>Jump to crows nest
>Lethal force
>Try to negotiate

We activate strength speed enhancement and move.

Soulfire: 42/3000

Just in time too, it seems the barrel things shoot some sort of high-speed projectiles. Gwydion, and you project an air shield? "Yes mistress, but I can't move while doing it." That's fine, I can carry you while we move. "Yes mistress." We sling Gwydion onto our back and make a beeline for the mast. Several shots wiz by our head. Fire with lethal force if need be, Gwydion. Priority target the ones with the barreled weapons, they have ranged. "Yes mistress!" We hear several crys of pain as we climb up the rigging. Gwydion isn't that great of a shot with the bow, and especially not on a moving platform, but the range is close enough that she can score some good hits.

Ha, ha, we scramble up the rigging, and climb up onto the crow's nest, Gwydion on our backs the entire way. Ha, ha, ha. Gotta catch our breath for a second, ha, ha. Gwydion's taken out all of the long ranger pirates with arrows to the elbow, thigh, knees, those sort of places. None are immediately fatal, but will be if they don't get medical attention. Oi, you ready to talk now? Don't really want to have to kill you guys, but we will if we have too. We climb off the floor. The captain's taken cover behind a box. It seems her crew has followed her example. She yells out. "It seems we're at a bit of an impasse here." Phff, impasse? We're got her hunkered down for cover, and she doesn't dare move. All she has left are melee troops. You've just about lost, just give up! "I wouldn't say lost..." What's keeping her from surrendering, her pride? Maybe if we phrase it another way...

We... I really don't know what to think. Sounded like you enjoyed this. Are you and Gwydion all right? Are you guys injured? I captured the scent of a story. I just wanted to talk to them, maybe see the captain again. Can you help them now? First aid will not suffice, but you didn't learn healing spells. You brought potions? I forgot to mention many important things, sorry. Hey, words can heal? But that would put your identity at risk. I felt like something was bothering the captain, but I'm not sure anymore. There are several things you might use to throw her off, but I don't know if I should say them now. Can't you just go back home? Maybe you should train some more, it would be nice if you could learn some defensive spells. Let's not do anything like this again, okay? Please? I swear that I'll be more serious from now on. No jokes, no teasing, no cryptic stuff. Please.

You have a choice here Captain, either you talk to me and then I`ll be on my way all peaceable like or I start destroying this ship and leave you stranded in the desert. And I`ll be on my way regardless. As for this lost city your looking for do you believe your the first to come looking for it? I wonder how many bones are buried beneath the sands of your predecessors. Its up to you if you want to join them.

good.
establish superiority, let them know you can destroy them with little effort. They reek of pirates, corsairs. These kind of people need to be dealt violently if you want to speak with them on equal terms.

be on your guard, they might have aces up their sleeves. Set up more defensive barriers if you can.

Also, I am sure they can heal themselves, no need to waste valuable soulfire, and if they can't...... well, shouldn't have attacked a superior force

Also, I am sure they can heal themselves, no need to waste valuable soulfire, and if they can't...... well, shouldn't have attacked a superior force

she knows something we don't, this is after all her ship. there may be some heavy weapons below deck, or she has some other way of getting you down.

>Oi, you're done for. Just negotiate

Hey, don't be delusional. You are defeated completely, and utterly. Gwydion taps us on the shoulder, probably trying to get our attention. Not now, Gwydion. Just surrender, and we'll help you treat your men. Gwydion tries again. Not now, Gwydion, I'm trying to do something here. Don't make is any worse than it has to be. Just surrender.

The captain sighs, then curses viciously. "Dammit! Son of a shit eating whore! Well, I guess I got no choice. What do you want?" Gwydion pokes us again. What is it Gwydion? "Mistress, I have three arrows left." Ah, let's see, there's are... five crewmembers left. Huh. It looks like we got lucky there.

What sh-Flashes, surrender, fealty, oaths Swear loyalty to me. The captain looks up. "What?" Swear loyalty on the names of Love and Hate, those which bind and sever. That captain looks startled. "Wha-a-a-a-" Swear it and I shall heal the wounded, and heal them to full health, free of any wounds that may mar them. The captain gulps then gets down on her knees. "I swear Loyalty to you on the name of Love and Hate, those which sever and bind." The oath is done, she is bound. The rest of the crew on the ship quickly follows suit.

((Really freaking lucky on the roll guys. 1d20 → [19] = (19) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3600698/))

We heal the wounded back to full strength. All of them, even the one who was shot in the knee can continue to adventure.

Soulfire: 12/3000

The captain comes up to us. "Umm... mistress..." Gwydion clings on to us tightly as she hear the captain call us mistress. How strange. "Some of my men are coming in from smaller sand speeders. How should we deal with them?"

Let them on board, I shall be in the cabin while you explain the situation to them. If any protest or act violently bind them. I shall come out to hear their oaths.

"is you tells them to swear fealty to me will they do so? I am willing to pay you and your men fairly well if you think that would help."

either way we should pay the pirates that end up working for us. we can probably sell some of the stuff in the city for money to pay them with, happy minions just work better than ones who are loyal only because of mystic bindings.

ask her how to get them to swear loyalty to you or leave. if she think they will do neither she should act like you both were Caught by her and then capture them.(the riders)

I was naive, I believed in you. No, I refused to admit that I was part of an abomination stained with blood and devoid of regret. You're no different from what you represent. Just ink on paper, vessel without content, abstraction with no meaning of its own. I thought this new nature would provide you the opportunity to learn, I hoped that independence would guide you well. However, I only know a miserable part of this story. I'll find the rest and then show you the other side, the one that resides within the reader. Now you will not be the only one to hear my voice.

> The oath is done, she is bound.
The one who imprisons is also a prisoner. We're bound, they're our responsibility now. The empty words of this pledge will become true ones, together we will understand what it means to be under the influence of Love and Hate.

> "Some of my men are coming in from smaller sand speeders. How should we deal with them?"
It's with respect that you treat a person, it's with cordiality that you talk to a lady.

"Your concerns are also mine, captain. In this battle I learned that your men are tenacious and brave, I'm afraid they will try to set you all free from our oath. However, I want to avoid a second unnecessary conflict. What can you tell me of them? Furthermore, how confident you are of your leadership, captain? If possible, with your help I'd like to talk to them." "To think that I was just curious about you, captain. I'm sorry, we will be able to talk later. At the moment, I'd like to know your names. You can call me..."

I was quite found of "mistress", but not anymore. We need a name.

Miss Tress?

I'm terrible with names. Mnemosyne? Calliope? Erato? Melpomene? Venus? Lucifer?

Alexandria, after the Library of the same name.

((I really extrapolated this time. If there are any problems, please say.))

>>430807
Alexandra? Hera? Juno?

There's Hypatia, it's a nice name. I'll go with it.
((Hypatia. Philosopher, mathematician and last librarian of the Library of Alexandria.))

please stop with melodromatic bullshit. They attacked we defended. Now they own their lives to us. End of story.

Those people on the speedsters were her men, right? Then that means they are our men nos too. Let them on board, we can't just leave them in the desert.

>>430876
Only the men on board swore loyalty to us. These speedsters could reasonably retake the ship if they wanted too.

>>430807
The city is called Alexandria, and it's pretty famous, so if we called ourselves that, it might be awkward.

What exactly does the oath do? How could they break it? Depending on what it does we could simply say we are their new mistress. They would most likely not kill their own crew and captain to get at us unless we do something truly horrible. Besides they will most likely profit quite a bit from us, be it through ancient knowledge or our power protecting them.

Other plan: Pretend to be prisoners until we have regenerated enough energy to take them on.

It amazes me how much we still don't realize how extremely lucky we were here. In any event, Love and Hate aren't here to matrimoniously seal our oath through some kind of titanic wonder, but I seriously doubt they would do anything of such effect. Titans never directly interfere with mortals, and that's not how Love and Hate operate anyway. I thought the oath was just words to sway a prideful pirate? Of course, we got stupidly lucky and these words come out with a little fraction of our power.

Standoff words 2012/07/12(Thu)08:06 No. 431515 ID: c7197a
File 134210557781.jpg - (54.04KB , 597x534 , It rose from the depths of Google Images.jpg )

>Let them on board

Go ahead and let those men on board. They're part of the crew, right? If they pose a problem, we'll figure out what to to then, for now, just let them on. "Aye, aye!" the captain salutes smartly. We hesitate a bit. Wait, before you go, what do you think of this whole thing?

She stops in her tracks and looks back at us. Then she gives us a small smile. "It's alright, I guess. Ain't going to lie to your, that's how I took this ship with my angel a'while back. At least, you're a good boss. Help healed those men. It's just a way of life for us pirates, that the strongest rule. Don't think too much about it." Angels? "Oh, those girls you saw. Yep, those girls have been with me through thick an' thin. I suppose I should be going now. See ya later, boss!" She gives us a brilliant smile and runs off. Wow... she's really pretty when she smiles. "Mistress, don't get too attached her, she's just a mortal you know." Woah, when did you get here Gwydion? I though you were checking out those iron tube shooters. "They're called cannons mistress. I can't believe you don't even know that." She gives us a flat look. Hey, it's not my fault I've been stuck under a tower for a couple of millenia... for that matter, you shouldn't know either considering you were born with only the information I had at your time of birth. We give her a pointed look. Gwydion chuckles. "Ah, I've been, you know, hanging with the crew a bit. They're nice guys." Right as she finishes, a crewmember slams open the door in a hurry. He looks panicked. "Boss, the speedsters are demanding to see you. They look pissed!"

The speedsters do indeed "look pissed." They've all got weapon out, however, none of them have them at the ready, otherwise the situation would be a lot tenser. The one in charge looks up. He has a face that would be called handsome, even though it looks so cruel. His body is toned, and it looks like he is pretty skilled in combat. He starts talking. "Oi, you the new boss? It doesn't look like anyone got killed. Don't tell me you went easy on these chumps,and still kicked their asses."

The captain sidles up to us. She looks worried. "These guys are the toughest guys on the whole ship. They didn't really listen to me, they sorta did their own thing. I got them to split the profits with the rest of the crew, but I could really decide which ships they raided."

We look over. There's about eight of them, but one of them's a scrawny kid who's looking up at the other's rather fearfully. Two or three of them are teasing him. He's a cute little kid with big eyes, and would kindle motherly instincts in anyone. The other speedsters, in contrast, look tough and strong.

The leader clears his throat and we drag our eyes away from examining the other speedsters and focus on him. "So, I don't really think you're qualified to be your boss. There's one way we can decide this. We can throw down." What's with all these violent options lately. Well, we can throw down, or if we want to avoid conflict, we're going to have to come up with another way to prove ourselves.

When we do our strength enhancement we should be able to outmatch any normal human. These ones respect strength and even if its not our normal modus operendi we should show them that we are indeed stronger then them. We are a titan.

>Strength power

Alright, I'll throw down. Gwydion starts, but we motion for her to stay calm. The head speedster smiles. "Alright then little lady. Let's throw down." He gives his sword and mini-cannon belt to a subordinate, then gets in a ready position. We activate strength enhancement, and a nimbus of golden light briefly around us. The speedster head's eyes widen slightly, then he seems to tense up. It seems he's taking this seriously. We feel a lot stronger... and a lot more tired.

Soulfire: 11/3000

The pirates and Gwydion on both sides form a circle. We rush in and meet him headon.

((Alright, I need you to roll a 1d20+2. The strength gives you a +5 bonus. He has a base strength of 7 and you have a base strength of 4. You need to beat whatever I'm about to roll. I'm counting first roll.))

rolled 2 = 2

---

rolling

rolled 18 = 18

---

>>432168
I think you need to get rid of the space.

rolled 3 + 2 = 5

---

alright. I don't think I'll beat that roll even with a proper setup though hah

rolled 3 + 2 = 5

---

are we strong enough to bodily throw him, because that seems like the best option, if we prolong the fight someone is going to get hurt.

>>432376
>>432364
jeez.

>>432364
>>432376
((Ah, this is not going to be fun for you.))
We crash into him at full pelt, hand on hand, struggling for an advantage. With our strength enhancement, we're stronger than he is, that's for sure. We push with all of our weight. At this rate, we're going to overpower hi- ah! Oohf! He slid a foot inside our stance and we fell and hit the ground. Argh, our vision is all blur-argh! He punched us in the face! Male offspring of a female dog! Our nose is broken. Really starting to regret not going into this fight with strength enhancement. He's straddling us and trying to land a flurry of blows. We're forced into the defensive, blocking most of the blows. We're hurt and immobile. The only way we're going to win at this point, is with an ingenious gambit.

((Alright, propose a plan, and then roll a d10 for luck. Lower is better. The better the plan, the more slack you get with the dice roll.))

> Male offspring of a female dog!
Written word, you agreed to fight. Grin and bear it.

You may be stronger than him, but he's taller and heavier. Wake up, never underestimate your opponent. Remember, mortals subjugated you and your brothers. Moreover, you're not accustomed to pain, have no training in hand-to-hand combat and you're nowhere near your original power. Best-case scenario, this fellow at least knows how to play dirty. Don't be afraid to play dirty as well, there are no rules and no conditions imposed.

Anyway, try not to embarrass yourself.

rolled 3 = 3

---

Here we go.

speed enchantment on top of strengh, become way faster than him.

rolled 9 = 9

---

I don't really see that we have a plan, persay, so i will do my admitedly insignificant best.

>>433606
if possible, boost your speed, and try to get one of your legs up around his neck, you don't need to throw him, but try. all you need to do is to get him leaning back a moment, a break in his assault long enough for you to pull both arms back and then fucking hammerblow him in the nuts while he is leaning back. proceed to do something appropriately unfair, like punching him in the neck. nobody likes him anyway, if he chokes to death, it is because of his BAD LIFE CHOICES.

Obvious movements, he's probably waiting for something like that. Throw sand on him with wind magic. Use the opening to get close, grab his collar and give him your best headbutt. The blow will at least disorient him, take this opportunity to bring him to the ground. Step on him and demonstrate your "superiority". However, you should say that this is enough, you don't want to further hurt anyone of the crew.

> BAD LIFE CHOICES
Everyone makes bad choices at some point in their life, but that doesn't give anyone the right to kill them. Indeed, trying to beat someone who defeated fourteen of his companions isn't the wisest decision, but he doesn't know the circumstances of the battle, how many men we have, what weapons and tricks we possess. An one on one fight is a reasonable decision, therefore. In any event, we don't know his motives and capabilities.

>>432854
((Using this roll, as it came first.))
Heh, so it seems this mortal is skilled in brawling. If this will not be a pure contest of strength, then we also utilize other methods of attack. Fwieri! A gust of sand blows into his face. He immediately shuts his eyes, but doesn't recoil, instead he keeps punching. We draw up both legs and kick him off.

He shakily climbs up to his feet, while preparing a defensive stance. His stance is a bit wobbly. We climb up to our feet as well. Then, while he still hasn't recovered from the sand, we headbutt hi-fornification! That hurt! Who came up with the idea of using their head as a weapon anyway? He reels back.

Double-fisted hammer blow! He crumbles to the ground. We stand over him. Does anyone else want to challenge my authority? The second in command steps up. He has a kind smile on his face. He also has glasses.

"Well done, madam. You have defeated Ujerl." He claps slowly. "However, he does not stand for all of us." One of the raiders turns at this, and has a questioning look on his face. The second in command holds up a hand, and the raider suddenly clamps his mouth shut, looking nervous. The second-in-command continues. "And we will not simply bow down to a brute who solves things by force. What will we receive if we join you?"

We hurt. There's bruises all over us, and we have a black eye. Our right arm is in great pain, most of it centering from the shoulder joint. I think we spit up blood sometime during the fight, and our ankle is probably sprained.

Help Ujerl to get up. Up we go! Thanks for the fight, I was pretty rusty and certainly needed one or two good blows to clear my mind!

> Well done, madam. You have defeated Ujerl. However, he does not stand for all of us. And we will not simply bow down to a brute who solves things by force. What will we receive if we join you?
Hah! You certainly have a marvelous crew, captain! To think they would stand this far for you and their comrades! Not without a reason, of course! Your captain is really keen and obstinate, and each of you is more tenacious and brave than the other! Enough babbling, however! None of you are here to what you probably perceive as false praise, yes? Sorry, we were alone for long, I just can't help but get thrilled each time I come to know a little more about you all! I have information about Alexandria, something that hasn't escaped the eyes of the captain! More precisely, its location! I'm sure this is enough to draw your attention! Come, I want to say this to everyone and make the necessary introductions!

heal yourself

heal yourself

Heal yourself and say, "Medical care."

Access to magical healing is a pretty big perk when your job is forcibly separating people from their belongings.

You have access to magical healing?

new guy 2012/07/20(Fri)14:55 No. 434938 ID: 100061

we could offer to pay them, i'm sure we have some stuff we have no use for that is valuable, good pay and access to magical healing are strong selling points in a recruitment pitch.

How the oath works and how did you heal their wounds?

>>434938
Pay them? How? In any event, that's not how things work on a pirate ship, treasure should be shared among the crew. However, Written Words has control over the citadel, over what treasure will be "discovered". Furthermore, WWs can encourage them to search for other types of ancient legends. Thus WWs will have a group of pirates treasure hunters to facilitate and accelerate the search for their brothers. Don't underestimate the pirates treasure hunters, though. That would cost you dearly.

We heal our wounds. It's pretty tiring. By pretty tiring I mean we are about to collapse.

Soulfire: 1/3000

((Cutting it pretty close, guys. If you go below one you'll die.))

Heh, you have a pretty loyal crew captain. The raider second in command smirks. "Heh, you though I was talking about the captain? No, I'm talking about our profit. We didn't take orders from the captain. She suggested what to do and we decided if we wanted to listen to her suggestions." We are slightly taken aback. Umm.. alright.

We straighten up and assume as regal as a posture as we can, drawing on every bit of spare energy we can muster. Very well. I have something very important, something your captain has noticed. I have the location of the City of Alexandria. Furthermore, I can get in and out of the city with all it's magnificent artifacts and wonders. If you join my crew, I will see to it that your are rewarded. We finish with a dramatic flourish.

Our speech has its effects among the raiders. They start to mutter amount themselves. Finally, the second in command smiles. "It seems like you have a very good offer indeed, madam. A offer like this is too good to pass up. The riches and treasures of the forsaken city Alexandria have been spoken of for ages. We accept your offer."

Alright, that's settled. Gwydion help guide them to the city. I think we're just going to collapse on the floor. Good night.

We hear Gwydion suddenly moving, and the other members of the crew rushing towards our aid, but by the time they arrive, everything has been consumed by the darkness.

We dream. We dream of

> We are slightly taken aback.
It worked. I'm glad.

> We straighten up and assume as regal as a posture as we can, drawing on every bit of spare energy we can muster.
So cute!

> Good night.
There were other things to be said. So many things. Sorry, Gwydion.

> We dream. We dream of
Forgotten knowledge.

Wake up! You still have some mojo going on!

Forgotten knowledge sounds good.

Starcraft is updating. Words 2012/08/04(Sat)12:04 No. 439259 ID: c7197a
File 134410705897.jpg - (103.81KB , 1131x707 , Desert_City_by_SamuelMi1es.jpg )

>Forgotten knowledge

We are fueled by tens of thousands of souls. Hundreds of offerings are poured into the void to reach us. We are being summoned. The lift-essence of hundreds of creatures is being sacrificed to reach us. They mean to request our audience. And we grant their request.

We appear, words swirling off books, creating a body of our domain, itself. We are magnificent, words themselves flying off the pages of books to form out body. We are a Titan.

We are mighty and magnificent, total and all-powerful. We speak, and the words float into the air, hovering there. Why have you summoned the might Titan of Words.

The head mortal, or we assume he's the head mortal, he has the most decorations, comes forwards and bows. "We have a request, mighty Titan.

Speak and we shall consider your wish, for you have slain many creatures for us, and sacrificed their essence to us. For this is a great and mighty sacrifice, and we shall not brush it aside so easily.

And the man asks us his request. "We request to access the great libraries of Alexandria. It was our master's last request."

Such devotion to us. Were is your master. I wish to see him.

A elderly man in a wheelchair is brought forward. His head is leaning slightly to the right, and he's breathing through a tube. It's obvious he isn't very healthy.

Tell me, what is your name, and why do you wish to see my library.

One of the lower ranking members attempts to answer, but the master slowly and painfully manages to pull a hand up in a stopping motion. The man immediately stops, freezing in place. The old man starts to speak.

"I am old and dying, and I wish to see the Library before I go. For all my life, I've tracked great literary works and studied them. I tried to write one once, but I learned that I did not have to talent, and many others surpassed me in that field, so I left it to those who could to better, and I tried to make a difference where I could. I know I am neither a great writer or a magnificent poet, but I wish to see the library of Alexandria one time before I die." He speaks slowly, hacking and coughing all the time, but he speaks with respect and adoration in his voice.

Such devotion. You shall see the library of Alexandria, not once, but many times. For you shall become one of my many lesser souls, should you accept. You shall go under Records, the lesser soul of Writing, if you so accept our offer.

"I pledge myself to your service. I forsake all human contact, and take my soul out of the cycle of reincarnation to become your vassel. This I swear."

And we transform him. We consume his soul and spawn it out anew, rebirthing him for his new life. Welcome, Glukerbirg Hendrikson. Welcome to my well of souls.

Soulfire: 16/3000

We awake. Oh, there's Gwydion. "Good morning, mistress." Gwydion the bed is rocking slightly, did you know that? "Yes, we're still on the ship. We're about to approach Alexandria." Is that so. Let's go up to the main deck.

We've seen Alexandria before, but seeing it from outside coming in is breathtaking. You can see the skyline clash with the sky, and it's really quite different from a bird's eye view.

The captain comes on board. "Ma'am, I've gotten the raiders below deck, and their waiting to discuss the loot. Some of them look like they wish to follow you." She stomps her foot once. Wow, she looks really military now. "We're waiting for you to secure access to the port for us." Gwydion hands us Alexander's long range communication soulstone. Oh, right. Alexander, open the port. An ancient city wall slowly slides out, and the ship slides neatly into port.

Welcome to Alexandria!

We still have a bit to do today. We should talk with the raiders about the loot, get the crew settled in, and prepare talk to Alexander about repairs to the ship and getting our new vassals outfitted with proper gear. What should we do first?

Get them settled in, you have matters to discuss with everyone. You're positively sure that this place is abandoned for millenia, but you haven't had the chance to ascertain what these walls hide. You managed to dominate part of the magic here, however, and they will have the opportunity to rest and make the necessary repairs before starting to loot the place.

That said and done, perhaps now is an appropriate time for introductions, try at least to record the names of the captain and the second in command. You go by the name of Hypatia and Alexandria is only your first finding, you are also looking for other signs of ancient civilization and you would be more than happy if they were interested in following you.

After all this, be available to answer any remaining questions.

Can we talk a little with Gwydion?