is a fake! It won’t actually kill you! Just… hurt you horribly the first time you try to pass!
Only hurt me? I got a freaking arrow through my eye!
You’re still alive… err… undead, aren’t you!? Bah, the whole test of courage was a waste.

Kaktus 2014/05/20(Tue)13:28 No. 575137 ID: 65a774
File 140061768574.png - (10.89KB , 900x450 , 72.png )

Ah, the test of power… I like to see you trick your way through this!
Wait, that’s me?
Hello, me… you need to burn like the abomination to the gods eyes that you are, monster.

Insert Mirror match! Round 1! FIGHT!_

>>575137
Well this should be a cakewalk. Do violence upon your old self, Jericho.

XV is The Devil, which represents being bound by earthy desires, lacking personal growth. I suppose Mor'Kay and the other two tribal leaders are too caught up in the war to enjoy life. We'll fix that soon, I think.
XVI is The Tower, which generally signifies some sort of chaotic disaster or upheaval. Maybe even the downfall of the prideful. The window depicts what the card usually does- a tower being struck by lightning and people falling out of it. Do you recognize the tower? Looks like a mantis dressed in red falling out.
XVII is The Star, representing renewed hope and tranquility. The lizard in the window is Vlad, one of our pawns in the north-future-present. I'll leave out his story, it's a bit personal.

Listen carefully Jericho:
Only use your magic to counter his if he uses any, and be very careful.
Your Spear of Light won't harm mortals if I recall or something like that, so you have to disarm and kill him with that spear he's holding. Made all the more difficult for the fact that he knows you and how you fight- I'd reccomend against a feint of any sort as well.

There is no way this is going to be as simple and easy as defeating a mirror version of your old self in combat. After all, a battle between who you are now and who you were would hardly be a fight, let alone a "test of power." There has to be more to mirror-Jericho and this test than that.

I'd advise caution at first here. We don't know what mirror-Jer is capable of, or even what attacking him would do. It might be that damage to him will mirror to you, or that abilities you use he'll then be able to use. I suggest standing off and see if he'll make the first move so we get some idea what he can do.

Initially go for disarming and stunning strikes and keep the magic back unless he uses any, and even if he does go for uses that'll put him off balance. Something like glazing the floor under his feet with ice, starting a small fire on his clothes, or throwing an ice ball at him.

Jer, could you again describe what the windows depict for us. I believe XV:The Devil depicts Durach at left, Eliros at right, but I'm not sure about the middle. It's likely Mor'Kay, but her eyes aren't red and we've never seen her head from the front before. XVI:The Tower is the usual lightning strike depiction, but we can't make out the figure very well. And XVII:The Star looks like Vlad, one of our future pawns, or someone who looks similar to him.

>>575159
>Mor'Kay's eyes aren't red
Oh, you're right. I wonder who that is, then. The figure is wearing clothes that don't match her clothes either.

Kaktus 2014/05/21(Wed)09:34 No. 575213 ID: 65a774
File 140069007088.png - (11.47KB , 900x450 , 73.png )

>Jer, could you again describe what the windows depict for us.
Err… I’m pretty sure you guys can see them as well as I can.
>I believe XV:The Devil depicts Durach at left, Eliros at right, but I'm not sure about the middle. It's likely Mor'Kay, but her eyes aren't red and we've never seen her head from the front before.
I have no idea how those people look like but… wait, that’s my father? The skull? He’s undead? …and my mother?
Your mom looks like a freaking noodle, there’s no way they would fit her on a card.
Then who… wait… the dark one?
Maybe~
>XVI is The Tower. The window depicts what the card usually does- a tower being struck by lightning and people falling out of it. Looks like a mantis dressed in red falling out.
That’s a tower? Um… I guess it is… and that’s probably a mantis falling, yes.
>XVII is The Star. The lizard in the window is Vlad, one of our pawns in the north-future-present.
Wait… all the others except the daemons were of people you haven’t met yet…
Oh, someone has seen a pattern, eh?

>Well this should be a cakewalk. Do violence upon your old self, Jericho.
I… um… while I want to punch myself in the face for some things I’ve done in the past… err… killing myself is a bit… creepy, to say the least.
>There is no way this is going to be as simple and easy as defeating a mirror version of your old self in combat. After all, a battle between who you are now and who you were would hardly be a fight, let alone a "test of power."
Right, there got to be some kind of trick to this.
Trust me, there’s not trick. It’s just a battle to prove your power.
So it’s definitely a trick!
Wait, no- I mean, yes, it’s a trick!
I knew it!
…dammit, that was reverse psychology!
You can’t fool me, golem!
>Only use your magic to counter his if he uses any, and be very careful.
Right, no magic…
That’s a terrible idea!
>I suggest standing off and see if he'll make the first move so we get some idea what he can do.
ARE YOU NUTS!? You’re going to get yourself killed!!
It’s a trick, isn’t it. He won’t fight me if I don’t fight him, ri-

Kaktus 2014/05/21(Wed)09:34 No. 575214 ID: 65a774
File 140069008490.png - (12.70KB , 900x450 , 74.png )

DIE!!!
*Glurg!*
I freaking warned you, but noooo…

Insert K.O! Jericho Wins! Perfect!_

GODS' FUCKING DAMMIT! Why the fuck couldn't we take this test at face fucking value?! Why the fuck do we have to fucking overthink every fucking thing?! Why the fuck are we fucking up so fucking badly?! FUCK!

...Okay, we haven't gotten a "game over" yet, so Jer isn't dead. ...That is, unless the message is a delayed response. [Check status of "The Pebble"]

Maybe we can help directly here: [Summon Spear of Light above mirror-Jericho's head, point towards him]

Jer! Jer, please, if you're still there, cast all your fire magic forward! Every last drop of it! Don't focus; Just pour it out! It's your only hope!

Kaktus 2014/05/21(Wed)10:46 No. 575219 ID: 65a774
File 140069437749.png - (522.02KB , 640x479 , DOOM!!.png )

> [Check status of "The Pebble"]
[The Pebble is currently the dead!]
>Dopefish porn.
Loading… 95% completed…
>Play doom.
Booting up Doom.exe…
…
…
…
Welcome, to Die! Err… I mean, DOOM!

>New Game.
Starting a new game…

Kaktus 2014/05/21(Wed)10:46 No. 575220 ID: 65a774
File 140069439020.png - (243.67KB , 640x480 , Why could\'t they have left a shotgun.png )

You are a SPEHSS MEHREEN!!! stationed on Mars, the dullest place ever for such a badass SPEHSS MEHREEN!!! as yourself (There aren’t even any heretic skulls to crush here!). Your job is to act as security for the two secret moon bases stationed on Mars moons, but who in their right mind would ever attack this god forsaken place? Your time on Mars will probably be spent breathing space dust and staring into a wall… at least, that what you thought. Suddenly, the moon of Deimos and its moon base just disappear from the sky and strange distress calls start coming from the base on Phobos, “We’re being killed by DEMONS!”.

Responding to a frantic distress call from the overrun scientists, your SPEHSS MEHREEN!!! unit is quickly sent by ship from Mars to Phobos to investigate, where you are left to guard the perimeter with only a dinky, sucky little pea shooter while the rest of the group proceeds inside with all the cool guns… like shotguns… and BFGS! While waiting for your SPEHSS MEHREEN!!! brothers to kick the ass of anyone stupid enough to attack this place you hear an assortment of radio messages, gunfire, and screams, followed by silence: "Seems like my buddies are dead."

You cannot navigate the ship off of Phobos alone so the only way off this dust ball is through the base, kicking whoever’s ass is in the way while chewing bubble gum… and currently you don’t have any ass to kick! “*Chew*Chew* …mmm… strawberry…”

You’re a SPEHSS MEHREEN!!! with a dinky pea shooter. What do you do?

Insert Awesome music!_

>>575220
Loot everything that isn't an explosive barrel of waste. Turn hostiles into peapods with peashooter.

hang left for some kickass armor.

>>575214
Since when is ice harder than steel? It's like we're wearing armor for nothing.

>>575220
IDDQD

Kaktus 2014/05/21(Wed)12:50 No. 575229 ID: 65a774
File 140070184135.png - (362.43KB , 640x480 , I\'ll call it Vera___ or maybe Bob.png )

>IDDQD
You walk left thrice and change your weapon to your fists for some reason… also, you press the useless button “I”. Hmm, it seems like whatever cheat you tried to insert doesn’t work in this version. Who cares! You don’t need any cheats when you’re a badass SPEHSS MEHREEN!!!

>Loot everything that isn't an explosive barrel of waste.
You’ve always wondered what’s up with those barrels’. Why leave then right in the middle of room where accidents can happen? “Why can’t we find a way to safely dispose of radioactive waste? What kind of world are we leaving for our children!? Oh, the humanity!”

>Turn hostiles into peapods with peashooter.
Your gun isn’t a good enough communicator to politely ask your enemies to eat their peas.

>Hang left for some kickass armor.
If you mean these puny helmet things or what they are then sure… go right ahead and pick one up. It’s not like… wait… what is that? Is that what I think it is!? Holy smokes! A Rocket Lawnchair! The great communicator! With this you’ll be able to really communicate whit whoever crosses your path!
“Groovy!”

…but wait, why is there a Rocket Lawnchair just lying in the open like this?
“Who cares!”
It might be a trap!
“Then I will spring it!”
But bad stuff might happen! I mean, real bad stuff! Like… err… Exterminatus kind of bad.
“Exterminatuses are awesome! And what can this game throw at me that I can’t just shrug off? My cause is just...my will is strong...and my gun will soon be very, very large! There’s no way I can lose!”
…yeah, this is definitely a trap.

Spring Trap?
[Nah, let’s be a pussy. ] <---
[ROCKET LAWNCHAIR!!!]
[Wait, wasn’t there supposed to be like… four guys with shotguns here or something? And a green armor?]
[Other.]

Loot everything that IS an explosive barrel and throw them at your enemies.

>[ROCKET LAWNCHAIR!!!]
Sure. Go for it. May as well get this farce over with quickly.

It's a trap! Setup by Baron Von Cyberdemon and his trusty spiderbot pet.

Just get the rocket launcher.

Kaktus 2014/05/22(Thu)07:59 No. 575316 ID: 65a774
File 140077074577.png - (355.41KB , 640x480 , But where is the cute spider.png )

>Loot everything that IS an explosive barrel and throw them at your enemies.
Congratulations! Trying to lift one of the heavy barrels only results with you getting covered in its soft, gooey center. Here, take some damage.
“Now I`m radioactive! That can`t be good!”
>Just get the rocket launcher.
“This is my boomstick! …wait, why is the floor moving?”
It’s a trap! I warned you, you fool!

>It's a trap! Setup by Baron Von Cyberdemon!
Oh no! OH NO! It’s a Cyberdemon! RUN AWAY!!
“Dat ass!”
There’s no way we can surv- wait, what?
“Unf! It’s like it’s sculpted from fine stone!”
…seriously? SERIOUSLY!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!
“It’s a really well shaped ass, that’s all.”
I… don’t… doesn’t… GAH! That’s it! I’m leaving! You’re on your own!
“…”
…well, apparently I can’t leave… but, seriously, RUN!

Run away?
---> [Run away like a little girl!]
[Use your newly acquired ROCKET LAWNCHAIR!!]
[Use your pea shooter.]
[Show him you’re a man! PUNCH HIM! RIP AND TEAR!!]
[Greet him. Say hello!]
[Tell him he got a nice ass.]
[Flirt.]
[Other.]

…oh, god… why are those last two even options?
Cyberdemon: “Why can’t we find a way to safely dispose of radioactive waste? What kind of world are we leaving for our children!? Oh, the humanity!”

All of the above.

Flirt with him, then tell him he has a nice ass and show him what a man you are by using your rocket lawnchair on dat ass.

And then once we've got the rocket and peashooter off, run away and never call him again. Because, you know, you're a man.

>>575319

Yes

Kaktus 2014/05/22(Thu)11:14 No. 575329 ID: 65a774
File 140078249011.png - (8.39KB , 664x431 , Doesn\'t matter, had sex.png )

>Flirt with him, then tell him he has a nice ass and show him what a man you are by using your rocket lawnchair on dat ass.
“Why, hello there, beautiful”
Oh god, I can’t believe this…

…

And thus, you… no… no, I’m not reading this! What? What do you mean I won’t get paid if I don’t- fine fine… *Cough* And thus you… showed the cyberdemon how much of an man you are by taking him out to a nice dinner, a romantic movie and then finished of the night by… “blowing” those two “rocket” you picked up with the “rocket launcher” deep inside that… yes… that thing…

>And then once we've got the rocket and peashooter off, run away and never call him again. Because, you know, you're a man.
“Did the world rock for you too, babe?
Cyberdemon: “That was amazing! I’ve never been with someone like you before!
“Well, glad to satisfy, but I need to get going. Call you later, babe.
Cyberdemon: Oh, that would be- wait, you never got my number… hello? …hello? …son of a bi-

Kaktus 2014/05/22(Thu)11:15 No. 575330 ID: 65a774
File 140078252677.png - (301.91KB , 640x480 , If you know what I mean___.png )

Level “Entryway” Finished!

Kills: 0%
Items: 5%
Secrets: 25%
Hot Cyberdemon ass: 105%
Cheese: 1%
Badass: 12 / 10

Time: 7:32:14 Par: 0:30

Achievements:
“Run and gun”
“Double Barrel”
“Into the depths”
“You’re huge! That means you got a huge…”
“Dynamite!”
“and then fornication happened… in the butt.”

>Hot Cyberdemon ass: 105%
>Badass: 12 / 10
Aw, yeah! Double aced the only two stats that matter! An excellent run!

>>575330
What an amazing ending.

>>575330
Flawless victory.