>>225729
Yes.

>>225745
Also these are all good questions I think.

>>225729

>> Simply "doing good" would not be enough to counteract the annihilation of civilizations.

Oh no, don't go down that route. You can never make up for the mistakes of the past. The only thing you need to worry about is what to do for the future. Basically what I'm saying is if you were to become a low life shanking boozing womanizing cuttthroat tax evader, yet somehow avoid causing the annihilation of civilizations, I would consider that a rousing success. As you are now, you're walking on water morally, simply by being a decent person and not say, flipping out and surrounding yourself in a fortress composed entirely of dried blood. What you need to worry about, if anything, is not making amends for your past, or the history you learned about blood mages; it's how to keep yourself from making the same mistakes that they did. If you do that, and only that, you will have repaid your debt to society in spades. And honestly I think you can do more than that.

>>225879
...Maybe I have been trying to think of myself in the wrong context...

>>225748
>>225867
"No. Eiko, when I was at the library, a soul mage ran screaming in terror just from looking at me. I ran out after him, and he told me I did not have a soul."

Eiko's face mutes as she stares at me.

"I tried to get him to explain, but he kept screaming, so I sedated him. An olao ran up and yelled at me a little, then he turned invisible somehow and left. I don't know where."

"...Why are you telling me this?"

I shrug, nonchalantly tilting my head.

"It seemed like something you should know."

>>225745
Eiko died from incised wounds, the fatal one had torn her neck open. She mentioned a wild demon, it could be advantageous to look into them...

"C--"

"Ram, can we have the picnic inside?"

"Sure, that would be fine."

"Good."

She sits down on a chair and lets out a relaxing sigh. I sit down opposite the table from her.

"I've got something you should probably hear, then."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you wanted to know how I got summoned, didn't you... Well, this relates."

She leans heavily over the table with her elbow, bracing her head up with her hand.

"Not really sure where to start.. guess when I was born is a safe bet. At the time I was summoned, I was about ninety minutes old. It sorta caught the mages by surprise; they didn't really think that the transforming demon they were summoning was going to be a baby."

She raises her other hand up and looks at me.

"One of the mages decided they'd adopt me. Grew up mimicking things, managed to fit it surprisingly well, not that anyone knew otherwise."

She looks towards the wall to her left.

"I went out to see how things were, but... aw, hell."

She puts her hands down on the table and lifts her head to look at me.

"I'm not one of the founders, but I belong to a group of people that.. well, currently, are investigating the cult that took your friend, and whatever else is going on, too."

I can barely contain myself from saying "what" out loud.

"I didn't tell them anything about you.. but I just thought you should know, if you wanted so join up or anything, I could introduce you..."

>>229025
>I can barely contain myself from saying "what" out loud.
Oh just say it and get over with. A calm and rational explaination can then follow.

>>229025
"Well, I'd at least like to talk to them; maybe they'll be able to help Fizz and Kav.
They'll certainly know what to do about the cultist - Rosaline.
When would be a good time to meet them?"

>>229025
Really not that much of a surprise. Is this related to where she just went? She hasn't actually mentioned you to them, or anything, has she?

As for joining, while it would probably be mutually useful, I'm going to have to recommend you don't. Wait. Unless they've got a soul mage, maybe. Even then if they'd help without you joining that would be better.

Basically, you don't need to go let more people know you're a Blood Mage. We already did that way too many times. And joining while keeping that secret would only slow you both down. Have Eiko go as a run between, you can be an anonymous informant or something.

She probably would like to question that member of said cult though. You should go do that.

>>229025
YES PLEASE! This is the excitement we've been waiting for!

Also, taking down the cult would be a good Goal for you. It's not particularly difficult and doesn't involve killing innocents so you'd be keeping the status of your first Goal intact.

>>229025
That certainly explains why she was killed. Also very interesting, but you should probably not join with them. You don't really know anything about them except that Eiko is a member.

But you should certainly offer to help in taking down that cult. They're causing problems, which might lead to someone looking a bit closer at certain suspicious stuff that could lead them to you. And that would just be annoying, so lets put a stop to this cult buisness before they do something stupid.

And there you go, secret fucking agent Ramma. That is if this organization is like that. Still, agent of some sort.

>>229025

You're telling her this to explain why you hadn't read the book yet. Also you REALLY wanted to get it off your mind. It's KIND of disturbing and it makes you WORRIED for your friends.

As for that cult thing, great! That means she knows of others who could help Fizz. Uh, but make sure that earth mage cop isn't part of the group, because you really don't feel comfortable about seeing her just yet.

>>229029
"What..."

Eiko puts a hand to her face.

"I'm sorry... okay? A lot was going on and I didn't..."

She exhales loudly, and stands up, walking towards the kitchen.

"My summoner started it, but... he died."

It sounds like she is trying to exposit several thoughts at once..

Kav walks out of the kitchen, looking at Eiko. She moves towards the bathroom... pauses, then instead goes into the bedroom again. Eiko heads into the kitchen and returns holding some bananas and apples.

"It's kinda ill-defined, really... It's not official or anything, joining would be closer to just introducing you. The real reason I was at that restaurant... well, it's not a leap of logic to figure that out now, I guess."

She sits down and starts peeling a banana.

"So, I'm looking into the restaurant for any information about this cult thing, an explosive goes off, and suddenly a giant ice wolf chews me up and the next thing I know, I'm alive again."

"...I think I would rather not have any more people potentially know I am a blood mage."

She nods.

"Yeah... I figured you'd want to keep that quiet. Well, if there's anything I could do, or ask them for you...?"

>>229045
"Is there a soul mage?"

She finishes peeling the banana and says "No, but I bet there's someone that knows of one." before eating it.

>>229200
"The nevrean that was there in the police station... she is not part of it, correct?"

She raises her brow at me. "No, though there is someone that's sorta with the police I guess."

>>229119
I do not think the "goal" thing applies to me... it just doesn't ring true, somehow.

>>229130
>>229178
>>229200
"Eiko, I am going to stop this cult."

"Then you can count me in. I think you'll probably need help, no offense. I already know a little, so if you have any questions, I might know the answers. They're called the Artists of Zai, by the way."

>>229031
"What about the cultist in the bathroom?"

She finishes the banana and replies, holding a hand to her head.

"Well, if you want me to start interrogating her, or take the shape of one of the other ones I could. I'd definitely like to ask her a few things..."

She blinks.

"Oh, and you wanted to talk to me about demons, didn't you?"

...I do not think I should let her talk to the cultist before me, for some reason. Apart from that, I could ask her about her powers, or discuss Kav, and if she knows about these Artists of Zai...

>>232125
Ask about Kav.

This date isn't turning out so romantic; it's too business.

>>232125
Yeah definitely don't leave them alone together or anything. The way she spoke about her dad, it seems pretty obvious that he was killed by the cult. Even if she's pretty much a good person, she's still likely to want revenge on anyone related to the cult. Things should probably go fine as long as you take the lead, though? Going to see her now probably isn't a bad idea.

Some questions: Anything to the name? Who exactly is this Zai fellow? What are they trying to achieve? Just general havoc, or are they trying to take over the city? What exactly is up with the bombs?

We should find out: More about the cult, more about Vengeance Demons, and maybe a little bit more about her powers. In order of importance.

When we have a little time we should speak to the prisoner, and tell her not to spill the beans about our little deal. It's better if she assumes that you're dealing with her for selfish reasons. It'll keep her from freaking out about the anti-cult group as much. She's more likely to trust you if she thinks you're taking advantage of the anti-cult group to gain power (which we kindof are a little bit).

>>232142
"Artists of Zai... What are they trying to do, exactly?"

She raises a brow at me.

"...To be honest? I'm not entirely sure. They seem to be summoning demons for no apparent reason."

"That does not make any kind of sense. Eiko, you are a demon, but contrary to expectations, you have been pleasant and courteous, and... I... I enjoy your company."

Eiko blinks at me, obviously surprised.

"Well... Thanks. I could say the same about you, o' incarnated nightmare."

...I think we just complimented eachother.

"So... Artists of Zai."

"Yeah. Alright, here's everything I've gathered so far. The Artists seem to be separated into chapters spread about the city. The chapters usually have about 3-6 people, which is enough to summon some minor demons, but..."

"Who or what is Zai?"

Eiko stares at me and narrows her eyes.

"Well, that's just it! For some reason, I haven't been able to find out! It doesn't make any sense..."

She illustrates her words by waving her arms around.

"The most I've been able to find out is that they're worshiping, or following, or doing something to someone or thing called Zai, and they call themselves 'artists' sometimes. I've never heard of who Zai is, and even when I asked people that would, nobody had any idea what I was saying. And there's more, too..."

She stops moving her arms and sits back in her chair solemnly.

"A lot of them... I keep getting the impression they don't really know what they're doing."

She seems to be kind of exasperated with this...

"I mean... you can usually tell if someone's the demon-summoning type. They're cool, but strong... and these members seem... I suppose the right word is 'brainwashed'. And the demons they're summoning are far stronger than what they should be capable of."

She sighs and shuts her eyes.

"They're not well-organized... but they haven't fallen apart; in fact they've been becoming more numerous if anything."

She opens her eyes again and holds up a finger, black swirling around it.

"But there's one thing I've definitely noticed. In every chapter.. there's at least one person that does know what they're doing. They're stronger than the rest.. you can tell. But they aren't acknowledged as leader, and from what I can tell, the chapters don't even communicate."

"What about the bombs?"

She shakes her head.

"They've only used a few, but.. seemingly randomly, I can't find a pattern. They kidnap people too, and summon fresh. It's a giant mess."

She sighs again.

"Well... That's what I know, anyway."

>>232361
"How do morphic demons work?"

She nods and seems to relax again back to her usual state. I think she appreciates the subject change.

"Suppose I should try to summarize. I can assume any form with near perfection at any time. It doesn't 'run out' or anything, I can always do it, it's natural. I'm.. well, I suppose average strength here, which determines how fast I can change, how finely I can control it, and how well I can retain it before reverting back. You already know I can copy clothes and people, though inanimate objects are very difficult. Oh, and the forms I can take aren't just empty shells, they're the entire body, insides and outsides. That being said... we're not exactly powerhouse demons, but we can sort of use the changing power to... you could say, amplify our bodies?"

She shrugs. I recall back to the prison... I could definitely tell there was something off with her when she was impersonating the officer.

"Ah, and the base forms. Morphic demons... don't really have natural forms, well, I suppose the fluid one could count, but it isn't really appropriate for the category. Anyway, all morphic demons have base forms that they create themselves by seeing a species and copying them, but putting our own spin on it."

She waves her hand around while it partially melts into liquid.

"And we can read people from a distance too, knowing they're there is enough to copy their bodies."

She frowns.

"...We do get sick, which is annoying."

>>232132
"What about vengeance demons?"

She puts her hand on her head.

"Ohh. To be honest... I don't really know. From what I've learned, they're strong, very strong, and can summon themselves under certain circumstances. Also... something about blades, but I don't really know where that comes into it."

She removes the hand from her head and shrugs the shoulder it connects to.

"You have that book though, and... well, I don't want to pry, but can't you ask her yourself?"

...To be honest, I don't want to.

>>232735
Book time! Look up Vengeance Demons real quick.

Note that Kav seemed to want to get into the bathroom. Perhaps she needs to use the toilet.

>>232735
"Oh, yea, the book slipped my mind, sorry. As far as asking her goes, though? Well, she's afraid of me and knows I want her out of Fizz's body. I don't think she would tell me the truth.
So, besides your group, what do you do? Job? Hobbies?"

You know, we saw some signs of demonic magic on Fizz before Kav was summoned, and she had a nightmare the first night we were here. Maybe we should read what she wrote in her diary the next day. I'm betting the cult had nothing to do with Kav, considering she is able to summon herself. Or maybe Fizz was the cafe target and Eiko was collateral damage.

So, the cult is inept, right. I think we got an idea of that. Someone is pulling the strings between each cell. We need to find them.

Kav seems to be an endless spring of demonic knowledge. Go ask her about Zai.

>>232777
I'm pretty sure we established that Kav has been in Fizz since she got the scar as a kid, right? And assuming that the bombs were coordinated with the group we just dealt with, it seems unlikely that they would be targeting Fizz/Kav, since they had no idea that there was already a demon in her. Eiko couldn't have been the target either, since she was already dead.

On this note, I think our next move on the cult front should be to investigate the bombings. They're the biggest mystery we can look into right now. We have no idea what the intent there is, and if we can figure that out, we should be able to get a better idea of their goal. Ram's house is obvious. There was also the cafe and the other house we went to, right? See if Eiko knows about any other locations.

Hm, as an afterthought, I wonder why the mages were summoning a demon anyway. I'm not sure if that's prying into Eiko's past, though. If you're going to, maybe you could ask about that name she took when you met... Raka. Any significance to that?

@ Ram 2010/10/01(Fri)08:48 No. 236882 ID: 0b2a05
File 128594812215.png - (62.82KB , 682x690 , rendition.png )

>>232740
She did not have to use the toilet.

>>232743
"...We got off on the wrong.. foot. It is not difficult to say that I would much rather talk to you than her."

"Well okay, let's take a look."

She picks up the book and puts it on the table, and subsequently moves her chair closer to sit next to me.

We open the book and quickly find the section on vengeance demons. There is an illustration, with the words "Artist Rendition" beside it. The structure in back reminds me of a snowflake...

Eiko narrates the passages out in summary.

"Vengeance demons are elusive and powerful, and apparently they've been having trouble collecting information on them. They seem to have an association with metals, their skin is reflective, they've got blades for tails, and from what I can tell from this picture, some kind of tree growing out of their back?"

"..I don't much trust this picture."

"You'll find I'm not contrary to that opinion. What else... Oh, here's the part on the blades. They presumably create them out of thin air, not that any of you mortals would know something like that, and they fling them around without having to actually touch them. I wonder if all the blades look the same, or if it differs from demon to demon... Oh, here, look at this."

Eiko points at a subsection off to the side of the page. It looks like it is about self-summoning capabilities.

"A vengeance demon can cross the dimensional barrier on its own, but they're not sure why. It seems to have something to do with major emotional responses... and that's how they got their name, enacting vengeance for those that.. might summon them by accident?"

She puts an amorphous hand up to rub the bridge of her nose.

"This is confusing."

We might as well take a break... Eiko still does not seem as calm as usual.

"Eiko?"

"Mm, yeah?"

"What do you like to do?"

She thinks deeply for a minute, putting her hand to her chin.

"I guess... I like eating good food, and I've always loved looking at gigantic trees. Mimicking people is always fun, though it isn't exactly something I can do in bare public. Reading, also, and exploring the city."

She exhales cathartically, and her tone seems to have moved back closer to its original.

>>233004
"Why did you want me to call you 'Raka'?"

She waves her hand.

"Ah, that's just one of the names I use when I'm out."

...I believe she is hiding something.

"Maybe we should take a break."

Eiko nods and puts her feet on the table, leaning back in her chair.

>>232777
I walk to the bedroom door, and open it. Kav is sitting on the bed, reading the diary.

>>236882
Okay, who knows how much of that is accurate when they aren't in their own bodies. But yeah, "the taking revenge for their hosts" thing should have been obvious. Let's see, Fizz got the scar when she was a kid, right? We should probably go try to find her family or something, someone's in danger. For now we have other things to worry about, so just keep an eye on her. And don't let her do stuff like read Fizz's diary.

Ask her what she's looking for. Doesn't she have Fizz's memories already? Have we pressed her on how she ended up here at all? If she has a duty for vengeance, it's worth knowing her side of the story.

Repeating that she might know something about Zai. Ask if she even cares about the cult at all, too.

>>236882
I, uh...

Actually, >>236887 pretty much has it covered, I think.

The scar on her hand was something she remembers her grandfather by. I don't think that's the cause of the heightened emotions that led to Kav being summoned. It's more likely that whatever she had nightmares about are the main cause... and it just took a little push (getting kidnapped) on top of that to bring Kav in.

Tell Kav you've decided to bring down the Demon Cult. Ask her if she wants to help.

>>236882

>> Mimicking people is always fun, though it isn't exactly something I can do in bare public.

Have her turn into you. Now neither of you will be virgins.

>>236951
Hey, Ram isn't even a virgin. We totally asked him about it a while back.

>>236954

Yeah but... the reference...

>>236951
She already did that. Though it did not last for long...

>>236887
>>236894
"Kav, you shouldn't be reading that."

"...Why not.."

This is going to go phenomenally...

"What are you looking for? I thought you already had Fizz's memories."

She shrugs almost imperceptibly.

"I do not have them all, I told you... Besides.. Everyone forgets some things..."

She sighs, and after a moment, puts the book down.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to talk about you."

"What did you want to know?"

She speaks quickly after I finish talking, like she is trying to get through the conversation as fast as possible.

"What are you doing here?"

She pauses for a few substantial moments before answering.

"I was put in your friend a long time ago for a purpose that is no longer relevant. I cannot completely remember the details.. and my perception before yesterday was sporadic and incomplete."

She waits another substantial moment.

"...My recollection from before that is a haze."

>>236910
She had two scars, but that would make sense. I should have asked her about the nightmares... Fizz could have written it down.. or Kav might know.

"What do you know about Zai?"

She sits still.

"Never heard of it."

I sit down on the bed behind her, taking the diary.

"Are you sure? The cultists that kidnapped you.. Fizz.. Eiko said that they called themselves 'Artists of Zai'."

"...The enuzian can tell you whatever she wants about me. I have never heard of anything called 'Zai'. You hold her in high esteem, put a lot of stock into what she says, do you not?"

"I thought you were more subtle than that, Kav."

"..."

"I am going to disband the Artists of Zai."

I hear her head lower.

"Are you, then."

"Do you care?"

"...Maybe."

"Are you going to help me?"

"..."

"..."

"...Yeah. Okay."

That was easier than I expected. I stand--Kav places her hand on my side, I can feel her tendons and muscles move as she turns her to me, heart pumping blood through her hand.

"Fizz. Do you want me to tell you anything about her?"

...I do not know how to answer that. I think she is implying something... but I cannot tell what it is.

>>239331
"I wish for you to have your own body. If it is something she would rather say herself, and can wait till then, then I'd rather she be allowed that choice. Otherwise, I would love to hear it.
As far as Eiko, she hasn't spoken ill of you. She is wary, but has not shown antipathy towards you."

Only if it's a thing that can be considered dangerous to everyone's well-being or it's instrumental to prior events. Everything else is Fizz's to say when she wants to. Unless of course Kav can recall anything Fizz wanted to say to you before she became Kav.

Maybe... maybe what precisely happened when she was kidnapped. What went through her mind, the location of her abduction, etc. unless I'm forgetting something she's already told us. I dunno. Ask what she means by asking you that question.

Don't bite on that hook. Kav hasn't been acting on the level, I wouldn't trust her.

>>239353
What do you mean? She has never attempted to lie or otherwise deceive us. She's kept things from us, sure, but considering what she said she originally wanted from us, her actions make sense.

>>239331
Ask what it was that was a worse pain than what you subjected her to in the cafe. ...that's probably too far in the past though. I guess you could ask who you should talk to to pay rent (if it's due before we separate Kav and Fizz), or if she has any friends we need to contact to make sure they're not going to worry about her.

I guess you could ask if she honestly liked you, or was just too scared to betray you.

>>239331
Is she still okay? Other than that, no. We trust her, don't we?

I mean, I guess?

I think we trust Fizz to tell us everything she wants us to know. She might be somewhat aware (a question we should ask Kav right now), and that taking advantage of Kav's offer might just be a way to drive a wedge between us and her.

Don't tell Kav that though.

>>239350
>>239351
>>239353
>>239364
>>239397
>>239439
>>240259
"Is there something you should tell me?"

I can feel her heart quicken its pace, her eyes dilate slightly and her skin start to perspire.

"..."

"Is she still alive?"

"Yeah.."

"Is she conscious?"

She shakes her head.

"Then she can tell me herself after I make you a new body."

"Mh..."

She withdraws her hand and looks down and I shift back keeping in contact with her hand a moment before standing up.

Kav is silent as I walk out the door.

...

Eiko is sitting down at the table, eating. I am again wondering how her metabolism functions.. I have the diary now, and it looks rather full. Is there anything I should look for? The cultist also, is still waiting. I could keep her doing so for longer...

In the diary, first look at the most recent entry, and then the entry for the first night you showed up.

>>241201
Start at the end, work your way to your arrival. If that doesn't help, flip through for any mentions of demons or cults. Stop as soon as you get anything useful, at any point.

o god

Fizz totally raped you in your sleep.

So that's what that dream was.

>>241331
What? No way. It's more likely Fizz thinks Ram is super awesome, and Kav is like "oh god if I tell Ram he's going to want me out of this body so fast". I mean, we have been really good to her.

How about we go talk to the cultist? Hmm... I bet we could speak to her by directly vibrating her eardrums via Blood Magic. It would be impossible for anyone to listen in. This is a good time to do it, since Eiko is gonna be busy eating. All we really want is for the cultist not to blab about our offer of power. Not until we figure out exactly what we're going to be using her for, and if Eiko would approve.

@ Ram 2010/10/18(Mon)01:56 No. 245549 ID: 24a9bd
File 128739218327.png - (59.74KB , 682x682 , roommates.png )

>>241331
...No, I definitely would have known if she had.

Definitely.

>>241913
...Hm. After I read this. I am a fast reader, it should not take very much extra time.

>>241270
The most recent entry first...

Entry 472

Ram is staying over. His apartment burned down, he said. I don't know if he's lying. I hope he isn't. I'm afraid. I don't know if I did the right thing. If he's telling the truth, he's always been telling the truth. It must be horrible, having nobody to talk to, and being mistrusted by everyone, at least, if they knew about you. But not even being able to tell anyone... he told me so easily, I wasn't sure until he said it, but he was the one that confirmed it. He must have been dying to for ages. I can't let my own fear stop me from treating him like a person. If I'm the only one that ever will, then he deserves at least that much. I have to be his friend. I really hope he's telling the truth.

...What.

>>241275
I flip back to the beginning.

Entry 1!
Free. Finally free. Free of the Sal family's suffocating influence! This is my diary, and if you're reading it, you'd better have a good reason!

My family doesn't understand me. I'm not a sick little child anymore, and even when I was, they treated me like I was useless! No matter what I did, they never got it, always I was the one they 'had to account for'. Well, not anymore. I feel better now than I have in my entire life. I have to show them they're wrong, that I'm not the handicapped girl they think I am. I need to go out and make a name for myself, without their help! When Varona transferred, she brought me with her, and we're going to be roommates! I have a good feeling about this.

~Fizz-Tongue Sal

...What.

Fuck, why didn't we realize this sooner? Varona is Fizz's roommate. This complicates things.

I think we should go check on her; make sure the raid on the cultists went okay. They probably won't recognize you at this point.

>>245549
Do as much research on Varona as you can. Then change your species, gender, coloration, and voice, then show up in her bedroom in the middle of the night, hit her with a blow-dart containing your blood, and paralyze her.
We're going to tell her things she needs to know, take credit for stopping the cultists as this new identity, and start asking questions.
We might consider letting her know that there's a blood mage backing her up, but I really doubt that would be a wise idea.

>>245549
Yeah okay let's move getting Fizz back to highest priority, so we can get her help interacting with Varona, then. Unless we decide to have Kav pose as Fizz for us. Man, think of all the wacky hijinx that would ensue. That is totally the worst plan we are going to do if we can't find a lead on a soul mage.

Okay, so, first, Rose. Ask her about stuff, figure out what she is doing, see if she knows of a soul mage. Or did we do that last one already?

Then we talk to Kav once more, see if we can actually get her help and what we would need for a soul transfer into a homunculus or something.

Then finally we start looking for Emmett and Kwants, if we don't have another lead. Even if we got off on the wrong foot, it's better to work with people we've already met.

>>245832
I endorse this plan of action.

OK.

Wait.

So Varona is that crazy earth mage that locked you in the clink? Fizz must be the person she's looking for! She did confess she was looking for someone in particular, I think? Might be bad to show her Fizz when Fizz is possessed by Kaz still though.

For that matter... Varona has been looking for her lost friend for a long time now... exactly how long has Fizz been Kaz? It can't have been more than a few days since the botched ritual. What about before that?





...did we ever know Fizz at all?

I think our time with Fizz was legitimate. No reason to start jumping at shadows after the big reveal. Varona just wasn't looking for Fizz, it was probably someone else cult related.

I want to know how the cult target Fizz. Go question our prisoner/recruit (I think that was a horrible move, btw, but I suppose we couldn't just kill her or let her go).

Ram, could you continue reading each entry since the day she met you in the restaurant?

Let's not read any more of the diary. It's kindof rude and we just told Kav not to. I don't think Ram wants to be a hypocrite. Probably found out the most important bits anyway:
Fizz feels sorry for Ram and decided to be his friend
Varona is Fizz's roommate

@ Ram 2010/10/28(Thu)03:49 No. 249261 ID: 24a9bd
File 128826297733.png - (58.07KB , 682x682 , bow.png )

>>246115
Yes. There is something else here as well.

The Sal family is a paragon of influence. It would not be wholly inaccurate to say they run half of the city of Caske, and part of Meriff as well, I remember hearing about them when I was younger. They are not purportedly mobsters.. though I do not know for certain.

>>245552
She apprehended, interrogated, and threw me in a jail cell. Even if her later demeanor was apologetic, I would rather she was oblivious to my existence. And she knew Fizz...

...Nothing is ever simple.

>>245554
Okay. I need to deal with her. Injecting my blood... It would be more reasonable to synthesize paralytics.

But I do not know where she sleeps, or how I would research her.. apart from Kav, Fizz, or the diary.. or doing something very reckless.

>>246079
Mmh. Maybe later... there are no other entries between the last one and the day I met her. Looking through this.. it seems that she slowly started to space out her entries. It had been almost a week and a half before her last entry.

>>245934
>>245980
She said her 'friend'.. and I do not think she has very many. I think it is likely she was referring to Fizz. I have only known Fizz a few days.

...I don't think it would be wise for the two to meet while Fizz is possessed.

>>245832
>>245835
That sounds like a workable plan. The cultist first.

I unlock the door to the bathroom and walk inside.

"Wl--!"

The cultist slips and nearly falls. I run forwards and catch her, feeling her skin and the small errors still present in her anatomical makeup and her heart beating. She stammers and circles around.

She looks at me with wide eyes and hesitation before stooping into a low bow, letting her arms hang while she stammers out her sentence.

"I--YES! I AGREE! I will do what you wish..."

...If I assert my authority over her, she would easily bend under it.

>>249261
Give her a hug. If she seems to be terrified or otherwise abnormal then ask what got her so worked up.

>>249268
This sounds like a good course of action.

Approaching an enemy we converted into a servant with soft affection is not a good plan. A firm, detached, yet compassionate approach should be optimal to keep her in line.

Tell her we have plans to dissolve the demon cult, and if there's anyone she wants dead or not-dead she should tell us before the fighting starts. Also tell her that in a little while, Eiko will want to interrogate her, and she should not reveal our little arrangement. I'm sure Eiko can come up with a convincing reason to have her help us.

>>249261
Fizz is the daughter of a kobold mafia boss? That's kinda badass. Fizz may be shy and seemingly meek but deep inside (not counting Kaz) she's probably a really tough woman.

Tell the Volto to relax, you're only a firm asshole with people who could be dangerous to you. Then thank her for her decision and that there's a lot of good and simplifying to be done.

>>249320
I'm for consistency, in this situation. Ram has already acted one way toward her, to suddenly and heavily switch tracks is just weird.
That means I'm supporting this.

>>249320
On second thought, don't bother trying to make her keep the promise a secret. Instead, let's tell Eiko we're lying to her and don't actually plan to give her any power. That way, Eiko will be okay with the 'deal'. We can eventually figure out if Eiko would be okay with Ram gaining a foothold in the city.

...wait, what would we even do if we had a little group of our own? Would it be an organized crime syndicate, a group of mercenaries, bodyguards, crime fighters, what?

Assert the shit out of that authority.

You've got enough relationship stuff going on. We need minions who do as they're told.

Screw that, Ram needs friends he can trust. He's so wooden that he needs honest emotion in his life, in order to avoid the common pitfall past blood mages have fallen into. Keep in mind he's still a cold logical individual.

But now is the time for harsh questioning. Find out EVERYTHING about the cult, how many of them are there, how many plans do they have ongoing, are those two we ran into related to them somehow, is there anything going on with them right now, and so on.

>>249261
Don't hug her. Assert your authority and make sure she understands that she's a servant. Maybe she could be something else in the future, but right now that's what she is.

Hmm, so many things you could probably do. Getting Eiko's help and further investigating the Artists would probably be a good choice.

And screw telling other people it was you who did something about them. Unless their existance becomes widely known you're hardly very likely to gain any real recognition for it. And simply stopping some demonic cult wouldn't change peoples assumption about bloodmages, it's far better if as few people as possible know about that fact.

>>249352
If she specifically left the Sal family, I suspect that that is true. ...And they are not gangsters. Purportedly.

>>249268
>>249292
>>251473
>>249320
>>250526
>>250955
>>251477
As of yet, I still know little of her. I do not think it would be a good idea to dispel whatever image she may have subconsciously built of me.. but I will try to keep from going too far.

"Good decision."

I slowly cross behind and face her. She raises her eyes and turns to watch me.

"Tell me everything you can about your former employers. How were you inducted?"

She looks down at the tile to clear her head.

"..I was studying Ritualism at the library, and I had a job as a waitress at Renmen."

That must be the restaurant.

"That human.. I left my books there once on accident, when I came to pick them up, she told me I was weak, that I didn't even know what to look for. She said she knew what it was like to hold power, and she told me that if I went with her, she would give it to me."

"When exactly did this happen?"

"A little over five weeks ago. She brought me to the cave and.. my memory's spotty at that point. She said that magic was flawed, and that were going to turn ourselves into true demons, but to do that, we would have to control them."

Her expression looks uncertain.

>>250948
..I do not know. I think I am figuring it out more and more lately.

>>251473
...

>>255860
She doesn't seem to have that much common sense. "Let's follow a random crazy stranger toting unbelievable power". Ask her if her common sense bells rung at all and told her to be not believe at least half of that shit, that there must have been some other reason. No one is that stupid and unguided.

>>255860
True demons? Ask her what she means by that. Also note that we have two demons on our side right now... she may get her wish just yet, unless it requires something they don't like.

>>255860
First ask her about true demons. Then start working on a little plan.

They seem to be using the library as a recruiting ground. Now you're going to have to do something that might be a bit painful. Change your apperance, change it enough that nobody would recognise you, and hers as well. Then the two of you hang out in the library and read pretty much the same books she did the first time around, wait for them to approach you. Once they do then you follow them. Get taken to whatever secret base they got. Call in Eiko and Kav for back up. Deal with all the cultists except for whoever seems to be the leader. That one you take with you to get more information.

The problem is if the one who did the library reqruitment has vanished after you took down the place with the Volto. But it seems like a somewhat logical place to reqruit so they probably still have some people there who keep track of who checks out what.

>>255935
Perhaps the human said exactly what she wanted to hear.. or more likely, some form of mind control was involved.

"Why did you believe her?"

She starts from the question. It would seem I asked her the same thing she was thinking herself.

"...She seemed like she knew what she was talking about, and she was my coworker."

"That does not sound like a very convincing reason."

I see her eyes glance downwards, I do not think I can get anything more useful from this.

>>255940
..Instead, I ask her what a 'true' demon is in relation to an untrue demon.

"What is a true demon? And how does it differ from another demon?"

"True demon, well, you can hybridize people with demons, and you can splice them directly if you know how. ..True demons are.. untainted by mortal blood, they would require a perfect conversion to make."

"How difficult would that be?"

She shakes her head after a moment of thought.

"I don't know.. I would think it would be nearly impossible, but.. she seemed so confident.."

"What would be involved in that?"

"Well.. you would need a demon.. and.."

She breaks off, looking pensive.

"..The only way I can think of how to do it would be to lobotomize and subsume what's left.. but that didn't seem to be what she was talking about."

Hm.. I think I will leave out mentioning Kav and Eiko for the time being.

>>256242
...I think I know of a way to make that easy. There is a rare kind of ezilot that comes up from time to time, the result of unlikely unions. I myself carry the recessive characteristic. They have black fur and a black mane as well; many of them dye their fur because of it. It would definitely make me stand out, while simultaneously masking my identity.

If they are using the library as a recruiting ground.. that is a very bad sign. Would it be possible that the recruiters recognize her, though? If they have already heard about what happened to the rest of the cultists that kidnapped Fizz, they might be unwilling to approach her with me there, and unwilling to approach me with her there. It could be a better idea to bring Eiko... though that would leave Kav alone with the cultist, I suppose.

Regardless, is there anything I should do before leaving?

>>259761
Probably bounce the plan of the others and see what they think about it. Then you can get going with it the next day. Oh, and see how we are on spending money. Might be some expenses involved in the future.

Remember that Thri-kreen we met in the library? I'm willing to bet that she was part of the cult, or has been approached by them by now. We should try to keep an eye on her if we find her again.

Before we go, tell Eiko about our lead, and see if she wants to interrogate the prisoner too. Can't hurt to have a second perspective, and a cross-examination can help sometimes.

>>259790
Really, this... this pretty much addresses anything I had.

Why did you have to necro an awesome quest?! WHY?!

>>288827
Indeed

>>259781
I nod, and exit the room. "Stay here for a while.."

Eiko is waiting for me outside.

"Hi ho, Rambo."

I lift an eyebrow. She shrugs.

"Were you listening in?"

"Only a little; you speak kinda soft, you know. Problems?"

"No, but I am going to try and find some of the same people that found 'our guest' at the library. Maybe I can find something out."

She sits down on a pillow and looks up at me thoughtfully. "Seems like a logical next step. Want me to join you?"

"Do as you wish, though I'm not entirely sure how good an idea it is to leave those two alone.."

"Wait, you're going now?"

I nod in affirmation. "Yes."

She shrugs again, turning around. "I guess it makes sense.. The quicker you move the less chance they have to be on guard. Just in case they've been talking, though, think it'd be a good idea to have some sorta disguise?"

I blacken my fur, and shift my eye color to a more reddish orange. ..For some reason I feel a little lighter.

She turns around again, and blinks in exaggerated surprise.

"Well that certainly works. You know, if we're both going to be shapeshifters, do you think we should have a code word, or something to know each other by?"

Hm.. I can certainly tell who she is if I touch her, and I sincerely doubt someone could fake magic like mine...

>>321401
The method of identification should be clasping one of her hands with both of yours. If it's her then 'melt' your hands together so you encase each of her fingers independently before pulling away.
Or you could always give her a mind-blowingly good french kiss.

A code word would probably be best, if you happened to use your magic on the wrong person they would freak.
Just pick a phrase, about weather or something trivial like that.
Yay, its back. Now I have to read it all again.

>>321520
This makes sense, yeah.

>>321520
We would be able to tell it's Eiko by touch. Thus, we would only do the hand trick if it's her. Granted, clasping hands may be visible by others, and it MIGHT look odd if someone is paying very close attention.

Better would be something completely invisible, like using your magic to induce an unusual sensation where we touch her. Like an itch, or numbness, or just some sort of prickly sensation.

Heh heh. French kiss. Purely for identification purposes of course.

Boo berry is the best code word.

The solution is a simple compromise: Code word to get attention, followed by handshake greeting for physical confirmation. Less obvious that way.
Example
>[Eiko spots who she believes to be Ram in the crowd, and goes to catch him]
>Eiko: "Hey, Boo Berry! Miss me?"
>[Ram confirms with an accepting response, possibly a counter codeword.]
>"There you are! Where have you been off to, [counter-codeword/nickname]?"
>Eiko: "Not much, just keeping myself busy. Yourself?"
>[hands clasp in mutual greeting, physical test confirms eachother's identity.]

Bonus, by allowing Eiko the freedom to give us a 'nickname', also assists our relationship with her.

Go with a kiss.

Better yet, just say "I'll know it's you if we touch, and I'll make sure you know it's me."

Aw yeah.

Also, just go ahead and take Eiko with you. Just tell Kav not to leave. If she does, you can get mad at her after you track her down, and you will track her down. (Maybe you could modify her very subtly to make her easy to track? Like a phermone trail or something?)

>>321401
I'm not sure a code word is important, but it probably can't hurt. It was Eiko's idea, so let her pick. Maybe suggest using a number, though, since they're probably easier to work with. After that, head off to the library, because seriously we need to get something done.

The discussion of identification does make me think that you should start a habit of shaking hands with everyone you meet. It's an inconspicuous activity that'll get you a lot of useful information, plus make you seem classier.

On an unrelated note, I realized that Kav's obsession with Ram might just be carryover from Fizz, and not part of some sinister demon agenda. I mean, Vengeance Demons have to be influenced by their hosts some to take revenge for them, so it doesn't seem unreasonable that they might also be susceptible to other things they've been dwelling on, and boy did it seem like Fizz was dwelling on Ram.

>>321520
What I meant, was that I do no think I could confuse her for someone else. Though I suppose it is possible that demon morphology has something I don't understand, physical contact is very informative.

>>321409
>>321622
>>324080
Erh.. I am not sure how appropriate or feasible it would be to kiss her...

>>322045
>>324014
>>324497
Hm. A code number might be the best method..

"I don't think we will have to worry about anything if we can have physical contact, but just in case, perhaps you could come up with a code, or number?"

Eiko nods and tilts her head up, deliberating.

"Alright, 76."

"76?"

She nods. "Yeah, I like that number. Not too hard to remember, right?"

I nod in agreement as I move to leave.

"Good luck!"

I step outside the door and make my way towards the library. Shaking hands with people.. sounds like a good practice to adopt if I want more information about them, though--

...Yes. I believe I shall.

Fizz did seem to have particular interest in me.. even though she did not seem to show it, I think I represented something to her that she did not fully realize. If Kav is so based on her emotions, it could definitely account for her actions towards me, but.. I do wonder how much of her is different than Fizz.

Damnit. I need more information on vengeance demons, and it certainly seems like people do not know anything about them.

I arrive at the library and step up the steps into the main building. I only see a few library mages, most of them occupied with assisting patrons. Some people are milling about, reading books.

I take a slow walk through the library. It seems like the standard amount of people.. and one of them definitely looks suspicious. An ezilot is reading between two bookcases, but he keeps looking at a curelian library mage out of the corner of his eye.. and the curelian seems to be studying the anatomy of a creature I have not ever seen before in a large bound book.

He slowly starts moving, back past the book shelf.. turning around to walk towards the mage.

...I'm not sure what I should do. If I cause a scene he might lose interest in the curelian and pay attention to me, but he might not be the only one that does... and maybe doing so is too overt. I do not want to give the impression that he isn't the one in control, but if Rosaline's experience was the standard, I still need them to notice me if I want the same thing to happen to me.

>>324965
Just approach the library mage and ask her what she's reading about. Express an interest in demonic stuff as well, maybe share some of your own findings with her... but if you mention things you've learned from sources other than books, be mysterious and not say where you got the info from. After the conversation, ask where you can find more books like the one she's got. Then go grab one and read up!

This is an attempt to get the guy to overhear your conversation and take interest in you, then present an opportunity for him to approach you afterwards.

>>324965
Well, we're here to gather information, not actually join the cult, right? As long as we confirm this guy is an Artist and maybe learn we're he's working from we should be solid. It's probably better in the long run if we don't have to maintain a cover identity as part of them. So just try and watch them without being noticed for now. And then once we find out stuff, we'll... do something? What's our endgame, here. Are we just going to tell Eiko's organization or the police or something? Heroically capture them all ourselves? We seemed to stop planning after the "try to get brainwashed by them" part, which really doesn't strike me as a very good plan in retrospect.

I guess we decide that joining is important, you should approach the mage and ask questions. Make it seem as if you are interested in demons but know nothing about them. Someone uninformed looks much easier to manipulate.

Okay. Time to get moving. I walk up to the library mage, keeping myself from glancing at the ezilot as I get closer and smile. "Hey, is that a demon?"

The curelian seems to startle a little bit, and looks up at me. "Uh, I'm.. sorry?"

I gesture to the page. "That looks like a demon or something. What are you reading?"

She looks stunned for another moment before she composes herself and nods. "Er.. perceptive of you. Yes, this is a wild demon. The city council asked us to research them, for whatever reason.."

Out of the corner of my eye I can see the ezilot shift and start moving. I don't think he's leaving, though.

"The city council? Weird, why would they care?"

She raises a webbed hand apathetically. "Don't know, frankly don't care, politics are the boringest things I know of." She sets the book down. "Be a dear, put this back? I'm going to take a break." I pick up the book and she rises, bows curtly, and starts to walk out. The ezilot looks after her.. then glances at me from behind the bookshelf.

I drop my smile and turn the book back to the page with the wild demon on it. ...It really does look like a wolf, with spears of ice in its shaggy fur.

That should get his attention.
I trace a finger over the words, reading that wild demons (nivis) are, like all demons, confined to the demonic dimension, but like vengeance demons and apparently core demons as well, they can cross dimensional barriers in areas of extreme cold...

Paroza never snows and rarely ices. The nivis that killed Eiko must have been summoned by someone.

I close the book with a snap and place it back on the shelf. I turn, starting to walk... and the ezilot follows me. If he is a recruiter for the Artists of Zai, maybe he'll know more than the members.

>>391484
Go to a less populated section of the library where he would be able to approach you without much fuss. Then see if you can find any books tangentially related to the subject of demons.

keep it up. head to a secluded section of the library

Go (pretend to) browse for material (ideally demon-related) in a reasonably secluded area, but don't go too far or necessarily to the most private place; you don't want to risk tipping him off. Be certain not to look back at him directly.

Heading towards one of the sides of the library... Not particularly close to the back exit, but I note that there is a section devoid of people on a straight path to it. I look around for a good section nearby, and I find one on dimensional theory. Perfect.

The lighting is flawed this far back in the library; it seems to come from a window a section over. I scan the contents of the bookshelves, and pull out a book about the nature of dimensions, and open it up to a diagram of a multi-layered sphere. I can hear him walk closer. I take a few steps over the side of the bookshelf, and now he is only a few feet away.

I could very easily incapacitate him. Or let him control the situation. My eyes skim over the text.

It might be useful to know their recruitment methods. Let him take control for the moment. We could like, look up, see him and snap the book shut in surprise.

see if you can act out a convincing physical bumping into, should shake the ezilot a bit and create openings

Let him take control, think about butts first.

Yes... before, that human managed to read my mind. They said so, at least.. I will fill my thoughts full of demonic half-baked conclusions, in case.

I start to pace, slowly, turning the page as my eyes roll over the last period. As I skim the page, I turn the corner and look up for a place to sit, bumping into the black ezilot and feeling his irritated ears, contracting muscles and his heart beating and the blood spilling through his--

I push off him and avoid hitting my back against the wall, looking up at him and closing the book. "Yh.. you.. startled me."

He cocks his head, and shifts his posture, subtly ending up a little closer to me. "You've been busy. Reading up on demons, the barrier between dimensions..."

I appear nervous. "..No. I just..."

"Why don't you tell me why you're in such a frantic hurry to learn about demons...?"

He smiles at me... maliciously..?

Wait.. he seems to think I am desperate for something. His face is one of gleeful domination. He cannot know about.. Fizz-Tongue. But, maybe he thinks that I, or someone else I know is in danger of demonic possession.

This strange cult... How much does it know about its own operations?

whoa. say the city council asked you to research them, and taking your sweet time was a mistake you would rather not repeat. request introductions

>>392370
Look suspicious and angry, and ask who the hell he is. Maybe ask him if he knows what happened to "her". If he gives any indication that he is in fact trying to recruit you via ransom (which looks like the case), grab him by the neck, paralyze him and silence his vocal cords, then abduct him quietly out the exit. If he tries to lead you into saying the person's name your supposedly worried about, abduct him early.

We begin questioning by stating that you didn't think it would be this easy. Then ask him what his rank is in the order. Punish lies with SEARING PAIN while preventing him from screaming. In fact, prevent him from screaming at all- restrict his voice to a whisper.

If he tries to attack you magically, empty all air from his lungs, stop his heart temporarily, and remove a limb by simply causing the flesh and bone of the joint to dissolve. Then drink the blood from the limb as you continue the questioning.

>>392370
You're desperate for power, of course. We have to give him something to tempt you with, right? Let's see... just go for the big leagues. You're dying. Terminal illness, nothing medicine can do for you. Surely you can fake that if it comes to a check up, right? Anyway, you're hoping there might be some other way of extending your life.

As for acting tips, remember let him stay in control, but not to just play along with him. Dodge the question a bit, until he tries to present himself as someone who can help. Play up the despair of facing your own mortality, of being forced to resort to demonology. Be ashamed that you're going this far, but more terrified of doing nothing that you're willing to do anything.

Request name, be formal at first. No matter what you do flirt with body language and tone the entire time.

You know, I think we've played enough games with these guys. Paralyze his vocal cords, make him go rigid. Then take his hand, and force his muscles to contract so as to walk with you, out of the library, to somewhere private.

Then we'll get our information from him.

I clench my jaws and stare, looking him up and down.

"..Who are you."

He tilts his head at me, mocking me with condescension. I see his eyes subtly try and glance around for anyone watching.

"I might be a friend. Can you take the chance I'm not?"

No name, then. None to give, at least. I bite my tongue, and glare at him fervently, looking around a bit more obviously for anyone watching.

"What do you know about demons?"

"Oh, I know quite a bit... the question is, what are you willing to do to find out just what I know?"

He grins again.

"Tell me what you know. Please."

"Mm.. And why should I do that?"

I start to choke up.

"..I don't want to die..."

"Mmm...? Is someone threatening to kill you if you don't do their research?"

"...No, I have an illness.."

...His shoulders sag slightly, and his face turns a bit to disappointment. "Oh. Well, you may try one of the sections over there. Ta."

...As soon as he heard that I was dying, he immediately became uninterested. Irrelevant. He turns around.



I step down hard on the floor and launch myself at him, grabbing his head in my hand. I close his surprised eyes and lock up his throat. He can breath, shallowly, but his vocal cords are immobile.

I look around.. and hone in my senses. No heat. Nothing is watching. My hand moves to his back, and I manipulate his skeleton, feeling his heartbeat get faster and faster until I slow it down to normal levels, the sweat quickly evaporating from his skin as lymph pumps through his system and his lungs inflate and deflate.

Slowly I start him walking, moving alongside him as we head towards the library exit. Nobody stops us, and only one library mage glances at us as we leave. Once outside, I start walking with him towards... a different alley than I caught the soul mage in.

His breath shudders as he exhales. I am not even entirely positive if he is aware of what I am.

That was a bit weird, but there's so many explanations for it I can't decide on any of them.

Get him in the alley, restrict his voice to a whisper, and ask him questions. 1) who does he work for? What's his rank, name, etc? 2) why wasn't he interested in you after you said you were dying? 3) WHERE DID HE HIDE THE BODIES- wait no, ask him what the purpose of all the demon summoning is. 4) where's the soul mage?

Hmm. Use that magical attack countermeasure I mentioned before as an interrogation technique instead of just pure pain. That's BORING. After removing a limb, say that if he answers all our questions we'll reattach it.

Ooh, that's cruel, but it'll work. Start smaller though. Remove a hand. Then his forearm. Make it so they are separated but still intact. It'll be both painful for him and incredibly frightening.

And at this point we need to start seeking solutions. Fizz tongue has been possessed for a while and we are just faffing about being nice to Kav because we... I don't know, have no balls I guess.

We need to know who their expert on demonolgy is. We need to know what their magic resources are. We need to know how many of them there are, how much they own, and if they have any important contacts.

This guy isn't going to have the answers, but he'll probably know someone who does. Also, an alley isn't necessarily the best for this kind of thing. We need to have a place no one will come to for anytime we do something illegal.

We also need to be a little more... I don't know, careful. Fizz-tongue is the only one of our current cadre of "friends" that we have any reason to trust, and even then it's only because we saved her life and then she shared her home with us.

Good! He shouldn't know what you are. Which means stick to traditional interrogation. There's plenty you can do to make him talk without revealing you can tear off an arm. The most he needs to know about you is that you can paralyze him. Besides, an entirely panicked mind is just as bad for getting answers as a clear one.

Questions should be pretty obvious. Who he is, why we was interested in you, what's up with the cult, etc. Try to work with what he gives you before introducing anything you know already.

Why are you worried about what he knows? We are going to drain his blood and leave him an empty husk once he's told us what know we want to know.