>>845505
Eh, I'm no so sure. A proper burial wouldn't have left the spider's limbs dangling over the side of the alcove. And that ant was just sitting on the ground, leaning against the empty lower alcove. It looks more like they got trapped in there and died than were interred there. Perhaps they came in and those stones fell down and blocked the door behind them? Well, no way to tell without knowing their age or who they were.

...Actually, is there a way to find out who the dead were from just their remains? Some priestly magic, perhaps? How about telling Shatiki that there was a dead ant in your crypt as well, but it and the dead spider didn't looked more like they got trapped in there than were interred there after they died. Then ask if there's a magical way to find out who someone was from just their corpse.

>>845478
Perhaps moth/spider relations have deteriorated since then.

>>845388
Don't fret, the spider was still dead-dead, and not a threat to anyone.

>where go
Ask Chaket which way goes to the next level. We should start our investigation by questioning those who 'live' here, if that's the right word for it.

"Oh dear, I said something bad didn't I? It was dead, not like me just... dead. And too big to squeeze through the spot to get out of the place I woke up in. So... yeah. Sorry. I dont know whats normal and context on everything is missing because honestly, I just woke up. Right before we met. And, um..."
*rapidly try to change subject and distract*
"You said you were a priest of a Moon Owl? Where I was buried, there was this symbol of a crescent with a line jutting from the curve, with two small wavy bits floating in it. Is that a thing for your group? Because if a moon...ite? Owl-priest? Buried me and you found me, thats probably important right?"

1/4 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)19:09 No. 847255 ID: e952cc
File 151140658699.png - (294.04KB , 1290x520 , talk to shatiki.png )

>Ask about SHATIKI's priest life.
"Right. It uh, had a lot of training involved. Proving our devotion and fully allowing the moon owl into our lives. This is actually my final test before I become an actual priest. 'Return to the dead that the living covet.' It was lucky that you were already walking around."

2/4 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)19:12 No. 847257 ID: e952cc
File 151140677879.png - (11.75KB , 896x588 , symbols.png )

>Ask about the moon symbol
"Yes, that's the secondary symbol of us 'Children of the Moon.' It was created to help show the difference between the followers of the Moon Owl and the Sun Hawk. Moths and butterflies have been at odds over that for ages now, but I pray immortal birds won't be what divides our sister people forever."

3/4 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)19:25 No. 847259 ID: e952cc
File 151140753178.png - (14.85KB , 896x588 , spooky spoder.png )

>"I'm sorry to ask, but what is it about spiders that's so scary?"
"They're a... violent tribe. There are many out there but spiders were the most cunning and the most dangerous. They never attacked, only waited. The ones that did attack were often small but it's rare to hear of a bug escaping from a spider's grasp."

No wonder the kid was scared of you mentioning a spider. You think of something to say, something inspiring.

4/4 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)19:30 No. 847260 ID: e952cc
File 151140783233.png - (102.04KB , 1290x520 , spider talk.png )

==>
"Shatiki, this cloak was gifted to me by a spider. It was my first true cloak and a prized possession. I remember the day I got it and the sincere happiness in the widow's eyes when she gave it to me. The one buried with me is not going to hurt you, and I'll stand between you and her if the time ever comes to that."

"You. You were friends with a spider?"

>You. You were friends with a spider?
or at the very least on good terms. They're people just like the rest of us, yeah some are going to be dicks but there's bound to be a few out there that are good enough people.

Also there's something looking at you from the darkness where the wisp's light stops and the darkness begins... might want to watch out for that.

>>847255
Soooo, his mission was to come here and give you your cloak? I thought you were buried with it? How did he get it?

>>847260
Hey, Chaket, do you ever get that feeling that you're being watched?

>>847260
Never judge a book by its cover.
Also who is that in the shadows?

Another friend with the spark of new life in their eyes!
What did they give you to defend yourself with?

1/2 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)20:19 No. 847279 ID: e952cc
File 151141075397.png - (17.26KB , 707x624 , behind you.png )

"Of course I was on good terms with a spider! They're hunters, but still people just like us! I can assure you that as long as I'm around, you'll have no spider problems at all!"

>Behind you!
You check behind you and see two glowing yellow eyes. They look unstable and appear to be flying everywhere.

2/2 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)20:26 No. 847281 ID: e952cc
File 151141116698.png - (15.01KB , 707x624 , ant 1.png )

==>
The ANT DIGGER appears to be undead, just like you, but its eyes give you a feeling it's gone mad. It's ARM has been DAMAGED and detached from the rest of its body, letting a wispy substance leak out like a strange glowing gas. Otherwise, it seems fairly scuffed up from another encounter it had. It's not doing much as it shambles around staring at you, but you feel yourself gripping your BAR as you stare at it. This thing is waiting for you to make the first move.

<Initiate Combat?>
<Doing so will provide a tutorial>

>Y/N

>>847281
>Y
time to learn how to kick ass and chew bubble gum and I'm fucking feeling old for using that line.

>>847281
Attempt to speak to it first, but ready yourself with a defensive stance.

>>847279
>appear to be flying everywhere.
Chaket: Immediately become jealous and pout about the fact that you can't fly because of your wings being tattered and decayed.

>>847281
>Initiate Combat?
Yes.

>>847283
>I'm fucking feeling old for using that line.
But not as old as Chaket is! XD
*ba dum tss*

1/3 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)20:59 No. 847292 ID: e952cc
File 151141317067.png - (27.71KB , 1105x590 , mspaint_2017-11-22_20-55-26.png )

>Attempt to converse with it
"Hello uh. Fellow undead. How are you doing?"

"It begins with the breach of soil, then stone, then ore, until we have no where to else to dig. We dig, we build, we protect. Dig. Build. Protect."

2/3 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)21:02 No. 847293 ID: e952cc
File 151141332273.png - (25.51KB , 918x651 , mspaint_2017-11-22_20-56-16.png )

"MY BROTHERS LABOR DOWN STILL! DIG BUILD PROTECT! MY SISTERS, CRUSHED BY THE EARTH'S BONES! DIG BUILD PROTECT! MY SIBLINGS LOST TO THEIR OWN MAZE!

We must protect the queen. We must build the fortress ever deeper. WE. MUST. DIG."

He doesn't jump on you, but it's clear that he's kinda lost it.

Your shift's over. You should join your sisters and let someone else do the heavy lifting.

If we back off maybe it will continue on with its (nugatory) vigil.

"But why? Perhaps you are also lost. Do you know the way around? Maybe you can guide us."

3/3 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)21:21 No. 847298 ID: e952cc
File 151141449713.png - (15.15KB , 825x593 , diggant.png )

>Fight it
You prepare to fight the DIGGER ANT. You may not remember how to properly FIGHT, but you understand "hit the thing until it stops moving!"

>>847298
Then I guess you better start hitting the thing until it stops moving!

I've never made a combat system before, but I haven't made a quest before so it's experiment time. Combat has three phases per turn:

Turn Prep: The side whose turn it is may choose to defend, attack, use an item, or run away. Defending will make your defense 1.5 times what it normally would be. Running away will require a successful dodge from everyone in the party attempting to escape.

Accuracy phase: Attacker and defender both make opposing rolls to hit and to dodge. If the attacker’s roll is higher, move on to the next phase for damage. In the event of a crit dodge, the defender will do a free counter attack and apply minimum damage as a free hit. In the event of a crit attack, the damage will be 1.5 times what it normally would be. If the rolls are the same, an additional roll will be made using a coin. Heads for attack connecting, tails for attack missing.

Damage phase: Upon a successful hit, the attacker rolls for damage. This is based on a number between their minimum and maximum damage values. The attacked character then lowers that damage by their defense and takes the resulting damage. If the defense is higher than the base damage dealt, the attack will do one damage.

well it looks unarmed (and I do mean that in more then in that it's missing an arm) plus you got some hight on it and the BAR so you got reach over it. Smack it until it stops moving and try to stay out of it's reach. If it starts coming to close just poke it with the BAR to push it back and hit it again. Don't be afraid to give ground if it means you can stay out of this guy's reach as I do NOT want to find out how hard he can hit.

Based on what you can tell, this things already been beat. It's not hurting too bad, but you could take it down if you hit it enough.

Ant Digger:
Health: 10/15

Chaket:
Health: 10/10
Def: 2 (+5)
Atk: 2 (+4)
Dmg: 4-8
Dodge: +2

Push it, and hope it doesn't stand back up.

>>847302
so since Shatiki is also part of the team do we get his stats as well or is he to unnerved by the thought of spiders to help us fight?

Also I'm going to go with attack. 2 good whacks and we can put this guy down... and on a side note since Shatiki can use magic does that count as attack or is magic it's own slot?

Round 1 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)22:02 No. 847309 ID: e952cc
File 151141693120.png - (8.16KB , 479x520 , hit 1.png )

CHAKET attacks!
18 vs. 7 A hit! Dealt 1 damage.

DIGGER attacks!
16 vs. 15 A hit! Dealt 1 damage.

The two of you exchange hits. You manage to make contact, but it feels as though your hit barely bounces off the ant's shell. On the other hand, the ant barely manages to hit you and got a decent attack off. Thankfully, your OLD CLOAK is fairly tough. Not as tough as fresh spider silk, but enough for this to hardly do a thing.

SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)22:03 No. 847310 ID: e952cc
File 151141702569.png - (23.32KB , 825x593 , He's hanging back.png )

>Where's SHATIKI in all this?
He decided to hang back. He's not much of a fighter and he says his spells could only heal at the most for utility. Good to know.

Ant Digger:
Health: 9/15

Chaket:
Health: 9/10
Def: 2 (+5)
Atk: 2 (+4)
Dmg: 4-8
Dodge: +2

>>847310
Could Shaq distrac the ant when he attac?

Y'know with his shine danglies all up in the eye bits.

try to attack one more time. If we can't do more then one damage then I'm going to suggest we back off and try again later once we have a better weapon.

use the mushroom to weaken his shell
>>845147

Round 2 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)22:27 No. 847314 ID: e952cc
File 151141846536.png - (13.02KB , 663x520 , hit 2.png )

CHAKET attacks!
4 vs. 17 The attack misses!

SHATIKI intervenes!
SHATIKI asks the nearby spirits to get in the ant's face. The ant is distracted and will have a harder time making hits! (-1 to accuracy rolls)

DIGGER attacks!
18 vs. 5 The attack hits! Dealt 1 damage.

You broadly miss the ANT as you attempt to swing at it. You're really out of practice. You tell SHATIKI to put those light things in front of it to distract it. He does so, but it appears to do little as the ant easily connects with you. It felt like all of its strength was behind this, but it still did little from your cloak.

Ant Digger:
Health: 9/15

Chaket:
Health: 8/10
Def: 2 (+5)
Atk: 2 (+4)
Dmg: 4-8
Dodge: +2

screw it, one more attack then back off.

Round 3 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)22:52 No. 847318 ID: e952cc
File 151141992456.png - (16.75KB , 663x520 , hit 3.png )

CHAKET attacks!
5 vs. 1 A hit! Dealt 3 damage!

DIGGER attacks!
13 vs. 21 A miss!

You and the ANT fumble for a bit as you attempt to attack, but you manage to hit it with all your might. The attack still clacks off a bit, but it's a much more satisfying crack when you connect. The ANT attempts to get revenge for that hit, but you nimbly dodge the attack.

Ant Digger:
Health: 6/15

Chaket:
Health: 8/10
Def: 2 (+5)
Atk: 2 (+4)
Dmg: 4-8
Dodge: +2

Poke his eyes out to lower his accuracy.

oh thank god we can do more then one damage.

Guess just keep attacking till he goes down or you get to half health, whatever comes first.

Question: If Shatiki says he can heal, then would he be able to heal Chaket? Because with Chaket being undead, would healing magic effect her?

>>847321
Just to clarify, I'm not saying Shatiki should heal Chaket now. I'm just asking if it's possible for him to heal her?

>>847318
Kick it in the fork!

Round 3 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)23:24 No. 847325 ID: e952cc
File 151142189187.png - (13.46KB , 663x520 , hit 4.png )

>Can SHATIKI heal you?
"I helped out one of the undead guards on my way down. You guys are actually easier to heal than living bugs. All that meat and stuff in the shell can get in the way."

You don't know how HEALING works, but he says he's got it.

CHAKET attacks the eyes!
15 vs. 1 Crit fail dodge! The ANT is unable to attack this turn! Dealt 2 damage!

You go to jab the ANT's eyes. It runs into your BAR and gets knocked backwards from your attack, knocking it down. The glow in the eye you jabbed appears to be weaker. Perhaps that blinded it. (-3 to hit!)

(Forgot to add this)

Ant Digger:
Health: 4/15

Chaket:
Health: 8/10
Def: 2 (+5)
Atk: 2 (+4)
Dmg: 4-8
Dodge: +2

>>847325
Attack! Aim for the cracks on its forehead!

Go for the re-kill!

Round 5 SolarMoth 2017/11/22(Wed)23:49 No. 847330 ID: e952cc
File 151142334286.png - (13.68KB , 663x520 , it's dead.png )

CHAKET attacks the weak spot!
13 vs 2 It hits! Bonus damage on weak point! 6 damage!

You plunge the bar into the crack on the ANT's head before it can get up. The light in its eyes fade and a yellow wisp flies out of it. It doesn't look like it's getting back up.

<Battle Won!>
<CHAKET remembered COMBAT BASICS! She can now initiate combat when needed!>
<SHATIKI gained 1 DIGGER SPIRIT a follower!>

Can you talk to the Digger Spirit? How does it compare to Shatiki's other wisps?

(Gonna sleep now that that's over with. Just want to point out that the rolls were ass and I'm gonna tweak this system to be more bearable in those events. Or just get rid of it. Either or)

Check for nearby accessible burial slots. Just leaving the poor fellow's body here would be disrespectful.

...and littering.

>>847335
This is a good idea.
I wonder if the spirit will be a bit more happy and a little less crazy now that it isn't wandering around in a damaged carapace.

ask SHATIKI if there's anything he can do for the crazed spirt?

Say, do we "level up" or somthing? Or do we get beter at fighting as we face oponents? Maybe remember things that might help. And what about the souls?

That was sort of creepy. Like beating an invalid.
Hope the spirit is either more conscious or at least in a state of peace.

>>847330
Check to see if the ant was carrying anything. If it was, then take it because the ant won't be needing it anymore.

.....unless it's something emotionally important to the ant or the ant's spirit requests Shatiki and you to not take anything from its body, then leave whatever you find with the body out of respect for the dead.

>>847335
Yeah, treating the remains respectively now that the insane spirit has been put to rest (or at least removed from control) seems like a good thing.

Might be worthwhile to carefully ask about the apparent enslavement of that undead soul while you get the remains somewhere out of the way.

(Sorry for disappearing like that for so long. RL got busy and this went to the back of my mind. I'll start updating this again monday once I finally get everything sorted out.)

>>852098
Yay!

>>852098
It's no problem at all! We don't mind the wait.

>>852099
I agree.

Well, at least you remembered to tell us. Is cool, take your time, we'll wait.

>>852099
preach it!

1/5 SolarMoth 2017/12/18(Mon)23:55 No. 852671 ID: e952cc
File 151367011147.png - (23.15KB , 856x522 , Proper Burial.png )

>Give the an a proper burial
You do your best. Sadly your SCRAWNY stature is only able to get him in so far.

>Check for items
Sadly, it seems like this ant had nothing on him. Probably used his claws to dig.

2/5 SolarMoth 2017/12/18(Mon)23:57 No. 852673 ID: e952cc
File 151367026011.png - (17.10KB , 856x522 , Digger spirit.png )

>See what Shatiki can do about the spirit.
According to him, there's not much he can do other than talk with it and command it. According to him, it's basically its core instincts and memories given form. It seems at least a little more calm than before. Still just a tad crazy.

3/5 SolarMoth 2017/12/18(Mon)23:59 No. 852675 ID: e952cc
File 151367035705.png - (23.13KB , 856x522 , UM.png )

==>
The DIGGER SPIRIT flies inside of you, catching both you and SHATIKI off guard. You start to remember something...

4/5 SolarMoth 2017/12/19(Tue)00:03 No. 852678 ID: e952cc
File 151367061608.png - (14.43KB , 532x480 , DIG.png )

==>
You were an ant builder, tasked with construction that was demoted to resource gathering. Your task was to dig tunnels that would later be used for storage and graves. You and the others would tirelessly tear through dirt and stone until. It was that day, when the castle shook and the walls gave way. Your world tore apart yet you could only think of the queens.

Were they okay? You couldn't just abandon them! Yet you couldn't do anything. Your task was to dig. Dig deeper and deeper. Perhaps you could find a way to dig through the sky... and protect your queens.

This.. isn't your memory.

5/5 SolarMoth 2017/12/19(Tue)00:06 No. 852680 ID: e952cc
File 151367078659.png - (8.77KB , 532x480 , Oh.png )

>Do you level up?
You remember how to DIG! You also realize that this memory isn't actually yours! You kinda just absorbed that. Your head hurts too and you think you just violated the death of an old worker.

>>852680
Hey, you absorbed it's ability to Dig! So I guess if you run into anymore of the insane undead and you beat them, you can gain their abilities!

You should explain what just happened to Shatiki.

>you think you just violated the death of an old worker.
I think it's more like the Ant's soul violated your body!

.....does that count as rape? You didn't give that soul permission to enter your body, so I think it counts.

>>852680
Well, if it regained its senses from becoming a spirit, maybe it did this on purpose to grant you the skill of digging. Tell Shatiki what just happened.

Do you need a tool before you can do any digging?

You didn't violate anything.
You witnessed the ant's death, and were given their memory to carry with you.
That's what they're here for: memories exist to be carried, as long and as far as possible. The true tragedy is oblivion.

>you think you just violated the death of an old worker.
it... it shot into you so not sure you're at fault here... well you did rekill the ant but he wasn't really their to begin with.

Anyways I guess heal up and carry on? Hopefully knowing how to dig will help us get through any collapsed tunnels or something.

>>852687
This.

Maybe that's why you're here. He had unfinished business. The other spirits here surely do as well. Maybe if you solve that business, they can finally be at peace?

This corpse ain't big enough for the two of us! You need to find some way to get it out of your head.

Yay, you are now a soul eater! I don't know if it is a bad thing, but it could be useful in the long run. Ask your adorable friend if it is a bad thing.

You're just helping clean up whatever profane magics keep the dead bound here. What do you know about the ant queens from your time? Perhaps they're buried down here too?

>you think you just violated the death of an old worker.
Did you? It dove into you, you didn't take hold of it. More like the old worker bequeathed the memory on you.

It's for a good cause, don't worry about it too much.

1/2 SolarMoth 2017/12/21(Thu)22:48 No. 853290 ID: e952cc
File 151392531087.png - (8.15KB , 532x480 , Accept Ability.png )

>You didn't do anything wrong. It did fly into you after all.
Yes, you suppose so. You can't shake the feeling that there's something wrong with what happened, but you do come to terms with the soul's decision. Perhaps there was a reason behind it doing such a thing. No matter, you should continue on. They're more crypt to explore.

2/2 SolarMoth 2017/12/21(Thu)22:51 No. 853291 ID: e952cc
File 151392546272.png - (20.39KB , 660x480 , a bit shaken.png )

>Explain what happened to Shatiki
He saw. He seems a bit shaken up, but that could be from residual spider fear. You try to explain what happened anyways.
"I gathered. I-I didn't expect you to have this ability, but I can say I believe it will come in handy within this castle."

>>853291
He looks scared of you now.

I'd rather not be used as a vacuum for sucking up lost souls... let's do whatever it takes to get them to move on.

Oh wait, it's something special about you? ...wait, did you fully absorb the Digger Soul? I guess that would be a little scary and "wrong" in a way. That would be sortof like eating it.

Give a small thanks for the soul's sacrifice either way. Perhaps next time you should avoid getting close to the soul, so it can't take you by surprise and fly into you?

Let's go.

Calm your boyfriend shedinja.

>>853291
Let's keep moving.

1/1 SolarMoth 2017/12/21(Thu)23:38 No. 853299 ID: e952cc
File 151392828418.png - (14.05KB , 872x479 , Keep going.png )

>Calm your boyfriend shedinja
You're going to assume that means calm Shatiki. He seems fairly calm actually. Just needed a moment.

>Continue on.
You both come to a door. A quick push reveals that it's barred from the other side. A voice calls back.
"You aren't doing any more digging in here 'till you're sane! Krikis is down an arm now 'cause of you!"

Introduce yourself and tell them you solved their digger problem.

1/2 SolarMoth 2017/12/22(Fri)00:05 No. 853304 ID: e952cc
File 151392991691.png - (15.81KB , 692x556 , Problem solved.png )

>Introduce yourselves
You introduce yourselves as CHAKET and SHATIKI. Two moths looking around the crypt. You also mention that you dealt with the ant outside, excluding the detail about it flying into you.
There's a silence for small bit when a creak is heard from the other side and the door starts moving.

2/2 SolarMoth 2017/12/22(Fri)00:09 No. 853305 ID: e952cc
File 151393014949.png - (17.84KB , 692x556 , Open the door.png )

==>
"Huh. You really aren't lyin'. Don't really see many visitors, let alone moths down here. The living one can come inside, but you. You gotta wipe your face, those spores could be the redeath of us workers in here."

>>853305
Well, go wipe yourself off, then.

>>853305
Flip the fuck out and say, "You mean this stuff could re-kill me?! AAAAHHH!!!!!" DX

Then start wiping your face and get rid of the mushroom that you're also carrying!

>you gotta wipe your face, those spores could be the redeath of us workers in here.
ahhh, but they look so nice. (sigh) ask if he's got a cloth you could use.

>>853308
no need for that, it's just the ants, that's already been explained to us. Let's just do it calmly and politely. Probably also drop the mushroom, if we've still got that, wouldn't want it to cause a stir later.

Philistines. Alright, go wipe yourself off with the banner remnants.

Oh, but it makes you look and feel preety! Don't you think so, SHATIKI? Oh well, a shame, really. But why didn't do anything to CHAKET?

>>853346
They only infest ants.

>Calm your boyfriend shedinja
Don't worry, not gonna eat your soul!

...unless, you know, you're into that.

>those spores could be the redeath of us workers in here
Apologize, then go clean up.

Wait why could the spores re-kill them, you thought it was harmless?

Everybody knows that mushrooms eat dead things. So go clean up.

>>853354
>>853346
>>853308
It was explained here >>845147 that the shrooms are only harmful to ant shells.

Well, gotta wipe the spores off,
An apology should be okay.

Question: Now that you have absorbed the digger ant are you able to change your eye colour to yellow?