>>146037
{DON'T CALL ME THAT.}

The blast of psychic power shorts out my rune, my head erupting in massive pain before I manage to re-inscribe. I feel something wet in my ears and on my upper lip.
{Don't ever refer to me as that sniveling coward again!}

>>146038
Sorry. What do you want to be called?

>>146038
How about we call you just Virulent then?

So, what's the point of all this? What do you hope to accomplish?

You didn't answer the question. What's the point?

>>146041
{What's the point of anything, pinky? Why do you fuck women, why do you fight me, why do you do this or that or that other thing? I'll tell you why.}

A smile breaks across his face, lined with white fangs.
{It feels good.}

>>146044
"It feels good"? That's your reason? You think we're fighting you just to gain pleasure? There are millions of innocent people here on this planet. If we let you kill them all, do you think we'll feel good about that? Do you think we're helping Antares just because it satisfies us? We do what we do to save the lives of others. We do what we do because we have to! We do it because we need to! If we wanted to feel good, then we would be doing something else!

>>146051
{Kaaaaaaaaaaaa! You do good, because it makes you feel good, same as the boy and same as his friends. I kill because I enjoy it. Nothing more to it.}
His mouth opens slightly, a black tongue touching the teeth slowly.
{I kill because it makes me happy. I won't stop until there is nothing left. I'll take it all, absorb it all, make it all myself. And when there's nothing left, I'll absorb myself, and then... Well, we'll have to seeeeeheheheh.}
The tongue retracts and the jaw snaps shut.
{I'll show you how it feels.}
A pressure... A pressure on my chest and in my mind.
{Hm? A seal? A rune? Hahaaaahahaha. Let's test it...}

>>146053
Let's not test it. Drop the shard.

Death the shard.

>>146056
No, just drop it.

>>146057
I let the shard fall from my hands to the ground, and as soon as it touches the ground, a crater appears, a foot wide and deep.

My god...This thing is dangerous. I pull out a jar and place the shard inside with care, panting.

>>146060
I'm considering etching on the bottle to destroy the shard, but if you do that, it might also affect the main orb. That would be bad, I think.

Hey Antares. I think we can argue to the others that putting out Achilles' bad eye would be punishing the one responsible for everything that's happened. It seems that Virulent is controlling Achilles fully. That dominant voice you heard when Sellika was speaking with us? I think that was the sane version of Achilles. He's being totally suppressed.

>>146063
Oh god.

I didn't notice before.

Sellika.
Akilles.
Achilles.

Damnit! He's crying for help...How int he world can I convince my friends? Ysl saw me touch the orb, they know he has the full one...

Be honest. They trust you, and you know you're right. You might want to refrain from telling... ALL of the though, at least for now.

>>146064
Well, we already basically told Sal'an about it, he can back us up that it's not just the orb shard controlling you. Plus, the Courage charm would break mind control, not just prevent it, right?

>>146068
Well, yes...Still. How am I supposed to tell someone who's lost a father, and someone who has lost nearly their whole race, that the monster we've been chasing this whole time is a victim?

>>146070
He's not a victim. He's a monster. The thing is, there's someone behind the monster, inside it. An innocent, in the same body but trapped.

We seek justice, and we shall GET it. The Achilles we know is two people. We spare one, and kill the other.

>>146083
Very well. We'll keep fighting like we have been. Our foe is unchanged. If that encounter was any sign of the future events... We cannot allow Virulent to live.

Ysl slips closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder.
"I was very worried." she murmurs. "That... I'd lost a chance. That me, Jai, Asala, Rance, Sal'an, and Harumda... were the only ones left. I know... it sounds silly, doesn't it?"

But she DIDN'T. That's the important part. Hug herrrr

>>146086
Hugs are always good.

>>146088
I smile and hug her tightly again, enjoying the soft warmth of her body. She kisses my neck gently, and I can feel her blushing even though our faces are an inch apart.

Hey, I just realized Ysl doesn't know about the 3 goblin prisoners that Virulent has, and is trying to convert. We should tell Ysl that she's not the last of her kind after all.

>>146091
"You aren't the last of your kind." I murmur, and her grip tightens.
"Are you... certain?"
"Yes. A..." my eyes flit to the jarred necklace. "Reliable source told me."
She kisses my neck again, biting gently.
"I'm... I'm happy to hear that." she murmurs, her wings flapping quietly, cooling me. Her leg reaches back and closes the flap, the room darkening except her eyes, which glow with an inner fire.

>>146092
Hmmmmm.

"So... what sorts of things did you and Jai discuss?"

I'd like to confirm that Jai gave her permission to do stuff with you.

>>146095
Ysl giggles.
"I think I know what I like about you." she murmurs. "So innocent and yet so strong~" she kisses lower on my neck, "So naive and yet so... determined." Why don't we finish what we started on the beach?" she asks, slipping off her sandals with a couple of plops.

>>146096
I approve.

>>146096
YES.

...wait you're going to make us leave aren't you?

...can you try to send us to Vorana if you do?

>>146097
I, ah, I suppose you would...
"You're so skittish, it's adorable." she murmurs, unfastening my armor and setting it aside piece by piece, her eyes growing brighter and brighter. She gently kisses my collarbone, the feeling sending chills down my spine.

"But I want to hear it from your lips, not your body." she whispers, leaning over me and close.

>>146099
Kiss her. That is what she wants. Then tell her you want to share yourself with her.

Or maybe, reverse that order of action.

She might also like to hear how you feel about her.

(god I hope I'm not fucking everything up)

>>146109
"Ysl... I want you." I murmur gently, and her eyes flash. Her smile widens even as I kiss her lips, her body pressing tightly against mine, the heat pressing through our thin clothes.

>>146154
You're wearing clothes? That's unacceptable!

I wonder, are those wings sensitive?

>>146158
My hands slide up her back to touch her wings gently, which twitch under my fingers, her eyes flashing slightly. Ysl's tongue pushes into my mouth, her hands sliding under my shirt.

Awwwww~

Want us to leave you two alone?

>>146168
Reciprocate.

>>146198
>Reciprocate
I kiss her back, and her throat rumbles in appreciation. My hands slide under the white fabric of her toga, slowly up her long legs and over her belly.

I think that's enough reward for your help for now.

%^$$^&^#^%&
Oh hi! Momma tole me about you guys!

DAMMIT! You told Asala that you made a choice and that you could hurt Jai and then 10 minutes later your all over the gobbo dragon!?!? Get your shit together *mental smack*.

Hello? Who's this?

>>146213
Wha

H.. Hi. Where are you right now, Anataire?

[one minute too late...*sigh*]
Hi, been wanting to meet you...uh.. what is your name anyway?

>>146218
Momma calls me Anataire. I'm a princess! But I do stuff too. I can fly really really really really really fast!

>>146223
Hi there, Anataire. Where are you right now?

>>146228
I'm outside Antares's tent.

They're making funny sounds...

>>146233
Um, er, the people in there are... um... doing something very important.

Hey, do you know Harumda?

>>146237
The big man! He talks funny. Laughs loudly. Fun to play with!

Wanna go see him now? Or is there something else you wanted to do?

>>146244
Oh, maybe we can go see what he's doing. Say, where's your mom? We haven't found her yet.

>>146246
Mom is busy making more friends.

>>146245
Rance said I could play for a while. But everyone is so busy...

>>146250
Well, at least we know she's okay. I guess we'll talk to her later.

Show us how high you can fly!

More friends? Like sisters and brothers?

Also don't fly high, instead go see what everyone's doing. Everyone that isn't Antares.

>>146408
Asala is with Jai. They are trying on more clothing things. The fishy man is laughing with some girls of the green guys. The nice man is talking to Rance. The big guy is relaxing.

Go talk to the big guy, that should be fun. He can't be asleep, so maybe he'd like someone to talk to.

>Talk to big guy

I fly down and land on his shoulder. The big guy looks over at me. He's always smiling. I think it looks silly.

"You should go home." he says, waving his hand over the ground slowly. "Things are gonna get real dangerous here."

Home? Ask him why.

How do I shot Trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/03/13(Sat)01:38 No. 146656 ID: e31d52
File 126847313769.jpg - (11.53KB , 289x444 , Harumdasblade.jpg )

>>146646
"Why?" I ask, landing on the ground near where he's been waving his hand for the past long time.
"That big thing you spotted heading this way? It's gonna try to hurt us."
"Why?"
"Because he's mean." the big man says.
"What will you do?"
"We'll try to hurt him back."
"So does that mean you're mean?"
The big man stares at me for a few seconds, then cocks his head to one side.
"Naw. We're not mean."
"So you're nice?"
He pauses again.
"Naw..." he reaches in and pulls out a heavy thing. "We're just less mean than they are, is all." he says, looking at his feet. "Now get. before you get hurt."

Ergh... Okay, you'd better listen to him.

How do I shot Trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/03/13(Sat)12:18 No. 146740 ID: e31d52
File 126851148692.jpg - (69.44KB , 417x525 , Dretchling.jpg )

>>146676
Okay.

I tell Rance I am going home, and he nods and says it is a good thing.

I fly over the wall and see weird people. A lot of weird people.

Fly home, don't stop for anything. Can you send us back to Antares?

>>146745
Mkay!

#%$%#$%$^#$%%#

.... I. Uh.

Wow.

That was incredible. Ysl lays atop me, sleeping soundly, her warmth keeping us out of blankets. I gently pet her new hair, smiling.

That's pretty adorable. And a little sexy.

Don't want to ruin the mood, but there's an army of dretchlings closing in on your position.

How do I shot Trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/03/13(Sat)12:45 No. 146749 ID: e31d52
File 126851313495.jpg - (1.80MB , 1500x2065 , AsalaAndNewFreedom.jpg )

>>146747
What.

Oh, for fuck's sake, I don't get any peace, do I?

"Ysl?"
"Mmrm?"
"There's an army closing in."
"Mmm." she gets up and stretches, making me smile, and gets dressed. She helps me get my armor on as she picks up what appear to be a pair of steel boxing gloves, without thumbs.
"That are those?"
"Rance said he found them in a cave near here. Haven't tried them yet, but they look interesting." she says, locking them on her hands. We exit the tent, as Harumda walks by, his mouth open and his black tongue lolling out. I've never seen him so happy. Haggar it picking up a set of long metal plates that fasten on his wrist and extend past his elbows. I don't see ahny other armor on him. Girls of every race I've ever seen are suiting up in armor, rallying behind the woman I saw with Rance earlier as he barks orders in what I assumes is Orc. Asala walks in front of me, clad in new armor.

"Antares. It seems Achilles has sent a forward force, ahead of his flying fortress."

They're dretchlings, Anataire saw them. Ask Asala if she knows anything about them.

>>147623
Asala thinks for a moment.
"Humans mutated heavily by magical randomness." she says. "Is one definition. Or humanoid creatures made from mutated creatures in such an area. My father had a lot of books documenting such things."

As if a kind of antimagic force could 'snap them out of it' per say. If not, ask her if she can remember any particular weaknesses.

>>147653
"They are mostly mindless. They are animals in humanoid form... Only driven by those of their kind that hold a modicum of intellect." she says, drawing Freedom, which now glows with a pale yellow light. "If I may make a suggestion... Me and the demon will disrupt their ranks, while Jai and yourself will take those who draw too close. Does that sound reasonable?"

So what she's saying is kill the commanders, the rest might flee? Confirm this.

Antares, do you think you could inscribe death on her sword without any repercussions? As great as blessing is, if she's hanging with Harumda, it might not be the best idea. Courage on her armor should be fine though, no?

>>147673
Death only grants the eyes of death. She'd be unable to use them, as she is blind.

"Yes. Kill the commander, and they will grow disorganized. Some may assault here, but... it will be not as a united force but a swarm of idiots."

...Okay I have an idea. Do you think you could get an enormous amount of courage water together, inscribe speed 5 on your shoes and death on your sword, rush over and kill the leader, then rush back and pass out while Harumda drops the the courage water down to scare the rest of them away?

>>147701
Hrm, it's probably better to just use Courage water for time dialation. It has no chance of causing Antares to pass out. Speed 3 on Boots would support the endeavor...

Unless Tyka is the commander. Then she'd just be able to stop Antares in his tracks.

Hey, how about we try some rune experimentation? We've barely tried anything with Wounds... I want to see what it does on a charm, ring, gloves, and boots. After that, try Death on armor, gloves, and boots.

Oh, and tell Asala she looks good in that outfit. Ask her why Freedom is different.

>>147774
"You look good, Asala. Very... Regal."
"Thank you. I suppose Jai is trustworthy after all... What was the other outfit?"
"Ah... you wouldn't have liked it."
"Oh."
"Why is Freedom different?"
"It's different?"
"Yeah... the design changed, and now it glows."
She pauses.
"I suppose it's because I believe in it."

>charm,
Again, I feel... protected. I can't really say how.

>ring
!?!
I can see through my skin! The musculature of my hands is clearly visible. The same with Asala's face... I'm erasing this.

>gloves
My hands feel very clean.

>boots.
My feet feel... protected. I could walk for a week on end like this, I bet.

>Death on
>armor
I feel feircely protected, and everything is a few shades darker.

>gloves
My hands become skeletal, although my skin glows and is transparent. The air around them instantly feels incredibly stagnant in a way I cannot describe.

>boots
I feel unstoppable!

>>147701
I doubt this would work. The air wouldn't have time to get out of the way at that level of sliced time.

>>147839
Sounds like Death on gloves allows you to kill anything you touch. Keep your hands away from your friends while that's active. Try it out on grass or something.

I'm going to guess that the Wounds charm protects you from disease and infection. It might also cause wounds to stop bleeding faster.

The Death armor... ugh. I don't know. Try pricking your finger. Maybe it reduces the risk of all injury so you have no chance of dying.

How about we try Courage on your boots, gloves, ring, and pendant?

Heck, try putting Death on your pendant to see if it has the same effect as on the ring.

>>147863
>Try it out on grass or something.
I reach down and touch a single blade of grass. It grows, instantly, reaching ten times its height before quickly turning brown, then black, then to dust.

>Pendant
I feel like there's a cloak on my body, yet I see none. I feel much lighter.

>>147865
oh wow, death glove causes things to die by accelerating it's life.

now let's try to break magic with death on one glove and the other with healing, then grab something with both.

>>147865
Looks like Death on gloves is very, very dangerous. You could easily kill one of your friends by accident. Up to you if you want to risk it.

As for the pendant... Try jumping? Maybe it keeps you from dying from a fall. Try other runes on the pendant. If they have similar themes then we'd be better able to tell what each one does.

>>147894
I jump.

I, uh... I don't come down.
I'm two feet in the air.

>>147899
Can you move around at all? Walking, or just willing yourself to move?

>>147901
I can will myself around, moving at about walking speed. I see over the wall. The creatures are waiting just within sight.

How courteous of them. Okay, Asala's idea is good if you can't get the commander, but can you see it?

>>147963
No, I cannot.

I float back down.

So, should I go with Asala's plan... or go with one of my own devising?

Go with Asala's plan, she knows more about fighting these guys than you do. Can you inscribe courage on her sword and armor, and death on her boots? Leave out blessing in case Harumda wants to chuck her at them or something.

How do I shot Trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/03/16(Tue)00:12 No. 148257 ID: e31d52
File 126872356645.jpg - (336.62KB , 1920x1080 , Dretchling Lord.jpg )

>>148246
"Alright. I'm going to put Courage on your sword."
"Please... don't."
"What?"
"Harumda needs not such enchantments. Neither, then, do I."

...

Fine.

"Alright. If you're certain."
"Thank you for your trust."

Jai and I watch from the wall as the other two approach the head force. Ysl drops down as well.

Wait...
I see him. He's coming to the front. There's no mistaking the leader.
"Halsht! We sheek the one who sheeks the Corruptor! We will not harm yoush!"

Interesting...

Got a water bottle handy? If so, put courage on it. You still have a death inscribed ring on, yes?

Tell him it's you, not like you can lose much just by saying that at this point.

>>148260
"I am the one who seeks the Corruptor, Achilles!" I call, stepping down from the wall with grace I wasn't expecting. The goatheaded man draws close, sheathing his blade.

"My name ish Shoo." he says. "My peoplesh were changed after we came to thish land. We shushpect that it is the fault of he who ridesh the demon."
He points at the large floating castle, barely visible in the distance.
"Shoo know thingsh. Shoo can put three peoplesh up there. Only three. Shoo ish happy to offer to shend you up. You take Shoo's help, yesh?"

Oh hell yes.

Ask him if he could help get 3 people DOWN too

How do I shot Trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/03/16(Tue)00:41 No. 148276 ID: e31d52
File 126872531467.jpg - (378.26KB , 1600x1067 , Shoo\'smaschine.jpg )

>>148269
"Oh, no. Shoo get up. You get down." he whistles, and some dretchlings drag out...

What the hell?!
He wheels out two more.
"You get on cliff, take off, flap flap flap. You be there in no time! Shoo even ushe it himshelf!"

Huh.

You know, you can levitate now, getting down won't be much of a problem. Maybe it'll let you bring more than three people too?

Well whatever. Antares, are you ready to go there now?

>>148276
Before we go, we'd better get everyone together and explain the true nature of Achilles and Virulent. Then we will decide who comes with us.

>>148330

I gather my people and carefully explain the truth of what is happening.
"We're still chasing after the same thing. We just need to be more careful." I finish. Ysl looks especially thoughtful. Then she steps forward.
"I must go with you." she states simply. "This Virulent has taken the lives of many races. Achilles lost his whole civilization like I. I must help."
Asala steps forth as well.
"I must come as well. Virulent must answer for my father's death." she states.

Who should I bring?

>>148277
I doubt it. The machines only allow for a single person.

>>148307
I am ready.

>>148384
Ysl should come. Asala seems confident in her ability to fight... you should ask why that is before we bring her.

>>148411
"Asala, why are you so confident in your ability?"
She smiles. "I am not." she says softly. "I am, in fact very frightened. However, my father once told me... A hero dies only once, but a coward dies a thousand times." she inhales deeply.
"Even if I fail, I will have managed something. Please. Do not take this opportunity from me."

>>148418
...alright.

>>148430
Very well.
"Harumda, help her into one of the machines. Ysl and I will also use one.
Harumda is quick to oblige, and I notice the large creature is especially careful with Asala's comparatively small form.

"What about launching?" I ask.
"Way ahead of ya." Harumda states, picking up mine.
"Wait, wha-"

oh god he's throwing it

OHH CRAP

Hey before you go, you need to bring some water bottles.

>>148440
Alreadygotthem! OHGODTHISISINSANE!
I gather my thoughs, and notice the runes all over the craft. Small runes of Air dance around it, and a light giggle that sounds familiar enters my mind.

We land not nearly as easily as we took off, crashing on the cobbles of the courtyard.

We have landed.

>>148448
It looks like your goddess decided to give you a vote of confidence.