Kill it. Kill it with fire.

Living pyre goes down. Living Pyre goes boom.

>>813277
>Something is down there...
Since Talo came outta there with a shard on his head, I'd say the source of everything wrong in this town is down there.

Roland, stand next to the hole, look down there, and say, "It's time to end this nightmare. Troy, Issei, let's finish this!"

Then everyone, including the Living Pyre, jumps down the hole.

1/3 Heretic 2017/07/05(Wed)23:52 No. 813308 ID: 8a947d
File 149932394018.png - (195.63KB , 1212x826 , Inside the Clocktower 1.png )

You:...Troy, Izzy ? Lets finish this.

You climb down the later underneath the door, as you descend it feels like somethings pulling you down; almost like the air is weighing down on you. Once you reach the bottom you see it. A giant Shard of Veacriel sitting on the gears of the clock tower.

2/3 Heretic 2017/07/05(Wed)23:56 No. 813309 ID: 8a947d
File 149932416258.png - (206.58KB , 1212x826 , Inside the Clocktower 2.png )

All you can do is stare. You feel like you're drowning. The longer you look at it the deeper down you go. Its pulling you somewhere. The longer and longer you look into the deep etched runes and ethereal glow the deeper you sink.

Finally you fall, but its not into an unfamiliar place. You've been here before, this place close to the void but close to the material world at the same time. The Pagan Summoners taught you how to reach this place before, but you haven't been here in so long.

3/3 Heretic 2017/07/05(Wed)23:57 No. 813310 ID: 8a947d
File 149932426833.png - (22.13KB , 1212x826 , Inside the Clocktower 3.png )

Out of existence, but not quite nothing.

The Halfway

Why did it bring you here ? What's there to see ? You look around the empty white void, but see nothing as usual.

>>813310
Uh.....Aether Sight and look around?

I wouldn't be surprised if it sees you as a threat and is doing this to make you hold still so that it can kill you when you're unable to move!

>>813311
that might work

How mentally prepared are you right now? Because I think you may need steel yourself.

What is the Halfway anyways?

Maybe this wannabe god wants to parlay.

i think your dead

Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)06:33 No. 813349 ID: 8a947d
File 149934802201.png - (79.12KB , 1212x826 , Halfway to the Halfway House.png )

>>813345
No, you don't go to The Halfway when you die.

>>813340
You're pretty sure you're well prepared. You remember The Halfway from when you were younger; honestly it's always been sort of calming: the blankness, the sound of echoing water falling, and the slight breeze, empty but not quite nothing.

>>813343
Well, that's hard to explain without explaining the things around The Halfway. Okay so... there are multiple plains of existence (for example our world and the aether) and between these plains there's a gap you have to cross to get between them, that's The Void. A twisting ocean with no top and no bottom; endless nothingness.

There's also a gap between the plains of existence The Void, there's always something between everything, The Halfway is that space. It's important to learn how to enter The Halfway before you can summon a demon so plenty of Summoners learn to enter it.

>>813311
Oh! and there's another important thing. You aren't PHYSICALLY in The Halfway, right now you are astral projecting yourself into The Halfway. Your real body is still on Second Helchaim, yeah its all real confusing, but the point is since you aren't in your real body you can't use your blood to cast rituals.

>>813349
Urm, couple things. There's something that looks like water rising up, and what's that casting a massive shadow?

>>813349
But doesn't that mean that right now your body is in danger of getting attacked while you're here?! You didn't project yourself here, that giant Shard of Veacriel forced you here and it might be trying to kill you right now!

Wait, do you think that thing also affected Issei and Troy? They might be here somewhere! .....or you're the only one here and Issei and Troy are currently protecting your body.

Do we have the Shard still on us?

Either way look out for that shadow.

Call out:
Trying to parlay, Veacriel?

1/3 Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)07:44 No. 813356 ID: 8a947d
File 149935225882.png - (58.92KB , 1212x826 , Halfway to the Halfway House 2.png )

>>813353
You don't have anything except for the clothes you were wearing.

>>813350
The water's always there, its part of the Halfway. The shadows not however. You look up to see whats casting it...

2/3 Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)07:47 No. 813357 ID: 8a947d
File 149935242445.png - (165.19KB , 1212x826 , Halfway to the Halfway House 3.png )

You see...

something much bigger than you. Veacriel... he drifts through the Halfway slowly going nowhere. It looks like he's passing out of t he material world through the Halfway and into the Void.

You hear him whispering, but not to you. You can't make out anything it says but, you don't feel any danger. Just...Shaking ?

3/3 Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)07:57 No. 813359 ID: 8a947d
File 149935303257.png - (151.89KB , 1212x826 , Liberation.png )

Troy: Gallows! Hey!

You wake up to Troy shaking you.

Troy: You know from what Izzy's told me you sure do pass out a lot. What happened to ya ?

You: I...saw him

Troy: Who? That bastard behind all a this ?

You: Sorta? Veacriel. I saw him but...

Troy: But?

You: I don't think he was doing any of this on purpose.

Troy: What ? Ya mean to tell me he sent an entire city into madness by accident.

You: I...Kinda ? When I saw him he wasn't doing anything, he didn't even notice I was there. He just kept floating on and left

Troy: Well then what was all this mess about ?

You: I guess it's sort of like how people breath in air and breath out carbon dioxide. Its just something you do that can effect the things around you.

Troy: ...and the shards ?

You: Their like skin flakes, just fall off from time to time. Guess a big one landed near here and caused all of this.

Troy: but... Why'd he just pass over us ? He just accidentally almost causes another world disaster and moves on with no reason ?

You: How many anthills do you step over Troy ? You don't count each and everyone of them do you ? Whatever the reason it's over now...Where's Issei, hell where are we ?

Troy: Issei brought us to some workshop, said he wanted to check on some friends, everyone else in the clock tower snapped outta of it and left. People are still tryin' to process what happened, hell I'm still tryin' to process what happened.

Tell Troy you got pulled / forced to project yourself into the halfway when you saw the shard.

It was just floating there, in the halfway, not really doing anything. Just a giant box with arms coming out the bottom of it.

Could've been this Talos person was trying to muck around with things he didn't understand, or maybe he couldn't, how can you try to understand something like that?

What happened to the shard anyway? Both the big one in the clocktower and the little one you were carrying.

i think you just met a greet old one

A hurricane doesn't intend to destroy, it just does. Old ones like that are just a force of nature. No intent, just action.

But anyways, where's April??? She get out okay??

Where's the azerite?

>>813359
"I hope everyone will forgive us for killing the guys that were attacking us. They didn't really give us a choice. Oh yeah, did you find your sister?"

Wait, did Troy pass out too or did Freitast protect him from that?

Also, check your inventory to make sure that the Azerite didn't get stolen again!

Now that everything has calmed down, maybe now you can finally find that Pagan colony you were looking for when you first came here! No more city of crazies = plenty of time to look around!

Although, after everything you guys have been through, I think you guys should relax and take a break before you go looking for the colony.

1/3 Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)15:04 No. 813418 ID: 8a947d
File 149937865398.png - (95.10KB , 1212x826 , Roland and Bridgette.png )

>Azerite, Shard of Veacriel
Both are in your inventory, the Shard doesn't seem to be in any better or worse condition.

You: What happened to that giant shard back there ?

Troy: Well after you passed out I crushed it with Jet Black, and that fire thing you summoned burned the rest of it. The towers still standin' so everthin's fine.

You: And...your sister ?

Troy: She's in the hospital, When we found her she was hurt bad. Shes gonna be fine though, she's been through worse...

Troy: C'mon, lets go say hi to our hosts.

You and Troy leave the backroom and enter the main hall of the workshop. You see Issei.

Issei: ah you're okay, i was brought to this workshop during the disaster and used it for shelter. i also met this young woman, Troy, Roland this is-

You: Bridgette ?

Bridgette: R-Roland !?

2/3 Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)15:09 No. 813419 ID: 8a947d
File 149937896614.png - (81.19KB , 934x780 , Roland and Bridgette 2.png )

Bridgette runs forward and hugs you.

Bridgette: I had no idea you were caught up in this mess! Why are you in New Olmec?

You: Why am I? Why are you ? Last I saw you were in picking mushrooms on the other side of the country.

Bridgette: It's a long story, one that starts with a wedding!

You: You got married ? Man I missed so much! I'm sorry I couldn't make the-

Troy: Umm...You two know each other?

You: Well yeah we know each other!

3/3 Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)15:13 No. 813420 ID: 8a947d
File 149937920953.png - (113.41KB , 1212x826 , Roland and Bridgette 3.png )

You and Bridgette roll up your sleeves and show your upper arms, slowly two red tattoos begin to show against your skin. The Heretics fork, the mark of the Pagans.

You: I'm glad I found you! I need to find the Pagan Colony in this city.

Bridgette: Well that'll be no problem. I may be blind but I know the city streets forwards and backwards, but don't you want to rest first ? From what Issei's told me you sure could use it.

Bridgette:...and a shower too

>>813420
>Rest first?
"Actually, I think all 3 of us could us some rest after what we had to fight. And if you know where we could get some food, that'd also be something we could use."

>...and a shower too.
"HEY!!! It's not my fault that something mind controlled me and forced me to stand around in a room crowded full of the entire town! Especially, since it's their smell that got on me, since they've probably been standing around in there longer than I did!"

*sniff* "Ugh, somehow I don't think washing my clothes will get rid of the smell. I hate to say it, but I think I might have to go to a Priest and ask for them to perform an exorcism on my clothes to get rid of the smell!"

Rest would be good. How long have you been wearing that set of bandages for Roland? They could probably do with being changed, or at least washed.

Ask Issei what happened while you were mind controlled. It sounds like him and Troy really pulled your arse outta the fire, so they both (Mainly Issei because we saw how much he kicked ass) deserve thanks.

Heretic 2017/07/06(Thu)20:21 No. 813503 ID: 8a947d
File 149939767712.png - (72.61KB , 1086x728 , Rest.png )

Rest does sound nice. After all the bullshit you've all been through getting to sleep and bathe would be nice. You're also kind off hungry.

Bridgette: You three are welcome to stay at my house. Gallows you can use the shower.

Bridgette: From the looks of it people don't really understand what's happened, there's a litte confusion but I'm sure things'll clear up tomorrow.

Bridgette: Then we can head down to the colony and get what you need.

Bridgette leads you to her house.

>>813503
>From the looks of it
Funny choice of words coming from the blind girl! XD

But seriously, we killed a few people that were possessed. I hope the townsfolk can understand and forgive us for possibly killing their friends and/or family.

What's her house like?

>>813521
It's a figure of speech, everyone uses those. You don't need to change how you talk just because you're blind or deaf or whatever.

>>813524
I know, but from what I've seen so far, Roland and Bridgette are close enough friends that Roland is allowed to get away with making jokes about saying things like that and Bridgette will be ok with it.

>>813503
So quick clarification is she a childhood friend?

>>813526
Mate I'm deaf IRL and if one of my friends pulled that it wouldn't be offensive, but it wouldn't be funny either. It's just been done to death. It's like asking what's up with airline food these days, even if you're trying to be ironic it just falls flat.

>>813528
Buddy, I have an IRL friend that is blind and they don't give a fuck. In fact, they even encourage those kinds of jokes and they make some jokes too and we all laugh our asses off!

Eh, people all have different senses of humor.

Regardless, onto the house and into the shower!

1/2 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)14:02 No. 813686 ID: 8a947d
File 149946136457.png - (82.11KB , 1212x826 , Bridgettes house.png )

>>813527
You knew her in your teenage years. You were good friends, but like a lot of the people you know you lost touch when you set out to steal the Azerite and go on your journey.

>>813521
Nobody knows it was you guys, that's not a problem.

You arrive at Bridgette's house. It's one of the smaller houses but that being said it's still pretty big.

Troy: Beautiful house you have here.

Bridgette: I'll have to take you word for it, Gallows the guest rooms down that way, it's probably filthy. Aw man all the food's probably gone bad too... Dammit.

Issei: i can help you shop if you need more, i assure you it's no trouble whatsoever

Bridgette: Well, all the shops are probably still closed. Sorry guys you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

2/2 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)14:04 No. 813688 ID: 8a947d
File 149946149419.png - (85.61KB , 1212x826 , Bridgettes house 2.png )

Bridgette shows you up to the guest room on the second floor. It's dusty, but still nice. That bed's enticing even when it has a blanket of dust over it.

Do you want to sleep now ?

>>813688
Not yet, lets get cleaned up because we probably stink of blood and cthulhu viscera. So lets have a shower and then maybe get something to eat.

Why are you asking?! Headbutt the pillow!

>>813686
>Well, all the shops are probably still closed. Sorry guys you'll have to wait until tomorrow.
The closed shops aren't the problem. The problem is most or all of the food in town has gone bad, since everyone was forced to stand around in the Clock Tower for a really long time!

>>813688
Bathe first, then pick up that blanket and shake it as hard as you can to get as much of that dust off of the bed, then you can sleep.

1/2 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)14:51 No. 813708 ID: 8a947d
File 149946431921.png - (130.52KB , 1212x826 , Shower.png )

>Shower

As much as you love the smell of sweat blood and madness you should shower, you have no other change of clothes so instead you just change your wrappings with the bandages Issei had.

2/2 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)14:53 No. 813709 ID: 8a947d
File 149946441817.png - (180.50KB , 1212x826 , Sunrise.png )

You waste no time leaping into bed. The sun may be rising but you don't care, you plan on taking the longest nap possible.

Sooo.....skill point/level up time for everyone?

Any interesting dreams to be had?

1/4 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)16:28 No. 813734 ID: 8a947d
File 149947012141.png - (2.94KB , 1212x826 , Whats to come 1.png )

...

2/4 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)16:39 No. 813739 ID: 8a947d
File 149947074088.png - (59.55KB , 1212x826 , Whats to come 2.png )

Boss: Why haven't we heard back from the execution team yet ? Shorty, what did you see when you scryed New Olmec.

Shorty: Nothing! just a cloud of red I couldn't see through! It went away after a while but I couldn't find none of them.

Slim: I ain't heard nothin' from da chatterboxes eitha'

Boss:... Sounds bad.

???: Want me to go now ? my fishies are getting bored sitting around.

Boss: No Thea, you don't have an effigy. It would be dangerous for you to go.

3/4 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)16:42 No. 813743 ID: 8a947d
File 149947096991.png - (78.87KB , 1212x826 , Whats to come 3.png )

Slim: Boss! can I go ? I'm still pissed dat dis mook gotta cheap shot off on me.

Shorty: Yeah! I wanna give it another go too!

Boss:Fine, but if you guys fail Thea's going in.

Thea: Yaaaaaaaaay!

4/4 Heretic 2017/07/07(Fri)16:44 No. 813744 ID: 8a947d
File 149947106956.png - (72.59KB , 1212x826 , Whats to come 4.png )

Boss: We're running out of time people, we need to hurry it up before we miss our chance

Boss:...

Boss: Gallows...You're much more of a threat than I thought.

[END CHAPTER 4]

For any questions comments or concerns go to the disthread: https://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/111978.html