>>220497
Ponder a bit over life and all its miseries and mysteries. Briefly think over your faith as a magical construct created by an insane immortal being with more power than sanity to use it well.

Then take the plunge ahead and prepare for new deeply unsettling and disturbing sensations. Like feeling hunger but not being able to eat, and thirst without the ability to drink. And how very uncomfortable it is to have swords instead of hands.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)11:54 No. 220504 ID: 117dce
File 128241685425.jpg - (96.38KB , 870x740 , 1.jpg )

Spikesby thinks about how horrible and dangerous his life has been up to this point. It sort of makes the horror and danger he's about to encounter a little more bearable. He doesn't know what the antimagic will do to him. Will he be hungry or thirst? It doesn't matter. He waves once before he and Ria dive in.

The heavy, suffocating jelly immediately swallows him. He cannot breathe! The blackness seems to permeate his body like a cold, slick film, reaching, grasping at some essential quality of his body. He cannot breathe! Ria chokes and struggles next to him.

>>220504
Probably just the magic being stripped from both of you. You should be sort of fine. Unless the Lord of Marvels was full of shit, which actually doesn't seem all that unlikely.

That's generally a bad thing. Take it slow. If you find you can't actually survive in it for more than a few minutes then get out and think of a new plan.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)12:21 No. 220514 ID: 117dce
File 12824185066.jpg - (111.81KB , 870x740 , 2.jpg )

Spikesby struggles forward. The slime becomes thicker, a horrid, sucking mass that slithers and pulls. He feels soft, weak, malleable inside the suffocating darkness. Should he turn around? Which way is back? Bright points of light wink in the darkness and his vision narrows before he finally breaks free, gasping for air. The black gell smokes and sizzles as it evaporates from his body. Ria lies sputtering on the ground near him. The air is hazy and he finds it hard to breath. Everything is wrong. He feels a hole inside him, a watchful presence that has always been with him is gone.

>>220514
Well now you should have more free will or something like that. Anyway, lets get up and see what this place is like.

Mneme!CRITTerXzI 2010/08/21(Sat)12:31 No. 220518 ID: 3234dd
File 128241909087.jpg - (34.44KB , 457x225 , awkward.jpg )

You're free of the wizards' influence!

What's that thing up ahead? Ask Isadore to look through her scope. If there's too much shit in the way, walk up and take a look.

>>220514
Help Ria up with a not-sharp part of you.

>>220514

Assist Ria without RIP AND TEARing her. Also ask her to check and see if the radio works. We need to know how technology fares inside this place in case we need that jeep for backup.

Also, is there something like a GPS unit or some other compass / directional rangefinding tool that RIA, in her intelligence (or perhaps suggested by Isenore or Llewyn) brought with her?

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)13:07 No. 220547 ID: 117dce
File 128242122965.jpg - (96.03KB , 870x740 , 3.jpg )

Spikeby helps Ria up. She pulls out the field phone and tries to contact Isenore and Llewyn.

They both hear static and strange, warbling voices almost too quiet to hear. After several long seconds, Llewyn comes over the radio.

>Ria? Is that you? Are you alive in there?

"Yeah," Ria answers, "Can you see anything in here?"

>"No, It's totally dark. Reception is kind of weak, but we're still hearing you fine."

"Okay, we'll keep in touch," says Ria, putting away the phone. They have a limited battery, so she should only use it when she has to.

They head forward toward the hill? Structure? They aren't sure. The blackness is much thicker behind them. The Sea apparently forms a giant bubble with a dense membrane. Should they head toward the structure? There are a few more 'trees' to the left, but nothing much to the right.

>>220547
Head towards the structure.

>>220547
Sure, check it out. There might be people there.

>>220547
Try carving some stuff into the trees so you can find your way back.

>>220547

Agreed on checking out house-thing and attemptive to carve a little "x" or something in a tree. But be careful; this is a good test of how sharp our claws are now.

Also, I figured I would repost the info given to us the The Lord of Marvels back in chapter 3:

From http://quest.lv/kusaba/questarch/res/92605.html#i121441

"Journey into the Sea of Oblivion and speak to one of the creatures that lives there if you wish to be free of the Wizards' power forever."

"Simply travel into the Sea of Oblivion until you meet with one of the Progenitors, the creatures that rule there. They will assist you."

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)13:37 No. 220566 ID: 117dce
File 128242307228.jpg - (67.35KB , 870x740 , 4.jpg )

Spikesby tries to carve a blaze into one of the 'trees.' It's soft body is more like flesh than wood, and it splits easily in a wide gash. A translucent gel begins to seep out. His blades are sharp, but not supernaturally hard anymore.

Some creatures are peering at them from the inside of the structure.

He remembers what the Lord of Marvels said. He has no idea how to find these "progenitors," though.

>>220566
So the trees are sorta fake? Or created by the antimagic?

Can you dig normally?

Is there anything left of the world to save?

Go talk to those things in the house. Try not to stab them unless you have to.

Wak unintelligibly at them, then have Ria say hello unintelligibly at them.

>>220566
Ask those guys in the house about this place.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)14:36 No. 220604 ID: 117dce
File 128242656160.jpg - (143.04KB , 870x740 , 5.jpg )

The trees seem more or less to be made of the same substance as the wall. They have a harder, thicker skin. The winking lights are even visible inside.

Spikesby feels ground with the tip of his sword. The dirt is gray.

He goes up to the structure. The ... Ravians? have long, fluid necks that swivel to inspect Spikesby and Ria as they approach. Ria asks them about this place.

"We live at Sea Edge" whispers one of them.

"No one comes here" whispered another.

"Mostly only corpses fall out of the big wall. We go to check sometimes." whispers the third.

Are people happy here? In general in the Sea of Oblivion not the Edge.

>>220604

Try (nicely!) to get them to give you the following info:
- They say "Mostly only corpses fall out of the big wall". Well, what ELSE falls out of the big wall? Anything like us (magical creatures), or just other anti-magic creatures like that creepy dude wrapped up in a bajillion souls?
- Speaking of that dude, have they seen any around here recently? We don't exactly want to get soul-vored here.
- Do they know anything about these "progenitors"? Possibly by a different name. If they don't recognize the word immediately, ask them about powerful creatures/rulers; probably roughly the anti-magic equivalent of the wizards.

Also, do they have any other neato info they could give you? Things to watch out for, etc.

>>220604
What types of corpses? It would be nice to know if magical creatures are the only ones that can survive the transition.

Ask where we can find more people. Or someone in charge, maybe? Also, ask them if they like it here. Or if they've ever been outside of the sea.

Info and directions for the progenitors is a priority. This place is fairly bleak, some direction would be very beneficial.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)15:06 No. 220621 ID: 117dce
File 128242838723.jpg - (142.22KB , 870x740 , 6.jpg )

Ria asks what kinds of stuff comes out of the wall, and if they've ever been outside of the sea.

"Outside there is nothing. it is a poisoned dream and anyone who travels through the wall will surely die. Dream things like you sometimes are born from the wall. Strange-looking creatures. The ones who have enough reality to survive wander off and some stand and starve in confusion." Spikesby figures that magical creatures probably stand and starve. They wouldn't have any orders anymore once they breached the wall.

Ria asks if they're happy, and if people in general are happy.

"We are scavengers here near the wall, where things are less substantial," the second one says, "If you travel into the woods, you will find many of the Wind Born. They are the Progenitor's creatures. If you travel toward the plains, there is the town of Bleached Head where the Wind Born do not go. Directly away from the wall after many days is the realm of the Progenitor Ul Kerull of the Sinking Sign. His lands are mostly devoid of people"

Ria asks for more information about the Wind Born, and asks for information about the Progenitors.

The third one responds, "We moved to Sea Edge because we wish to avoid the Progenitors. Kallikissa wanders here sometimes, and we hide from her. The Progenitors created the world from their flesh, and all life and change flow from them. The Wind Born are often large and difficult to understand. They are like the Progenitors and can be commanded by them. The Progenitors do their own work, and wander the world as they please. They do not ofter speak with mortal creatures."

>>220621
Ask them why they avoid the Progenitors. Do they do bad things? Ask specifically about Kallikissa and Ul Kerull. What are they like?

Also tell them that the other side of the wall is similar to this place. There are people there, and creatures of supreme power like they seem to describe the Progenitors being.

info on Kallikissa and Ul Kerull, and then we probably should pick one of them and do our best to search them out. Ul Kerull's location has been pretty much laid out but will take time. Kallikissa may be the best option but we'll have to work for it.

>>220621
So... new boss, same as the old boss?

>>220621
A bit more information on the progenitors doings and what these windborns do would probably be useful.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)15:58 No. 220663 ID: 117dce
File 128243151061.jpg - (120.39KB , 870x740 , 7.jpg )

Ria explains that the other side of the wall is a world a lot like this one, with powerful creatures similar to the Progenitors.
"You only think so because you are a dream. You think that you were real before the wall gave birth to you, but that is not so. Your memories are false. If you become real, then in time you will forget those false memories."

Ria asks for more info on the Wind Born, Kallikissa and Ul Kerull.

"The Wind Born can be dangerous, but are usually just difficult to understand. I When they are not following the orders of the Progenators, their behaviors are confusing, inscrutable. We ignore them, mostly. I do not know how they treat dreamthings such as yourself."

The second one chimes in, "Ul Kerull of the Sunken Sign does not travel like most of the Progenitors. He wishes to destroy the Wall and let the world be whole again. He does work. Many of the mortal creatures in the towns around his realm have disappeared. Whole towns made empty."

The third one says its piece, "Kallikissa travels more than most, but always stays near the wall. the Sea of Dreams beyond it attracts her, but she is hard to understand. She wanders often in the woods south of here, but there is no telling if she is there now, or somewhere else. There are other Progenitors, but we do not know much of them because they live much further away."

Spikesby and Ria have an idea as to what both of the Progenators look like. The shapes seem to drift into their consciousness as the Progenitors are discussed.

"Progenitors create the world through their flesh, but this is not a thing they do consciously. They do very little for the most part. Some try to chart the future through their wanderings and words, but they are often unsuccessful. They have no great power, other than controlling the Wind Born."

>>220663
Ask them why they avoid Kallikissa.

If she doesn't seem to be dangerous, we should approach her.

Let's travel to Ul Kerull. He will be much more reliable to find, and hopefully easier to communicate with based on the information. It could be more dangerous but for the sound of it, the only reason would be that he might despise helping us, so we'll need to be careful when communicating with him if we manage to find him.

Kallikissa sounds like a wild goose chase and if she is difficult to understand, and find, it could be far more time than it is worth to do what is needed.

>>220663

I have to suggest the opposite of >>220673. Ul Kerull sounds like the anti-magic version of Blacksoul; consumed with a desire to defeat the other side. The fact that whole towns of mortal beings have disappeared around him suggests that he's the one behind the soul-armored anti-magic creatures which have been sent into the magic world.

Ul Kerull would likely study us or suck up our souls, as we already know that magical creature souls are apparently worth far more than normal critter souls. Or try to use us as pawns to bring about the destruction of the magical realm. All such outcomes are... undesirable.

If Kallikissa doesn't sound too bad, we may want to start with her. She probably has her own motivations which don't consist of CONSUME THE WORLD AT ALL COSTS. We could probably at least get some info out of her without risk of soul-sucking.

I hate to waste your resources, but you should radio back that you may lose your memories if you persist too long in this realm. That way if you don't return at least they know... and can perhaps prepare better in future expeditions. Keep it short though. No time for good-byes now.

>>220663
Lets go into the forest and look for those windborn things and Kallikissa. She seems like someone who would be interested in creatures from beyond the sea as well as less likely to treat you as experiments.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)17:39 No. 220748 ID: 117dce
File 128243759025.jpg - (178.03KB , 870x740 , 8.jpg )

Spikesby and Ria decide to seek out Kallikissa in the forest. Ria radios back to the truck and very briefly describes what has happened, informing Isenore that they might lose their memories if they stay too long.

They walk for the better part of a day, the trees growing less sparse. Spikesby begins to feel a discomfort in his abdomen. it is a sensation he has never experienced before.

They don't see any windborn or Progenators, and the sky begins to darken.

Test their "you're a dream" theory with the radio if you're still in range.

Spikesby, normally things have to eat, and since you're no longer magically enhanced you're getting hungry. You're going to have to find something to munch on. Ask if Ria has food.

Let's not use the radio just to talk about dream theories.

>>220752
Spikesby is normally sustained by magic and doesn't have the necessary biological facilities to consume food or dispose of the waste involved. He could probably chew on something, but wouldn't be able to extract any sustenance from it.

>>220748
Call out and see if anyone's around, Windborn or otherwise. And make sure we know how to get back to the wall if we need to.

Does the sky darkening appear to be coincide with the end of the day and the approach of night? If we're hitting nightfall, it'll be harder for us to get help if we need it. We should call up our friends and see if they can pick us up before too long; Spikesby shouldn't go too long without recharging or he'll become weak and starve to death. A vehicle might also help attract the Progenitor we're looking for.

>>220762
Assuming he has at least exposed mucus membranes inside he could gain some energetic benefit by absorption from swilling around something high in sugar, water and a few salts and amino acids.

Like some kind of broth, alcoholic beverage (beer has a shitload of simple sugars and carbs), tea, or high quality energy drink; he would want to vomit out any he didn't absorb a bit later on though (prevent infectious cultures from brewing in his body cavity.)

Or maybe he's turned completely organic and has fully functional organs now.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)18:40 No. 220782 ID: 117dce
File 128244122847.jpg - (79.36KB , 870x740 , 9.jpg )

Ria thinks the darkness is probably coinciding with nightfall. She gives Spikesby some food, but it doesn't seem to help at all. She gives him some water and he feels marginally better, though.

Ria thinks about calling Isenore again, but there's no way they'd be able to navigate through these dense trees. They'd have to get somewhere more open to be able to use the vehicle. Besides, being hungry isn't an emergency (yet).

The earth becomes more substantial the further they get from the wall. They can both see the ground. As they wander, they come upon a clearing. Some large creature has collapsed on the gloomy earth. Ria calls out and it shifts slightly.

>come close... come close. Can't see...

>>220782
We can talk from here. No reason to come closer.

>come close... come close.
Yeah you probably shouldn't do that.

Ask it who/what it is.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)19:19 No. 220810 ID: 117dce
File 128244357241.jpg - (61.55KB , 870x740 , 10.jpg )

Ria asks it what it is.

>please, come close
it snarls
>food... so hungry. Please. can't see...

>>220810
Toss a ration into its maw.

...from a good distance away. Do not get close to the blind predatory creature.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)19:26 No. 220814 ID: 117dce
File 128244399036.jpg - (64.07KB , 870x740 , 11.jpg )

Spikesby feels sympathetic to the creature. After all, he is experiencing hunger as well. Ria tosses a ration to it without getting closer. It strikes the creature on the nose.

The sky grows darker. They'll have to find somewhere to camp soon. This would be a good area if not for...

The creature sniffs at the ration, barely moving.

>this... is not food. Need meat. come closer. help me... please help me...

it's a trap. any creature who does not accept free food and instead makes demands is not begging or homeless enough. You might want to kill it and get your ration back.

>>220814
You guys don't have any meat, do you.

Well, sucks to be him, then!

We don't have any meat. Unless he wants us to cut off one of its limbs so it can eat itself.

Admit you don't have any meat.

Say you're sorry. Shoot it.

The only meat around here is you guys, so I think you should keep a safe distance.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/21(Sat)19:55 No. 220830 ID: 117dce
File 128244575288.jpg - (140.75KB , 870x740 , 12.jpg )

Ria hesitates, looking at the pitiful creature, but there is nothing they can do. it's a mercy, really. The gun barks briefly, a spark of illumination, before quiet and darkness descend again. Blood glistens in the glade.

Spikesby's discomfort makes sleep difficult. He watches Ria mutter quietly in her sleep. He sees dampness on her cheek.

at least you didn't waste a ration

>>220830
Spikesby: Chop up corpse. Eat.

give her a hug.

Oh my god Spikesby is that a dinosaur don't you know that dinosaur burgers are the best food in the galaxy go eat that dinosaur Spikesby

>>220832
That's ridiculous. Meat isn't any easier to digest.

Spikesby doesn't have a digestive system.

>>220851

Yeah I... I know. *sniffles*

Spikesby goal was to get a soul, right? Now we just need to get a digestive system! It can't be as hard to earn. Let's just go around looking for a creature who has a spare and defeat it in glorious anti-magical battle, trust me, I'm an aspiring biologist/anti-magic fighter lvl 16. I've got 13 digestive tracks, 4 hearts, and a senior citizen's bladder. Also 4 testicles but I got those from a Krogan and they're really more of a mantle piece.

>>220851

We can borrow it from this guy then! He's not using it!

Chapter 2 Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)11:46 No. 222979 ID: 3e8d47
File 128302121458.jpg - (181.80KB , 870x740 , Title.jpg )

Eventually, the gradual lightening of the sky marked the beginning of a new 'day.' Spikesby and Ria left the horribly emaciated corpse behind and began to wander through the misty forest. It did not take long for them to lose their bearings, although Ria felt they were probably moving in the right direction. She noticed the trees sway and bend slightly, although there was no wind.

For Spikesby, the discomfort he felt only increased, a gnawing sensation he'd never felt before in the core of his being. He felt empty.

They wandered aimlessly, another night following another day, until they spotted a huge shape stalking among the trees. Was this one of the Windborn? It's wobbling, liquid form reminded Spikesby of Ovriur, the creature he'd encountered so long ago in Radia's territory. It was hard for him to think past the gnawing, empty feeling burning inside of him.

>>222979
Go see what it is. Discretely.

>>222979

Go up to it boldly and announce your presence.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)12:32 No. 222991 ID: 3e8d47
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Spikesby and Ria decide to go up and see what it is. The thing heaves its gelatinous bulk forward with three quivering legs, moving fluidly among the trees. It doesn't seem to notice them until Spikesby announces his presence. It seems to be able to understand him.

>"Dreaaaaaam thiiiiing... what you are doing?

it asks.

Tell it you want to talk to the windborn, and that you mean no harm.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)13:11 No. 222996 ID: 3e8d47
File 128302626766.jpg - (85.47KB , 870x740 , 2.jpg )

Spikesby tells it he wants to talk to a Wind Born.

>"Talk? Dream things want to talk? What to talk about?"

it asks.

Important things from dreamland.

Insist that you're real. Say you want freedom.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)13:38 No. 223006 ID: 3e8d47
File 128302793228.jpg - (89.62KB , 870x740 , 3.jpg )

Spikesby says he needs to talk about important things. He realizes this things probably is what they call a Wind Born. He tells it that he wants freedom. Ria seems utterly confused by the whole exchange. She probably can't understand either of them.

>"Freedom? Is it to wander?"
it asks.

Oh god oh god what does that mean.

Say yes. Say you aren't able to wander freely.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)14:10 No. 223011 ID: 3e8d47
File 128302983588.jpg - (120.63KB , 870x740 , 4.jpg )

Spikesby says that he isn't able to wander freely.

>"Is some wrong thing? Is good to wander. Drift and find the sought thing. Dream things is some wrong to make it keep to wander."

It leans down and wobbles, its eyes drifting lower on its head. It seems to be inspecting him in some way. Ria looks moderately concerned.

>>223011

Tell it that we seek Kallikissa. We're drifting, and we seek to find her, to help us gain freedom. Does it know where she is? Can it bring us to her, or her to us?

>>223011

"Is something wrong? Wandering is good. When you wander, you can find what you seek. There must be something wrong with you, dream thing, to keep you from wandering."

I don't know how helpful that is. Seems strange that you would be suffering such a gnawing emptiness; I thought your new soul was supposed to take care of that problem? I still think Ria should radio back. It's valuable to know that this place can cause amnesia. You do remember about the radio, right?

...right?

tell it that in the dream land greater dream beings enslave the lesser dreams. you wish to cast off the control of the greater.

Uh.

Say that you need to talk to someone to make you more real to be free of the dream. Like, a Progenitor?

Also mention that you don't want to be eaten. Just in case there was some confusion.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)14:53 No. 223038 ID: 3e8d47
File 128303240134.jpg - (112.40KB , 870x740 , 5.jpg )

Spikesby mentions that he is trying to be free of the control so he can wander. He was enslaved by a greater dream being. He's looking to be freed, and he's heard the Progenitors help him. He wonders if the creature can tell him where Kallikissa is.

>"Kallikissa is here. She is to wander to the border and away. You go to her? Follow to take you there. Is easy to feel the wind move. Always is easy to find her. Follow."

Spikesby indicates that he would also like to not be eaten, but the creature doesn't seem to understand.

Ria radios back to Isenore, telling her what is happening. There is a burst of static.

".. not ... filthy ... smoke ... fifteen" Ria tries a few more times, repeating the important bits, but only gets another burst of static. The huge creature begins to move slowly through the forest, further away from where Ria suspects they came from.

Hurry in the direction Kallikissa went. If they've crossed over to the real world, follow them.

Isenore may be saying that she's being attacked by antimagic creatures, but that's jumping to conclusions...

>>223038
Follow.

>>223038

How much energy does Spikesby feel he has left? And can we get any info from this Windborn critter on how long it will take to get to Kallikissa? We don't want Spikesby running out of energy and collapsing halfway there. Spikesby dying of starvation = BAD END. :(

Even if we have enough energy to reach Kallikissa, there's no guarantee that she can grant us any energy to sustain us and calm our hunger. Depending on how big this forest is, and how long it would take us to get to Kallikissa, we might want to ask the Windborn to wait while we return to the "dream world" to recharge...

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)16:05 No. 223074 ID: 3e8d47
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They decide to follow the thing. They don't know exactly where they are, and would have certainly lost sight of it if they went to look for the wall instead of keeping pace with it. The gnawing emptiness is bad, but Spikesby doesn't really feel weak. When they ask the Wind Born to stop or slow down, it doesn't answer. They hurry to catch up.

So they follow... and follow. Darkness descends, light rises. Darkness descends, light rises, the gnawing emptiness first becomes unbearable, then dissappears. Spikesby feels dizzy most of the time, and Ria often has to help him walk. At first it is difficult, but soon he becomes so light that it's no burden at all. She cries and tries to feed him to no avail. His tongueless, lipless mouth takes water. Ria doesn't know how much good any of it really does. After traveling for almost two weeks, the Windborn stops. It indicates a glade of huge, gnarled trees. When Ria tries to enter, it pushes her away. Spikesby staggers unsteadily to his feet and makes his way slowly inside.

She is waiting for him there.

"Oh, one of the Wizard's things." She cocks her head to the side, her red glass eyes glinting in the fog, "You look to not live much longer, I think."

ask if she could help you. perhaps let you eat the energy in the air like you did with magic.

We didn't mean go that way until you died.

Ask for help, I guess.

>>223074

With all due respect (i.e. address her with actual respect), say that she is wise and that you surely have not long to live without her help. You came to this land in search of the aid of a progenitor, and after hearing of some, you chose her (flattery won't hurt, I hope). You have many questions, and can perhaps answer some of hers about the outside world, if she can help you survive inside this one.

Ask her for help, if she says something like "why would I help a wizard thing" tell her you don't want to be a wizard thing, if she still doesn't want to help you mention your soul (though that's probably a bad thing to mention unless nothing else will get you help)

Oh man, Spikesby you are not looking so good. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Hold on Spikesby, hold on. Remember what you came here for. To be free of the Wizard's influence. But remember to not throw your soul away in the process.

Remember, we believe in you.

Yes, be respectful and inquire about your freedom from the wizard/magic. You traveled quite a ways to see her just to die, so let's not do that.

Spikesby don't give up! I-I love you!

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)18:08 No. 223142 ID: 3e8d47
File 128304409999.jpg - (199.46KB , 870x740 , 7.jpg )

Spikesby staggers forward weakly and collapses at her dainty feet. He tells her that he came to her for help, that he wishes to be free of the Wizards.

Her movements are sharp and stiff, twitches and tics. She reaches down and cradles him in one arm. He feels something inside of him burning, smoking, bubbling out of him. Thick, blue smoke rises from his mouth as he feels some integral part of his nature burning away. His body burns all over.

"You have some kind of space inside of you. When the magic burns away I can maybe fix it into a stomach for you to not die.

You come from the red Wizard, yes? I burn out all the Wizard power from you, then give you a little jar for murdering all the Wizards, yes? He always said that is what we do when we find one of you."

>>223142

Well there are quite a few wizards i would happily murder.

Say thank you, or wak wak wak.

or both.

Also if she helps you not starve to death, that would be nice. Unless it's breastfeeding.

Octane 2010/08/28(Sat)18:23 No. 223149 ID: 2ecb93
File 128304501839.png - (151.85KB , 501x344 , STARSCREAAAAAAM.png )

>>223142
SPIIIIIIIIIIIIIKESBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Mention that you need magic to do things. Say you don't want to murder anyone, but that a stomach would be very nice.

>Unless it's breastfeeding.
Hey, whatever it takes.

>>223142
Yes, get her to give you a real stomach!

The red wizard must be Lord of Marvels? Yes, he sent us. Can we just kill MOST of the wizards? Some of them seem to be tolerable.

>>223146

>especially if it's breastfeeding

>>223142

Hahahah... hah... ah... oh fuck. :C

Just take the scary medicine from the scary lady, Spikesby. Not much else we can do at this point. You'll probably end up being a mortal, with no more superfine claws and such... but it's probably better than dying.

So technically the Lord of Marvels wasn't lying... we COULD remove the influence of the Wizards forever. But that would mean killing all of them, which also means that the progenitors win and the world is swallowed by the sea of anti-magic. So on one level, we have to wonder if the LoM is suicidal or if he has some kind of sinister plan to survive this whole thing? Like getting turned into a progenitor or something.

Getting rid of the Wizards *might* end up being good - but we don't really know shit about this world. What would happen? Are the mortals in this realm happy? Would we just be trading one set of controlling wizards for another set of controlling progenitors? And what about all the magical beasts without souls? Would they just fall down and die when the darkness rolls over the world?

Not to mention that fact that this world is *ugly*. And Moriga was pretty nice (and hot), so her dying would kinda suck. The rest of the wizards are pretty much douches, though. And it's likely that the Progenitors are probably mostly douches, too.

Just play along for now. We'll have to figure out what to do *after* we survive and reunite with some of our buddies.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)18:49 No. 223165 ID: 3e8d47
File 128304657999.jpg - (102.60KB , 870x740 , 8.jpg )

The burning stops, the smoke wafts away.

"Magic is gone away from you now. I change you a little while the magic burns away, so now you can eat food. Wizards can't make you do things no more, and any magic things you have all gone now."

Spikesby feels different. His gut sack is now a stomach and his body is no longer magically strong and tough. His blades are no longer magically sharp, although they are still sharp.

Kallikissa pulls a little jar out from her hood and sets in on the ground next to Spikesby. She pokes one of her claws into the opposing wrist, and black blood pours into the container.

"This is what Red Wizard says to give you now. It is pure what you call 'antithesis,' and will kill a Wizard if it touch them. You take this. You go kill all the Wizards now, right?"

Spikesby is extremely hungry. Why would Lord of Marvels want the other Wizards dead? This has to be who the 'Red Wizard' is... It doesn't make sense.

>>223165
First thing: Get something to eat.

Second thing: Lord of Marvels wants the other wizards dead because he's nice. He believes that so long as Wizards exist, there will be no truly safe place for anyone.

We've seen what's inside here. It is desolate, but... peaceful. Ask Kallikissa more about this part of the world. Are there cities? Do people live on their own, without interference from people like her? The answer to that question is hugely important.

Also ask what would happen to everyone outside the Sea if it were to take over the world.

>>223165
Get something to eat

Like Ria's vagina.

>>223172
Uh, let's stick with the rations she has instead of eating HER. (remember Spikesby has no tongue so Rai wouldn't enjoy whatever you're implying)

Chapter 2 End Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/08/28(Sat)19:35 No. 223182 ID: 3e8d47
File 128304933735.jpg - (180.48KB , 870x740 , End.jpg )

Kallikissa brings Spikesby out of the clearing. Ria is there. "I think he needs food" Kallikissa says. Food. He is given some food to eat, although he is still very weak. He asks Kallikissa what it is like in the Sea and what would happen if it overtakes the rest of the world.

"You should rest, but Ok. I talk some. I don't care what the mortals do. They stay here, their bodies change by the Wind. All of them different now than before the Wind was here. Everything that need magic will die or starve like you. Dunno what mortals do. I stay near the Wall, don't care what mortals do."

Spikesby has a very serious decision to make. He needs to figure out what he wants to do with the Pure Antithesis, and how he wants to go about doing it. Please suggest Spikesby's long term and short term plans below.

I don't wanna kill Moriga :(
He's the guy she was going to reveal isn't he? Bastard. Freedom for a price, like always. Goddamn, when is freedom free?

Spikesby should attempt to kill at least one Wizard. As it stands, losing just one Wizard will likely result in the Sea of Oblivion advancing and swallowing another. It might be nice to just talk to Lord of Marvels again.

I think Radia would be worth killing, but she is unreachable on her glass mountain... and difficult to approach even if she were not. Other possibilities are Goldlust, Flails Breaker, Ryxix or Kshaara.

There's one problem though. How do we GET to them? Spikesby is quite vulnerable now. He will not regenerate, and has no armor. He is a squishy mortal. We will need to be careful, and possibly aim for a Wizard close by.

Need to find out about Blacksoul's lover. Need to experiment with the antithesis and try to find a way for it to coexist with magic. Need to figure out a way to force magic creatures into antimagic creatures. Need to find out why antimagic creatures don't suffer like magic creatures do when they're out of their element. Need to find out more about the oblivion world and if it sucks. Need to make friends nonmagical and adjust their biology. NEED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

...maybe morriga or someone can be taken hostage. The wizards know that if one of them dies, oblivion covers everything. So maybe by threatening them with an end of the world scenario, it'll force them to find a solution that will somehow allow both sides to coexist?

Oh, I have an idea of how to kill Radia. If just exposing her to a little bit of the antithesis works, we can rig up that big gun Isenore has to fire a anithesis grenade at her.

How about give the antithesis to Blacksoul? He would be interested to hear that it's a tool of the Lord of Marvels, and in studying it I'm sure it would totally distract him from that silly soul gathering experiment he was working on. Or... maybe not, but what can you do the guy is a wreck.

This Wind she speaks of must be what's messing up magic. I wonder who would know more about that...

Oh, the good news is that as a mortal you can actually heal naturally instead of needing special Gold junk to repair your body. Bad news is it's a very slow and uncertain process.

Need to find out about Blacksoul's lover. Need to experiment with the antithesis and try to find a way for it to coexist with magic. Need to figure out a way to force magic creatures into antimagic creatures. Need to find out why antimagic creatures don't suffer like magic creatures do when they're out of their element. Need to find out more about the oblivion world and if it sucks. Need to make friends nonmagical and adjust their biology. NEED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

...maybe morriga or someone can be taken hostage. The wizards know that if one of them dies, oblivion covers everything. So maybe by threatening them with an end of the world scenario, it'll force them to find a solution that will somehow allow both sides to coexist?

We cant go and kill a wizard, because that would cause the Sea of Oblivion to swallow everything, which from what we know would be harmful. Spikesby is free from the Wizard's influence though, so thats one thing off the list. We dont know how the Sea would affect regular living beings, so killing wizards is right out. Perhaps we can find a way to equalize/harmonize/balance the magic and antimagic so nobody has to worry about the sea of oblivion advancing. What worries me though is the fact that this Kallikissa seems like a antimagic version of a wizard. An "Anti-Wizard", if you will. If the world is swallowed by the Sea of Oblivion, then what's to say that the "Anti-Wizards" wont do some of the same horrible things that some of the Wizards have done? I think this stuff she gave us may be useful, but I dont think we can do anything with it ourselves besides killing a wizard. Not to mention this talk of a "Red Wizard" is quite disturbing....

>>223202
No, from what we know it's NOT harmful. The Sea of Oblivion changes mortals, it does not kill them. The only thing that happens to magical creatures is they lose all their magical support spells. So, those that are entirely magic (like Blacksoul's spirit servants) will die, while those like Spikesby will simply starve unless fixed.

This choice is merely Wizards + Magical Soulless Slaves vs EVERYONE ELSE. If we kill a Wizard and the Sea swallows everything, the world will be different... but safer for mortals. Remember that the "anti-wizards" have no real power of their own! They can control Wind Walkers but that's it. They have powerful servants but no real strength of their own.

Mortals will be safer in the Sea. This is obvious. The drawback is that they will CHANGE... and that any magical creatures with souls, like those with Morriga, will need to be fixed somehow in order to avoid starving/dying.

>>223207
Yes, but you remember that worm thing? How it survived being out side the Sea of Oblivion? Didnt it use SOULS to keep it protected? What worries me is what anti-magic does to a soul. Does the changing take away the soul? Does spikesby still have a soul? Will Spikesby end up just another Wind Walker under the control of another being? Just being cautious is all.

God damn that Lord of Marvels.
Can't kill him or he gets what he wants.
Can't not kill him for wanting to kill the other wizards.
The bastard.

>>223208
The Souls act as a shield. It's a shell. Antithesis doesn't devour souls. Besides, Spikesby has a soul and he's not getting affected by being here negatively aside from the hunger.

You guys aren't being cautious. You're scared shitless of the strange alien world we're in. If you really think we need more information then GO FIND IT instead of just assuming shit is bad here.

How about give the antithesis to Blacksoul? He would be interested to hear that it's a tool of the Lord of Marvels, and in studying it I'm sure it would totally distract him from that silly soul gathering experiment he was working on. Or... maybe not, but what can you do the guy is a wreck.

This Wind she speaks of must be what's messing up magic. I wonder who would know more about that...

The whole concept of the magic portion of the world being considered as a dream world irks me, like that is also not normal. This anti-magic stuff is also not good at all. It kinda reminds me of magic... but just black and can fuck up normal magic shit something fierce. I harbor a theory that both this antimagic world and dream world is not the world as it should be and that maybe both should be wiped out for the sake of mortals. A non-magic side. Just fucking pure-life and shit. Kill a wizard and some Anti-wizards then watch as everything caves in on itself for non-magic... if it would work that way.

Man, how high do you have to be to kill anti-magic AND magic wizards.

>>223182

Screw the wizards. You know the wizards are pretty much dangerously bratty psychopaths with too much power. The world you knew was pretty much a series of hells. So you're choosing between the unknown, and the evil that you know. Choose the unknown. At worst, you'll end up with something pretty much similar to what you had before.

Yeah, The Lord of Marvels and Moriga are nice. I'm sure plenty of nice people have been cut up on Radia's mountain, or had their souls sucked by Blacksoul, or been raped and killed by Flails Breaker, and so on.

So for the short term goal, I'd say getting back, and using the element of surprise to kill the worst of the wizards you've encountered. (I'd say Blacksoul, but only because of information Spikesby doesn't have).

For long term goals, getting rid of the evil wizards, or spreading that weapon around to give people a way to defend themselves against them. Then see if there's a way to spare or protect the nice wizards.

Warning: tl;dr incoming. ;D

OK, there's a lot of things that we *could* do, but some of our actions are necessarily going to rely on information that Spikesby doesn't have yet.

If you really wanted to go nuts, here's one way it could go down:
1) Let Blacksoul enact his plan to nuke the Sea of Oblivion and all the antithesis shit.
2) Assuming the antithesis we have left in our jar survives... we could kill off the more annoying wizards with it. The only “good” purpose the wizards serve at the moment is preventing the sea of oblivion from swallowing the rest of the “normal” world. We could, however, choose to leave any cool wizards untouched. Moriga is pretty much the only one we've encountered so far that seems worth saving, in my opinion, though
3) ???
4) Profit.

However, this plan results in a few nasty things, such as sacrificing the souls of untold thousands of mortals, including the Ophians we just recently saved from being enslaved/destroyed, in order to enact phase 1. And phase 2 requires that the antithesis we posses survive, and *then* we have to figure out how to kill some shitty wizards on top of that. And *all* of this relies on the guess that the antithesis won't magically multiply and start trying to devour the world again with no real wizards left to counterbalance it. And, of course, we have to wonder if we really want Spikesby to become a wizard assassin. And since all magic flows from wizards (at least that's how I think I remember it), all magical creatures would be forced to live near whatever wizard(s) survived, or become mortal, to avoid death by magic starvation.

As far as Spikesby's long term goals go... I think the only real “good” solution would be to figure out a way to remove the sea of oblivion while also removing as much magic from the world as possible. Just wipe the slate clean. Let the yin and yang sides of magic neutralize each other. No one should have the kind of godlike power that the wizards and progenitors currently wield, because in almost all cases their near-absolute power has corrupted them into selfish beings who manipulate mortals in callous ways.

But then again, it may not really matter much in the long run. Good and bad civilizations will arise whether or not a wizard is at the helm. The wizards are really just a consolidation of a dictatorship into a single entity. Even Moriga might turn into a evil bitch if we left her as the only living wizard.

The only thing I'm pretty certain of is... we need to end this war in one way or another. Because right now, mortals are becoming collateral damage left and right. And it's only going to get worse.

I think Spikesby's short term goals should be to try to gather more info. Try to figure out what the wizards and progenitors think will happen if the wizards die off. Get the antithesis out of the Sea of Oblivion but have someone you trust hide it somewhere and not tell you where it is (so the location can't be tortured out of you). Talk to your buddies and get some advice from them. After that, consider talking to Moriga for advice – she seemed the most honest and level-headed of any of the wizards, and she might enjoy getting a warning if shit's going down. Then consider either doing more research inside the sea of oblivion (to see if life's OK in there) or travel to the Lord of Marvels and ask hit WTF he's playing at.

If we start killing wizards at random the resulting power gap might start up a war, and weaken the magic side of the world for invasion.

And we know of at least one wizard that we like so there's that.

>Spikesby should attempt to kill at least one Wizard.

You realize that, in theory, if we kill a single wizard it starts a domino effect that kills ALL of the wizards.

If you want to pick and choose which wizards die, you have to do something about the sea of Oblivion FIRST. Otherwise, it's all or nothing.

>or travel to the Lord of Marvels and ask hit WTF he's playing at.

In what universe is this a good plan? More likely than not he'll just strike Spikesby down if he starts to make trouble.

>>223485

>In what universe is this a good plan? More likely than not he'll just strike Spikesby down if he starts to make trouble.

It's last on my list, really. It's entirely possible that the Lord of Marvels is simply trying to use Spikesby as a courier to smuggle antithesis out of the Sea of Oblivion and couldn't give a shit what happens to him after that goal has been completed. For all we know, if he got his hands on it, he'd use it to kill all the other wizards directly.

The plot that we're involved with now is a danger to *every* wizard, and every magical creature. If we're not careful, we could end up dead just from talking about it - to *any* of the wizards.

Our first matter of business should probably be to ask Kallikissa more about "the plan". Ask her what she knows of the Red Wizard and why he's helping to get all the wizards killed. Ask her what she knows about the war; the difference between Progenitors and Wizards; the reason why all this Antithesis exists, etc. See if she is willing to give us any info. Ask her how one would go about "murdering" wizards without being detected or killed by them. See if there are any other progenitors she thinks we should talk to, or any other preparations we should make.

After that, we need to hook up with the rest of our party and make sure they're okay. After what we've seen happens to mortals inside the Sea, I don't advise bringing in a Ravian and a Gour - they could get warped into strange beings with f'd up memories. Ria might be immune to being changed because she's a magical creature with a soul, like Spikesby. Or it's also possible that none of them are immune, and could eventually change with enough time here.

After that... our course is uncertain. I don't think Spikesby knows what Blacksoul is planning; only Sky knows the true intent of what he's doing. If Sky doesn't find us and warn us, we're pretty screwed on that front.

Moriga might be the best option again. She knows a lot and can give us a wizard's perspective on what's happening.

Outside of Spikesby's knowledge, he probably shouldn't return to Blacksoul. But then again, he might already feel this way without know what Blacksoul is planning - We wanted freedom, and going anywhere near Blacksoul could bring re-enslavement or punishment for escaping. We also already know that wizards can track their minions to a certain extent, so Blacksoul probably knows we entered the Sea of Oblivion. But he won't feel us come back out again.

Flails and Radia are scary, so we have no reason to visit them. Arcus is kind-of dumb and silly. Spikesby doesn't really know anything about the other wizards.

The only reason why we might visit the Lord of Marvels again is for info if we exhaust other sources and don't learn enough.

Depending on what we want to do, we could probably hide the antithesis jar somewhere inside the Sea of Oblivion before we leave. This will (hopefully) help make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, and we could use its retrieval as a bargaining tool in case we decide to talk to the Lord of Marvels about things.

One question that's left unanswered is: should we try to explore more of the Sea of Oblivion to learn more about it and the progenitors? There's still one more progenitor we know about in the area, and we know exactly where to find him. He sounds like the scary blacksoul-like sciencey type, using souls and such, so he might either try to suck us up or he might not. The fact the we could be the key to overthrowing the wizards might be enough of a bargaining chip that he wouldn't touch us after all.

>>223485
I believe that if the Sea engulfs a Wizard, they do not die. They are turned into the same thing Kallikissa is. We would kill one Wizard and... CHANGE the rest into things that are less dangerous/oppressive. Radia, Kshaara, and Ryxix are I think the only Wizards that are actively cruel to mortals, as far as we know.

It's really the most logical explanation. After all, Kallikissa used to be Blacksoul's sweety. How else would you explain her being alive, other than the fact that the Sea itself doesn't kill them?

Okay, seeing as nobody has brought this up, I will. With Spikesby no longer magical, he is much less powerful than before. However now his strength comes from himself, and not somebody else. I suggest that Spikesby train his body to become strong and lean in his free time if possible, to prepare for the trails and tribulations ahead.

>>223550

You have a point there, although I don't think it's as simple as simply diving into the sea. But I'm sure Blacksoul would be keenly interested (for scientific purposes at least) that Kalikissa survived in some form or another. That her blood is capable of killing a wizard lends one to wonder how...

As for Spikesby's concerns, I suggest that someone else deliver the antithesis to Blacksoul. He has friends after all, including a moth who actually got a hug from the grumpy old guy. Maybe he should try to find her?

Frankly I won't throw in my lot saying that the sea of oblivion is preferable until I find out exactly what it is. Something that can put a leash on wizards is not necessarily friendly to mortals. Why does it block the sunlight?

>>223182
The sea of oblivion hardly seems preferable to the wizards.

Spikesby should wait for his chance. The sea might be brought down and that would be the moment to act. Then he could use the antithesis to kill all the wizards and make everyone free from both them and the anti wizard things. Then people could be truly free to live their lives.

>>223605
A sound if rather unpleasant plan.

However, Blacksoul's plan to bring down the sea will require a soul-ocaust of such proportions that there will be 'no' sapient life left to enjoy the resulting peace after we kill the wizards.

>>223664
He said himself that it would be some left. And if there isn't anything left then the wizards can create new life.

And I seriously don't trust that shiteating bastard who is the Lord of Marvels. If he has something planned for us I think the best thing is to not do it.

>>223995
>shiteating bastard

We've been told he is unusually kind for a Wizard. Plus go back and read what he said to us.

>>224001
I know, that's why I don't trust a word he says. Fucker is cooking up something and unless he comes clean with all of his information I don't think we should do a single fucking thing he wants us to.

>>223550

What is the source on Kallikissa being Blacksoul's sweety? Did I miss something?

>>224002
You don't trust him because people think he's nice?
my face: ಠ_ಠ

>>224114
In ITQ, I figured out that Blacksoul was trying to destroy the Sea of Oblivion to get revenge for someone being taken from him. He reacted as predicted but said that if she was still alive she'd be corrupted or something. It seems like that is true for the most part, but something within her still longs to be with Blacksoul, so she stays by the edge of the sea.

>>224126

But he made absolutely no mention of it being Kallikissa, which makes it foolhardy (at best) to stake any sort of plan on it.

Furthermore, given that she seems complicit in killing all of the wizards, and given the plan that Blacksoul had (and that he would rather destroy the world than let the progenitors win), her existence isn't really leverage for anything. He would almost assuredly rather destroy her than have her exist in this state.

>>224126
I don't trust him because he clearly had all of this planned from the beginning and I don't know why he is nice, or even if he is generally nice. He could just be very good at covering it up. As it stands I would probably trust Radia or Flailsbreaker before I trusted the Lord of Marvels.

>>224135

Morriga also doesn't trust him.

Just in case people forgot.

As Rainbow Randolph taught me, the most horrible people in the world can be your greatest allies, and just because someone's a really nice guy doesn't mean he isn't your worst enemy.

>>223182
Take jar back to Blacksoul for SCIENCE! Be sure to tell him it's dangerous. It doesn't really seem to be in his character to arbitrarily screw with Spikesby so we should be as safe doing this as we relatively can be while still achieving something.

Trying to actually kill a wizard is a terrible idea unless you want everything to be fuzzy and grey forever more.

>Moriga, the most paranoid wizard doesn't trust Lord of Marvels, so we shouldn't trust him either
>He's a nice guy and some nice guys are evil, therefore he must be evil

Wat. Do you guys have any rational reason to distrust him? Like, what exactly has he done to indicate that he's untrustworthy? When he sent us to a Progenitor in order to free ourselves from the Wizards' influence, that's exactly what happened. He's been pretty much completely straight with us so far.

Also,
>>224549
You want to go right back to Spikesby's master after freeing him from his control? And show him the shit that's designed to murder all the wizards, when he himself is trying to murder all the Progenitors?
What.

Are you guys TRYING to get a bad end? Is that it? You want Spikesby to die, and for Blacksoul to kill everyone in order to get rid of the Sea of Oblivion which has yet to be shown to be inherently bad? GODDAMN IT THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING

>>224131
Oh come on, I just explained the very concrete evidence we have supporting my theory.

I'm not saying we can use her existence against Blacksoul anyway. I'm saying that if we give Blacksoul the Oblivion Treatment (by not killing him with the antithesis) he'll change too, and they'll be reunited.

We don't have to murder all the Wizards. Kalikissa was told to do that, but she doesn't really understand who they are I think, and her orders are probably to tell creatures to kill all the Wizards, just to ensure at least one of them dies.

It's pretty obvious at this point that Kashaara was 'killed' with some imperfect application of Pure Antithesis. I'm sure if she were given a higher dose or something the death would have been more permanent.

Come to think of it, Kashaara is probably the most vulnerable Wizard right now. Attacking her with the Pure Antithesis would be a safe bet if we wanted to make sure one Wizard died. Plus, she's pretty fucking evil.

>>224564
Oh, learn to use /dis/ already if you're going to spend paragraphs upon paragraphs ranting at others.

Alright, just so everyone is aware of it, this is my first (well, third now) post on this board, so expect my initial posts to be somewhat unrefined. Feel free to provide feedback. Hopefully I actually posted in the right thread this time.

1. Given that Spikesby just got his biology radically altered, we know Kallikissa is capable of altering bodies. I would suggest we ask to get the blade-hands shortened or removed, and have regular hands added, as they may have become a liability now that they're no longer magically sharp. I mean, depending on whether or not we have blood flowing through those (now brittle) things, having one snapped or broken would not be pretty, and may or may not be fatal. This would also have the obvious advantage of being able to manipulate objects, something that we've been handicapped on until now.

Also, some better vocal cords would be nice too. As far as I know, (tried to confirm, couldn't) we've just lost the ability to communicate with other magical creatures, so being able to speak normal language probably be fairly important.

Also, it would be good to see whether or not he can still carry things in his gut now that he has a digestive tract. If it is possible, depending on the material the container is made of, I would suggest carrying the antithesis there until we figure out what to do with it.

2. As for what we should do from here, I would suggest NOT killing any wizards until we actually know what the Sea of Oblivion is. I mean, we know almost nothing about what sort of effects it has on inhabitants or the environment. I mean, we already (or at least suspect) know it causes memory loss, and we've only been in a small part of the Sea of Oblivion for a couple weeks. God knows what else it does. I would suggest finding out more about both the Wizards and the Sea of Oblivion before doing anything too world-altering/genocide-causing.

3. As for what I think we should do in the short term, before we do anything else, we should probably just get the hell out of here and check up on Isenore. We have no idea what's happening outside the Sea right now. The region could have already been overrun by antimagic creatures for all we know. We can figure out what to do from there.

tl;dr version: Ask for hands and vocal cords in exchange for shorter or no blades, carry the antithesis in gut if possible. DON'T kill any wizards until we actually know what sort of effect it would have. Meet Isenore, figure out what to do from there.

>>224564

>Like, what exactly has he done to indicate that he's untrustworthy?

Attempted to use Spikesby in a plan to murder the other wizards? Not exactly 'trust' material there, genius.

>>224566

You have absolutely no fucking clue what 'concrete' evidence is. At all.

>I'm saying that if we give Blacksoul the Oblivion Treatment (by not killing him with the antithesis) he'll change too, and they'll be reunited.

Except that she said that it would kill wizards.

You know, as in 'not not kill.'

>Plus, she's pretty fucking evil.

What exactly has she done that is so evil? Eat the people who tried to murder her, and when that failed kept her suspended in a near-death state and leeched off of her like parasites?

For someone who is quick to assume that the lord of marvels (Being the ONLY wizard in Red we've seen thus far) isn't up to something shady, and make rash assumptions about Kalissa's identity and stake a plan that will engulf the entire world in the sea of oblivion if it fails (or even if it succeeds), you seem awfully quick to dismiss Kshaara's actions as 'evil.'

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/07(Tue)20:30 No. 227821 ID: 383006
File 128391663434.jpg - (106.42KB , 740x740 , i1.jpg )

I am doing some little updates to clarify tru fax that Kallikissa might know until next update session.

The next day was more or less a blur. Spikesby was reunited with Ria, who didn't seem entirely comfortable leaving him in Kallikissa's care but didn't have much of a choice. He was extremely weak and needed time to recover, although he knew he couldn't waste too much time. He had the antithesis now, but he had no idea what he should do with it. The main thing was to get information. He asked her a million questions and had no clear goal of what he should do with the antithesis. He decided he would hold on to it for now. He also decided that he would stay in the Sea of Oblivion a little longer - he needed to know if it was really better than the Peninsula.

Cradled in Kallikissa's somewhat disturbing embrace, he listens to her exposition.

We existed, and it was peaceful before we were here. It is hard to remember what things were like before we were here. The Wind preceded us, and many Wind Born were here when we arrived. More progenitors also later. I was not with the first.

The Wizards fought us, and we fought them, because each of us is death to the other. The Wind drives away magic and poisons Wizards, and magic likewise does the same to the Wind. I feel the wind, all do, as it blows and changes. We are a part of it.

We fought the Wizards for long. As they died, the Wind expanded. More Wind Born, more Progenitors, appeared. Eventually, the Wizards hide away in the last of the Sea of Dreams. They congeal the border into the wall with their magic.

Before the wall is congealed, the Red Wizard came to us. He cannot touch the Wind or use what he calls the "antithesis," so he teaches Ul Kerull of the Sinking Sign how to infuse it into things for him to take. He tells us that he has always been for us, to help us make everything OK. He tells us the wall will happen, and if things come from the Sea of Dreams side we should take magic away. He shows us to change the bodies a little as the magic leaves them, to give them blood to kill the Wizards.

It is too late for me to change you now. Only when the magic is leaving you. Now it is gone, you cannot be change. Ul Kerull of the Sinking Sign always changes the body to make it most best to kill the Wizards. I do not care so much.

Spikesby's shape now seems to be fixed. He cannot speak. He cannot tase things. His blades don't seem to have feeling in them, he thinks they are solid and harder than bone. He is no longer supernaturally strong or tough. His gut sac has been transformed into a stomach and he can no longer store items in it. He coughs up a disgusting slime several hours after he eats.

The Antithesis is a thick slime. Any Wizard with a carpace or armor will probably have to ingest or be injected with the Antithesis for it to take effect but it is a contact poison for any wizard that essentially has skin. Even a tiny drop will work. It can be put on a weapon, but the laws of physics make a bullet an impossible delivery device.

Still, he isn't sure what he should do with it. He asks her more about the Sea of Oblivion, what happens to the mortal creatures inside, and if there is anything more to see besides vague fog and creepy trees.

"The Wind moves through all things here. It soaks into stones and flesh and the Wind changes them as it moves. They build things, or live in the things that were here when all was Dreams. I can bend the Wind for you and bring you to any place. Kiss a bird and I find you again. Ul Kerull of the Sunken Sign lives in his tower. Also, Bleached Head is where many mortal things live.

Thulmoraxdeon lives in Seven mountains and is many friends with the Wind Born.

Driss Seaborn gazes at the stars in from far away as they drift in the Wind.

Steeples is another town close to here.

Spikesby could go to any of those places. He's pretty sure he could ask her to bring him back to the Wall, but he is so weak now he might suffocate. he remembers barely forcing himself through it the first time and he should probably regain at least some strength before he makes the attempt.

>>227821
Lets go check out Bleached Head and then visit Thulmoraxdeon as well as Driss Seaborn.

Let's go to Bleached Head. Many things live there, so we can see how they live.

I say Spikesby should explore the Sea of Oblivion and see what the world here is like. We need to know as much as possible. Also before we go, ask if the description of the "Red Wizard" matches that of the Lord of Marvels.

Also, can we get a picture of what Spikesby looks like now? Or has he not changed visibly?

Seems to me, if we can get the progenitors to war with each other, the wind will go away and new wizards will be born, maybe.

Also, I think we should get a better idea of what life is like here in greyscale land before making any farther reaching decisions. Though my personal inclination is to attempt to bring magic and wind into balance.

>>228062
Yeah, we REALLY need more info before we can make any real decisions.

>>228488
>>228528
I'm not trying to be a dick, but please actually suggest a location to explore or something to ask Kallikissa about. These generic responses don't really help me much :p

>>228542
Ask about the Red Wizard, specifically what he looks like. We need to know if he is the Lord of Marvels or not. Also, I suggest going to Thulmoraxdeon, as he seems to be rather amicable from what Kallikissa has said.

I want to kill all the wizards and progenitors. What would the world do without magic AND the wind?

>>228542

Okay, fine, I'll make another TL;DR post for you, Bitey. :D

Let's start by asking a few more general knowledge questions.

> We existed, and it was peaceful before we were here. It is hard to remember what things were like before we were here.

Well, what *can* you remember? Where did you come from before you appeared in the area created by The Wind in this world? And by peaceful, do you mean it was peaceful here (before the war) or peaceful wherever you came from? Is there anyone who would know more about where you came from and what you're doing here?

And, if everything was peaceful before you came, why not just leave? What compells them to continue fighting the wizards? Why not just leave and go back where they came from?

What happens when a Wizard is killed by Antithesis? Do they become something else (Wind Born, Progenitor), or just die?

Why do you keep calling the magic realm the "Sea of Dreams", and why do mortals keeps calling us dream creatures? Why is the word "dream" used? And what is their term for the Sea of Oblivion?

>I can bend the Wind for you and bring you to any place.
When you say you can bend the wind for us (to essentially teleport us anywhere?), can you do this wherever we are (as long as we make out with a bird)? I sense awesome plot accelerating device.

>Kiss a bird and I find you again.
Can she give us a pet bird which will hang out with us and make out with us whenever we need it to, or do we need to find new birds wherever we pop up? Spikesby could end up with a lot of broken-hearted birdie ex-girl/boyfriends this way.

>He cannot touch the Wind or use what he calls the "antithesis," so he teaches Ul Kerull of the Sinking Sign how to infuse it into things for him to take.
Did these things happen to include a bunch of spears? ;)

>Ul Kerull of the Sinking Sign always changes the body to make it most best to kill the Wizards.
From what she's said about Ul Kerull, it sounds like more magical creatures have come here in the past, and been changed. Is this true? If so, what happened to them? Did they all go back and try to kill wizards? Did any of them succeed?

>He's pretty sure he could ask her to bring him back to the Wall, but he is so weak now he might suffocate.
Since Spikesby is too weak to cross through the wall right now, let's go check out more of the Sea of Oblivion. Let's ask what Ria thinks, assuming she can still understand us - but considering she learned to talk to us when we could only communicate with her using waks and such, it hopefully won't be a problem.

If Kallikissa gives us info about another Progenitor that knows more the past than she does, we should probably visit them first, assuming they don't sound incredibly dangerous. Another top priority is to visit Bleached Head or Steeples and talk to more mortals - hopefully there are some that remember the wizard war and what life was like before The Wind came. I'm guessing Bigger = Better in this case, so Bleached Head might be best.

Also, it's likely that Isenore and Llewyn have given us up for dead at this point, but IF we can use Kallikissa's help to teleport quickly almost anywhere, and these "birds" are easy to find / we take one with us, we could at least pop back close to the wall and try to use the communicator again.

OTHER RANDOM CRAP:
- Are we low on rations? May need to acquire more somehow. Ask about food.
- Ask WTF the dying dinosaur thing was.
- If you know what tits are, tell her she's got nice ones. And the whole hooded look with red eyes is pretty cool. And you mourn your lack of sex drive and organs. ;D

>>227821

Adding a vote for Bleached Head. No sense planning much beyond that though, since we could learn about new destinations there and all.

Chapter 3 [1/2] BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/18(Sat)13:12 No. 231696 ID: 383006
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Spikesby decides to go to Bleached Head. He has some important questions for Kallikissa first, though. He asks her if she remembers anything from before she came here, but she doesn't really. The 'peacefulness' seemed to be in reference to wherever she was before she came here. It seems like the Wizards were fighting with her people already when she arrived.

He asks about what happens when a Wizard is killed with antithesis, and she says that he will find out in Bleached Head.

She has to be physically present to teleport Spikesby, and won't provide him with a bird.

Spikesby figures the Red Wizard has to be Lord of Marvels. Kallikissa says she gave him a lump of rock (possibly ore).

Spikesby can still communicate with anyone he had an understanding with, but he guesses he probably won't be able to talk to magical creatures anymore.

Ria still has some food, but they will need to get more very soon. Spikesby asks if she can't pop him close to the wall first, and then send him to Bleached Head. The trip is quick, but pointless. It doesn't seem the other radio is in range at the moment.

Soon, black tendrils of mist form a sort of hole in space, lashing out and enveloping Spikesby and Ria. There is a brief moment of terror before they lapse into unconsciousness.

[2/2] BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/18(Sat)13:17 No. 231697 ID: 383006
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They appear on an open, gray plain. A massive pile of bones is heaped before them, the gaping mouth of some enormous creature transformed into some sort of cavernous entryway. Dim torches are visible from within.

Ria seems concerned.

>"While you were resting, I asked Kallikissa about this place. It's apparently the corpse of one of the Wizards that was killed during the war. The "wind" creatures avoid it because it was a wizard, even though it's not dangerous to them anymore. I guess they're just afraid of it. A bunch of mortals supposedly live inside too, like a big city. They have a big market and shops and things apparently. I'm not sure if I can bring my gun in, but I don't want to leave it out here either. I'm also not sure what we should be trying to accomplish when we go inside. Any ideas?"

>>231697
God damn, that guy was big.

Ok lets head inside. Stuff you should look for is how people act on the streets, if there are big slum areas, if they look prosperous and generally content, to fid out that last one it might be a good idea to hang out in a couple of bars and listen in to what people are talking about.

You should also see if you can secure some more food. And maybe see if you can't find some crazy adventurous dude willing to follow you to the other side of the wall. If you made it through then so might they.

>>231697
Well, first off we need food. Take the gun inside but try to hold it in a non-threatening manner. Someone will stop us if it's not allowed, and tell us where to put it.

Second, we need information. Find out more about the world. How do they live? What do they eat? Are they happy? Are they afraid?

>>231697

Go exploring! I mean, you wanted to know what happens to a wizard you use anthithesis on, and there's your answer right there. Big old pile of bones. So you don't really have any reason to be here anymore. But if there are a lot of mortals in there you can go in and see how they're doing, learn more about how they fare in this new world, and possibly more about the antithesis.

>>231697
EAT RIA.

SHE IS MADE OF DELICIOUS MEAT.

DELICIOUS, MOIST, BLOODY MEAT.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/18(Sat)14:08 No. 231711 ID: 383006
File 128484410642.jpg - (240.02KB , 870x740 , 2.jpg )

Ria keeps the gun, but slings it over her back where it won't be as threatening. There are no guards or watchmen waiting at the entrance, so they just wander inside. The interior, at least close to the entrance, is a mass of small tunnels made of bones. Light comes from spaces in the roof overhead, and the support columns scattered at random. It certainly isn't sunlight, but Spikesby doesn't know if it's electric or not.

They see several strange creatures as they walk, and the area is mostly silent. No one approaches them or even takes notice of their presence.

Eventually, they come to a wider intersection and see some creatures moving around. A susurus of whispers comes from the doorway to the left, where the ... cluster of Ravians is going. Two eyeless gour approach from the rightmost 'street.'

Let's go into the doorway to see what's up.

>>231711
Follow the Ravians. Conversation is good. Means that you might be able to get some insights into how people here think and feel. Would be nice to know if they ever set up any plays or dramas as well. This place would be really sucky if there exists nothing in terms of literature, art, music or storytelling.

>>231711

Since Spikesby can only effectively communicate with Ria in this area, we should make sure she knows what our goals are before we go too much farther. I think we should try to talk to some of these passer-bys and figure out (from them) if there is someone or some group of people that are known to be experts in history or general knowledge of what's happened to mortals since the war.

If the Ravians are unhelpful, try the Gour. Also might want to ask them if any of their kind here have eyes, or if all of them don't have them. And ask if they see by other means.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/18(Sat)15:27 No. 231722 ID: 383006
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Spikesby decides to follow the Ravians into the doorway. It is some kind of shop, bar or maybe restaurant. There is a large counter that runs all along one wall with a variety of strange objects on them.

There are several large tables spread across the area with a few figures seated or standing near them speaking quietly to one another.

They approach the individual behind the counter. He hair shifts and ripples as if she were submerged in water - as if it was independently alive.

Ria approaches. They do need supplies, after all, and she figures this person might have information. The barkeeps area always knowledgeable.

It seems, however, that Ria has no money that they'll accept. She has 2 extra magazines for her weapon, the weapon itself, and her radio. That's about it. They're going to have to figure something out if they want to eat.

She also asks if all of the gour are blind, and what kind of things go on here generally. If they have any dramas or plays. The barkeep replies.

"Things are good in Bleached Head," whispers the barkeep, "The Windborn do not go near our community, and we make what we need. The middle of the city is open. Where the farms is. Rest is closed, safe. Have many houses on south side of town, many shops in both wings of towns. We take raw materials, make them into good things. No Wind things bother us here. I think it keep us more whole to live inside of Wizard. Keeps us more like it was before the world changed. Sometimes they have poems. You want to buy? Don't get paid to talk, but knows a lot from before the war."[/i]

>>231722
Tell her that you would love to buy some stuff, and listen to her talk about history as well as maybe hear some poems. In exchange maybe you could work there for a few nights or something. Ria should be fairly exotic and might attract some new customers and Spkesby could perform or something, maybe work as a doorman or something else, who knows.

Anyway, it seems like they feel that living inside of the corpse of a wizard and being exposed to whatever leftover magic there is, is better than living on the outside of it. That's rather interesting, might be better for mortals to live in areas with a magic presence.

Also seems like they don't really have a any cultural life of their own, atleast that's my interpretation of what they said about poems. They just produce stuff, which is a kinda boring existance.

Also ask her how people get money around here. As long as you're going to be all mortal and hungry and stuff, you better start looking for work.

Sounds like the Windborn are not pleasant to encounter. The one you saw seemed nice enough though...

Yeah, it seems that while it is technically 'safer' without magic... it's a somewhat hollow existence.

>>231722

See if you can get by with just exchanging information for now. She seems to have information we want (about the war?), and we may be able to provide information that would interest her regarding the outside world.

If she's unwilling to make that kind of exchange, would should probably try to barter, and throw in some food on top of the info. We might consider trading away the radio or a magazine of ammo - I don't think we should get rid of the gun entirely yet, and the radio may be our only way to easily contact Isenore and Llewyn once we make it back again (even if they're currently out of range).

Some specific questions to ask might be:
- Why do they seem to be afraid of the Windborn?
- What happened to the mortals when "the wind" came?
- Can she remember how the progenitors appeared and the wizards died?
- Does she know any scholars or others who would know more and be willing to give us this information?
- What is life like here now?
- What's the difference between mortals here and mortals outside bleached head?
- Who WAS this dead wizard?
- She didn't answer our question about the Gour yet.

>>231722
Ask if she likes it better like this, with the Wizards out of the way but having to deal with the Windborn and the inherent... changes that come with being in the Sea.

Oh by the way, try trading an extra magazine for some food.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/18(Sat)16:58 No. 231744 ID: 383006
File 128485431260.jpg - (156.01KB , 870x740 , 4.jpg )

Ria asks how people get money around here.

"Everyone works. We work and have things to trade. You are strangers. Not from here, don't work. You need to give something for food."

Ria asks why they are afraid of the Windborn, and what happened to the people when the wind first came.

"Dangerous. Unpredictable. All things with the wind are that way. The wind makes everything change. Makes you forget what came before. We all were born in this world though. Only stories about from before."

She asks about the dead wizard and what things are like here, why the mortals are different.

"We stay away more from the wind here. The Wizard was dead long before settlement existed. Outside of Bleached Head, more changes, more different way of thinking. Many Gour here are have no eyes, but some do. Don't know how they see - prolly feel the wind."

Ria asks about scholars and about how the progenitors appeared.

[i]"Before, people could walk out of mist. Wizards outside, when only a few left, congeal edge of mist into the Wall. Wall will keep mist out, even if something happens maybe. Friend looks hungry. You got things to trade? You need place to sleep as well?"

Ria could try to work here for a few days to make some money, or trade some of her items. Her current magazine is mostly full, and she has two others. She also has the gun, and her radio. She feels inclined to keep the radio, just in case.

Resuggesting >>231737 and >>231738

>>231744
Try working there for a few days. It will both be a way to earn spending money and to learn more about life in this settlement and how people act here. It will give something to compare with when visiting another settlement.

Also, if you get work there see if you can get the benefits of being allowed to eat whatever leftovers there are as well as sleep by the fireplace or a similar place. Those two are quite often benefits you can get from working at an inn or a resturant.

>>231744

Sure, we could use a room and some food for at LEAST one night. And probably some cheap but nutritious rations for the future, too.

Also, Ria, teach Spikesby how to use a toilet. Even if all he's doing is horking up slime, it's important to be polite when doing so. :C

Before we start offering to work, we need to find out what kind of work people do around here, and what we're good at. Spikesby is probably good at chopping things, so maybe a butcher's assistant or crop reaper. Ria comes from a society which highly prized artistic endeavors, so if she has any talents with art or production of goods, that might help. Alternatively, you could just go around being *very* unique mascots.

Oh, and don't forget to keep your eyes out for each other. The "wind" may change those who live within it, not just those who are born here. If you spend TOO long sitting around in here, you might start turning into scary peeps, too, and I don't want Ria or Spikesby turning ugly. :<

... and she didn't answer our question about scholars. >:C

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/18(Sat)17:56 No. 231766 ID: 383006
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Paused 4 Now

Fuckit.

Go directly to Blacksoul without even passing go. Tell him about Lord of Marvels. Spill the beans about everything.

If you hurry, you can get there before he kills the Ophions. (Probably not, though)

>>233795

This is the only plan that is not a bad plan.

We need to tell one of the wizards, probably Blacksoul about the Red Wizard and the antithesis. Information is more valuable than souls. He may even keep Spikesby alive.

>>233797
It was considered a bad plan when I suggested it earlier. :c
But, yes, for Pete's sake let's please tell the one Wizard whose dickishness is at least of the ruthless-and-unfettered-world-saving variety.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/25(Sat)14:03 No. 233800 ID: 383006
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Spikesby and Ria trade away one of the spare magazines for some food and a night in the inn. They decide to spend a few days in Bleached Head to learn more about what life is like.

Spikesby gets a job harvesting crops in the large, open-air area at the center of the city. Ria seemed to be pretty good at dealing with people, even the weird people who lived there, so they made a decent wage.

They learned that everyone in Bleached Head had been born inside the sea. There were probably no survivors still living who remember the Wizard's War or even the formation of the wall.

They also learned that people inside the sea think fundamentally differently. There are no concerns about scholarly pursuits, and even the supposedly more "normal" citizens of Bleached Head still spoke confusingly or did things erratically or nonsensically. The changed forms of the creatures were inconsistent and the creatures from outside were different as well, although there did appear to be certain groups or clans of different sorts of the normal world's species.

Things were generally calm and quiet, and Spikesby grew healthy (and learned to use the bathroom).

>>233800
Gather supplies and head back to the real world. Find a way to summon Sky to you (Possibly by holding a stereo up on your little sword arms and playing "Moth to a Flame") and have her tell Blacksoul everything you know.

Wait. Have Ria write down everything you know to make sure you don't forget anything more than you might have already. Then do all that.

Get back to the real world ASAP so you can do something about Lord of Marvels. (But don't kill him because that might backfire)

...so basically people are kindof happy but there's no real academic progress? It's like everyone's lobotomized... Yeah, the sea's not so great a place to be. Life continues, but... hampered, barely worth living.

I still don't like going straight to Blacksoul and giving him the antithesis. I'd rather we go straight to Lord of Marvels and ask him wtf. Also leave the antithesis with someone we can trust, so that if LoM kills spikesby or something we can just wait for Blacksoul to kill the Sea, upon which point we...

Dammit. I want both the Wizards AND the sea gone. WHY CAN'T LIFE JUST BE NORMAL?!

>Dammit. I want both the Wizards AND the sea gone. WHY CAN'T LIFE JUST BE NORMAL?!

Well that's what I want. I said kill everything. Keep the antithesis for safe keeping as Blacksoul does more research and figures out what could kill The Proginators (I forgot what he's using souls for. A shield or something, but he's probably going to do some research in the meantime it takes to get enough souls to do shit) then we get that. Kill enough Progs so killing a few wizards won't do shit. Then kill them. Slowly work our way around the world, make enough friends and agents to gather antithesis and I suppose MAGIC to every super-powerful being around the world easily.

But, in the meantime, yeah man we should bolt this place as soon as possible so we don't mutate and get lobotomized ourselves

>>233795
>>233797
>>233798
>>233799
>>233804

... I'm not sure you guys understand the depths of Blacksoul's ruthlessness, here.

Blacksoul hates the Sea of Oblivion. It took everything from him. He will stop at nothing to see it destroyed.

Telling him about the antithesis won't really do much, since he already knows what it is and probably has a good grasp of how it works. I'm going to check over the previous quest threads... it's POSSIBLE giving him a small sample of pure antithesis to experiment on would be good, but he might come looking for the rest. Telling him we have a huge supply of antithesis for killing wizards will just end up getting it all confiscated.

Telling him that there's a traitor (Red Wizard / Lord of Marvels) would probably make him go super-ragey and delay his attack on the Sea at least long enough for him to beat the shit out of Marvels. But I'm against this on the principal that if Blacksoul kills off Marvels too soon in a fit of rage, we'll never uncover what the hell is really going on.

Telling him that the Progenitors are plotting to kill all the wizards will just reinforce what he already knows, and won't exactly change his mind about nuking them. And our soul is extra-useful as fuel. :/

Since Marvels was around BEFORE the war, and appears to be siding WITH the Progenitors - Which will PROBABLY result in his own death, mind you - makes me think that he might have a hand in bringing them here in the first place. There is a deeper mystery afoot.

...

I agree that we've seen enough inside the Sea. I suggest we exit the sea (using Kallikissa's teleportation to get us to the wall near where we came in) and hide the antithesis somewhere near the edge of the wall. With it so close to the wall, hopefully it will be camouflaged against anyone who can detect anti-magic.

If we can't find our pals on the other side of the wall using the radio, I suggest our next stop be Moriga, simply because she's a neutral party and one of the few *sane* wizards. She's been nothing but nice to us, and I suggest we return the favor by keeping her in the loop. Her advice might be very valuable AND she might have some knowledge on where our friends are (if we can't find them) and what's been going on in our absence.

>>233813

Alternatively, we could attempt to make a quick stop by Ul Kerull of the Sinking Sign first if we want more information from the Progenitors. Kallikissa could probably make this trip go pretty quick if we can find a bird to summon her with. I doubt Ul Kerull would be hostile towards us, since we're in on the whole "kill all the wizards" plan now.

I'm actually going to change my vote to this, assuming we can do it quickly. Kallikissa seemed like she didn't know much / care much about what was going on, so talking to a more scholarly Progenitor would give us some more background (and give Bite the ability to draw more of his cool-looking character design). ;3

Morriga already knows what's going on, the best thing to do is going to blacksoul as he will be the only one who knows what to do about this antithesis mess and then go from there. Spikesby's soul might not be worth as much now that he is mortal, and if the process can't be reversed, there's not really much point in living like this anyways. You'll be useless for the rest of your life, and will eventually die of old age anyways, so it's either die doing something useful or die in thirty years having never done anything significant again, doubly so because nobody can understand you anymore.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/09/25(Sat)16:21 No. 233837 ID: 383006
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Spikesby decides it's time to go. After purchasing a bird, he gives it a kiss and sure enough, Kallikissa appears. Those in the area flee in terror, and she doesn't seem hampered at all by the presence of the Wizard's corpse.

Soon enough, space is folded again and they are against the wall. After a brief struggle, they pass through the slimy barrier and out into the fresh air of the "World of Dreams."

There are Rock Goblins waiting and they look hostile. They probably can't tell he's a magical creature at all... well, it looks like he isn't one anymore.

Ria claims to have picked up staticky voices nearby - it looks like Isenore might be close.

(The current plan subsequent is to hide the majority of the Antithesis and then go talk to Blacksoul. This plan can be changed, and it must be determine who will go and who will stay.)

>>233837

Yeah, that is a good idea - go to Blacksoul and tell him that LoM is a goddamn traitor. Just make sure you're cautious. You're goddamn fragile right now.

>>233837
You're wearing pants.

Why are you wearing pants?

What other biological features did Kallikissa grant you? :3c

>>233837

SPIKESBY: Act scary, but don't attack. Be prepared to parry and counter-slice if one of them attacks.

RIA: Toss them a ration and tell them you just want to travel in peace. They might just be hungry; if nothing else, this will probably distract them. If they get distracted, attempt to call for backup. If they still seem hostile, be prepared to use COMBAT OPERENDI: DAKKA if the Goblins start AGGRESSing.

>>233840
I think it's just fashionable, which it is. He looks fucking adorable.

What the hell do these goblins want? This is annoying, tell Ria to lock and load. They only have spears. You're still handy with your blades I think so you could probably work a good defense/offense for Ria if her gun doesn't scare 'em off.

>>233837
Their weapons can harm you now, and you got no magical ability to heal anymore. Ask Ria to call over Isenore and try to play for time by acting intimidating and keeping them at bay. Once Isenore gets there a few shots will probably drive them off.

Talking with Blacksoul should probably be done through an intermediary. He might want to examine your changes a bit too closely if you meet him face to face.

Note: Spikesby is not magically tough anymore. All other fights we've been in he's gotten hit. Spikesby is not good at dodging!

If Spikesby does get attacked, he should fight as defensively as possible to minimize the injuries he gets (because they won't heal easily)

I realize that perhaps it's a little late and I'm a new player here and all, but these ideas just came to me and seemed good enough to share, so here goes.

Kallikissa said "So [the Red Wizard] teaches Ul Kerull of the Stinking Sign how to infuse [antithesis] into things for him to take."

Then shortly thereafter remarks "Ul Kerull of the Stinking Sign changes the body to make it most best to kill the wizards."

This would seem to indicate that this Kerull person not only knows how to infuse objects with antithesis, but is a talented transmuter of living things.

Kallikissa also said "It is too late for me to change you now. Only when magic is leaving you."
This would imply that Kerullt may no longer be able to twist Spikesby into whatever walking death machine he might have... dunno if that's good or bad... but also leaves open the possibility that he could at least make "antithesis spears" out of Spikesby's scything talons.

Having the jar is fine and dandy, but it's a limited resource and, being contained in a JAR, is quite vulnerable. We can't go using it every time Spikesby comes across something nasty or we might run out or have an accident with it.

I propose that, on our return trip, we investigate the possibility of getting some antithesis imbued scythes for little Spikesby. He's mortal now; gonna need all the advantage he can against them bigger, nastier magical whatsits that are always gunning for him.

Something else to consider: Kallikissa seems to be our friend. Or at least willing to help us in little ways. The Wall is vast and it may be possible to travel across the entire Peninsula in minutes if we can use her portals to our advantage.

Wars are decided by three things: superior arms, access to information, and mobility.

Our advantage in the first two areas is debatable, but with Kallikissa's help we could have mobility in spades. No wizard on the Dreaming side has demonstrated a similar ability yet. We would actually have a tangible advantage over ALL of them.

Wall of text over. Back to fighting rock goblins. Should probably look into getting him some formal combat training at some point.
Homer do good?

>>234504

"This would imply that Kerullt may no longer be able to twist Spikesby into whatever walking death machine he might have... dunno if that's good or bad... but also leaves open the possibility that he could at least make "antithesis spears" out of Spikesby's scything talons. "

Hey come on now, if we're going to go transmuter hunting, I think being turned into a proper organism should trump death machine upgrades. A proper digestive system for one. Shitting out of his mouth can't be too fun.

And if we do go for combat type stuff, clearly regeneration is what's necessary for Spikesby. We get the poor dude torn up so often...

Anyhow, the Rock Goblins are probably guarding the wall. Just tell them you're back from exploring, and aren't a native from the sea of oblivion. And if their orders are to kill everything that comes through the wall, get Ria to shoot them. No need to be fancy here.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/02(Sat)13:07 No. 237215 ID: 383006
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Spikesby tells the rock goblins to back off, but they couldn't understand him. One of them let fly with a spear and it slammed into Ria's abdomen as she opened fire, spraying bullets wildly but failing to connect.

Spikeby stayed defensive, weaving out of the way of the goblin's spear. He saw an opening and took it - slicing the goblin's arm off in a glistening spray of blood as it howled in agony and collapsed.

>>237213
Uh oh.

Hopefully Ria will be more or less okay? :<

>>237215
Now you can eat Ria when she dies, and she will be part of you forever.

If it doesn't come to that though, maybe go kill that remaining thinger.

>>237215

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Not snaketits!!! D:

Spikesby, RIP AND TEAR! RIP AND TEAR THEIR GUTS.

Although if you want to be nice and have a soul and everything you might be able to show mercy to the one that's disarmed and stuff. I mean, the one without a weapon, not the one without an arm. That guy's pretty fucked.

>>237215

Damnit! Okay, time to see if your face biting skills are still up to par!

Then... jeez, blades for arms is cool and all, right up until you need to remove a spear and stop the bleeding.

>>237239
>remove a spear and stop the bleeding
Hell no. Removing the spear would make the bleeding /worse/. If anything you want to bind it into place so it doesn't wiggle about.

(It's been a while; where's our Golden friend got to?)

>>237215
Shitfuck! Kill that last one and then go see how Ria feels. If you're lucky the goblin missed anything immediatly vital and she can hang on until Isenore gets here. Then you can use the car to get to some place where there's a chance of treatment.

Immediately cut his other arm off and rush at the remaining one.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/02(Sat)14:50 No. 237349 ID: 383006
File 128605621384.jpg - (180.06KB , 700x700 , 8.jpg )

Spikesby rapidly dispatches the remaining goblin and soon the Jeep arrives. Isenore scans the surroundings from the back while Llewyn jumps out and quickly inspects Ria's wound. The bleeding is severe and Llewyn sweats as he works, Ria rapidly lapses into unconsciousness.

Spikesby can only watch, unable to help.

Finally, Llewyn wraps her stitched torso and looks up.

"I've stopped the bleeding and I don't think there's any organ damage. She's hurt bad and she lost a lot of blood. It might be a few days before she can move on her own. We need to decide what to do with her. Isenore, I guess you'll have to talk with the Snikt and figure out what we should do next."

>>237349
>the Snikt
Wak irritably that we have a name.

Well, better load Ria up into the truck if she's not going anywhere under her own power. We're not exactly built for carrying things in our arms.

>>237349
Go find a wizard who might help us and is somewhat reasonable. I think Flare is the best choice.

>>237385
I think you are mistaken.

>>>237349
Try to fashion a stretcher out of anything you have and lift her *carefully* into the back of the truck.
If we're gonna go for a wizard's help then go for Blacksoul. He should be the closest and weren't we going to pay him a visit anyway?

>>237385

I don't see any problem with this. Sure, we don't know anything about Flare, but if worse comes to worse we have a trump card in the antithesis.

...flare is really fucking far away. And also very selfish and vain. Let's not go there for help.

flareys

Flarey's or bust. She's radiant and understanding.

>>237385
I think this is a pretty good idea actually, votan Flare

Surely one of the wizards is going to be helpful and a good idea. Process of elimination says to Flare, because this is spikesby's lucky day! and we are totally not fucked!

Perhaps it would be helpful to see our location on a map before we make any rash decisions?

Can we at least do that?

>>237385
>>237394
>>237400
>>237401
>>237402
>>237405
Seriously, this many of you are posting just to make a Flare joke? I recognize some of your IDs, y'know.

Anyway, getting Ria onto the truck and then heading for Blacksoul is probably the best shot we've got, I guess.

>>237411
Today is "make bad decisions" day.

Blacksoul.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/02(Sat)15:51 No. 237416 ID: 383006
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Spikesby and Isenore manage to load Ria up on the truck and decide to head to the territory of Flare Goldlust. None of them have ever traveled anywhere near there before.

They travel for six days before reaching the craggy, mountainous terrain that Flare calls home. Ria is conscious, but very weak. As they begin to slowly make their way through the mountains, a huge, red creature looms into view.

"WHAT YOU WANT IN MASTER'S LAND?" shouts one head

"YOU COME TO WORSHIP AND TO PRAISE?" intones the other

Yeah, that's us.

>>237416
This can only end in disaster.

Spending another two weeks getting to Blacksoul, or Childless Meg, or the Queen of Sorrows, Flails or anyone is still a better idea than trying to fake our way past a Wizard with creatures like THAT.

Especially when it's first question pertains to worship and praise.

Seriously. Turn around guys.

>>237416
Nope. Had the map upside-down. Bye!

>>237416

We want to worship and praise and seek guidance from the most magnificent Flarey.

Yes. Flare will help us with dragon power.

go see flare but first u may want to bring some chees i hear she likes that

Well, I guess we're going to see Flare, then. Whatever.

>>237445
With your vote and one other's we could turn this around.
Vote no on the FLARE initiative. It takes money away from schools and much needed social services.

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/02(Sat)17:01 No. 237463 ID: 383006
File 128606407981.jpg - (150.32KB , 700x700 , 10.jpg )

"Yeah, whatever, I guess we're doing that," says Isenore, leaving her weapon aimed at the creature's head.

It stood, stalking off thought the mountains.

"YOU FOLLOW, SUPPLICANT, TO WORSHIP. YOU WANT TO GO DIRECTLY TO MASTER?"

"OR YOU NEED TO GO SPRINGS VILLAGE, MAKE SELF PRESENTABLE FIRST?"

>>237463
Let's go to the springs village.

>>237463

Village.

>>237463
HOT SPRINGS EPISODE!

>>237463
lets go to the village hidden in the spring maybe they havce a ninja we can take with us in case flare tries somethng

Spikesby!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/02(Sat)17:38 No. 237507 ID: 383006
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Spikesby wondered what they were doing here. Maybe Flare could help them. He had heard that Flare was greedy, but that was about it.

They traveled for several more days. Spikesby noticed a few rugged villages and keeps dotting the mountains and lush valleys they passed. He saw several more Giants stalking through the terrain.

Eventually, it was indicated that they should travel up a small mountain road that ascended in a series of dangerous switchbacks to a high aerie.

Steam and waterfalls poured from various underground caves and fissures in the terrain around them, and they could hear bubbling cauldrons of mud and a few plumes of noxious smoke.

When they reached the top, there was a flat area where a few animals were hitched. Leaving the truck, they ascended unsteadily to the huge wooden gate, mist rising mysteriously behind it.

Spikesby wondered again what they were doing there.

>>237507
The rest of us are wondering too, Spikesby.
Godspeed.

>>237507
that mountain sure has a toothy grin.

>>238200
Can't unsee

Chapter 4 BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/23(Sat)14:22 No. 247162 ID: 383006
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I had been successful. The southern group of Ophains were already in Blacksoul's domain, and I'd recruited from Queen of Sorrows and Radia as well. This is something I had avoided, but I couldn't avoid it forever. I'd told Blacksoul about this group specifically, after all.

As I fly closer, I see Majestic Thunderstrike waving a hoof excitedly and shouting up to me

>Sky! I haven't seen you since the attack on Suri! Things have been so exciting here! I'm so happy to see you again!

Well, land and say hello. See how everyone is settling in.

And what, who, and how many did you recruit from the Queen of sorrows and Radia?

Hug it out, bitch.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/23(Sat)15:45 No. 247218 ID: 383006
File 128787390757.jpg - (262.26KB , 1000x700 , 1.jpg )

I fly down and hug her as her mane cascades around me.

>I've missed you so much, Sky! We sent some people to Lord of Marvels's tower. They came back saying that not only could we stay here, but he might could help us get back to Suri somehow! What happened when you went to Blacksoul? Are you staying here with us? Have you heard anything from Spikesby or Ria?

>>247218

Tell her that you aren't going to be staying for long, you have a new home in Blacksoul's land, and that you were coming to let them know that there was a place that there was a place they could stay. But it looks like they might be doing okay here after all. That way, you don't have to bring them back to die in the wave and you can tell blacksoul that they had already settled in a new place.

Also let Majestic Thunderstrike put her tongue in your mouth.

>>247223

...This.

>>247218
Alternatively: have a mental breakdown, confess everything, and seek sexual healing. :3

(Going with >>247223 if Sky doesn't feel like breaking)

Returning to Suri smells like a trap.
Blacksoul may be planning on sucking out everyone's souls, but he will also protect them. For a time at least, they will be safe. Going back to Suri sounds like a huge risk and it is doubtful the refugees would want to return to their broken, bloody, body strewn city anyway. Making the suggestion might even cause their confidence in you to waver.

"Go back there? Are you kidding? We barely made it out alive! Now you want us to go back?"

Stick with Blacksoul's plan for now. There may still be time to convince him of a different solution and, if worst comes to worst, the people can be warned of their impending doom.

The Lord of Marvels should be a backup plan, but we should also know more about his offer. Ask about it. See what he is suggesting and how he plans on returning the Ophians to Suri.

Go talk to Lord of Marvels and find out what he's trying to do.

SERIOUSLY. We need to talk to the guy, instead of just assuming he's evil despite being REALLY NICE to everyone.

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/23(Sat)17:18 No. 247301 ID: 383006
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As much as I'd love to let them all stay here, I made a promise to Blacksoul. It's the only way to put the world back the way it should be, anyway.

"Well, I don't know about going to Suri again. We barely made it out alive the first time."

>"Lord of Marvels said he could give us weapons that will put Kshaara back the way she was. He's been teaching the Adepts how to use Kshaara's blood more effectively too."

I move to her side as she lays down, leaning back against me. I press my cheek to her neck and - oh no. I ... a soul. She smells like soul.

"Y- you really can't trust Lord of Marvels, no matter what he says, but Blacksoul 's changed. His domain is free of monsters and danger now. It's peaceful. I'm sure the ophians will be much happier there. Y-you don't need to go, though."

>"Well, I should lead them there! I've been a great leader!"

>>247301

Tell her that it's probably best that she not go. A lot of the people there are refugees who have been terrorized by magical creatures, and there is a lot of tension there right now. Maybe you could find some place nearby where MT could stay that isn't in his territory where you could come visit, and you could let her know when things calm down enough that she wouldn't cause a riot.

Also rub her shoulders a little. And let her put her tongue in your mouth.

Okay, hold the phone.
Lord of Marvels. If he can get ahold of more antithesis weapons then we should go there. This changes everything.

I propose a daring plan: firstly, spill the beans to Majestic, but make sure she listens to everything before freaking out.

Make it clear that you do not intend to go through with Blacksoul's plan (even if you do, lying to reinforce her confidence in you wouldn't hurt either).

Take some of the refugees to Blacksoul, to make it look like you're doing your job (and really, you sort of are), but take some to the Lord of Marvels as well. Procure an antithesis weapon and bring one to Blacksoul.

Try to get him to abandon the Great Culling plan in favor of reverse engineering these weapons. If he refuses to abandon the original plan, then at least get him to try reverse engineering while he waits for more souls to enter his domain. If we're lucky he'll figure it out and go with the weapons plan. If we're not, then you can still warn the people before it's too late, maybe even take his research and finish it with the Lord of Marvels or someone else.

>>247314
Addendum: Refugees have the highest chance of survival if split into two groups anyway.

>>247311
I think this is probably the best course of action. Try to convince MT that she not go. As great a leader as she surely is, it's time for her "babies" to spread their weird tentacle arms and go out on their own or something.

>>247301
We need to talk to LoM dammit.

>>247301
Tell her that you have another task for her. Something that is much more important that only she can take care of. She needs to be your and Blacksoul's liason with Morriga.

She is to stay at Morriga's place and report on what's going on there to you when you come to visit and hear those reports. It is a task only she can perform and one that is alot more vital than guising the ophians to Blacksoul's domain, because once there they won't need a leader anymore and you can make sure they get there by yourself.

>>247301
Sky: Finally realize that what you're doing is absolutely terrible and that you've only been able to justify it because the souls involved so far have all been statistics for you.

Would you sacrifice Majestic Thunderstrike for this? ... Would you sacrifice Spikesby?

What are you really fighting *for*, Sky? What point is there in having a "safe" world if none of your friends are alive to see it?

If *you* got a soul some day... do you think BlackSoul would just let you keep it?

You're working for a madman, here. He's willing to take shortcuts and do anything he wants to reach HIS goal. But are his goals really your goals?

Even if you sacrifice the souls of people you don't care about, but somehow manage to preserve your friends, what does that make you?

Guys, you don't seem to be in the IRC so I am going to explain this to you in no uncertain terms.

The players already made up sky's mind about the souls thing. You can't pussy out and change it now. That isn't how things work. sky already knows the gravity of what she is doing, and that it makes her a monster. But because of the actions of you, the players, She has accepted that it is necessary.

Further, she can't disobey the wizard anyway. she's still a magical creature.

>>247386

Spikesby has managed to be obedient while pursuing his own agenda several times in the past. I fail to see why Sky would be incapable of doing the same.

Sending some refugees Blacksoul's way while sending others to the Lord of Marvels is not being disobedient. Souls will still be headed in the right direction and this should satisfy the geas placed over her. Besides, allowing some to travel elsewhere and spread word of Blackoul's sudden change of heart and apparent paradise may in the end produce greater returns. This should also satisfy the geas. Hopefully.

Although debating is moot, I suppose. Tha Bawss will have final say.

>>220497
>>247386
That's silly. You're silly.

If there's no point in injecting our own suggestions, we might as well sit back and let the quest railroad itself into the soulpocalypse.

If enough players make a suggestion, and the author wants to do it, it happens. If they don't want to do it, it won't happen. Unless Bite comes in here and lays down some ground rules for the non-IRC crowd, I'm going to assume that any suggestions are valid within reason. If my suggestions don't make it into the quest, so be it, but I won't get butthurt over it.

I could understand your concerns if people were trolling the thread, but they're not (yet).

And as far as I know, Sky doesn't "belong" to BlackSoul. She's a volunteer. She could probably disobey him if she wanted to, though would have to face the prospect of his wrath. (Please correct me if I'm wrong)

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/23(Sat)23:47 No. 247407 ID: 383006
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I've already made the decision to sacrifice these people. We need as many as we can get, as soon as we can get them. I was a monster when I left Blacksoul's tower. At least the remainder of their life will be pleasant... peaceful. But... I... not Majestic Thunderstrike. I lead her through the camp. This information about Lord of Marvels is interesting. Why is he helping the Ophians so directly? Weapons to fight Kshaara with?

Majestic Thunderstrike wraps her tongue around my hand as we walk.

"The exiles traveling to Blacksoul's domain have been cruelly treated by magical creatures for most of their lives. I don't think you would be welcome there. Besides, I need your help. I want you to go to Moriga's domain and wait for me there. Don't tell her what is happening, and keep your eyes open. It's very important and only you can do it. I'll take care of your ophians for you."

>"If you think it's best, Sky, I'll do it for you. Our little community here is growing, but it might be safer if Blacksoul really has made his domain a refuge for mortals. My Queen was on very good terms with Blacksoul, although I don't seem to recall him caring much for mortals. Just -Just promise me it won't be too long before you visit."

Now I just have to decide if I'm going to investigate Lord of Marvels or not. How should I approach? Should I take Majestic Thunderstrike with me? Should I even fool with it at all?

I had some issues and it took me six hours to update, but I will continue tomorrow

>>247407

Even if you have already made your decision to sacrifice these people, it is foolish not to pursue contingencies. Definitely procure one of these weapons the Lord of Marvels is making. Blacksoul would certainly want to analyze one of these, if for no other reason than his own safety.

The Lord of Marvels should be on the way to Moriga's, so take Majestic with you, if only because there are safety in numbers... and Majestic is a little naive. Going it alone means there is that much more time she could potentially be taken advantage of or deceived in some way that could cause further delays. Besides, the Lord of Marvels may already be familiar with Majestic by way of her messengers, he may not be familiar with you. Having a liaison would be handy.

man she is going to hate you.

Decisions can be overturned. You hate the decision you made, but there was no other alternative. This is a potential alternative. If you don't face up and try, you'll regret it.

Finding information about the lord of marvels would be nice, but if he's the one who was fomenting rebellion against the other wizards and he CAN read minds like he told spikesby, you will probably ruin everything forever if you go yourself.

Investigate Lord of Marvels... with Thunderstrike. Ask if he knows of a way to get rid of the Sea of Oblivion.

>>247407
Go visit the Lord of Marvels along with some Ophians. With them there you might be able to make him assume that you come as a suporter and leader of them. He's bound to have noticed that Majestic is a bit naive and not really that much of a planner, so you're there to see what's really up. Just make sure that you can get away from him and that you have one of those weapons on you at the meeting.

Don't press him too deeply for answers and don't go in any deeper in what you're doing or why or for who. He might try to make you think that he has a better way. But he doesn't, he simply represents the devil you don't know, while Blacksoul is the devil you do know. And despite the fact that what Blacksoul is trying to do is monstrous, it's also something that will make everything better, for everyone. It won't be any greater change for those that remain, except that they would have alot more land to live on, places that are livable where they can truly get away from the wizards.

And there is a bit of self intrest in this for you. Do you think magical creatures would have a good time in a world ruled by antithesis, where the very stuff that make you possible doesn't exist anymore, where you can't fly and would never be able to fly again.

>>247418
This.

Committing to a decision is fine, but choosing to ignore alternatives that were not available before purely on the basis that you have already made a decision (and not even a very informed one, either) is beyond foolish. It's mad.

You're not a monster yet, Sky. If Blacksoul really has the only viable solution then that's tragic, but it's not something you can help. But if there are other ways and you chose to ignore them simply because you had "already made your decision" then you are part of the problem, not the solution.

It is the mean that justifies the end.

>>247418

(meta)
In other words, you think that you should be able to skip out on the consequences of decisions that were suggested on the character by saying 'on second thought, no.' That is absolutely super.
(/meta)

The fact is, We already know that Lord of Marvels foments revolt against the other wizards by virtue of having been behind K'Shaara's attempted assassination. He is trying to use these ophians to repeat his goal, but this time she knows to expect it so he would just be sending him to die.

He is dangerous, and (potentially) ABLE TO READ MINDS. While you do stand to gain from securing a sample of the weapons for Blacksoul's perusal, or from gaining information on his goals and movements, there is far too much at risk from simply going and chatting him up ourselves. MT may be naive, but as a proxy she at least gives us the potential for success at obtaining something with far, far less risk.

And the risk is significant even if he can't read minds, (meta again)because you jackasses have some sort of fetish for expositing entirely too much information to every NPC you encounter regardless of whether or not there is anything to be gained from doing so.(/meta)

BiteQuest!!Z0Mwx3ZJZj 2010/10/24(Sun)14:18 No. 247619 ID: 383006
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I have to find out what Lord of Marvels is up to. Did he have something to do with Kshaara's 'death' the first time? It doesn't make any sense. Why would he do that? I get Majestic Thunderstrike and ask her to lead me to Lord of Marvels's tower. We briefly inform the Ophians about traveling to Blacksoul's domain. If there are a few too close to Lord of Marvels, then I guess I can leave them, but I promised as many as I could get to Blacksoul, and it is a promise I cannot break. Besides, there is no reason at all for me to believe that anything other than Blacksoul's plan can save the world. The Sea is awful, and if it covered the land, it would kill me and Majestic Thunderstrike. I can't even imagine never flying through the clear, blue sky again. It's an awful price, but I don't have a choice. Maybe if I find out something, some other way, I can tell Blacksoul and possibly change his mind. Hiding a few ophians from him won't accomplish anything though. At least I've convinced Majestic Thunderstrike to go to Morriga instead.

We get to the tower. There's a big camp full of ophian adepts in colorful tents everywhere, and some magical creatures, Majestic Thunderstrike tells me they're called 'Golems' helping them haul the remaining pitchers of Kshaara's blood.

As we approach, one of the ophians comes up to us with a Golem in tow.

"How can I assist you, most glorious Mistress Thunderstrike? Who is this with you? I think I remember her from the escape"

"Yes," I say, "I assisted in the fight for Suri, although I was injured early on. I've come to find out what is happening here. Majestic Thunderstrike told me that Lord of Marvels has offered direct aid in the fight against Kshaara. I find that hard to believe."

She grins

"We did at first, also, but it's true. A few of us came here to make sure we wouldn't be attacked, and he extended the hand to friendship to us. He is teaching us how to manipulate Kshaara's blood to protect ourselves more efficiently from control, and has weapons for us, more spears like the ones she was impaled with originally. Apparently, he assisted us in the beginning. He says that he sees the future, and Kshaara must be put back to sleep for the good of the world. We are more than willing to help him."

>>247619

That doesn't make much sense. If he sees the future and knew that K'Shaara needed to stay asleep, why didn't he provide any assistance to keep her asleep?

Trying to convince this ophian would probably waste energy and make us stand out, and standing out while in Lord of Marvels' territory looks like it might be a bad thing. Lord of Marvels is clearly up to something, and Blacksoul will probably be able to deduce more of it than we can. Additionally, this might buy the people in his land just a bit more time to enjoy life, which is an additional plus.

Attempting to force the ophians to leave will probably only make things worse, it's probably best for now to take what we can and alert Blacksoul to the Lord of Marvels' treachery.

Also, see if Majestic Thunderstrike's tongue can tickle your stomach.

Have Majestic Thunderstrike as Lord of Marvels what he's going to do about the Sea of Oblivion. The people in there have sent out creatures that kill people to make soul armor so they can survive here; surely he would not approve of that. Surely he would want to do something about it. Ask what can be done.

>>247619
If the Lord of Marvels can see the future then he is probably already tangentially aware of your intentions and allegiance. Paying him a personal visit probably won't do much harm, so go for it.

And do your best to grab hold of one those weapons. Blacksoul will definitely want a look at one, again if for no other reason than his personal safety. Who knows, maybe he can learn to make more, or even better ones? Even after the Sea of Oblivion is gone there will still be a bunch of childish, tyrannical wizards that need slaying for the good of the people... assuming you even care about that.

The Lord of Marvels also appears to be genuinely concerned with the fate of mortals. If anyone has even the slightest inkling of an alternate solution, he probably would.

>>247622
This also does not jive. Why didn't he help when Suri was under attack? Surely he could have at least provided some form of indirect assistance. Ask about it.

>>247644

HE DIDN'T HELP BECAUSE HE IS LYING.

WALKING INTO A WIZARD'S CHAMBER AND ASKING WHY HE IS LYING IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.

IT IS TOTALLY THE OPPOSITE OF A GOOD IDEA.

HE MAY BE A WEAK WIZARD BUT HE CAN ANNIHILATE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST A MAGICAL CREATURE.

Just answer me this question. Have you actually read the entire quest up to this point? Are you aware of how all of this wizard stuff actually works? Because it really doesn't seem like you haven't.

>>247644
The Lord of Marvels can not see the future and he's definitely not interested in helping mortals.
He obviously has ulterior motives and is in direct contact with the Progenitors in the Sea of Oblivion.
Avoid the wizards, especially Lord of Marvels. He could order you to do something that will royally fuck the entire planet and you can't do anything about it. Try to find out from the Adepts what he is up to, but try to avoid direct contact.

>>247651

This is probably the best idea.

Hell, we can probably even get a spear from one of them since they trust MT. Without needing to expose ourselves to possible wizardfuckery. The very capacity for the wizards to absolutely command you is more than enough reason to stay away from LoM.