[Burichan] [Futaba] [Nice] [Pony]  -  [WT]  [Home] [Manage]

Report completed threads!

[Catalog View] :: [Archive] :: [Graveyard] :: [Rules] :: [Discussions] :: [Wiki] :: [Discord]

[Return] [Entire Thread] [Last 50 posts] [Last 100 posts]
Posting mode: Reply
Name (optional)
Email (optional, will be displayed)
Subject    (optional, usually best left blank)
Message
File []
Embed (advanced)   Help
Password  (for deleting posts, automatically generated)
  • How to format text
  • Supported file types are: GIF, JPG, MP3, MP4, PNG, SWF, WEBM
  • Maximum file size allowed is 25600 KB.
  • Images greater than 250x250 pixels will be thumbnailed.

File 170207635561.png - (70.25KB , 500x500 , 1b.png )
1078964 No. 1078964 ID: 0ba437

PART ONE: https://questden.org/kusaba/quest/res/1002454.html

Thousands of thousands of years ago, a Grand Slime was murdered by a mysterious entity known as the Void King.
Thousands of thousands of years later, Nemo reawakens with only a few fractured memories of her former life.
She quickly reunites with two of her broken pieces, and sets out to explore the world in search of the remaining fragments of her shattered core.
After accidentally uncovering and releasing a strange figure imprisoned in stone, Nemo meets another unfortunate end, and it's up to her other parts, Humphrey and Mirrow, to carry on the mission to reunite themselves.
Elsewhere, but not too far away, a runaway Elsekin named Sam is trapped in a dense forest filled with hostile vines.
Expand all images
>>
No. 1078965 ID: 0ba437
File 170207638689.png - (173.74KB , 500x500 , 689.png )
1078965

You examine the fire caressing your left hand. It's still going pretty strong, and will probably last you a little bit longer. You're fairly practiced with thread magics, thanks to His strict teachings, and were able to make a decently strong fire. It cost a lot of thread in your kit, but you could probably do it again if it went out. In a pinch you could even sacrifice some of your outfit, but you hope it doesn't come down to that.

"Come on," you say as you pull Chester along, moving further away from the comforting light of the inn. She lets out a small protest, looking back at the light as it slowly becomes more obscured by the vines, but she follows.

It's a lot slower moving forward. The void-soaked vines still burn, but much slower than before.

Soon the light behind you is no longer visible. Chester grips your hand tighter.

"So... wild void doesn't infect people or ... plants or stuff?" Chester asks.
>>
No. 1078966 ID: 0ba437
File 170207640825.png - (196.66KB , 500x500 , 690.png )
1078966

"I don't think so. Bites and scratches can do a lot of damage, but it's not like a poison. Or.. It's kind of like a poison? It's hard to explain-"

As you shove a vine out of the way, one of the barbs catches your sleeve and tears into you. It's not a terrible wound, but it does sting like hell.
>>
No. 1078967 ID: 0ba437
File 170207643561.png - (166.18KB , 500x500 , 691.png )
1078967

"Ahhgh! Shit! Yeah... yeah, see?" you show the wound to Chester. The edges of the gash seem to be foaming as the blood mixes with the dark liquid from the vines. "It does something that keeps cuts from closing back up easily. But it's not directly harmful on it's own. Or... I don't think it is."
>>
No. 1078968 ID: 0ba437
File 170207645404.png - (139.15KB , 500x500 , 692.png )
1078968

The foliage is starting to become much much thicker, and it's finally too much for your fire to handle. The void matter is practically pouring down the vines in streams, and is beginning to pool up around you. It's currently up to your ankles.

"S-Sam, I don't know if we're going to be able to find them... Can we even make it back ourselves?"

With the path closing behind you, it's hard to tell what direction you've come from, much less what direction you should head in.

Your mind races, hopping through your lessons and rifling through the handful of items in your possession. Two knives between the both of you, a little bit of casting thread.
"And me."
And yourself.

So, a handful of potential spells, something stirring inside you, and two knives. Not much to work with, but you might be able to come up with something that can point you in the right direction or cut through the vines.

What do you do?
>>
No. 1078970 ID: cd48aa

Can you do magic to a knife?
>>
No. 1078971 ID: 8f9bc4

Call upon that which is stirring inside you! Pray to your youness! The Goddess may be dead, but you're alive tonight, and that means something. Unleash yourself on the forest!
>>
No. 1078975 ID: 273c18

Apply a CUT enchantment to a knife. Pay attention to whatever's inside you. It's important.
>>
No. 1079006 ID: 7695ec

I would think that there is a way to figure out where all the void is coming from, differences in how much void the plants blood, the direction of the void flow, gut instinct that maybe is more. at the very least you could chop a vine in half and see which side bleeds
well, unless you hav another light source that does not need your hand at least one of the knives is going to Chester
If this weird power is you, maybe you should ask it how it works, probably better than guessing how it works and what it can do
>>
No. 1079009 ID: 0b5926

What spells do you know?
>>
No. 1079116 ID: 2c1245

>>1078968
Ive seen enough hentai to know where this is going.
>>
No. 1082281 ID: 0bf710
File 170683356813.png - (105.77KB , 500x500 , 693.png )
1082281

You know a great deal about runes, thanks to your strict teacher. You know so much, in fact, that even tho you haven't memorized a lot of individual spells, you understand the theory well enough that you can fumble around with the structure and still manage to cast something. Runes are precise, but they're not SO precise they can't be fudged.

But off the top of your head you do for sure know a handful of clerical tricks:


• You can make small fires (you used this to light candles and burn things like incense or ritual components)
• You can mend small tears or cracks (you used this to repair ancient scrolls and books and pottery. It never seemed to work on any cuts or bruises on yourself tho)
• You can purify small amounts of water. (Mostly for ceremonial purposes, but useful for turning unfiltered water into something potable. You don't think it would work on void, but you've never had an opportunity to try it.)
• You can see into the near future, a little bit, kind of. (A complicated, time-intensive ritual that allows you glimpse a cloudy image of what might happen, maybe. You never met again with someone you performed the ritual with, so you don't know if your predicitons were right or wrong.)
>>
No. 1082283 ID: 273c18

Might as well try purifying the void since you have the opportunity.
>>
No. 1082285 ID: 8f9bc4

At least you should be able to purify your wound. Your blood counts as water sort of, and that should stop the thing keeping it from healing.

But uh... you couldn't defeat these vines before they became so thick and left you ankle deep in void matter. So now you're pretty much fucked. Can't go forward, can't go backward. Try calling out, see if you're in earshot of the ones who got dragged out, if they're still alive. (They're most certainly not still alive.)
>>
No. 1082286 ID: a7e7da

Fudge a little oracular magic so you can make a dowsing rod with a knife that detects the nearest living person excluding a list of people which you can change.
>>
No. 1082287 ID: a7e7da

Maybe finagle your rune so that the fire-magic is also partially purifying magic at the small cost of some fire power?
>>
No. 1082299 ID: cdef6b

Its honestly worth a shot purifying these tendrils to assist in carving our way through.

Though if we have the power to improvise these magic, why not try to combine the fire and purifying spells into some sort of scared flame?

This way we'll be suppoedly creating the anthisis to the corrupted vines.
>>
No. 1082314 ID: 8f9bc4

>>1082299

> calling it "sacred flames"
> not calling it "purifire."
>>
No. 1083334 ID: cd48aa

Yeah, at least try purifying the void.
>>
No. 1088147 ID: 3fd859
File 171246995595.png - (177.60KB , 500x500 , 694.png )
1088147

You decide to try and create a purifying flame. You've only ever purified water, but maybe if you think about fire as a sort of "cleansing light" and the void as "bad water" you can make it work.

"Lemme try something," you say to Chester. You hand her the thread kit and using your teeth you carefully wind some more thread around the fingers of your non-burning hand.
>>
No. 1088148 ID: 3fd859
File 171246995942.png - (135.38KB , 500x500 , 695.png )
1088148

With your hand wrapped in a web of thread, you murmur a soft prayer, "Goddess, bless this fire," and rip the threads apart with your burning hand.

The flames grow brighter and seem to crystalize into sharp beams lancing out into the darkness from your splayed fingers. The light feels resonant, and it's difficult to steady your hand. It's extremely painful to look at. You notice the writhing tendrils around you immediately react, drawing back to pull away from the searing beams.
>>
No. 1088149 ID: 3fd859
File 171246996250.png - (112.12KB , 500x500 , 696.png )
1088149

The void puddles around you begin to drip upwards, slowly vanishing into the night, leaving dry earth behind. The vines pull back away from the reach of the light in your hand, and you can finally see an actual path lined with small crystals.

"Holy shit," Chester breathes beside you, "... are ... are they gone?"

"I doubt it," you grunt as you try to stabilize your arm. The vibration from the spell is starting to really shake you up. You can just make out beyond your orb of light the thorny vines pulling away into the safety of the dark. "We still need to find those travelers. If we keep moving forward we can chase the vines to the source."
>>
No. 1088150 ID: 273c18

>>1088149
Your spell is very effective now which means you can pick up the pace! Follow the path quickly.
>>
No. 1088163 ID: f14228

Well, better hurry before what fuels this runs out.
>>
No. 1088164 ID: 8f9bc4

Shining Fist chaaaaaarge!
>>
No. 1088167 ID: cd48aa

Hurrah! Hurry!
>>
No. 1088218 ID: 5ebd37

make haste, your body might not be able to keep this up for long.
>>
No. 1093559 ID: 3fd859
File 171964006382.png - (133.45KB , 500x500 , 697.png )
1093559

Wasting no time, the two of you chase after the retreating vines. Boots splashing in the puddles of void, which you notice seem to also be pulling away from the light radiating from you.
>>
No. 1093560 ID: 3fd859
File 171964006885.png - (178.69KB , 500x500 , 698.png )
1093560

You begin to notice strange, smooth pillars appearing between the trees as you move, some only a foot or so high, others disappearing into the branches. The void tendrils snake around and away from them, seeming almost reluctant to leave them, but fear of the light seems to be stronger than their desire to remain.
>>
No. 1093561 ID: 3fd859
File 171964007217.png - (208.55KB , 500x500 , 699.png )
1093561

And then, just as you break through into a small clearing, you hear a voice ---

"Well isn't this a delight, he he he he he...."

In the clearing stand several tall pillars arranged in a large circle. In the midst of them a tangled mess of thorny vines covered in bright red eyes twists itself into a small spire, unfurling at the peak to hold a small cloaked figure in a large hat.
>>
No. 1093562 ID: 3fd859
File 171964007678.png - (138.69KB , 500x500 , 700.png )
1093562

"I expected a deer to come bearing the light," the figure says with a laugh, "but light is light no matter who bears it."
>>
No. 1093563 ID: 3fd859
File 171964007989.png - (75.71KB , 500x500 , 701.png )
1093563

He takes a step off the dark pillar and drops gently down towards you. Your arm feels close to shattering as he draws near, the pressure of darkness radiating off of him almost overwhelming.

What do you do or say?
>>
No. 1093564 ID: c8380b

>>1093563
Where are the others? Where are we?
>>
No. 1093567 ID: 273c18

>>1093563
Uh. Maybe you can avoid a fight here(because you have no chance of winning). Tell him you're just looking for some travelers that might have come this way? Sorry if you're disturbing whatever he's doing here.
>>
No. 1093569 ID: c6c009

Concentrate the fire in your hand, gather it up, smaller and hotter, like a furnace, and hold it close to your chest. If need be you’ll sacrifice your outfit to empower it in a desperate burst to fend off whatever this is - or the giant eye-tree behind them.

Ask where the travellers are.
>>
No. 1093570 ID: aa9537

>>1093563

NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, byebyebyebyebye
>>
No. 1093573 ID: 8f9bc4

TAKE ME YOU HANDSOME no no don't listen to me don't listen to me
>>
No. 1093580 ID: 5ebd37

Ask what he's doing hiding away in the dark when he's so cute. Might put him off guard.
>>
No. 1093594 ID: 8ab08b

>>1093563
"Who tae fuck are you?"
>>
No. 1093723 ID: 189ec9

I TAKE CONTROL OF THE WIZARDS MIND PALACE.

Hey Wizzy, you did a great job today; like a real bang up job! Look at all this black bramble and shit, the land contractor who has to come around and fix this is going to fucking shit his pants and cry.

Now look I know what you're thinking, I AM LITERALLY YOUR THOUGHTS, and we could totally turn this dog and cat into Swiss Cheese but then, "WHO WOULD TELL OF OUR EXPLOITS???" Gotta have a few witnesses otherwise some idiot could come around and say they did it. Let's just scare them a bit and send them on their way, that way they can tell everyone just how cool and intimidating we really are.

Also, I'm tossing out this "Periodic Table" and "Collection of Romance novels" out of your mind space, it's too cramped.
>>
No. 1093854 ID: a0c6c5
File 172024568526.png - (156.06KB , 500x500 , 702.png )
1093854

>hold the fire close

You curl your fingers around the light in your hand and hold it close to your chest. Your heart beats faster, and your garments flutter as tho caught in a warm, sunlit wind, tho you only feel the warmth. You stare resolutely into the face of the approaching stranger.

>try reason; you don't want any trouble
>>
No. 1093855 ID: a0c6c5
File 172024568868.png - (86.54KB , 500x500 , 703.png )
1093855

"Who are you? What did you do with the travelers?"

The figure doffs his hat with a bow. "I suppose it's only fair to give you some sort of introduction, considering the bargain we're about to strike. My name is long gone, but you may know me as 'Trickster'. As for your friends, they're nearby, unharmed. Well, mostly unharmed."
>>
No. 1093856 ID: a0c6c5
File 172024569380.gif - (206.62KB , 500x495 , 704.gif )
1093856

He makes a face at you that one might assume is a wink, as much as someone with a large eye in the center of their face might be supposed to look like they're winking.

You've never heard of a figure calling themselves "Trickster". None of the scriptures nor the lessons your teacher drilled into your head remind you of anything like him. Perhaps it's an evolution of the wild void? You've never known those monsters to carry names or titles, let alone strike up any sort of conversation.

"Why did you kidnap those people?" you ask warily, "What bargain are you talking about?"

"What I want," he says with a chuckle, "you've brought for me on all but a silver platter. I need that light, and I need your arm to hold it. Give me both, and I'll give you back your friends."
>>
No. 1093857 ID: 273c18

>>1093856
So he wants you to work for him?
Tell him if you're going to do that you'd need to know what his overall objectives are.

See if you can move around a little. If the travelers are nearby, maybe you can find them?
>>
No. 1093858 ID: cd48aa

Ask if your arm stays on you and clarify that those travelers aren't technically your friends, you just met.
>>
No. 1093860 ID: 1effd3

Sounds like he want to use you for something. Emphasis on "use". "Trickster" is kind of on the nose. Make sure you get this all in writing, and that he isn't about to possess you or something. Gotta have that magical binding contract.
>>
No. 1093871 ID: 8f9bc4

Uh, they're not your friends. You just have a disinclination to let random strangers get poked by thorns. Unless he can bring your goddess back from the dead, he really doesn't have much to offer you. Why didn't he just ask for your help? Not like you have anything better to do. Why all this?
>>
No. 1093872 ID: 7e1c5d

>>1093856
>I need that light, and I need your arm to hold it. Give me both, and I'll give you back your friends.
He worded that in a way where, if you agree, he's going to rip off your arm to use it to hold the light!
>>
No. 1093884 ID: 189ec9

What's wrong with your arms? Also, I sort of need my arms to do stuff like... holding, grabbing, pointing, lifting, juggling, and shoveling food into my mouth hole... you don't even look like a qualified doctor to perform an amputation like that.
>>
No. 1094199 ID: a0c6c5
File 172084529870.png - (109.21KB , 500x500 , 705.png )
1094199

You're definitely not about to just give him what he wants, not at least without getting more information. At any rate if you stall for time you might be able to study the situation and locate the travelers from the inn.

"Ok, I'll bite, 'Trickster'. What do you want with my arm? I can't just pop it off and hand it to you."

"Details, details," he says evasively, "I have a small project that requires the power you carry, and regretably I'm not able to wield it myself directly. I don't need to physically posess your arm. Just help me do my thing and I'll let your friends go unharmed."

"And what if i refuse? Those people aren't my friends. It's sad if they die but it won't hurt me personally." That isn't really true, you do care about the loss of innocent lives. Tho if it comes down to it, between your own life or the lives of strangers...
>>
No. 1094200 ID: a0c6c5
File 172084530145.png - (176.53KB , 500x500 , 706.png )
1094200

His gaze narrows, grin stretching wider. "Is that so? If they really don't matter maybe I'll just go ahead and get rid of them then." He waves a hand and several thick tendrils from the tower unfurl, revealing the travelers coiled in their grasp. They seem to be unconscious, but still alive, thick trails of void slime dripping off of them.

Chester lets out a tiny squeak of a sob, her grip on your other arm tightening painfully. You might be at risk of losing both arms if she squeezes any harder.

"L-let's not get too hasty," you say quickly, "I just want to make sure I understand what's going on. What exactly is it you want me to do for you?"
>>
No. 1094201 ID: a0c6c5
File 172084530491.png - (170.80KB , 500x500 , 707.png )
1094201

"It's..." he hesitates, thinking. "It's not that I'm trying to obscure my intentions, it's just that, it's a very delicate and complicated thing to explain."

He glances behind him at the tower, eye narrowed. "There's not a lot I can say about it in present company, but should you agree to help me, I promise to explain everything to you."

He looks back at you, smiling smugly again. "But if you're looking for more of a carrot than a vague promise of information, then I can promise to teach you more about that light in you, where it comes from, and more importantly how to use it."
>>
No. 1094203 ID: 5ebd37

How about he lets these folks go back to the inn and then you two can have a nice long discussion?
>>
No. 1094204 ID: 273c18

>>1094201
The alternative is to try and fight this guy and you will lose.
Plus, if it's something he can't explain in front of the darkness monster thing then it might be something not quite in line with the void's agenda?
(also you have no idea that this guy killed the Goddess so you don't have a biiiig reason to distrust him)

...well, one last question. Will helping him with the delicate thing hurt a lot of people? Will it benefit a lot of people? If it's something horrible for only his benefit and he can't force you to do it, then... I guess you would have to ask those present to sacrifice their lives to prevent him from getting his way. You might have to sacrifice your own life, though... maybe your light will be enough to keep him from directly attacking you at least.

If what he's asking will, overall, not be too bad for the people of this world, then you can agree. Then once you know how to use your power better, you could help with whatever the consequences are.
>>
No. 1094205 ID: 273c18

...tempting to make him reach past the light to shake your hand to seal the deal. At the least it'll give you a good idea of his power level. Fighting him seems like it would result in the hostages' deaths no matter what though.
>>
No. 1094206 ID: 5fd272

It seems pretty obvious you can't fight this guy and win- you could barely blaze your way through the undergrowth to get here in the first place. At this rate, agreeing to work with him looks like the only way out of this situation that doesn't get a bunch of people hurt immediately. And learning more about your light IS tempting...
>>
No. 1094207 ID: cd48aa

Well that hesitation was unexpected.
>>
No. 1094210 ID: 273c18

Wait, he didn't promise anything about the hostages. He has to let everyone go, including Chester, and swear never to intentionally allow them to come to harm, either directly or indirectly. Or if not never, at least for a significant amount of time. A year, maybe. After that point he'd have no reason to hurt them anyway.
>>
No. 1094211 ID: 273c18

(also he totally wants you to kill the Void King but I have no idea how to let that slip without him then immediately killing everyone here)
How bad would it be if you killed the Void King, by the way? Is that worth the death of everyone here?
>>
No. 1094230 ID: daf3a4

If he promises not to hurt anyone if he can avoid it, this might be the only way to get everyone out alive.
>>
No. 1094282 ID: 2c1245

>>1094201
Damn why do the bad guys have to be so cute.
>>
No. 1094284 ID: eb0a9c

"Prove you have the right to control my Will. Fight me."
>>
No. 1094353 ID: 4db549

Hm, maybe ask him to let go of half the people before we agree, and then the other half after we agree.
>>
No. 1094546 ID: a0c6c5
File 172145120409.png - (109.78KB , 500x500 , 708.png )
1094546

Your mind races over thoughts and ideas, ways to talk yourself out of this situation without hurting anyone. You consider taking his offer, presuming he agrees not to harm anyone else. Maybe he's telling the truth, and you'll be able to learn more about this strange power glowing in you.

But...

What does he know about you, really? What on earth does he know about this power? You can't even be sure it IS a power. For all you know it's just the voice inside your head helping you rationalize your own inner strength. What the hell does this clown know about that?

The more and more you mull it over the angrier and angrier it makes you. You spent your entire life wrestling with faith in a god that doesn't exist. As soon as you start to think for yourself he just happens to show up with all the answers? You feel like your blood is beginning to boil as you get more and more worked up.

Isn't it time you started thinking for yourself?

"I don't know who you think you are," you say softly. There's a quaver in your voice that belies the anger behind it. "Coming here to tell me what to think?" you can feel your hackles raising, "Think you've got all the answers about me? I don't even know you!" you're shouting, "I won't let some asshole tell me what to do with my life! If you want whatever is inside me, then fight me for it, you bastard!!!"
>>
No. 1094547 ID: a0c6c5
File 172145120714.png - (186.55KB , 496x499 , 709.png )
1094547

The whole world seems to turn red. You're only half aware of your surroundings you as you lunge towards Trickster. You don't even really know what you're doing, just that you want very much to put his stupid grinning face into the dirt and leave it there.

He staggers backwards, caught completely off guard by your sudden assault, dodging and blocking a few of your swipes. You manage to catch him in the chest a couple of times. Every strike with your burning hand seems to sting the hardest, sending him reeling back, acrid smoke issuing from the impacts.
>>
No. 1094548 ID: a0c6c5
File 172145121010.png - (123.05KB , 500x500 , 710.png )
1094548

He manages to kick you back and shouts "ENOUGH!!" and with a mighty upwards gesture he raises several tendrils around you. They quickly wrap themselves tightly around you, stretching and twisting your glowing hand uncomfortably out in front of you.

"I wanted to play nice," he pants, "I've waited too many damned years to throw this chance away."
>>
No. 1094549 ID: a0c6c5
File 172145121383.png - (100.05KB , 500x500 , 711.png )
1094549

He slumps against the tower, chest heaving. "I'll be plain. You reek of the goddess. I don't know how she manifested in you exactly, but I know who she was and what her power can do." he takes a deep breath and lets it out shakily, his breathing finally settling somewhat. "That's how I claim to know what's inside you. What I want is revenge against her for what she did to me specifically and to her people. I need her power to right her wrongs, and if I can't have it willingly, then I will take it forcibly."

You struggle against the thorny vines wrapped around you. Your hand still cradles the light. Glancing up as best you can, it seems as tho the travelers are still unharmed. Will you accept Trickster's offer or continue to resist?
>>
No. 1094550 ID: 5fd272

Well, you beat part of an answer out of him, AND knocked the smile off his face to boot. He's sounding more reasonable now, but what wrongs are he talking about? The Goddess wronged her own people? If it's as important to him as it sounds, you might be able to get him to tell you more.
>>
No. 1094551 ID: 36ae2a

He was lying before, he's lying now. You know the language of manipulators, you were raised by it.
>>
No. 1094552 ID: 36ae2a

>>1094551
Plus, if he had noble intentions, he wouldn't have had tried to coerce you with hostages to begin with.
>>
No. 1094553 ID: c8380b

>>1094549
Your solution to righting her wrongs is to make more wrongs? What's your plan when someone else shows up to clean up your mess? Are you ready to hurt everyone you cross paths with just to settle the score with someone already gone?
>>
No. 1094554 ID: cd48aa

> Ask him if whatever he has planned will hurt people. He doesn't have any reason to tell the truth and you don't have any reason to believe him, but it's worth a shot.

OR

> Seriously? Now this asshole is going on about the Goddess? The Goddess is fucking dead! She's not "manifesting" anything anywhere! There's nobody to take revenge on! She's gone! This guy's shit is just more lies, just like the ones you were told all your life! The nerve of him! This is your strength, your power! Give him a piece of your mind!
>>
No. 1094555 ID: 273c18

>>1094549
Tell him whatever happened to him and his people, hurting innocents isn't going to right those wrongs. Revenge isn't even likely to make him feel better. If he wants your help, you're totally willing to expose the Goddess's crimes to the public, extract recompense for her sins... and then help him recover from what happened to him. But you're not going to help him lash out at people who don't deserve it.
>>
No. 1094562 ID: 8f9bc4

He's... not lying. He needs this light, and you do not. You don't have any reason not to give him whatever this is. But it's not the Goddess. She's dead. You should at least tell him that, if even someone as powerful as this fellow has been deceived into thinking she lives.

Please don't get all righteous about what he should do though. He's been through too much shit to get lectured by a child who doesn't even know what she's holding. When you know what wrongs he's trying to right, then you can lecture him on it. It's fair to tell him that wrapping people up in thorny vines is a really mean thing to do.
>>
No. 1094563 ID: e0d24b

Yeah I suppose it might be best to try and reason with him. Try to get him to see that if he needs help, these acts of violence against innocents are completely counterproductive.

But also let's be careful not to make assumptions. We don't know who the goddess' people are. If he feels the need to, say, eradicate all of the world for the good of the voidkin because someone built a world on top of their precious void, that's probably still very bad. In general, vengeance is not a cause we should hitch ourself to, even if it's against Cneph. I mean the goddess.

But also maybe we can play along for now to keep the hostages safe? How good a liar are you?
>>
No. 1094566 ID: 90fc2a

well, perhaps in his perspective he is right, but even so you already know he is willing to take hostages and do... whatever this is so a grain of salt... the right perspective can believe anything, after all.
WELL, you said the light felt resonant? well even with one hand you can snap fingers and flare the light bigger, and hey the dark around your hand is point blank, so fight or peace you should try to rip your hand out of it
>>
No. 1094573 ID: ec398b

Seriously revenge? Don't you have goals? Pursing revenge is a waste.
>>
No. 1095559 ID: 4db549

I mean, what's the alternative? He rips our arm off? Maybe we should just let him talk for now. Besides, what does he mean 'did to her people'?
>>
No. 1097496 ID: c83e36

Hate to be the optimist here, but it sounds like he genuinely believes what he's saying. If it's true, or at least half-true, what could it mean for you? The Goddess is dead, yes, but could it be possible that some shard of herself lives on inside of you?
>>
No. 1097602 ID: 543ea5

I would say to break the news to him that the revenge will ring hollow because shes dead/vacant. And it seems to have rung hollow because this "chance" just walked up to him, how was attacking a local inn going to help him if he wasn't lucky?
(Also, if that waystone is like, a stone you have on you, I would say to try to cast mend on it under the branches to get out if "right[ing] her wrongs" is just kidnapping people from local establishments.)
>>
No. 1097710 ID: 8f9bc4

>>1094573

Well, revenge and the fact that literally everyone is trying to kill him and his children right now. Completely deserved and self-earned, but y'know still something he's going to be concerned about.

Just tell him this isn't the Goddess's power. You made it yourself, because she's dead and gone. Whatever wrongs she committed, you'd love to help right. You just don't want to give this light away. You've been stripped of everything and left helpless and alone by liars with righteous conviction and noble intentions. He wants to take this from you too?
>>
No. 1098907 ID: 189ec9
File 172965655476.png - (21.24KB , 356x407 , sarutcho.png )
1098907

Sarutcho the cool rat emerges from the vines and goes, "HEY, LEAVE HER ALONE" and takes out his cool katana-sword and tips his fedora
>>
No. 1098924 ID: c63f2c

Joke's on him. You're pretty sure there's no goddess to revenge himself on. That does make this easier though. Since she ain't around, what do you care if this crazy void guy plots revenge and tries to use you for it?

Like, you're not sure you can trust him as far as you can punch him - guy literally names himself Trickster - and you're sure not happy he has pulled this void monster summoning kidnapping act, but you can play along if it gets the hostages released to Chester's care and lets them retreat to safety. At least you'll have done something then.

Then you can go with and hear him out proper about these wrongs to right and provide that nebulous assistance he wants in the matter... and while you're not all about to get too holier than thou you can give him shit about how two wrongs - and might - doesn't make right, and if he wants frank aid, rather than reluctant, pulling this whole act was a heck of self own. Especially when he makes it sound like the main trade is getting your only means of defense shorn clear.

[Accept]
>>
No. 1099341 ID: a0c6c5
File 173070095817.png - (191.98KB , 500x500 , 712.png )
1099341

You grunt in pain as the tendrils tighten around your arm. The light snaps and sparks against the darkness, but to no avail. You can barely move with how tightly they're coiled around you.

"Whatever vendetta you've got against the goddess, I don't want anything to do with it," you hiss, "so take your stupid light and leave me and my friends alone!"

Trickster picks up his hat and puts it back on, not a shred of a grin on his face anymore. "So be it."

He holds out his hands towards you, and the void overwhelms you.

You feel it compress even harder and harder around you. You feel like it's going to crush you into powder. The light inside you sparks feverishly, holding back against the pressure. More void wraps around your arm than you're able to burn off, until finally-
>>
No. 1099342 ID: a0c6c5
File 173070096282.png - (158.92KB , 500x500 , 713.png )
1099342

You feel yourself jolted back to consciousness as your body hits the cold earth. The light in your arm is gone, and -

You're... you're not sure of what that is attached to you. It feels like your arm, its fingers twitch like you want it to. But it's completely different.

"Well, that was a lot simpler than I expected."

Trickster is floating in the air. In his hands he holds a bright, shivering ball of light. He seems almost surprised to be holding it.
>>
No. 1099343 ID: a0c6c5
File 173070096630.png - (154.24KB , 500x500 , 714.png )
1099343

"So, vessels will actually come to her sanctuaries after all..." he grins excitedly, "well! It's only a small fragment of her power, but I'll take what I can get." He scoops it up in his hat, and you suddenly feel as tho you're a thousand miles away from where you are. "It didn't have to go this way, we could have done great things together. You pack an awful punch, I would liked to have seen you use that power for something actually important. But none of that matters now that it's in my hands. I've got some other matters to attend to, so I'll just leave you be. Later!"

He snaps, and vanishes.
>>
No. 1099344 ID: a0c6c5
File 173070096990.png - (4.19KB , 500x500 , 715.png )
1099344

The next few moments, or maybe hours, feel like a blur. You faintly recall seeing the void tower shrink away, you're vaguely aware of being carried and placed on a bed.

You sleep.
>>
No. 1099345 ID: a0c6c5
File 173070097265.png - (38.07KB , 500x500 , 716.png )
1099345

"And that's all the extremely violent ways I would kick his void ass," Mirrow finishes saying as you step off the gondola at the edge of the forest. You hear summer time insects chirping hypnotically in the trees, smell the pines and other plants. A worn trail leads into the trees, a sign planted along it pointing forward.
>>
No. 1099346 ID: 60653e

mirrow: walk confidently into the woods! you're not afraid of trees!
>>
No. 1099347 ID: 8f9bc4

He really thinks it's a piece of the goddess... uh, sorry, right. Extremely violent.
>>
No. 1099348 ID: 2ddc85

Ah, nice! Let's... not worry about what happened in the side-story, methinks. Whatever happened there isn't our issue, and we don't even know that it exists.
Right, looking for another part of ourselves. The sign looks semi-promising, it'll at least help us get a bearing on where to go first. I imagine the part of us that's holed up in these dingy woods is at least a LITTLE bit secluded, so we're not gonna find them easy.
>>
No. 1099349 ID: 1effd3

lets go walking and go kick some void ass
>>
No. 1099411 ID: 189ec9

>>1099345

Quickly give a shout out to OSHA for setting the kind of guidelines and proper safety measures needed to build such a safe and enjoyable Gondola.

Also, it sure is dark, I guess we oughta like, find a place to sleep that's safe and nice and comfy... like some sort of "HOUSE OF RESPITE FOR THE WEARY".

Maybe, while on the way, ask Mirrow if they know about any constellations or neat space facts since it's just up there. Being there.
>>
No. 1099639 ID: 189ec9

Ask Mirrow if they see the large "Chapter Three" in the sky or if you are going nuts.
>>
No. 1099640 ID: 6ad7d1

Mirrow is so cool.

We can read, right? What does the sign say?
>>
No. 1100542 ID: 189ec9

>>1099345

Try desperately to not imagine the Voids big luscious ass jiggling and shaking as Mirrow punches it. Fail to do so. Despair.
>>
No. 1100545 ID: c8380b

>>1100542

Bruh
>>
No. 1101048 ID: a52f10
File 173379909087.png - (69.70KB , 500x500 , 717.png )
1101048

You consider telling Mirrow to look up at the bright moon, marveling at how bright it is here in the dark edge of the forest. She seems determined however not to look up at the great glowing orb of pale light in the sky, and you decide to leave it be.
>>
No. 1101049 ID: a52f10
File 173379909455.png - (12.53KB , 500x500 , 718.png )
1101049

You walk over to the sign by the path and peer up at it. Light from the moon makes it easy to read in the dark: "Welcome to Froasting: beware of dangerous beasts - stick to the path for safety"

"'Stick to the path'," you read out loud, "I suppose that would get us through more quickly."

"I doubt this secret crystal healer just lives somewhere on the path," says Mirrow, "If we want to find them we'll probably have to deviate from the path at some point."

You pull out the map and look it over carefully. It's not very detailed, not even showing the path through the forest. "Froasting looks pretty big and dense. How are we gonna find one person in all of that? What if they're hiding?"

"We could try using Sigil of Sight again," Cali says thoughtfully, "it pointed us towards Trickster, maybe it could show us the healer."
>>
No. 1101050 ID: a52f10
File 173379909786.png - (9.08KB , 500x500 , 719.png )
1101050

Mirrow shifts uncomfortably. "Are you ok with me using mushroom magic? It cost us a lot when I used it before..."

"We could simply walk the path and observe the forest from within," says Godrender, "perhaps there is more than one path in the trees."

"But the beasts-" you say weakly.
>>
No. 1101051 ID: a52f10
File 173379910119.png - (137.16KB , 500x500 , 720.png )
1101051

"Nothing in there could be worse than anything we've faced so far," says Mirrow, "c'mon, let's at least start moving, we can figure out the details along the way." She strides purposefully forward, Godrender lighting up in the dark undergrowth.

You hurry after her, unsure whether you ought to be more reckless or cautious.
>>
No. 1101053 ID: cd48aa

Use the Sigil of Sight. Wandering off without direction will just get you lost and/or shattered.
>>
No. 1101054 ID: 189ec9

>>1101051

Staying put in the dark doesn't seem much better to be honest here, as long as you keep to the path and keep each other close I'm sure things will be fine.

Besides this is a good chance to steel yourself and strengthen your heart; a little recklessness can be good for you and if you get a lost you can pop the spell to get back on track.
>>
No. 1101055 ID: 273c18

>>1101051
Walk the path. The thing about people that live in cottages in the woods is, generally they have a path they use to get to the cottage. It's not going to be the main path, but you will see a side path somewhere. If you can't find it at all, that's when we try out the sigil of sight.
>>
No. 1101057 ID: 6c233e

Its just the spooky woods, as long as you stay on the path (avoiding noisy leaves and twigs) you should hear anything stalking you early enough to avoid it.
>>
No. 1101066 ID: c1f120

Caution's good at this stage, let's try to take it slow. Get our bearings in these woods first and all that good stuff.
Sigil of Sight is likely going to be useful in the future, but not now, especially when we don't even know what we're looking for. Sure, it's a slime with a core shard in it, but there could be tons of slimes...

Actually, searching for shards of our core specifically using the sigil is a pretty good idea! If we can ever find some time to cast that (and the energy to spare), it might behoove us to do just that.
>>
No. 1101071 ID: 29776c
File 173383448131.png - (83.44KB , 1000x1000 , 165844032960.png )
1101071

Just to recap in case anyone doesnt fully remember, we're here because Grace of the Underworld told us a piece of our grand slime core was somewhere in Froasting and that this piece had the power to heal slime crystal, so we can both heal Nemo and hopefully convince her to join us if we meet her. Grace also wants us to write her letters once a month (not urgent) and find a way to kill the Trickster, which it seem we'll likely need all of our pieces in order to do.

We have a spell phone with "Push", "Pull", "Hot", "Cold" and "Mend" crystal magic spells and Tricky's contact. We have a cloak that channels void magic and know the runes for "Blink", "Ask" and "Beacon". (Also worth noting that void magic only works for us because Cali is bonded to us)

The Void King is also currently looking for parts of a weird gem, that might be our core? I don't remember if that was made explicit, or if it might be some other gem. The map shows the places they've checked. The west set of smaller islands is where we started, and Froasting, where we are now, is the forest in the south. If we feel like it, when we're done here we might want to take the opportunity to go on to the Yawn region (south east) and visit the 'slime university' which the doctor suggested one of our pieces mightve ended up at (also im just super curious what a slime university would be like i bet itd be amazing)
>>
No. 1101294 ID: 60653e

run as fast as you can, there's a lot of ground to cover! if there's any debris in the way, do a cool flip or dodge roll over it!
[Return] [Entire Thread] [Last 50 posts] [Last 100 posts]

Delete post []
Password  
Report post
Reason