Please ask him if he's willing to wait just a bit longer, been away for some time, so much work has piled up, etc etc.

Tell Bang via Phohn that this is your fight. After all, it would cheapen the victory if it was two on one.

However, he is to stay nearby. If we can end this without killing Eisenhardt, we'll need him to help repair the damages done.

Furthermore, we have a lot more souls than we did in our first match: Our magical endurance is probably thusly enhanced. Remember all of our tricks and their relative potency.

We have to pick between going all out right from the start, railgun blazing and inferno golems rushing forth, or to do things the normal way.

I still do not understand why we had to wait for Bang and Nidhogg to arrive.

Are you guys planning to use them in this attack or something?

I though this was going to be one-on-one duel.

Also, I wonder, when we turn on the Blood Flow doesn't that mean we are more "organic" and have much more stronger sense of ownership about ourself? Shouldn't that mean that Eisenhardt can't manipulate our body?

>>247151
Let's just get this out of the way, now. I've got a feeling that we might not be able to put it off much longer...

What to do...Well, I know Bang would love to just pounce and punch Eisenhardt until he almost died, but we are more gentlemanly then that - if Bang did it of his own free will...

But anyway, sigh a bit and laugh like an old man. "Eisenhardt, Please. I have only just gotten back myself after aiding Lenryt in some venture or other. I don't even know how my Apprentice is doing! Please, come in for tea - I believe that's how we started this last time, and we can discuss how you have been, I can get caught up on what I have missed, and we can dicuss where we will hold this Tournament."

Phohn to Arkus: Have you talked to Del Rogo about his ax and Eisenhardt needing a name off it? That is why he's attacking, so if we can turn him into an ally, or at least have him not kill us, that would be nice.

>>247155
We waited because HOLY SHIT, BANG ON A DRAGON IN LUCHA LIBRE LAND!

>>247161
An Addendum: "Yes, Eisenhardt, that is my dragon. Would you like me to tell you how I came by it?"

>>247151
>>247161
After making him wait already, having him wait even longer seems rather rude. Let's just get to it, perhaps loudly apologizing to everyone else with pressing business and informing them that we will handle their matters after dealing with this, or should we lose they're naturally free to do whatever they like.

>>247155
The blood flow requires that we use magnetomancy upon ourself. We might very well be able to accomplish that, but Eisenhardt would immediately sense it and unless our new magic-absorbtion abilities are up to stopping him from tearing us apart with magnetomancy, he'd one-shot us the moment we turn off our rune.

That said, I don't want THAT badly to conceal our blood magic abilities, particularly as Eisenhardt will be either dead or on our side after this. Or we'll be dead, in which case we don't need to worry about it. So the only serious consideration is if we'll be able to stop him with Goran's trick- perhaps we can fake him out by switching over to it at an opportune moment during the fight to test if it'll work.

>>247147
Fighting tactics: Whatever we do, do NOT use those new Magnetomancy-boosting blades of ours; should Eisenhardt get his hands on one it'll make him far more dangerous. (After he's working for us, we can give him one or two as a present.)

Frankly, this time around we might be able to just absorb magic all the time and fight him as much as a giant golem as a mage; we're much faster-moving and if we get our claws on him it's basically over (I think). He's tough, but ultimately still fairly squishy. Still, keep on the ball- make sure we're on alert for any new tricks that he might have planted inside the ground around the Arcanoworks, geomantic or magnetomantic. He's had weeks to prepare this ground to his advantage.

>>247166

Well, we can use the new-found Jade-Soul techniques to put ourself inside a 'green soul bubble' of sorts, I think that means expanding our soul to encompass our body. That way our body should be shielded from Eis. influence (I think), while in that state we could turn on the Blood Flow.

Listen...

Time moves in proportion how the mind sees it. Bang noted that Mordre thinks so much faster than him and Bang thinks extremely fast, so ... we need to find a way to use a golem kind adrenaline rush (like Keddic and Bang do). I don't think this should be that hard for Mordre, he is not constricted by fleshy limitations only by his mind.

If we manage to achieve that, we could see Eisenhardt coming when he uses his super speed thing

>>247168
I'm rather sure we can't. We've got Jade Fist, Ethereal Strike, Warding Palm, and Rending Grasp.

We are going to fight him again, alone. If we bring anyone else into the fight he'll fuck over the Arcanoworks.

Except... maybe if we get permission from him first. He will after all assume that he can simply kill those that are fighting alongside us. If those in question are Deep Spawn, that will be a non-issue. Burduko and Nidhogg might be of some use in this fight.

Bang might be strong enough to survive being drained of Iron... but probably would get scoured by Iron mist like we've used before. Leave him out of this.

Hey guys don't forget we have Vectormancy, Ignimancy, and Jade Soul attacks. Plus there's the railgun we can pull out of nowhere. Extra good if we can do it without him realizing we're lining up the shot. Like have the blades orbiting around in erratic patterns that 'coincidentally' align at him when we're ready to fire.

>>247172
Maybe we can develop a new move?
We know that it is possible so it shouldn't be that hard.

>>247174

I think Bang has extreme sense of ownership for Eisenhardt to mess with his iron

Is Reinhardt still around? It might be best to talk with him before you set out to kill his only known remaining relative. Also Ellayia might have fight-relevant information.

For the fight - I suggest keeping the Nimble Nitro ability as a hidden ace along with the AA.

We're still looking to end it non lethally, right? So he'll work for us? Ignimancy Taser should help.

Hopefully Goran's Magic Eatin' will let us say "Fuck you" to any direct magnetomancy by him to us.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/10/23(Sat)15:28 No. 247203 ID: a76809
File 128787291627.jpg - (42.26KB , 267x400 , ROUND 2.jpg )

>>247812
[Mordre can combine existing abilities to create hybrid actions, but Mordre still cannot simply develop a new move from nothing.]

>>237174
Before I even respond to Eisenhardt, a plan comes to mind. I let the six rune rings I possess slowly flit off if their rack at my hip, and set them to revolving about me. Each one is given its own independent orbit, all moving at different speeds.... that will allow them to all line up before my cannon, as if by pure happenstance. It is a long-term trap I plot in this, and I hope to keep it in mind when it becomes relevant.

>>241171
I begin to wonder just how I could augment my perception of time. I know I can see between instants innately, far faster in my cogitation than humans.... but could I push that even father? Could I slice time into even finer sections? I get the feeling this is possible without the need for Chronomancy... but I do not know how such could be accomplished. Barring any enlightenment on the subject, I do not believe it will be relevant during this coming duel continuation.

>>247162
>>247151
"Eisenhardt, please. I only just returned, And I have not seen my apprentice- Indeed, I have not seen the Arcanoworks for quite some time. Could I have a moment to-"
"Rejected. I have been made aware of your... genial duplicitous behavior. I will not let you out of my sight until our duel begins, and I will not let something else take priority for you. If my verbal request does not suffice, I will regrettably be forced to begin the destruction of your base here. Have I made my sincerity on this subject sufficiently clear?"

>>247166
>>247154
Through Phohn, I ask Bang to restrain himself, and watch the warrior leap from the dragon's back to the ground, moving to chat with Valiria while he keeps an eye on Eisenhardt. With that potential snafu averted, I re-address Eisenhardt, the orbit of runed saw-rings about my body complementing the 37 Deep Spawn cores still circling my torso.

"You have indeed been most concrete about this. Well then, shall we?"
"Lead the way."

I begin marching out of the Arcanoworks, sending furtive tendrils of Magnetomancy and Geomancy earthward-and finding the leyline beneath my base even closer to the surface, and the grounds thoroughly laced with thousands of tons of metal, all of it drenched in Eisenhardt's ownership: He has prepared the field even more thoroughly than he did the prior time we fought... hm.

After we move some hundred feet away from the Arcanoworks, Eisenhardt, still standing atop his floating metal disc, halts and speaks.

"This should be far enough. ...Are you ready?"

Here? Still so surrounded by territory he has had WEEKS to prepare for his own use? ...I do not at ALL see that ending well for me, but Eisenhardt only halfway seems to await my confirmation, as I feel his magic flitting into the ground, already claiming dozens of metal spheres each thrice as massive as my own form. ...I also note that in one third of a second, the 'random' circling of rings about my body will align with my cannon.... if I can get it turned on Eisenhardt without him becoming suspicious, this could be over before it begins....




What should I say or do?
Should I go for the riskier option, and try to fatally end the fight here and now with a shot from my revolver cannon accelerated to relativistic speeds?
Or should I try to sway my foe, and get our battleground moved with carefully chosen words?
Or should I simply... begin running, and force the battlefield to change locations? (I am certain he does not yet know of the speeds Nimble Nitro allows me to reach)
Or do I have another plan in mind?

On the topic of our soul, I wonder exactly what species our soul would be, and how skilled we would have to be to replicate the pattern of our soul so that there would be a soul that is the same species as our soul; there was that comment in the first thread, that more variety of species in the souls we consume have some effect on our spell matrices, and I want to know what effect that would be; creating different species/Life Golems, with souls different from other species' souls, and consuming their souls, would facilitate, or at least make it easier to reveal, that effect.

Bang could just spontaneously challenge Eisenhardt before we can start. He did say that he was going to challenge Eisenhardt in the last thread; since Eisenhardt wants to kill us, and is unlikely to back down from that position (unless someone has any brilliant ideas on how to persuade him?), we would therefore kill him if we fight first. However, if Bang were to battle Eisenhardt before our fight with him, because Eisenhardt has no special enmity against Bang, nor Bang him, they could just fight each other until they get tired of it. We do not need to fight alongside Bang.

Perhaps a viable strategy would be using Kinitemancy to propel ourselves up into the air (like we did during Goran's fight when we were in that pit), to reach him. Since Eisenhardt relies on physical projectiles (the metal spheres) to damage us (since he cannot rip us apart with Magnetomancy with the 'Disjoint' rune up), we have one ability to handle that (Abaeloth's HANDS OF HUNGER) along with another that will let us speed up our mind (Chronal Banditry) and another, Kinitemancy, if we can do that, to steal their motion to allow us to move faster. That's for the defensive; for the offensive, the only suggestion I can give would be: use Pyromancy to gather the residue Soulfire around our head to burn away his armor; using Kinitemancy to bring ourselves close enough to him fast enough to bring two tendrils of our Sable Executioner into and through his eyes, and into his brain; Ignimancy, charged before/from the beginning of the fight to immense proportions, get in close enough so that he can't attract it to his metal spheres, and let loose so that the charge fries him (I forget, does metal armor protect one from being fried from electricity, or enhances the damage one suffers from the shock? I know the metal can attract the lightning, but I forget if the electricity would jump to the flesh, rather than stay within the metal.); IG anti-magic field to strip away any magical defense of his, and then get in close to kill him, or IG primary function to strip away his magical defenses and hurt him with the explosion (probably going to waste his skin, though).

Er, for other things that don't quite fit: if we use Inverter on Eisenhardt's armor, what would happen? We know that his armor enhances his combat ability, and that Blood Iron, the metal the armor is made of, has innate magical properties; inverting that, would it not hinder, and perhaps outright destroy, Eisenhardt's ability to battle? And, I would like to test out our altered Edge of Oblivion, put it through some combat (though it might be safer to test it out after we have Arkus look over it).

I very much doubt we can end this with him alive. Unless we life golem him.

>Grab something (a tree, a rock?) that can have its time stolen through Chronal Banditry
What exactly are the requirements for being able to steal time, anyway? Because the air has substance, when it comes right down to it. We could just be stealing its time constantly to act faster whenever we don't need that hand for anything else.

As for the railgun, I would not use it until you've got Eisenhardt's attentions tied up in one of his massively multitasked attacks upon your person. It'll have a greater chance of success then, when he doesn't expect it... and if nothing else, it'll force his attention away from coordinating his attack on you at that point. Best to save that particular ace for when it can do the most good.

One thing that puzzles me about what Eisenhardt does: He said that he doesn't like to use the earth's magnetic field, so what the heck is he pushing all these spheres against to control them? Does he have hundreds of thousands of pounds of metal embedded in the ground to use as steering posts for the tens of thousands of pounds he's floating about? Because magnetomancy works based upon manipulating magnetic fields, which means that it should still cause equal and opposite reactions- it's not like kinetomancy where that can be ignored. If he's ripping dozens of tons of metal upwards, then an equivalent force is shoving downwards, at least during this initial exchange.

As for our opener... well, perhaps we can attack him and move the battlefield at the same time. Instead of running away at speeds he cannot match, try charging directly for him ridiculously fast and snatching him right off his metal disc. If he falls back, well, you'll be moving away from his prepared ground, so you win. If he doesn't, you'll snatch him. And if he flies higher, well, you'll at least be able to throw inferno golems and what have you at him. Maybe it'll even be harder for him to use geomancy that far from the ground, although I'm not sure on the mechanics.

Escape first. Trying anything magnetic within Eisenhardt's area of control is probably not going to work. Escaping the trap zone should be priority #1. While running remember that Eisenhardt probably also has a magnetic railgun attack. He's got more than enough power to do it.

Start moving using kinetimancy force redirecting ground punches and keep bouncing erratically across the landscape while making good use of cover. Maybe head into the forest to grab a tree or something that you can apply chronal banditry to in order to move faster.

Start charging Immortal Genocide. If we later unveil the Nimble Nitro and manage to dash inside melee range with a supercharged magic dispel ready... I'd also like to see how powerful we can make the sheer devouring effect of the IG. It might be possible for its hunger to grow such that all world magic in the area is devoured and arcane magic becomes incredibly difficult when Mordre has the energy equivalent of a black hole on his arm.

Answer to the affirmative, and then leg it, while tossing spells and/or rocks at him. Start up the Immortal Genocide.

Hmm, perhaps we should take a page from the book of that armor bang picked up. Start a punch then steal the kinetic energy and use it to punch Eisenhardt in the face from anywhere.

He is not suitably distracted to try the railgun snipe. Mess with the paths of the blades so that they take a little more time to converge again. We should only fire it when we're already fighting him full on, and he thinks we're going to use it for some other purpose.

Also I support continuing to move, saying that no, you're not quite ready yet. RUN if he starts fighting anyway. We need to get him away from that leyline, and hopefully away from more of those orbs. Also begin charging up Ignimancy.

As far as slicing time is concerned... Overcharge your matrix. Shove magic into it. That should make it 'move' faster.

>>247242
...that is the seed of an AWESOME plan. We have kinetomancy; we can literally take our own vector of motion (thirty thousand pounds going two hundred miles an hour, is it not?) and transfer that to literally whatever we like (say, a much lighter projectile). Result: A projectile moving really, really fast, and we stop moving. Add vector redirection to avoid missing as necessary.

So if we go with a charge attack and Eisenhardt is getting away, we can stop using ourselves as the attacker and suddenly shoot him instead.

"Now, Eisenhardt, don't think that I cannot see what you did with this field....
I thought we were going to fight on equal grounds, no? By heavily modifying the battle field you are trying to rig the game and stack the odd in your favor.

Now.... to even out the playing ground, what do you say that I use my minions too? I did not want to have use them in this fight but if you are going to be like that, I think it is more than fair."

At this point Eisenhardt may think that we are referring to our soldiers and subordinates at Arcaneworks but in reality we are going to get our Deep Spawn help.
As Jiogas attack on Vanguard and Zaggrath showed, our Deep Spawn can be carried by Burduko-Express.

So we summon our Deep Spawn, they summon their spawn and we quickly get this fight over.... if Eisenhardt agrees of course, wouldn't want to him to think that we cheated out since we are planning to get him alive.

Other thing, if we are going to insta-'kill' him with the rail gun:
We must quickly relay orders to Murhihal and Akeam. They must instantly get working on restoring Eisenhardt. We might need Bangs help there too.
If all fails, we must dispense souls from our furnance and make him a life golem.... this will make him much more powerful though

>>247273
I don't really want to deploy our Deep Spawn here. Eisenhardt commands a level of power which might well be able to kill even them; recall how he was able to snuff out our Inferno Golems with such ease? I don't consider them disposable enough to deploy unless I'm certain that it would ensure victory.

Also, that argument- we can make it, but it's not very persuasive, considering that we just went and stacked the odds in OUR favor by delaying the conflict until we'd powered up substantially. The playing field is evened already.

>>247273
I doubt our spawn would have any real effect on the battle.
Eisenhardt is so damn powerful that he could easily brush them aside with a few well placed multi-ton metal spheres, since they don't have all the neat tricks that Mordre has at his disposal that could help him survive such an attack.

Also all the reasons mentioned by >>247276

It's pretty likely we are going to have to kill Eisenhardt. We should try to kill him in a way that leaves his skin intact, if possible, since we only need one more. But I don't think we should try to hit him with the railgun right away-it won't be as surprising now as it would be after we fight him for a while, and it won't leave his skin intact if it does work. Ignimancy would probably leave skin intact, though.

Wouldn't Ethereal strike be rather useful in this fight?

>Ethereal Strike:
>-A projection of energy, a replica of one's hand that is emitted as a projectile impact, possessing some of the Jade Fist's piercing ability, but little of its kick. The fact it can be used in rapid succession opens the options to which it can be applied.
>-The projection has a range directly related to the originating source of energy, your Soul Furnace, and as such can reach ranges normally not considered feasible for the move, some several hundred feet before half the energy has dissipated, and more than a thousand before it completely decays.

We could hit Eisenhardt from a distance, and it would also probably shock him the first time or two.

Glue 2010/10/23(Sat)17:35 No. 247310 ID: ddd48d
File 128788050125.jpg - (200.00KB , 1672x1553 , YUDODISTOMEBOB.jpg )

YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO HIT?

THE FUNNY BONE

FUCKERS TO THE LEEEEEEEFT

BOB LIKES STRIPED PANTIIIIIIIIES~
I AM NOT DRUNKKKKK I SWEAR

>>247310
[FANART OPTION UNLOCKED]

>>247232
>>247233
"Quite ready."

Kinetomancy upon myself, the immediate development of a vector for my entire body, jerking into motion with acceleration a human body could not take. ...So the Disjoining rune really DOES only effect Magnetomancy, interesting. Nimble Nitro gets added onto that initial velocity, and I go faster, feet pounding with far greater speed than before. But as I see Eisenhardt's eyes easily tracking me as he continues ripping a few dozen of the multi-hundred ton spheres from the ground, I realize-this is note enough.

...Very well then.

I divert another layer of magic to the act, now plying Geomancy as I plot out where each foot will fall, the ground already moving to pull me along faster when I land. I accelerate again, and without the aid of personal Magnetomancy, I reach one hundred miles an hour in three steps, over the course of one twentieth of a second. For the next half second, I'm losing Eisenhardt, his eyes widening at the turn of speed I'm displaying here. But before that second ends, a blur of motion brings Eisenhardt to hovering beside me some sixty feet away, a massive sphere already hurtling at my back-

As I use Kinetimancy to add a lateral vector to my movement, taking a perfect right angle turn without decelerating, moving out of the falling wrecking ball's path just in time, a dull thump shivering up my legs as the ground trembles. I see Eisenhardt's eyebrow quirking as he raises a hand, two fingers standing up. I feel a pair of titanic metal masses now rocketing towards me. I dodge the first with a change of path, again employing Kinetimancy to turn aside-only to find the second sphere's path corrected for my new angle.

So I use Kinetimancy AGAIN.

When I safely navigate the double layered assault without a scratch, putting more and more distance between myself and the center of Eisenhardt's prepared dueling ground, I note several things as Eisenhardt raises his hands like a conductor, brow setting.

-ALL of the other airborne sphere (currently nineteen) begin hurtling towards my general direction in staggered fire, as scores more of the superdense orbs rip from the earth one by one, some twenty new ones in the air per second assuming he does not accelerate.
-Eisenhardt's soul, already a far more brilliant thing than when I last fought him begins to once more build ever-swelling magnetic waves about himself, the same as when he did so the last we fought.... I still do not know what that could mean, this building swell of bent magnetism.
-I note the leyline's closeness to the surface dwindling very slowly, but I can feel the end of prepared land-some several miles distance..... a rather thorough individual.

With no superior option revealing itself to me, I resign myself to ever more rapid redirections of my momentum, Kinetomancy dancing in my grip as Eisenhardt's fingers play through the air as if he were a daydreaming maestro. I find no time to stop, turning my momentum towards an accelerated shot through kinetic redirection.... his assault is to tightly timed for both evasion and counterattacks to be performed simultaneously, and I'd rather not have to deal with the absurd weight behind his strikes unless I am certain I can benefit from taking the hit.

[OPTION TRIGGER]

...It has been quite some time since I was last at the Arcanoworks. Arkus, Derkin, Dregas, Ulzrick, Vespinto, Ellorika, Jezebel, Valiria, even Del Rogo... I find myself missing the personality quirks of those I have gathered about me, and look forward to more interactions once I navigate this challenge. Jezebel's antagonistic aggression and prickly nature, Arkus's meandering curiosity and nervous babbling, Valiria's high-minded opinion of herself, Ellorika's gruff and abrasive nature, Ulzrick's.... dazed and distracted demeanor to mask his crafty mind... I find it irks me somewhat, that Eisenhardt has had weeks to be around them while I attended to so many other pursuits. I somehow doubt he did not at least observe them, and considering his interactions with Ulzrick and Arkus alike, he likely has gotten to know at least some of them... Hm. He likely DOES know them, at least somewhat. An interesting facet of information.

....I follow this new line of thought as I dodge enormous balls of steel and a multitude of other metals continue to crash down around me. Have I amassed enough examples for this to work? Does my understanding of the human psyche extend to this? ...Humor. Eisenhardt has demonstrated an appreciation for the non-serious, and I am told that it is nearly impossible to fight while laughing. I have established individuals we both know that can be used as the building blocks, so... what could I say? Even as part of me wonders how it came to tactical use of humor, I tentatively try out an idea, hoping the bits of world lore I discerned from snippets of Bang, Keddic and Arkus' conversations is accurate.

"...HehehHAHAHA... oh, my."
"Something amuses you?"
"Well, it was just an idle thought."
"Well now you have me interested. What is it?"
"Well, this is our second round of fighting, yes?"
"By just about every method of defining it, yes."
"I have heard that in some places where fights are bet upon, There are showgirls who carry cards to display the round between exchanges."
"This is true."
"Even more, I have heard of times that slaves are bet, Between fighters that is, and used as round-girls, prizes for the winner."
"Many of the areas that traffic in slavery do just that, the Golden League and Mahnlea both doing so. Where are you going with this?"
"Well, heh... I pictured Arkus as a round-girl, and could not help but laugh."

For a moment, Eisenhardt says nothing, face wrinkling in strange contortions, like a cat trying to escape an old sack. Then, the man who kept up his bombardment of me unabated as we conversed, the man who I now note is well past his prepared land, but still using his metal sphere bombardment with careful thought (At any given time two thirds of the one hundred and thirteen metal spheres are on the ground, providing an anchor for those airborne), the man how oh so calmly informed me of his intention to kill me, to destroy this Soul Grave-

Laughs, metal spheres dropping from the air as his assault abates, hands clutching about his sides as eyes tear up, His soul's clarity disrupting beneath it shell of ever growing magnetic distortion.

This could be my chance.





What should I say or do?
Do I have some sort of attack in mind for my momentarily defenseless foe some hundred feet away?
Or maybe some things I would like to say to him?

Something to test later, Inverting AND time stealing the Edge of Oblivion.
There is no way this could possibly go wrong.


Anyways, fire off a decent lightning bolt at him, and immediately follow up with several Ethereal strikes.

MILK IT FOR ALL ITS WORTH

>>247343
DON'T do this.
>>247345
DO do this.

Another thing to test later, after the fight, would be inverting the Disjoining rune. Or the magneto runes on the new blades. Or the skyfall cannons. Not that I've got particularly any idea what will happen for any for any of these but it would be good to test it, see what happens.

A reminder: all of Jade Soul techniques are extremely lethal.
Keep that in mind if you want him alive.

We should somehow get close to him and catch him with our Sable Executioner, the black steel with negate his magic.

>>247356

We just spent all that effort running away. I doubt we can get back in the same time, and if we can't catch Eisenhardt off his handle we're dead.

A long ranged attack would be really nice here, but we can't railgun him because we don't want him dead...

Well, maybe we could railgun him and then soul-infuse-golemize him. Though it's a long shot (no pun intended).

>>247356
Are they? Ethereal strike specifically mentions it doesn't pack too much kick (And reading the wiki, it looks like it shoots energy fists out of our fist, hahah, reminds me of megaman), and Warding Palm is a defensive move, though I know you weren't talking about that one and I was just trying to be a smartass.

Black steel wouldn't negate his magic entirely because we know he uses blood magic, I remember Bob saying this last time we fought. It would weaken him, though, since he uses World and Will in addition to blood.
Speed wise, If we're still going 100 miles an hour, we could make the hundred or so feet in less than a second indeed, though I'm still not quite sure we'd be fast enough, or that the reduction in power would be enough for him to not wreck us. Though, he probably wouldn't be able to throw those big steel balls willy-nilly, seeing as he might hit himself. Does he have his armor on? I'd hate for us to grab him and then suddenly his armor becomes spikes and tears off our arm.

And I don't think the AA would be very non-lethal.


Oh, and JoJo, isn't he at Mordreden? We might need him after this fight. We should tell Phohn to tell him to get in the box and come down in, just in case, if he isn't asleep. Ulzric might be able to heal the man on his lonesome, but I'd feel safer with multiple mans. Oh wait, we've got Murry, so that's not too much of an issue, nevermind.

>>247329
Head for him at full speed- everything we've got. If we can grab him with black steel and put magic absorption and the Genocide into play, even his impressive magic should get nullified. We'll have him completely in our power, but whole and undamaged- a perfect win, if we can do it.

He's less than half a second away at our top speed. If he's that distracted, we might make it, but betting our victory on that is foolish. If we can yank extra energy out of that leyline to boost our power, then do it. If we can't, burn souls to boost our magic for it- I want us there in a tenth of a second, if possible. Faster than he could possibly ever react.

And if we're not fast enough... well... we should be able to get very close. If he starts reacting, mix in lightning (which he'll be able to deflect with magnetic fields) and Ethereal Strike (which he won't). Even if both fail, do NOT stop attacking- we've allowed him to basically dominate the combat so far, and that is unacceptable. It doesn't matter what attacks we use as long as they can put him on the defensive. Relentless assault.

If he objects to our moving in while he was so distracted, explain that there are very few situations that cannot be improved by a healthy dose of humor, even on the battlefield.

Oh and keep laughing, whatever you do.

Personally, i think we should try more HAM, he would be much more valuable as an ally than an enemy.
That said, you're still going to have to fight him since he is hardly going to stop after waiting that long.

>>247329
I wonder, do we happen to have a Skyfall cannon shell chambered now? I can't recall if we even have any on us, but I imagine if we did that while Mordre was on autopilot he would have chambered some for this fight instead of the regular rounds which would be useless here. But yeah, fire a shell at him if you have one.

If you don't have any charge up an Ignimancy bolt and fire it at him or better yet his floating platform to disrupt the magnetic fields. Hopefully he won't be able to regain control of the disc in time and he'll be forced into free fall and have to take the battle to the ground.

Um... well, I have a hypothesis, which I will take silence as a negative answer and thus side with killing Eisenhardt, and the positive therefore I shall fall to the side of letting Eisenhardt live.

We know that Eisenhardt works with Weinsho, a Soul Mage. Dulu, a former employee of Weinsho, has had a binding laid upon his soul by Weinsho: that, when he dies, or is somehow disembodied, and his soul released from its physical host, his soul will flee to Weinsho. It is suspected that some of his apprentices, particularly those who participated in the caravan attack, also have this binding laid upon them. (The only hole I see within this foundation is that Balboa and Daobo, two apprentices of Weinsho did not evidence such bindings upon their souls; though, perhaps their souls did not have the time to escape, since, if I recall correctly, Mordre soulsucked them immediately after their death.) As Weinsho has evidenced a penchant for laying bindings on the souls of those who work for him, perhaps he also has laid a binding on Eisenhardt's soul, for it to flee to Weinsho in the event of his death. Eisenhardt had made it known to Weinsho that he was going to fight Mordre, going to fight a Soul Grave, a noted consumer of souls. If, for whatever reason, Eisenhardt died... well, they certainly did not want that Soul Grave to gain power from consuming Eisenhardt's soul, would they. Therefore, it makes sense that Weinsho, in the interest of preventing the growth of power of an enemy through the consumption of the soul of an ally, bound Eisenhardt's soul to return to Weinsho if Eisenhardt were to die.

I am in favor of hamming it up, and asking him why he's doing this. We can attack later, but now let us press the human dimension of this attack.

"And Ellorika would be yelling at him, and that would make him get quite flustered, and Jezebel would make some waspy comment..." laugh, before dying quickly. "Of course, I do not think we should tell Arkus any of this, agreed? Although Ellorika does cut a lovely figure in that golem-armor of her's. So, how is Del Rogo taking to the Arcanoworks? You have been here while I have been running around like a chicken without a head."

GLUE! DRAW ELLORIKA IN GOLEM ARMOR IN THE SAME OUTFIT! WE WILL HAM AND HUMAN UNTIL WE WIN!

My vote goes to HAM. LARGE HAM. Like BRIAN BLESSED ON LAUGHING GAS.

>>/questdis/335316

Oh. Well. I guess forget what I said.

We need a comedian, asap.

"And who, I wonder, would commentate such a thi...Oh, nevermind, Miss Jezebel AND Del Roga here at once? I don't think the fight would be needed at that point, I'd pay money just listen to THAT exchange.

Alternatively, you can try intimidation route:

"Ohohoho... Now you gone and made me feel guility for offering you fight you can't win.

I suppose there are no harm in explaining - you see, while I indeed developed remote control for golems, I wasn't first to do so; Morsmorden mages managed to create it few years befoe Curse.

This golem is last Soul Grave ever made, number 24 - specificaly designed for remote operation. When Curse struck, it was used by Morsmorden archmage; His soul was torn from the body and imprisoned within Soul Furnace.

I managed to suppress it, but it tried to overcome my control once already. So, even if you manage to damage this golem to the point where I lose control of it, you will have to fight Legendary Soul Mage, Master of Sorrows in my place.

No offense, but while you are cut above most mages I've meet, you are certainly not up to his level."

>>247414
On the second throught, I am not sure if that will intimidate him or make him fight harder - he wouldn't be a hero if he was a coward, (Commissar Cain notwithstanding :] ) but the fact that he is still alive means that he know when to back down from the fight he couldn't win.

I'm going to side with making him laugh more.

...OH MAN have the maid walk in now and say "Oh, what's this about cross-dressing? Are you trying to find out if he likes it too, you dirty old man?" In which case we start yelling at the maid and the golem's path becomes a bit more erratic (but please continue dodging)

Oh, or better yet just have the maid comment on the laundry, saying that we were almost out of stockings. Yell at Eisenhardt as he laughs that it's for circulation, and the maid should pop up "Then why do you always get the frilly ones?"

>>247385
OH GOD YES I'M DOING IT MANNNNN

>>247485
OH GOD IM DYING

>>247414
I doubt intimidation will work here,and that just seems more like we are mocking him instead of trying to intimidate. or he might even see it as us giving him a challenge like "give me your best shot" or something.

OK I'm going to think of some more funny things while I'm drawing.

>>247343
Without hesitation, I fire off a bolt of Ignimancy, raw electricity guided by my Will straight towards Eisenhardt. I aim to capitalize on what is transpiring here-only to find the bolt parting, bending, warping, now flowing about him, a nimbus of light. His control of the massive metal spheres behind me weakening even further, a few rising uncertainly from the ground only to drop once more. I sustain the bolt, tapping my considerable magical stamina, noting as I do that the charge about him continues to grow even as the magnetic distortion builds, yet all the same his soul grows more and more ill-defined thanks to the electrical follow-up to my verbal thrust.

>>247345
...I also note he is recovering from his laughter, his soul beginning to regain clarity faster then he loses it. ....Then I must endeavor to keep him laughing.

>>247362
Whatever may come of this fight, I feel confident that Jojo's expertise will be needed... beyond that, Ulzrick will likely be most pleased to see one of his masters again, to continue his Souldreaming training outside of his dreams.

With my need to adjust my vectors and geomance the ground into aiding my deceptively swift movements temporarily abated, I juggle about my casting, switching my Ignimancy to come from my innate casting to free up both my hand and body Soul Nexus. with the two so freed, I finally give myself an opportunity to give the Jade Soul techniques I possess a field testing. I direct energy and flow between the two points of power, building momentum of a metaphysical sort as my open palmed hand shoots forward in a sharp thrust, a dim glow of emerald light sheathing it- to have a ghostly shadow of my hand jet forth, burning itself away as it lances through the air. Still clutching his sides laughing, and clearly having classified my attacks as negligible due to my electrical ministrations, Eisenhardt's laughter is rather abruptly aborted as the Ethereal strike, diminish from having to travel so far still blazes straight through any defenses Eisenhardt might have lain in its path, and collides with him heartily, knocking him from his perch atop the metal disc with a resounding clash, rending apart most of the heavy cloth covering his chest-and revealing the Blood Iron beneath, carefully molded to his body. ...Not as defenseless as I had hoped. Before his abating laughter can turn back to a focused effort to slay me, I strike from the other side of my assault.

>>247385
" "And Ellorika would be yelling at him, You know how little discretion she has, And that would make him get quite flustered, And Jezebel would make some waspy comment..."

I let a few distorted chuckles and snickers issue forth from my body as I move more awkwardly, simulating someone attempting to still command the same degree of finesse from delicate devices while laughing-and failing. In my peripheral, I see.... Eisenhardt laughing all the harder as the disk he stood upon falls to the ground, completely ignored as current continues to build, intermingling with his ever growing warped magnetic field.

"HAH! ...Oh dear, and that one... VALIRIA, that was it, I could picture that little one doing an impressive job looking down her nose at Arkus despite his greater height-"
"Ulzrick would probably just be standing there in a confused daze, Maybe Ellorika trying to tell him a dirty joke and just failing to get through-"
"PFFFHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhaaaa..."

Again Eisenhardt's laughter becomes so all-consuming that his eyes squeeze shut as he slaps his side. The metal spheres behind me seem to quiver in ressonance with his mirth, but under my careful observation I do not see them moving. ...Still, the magnetic field about Eisenhardt continues to build without hesitation, ensnaring every watt I send his way. ...MORE.... JOKES.....

>>247404
"If Arkus were cross-dressing as a round girl, I have to wonder just who would commentate on... Of course. Miss Jezebel AND Del Rogo here? Heh, I doubt the fight would even be the main attraction, If THOSE two were exchanging verbal blows!"
"Deep-damn, I can picture it too! At some point in their fight, they'd be fighting over who argues the most... PFF, a never-ending argument loop, HAH!"

While he certainly seems to have found that more than passing humorous, his laughter seems to be abating, his soul regaining clarity with his composure. ...I need something more.

>>247400
>>247485
....An idea most fiendish comes to mind, of a way to really kick my verbal shenanigans up to another level.

"Oh, what's this about cross-dressing? Are you trying to find out if he likes it too, you dirty old man?" "ILLIATHANKYOUFORBRINGINGMYTEAYESQUITENOWGOODBYE-"

As Eisenhardt rolls about in his midair float, now laughing so hard he begins to wheeze, whatever semblance of focus he was restoring to his soul shatters, and his floating personage wobbles under fluctuating command of magnetism-all while that field of warped magnetism about him continues to swell and condense. I am still quite leery of what that might portend-and act to push the humor so far he cannot even sustain it.

"Haha, ah, yes, they're for, forCIRCULATION, Yes, some vein issues in my legs, old age and all that-" "Then why do you only get the frilly silk ones?" "OHLOOKATTHATILLIAMAUSER'SLITTERBOXNEEDSCLEANING, HOPTOITTHANKYOU!"

>[HAM SCALE BROKEN DUE TO LAUGHING GASSED BRIAN BLESSED]
>[Pristine Soul given in place of new non-player character. PRISTINE SOUL TOTAL: 05]

I turn my focus back to Eisenhardt, who is now going red in the face as he withholds laughter, and offer what I hope shall be the final nail in his comedic coffin.

"....Ah.... they ARE more comfortable, Which is really quite important when you get older, And the most comfortable ones always have frill, Or lace, or something on them-you can't even see them, Under my robes-" "Why don't you tell him what the robes are made of!" "ILLIA!" "Litterbox, yes sir, will scoop it dutifully sir. "....The robes are velvet."

At this point, Eisenhardt simply falls to the ground in stitches, kicking his feet and pounding his fists as he desperately tries to get in air, so under humor's thrall he can barely breathe. ...For some reason, I find myself happy I am out of earshot of the Arcanoworks, despite this all being part of my mage persona, that which keeps my greatest secret as hidden as I can. ...My electrical attack is STILL being consumed, his magnetic field still building, but otherwise not a single thing suggests my foe to be combat ready. ...Time to attempt the end of this exchange, then.

"Hahahaa.. Of course, I do not think we should tell Arkus any of this, agreed?"
"HEHAHAA, HEHAA... *snrk* ...Ah, no, I don't think we should."

Eisenhardt starts pulling himself together as I press on, looking to sway his mindset.

"So, how is Del Rogo taking to the Arcanoworks? You have been here while I have been running around like a chicken without a head."
"A chicken in frilly socks and velvet robes-heheheHAHA!! ....Hah, well, as you might expect, the smith is taking VERY well to the place, getting along well with others with his own special brand of 'friendship'. ...I do find it interesting that I have not seen hide nor hair of his axe though, but then, it is my understanding that he was forced out of Hletwa by the Steel Fists."
"Really now?"
"Yes, I heard they effectively ruined him, but that his sons still run the smithery-"[/code]

Eisenhardt stops abruptly, casting me a sidelong glance.

"....Well played. I feel no inclination to fight you just now. One moment-"

The disc he rode on a few minutes ago wrenches itself from the ground as he leaps atop its polished surface, floating back closer to the cluster of metal spheres halfway embedded in the ground behind me, the magnetic field about him growing as I surreptitiously cut off my Ignomantic attention, no longer engorging the electrical current about Eisenhardt.

"Thank you. ...Still, futzy stuff, electricity and magnetism interwoven like this. Hmm... Eh, it'll work."

Eisenhardt takes a single deep breath, his soul's focuse spiking to clarity levels I had yet to see from him, and in one explosive burst all the magnetic warping and electrical charge about his personage is vented.

Of the scores and scores of multi-ton metal spheres scattered in my wake, all but one shudder and slam farther into the earth, completely submerging themselves in the dirt-as the lone sphere to be treated differently vanishes. I feel a magnetic signature rocketing skyward and pass outside the range of my senses in an instant, even as I note air rushing to fill a massive vacuum in its wake.

....Eisenhardt just sent a metal sphere with a weight exceeding one hundred tons rocketing skyward with such force it was comparable to my rail gun attack in terms of velocity.

This thought rattles about in my head as I consider its ramifications while Eisenhardt sweeps a hand before him, earth sliding and shifting to cover each of the now submerged spheres he had been trying to squash me with not so long ago.

[SECRET BONUS 26: THE SECOND AND FINAL ROUND] [MISSED]
[SECRET BONUS 27: WHAT SECOND ROUND?]
>--Force the rematch with Eisenhardt to end without fatalities.
>--Neither Mordre or Eisenhardt can claim victory by any definition save survival.
>--BONUS KNOWLEDGE: Jeeba Hechler, having returned to Castiliathen, shared with his father his defeat at Keddic Harksburton the 4th's hands. This information eventually made its way to the royal family, through Delbulu Fissykus overhearing Oggduro and Jeeba conversing on the subject. High King Arcturo Fissykus has decreed that the Harksburton estate is to absorb some hundred acres of land belonging to the Hechler line, once the Harksburton scion returns to corroborate the event said to have occurred. The standing of the Harksburton family has risen as a result of this information beginning to disseminate in Castiliathen. Keddic the third is now awaiting his son's return, to speak to him regarding his position as heir apparent.

Eisenhardt and I begin making our way back to the Arcanoworks, where Nidhogg now perches atop the central tower, the walls lined with inquisitive onlookers.





Do I have anything I want to say or ask of Eisenhardt while we are still able to converse relatively privately?
Once I am back in the Arcanoworks, what should I focus on next?

Ask him about the talking Core Being. Has anyone dealt with it?

(btw we should make more Deep Spawn soon, Mordre's soul is probably recovered by now. Voting that Mordre should create one or two every time he's fully recovered or near fully recovered. We need to use the eggs or else they will go to waste! Remember our 30-day time limit!)

If we do make another Deep Spawn, let it be something more combat-oriented. Perhaps one that can disable our opponents while attacking them? Something related to gravimancy perhaps.

Colossi embodies the concept of GRAVITY, its form revolves around WEIGHT and DARKNESS.

>>247523
What thirty day time limit? I remember that they go crazy after a while, but after several seasons.

>>247526
"It is suggested you not wait overlong in defining those Individuated-to-be now slaved to you, as enough time upon the surface without structure could leave them truly chaotic, though I speak of seasons, not days."

Okay, I guess you're right. Still, we do need to use them at regular intervals. Plus, it powers Mordre up eventually because of the soul meshing thing! Also, the older the Spawn are the stronger they get, so making them early pays off in the long run.

.... can't say that this is how I imagined the fight would go down...


We should try to convince Eisenhardt to sway sides now that he is in good mood.
We could talk to Del Roga and ask him what happened. I guess we must find a way to retrieve his axe.

Mutually exclusive Secret Bonuses? Aww...

Once at the Arcanoworks, it is obvious that we should give over one of our runed disks and the altered Edge of Oblivion to Arkus to study and hopefully replicate. And we should talk to Ellayia, get what she found out.

>>247523
We made our first Deep Spawn on day 9 of week 1 of month 4. We made Dompaggio (speaking of Dompaggio, how's progress on finding proof of the Lined One's innocence?) on day 6 of week 3 of month 4. Today is day 9 of week 3 of month 4. Yeah, I would say that our soul's nearly recovered; any Deep Spawn we make should be helping us with our short-term goals while remaining broadly useful in the long-term (what I am thinking of is the Scarred Yeti, the one with the Spectral Arm that stole our Soul Soldiers; that one needs to die quickly and soon).

In any case, I would rather hatch our Deep Spawn where Soul Magic is not illegal. And the method described by others indicates that we are doing some sort of Soul Magic when we hatch our Deep Spawn.

"Ah, I've missed this place. Good to see the reaction to Bang's arrival wasn't all that tumultuous."

"Moss? Where are you, you little blighter? Haven't seen you in ages!"

And has Mordre recovered the money Keddic got from Gainer? He's been reminded like 3 times.

>>247538
Interestingly enough, by that definition, even operating a Soul Grave would be illegal. We really should get a better idea of what the Soul Magic ban entails, considering that by the strictest definition of "No Soul Magic Ever", every nation and faction with a Soul Grave is in violation of that.

Oh, also

What do you guys think of using 2 Pristine Souls to supplement the Deep Spawn iron blood harvesting?

iirc, 2 pristine souls will increase the Deep Spawn iron blood by factor of 1000, meaning that we can have 30000 pounds in a month if we harvest 1 pound each day.
Now that we are back home, I don't think we have to explain anything to anyone when we harvest blood. If we are so cautious about that, we can do that inside the tower in the upper floor at night when there aren't people there.

Call the Deep Spawn home in the middle of the night, take their iron and send them back to Oz for training.

Speaking of training, we should totally send our troops to LoD, so that they can also train with our Deep Spawn and Oz's students. Our golem armor division will gain the most of it.


As of what to do, hmmm. First go speak with Arkus, just have him report to you, maybe tell him what we did.
Then go around and speak with every other notable character.

>>247546
I simply do not like the idea of harvesting our own Deepspawn in such a manner, personally, and I doubt that they'd like it either.

>>247546
Don't like it. Probably would be easier to just kill dragons.

WE FORGOT TO GET ARKUS A LAME SOUVENIR. well Maybe we can ask Burduko to pick some random thing up and bring it to us when we are discussing stuff with Arkus.

Tell Nidhogg that she did a good job of dealing with Bang, haha.

We have a lot of catching up to do with a lot of people. Also using Phohn to check up on those still in the LoD is a good idea

>>247547
>>247546
still don't really like the idea

>>247544
we can ask Arkus about the Ban first, then if we need more info we should be careful about how we go about asking/obtaining it

You know we could just make a specialist Deep Spawn that happens to bleed all the time like Eldghodd did, for harvesting blood from. Something like...

Mahklargg embodies the concept of WEAKENING, and its form revolves around BLOOD and WOUNDS.

>>247567
That was already suggested earlier.
Nobody liked the idea because it would be a terrible waste of a spawn.
There is simply no real point to having a spawn that does nothing but bleed.

>>247559
>LAME SOUVENIR

get him a dragon leather wizard hat

>>247572
sounds more like a debuffer

Yeah, the point of it isn't that it bleeds, it's just part of its form so we can harvest from it. It's not even part of what it does. Well, maybe it can use the blood in a fight but in general we just harvest it.

We don't need any deep spawn right now. Hold off on it.

I actually think we should make a few more Deep Spawn focused on mostly non-combat functions. We have a fair few combat specific spawn, but we don't have anyone to say, build fortifications. I think we should make one based on construction, because it's always useful to have someone to build you a wall, or a road, or a fortress. And a Deep Spawn focused on it would have both magical powers and a group of smaller spawn to build things with.
Something like...
[insert name] embodies the concept of CONSTRUCTION, its form revolves around BRICK and MORTAR
or some other kind of construction materials, like stone, or steel.

Don't understand why you guys don't want to saturate our body with new, even more awesome, type of metal.

I'm sure it will give us great benefits, I am thinking it will boost our magic powers tremendously.
Beside, don't you understand that when we completely saturate our body we will be able to pull that metal out of our ass. We could make equipment for our allies our of it or trade it.... fuck, it would be one of the rarest metals in the world seeing that we are the only ones that can produce it.

>>247572
But that one makes others bleed!

I actually totally forgot about the way we can just produce more of the metal we are made of. We should go check out that school of martial arts in the LoD that keeps samples of rare metals-the guys who had orange platinum. We might be able to find something else that mixes well with our current composition.

Continuously taking Blood Iron from our Deep Spawn is absolutely a terrible idea, even if it does strengthen our form's composition.

So, in the interest of improving our form while not slowly killing our Deep Spawn, perhaps we can get Mury, with the proto-metal that turns into the surrounding metal, to help. If we were to isolate and take out the Blood Iron we got from Eldghodd (Administrator's Blood Iron, which is much more potent than Blood Iron from other Deep Spawn) from our body, we can get Mury to convert his daily proto-metal into Administrator Blood Iron using that sample, can we not? It would likely take a very long time until we fully saturate our form with such metal, but the benefit is that we still get very potent Blood Iron and we don't weaken our Deep Spawn in the process (and perhaps even strengthen Mury; it is a challenge to produce such powerful metal in great quantities, the process forces the soul to evolve and grow, would it not?).

>>247546I send a Message to Phohn, to have him and the other Deep Spawn in the Land of Dragons begin bloodletting themselves every day, however much they can do safely while insuring the blood is empowered, and for Murhyihal to build a massive metal vat for them to store it in. They accept my request without hesitation, and my plot to slowly collect enough Deep Spawn Blood that with 2 Pristine Souls I could fully saturate my body begins.

[IN 40 DAYS (30 IF NIDHOGG AND DOMPAGGIO RETURN TO LEND THEIR BLOOD TO THE MIX) ENOUGH BLOOD IRON WILL BE GATHERED]
[DAYS 179-189 SET AS PROJECTED PROJECT COMPLETION DATE]

>>247544
[Relevant wording of the decree banning Soul Magic: No new spells fueled by Soul may be cast or begun, effective date/time royal seals blah blah. This allowed a loophole for pre-existing passive magics, such as Soul Graves, to continue existing. Can't make new Soul Graves, or start new spells, but any Soul magic begun BEFORE the ban, if at no point altered or ended, is still legal. Thank High King Arcturo for the wording, it was his idea.]

>>247523
"So, the talking Core Being- Has anyone dealt with it yet?"
"Sadly no. The State has been dragging their feet on that. They still only have three mages attending to it, not even Mortal Coil trained ones either. Exactly what are they supposed to do about a potential nation ending problem, I ask you!"
"Exactly my concern, when I reported the issue to them That Brigadier General Quinto Delevas-"
"The one south of here?"
"Yes, in that outpost some bandits through Daobu were working-"
"I never did like him or Balboa... neither were particularly capable of seeing a larger picture, just indulging in short term vices, however good they were at commanding respect from rabble. Anyway, what did the General say?"
"When I offered to help in dealing with that Core Being, He told me that my help would not be needed, That the State would take care of it."
"Oh? He rejected an offer for aid? I would assume then if I offered I would be likewise rejected... I comprehend their resources are spread excessively thin while they try to reclaim land, but honestly, that little attention to a Core Being?"
"It is quite worrying."

>>247542
We move closer to the Arcanoworks, and as we do I decide to keep the genial conversation flowing, trying to build on the positive image I currently occupy in his mind.

"Ah, I must say, I've missed this place. Good to the reaction to Bang's arrival wasn't all that Tumultuous."
"I have to admit, when I saw that beast he rode in on flying in, I had to restrain myself from attacking. Until I saw the Arcanoworks was not firing on it-and that that fellow Bang was riding it-I assumed it a possible threat. Even then, I thought it possible it was a threat to my personage, maybe an indirect attack by you."
"Hah, a good thing you didn't, It was not easy to get that dragon!"
"Is that what it is? I've heard of them before, comments from dignitaries and officials from the Land of Dragons, but I've never seen one. I was under the impression they could not be tamed though, a singularly wild and feral thing."
"Not when you make them Life Golems."
"Oh-ho, an interesting work around. I wondered at that sapience I saw in those eyes. So, found someone that wanted to be strong, offered them that body?"
"Something like that."

As we near the gates, I grow impatient to see Moss, who by now would normally have been all over me, and call out in a flare of volume, my voice cracking across the landscape.

"Moss? Where are you, you little blighter? Haven't seen you in ages!"

I see birds taking wing from the forest to my right, treetops swaying, something big moving through the forest, footsteps pounding ever louder, headed straight towards me, and-

A mass of root, bark and vine, a mane of star shaped leaves about his head, Moss, now fifteen feet at the shoulder and some six feet across leaps straight at me, Tongue of root lolling out of his hooked beak as tendrils of light flare from all about his face. Before I can figure out a way to move him without harming him, the now much heavier wooden creature slams into me, knocking me off my feet as he licks at my skull, yelping and backing away as he scalds his tongue on the Soulfire, quickly spitting out some burnt root before placidly sitting on my chest, staring at me. ...He clearly has no intention of moving, just as surely as I heard Eisenhardt snicker.

"Moss..... get off me."

Moss cocks his head at me, feigning ignorance of my meaning. I turn Geomancy towards creating a slope beneath me, levering myself up as Moss scrabbles, sliding off once his perch shifts too much. Once more standing, I resume walking towards the Arcanoworks, Moss and his stone heart plodding along beside me as Eisenhardt continues to float along, chuckling softly to himself.

>>247559
Having only just left the Land of Dragons, I go over what the most current situation was as I work out who I am going to talk to first now that I am back:

-Word has gotten out about Oz's school in the capital. He has thinned out the gladiator and slave ranks considerably, but those left, some fifty in all, are now his students alongside Bagrom, his elder student. Ugrokk is treated as a guest student whenever present, and given lessons alongside the rest of the new students. He is still working on learning how to manifest a Ghost Hand.
-The Deep Spawn have become somewhat famous in the capital, both in and of themselves and for making Oz's school capable of subjecting students to heretofore unheard of levels of pressure, adding to the notoriety and fame quickly gathering about Oz's name... and mine, both as his friend, the one that helped him found his school, and the provider of the Deep Spawn.
-Thanks to Oz's presence in the capital, Jioga was immediately sent back out on another task, moved to speak with Iron Dragon Zuon the Armorsmith about retooling the armor he was gifted. Apparently, Lubu wants the armor to restrict and drain his power, making movements more laborious and demanding while so garbed. I am unsure as to why he desires it altered so, and did not ask when the topic first appeared.
-The initial aggressors, the group led by Forest Dragon Okuga The Sly and the White Pheonix, has grown. The Proud Dragon Gyokujo The All-Seeing has allied with him, as has Monk Melrondio, and the Living Legend Theriguno The Claimer, The Supreme Swordmaster. Currently, this force is slowly working its way across the southern reaches of the Land of Dragons, slowly moving north towards the capital. As of yet, no one else has joined their side.
-Word has been making the rounds that the only Rageglut Living Legend Goujar The Unstoppable has left his nomadic wanderings amongst the True Mountains, and is heading towards the capital as well. I have been told the last time he appeared, he slew four Dragons and two entire squads of Ragegluts alone, only leaving when convinced by Thoughtful Dragon Kunna that he would find better sport endlessly slaughtering his way through the True Mountains. That was thirty years ago. There are rumors he comes to face Lubu, and see if a better challenge can be had than facing thousands of the oldest dragons deep in their homes.
-Senth was finally made to return the 800 Lo that Keddic had sent for me, so I now possess coinage in the Land of Dragons worth somewhere around 50,000 marks.
-Keddic and Dompaggio have found a lead they believe will lead to proof of The Lined One's innocence, and are currently pursuing it, The Lined One in tow as he continues to reconnect with his past student.


In my considerations of what I learned the past few days, I belatedly see Arkus pushing his way through the crowded onlookers, clearly with something on his mind to share with me. It is at this moment I realize I did not get Arkus a souvenir-this must be remedied. I discreetly send Burduko back to the Land of Dragons, sent flitting over to Oz's school, to ask after a hat, or other such trinket that could be claimed. I am told he has received something within ten seconds, and just before Arkus reaches the front of the crowd, Burduko reappears behind me, discretely placing an object in my left hand before winking out of existence, back to the Land of Dragons. I proffer forth my hand just as Arkus is about to speak.

"Arkus m'boy, it's good to see you well! I got you a souvenir from my travels to the south!"

As I speak, my hand opens to reveal-
>>247573
An exceptionally wide brimmed leather hat with a floppy, pointed top, heavily and almost artistically stitched with thick thread. Arkus stands gaping like a fish for a moment, clearly struggling to organize his thoughts as I place the hat on his head, noting that beneath his robes I see the collar of the leather armor Bang sent to him. From beneath the floppy hat's brim, I hear Arkus speak, that oh so familiar breathless rush of words directed my way.

"Um let's see I put the Skyfall rune on all the shells you left, The first Golem Armor has been fully modified and we now have six unmodified golem armors just got the most recent trade shipment yesterday, we've got some fifteen hundred Hand Cannons built now, and one hundred Skyfall revolver hand-cannons-Jezebel and Del Rogo helped with those mods as well-Uh the Arcanoworks Militia is now fully equipped with plate armor, morphic weapons-I went ahead an prepared enough extra for them all, only needed like a hundredth of the Morphic fluid to do it-a lightning gun and a hand-cannon. Um, um, trade. Let's see, Berluut and Trepany are both becoming real go-getters with trade according to Dregas, and are doing a good bit of crafting work while others are taking over their crops and managing them for them, so two agricultural towns are now becoming craft-specialists I guess, uh Dregas wanted to comment you now have some 300,000marks worth to your name here thanks to his trade efforts, and he bought those books back from Ellayia-by the way she's still waiting to speak with you about that stuff, the Blue Knight would like a meeting with you when you get the chance oh and Lord Brigadier General Quinton has been wanting to meet with you for more than two weeks and is probably getting pissed he hasn't seen you... ah.... I think that's all but I may be forgetting something.... oh right! Ah, welcome back Master Mordre, how was your trip?"




What should I say or do?
What should I set as my immediate goals for the short-term?

Why is taking blood from the deep spawn for a little while such a terrible idea? It isn't as if we are going to continue doing it once we have enough to saturate ourselves with it. And why hold off on making deep spawn? We have to keep making them, we have a time limit. And our soul should be in okay shape to make a couple more right now.

We should give Eisenhardt one of our cannon shells to look at. He might be interested in our custom alloy of Blood Iron, since he uses Blood Iron himself. And if we use those 2 pristine souls for saturating ourselves we could offer him some of that, too.

I say we head up into the tower with Arkus and talk with our little buddy.

Let's study that armor and try to replicate it with our own Kinetimancy. If we can figure out how to do what the armor can do, because we use arcane magic, we can then apply that force anywhere within reach of our magics. We punch, steal it's momentum, then PUNCH ANYONE ANYWHERE!

We should also bring up runeing the inside of that hat, possibly to empower something or something. Post suggestions for possible hat uses.

And we should ask if Arkus can add a restriction to our AA, letting us fire it only once per day. If anyone else has any useful restrictions then go right ahead and post them.

Oh, and we need to let him study the new AV blades, give him one as well as a mundane one. Ask if he would be able to replicate that shit.

I haven't been keeping track of the list of stuff we gave Arkus to do, so if he could list that off, and how much progress he made on each of those, that would be great.

>>247593
Hey now, bad idea. He's still our enemy.
Just because he didn't want to continue to fight us doesn't mean he's our ally.

>>247593
Not quite sure he's completely on our side yet. So maybe later.
>>247591
Because it's creepy.

Say your trip was good, eventful. Had to fight an army in the north and dragons in the south, I'll tell you all about it later.

First thing's first, talk to Quinton. It is only through him we are allowed to keep the Arcanoworks. Then, Ellayia. Talk to Del Rogo next.

>>247587
Sigh and stoop, picking up Arkus. Sit him upon our shoulder, away from the fire, as we use to carry him. "The trip was...painful and exhilarating. I lost a warrior of great strength and an old friend. I learned things of myself I would rather forget. My friends and allies grow strong to eclipse even an old man and his trinket, I have sung a rather beautiful song and granted a luckless boon to a terrible foe and slighted an some-what ally that could ruin me." Sigh and chuckle. "But I am home now, Arkus. Calm down, first. Second, let us celebrate. You said that those towns closest have been doing well in harvesting? A feast, then. It has been too long since I have been with my Family! Come, let us prepare a feast! Eisenhardt, any treats you fancy? I believe there are excellent peppers and pickles from...oh, blast, what was that town called?"

For feast: Phohn up all our friends and allies. Invite them for one hell of a party if they can make it, with possibly brawling included.

Once we can talk to Arkus alone, we NEED to tell him about the other and what happened. And also apologize for only bringing him back a hat and no books.

For the next few days: Talk to Del Rogo and make sure he's fitting in, and pardon ourselves for not being here. And about the Steel Legion, and what we can do for him.
Talk to Ellayia, and again pardon our absence. Ask what she's found out and how she likes the place. Banter with her, she was nice.
GO TO MEET QUINTON! OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GO MEET HIM!
Go out and talk with our friendly towns, see how they've been doing.
Phohn up Keddic, and tell him about the Family needing him.
Blue Knight needs visiting.
Check on roads.
Find out if any mages have been causing trouble.

>30 IF NIDHOGG AND DOMPAGGIO RETURN TO LEND THEIR BLOOD TO THE MIX
Can Burduko acquire their blood and transport it to the holding container on a regular basis?

Speaking of Burduko, standing order for when he's not doing anything else: Go to one of our teleport box locations and go exploring. Move very quickly and teleport around randomly so that it's very difficult for others to sneak attack him, but continually expand the amount of places that he's been and can therefore get to instantly. An hour spent sitting around is an hour wasted when it could have been contributing to his location knowledge; we can call him with Phohn if we need him. In fact, keep in contact with Phohn at all times while doing this, just in case someone tries to bushwhack him. I don't really expect that to happen, but I'd like a heads-up if it does.

>Lord Brigadier General Quinton has been wanting to meet with you for more than two weeks and is probably getting pissed he hasn't seen you...
Solution: We show up on a dragon. When he questions what took so long, our reply is "Dragons are not found on every street corner, you know! Acquiring and ensorcelling one was no trivial task." Something to do after we've dealt with immediate matters here- we can depart to meet with him in a couple hours, I think.

>Ah, welcome back Master Mordre, how was your trip?"
"My trip was quite productive! More difficult than I expected in many ways, but I accomplished most of the goals I set forth with and managed to make some new friends. (Heh, heh, heh; I'll explain why that's funny later.) You may be able to meet many of them soon; those boxes form the core of a transportation system which I would like to use for a number of things. Glad to hear you've been holding up well here. Now, in your judgment, whom of the numerous people demanding my attentions should I speak with first?"

I want to hear what he says. It'll be interesting to find out.

>Um, um, trade
Dregas will be happy to know that we now have a direct link to the Land of Dragons right in our home, meaning that we can import exotic goods with no travel time or cost whatsoever. And export whatever we've got that they want, naturally. Same G's island of tech, although I think we might be keeping that particular connection on the down-low for the moment. If he can't turn that into a mint in no time at all, I've severely underestimated the man. Bring up the matter when we meet with him.

>Del Rogo
Find out what exactly he wants from us, thank him for his efforts helping out Arkus and our other staff here at the Arcanoworks. We can offer him long-term employment if he desires it, with a fairly wide variety of projects to work upon. Starting, perhaps, with enchanting Ugrokk's new arm to be even more ridiculously badass than the world's most awesome inventor is making it.

>Arcanoworks Militia
These guys are better equipped than most regular armies. See how their training is coming along, and consider renaming them as a proper force. We need to take them into battle at some point, too; they're really our private army here, and should feel that is so and take pride in it. That's a morale problem that we will need to work upon. Speak with our officers about it.

>Ellayia
Speak with her, naturally. Thank her for being so polite as to wait, and invite her to utilize Phohn to make her reports in the future, as he is to the best of our knowledge entirely secure and bound to be loyal with magics we strongly doubt anyone else will be able to break. He also has the advantage of not requiring her to return to our base to speak with us, although of course if she cares to utilize our facilities as a site for relaxation we are more than happy to host any of our employees.

>Blue Knight
This guy's pretty cool, so we should meet him soon- though sadly, the State will have to come first. When we do go to see him, invite Dame Valiria if she wants to come.

>Jezebel
Say hey to her and laugh uproariously as she insults us with an unrelentingly acid tongue. Ask her if she's come up with any new and devilishly clever inventions, and if not, why not?

Well, first is Ellayia, since she is closest, and can get done the quickest. Then Quintin, and on the way, or after, Carkiano.

With Arkus, ask him what's he's going to do with that nice hat we got him (it's dragon hide; surely it gives a bonus for making Arkus not need sleep (or not as much sleep) or not getting tired, allowing him to work on so much more without inefficient organic concerns getting in the way), and how are his side projects going. Give him the altered Edge of Oblivion and one of the AV blades to study and hopefully replicate.

On the topic of why Lubu wants an armor that drains his power, that is easy to answer. With such a hindrance, he will be forced to grow even stronger to attain the heights of power he normally wields, and therefore is more powerful when out of the armor.

>>247605
>Jezebel without new inventions
Well, she might not have any, since we haven't gotten her those superconductors she wanted.

>>247593
We are not empowering Eisenhardt until he is solidly on our side; he can still decide that we are enemies and try to kill us.

>>247608
>Well, she might not have any, since we haven't gotten her those superconductors she wanted.
I bet Eisenhardt could whip her up some superconductors in a matter of seconds. Would he if we ask him, well, who knows; the answer to that is probably all in how we frame the question.

Oh, yes, our army. Field Tests in Yeti Hunting, maybe?

Oh, we need Arkus to copy the runes on the upgraded sawblades while we are here.

Oh guys...
>Remember that for normal organics, transfer OUTSIDE of a place of Sameness is excessively lethal.
Someone pointed this out before but I wanted to repeat it since some people may have missed it (I sure did) We should be able to kill people with our teleporter Deep Spawn!

>Well, she might not have any, since we haven't gotten her those superconductors she wanted.

Yeah we did. We got her a one-time supply from Carkiano (and I can't imagine she used up ALL of it, she's not making her inventions out of the stuff) of Tantalum and Niobium, and Tin can also function in that manner.

>Phohn up all our friends and allies. Invite them for one hell of a party if they can make it, with possibly brawling included.

All of our other operations are actually pretty busy at the moment, so I don't think this is feasible. We've got the Premen working on Trollzaru and the Premen negotiations, and the guys in the LoD working on Oz's training and reinforcing the capital.

Calling them up for a random party does not seem an effective use of their time at this moment.

"Very well, Arkus, and it's good to see everything running so smoothly. Yes, well, events South have been quite invigorating...and productive, though I'm still not finished with that job for our Mortal Coil friend.

That stuffed up Quinton wanted a meeting for 2 weeks running? Well, the wait is the least he deserves for leaving that...*eherm*...major farmhouse problem, to fester. I suppose I should see what he wants, soon...you could have mentioned the want for a meeting in one of the reports, though.

I heard Del Rogo's here? Thats interesting. A shame that the Steel Fists have their underclothes in such a bunch. Fortuitous, though, I did have something I wanted to converse with him about."

(God, I'm curious about Domgaggio/Keddic, now. A detective operation? Seriously? Thats awesome).

Dregas has been doing really well for himself. We should look into getting his golem Silicanthos restored. The golem core presumably needs to be hooked up to a leyline geyser so run that idea by Arkus and see if he's aware of any geysers in or around the state area. Maybe something can be arranged with the owners of the geyser. Alternatively it might be possible to resurrect it using a Deep Spawn egg, but then it would serve Mordre.

The morphic weapons would probably sell at even better prices in the Land of Dragons. It seems like their kind of thing.

Any chance we can send Ellayia out to find a criminal world mage? You know the kind who doesn't need his skin...? Give her a time limit like a week or two.

It could also be a good idea to create some Deep Spawn that can help out at the Arcanoworks. I think people have been suggesting a research assistant Deep Spawn for some time. Other ideas would be a manufacturing Deep Spawn (with a factory line of lesser spawn), some agriculturally inclined Deep Spawn, a general construction Deep Spawn able to help the Arcanoworks become a new city or a mining Deep Spawn to find and take advantage of any local mineral deposits.

>>247663
Wait... Transfer outside of a place of sameness is lethal for -organics-? ...This sounds similar to the way Lenryt teleported us to the Land of Dragons the first time.

>>247695
>Alternatively it might be possible to resurrect it using a Deep Spawn egg, but then it would serve Mordre.

GREAT IDEA I SEE ONE

Ask Dregas first. Notify him that it might have a similar effect as Nidhogg had on the dragon, EI, it'll change some. But the basic functionality might be kept, as well as the form.

Also, tiny/lesser golems.

DEMONWROGHT GOLEM, FUCK YEAH

________ embodies STONE, in the form of GOLEMS and CONSTRUCTIONS.

>>247698
That's what Bob said, in the next sentence even.

>>247711
I still think this is a bad idea; we promised to to find a way for Silicanthos to be resurrected, but using it to serve as a host for a Deep Spawn (the only other Deep Spawn that used something already existing as a template for their existence, Nidhogg, turned out to be a parasite) feels to me like we are breaking that promise.

If (and even then, I am still against it) we were to hatch a Deep Spawn for the purpose of resurrecting Silicanthos, I would prefer a Deep Spawn that can make golems, instead of one that feeds off golems. Perhaps something like: Queeyurtoh embodies the concept of GOLEM CONSTRUCTION, form revolving around ANIMATION OF QUINTESSENTIAL MATTER (For constructing non-Life Golems) and ALCHEMICAL TRANSMUTATION/FUSION OF LIFE (For creating Life Golems).

>>247725
>form revolving around ANIMATION OF QUINTESSENTIAL MATTER and ALCHEMICAL TRANSMUTATION/FUSION OF LIFE

what.


A golem making deepspawn might be good later, don't need it right now. Got other business to take care of first. But see if Murry can fix up Silicanthos.

Don't we already have a deep spawn that can fix things like golems, why not bring it to the arcanoworks to try.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/10/24(Sun)20:25 No. 247827 ID: a76809
File 128797715238.jpg - (195.11KB , 1000x869 , Ellayia checking wall.jpg )

>>247683
[Arkus did mention Quinton had requested a meeting by runner. I think he even mentioned it twice, not sure though.]

>>247598
>>247637
[The armor is runic magic. There is a runic correlative for each branch of mancies. Knowledge/ability with an Arcane or Combat mancy will not extend to runic mancy. That is, even if you know Kinetimancy, seeing a runic equation involving Kinetimancy cannot then be replicated into the Arcane, different equations are used between active and pre-rendered spells. Also Arkus isn't the one with the supposed perfect memory, Mordre is. Thus Mordre is expected to recall what tasks were begun, as once completed Arkus' attention had more important things to track.]

I use Phohn to suggest to Arkus he place runes along the INSIDE of his hat, away from prying eyes, a complement to his hidden runed body armor. The response I get, in addition to a startled blink, is a rapid affirmative. I then hand Arkus a runed blade ring and one of my regular saws.

"Take a look into why I can't replicate this with the shoulder launcher, would you? The runed version was crafted once, but is not recrafting every time."
"Yeah okay I got enough reference material I should be able to figure out what runes those are. May or may not tell me why your blade launcher is having trouble."

Grunting under the strain of the two massive slabs of metal, he nods as he hands them off to one of several assistants arrayed around him, who quickly carry it off upstairs for him.

>>247600
>>247602
>>247605
Burduko is given a standing order to, whenever not immediately engaged in another activity, to explore the immediate area around each teleport box, to expand the areas he can travel to. He is also told to use Phohn to contact me if he is ever met with aggression. I also communicate a standing order to once daily bring a charged batch of both his blood and Nidhogg's to the collection pits in the Land of Dragons. Burduko again offers acceptance, and Nidhogg simply snorts while bowing her head obediently to the command. ...It really does seem like the servitude of the Deep Spawn is absolute, they seem unable to not carry out an order.

"And as to my return... My trip was quite productive! More difficult than I expected in many ways, But I accomplished most of the goals I set forth with, And managed to make some new friends. (Heh, heh, heh; I'll explain why that's funny later.) You may be able to meet many of them soon; Those boxes form the core of a transportation system, One which I would like to use for a number of things. Glad to hear you've been holding up well here. Now, in your personal judgment oh apprentice of mine, Whom of the numerous people demanding my attentions should I speak with first?"
"Ah Ellayia would definitely be the first I'd talk to, she's right here and all, but after that I'd see the general."
"Very good lad, exactly the priorities one would hope to see!"

I turn to Dregas, likewise in the crowd, and offer soem words to my Castellen.
"Oh yes, I have outlets in the Western Islands, The northern Mountains and the Land of Dragons. I don't suppose you could make economic use, Out of instant free shipping between such places, eh? Speak to Burduko, the one of cloth and wind for details."

Like a child in a candyshop, Dregas's eyes gleam as he fights to withhold drool at what I've handed him, a chance to turn the Arcanoworks into an transcontinental trade hub, and flood the less stable parts of the State with commerce, and the redevelopment it would bring, all while making our coffers swell. His reverie ceases to be my concern as Del Rogo rudely shoulders his way through the crowd.

>[Del]"So the high and might feckin' mage is back, great, well I got a deep-damn bone to pick with you! That job I did fer ya, that feckin' armor set and all, pissed off the Steel Fists enough they put their all in ruining me. Can't even go back to my feckin' hometown! So you'd damn well better put me up, and pay me as yer head smith, or I'll find ya and thump ya a good fuckin' beating for bein' a rat bastard! Well, what the feck do yeh have to say ta that!?"
"...I am most happy to welcome you as my head smith: Please, talk with Dregas concerning any supplies or pay concerns-"
>[Del]"I don't feckin' need ya tellin' me that shit, I know it! I wasn't askin' yer permission, I was feckin' tellin' yeh I'm pissed, pissed off, yeah?"
>[Eisenhardt]"...Del Rogo. Good day sir."
>[Del]"Don't go actin' all prissy and formal with me, ya dipshit! I made yer first damn swords, yer armor, I helped ya learn metals, so don't you go throwin' civility at me like some twat! ...Why the hell haven't you come talk with me since I arrived, you feckin' too busy to see an old man?"
>[Eisenhardt]"...Rogo, come on, I AM here for grievances against the very man you seek employ from, isn't that a conflict of interests?"
>[Del]"YOU STUPID SHIT! Ye think you even have a chance of convincin' me ta be unprofessional about a client!? The hell's wrong with yer head?"
>[Eisenhardt]"..I will look to make time, alright?"
>[Del]"Ya feckin' better!"

I leave Eisenhardt to his humbling at the old smith's hands, wondering at how this meshes with that professed goal of Del Rogo's axe, while entering the tower and slowly ascending... closing on Ellayia's soul. When I reach the level I feel her present on, I hear a slow, steady clap heralding my approach. On the top floor of the Arcanoworks, I find Ellayia hanging from a rope, tinkering with the locked door that leads to the hypothetical final level of the tower. She turns in her harness to grin at my approach.

"Soooooooooo, the mage is finally here, how nice.
Well, I got some oh-so juicy tidbits concerning Weinsho for you-
But make no mistake, they are priiiceeeyyy.
Still want to here them?
Also you guys have some great locks!"
"What kind of information do you offer, and what do you ask?"
"Offered: The location of all three of Weinsho's controlled outposts in the state, his total force roster as of a month ago, and some interesting testimonials from local civilians with some valuable legal options being unveiled..
Asked: ten thousand Marks. No negotiating this either, I know you can afford it, and I'm not here to haggle. Take it or I'm out. ..So?"
"Speak with Dregas, he will pay you. So, the information?"
"Okay, so this map here? follooooow my finger... here, here, and here. Weinsho's got forts. Let's just call them East, North and West, since they're arrayed like a triangle, okay?
-So, East is the middling one, got two thousand total heads, eighteen hundred solders, a hundred servants, and a hundred of his shadow-type apprentices. One of them in particular is in charge when Weinsho's out, makes some sort of armor out of shadows, covers himself in it. Stuff is dense enough it can exist in light, and he has a sword that can eat light. Not sure exactly what it is he can do inside it, but whenever he surrounds himself and the area around him in shadow, it ends with everything near him absolutely wrecked. Other than that, a strict shadow-variant Tractomancer, with the same tricks the other apprentices can do-this includes the body cloning thing, whatever that is. Outpost seems to have stuff on shadow-based Tractomancy as its focus, so the apprentices from there do better, or so it seemed to me, than the others.
-West has the least forces in it, being nearest to Duras, the steppes and the mountains, none of which are a threat to something that big. Got some fifteen hundred heads, twelve hundred soldiers, one hundred servants, and two hundred apprentices. Head one here is also an armor type, but he can kinda fade out of existence-I made sure it wasn't some illusion thing. It's like he can make parts of his body stop existing, pain in the ass to keep an eye on, or from the one time I saw an assassination attempt, to even hit him if he's ready. His sword is definitely of the snicker-snack type, cuts through anything like butter. Focus of this place seemed to also be Tractomancy, but non-specialized. The apprentices here are way more widely spread in ability then the other forts, and some can pull some regular Tractomancy out, making them a real grab bag.
-NorthIs by far the biggest, some twenty eight hundred heads, and it makes sense, considering Weinsho spends more than half his time at this base. Anyway, got some two thousand soldiers there, better equipped than the others, some sort of magic armor for officers. Two hundred servants, and six hundred apprentices, with the head being this guy with a real fancy magic suit-this outpost being, obviously, a specialization in augmentive armor-that seems to give him some sort of inversion ability. He can use shadow, AND he can use light. Seems to be Weinsho's eldest apprentice too. As to Weinsho himself, he's got this Golem Armor that I think is designed to magnify his magic to golem scale, so... yeah, does not look like a fun guy to go against, got his own well equipped personal army and all.

SO THAT'S WHY I have these testimonials. Okay, so, four out of five villages around those outposts? Big old farming villages? They have consistent reports of Weinsho just off and kidnapping people, using them to make Life Golems. These big cloth and bone floating masses that go invisible and such, real nasty enforcers. Hard as all get out to accurately count, but I'd bet each outpost has at least fifty of the blighters. But yeah, you barely have to look to find people who would be willing to testify to his illegal capture of civilians for magical experimentation about his lands, he's been greedy. So yeah, there's your ten thousand mark report, I'm going to go get paid now. Oh-"

Ellayia, unhooking herself from the harness and abandoning it where is lays, taps a small rock sticking out of one of the harnesses pouches.

"You can call me with that, if you want to hire me for more stuff, I keep a receiver with me. But first, I got some marks just itching to fuel shopping, soooooooo... bye!"

Without any further comment, Ellayia jumps out the window, descending far too slowly to be solely under gravities pull, already moving off to meet with Dregas. ...Rather vital information, this. I now know the scope of my foe far better than I ever have before. With Ellayia spoken too, I make my way outside as I summon Nidhogg to my side, hopping on to take flight to Quinton. As I beg my leave of Eisenhardt, who seems quite content to chat with Reinhardt now that Del Rogo finished giving him an earful, Bang jumps on to join me in my trip, as does Burduko (after I ask him to via Phohn). I do not object to Bang's presence as I take off, a circuitous route bringing me a fair viewing of the roads-to find them complete, and thriving. It would seem their completion is what has allowed Berluut and Trepany to specialize as trade became easier. ...With the trade my teleport boxes shall bring, I can only wonder at where it shall go from there. My curiosity sated, I make my way to Quinton's Keep-

To be greeted by arrows and cannon fire before we even get close. ...Ah yes, giant flying monster coming unannounced. Well. I erupt to incredible volumes, hearing Bang's eardrum rupturing behind me, just the same as I hear the slithering sound of flesh reknitting. ...Truly his healing is a marvel.

"HOLD YOU FIRE, IT'S MAGE MORDRE! I WAS SUMMONED BY GENERAL QUINTON!!"

It takes a full ten seconds before the attack halts, and even then I wonder if it was because Nidhogg's use of Gravimancy was sufficient to prevent any attack from being a genuine threat. I have her land outside of the keep, and by the time Bang and I have dismounted, Lord Brigadier General Quinton, at the head of a great train of staff and officers, barges out to meet me. He brusquely looks at Nidhogg and Burduko, as well as glancing at the colorfully garbed Bang, before inspecting my new form. Finally, he offers a few terse words.

"So, I am finally graced with you presence. And what reason exactly is responsible for you delay?"
"Well, there's a civil war in the Land of Dragons, I'm part of a joint effort with the Mortal Coil, There to perform peacekeeping work."
"Is that so? Well, then you can put your experience to work then: The Disciples of Domintus are invading in earnest, claiming a scouting patrol unjustly slain in our borders. They claim one of their leaders, a Knight Captain, to have been slain. I don't suppose the incident they reference sounds familiar? Because the better part of a hundred thousands soldiers are invading... and our army is a fifth that size. So, my orders are as follows: You will provide all aid as is humanly possible in repelling these invaders, AND as you have shown yourself oh so prone to multitask, you are now ALSO responsible for ensuring we have no issues inside our borders. If any foreignly held outpost starts trouble, I fully expect you to deal with it. Is this clear? Good. If you have any questions, my aids here should be able to answer your questions. ...Good day, Mage Mordre."

Without a further word, Quinton turns on his heel and stalks away as imperiously as he can, his officers following him as the aids stay behind looking at me in uncertain fear and trepidation.

...Wonderful.





What sort of questions do I have for Quinton's aids concerning my new mission directives?
And once I've finished questioning them, what should I do next?

"Hohoho, I guess if you need me I'll be off doing your job. COME NIDHOGG, LETS GO SLAUGHTER SOME INVADERS!"

Let's start off with a hit and run, just the three of us to see what we're up against. Inform Bang that it's just a raid and that we'll be back to finish them off later. As for approach, lets fly up to 10,000 feet on Nidhogg's back then jump off with Bang. Launch 3 new AV blades while we are falling and have a nice violent landing, using the blades to slow us so that we will not take damage. We could also make the ground softer/bouncy with geomancy to lessen the recoil of our DYNAMIC ENTRANCE.

I'd say it's time to put the Golem Armor to use, don't you? Also, let's get our Deep Spawn up in this!

Well, it would be nice if we knew exactly where the invading forces are and their number, along with the outposts we are expected to watch.

I think we should also have Moss along with us, he doesn't have much else to do. And some of our Militia, if they can be spared, they need the experience.

>>247838
Mm, not sure if this is really the best idea. Last time we had a bit of trouble. Not sure it would be a good idea to drop right in the middle of them with just Bang. At the very least get the other Deep Spawn. I'd say get our militia, but I don't know how many of them there are. Ah, getting them (And our mans from Mordreden) moving to the Front while we and the faster among us performed hit and run attacks, could be good.

Wait why am I talking tactics we've got a deepspawn for that

Also, that "Doing your job" bit, not good. Don't say that. At all. We're in trouble as it is.

>>247842
yes, we should ask the aides for specific information. Then we can send Nidhogg+whoever to scout while Mordre returns to the Arcanoworks and gets some people together to defend the innocents no doubt being plagued by these fiendishly fiendish fiends!

We can have our more in-depth discussion with Arkus while our troops prepare to be awesome.

(also I am still drawing that Ellorika picture I promised, with a few others in the works. SO MUCH FUN.)

>>247843
I agree that we should probably begin moving our militia, we will need them soon enough. Also, we should probably talk to Quinton about co-ordinating attacks.

>>247842
The militia should not participate in hit and run maneuvers; they are in full plate, are mostly mundane, and we need speed/maneuverability.

Speaking of hit and run, we can essentially drop in anywhere, so have Bang take out middling-powerful people while we (and the Deep Spawn) cause mayhem and chaos. Tell him we'll deal with the truly powerful one's later.
Inform Oz that we are in the middle of a war up here and we may need to take the Deep spawn for a time. We'll teleport them back whenever they are not needed.

UH

WHERE IS THE INVASION

THAT'S UH

KINDA IMPORTANT, QUINTIN

DUDE

You know, I think this invasion is a good thing. We have the warrior that slaid the Knight Captain who said 'No one attack him'. Bang is now in charge of defending the nation. Army better back the hell off!

Also, let us not spend so much time away again.

Oh, also: If we're inviting everyone to stop a war, the party can be the pefect closer to that.

Also, if we are returning back to the Arcanoworks for whatever reason, perhaps Bang should inquire about that necklace of faces, if he hasn't already?

>>247857
Yes, because they will defiantly stop their invasion because Bang shows up and says 'I killed whatshisface, go away'
The guy is dead, and the Disciples of Domintus are douchebags, the're not going to stop their invasion.

>>247860
Not all of them are. It was a command by their leader - one that might have some weight. And if it means that one sixth the army stops to ponder, then so much the better.

After all: Abaeloth is/was a staunch supporter of survival of the fittest: He vowed that should he ever be bested, that such that bested him be left alone by the rest of the Disciples of Domintus. Whether his wish is shared by those who survive him remains to be seen.

>>247827

Damn I was hoping Ellayia would stick around so we could give her another contract. We still need to find a Leyline Geyser and a World mage skin from a mage no one would mind dead. I suppose we can contact her with her rock communication device, which I will now call her rockie - talkie because it amuses me, to call her in a couple days after her shopping spree. We could also wait for Dompaggio to finish his investigation with Keddic, which would probably be preferable because he won't charge us. Whichever options opens up first I guess.

Anywho, it looks like it's time to call back some of our forces from abroad now. When we get back home send a Phohn call to the Sons of Mordre to be at the box for transport and we'll pick them up really quickly, then do the same with the Deep Spawn and Oz back in the Land of Dragons. Then we need to make sure the Golem Armor division is up to snuff and get the unmodified ones as suped up as possible before the invasion. I'd like to keep most of the militia at the Arcanoworks just to make sure our base is safe while we are gone.

Small Stuff:

- Give Dregas a little run down of what the Frostback Mountains need. Mention building supplies, food, metals other than bronze. Tell him he can get bronze, furs, and furry hats as an export from them. Also mention they are preferred trading partners so try not to squeeze too much money out of them.

- Ask Bang if he'd be willing to take Ellorika off everyone's hands so she stops being a nuisance or ask who he thinks will be able to help with the issue.

- Take that stone Ellayia had and give it Arkus to check out and see if he can recreate the thing, we don't really need it now that we have Phohn but it's always nice to have back up communication systems.

- Del could use a project or two to keep him occupied. Express interesting in getting our Golem a set of armor. It needs to be quickly detachable and have attachment points for weapons, but otherwise he can go hog wild and be creative with it.

>>247877
...are you trying to make Bang and Ellorika a couple because she's been getting defensive of anyone gawking at her without being up to her badass standards?

>>247879
Pretty much? Why is that a bad thing?

>>247877
Guys...um...

By facilitating Burduko and the boxes as PUBLIC TRADE transportation, he's going to be doing nothing else. Unless his Spawn have the ability to run the boxes in his stead, once proper trade gets going (GOD FORBID Dregas' aspirations of the Arcanoworks becoming a Multi-national Trade hub)...yeah...might want to see if those spawn are capable of serving in that capacity, as Burduko is too useful to be tied down like that. Also, pretty shitty fate for a Sentient being.

Regarding Quinton:

"*Snicker*

Well, then, to business, I suppose. You three, what are your names?"

"I need to know the following:
1. What areas of the State have been taken
2. What areas are currently under direct threat of attack
3. What do you know of their numbers and force composition, including but not limited two: How many distinct armies are the invaders divided into, what numbers each has, who any notable figures leading this assault are, and ALL of their locations as of your last bit of intel.
4. Where are State forces currently engaged in defensive operations against the invaders, with similar information regarding composition and notables.

Oh, and lastly, a note that Lord Quinton should consider: However much he insists I should butt out of the State's business, if NOTHING is going to be done but have 3 mages stand over that farmhouse worrying about what they're going to do, while I'm still barred from even approaching the area...

Well, the Arcanoworks AND all my following actions in repelling the invaders are quite useless in that case, aren't they?"

The deal was that lend aid to any defensive endeavours within the States borders in exchange for the works. All of that is fucking useless to us and our time and efforts are being wasted if the State handles it as incompetently as Eisenhardt has been suggesting they have been.

>>247882
Because Bang wants to get with Collete the Colossus. Also, we're going to level Arkus up to MANLY MAGE status so he can take his shot at courting her.

>Because the better part of a hundred thousands soldiers are invading
>hundred thousands soldiers
>delicious candy
Oh, soooo delicious. We'll get right on that one, Quinnypoo.


>AND as you have shown yourself oh so prone to multitask, you are now ALSO responsible for ensuring we have no issues inside our borders. If any foreignly held outpost starts trouble, I fully expect you to deal with it.
What's that, Lord Quinton? You're giving us license to seize control of any outpost that shows signs of dissent, sucking the souls out of their current occupants and looting their research and resources for our own purposes? Why thank you!

The way this guy talks, you'd almost think he wasn't being extravagantly nice.


>If you have any questions, my aids here should be able to answer your questions.
>the aids stay behind looking at me in uncertain fear and trepidation.
"Excellent! You lot, mount up. We'll go fly over the countryside, you point us in the right direction to find the Disciples' army, we'll gather some intelligence- what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

[obvious statement that they don't want to leave the base]

"...oh, fine, be that way. Stick-in-the-muds. Do you at least have maps? Good maps, with little markers on them to show where the Disciples' armies are, maybe who's leading them, what forces of note they have at their disposal? Where the State forces opposing them are, what bases and towns are claimed by whom? And a list of which outposts are currently foreignly held, with locations, since apparently I'm now in charge of those. I want to see them all. Preferably within the next thirty seconds, but I could stretch it to ten minutes if you throw in some intelligence on the capabilities of the Disciples' leader types."

Hopefully we will get a great deal of information rather quickly.


War plans.

Our priorities in this conflict are:
-Gaining more souls, particularly hero and mage souls, for Mordre (but all sorts are good)
-Gaining more assets, including troops and other followers, magical or advanced technological equipment, bases from which to operate, and so forth.
-Putting our followers into combat and thereby hopefully generating more/stronger heroes
-All the usual objectives regarding secrecy, discovering more information, etc. etc.

Based upon this, I would counsel against relying primarily/exclusively upon our heroes and deep spawn for this. Instead, we can use our Arcanoworks force as an airmobile combat unit; they've got heavy enough ranged weapons to be utterly terrifying as wyvern cavalry, and can dismount to take/hold towns as necessary. Mix in our more powerful characters with them, and they should be able to drop in on almost anywhere and tear whatever Disciples are in the area a new one. This is particularly useful because it lets us go after the most tempting targets in terms of souls and loot, rather than fighting whatever armies happen to be nearby.

On the Deep Spawn: Tipping our hand about what they are and how many we have under our control might be unwise. I'm of two minds about this; "fuck it, it'll come out eventually, throw them at our enemies" and "let's keep their use as restricted as possible and handle most things ourselves". Either way, they're probably too big to fly around and will be stuck with a ground force, which would be everything we've got which can't fit on the wyverns/Nidhogg. Our ground force will have the priority of picking up new recruits at every town they pass in addition to merely fighting and holding whatever ground we take; we need rather badly to build up our ranks.

Whatever else we do, we will need to leave enough troops at the Arcanoworks to hold it against attack; how close we can shave that one is up for debate. Some Deep Spawn might go a damned long way towards keeping it secure, though.


>>247886
>By facilitating Burduko and the boxes as PUBLIC TRADE transportation, he's going to be doing nothing else.
But we're not. We're keeping this private trade- locked down by us. There are more profits that way, and if we tell Dregas that he gets Burduko for an hour a day and he'd better maximize his profits based on that, then that's what will happen. We remain in sole control. Besides, it's not like Burduko sleeps, or can't just teleport wherever he's needed at any given time.


Other matters. We need to ask G if we can buy up the area which happens to surround our box on his island- if I recall it was in a deserted area, but if there's anyone who technically owns it this had best be done above board. For now, just message Dregas through Phohn and tell him to see it done; he should be able to handle it without a problem given our current resources. He can travel there, with an escort if he desires, to make sure that everything's in order. After purchasing it, we stop in there at some point in the next short while and use our geomantic abilities to whip up some walls and a small fortress. Plus some other buildings, I guess. That can serve as security for the island's box and function as our trade depot at that location; we should be able to staff it with some of our Arcanoworks personnel. Have any of our people who might be interested in designing its layout and defenses (Dregas and Jezebel come to mind, but someone else might have input) put together a plan for what we need to do geomantically ready within the next week or so.

>>247889
Oh yes I forgot about Collete. We really need to get that girl's location down and find her for Bang. Though I really don't agree with trying to change Arkus' personality for the girl. If he happens to become more assertive and whatnot on his own then we could give him a shot.

Replicating the stone would be handy for our dudes to talk amongst themselves.

Also, LET'S KILL US AN ARMY! Ask the aides exactly where the army is, and what it's composed of exactly. We need to know what we're up against!

Once we have some logistical information, we should form our plan from there. We'll head back to the Arcanoworks.

A General gameplan, however, for any assault:

Nidhogg will approach with ourself and Bang from above cloud cover. Once we actually get stuck in, she becomes aerial artillery, lobbing firey-acid at any large concentrations of Domintus troops (especially caster groups like those Geomancy and Pyromancy groups we first encountered with Abaeloth).

Sadronm assumes control of the Spawn for coordination purposes.

Mothbern and Nihilino will be shock leaders. Nothing saps morale like watching your allies and leaders wither dessicated husks or fade from existence without a fight.

Zelgoto, Vandgurd, and Aggocrag will form the point of an assault, breaching enemy lines to disrupt formations.

Murhiyal will be held in reserve as emergency aid to any non-Deepspawn forces. Her spawn will be issued to any non-Deepspawn high-priority combatants we bring with us that do not have their own healing capability (Bang would not qualify, Moss/Ulzrick and Co/Valiria/Etc would)

Akeakam should provide his enhancement to combat magic Practitioners (Bang Qualifies, because MAGIC STEALING to add to his Magic Pool nullifies his major weakness: Stamina), and his spawn should be divvied up to two combatants, 10 and 10.

Burduko, Phohn, and Velada are highly specialized. I dunno what Velada's capable of in truth.

>>247902
As always Emba

Great job

>>247902
Velada protects us from chronomancy, phohn kills people with wires n shit, burduko is good for teleporting our doods around the battlefield. Also burduko is our getaway vehicle.

>I send a Message to Phohn, to have him and the other Deep Spawn in the Land of Dragons begin bloodletting themselves every day, however much they can do safely while insuring the blood is empowered, and for Murhyihal to build a massive metal vat for them to store it in. They accept my request without hesitation, and my plot to slowly collect enough Deep Spawn Blood that with 2 Pristine Souls I could fully saturate my body begins.


NONONONONO

I was the one who brought up the subject but this is not the way to do it.
Bob, you hinted several times that doing this might have political consequences in LoD.
That is why I brought up this subject now when we have access to Arcaneworks again.

So, put that barrel of blood inside the Arcaneworks tower, on the most secluded floor. Then have your spawn come to Arcaneworks once a day (during the night probably, when there's no training).
If we need to explain why the Deep Spawn travel between these locations every day do this:
Oz already knows how recent and experimental those things are, so it is logical to assume that we would like to know how they are performing, we can tell that we are performing several medical tests and generally measuring their daily progress.
Inside Arcaneworks we don't have to explain anything to anyone.

Speaking of progress. We should get a report from our Spawn how they are progressing. Ask them if they feel that they are getting stronger/better.
Oh, and I forgot to ask: Bob, are ALL of our spawn participating in these training sessions (save for Dompaggio and Nighogg of course) if not, I would like everyone to participate, including Phohn and Sardronm. They might not be combat oriented but some training will do them good, besides Sardronm can help with coming up of creative training sessions and can direct little spawnlings.

Nihilino and Mothbern should use EVERY chance they get to spar with Oz. Give them direct order to focus their training on getting more control of their power. Sometimes destroying entire existences including the souls is not the best answer. Ultimately I want them to be able to destroy bodies with leaving souls intact (and general level ups too).

Also, if we are going to deal with Discipline of Dominculus, first tell Quintin that our task in LoD has much higher priority (being a direct order of an Elder Mage and all) and if something important comes up we might need to leave there.
Second, we will need all of our Deep Spawn for and maybe our own standing army (though I do not really want to use those guys) for this campaign.
We should send invitation to Oz to join this venture with his students if he wants too. He can put a strain on his students in real combat this way (like training with Oz is not real combat)


One other thing I wanted to be done (but was late before the last update), I wanted us to speak with Arkus in private dropping the mage persona. ... You know... just talk. Ask him about his progress, how the things are going in Arcaneworks, his general thoughts, if he has any suggestions he would want to share with us. We might even tell him about our own ventures we did without him in more detail and ask him if he likes it better at Arcaneworks or would like to travel with us again.
Tell him about the task that Lenryt gave us and her plans on building secondary Mortal Coil tower there.
Oh... maybe we could pull some strings with Lenryt and put Arkus as an administrator in the new tower (though that might constitute as a boon).
Talk about LoD and their magic practices, maybe he would like to visit it and get some books, magical artifacts from those lands? etc, etc...

When we come back to Arcaneworks, congratulate Dregas with his amazing work and give him a bonus (about 10k marks, maybe? or is it too much), tell ti put the in his "fund of restoring his family name again" *wink wink*
He is doing a great job... how much are we paying him?..... How much are we paying anyone?

if my brain meats are working right a few threads ago it was mentioned that Eisenhardt's homeland and mabey family were killed/destroyed by the disiples. he probabley has a grudge against them, lets have phone ask if he wants to join our first raid.

Oh, right
take Oggroth and Sons of Mordre too

and Seth... we hired him so he should do something for us. And negotiate his salary, whatever he demands, offer him half of it. I am sure the weasel will try to ask much more than he is willing to work for.

Ok, let's call in Oggroth and Our Sons and all of our Deep Spawn (excluding Dompaggio) to assist us. Ask Reinhardt and Kyrchesia if they would assist in the defense of the Arcanoworks and our towns. Now this may sound a bit extreme, but if Disciple Soldiers are spotted or reported near the villages we should arm the populace with hand-cannons.

Once we get back to the Arcanoworks let's talk with Eisenhardt, "The people that destroyed your home many years ago, now come to destroy mine. Will you standby and watch while history is repeated or will stand up and bring justice to the murderous zealots of Domintus with me?"

After we have an inkling as to where the main Domintus forces are, let's set off with our army-killing-gang. Now we should try to direct the first of our many hit and run attacks toward the rear or sides of the main force, that way they will pull troops out of the front lines to deal with us, therefore, helping to even the playing field for the State army. After the Domintus forces have been sandwiched between our blitzkrieg tactics and the defending State army, let's kill this invasion by cutting of its head so to speak. Assuming the Domintus army likes having their captains and generals working together, then they will have a central camp with their most of their tacticians or leaders to facilitate the invasion. If such is the case, then it should be pretty easy to spot on Niddhog's back in the cover of darkness with our enhanced Golem-vision and Bang's awesome Mantis shrimp-magic detector eyes. If not, then I will assume that each captain has his or her own camp with their personal staff.

Let's contact Ellayia with her rocky-talkie immediately: "Hello Ellayia, so sorry to interrupt your shopping spree or whatever you're doing, but my job at the Arcanoworks has just become a bit more complicated than I expected and it is leaving me with considerably less time to pursue my hobbies and past times. So I have another job for you, I need you to subdue or kill a criminal/corrupt World Mage or sufficient World Magic user and bring them or their skin back to the Arcanoworks. Now the difficult part of this job is that if you kill them, their skin must remain unbroken. The more powerful they are in World magic, the more money you will receive, likewise, the faster you bring me the skin or bring the Mage to me alive will also yield greater rewards for you."

>>247973
Alive, preferably. (that way we can eat their soul)
>>247919
Hell, we may as well use Lenryt's boon to send Arkus an invitation to join the Mortal Coil.

Ok Let's see.
The Disciples are being dicks, and decide to invade with close to a hundred thousand soldiers.

Now, this is a fuck load of soldiers for almost any army.
Even if we manage to kill them by the hundreds, there are still thousands more.

Facing this army head on (even with our deep-spawn) isn't going to work out all that well.
They have the advantage in numbers, and could probably just keep throwing soldiers and mages at us until we die.
Now let's sum up our advantages.
1. We have handcannons. They are extremely effective weapons, and with revolver style set up, plus skyfall runes, they are even more effective.
2. The deep spawn. Nuff said.
3. Nidhogg. Nidhogg can fucking fly. She can strike from where they least expect it, and as shown, is mostly immune to cannons and arrows.
This means she can strike, shrug off most attacks made in retaliation, pull back and then rince and repeat.

There is ONE primary weakness that the Dominitus army has.
An army marches on it's stomach. Cut the armies supply lines, and BAM, it's only a matter of time until they starve.
This could drive to send groups of men to pillage villages though, but if we cut their most important supply trains (because they still have to move around a lot of stuff with them) we could still reduce their overall effectiveness.
Men, weapons, armour, food, water even horses.
All of the that good stuff that keeps an army going.

And how are we going to strike at these supplies, which are most likely heavily guarded in the middle of their camps or what not?
Nidhogg. She can just spew forth a couple of flaming-acid globs, and *poof* no more supplies.

If we ARE forced into a direct confrontation though, we should stay out of melee as much as possible.
If we can stay at a comfortable distance, we can pepper them with handcannons (assuming we take Arcanaworks soldiers with us).
If they DO get to close though, the handcannon soldiers would pull back, while the deep-spawn delayed the Disciples.
Rince, and repeat.

Also, for this reason, I propose a couple of Spawn with long range capability.

Acronum embodies the concept of RANGED COMBAT, its form revolves around GUNS and CANNONS

Vahnderhuug embodies the concept of BOMBARDMENT, it's form revolves around HEAVY, LONG RANGED ARTILLERY and UNPARALLELED STRENGTH

>>247977
I quite like these spawn.

>>247977

If we are going to manifest spawn, do it away from prying eyes like Eisenhart and such.

Oh, the invading army is marching somewhere, right?
So, we predict where we will meet them and send Burduko way in advance to cover ALL of the battlefield so that we can instantly teleport around the battle field.
Hell, we might set up geomancy mines again.

>>247977
I was thinking something similar. Mordre's army has advantages with its guns and air support. The addition of one or two artillery/bombing type Deep Spawn could be brutal. If a front can be established with trenches and fortifications then the Deep Spawn can hit supply lines and generally train the enemy to fear demon ambushes. Mordre could also strike almost anywhere at short notice by either dropping down from Nidhogg in the night or by travelling at Nimble Nitro speeds. In fact with Burduko at hand it might be possible for Mordre to singlehandedly crash into an army killing scores of officers and mages before disappearing, giving the army no time to react in defense.

The Disciples will have far more massed magic available so if it's possible to hire State mages skilled in counterspelling then that would be most helpful. A few runes on the defensive walls could make a whole lot of difference.

I'm worried that this might interfere with the affairs in the Land of Dragons though. Does Lubu have any tasks for Mordre? We HAVE to keep supporting him or we will lose Lenryt's good will.

Question - How long does it take for lost lesser spawnlings to be reformed? Can they be sent charging at the enemy army in infinitely respawning waves? It might be possible to just halt the Disciples by constantly sending small swarms of lesser spawn at their flanks, forcing them to dig in and defend, making it hard to sleep as demons harass them from every side all day and night. Either way the real strategy should be to finish this little war quickly through pressure rather than by causing casualties. Maybe Mordre can press them until the enemy commander accepts a duel challenge or something.

If they're actually just moving all 100,000 soldiers around in one big mass...they're not terribly competent. I assumed they were attacking from multiple fronts, splitting their total forces to strike targets of priority.

>>247997
If he cant function without us for a short time, he's not terribly effective. He's a national leader, we're not the only servants he can call on, and we specifically explained to Lenryt that we'd be splitting our attention somewhat. He also has easy access to us via Phohn, who as I recall is still in the city.

Wait,
why don't we send Ellayia, Uggroth, Vespinto and Burduko to do some reconnaissance and gather intel on our enemy?
That way we will know better where they are headed, where to set up an ambush, their numbers and how their army is structured.

We can send them as a team or each individually or paired

>>248026
>Uggroth
Did you mean Ulzrick? The sneaky SoulDreamer?

>>247977
God no, for Vanderhuge! He's going to be a Hero Deep Spawn, and we are going to reference Space Mutiny to hell and back for him.

And going by the list I would suggest Fjordak rather then Vanderhuug, as we have more suggestions we could combine for Fjordak which are:

Fjordak embodies the concept of STONE, its form revolves around SPHERES and LAUNCHING.
Fjordak embodies the concept of TELEPORTATION it's form revolver around PORTALS and SCIENCE!
Fjordak embodies the concept of BOMBARDMENT. Its form revolves around THROWING and EXPLOSIONS.
Fjordak embodies the concept of DEPTH, his form revolves around WATER and STILLNESS

And Acronum has two we can use:
Acronum embodies the concept of RANGED COMBAT, its form revolves around GUNS and CANNONS
Acronum embodies the concept of MARKSMANSHIP. Its form revolves around GUNS and ACCURACY.

Checking for more ranged ideas that we could add to these.

>>248033
Ugrokk, I assume. Got Oggroth and Ugrokk confused again. But both would work.

Hey, if we're going to fight some shadowmages, let's make a Deep Spawn to oppose their ability.

Ekron embodies the concept of THE SUN, his form revolves around FIRE and LIGHT.

Guys, you are looking at this in what is perhaps not the best way. Our task here is NOT "defeat the Disciples", whatever the State may think; it's "strengthen ourself as much as possible".

Throwing all our deep spawn into battle will:
-Almost completely tip our hand as far as combat capabilities go to Weinsho and anyone else who can hear a rumor
-Probably make ourselves seem more dangerous and creepy to basically everyone; quirky mage with a remote-control golem is a far cry from mage with an army of unstoppable monsters rep-wise, and I don't think it's a shift that we want
-Fail to actually strengthen our forces, except insofar as it might make the Deep Spawn's souls grow

If we can fight this battle without using any more of them than we already have revealed, then we should do so. Even if we do choose to bring in more of them, the horde of demons is likely not the best way to do it. We simply don't have the numbers to engage the Disciples everywhere they are, which leaves us with an airmobile strategy as our best bet- and the Deep Spawn mostly can't fly to keep up with that.


>Oggroth and Sons of Mordre
Again, we should NOT call these guys in. Our premen are currently engaged in a massive unification effort, even if they've been carrying it out offscreen. Robbing them of one of their best champions and elite forces would weaken them substantially, and considering all the other powerful types that we're pulling together here we have no serious need for them in this conflict. It might even prompt the yeti to strike if he sees some of our champions gone.


>Making new Deep Spawn
Be CAREFUL with this. If we choose to do so, make sure it's in the premen lands, Land of Dragons, or otherwise somewhere far removed from observation by our immediate foes. And I don't think that we really need it; we already have a myriad of ways to slaughter our enemies in terrifying numbers without making another specialist or three to do so. Particularly given the above re: tipping our hand to our enemies.

>>248062
This guy is saying everything I want to say, so seconded.

>>248062
While I do agree with not calling in forces from every place we have a stake in, please don't forget:

Defending the State from the Disciples and Strengthening Mordre are very much intertwined. Our whole purpose behind operating in the Azelhaedran State is to eventually obtain control of the area, something we are well on our way to doing. Failing to Stop the Disciples is EXTREMELY counterproductive to that goal.

Glue 2010/10/25(Mon)16:54 No. 248069 ID: ddd48d
File 128805087760.png - (1.14MB , 1753x1327 , dammitmordre.png )

>>247385
>ELLORIKA IN GOLEM ARMOR
lol sorry it took so long to draw

seems to me like we should finally use our normal troops and such for battle, and keep the others for reserves if we really need them. I really like the idea of having some people ride on Nindy's spawn though, sounds SO COOL.

>>248066
Oh, we definitely have to win. The ideal situation here is for the State to almost lose and have us bail them out in a highly visible, manner, thereby rendering ourselves an extremely popular war hero. We have to err on the side of making them win by a larger margin, but that's the ideal.

>>248069
I back deploying our current personnel as wyvern-mounted cavalry as well; they've got lightning guns and hand cannons and will therefore likely prove a potent ranged force. More than that, having such a force made up primarily of line troops creates a rather romantic image which will likely prove a potent recruitment and PR tool.

We can claim to have gotten the wyverns wherever we got the dragon, of course, rather than having Nidhogg spawn them somewhere visible. That should dodge most- well, some- questions and conceal the Deep Spawn bit at least somewhat.

>>248073
Wyvern mounted Lightning Shooting fast-attack troops with Muriyhal's spawn granting the riders passive regeneration.

My god. Fund it.

Mind you, we're going to need to give them training first on riding such creatures. But my god.

(INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I just finished watching How to Train Your Dragon, so...yeah, fuckawesome suggestion Glue)

>>247877
Let's get Del Roga to rune our Golem Armor to turn invisible like Ugrokk's. Invisible Golem-Tank division anyone? Also let's get Arkus to finish up on those unmodified Golem-Armor and make sure they have appropriately trained pilots.

We should also get Del to reforge our Sons', Oggroth's and Uggrokk's armor with Blootz Steel without having them appear in the Arcanoworks. Also see if he replicate the cloaking runes onto Ugrokk's followers' armor.

>>248086
Get someone to make saddles or seats for Niddhog and her spawn.

>>248053
NO. We don't need to waste a Deep Spawn Egg on making a Deep Spawn that can only kill these shadow-mages, we have to design our Deep Spawn so that they are useful in multiple ways.

>Delicious Soul Candy
Mmmmm.... 

>>248083
>>248086
You know what could make the whole thing even better? If we could have our men hide in heavy cloud cover while they ride the wyverns, especially in any storm clouds. Then we go down into visible range on Nidhogg and pretend to direct lightening strikes at our enemies while in reality we are ordering them to fire in one direction or another. We do all sorts of crazy things like claiming we're bringing the wrath of nature down on them and bombarding them with Skyfall cannon shells. It would be scary as hell for their troops and we could totally pull off a look like the golem in the opening picture.

>>248103
Ordering our men to fire that is.

>>248103
>what could make the whole thing even better
>>248101
>Let's get Del Roga to rune
Night vision goggles for all our wyvern riders, so that we can strike in the middle of the night?

>>248106
Honestly, what I really want to do with Del Roga is...let him see what he can do with the Edge of Oblivion. After Jioga's enhancements, I'm curious what innovations such a renowned smith could make in addition to the weapon.

We could eventually turn it into a weapon that is truly marvelous.

>>248106
I imagine we wouldn't even need to ask Del for those, they sound simple enough that Arkus could make them or alternatively Jezebel.

>>248112
That would be pretty interesting, I wonder if we could expand on it an make it a little side quest to have various famous smiths add to our blade and improve it until we have some insane master's sword. Which will be fitting because Lubu is going up against a guy named Theriguno The Claimer, The Supreme Swordmaster and if we work out a way to eat his soul we could become a Samurai Soul Grave.

>>247919
>Deep Spawn coming to the Arcanoworks everyday
Alternatively, Burduko could just transport the container, once Mury finishing it (also, what metal is the container made of? If it is Blood Iron, as the characteristic of the proto-metal to turn into the metal surrounding it suggests, that would significantly cut the time we need, unless Bob, as he probably did now that I think about it, included that into the estimated date), to the Arcanoworks, and everyday, return to the LoD to gather the blood, and then teleport to the Arcanoworks.

Actually, perhaps we shouldn't have our critical Deep Spawn Blood Iron bank located in places where the constituent members are completely loyal to us. Having the container in the LoD is not the best idea, since it doesn't exactly have the most secure base for us currently (...if fact, I don't think we even have a base there), nor having the container at the Arcanoworks such a good idea either, since there isn't necessarily a private place where we can put the container without having people walking by and seeing it everyday (the hypothetical top floor probably is the best place, if we had access to it, and the next best is Arkus' workplace, but there is lots of traffic going there too...).

The only other bases we have, that I can think of, are: Mordreden and Kyorto's tower. I don't think we should put it in Mordreden, but the only reason I can think of, outside of a hunch that it is a bad idea, is that it feels, to me, that doing so projects a sense of insecurity outside that place (Which is bad, since we want the clan to feel that we don't actually need them, but we like them and thus help them to their goals, strengthening ourselves in the process. But that explanation doesn't feel quite right). Kyorto's tower presents the problem of being in the Cursed Lands, with everything that being in there implies. It might be the safest place: no, or few enough to be statistically negligible, people go there, and, if we put the container on the level where Kyorto is at, then we have a guardian as well (if this is done, we really need to tell Kyorto that we are storing it, and describe what 'it' is, there because we want as little people to know of this as possible and there is the best place for that purpose).

Note: Why are we not wanting our Deep Spawn seen again?

>>248125
Deep Spawn, to the public, are pretty much Demons.

>>248125
Look to the first part of >>248062

>>248125
Because it tips our hand to Weinsho, a bit.

Mind you, I'm sure he knows at least SOMETHING about our DeepSpawn (probably not much more than that they exist), given he DOES have anonymous holdings in the Land of Dragons, in addition to what he has here. They're probably not as extensive, but I imagine he's had SOME informants tell him of "Demons accompanying one called Mordre", though I can't imagine he knows much of their true capabilities.

[JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THATS A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS]
[In the future, please keep the multi-post speculation and whatnot to discussion, as I'd rather not have to make new threads all the time for the quest. Also when there are THIS many different suggestions, I have no way of doing everything, so bear that in mind for the future.]

>>248069
[FANART BONUS: +1 Golem Armor modified: 2/6 total Golem Armors modified]

>>247842
>>247853
>>247886
I turn torwards the aids still standing before me, and do what I can to act like an exasperated but patient old man. From their reactions, I achieve only moderate success.

" Well, it would be nice if we knew exactly where the invading forces are, As well as their numbers, along with the outposts we are expected to watch."
>"Ah, the Domintus forces are split into three prongs. There's a group forty thousand strong, led by three of their Knight Captains-"
>"Reports name the leading individuals as Knight Captain Oggjud The Devil-Lance, Knight Captain Siode The Ravager, and Knight Captain Farrogut The Red Knight."
>"What's more, The Pure Lady is with them, as well as her Soul Grave."
>"This force is presumed their main force, since it is the largest, has three Knight Captains and the Pure Lady herself in its ranks... and is slowly moving straight towards the capital. SO far, there have been two attempts to parlay with them... the envoys never returned."
>"Then there's their northern front, thirty thousand troops under Knight Captain Delfargoth the Despoiler, and Knight Captain Therikio the Inspiring. They are sweeping along the northern border, establishing supply stockpiles and outposts from which to raid south anywhere into the northern part of the State."
>"There are reports they are entering dialogues with the steppe bandits, looking to absorb their numbers into their ranks rather than having to fight them."
>"The most pressing issue though is the southern force. So far they've been the most active, steamrolling straight through the heart of our agricultural sectors, burning fields and razing villages. Give them another two months, and the State will starve."
>"This group, likewise of thirty thousand, is lead by only one individual: Abaeloth the All Consuming"
"Abealoth!? ...That can't be right, I watched him die... I even have his soul stored in this golem!"
>"..Ah, well, he calls himself by that name, has a cloak of shadow hands, a crystal sword-"
>"Those saved from the earlier Domintus Incursion he was involved in swear it to be him."
>"On our front... we are losing ground, steadily but surely. So far there have only been brief skirmishes between the Domintus forces and the State... and so far we have lost every one of them. Their soldiers in and of themselves are not particularly troublesome, if oddly willing to employ suicide tactics-"
>"The issue is threefold: The Knight Captains, thus far completely unstoppable on the battlefield, and their ease at calling forth Clay Siege Golems. ...They also have considerable numbers of Alchemic Life Golems, but as of yet we have been unable to get any force estimation on them. The last issue is that we still cannot nail down how many mages they have, as they dress them the same as soldiers, and constantly shift their formations."
"So how much State land has been claimed?"
>"So far, the entire eastern sector has fallen, and half the soutern sector, so... nearly one third of State land has been taken."
>"This not including the land that was still under the control of foreign elements in the western sector here, and in the northern sector."
"What areas are under direct threat of attack?"
>"The most pressing threat is to the south, the constant attacks on farmland. However, the largest force is making a straight line towards the capital, and will be there in a matter of weeks at their current pace. The northern front, while not currently under attack, is being prepared for a massive incursion along the entire border."
"Where are State defensive lines the strongest?"
>"The capital has ten thousand soldiers and our best officers present. The rest are scattered trying to keep our communication network strong enough we still know what the enemy is doing."
>"Here is a map, with the most recent known locations of each of the three Domintus forces, and the paths they have taken."

The aid who speaks stops, hesitantly offering forth the parchment as he strives very mightily not to flinch as I pluck it from his hand. I glance over the crude map, compiling the data I derive from it's imagery with my established knowledge of the State... and I now know where the Domintus forces are... or at least, where they were. ...I also find that the aids fled from my presence whilst I perused the map. ...No matter, they told me what I needed to know, and by the fact they made no mention of third parties currently attacking, I merely need to keep a watchful eye open.

>>247877
I speak through Phohn to Arkus, busying myself as I ponder my next action. I ask my first follower to use Ellayia's stone to request a new job be completed, that being the following, as two individual jobs:
-Finding and either capturing or slaying and returning the unmarred corpse of a practiced World Mage to the Arcanoworks, and
-Finding either a free Leyline Geyser, or someone in possession of one that would be willing to sell temporary access.
I am rather swiftly informed the message has been sent-and seconds later told that a message came back through the stone as words emblazoned on its surface, saying Ellayia will 'think about it.'

>>247897
[Gialgorra owns the island, the whole thing. The towns are giant rent collectives, effectively. How do you think he got enough money to fund his ridiculous research?]
I one more speak through Phohn, this time to Dregas, informing him that he will at most be able to demand an hour of immediate transport time a day from Burduko, and that he is to arrange it through Phohn, the very one conveying my words into his mind. There is a lengthy pause before I get his response, but he accepts my restrictions nonetheless.

>>247919
[All Deep Spawn save Dompaggio, Nidhogg and Burduko are participating in the training. Furthermore, the vat in question is being kept in the room the Deep Spawn go to within the arena when there is no active need for them. Thus far, NO ONE but Deep Spawn has intruded into this chamber. For the moment, the secret is safe.]

>>247955
>>247973
>>247977
>>247995
My mind finally getting into gear as I consider the multitude of contingencies and issues involved in a multi-front war, I remount Nidhogg as I send Burduko to teleport back to the Arcanoworks, and from there begin moving (in all possible stealth and speed) towards three seperate points, each estimated to be where a Domintus force is headed. My hope is that this will allow Burduko to bring myself and any Deep Spawn I want instantly to contest the Domintus forces... though as I consider the sheer scale of the enemy forces, I wonder if such tactics as I employed against the earlier Domintus incursion can still apply. ....This also will make it MUCH easier to target what in my opinion is the weakest link of such large forces away from home: Their supply chain. No matter how strong, a mortal deprived of food... well, strength is worthless against the pains of hunger. Much occupies my thoughts, and I barely notice Nidhogg's swift flight back to the Arcanoworks. Before she can even descend to ground level in the late afternoon, Eisenhardt is floating at my side, mouth about to open. I speak on reflex, recalling something he mentioned once long ago.

"You have grievences against the Disciples of Domintus, do you not?"
"...Aye, that I do."
"Well, it would seem some six Knight Captains, Someone called The Pure Lady, And the better part of a hundred thousand soldiers are here, In the State, as we speak attacking the locals. I don't suppose you would be amenable to fighting them? The State could certainly use your help."
"....I was going to ask if you were ready for round 3.... but you seem to have found a singularly noteworthy distraction. ....So be it then, I will put my grievances against you on hold, whilst I turn my attentions to this older threat."
"I appreciate your gesture, And likely so will the Sta-"
"Save it. I do it for purely selfish reasons. I will fight not for justice, for the lives of the people, nor will I fight because I am a solder myself, or I was long ago: I shall fight purely to satisfy a grudge that makes the one I hold against you seem inconsequential. Make no mistake, this is not kindness, or proof of some moral pull to do the right thing: This is vengence."
"...I can respect that."
"Why do I get the feeling those are the most truthful words I have yet heard you speak?"
"For your vengeance, are you amenable to working with others?"
"You rather clearly have more knowledge on this subject than I.
I will lend an ear to any words you have on the specifics,
Any advise you may have, but my choices will be my own."
"Understandable. I have much to prepare-"
"And I have nothing but time. I shall follow you, and await that moment you DO have time to 'advise' me. ..Do not keep me waiting unduly."
"Perish the thought."

My tense conversation with Eisenhardt for the moment concluded, I guide Nidhogg to land atop the Arcanoworks tower, and leap from her back, keeping my fall from being calamitous with the application of Kinetimancy and Geomancy alike. Once more at the Arcanoworks, Burduko already in transit to boost my future mobility in this conflict by considerable amounts, I set to pondering the specifics of what I should do, with Eisenhardt now the equivalent of a feral beast coincidentally at my side in facing foes.

>>248062
>>248065
>>248066
...I can't call on the Deep Spawn in the Land of Dragons. My extra time there revealed how vital they are to spreading my name, as being their master I am gaining credit for their prowess and services. Considering they are helping Oz make his newly founded school the most well known in the capital, it is only a matter of time before they become famous throughout the land. Further, their efforts seem to give them wonderous opportunity to get a better handle on how to interact with mortals safely, all while giving them sustained endeavors to hone themselves through. ...Besides, if I removed them, only Keddic would still be down there, and I doubt Lenryt would much like that at all. The Drazken Clan, including Oggroth, Ugrokk and the Sons of Mordre are all likewise vital in the north, thoroughly entrenched in aiding Lorgk's efforts to unify the premen clans. If left alone, this could yield to me an army of Premen in the thousands, whereas taking them would only grant me twenty two warriors, however powerful two of them are. ...Besides, Ugrokk's arm shall not be done for several more days, according to Gialgorra's initial estimates. ..So, whatever I do, it would be wisest in the long term if I restrain myself only to the resources I have here in the Arcanoworks. To that end... the militia is better equipped than most armies, and eight hundred strong... they are also slow, thanks to the wealth of weapons and formidable armor they wear.

>>248073
>>248083
...Nidhogg has thirty eight spawn she can manifest... and each is easily large enough to mount a rider... in fact, two fully equipped militia members could be born without issue, if my calculations are correct. ...So, Seventy Six soldiers could be mounted at a time on the spawn... that would allow enough rotations I could effectively insure that no matter what I have fresh troops to seat upon the dragonlings, the wyvern spawn. With the wealth of potent ranged weapons at my disposal, that would mean that in addition to their scaled down dragon fire-acid spit, a pair of Skyfall revolver hand-cannons could likewise be brought to bear... considerable damages could be caused, and the mobility such forces would have.... I am hit with another realization when I consider that the difference in weight between Golem Armor and normal equipment is small enough that in place of a pair of soliders, a warrior in Golem Armor could be mounted upon a given wyvern. I then consider Nidhogg herself. Even with my own form on her back, Bang at my side, she easily has enough room to seat two dozen of my soldiers on her back, allowing them to effectively treat her as a ship and perform broadsides as she passes by targets. ....All this, without overtly showing my Deep Spawn save Nidhogg. ...And so in my plotting, the Arcanoworks Air Cavalry is born. Orders fly from my mouth, Nidhogg manifesting her spawn as I call forth soldiers to begin learning how to not come unseated, as I task Derkin with making saddles for my soldiers, a task he swiftly recruits others to aid him in. To Del Rogo, I pose the question of a modular, detachable set of over-armor for myself, asking the old smith what he could do to truly make this Soul Grave impregnable. For once, Del Rogo does not lambast me with his acidic tongue, instead turning a speculative eye upon the irregular task I have presented him with, even as I note he already has one of the many Anti Golem shells I left behind in his hands. He simply mutters as he stalks away to the forge. To Jezebel, I assign the task of crafting some sort of eyewear to allow improved vision at night, affording my planned Air Cavalry the chance to function unimpeded at night.

With plans set in motion to soon grant me a force to dominate the skys, all while avoiding any messy issues with explaining why I have a freakshow of unkillable monsters at my beck and call, I turn back to Eisenhardt under the light of the setting sun. He notes my focus, the final cessation of my flurry of plans, and looks to me expectantly, awaiting my further explanation of the Domintus invasion... and advise on where his talents would best be spent. Considering he flat out told me he will make his own choices, I must be careful with my words if I want to guide his wrath where I want.....






What should I say to Eisenhardt the Metal Titan, war hero and master Magnotmancer concerning the Disciples of Domintus?
And once I have spoken with him, what should I do while the Air Cavalry are being prepared?
>[I need a SINGLE d100 roll for the coming of day 150, and every time a day passes thereafter until 200 points have been accrued. A perfect roll of 100 counts as double its value, so a single roll of 100 will instantly pass this check. When 200 total points are accrued, the Arcanoworks Air Cavalry will have their equipment ready and have gone through basic riding training. Whether this takes a single day or weeks is up to the dice, representing how much luck it takes for all the different tasks you just set to not impede one another. Again, I currently need ONE d100 roll, and will need ONE d100 roll every time a day passes hereafter. If I find multiple rolls in between posts, I will go with the lowest roll. This will only come into effect if there are three or more rolls, as I understand it can be hard at times to be sure if a roll has been made or not. Good luck.]

rolled 72 = 72

---

I believe dice go in the Email field. Rollin' them bones.

Again, I leave the plotting in capable hands.

MOAR SPAWN though, would be excellent, especially one centered around massive numbers.

_________ embodies the concept of ARMIES, its form revolves around BODIES and STEEL.

_________ embodies the concept of MANY, its form revolves around FORMATIONS and SHEILDS.


_________ embodies the concept of TACTICS, its form revolves around MAPS and PLANS.


_________ embodies the concept of POWER, its form revolves around STRENGTH and ASSISTANCE.


If you like any of these, just give them a name. The more expendable lesser spawn we have, the better.

Also, we should seek to take down Aboeleth ourselves, if possible: If he's exactly like the previous guy, we might be able to empower our other soul!

>>248212
Pretty nice roll.

Ok. So "Abaeloth". His appearance is pretty fucking obvious: Given his espoused last wishes, the rest of the Domintus Leadership has seen fit to install an impersonator in his place, one whom they can call the same name.

After all, how can any save the survivors of Abaeloths failed assault (probably silenced to preserve the secret) give heed to Abaeloths final wishes if he's "Still alive". Conniving bastards.

Explain this to Eisenhardt. We'll burn out the impersonator and the southern forces ourself, first. They are the most immediate threat, and destroying the States food-stores is more crippling a blow than can be dealt by any conventional battle. It must be stopped.

(The second reason is that I cannot POSSIBLY imagine that Abaeloth's soul is happy with this turn of events. Destroying the impersonator corrupting his last will and condemning his soul to the ministrations of Abaeloth's own within our Metal Shell could lead to a similar manner of "Willingness" as is demonstrated by Zagrath the Unseen's soul. A point to consider).

For Eisenhardt, the best targets I can see for him to attack would be the northern group led by Delfargoth and Therikio. This, for the same reason that we are attacking "Abaeloth": Disrupting their supply lines will stall their entire warmachine.

Alternatively, he could also consider heading off the larger group and not attacking ANYONE for the moment, instead seeding the territory between the Pure Lady's group and the Capital. This will give a decided advantage to him against the larger, likely more potent group, at that location.

I would like to note: I think it would be best for us if we saved the largest group for last:

They are heading straight for the Capital, the most heavily defended location in the state. They can likely hold for a time in the event the force reaches the City walls.

Additionally: Consider this. We've been trying to perpetuate the image of Mordre, Hero of the State since we got here, to facilitate a sort of Caesar-like takeover in that the populace views us as a more influential figure then the actual ruling class.

Imagine how much our HEROIC image could be bolstered under the right situation: The Capital, heart of the nation, under siege, barely holding out...hope seems lost...then *BAM*, Mordreand the Arcanoworks to the rescue.

We'd have to time it pretty well, and make sure we had a good gameplan to take on the Domintus Army, but success of that nature would be fucking AMAZING four our plans.

Eisenhardt is a Magnetomancer. Soul Graves are made of metal. Unless the enemy Soul Grave has some sort of defense against Magnetomancy, like our disjoining rune, he could probably tear the thing to pieces. We don't really know anything about 'The Pure Lady' though. She could be someone he would have trouble with. Still, might be a good idea to get Eisenhardt's assistance with her and her golem. Because obviously we want to capture that thing. We don't have to do it now, though.

>>248224
Honestly, anyone who devotes any sort of major efforts towards a unit like a golem, would foolish to not have some kind of contingency vs. their elemental weakness. Wood golems vs fire, Soul Graves vs. Magnetomancy. Given how easy our direct large-scale/area magnetomancy can be trumped, it's something we should plan for.

>>248204

>What should I say to Eisenhardt the Metal Titan, war hero and master Magnotmancer concerning the Disciples of Domintus?

Relay what we were told to him. Explain our current plans to either cut off their supply lines or to protect our own in the north and south respectively before taking on the main force. While he's not a foolish man we should caution him that going with our attacks is probably the best way to get his revenge, if he wants to stand any chance of taking down their big players he needs our army as a distraction or else he'll probably get squashed by a couple Knight Captains. We're thinking of pairing him either with the State's main ground force so he's close to metals in the ground and can more readily draw then up and screw with the enemies armors and fling giant metal balls at them. Either that or he can join us on Nidhogg and toss a bunch of giant metallic objects at them as we swoop by and help us and Bang engage in Hero killing scenario's.

>And once I have spoken with him, what should I do while the Air Cavalry are being prepared?

Yeah, we need to visit the Blue Knight, but instead of just exchanging pleasantries with him like we were going to we're going to need to ask for aid in the war effort. That man has a good amount of resources on hand a several strong life golems that could be helpful on the front lines. We also might want to see if we can contact Sam Vimes. I don't remember where he got called off to, but hopefully it's less important than helping the state deal with an invasion. He's a combat Blood magic user and he also has a bunch of life golems at his beck and call. Plus if the war goes well and we can convince him we're not a crazy sapient Soul Grave we could get him to teach Arkus some basic Blood magic which he needs to know to recreate the blood togas if I remember correctly.

>>248212

Good roll.

>>248204
>[Gialgorra owns the island, the whole thing. The towns are giant rent collectives, effectively. How do you think he got enough money to fund his ridiculous research?]
Then we can rent a fort-sized plot of land from him, instead of buying it. It's still important to secure a location of our own there for warehouses, protection of our assets in place, and what have you; from our previous experiences there I would not want to bet that our stuff and people there will be entirely safe on their own, particularly given that we'll (hopefully) be raking in absurd amounts of cash. I wouldn't even put it past the people that we might well be economically ruining to try and blast apart our teleport box with cannons or something, which we cannot allow as it is currently irreplaceable. We should make several orders of magnitude more money than it costs to rent the place from the crazy trade shenanigans that we'll be able to pull, so it's not a problem. Put orders in place so that our people will have arrangements made for us to build holdings there within the next couple weeks.

>>248213
We are doing this while keeping the Deep Spawn on the down-low. None of your suggestions seem terribly conducive to that.

I would be willing to go for the following sorts of spawn at the moment:

-There was a "just as planned" specialist Spawn suggested a while back. As our interests grow more diverse, we could really use something like that- make it a giant brain or something, virtually immobile but capable of keeping track of thousands of minute details and calculating likely outcomes. Keep it in Mosmordre or Mordreden, feed it a constant flow of information with Phohn, and we basically end up with an AI to keep track of things for us and provide us with counsel.

-For a combat Spawn, something specifically centered around having hundreds of faceless spawn that can pass as golems of a more common variety, with the central body very similar to any of the lesser spawn. We make them all elsewhere, then bring them through the teleport box and when asked where we got a golem army, chuckle and say "That would be telling, wouldn't it?"

-I'm sure that there are other ideas which could be beneficial in our current situation, but they have to be subtle. That's very important.


>>248215
>(The second reason is that I cannot POSSIBLY imagine that Abaeloth's soul is happy with this turn of events. Destroying the impersonator corrupting his last will and condemning his soul to the ministrations of Abaeloth's own within our Metal Shell could lead to a similar manner of "Willingness" as is demonstrated by Zagrath the Unseen's soul. A point to consider).
This is very true. Actually, this is true enough that I propose we burn several Pristine Souls to learn soul magic, as previously discussed, and chat with Abaeloth about it. If that works out well, we can move on to spending much of our time over the next several days speaking with the various souls we now have in our body and attempting to align more of them with our will. We've been dancing around getting soul magic for a long while now, and it's getting foolish to delay when it could be ours already and useful in a myriad of ways.


>Imagine how much our HEROIC image could be bolstered under the right situation: The Capital, heart of the nation, under siege, barely holding out...hope seems lost...then *BAM*, Mordreand the Arcanoworks to the rescue.
Definitely with you on this one.


>Honestly, anyone who devotes any sort of major efforts towards a unit like a golem, would foolish to not have some kind of contingency vs. their elemental weakness.
Speaking of planning around weaknesses... we need some sort of defense against common anticipated methods of anti-aircraft fire, I think. We're planning to operate at night, which is a good first defense, but it's not enough. We can probably expect to face pyromancers, magnetomancers, geomancers, and guys with bows and crossbows as the more common viable threats to our air cav. What can we do to armor our forces against them? The only things that come to my mind are boosting our soldiers' ownership of their stuff somehow, and making sure that their saddles don't have easily manipulated metal parts. But neither of those will help against getting fireballs thrown at them, and I don't think the wyverns have enough cut-rate aeromancy to make a decent shield.


>And once I have spoken with him, what should I do while the Air Cavalry are being prepared?
We need to go meet with the Blue Knight. Invite Dame Valiria if she wants to come, although if she takes her position as one of our captains seriously I daresay she'll decline. See what he wants, and discuss the invasion and what we're planning to do about it. We should be able to fly over and meet him in a very short time, I think.


>To Del Rogo, I pose the question of a modular, detachable set of over-armor for myself
Show him our sword, while he's working on this. He may find it interesting and/or be inspired to make something that synergizes with it... or just tell us to piss off. Whichever, really; I just figure it's worth a shot.


Other matters. As days are passing, get regular reports from Keddic/Dompaggio, Lorgk/Jojo/Oggroth, and Uggrokk as to events in their respective locales. Keep appraised and up to date on things. Also, I believe that we heard that Figment is into dream magics somewhere? Mention this to Jojo, and if Uggrokk says that Figment shows up to visit Oz at any point offer Jojo the opportunity to drop in and speak with him. He could learn quite a bit, I suspect. I have no idea when this might actually happen, but I want our people to have those orders so that they can take advantage if it does.


>I don't remember where he got called off to, but hopefully it's less important than helping the state deal with an invasion.
I suspect that he was called off specifically to help deal with the invasion.

One more suggestion: A Deepspawn themed to counter the geomantically inclined. Specifically, to head off the rather...EXTREME numbers of Clay Seige Golems the Domintus like to employ.

Pengaiea, embodies the concept of EROSION. It's form revolves around WATER and CRUSHING EARTH.

>>248232
About Abaeloth, I'm thinking when we take him on we should utilize the Hands of Hunger ability as much as possible and have Bang very visible with his creepy face cloak covered in Masks. It'd be rather amusing to see the look on his attacking forces faces when they see a Soul Grave using the ability with a man wearing part of his gear. It may even make the impostor realize how deep in he is as he's fighting the guys who killed his predecessor.

>>248233
Agree that we should spend those Pristine Souls to get Soul Magic.

>>248236
We do have an assload of them. Using 2 for the super basic soul-magic understanding would put us at 3.

>>248233
>>248236
>>248237
I'm cautious to agree to this because it feels like a waste when we could just wait and get it from one of Lenryt's boons after we help Lubu. From what I remember if we requested the boon of Soul magic we'd get basic ability and a choice of a specialty for the ability, I can't recall if it was bundled with golem crafting as one boon or not. Also I think it was three pristine souls to acquire Soul magic and golem craft or at least that's what the wiki says and the normal updater is usually on the ball with those sorts of things because half the information is copy pasted from Bob's text. I mean I suppose it would free up a boon or two from Lenryt we could use on something like perfecting our cover or acquiring abilities from exotic magical schools.

>>248237
Don't forget that it also costs 2 Pristines for the Deep Blood Iron Saturation thing.

>>248249
We don't have those boons. We're not going to get them until after the Land of Dragons' civil war is over, in all likelihood, which could be a matter of months. Besides, there are a myriad of things upon which to spend them- including upgrading our soul magic, even if we know it already. Lenryt is, based upon what we know about her, basically capable of raising us to super-grandmaster level in any discipline that we want, so it's not as though we can't stack upgrades.

You might be right that it costs three, but I don't really mind. I'd spend all five, if that's what it took to get us something this powerful and flexible. Three is a bargain.

>>248250
We're almost certainly going to get more pristines at some point in the next forty days. They'll be pretty action-packed and with plenty of opportunity to call things, no doubt.

>>248249
I think it would be a waste of a boon to use it to get basic soul magic. That boon could be better used granting us any number of things that we can't use pristine souls for, and boons are not as easy to come by as pristine souls are.

Can we PLEASE have Arkus look at the Edge of Oblivion to see what it does?

>>248256
Yes, I realize that, I just thought I'd point it out.

>>248233
>Honestly, anyone who devotes any sort of major efforts towards a unit like a golem, would foolish to not have some kind of contingency vs. their elemental weakness.
>Speaking of planning around weaknesses... we need some sort of defense against common anticipated methods of anti-aircraft fire, I think. We're planning to operate at night, which is a good first defense, but it's not enough. We can probably expect to face pyromancers, magnetomancers, geomancers, and guys with bows and crossbows as the more common viable threats to our air cav. What can we do to armor our forces against them? The only things that come to my mind are boosting our soldiers' ownership of their stuff somehow, and making sure that their saddles don't have easily manipulated metal parts. But neither of those will help against getting fireballs thrown at them, and I don't think the wyverns have enough cut-rate aeromancy to make a decent shield.

GUYS, REMEMBER BALBOA'S AEROMANCY WIND SHIELD WANDS? Giving those to our golem armored CO's would be beyond useful, especially if the Aeromancy from the wands stacks with the innate control of the art possessed by the wyvern spawn. In fact, if Nidhogg and the thirty eight spawn under her control concentrated their magics towards Aeromancy, a FUCKING HUGE barrier of wind could be constructed around the entire formation!

>>248223
And how easily detractors can spin that into something negative: we purposely withheld our support, causing the capital, and thus the Azelhaedran State, to be severely weakened, letting us easily take over the state as a dictator. And worse, it would be true.

Well, it is a good PR booster, though, so good job coming up with that. We really need to crush thoroughly the armies before heading toward the capital (and keep an eye on the capital, perhaps use one of Velada's component bees?) to help ward off such accusations.

>>248258
I very much agree with this.

Now that we have some free time before preparations do this >>247919, I mean the last two paragraphs, about talking with Arkus and possible bonus for Dregas.

>>248258
Shit, I forgot about that. Wanted to suggest that too but slipped my mind.

We can't use our Deep Spawn? Awwww...
We are defiantly going to suffer major casualties. We'd better not spread our forces to deal with several tasks at once, like, if we are attacking southern group have everyone participating including Eienhardt, that way we might keep our losses at minimum.

Setting up ambushes and traps (like geomancy mines during the fight agains Goran) is a must.


Oh, the Blue Knight wanted to see us, right? We should pay him a visit.

We should ALWAYS have several Pristine Souls in reserve to use as Deus Ex.
Don't go spending all of them, please.

>>248256
>>248257
If this thing goes through I just hope you two are willing to step up to the plate and earn us some Pristine Souls yourselves instead of off offhandedly saying we're sure to get more in the future. Between this and the Deep Spawn blood pretty soon we're going to running around with a Pristine Soul safety net. That's not only bad for Mordre, but potentially for our allies. For instance when Oggroth was mortally wounded we managed to use our reserve of pristine souls in conjunction with existing abilities to save him. Should we come across another crazy scenario we won't be able to jury rig up a solution like that and have to face the consequences.

>>248204
I'm going to go ahead and say that "Abeloth the All Consuming" is that Domintus soldier Keddic and Bang were fighting during the previous invasion. We never did find his body- I'm guessing he escaped, gave his superiors the lowdown on the six freaks of nature that steamrolled their strikeforce, and landed himself a very hefty promotion as the new abeloth. Also, if the Disciples managed to make a new Abeloth with the same abilities and equipment as the last one... well, I don't think Lorgk would mind if we brought him a second crystal sword to complement Legalloth, especially if it contained the imprisoned souls of a thousand tortured yeti. And if one bitchin necklace of faces and masks was the bees knees, imagine what Bang could do with two.

>>248278
That sounds like conspiracy theorizing, and with no proof to back it up if we're smart. Who would actually bother doing that, in either case? we have no major enemies in the state save Weinsho, who is despised by the local populace courtesy of Weeinsho.

Thats a very weak position to hold. Besides, it doesn't become an actual issue unless they manage to breech the capitals walls and get free reign within for an extended time.

Not undergoing beneficial courses of action would be silly given the fact we've done similar in the past, given the infinitessimal odds of a random conspiracy gaining momentum against us when ALL of our actions and almost everyones view of us is incredibly positive.

>>248287
Working on it, but we would still have 2 souls left for at least a month. We won't have enough deep spawn blood iron to do anything with until then, regardless. It wouldn't take away our safety net to spend the souls necessary for soul magic/golem crafting.

Don't forget Senth of Trollingwood, if we are employing he'd better work to gain that pay.

> Knight Captain Farrogut The Red Knight


the Red Comet said

>"Ancestral Dragon Jaegrezweistrik The Radical AxeGod Is Another Paradox Knight, A Local Dragon, The Only.. Ancestral Tomb, As They Call Us, To Hold The Office For Three Hundred Years... He Has Been In Service As A Dragon For Two Hundred Of Those Years, But Still. He Is Coming To Meet Me Here Per My Request, As He Has Information Concerning A Local Claimant To The Title Of Red Knight. I Will Deal With The Issue Myself, Once Informed Of The Culprit's Location. Be Advised That I Would Appreciate Any Notification Of One Claiming To Be The Red Knight, As It Is Not A Title I Share To Upstarts."

we should phone him and let him know about Knight Captain Farrogut The Red Knight

Maybe Jezebel could work on some kind of weapon that's even more suitable for destroying groups of enemies from the air? Some kind of two-stage bomb that disperses flammable liquid or dust and then ignites it?

Send the Arcanoworks army/militia to reinforce the main State frontline. If the unused handcannons are lent to the state forces it might help halt the advance.

For now I suggest Mordre, Bang and Eisenhardt fly over to quickly cut the heart out of the Southern force. Argue with Eisenhardt that this force is unstable as they seem to be led by an imposter. If his falsehood is revealed before he is destroyed then it might go a step towards ruining the Disciples of Domintus as a whole.

If Bang can use his mask and magic-seeing eyes to identify the fake Abaeloth. Then Mordre and Bang can just drop down, denounce the fake (loudly in Abaeloth's voice) and kick his ass while Eisenhardt ravages the surrounding forces from the air.

>>248233
>>248236
>>248237
>>248256
>>248257
Second, let's learn some Soul Magic!

Soul magic? I hope you guys are good at hiding it, because I'd rather not have the Mortal Coil on our asses.

>>248562
As long as it isn't actively used in obvious arcane magic endeavourss, what are they gonna do?

>>248568
It is a legitimate query. The Hechler family is farm more visible than we are, and they continue to use Soul magic in their fighting style.

Weinsho is FAMOUS, and has been pretty openly using Soul Magic to anyone who even passingly looks into his operations.

Unless we start openly fucking around with visible displays, theres very little that we can do that can't be passed off as an innate Soul Grave function even under Scrutiny.

I still think we should reserve Soul Magic as a boon from Lenryt and use PS in future for other things...

>>248579
Waiting months to learn soul magic when we could do so now would be... suboptimal, I think.

>>248562
If we're worried, we can just... not use it. But primarily internal use of soul magic, focusing on souls that we've already captured and the ways that we burn hundreds of souls at a time in order to achieve various effects, would likely be almost undetectable. And easily excusable as part of the golem's functioning. So we should have a fair variety of things that we can pull without any significant risk.

>>248436
Great catch. Do it. If nothing else, he might thank us for taking care of the guy for him.

>>248232
Adding to my post we should also ask Arkus or Eisenhardt if they know anything about The Pure Lady or her golem. Arkus had a decent bit of information in thread one regarding the composition golems like The Grey Destroyer. Eisenhardt's vendetta against The Disciples of Domintus may have led him into pursuing information on it's powerful members and pieces of equipment like their Soul Grave.
>>248575
I'm just going to point out that while they may be far more visible than we are they also have more resources. By that I don't just mean funds, but connections that would allow them to operate so freely. Weisnho is a war hero and prominent mage who has likely maintained bonds with powerful friends he met during the war. The Hechler line is one of the most powerful and regarded warrior houses around and being an heir to it puts him near the head of it. No one has any reason to distrust them and in fact their reputations would make people less likely to believe any wrong doings committed by them. Even if someone did see and could provide evidence their aforementioned connections are likely powerful enough to sweep any incidents under the rug.

We on the other hand are viewed with suspicion almost immediately. We're always working to improve on this, but there's always a bit of suspicion surrounding us. People who get close to us always notice something is up. Our cover story isn't even air tight yet and if we do ever get caught we'd be in more trouble than we could ever imagine.

>>248436
YES, PLEASE.

>>248565
>>248568
Can we please delete these? Bob will...use it against us. Anyway, we're going up against the Disciples. If I remember, they have soul magic. We eat them, we get power.

As for Eisenhardt I suggest we just tell him what we know and let us offer our services to help vengeance. "I know what vengeance is. After all, you see this golem before you do you not? But I have learned to channel that rage into more fruitful ventures, but I will help you in anyway I can. We will destroy this army in vengeance."

>>248278
Yeah. You Caeser it up when you have a lot of public support, not when your boss just yelled at you like a useless IT guy. Let's go stomp GAUL!THE DISCIPLES OF DOMINTUS!

>>248575
>Hechlor
Yeah, they do; they also don't do it where they believe people can see them (i.e. not people who they are going to kill anyways in a small enough time frame that they can't inform others of the Soul Magic use). Since our entire basis on coming to the State was to become a Hero of the People, we want our accomplishments to be seen by people; spending three Pristine Souls for the purpose of getting access to Soul Magic which we won't be using anyways seems to be a waste to me (we will be getting basic golem craft competency along with the Soul Magic, of course, but that is not the main drive of the proposal, so...)

Say, is the PS usage getting us mere access to Soul Magic, or is it getting us access to Soul Magic and the ability to become more competent in Soul Magic as we consume the souls of Soul Mages? Also, do the Soul Mages we have already eaten count toward the competency of Soul Magic gained through the usage of the PS?

>>248591

Response posted in Discussion Thread

>>248596
apart from the business with the disiples we have and will be focusing on the land of dragons where they dont give a damn about soul magic

also as one of the previous posters mentioned we could do alot internaly with soulmagic which would be hard to detect and could be shruged off as working out a new way to access the soulgraves magics which should fit in that loophole in the anti soulmagic laws

Oh bugger, I forgot, ask Arkus about the changed runes on your sword. Or get one of your spawn to flip the pages in the book and see if you can look it up yourself.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/10/26(Tue)21:18 No. 248733 ID: a76809
File 12881530892.jpg - (113.89KB , 1024x768 , Aurockoth The Anti-Soul-Grave Life Golem.jpg )

>>248212
[072/200]

>>248436
[You don't know where The Red Comet is, and Phohn has never spoken to him. So you have no way of contacting him.]

>>248489
[Jezebel is the lead for both making the night vision goggles and refitting the four remaining stock golem armors. She has plenty projects, but could be used after the Air Cavalry's founding for further equipment upgrades.]

>>248215
I speak to the expectantly waiting Eisenhardt, starting off with an aggressive lead, in what I hope is a tactical approach to his established personality norms. I do still have issue quantifying mortal existences and their glandularly derived emotional quirks.

"First, I wish to begin by saying I wish to claim the southern front, As it is claimed led by a Knight Captain I saw friends slay in fair combat, I even carry his soul within this Soul Grave, he cannot be alive."
"How many fronts?"
"Three."
"...Then fine, you can have it so long as it is not their main force , now tell me about the other two fronts."
"The Eastern front is their main force, three Knight Captains and the Pure Lady-
"So she's here then."
"Do you know her then? I admit ignorance on the Disciples."
"...Their prophet. Claims that Soul Grave holds God within it's metal Tomb, and preaches the tenants of survival of the strong and cruel, fanatical worship to the one claimed strongest, their god Domintus The World Reaper."
"She leads through such a folly?"
"...I have come to suspect it is not entirely false. There is.... something in that Soul Grave I do not recall seeing in it prior to the Curse, or in any other Soul Grave, your own included. ...A dark, deep depth, an emptiness that seems alive only in mockery of the word, a fanatically intense and perfect void. .....And in that..... Well, I would say that I have met Lenryt, the one some call the Monster of the Mortal Coil... and while I would certainly not claim her entirely human, he otherness was a speck beside what dwelled in that sea of anti-existence."
"How did you come to see this depth of the Soul Grave?"
"I fought it. It had no runes, no enchantments or abilities associated with resisting or ablating Magnetomancy, how could I fail to best such as that? This was my thought process after.... Well, I attacked, and I was right, I could manipulate and rend its metal with ease-it was not enough. That thing inside just laughed, the ground, air, existence itself rumbling with its cackles as the Soul Grave spewed and grew metal with impossible speeds, gaining mass in such complex detail and quantity in so little time even Legendary Souls could not hope to sustain it. I doubt if even old Father Time, indeed if any save Lenryt could. ...Faced with hundreds of tons of minutely shaped spears, axes, swords, pikes, arms, claws, all manner of metallic sculpture weaponized as self-purging tides, constantly shedding every bit I gained Ownership of. It... scoffed at my attempts. I was only able to escape when I used my favored Ace move.... due to this experience I could not accept that thing as being nothing but her puppet. However great a mage that witch may be, her might was nothing to what she called her god."
"...That sounds suspiciously-"
"Like Anathema, yes. But Castiliathen is busy trying to stay top dog while Athelens thumbs their nose at them with that peaceful religion of theirs and increased prices. So the only nation that would have the scope and power to intervene into the heart of the Warring Nations is too busy to bother with a possible Anathema."
"A valuable bit of information, and I thank you. the Northern force, third of the three, is scattered just outside the States borders, along the mountain's low slopes and the steppes, led by two Knight Captains."
"Which ones?"
"I was told Delfargoth the Despoiler and Therikio the Inspiring."
"Pfft, that pansy Therikio's there? Some convoluted mass revolution/invasion/hit everything forever plan no doubt wedged in that egotistical mind. ...I will deal with the north."
"Anything to do with Weinsho being up there?"
"Finally doing some reconnaissance are you? Good for you old man, finally getting your feet wet. But no, I have no intention of visiting Weinsho... I have an urge to break things. The general geography you gave me is sufficient for me to locate them."

Without another word, the ever-brusque Eisenhardt blurs away, riding his metal platform into the sky at multiple times the speed of sound, thunder startling everyone remotely near us, several clutching their ears. I lose track of his position in less than a second as he moves miles in an instant, having hurled himself towards those distant mountains to the north and already vanishing behind clouds. ...Well there he goes, off to face an army himself. I wonder how the Metal Titan shall fare. My mind now turns towards the here and now, as I consider what to do in the relative flow about me as all sorts of people leap to action on different and interwoven paths.

>>248233
I call Burduko from his current labors to reach each of the three Domintus force's projected immediate destinations , and have him bring me directly to Gialgorra's Manse, from his prior trip with myself and Ugrokk to the inventor. In the dimming evening, I knock on the closed door, and this time when the automated butler greets me it does not do anything save step aside, clearly recalling our past encoutner and the designation I was afforded in its system. Highly impressive, for Gialgorra to have worked such complexity from naught but his understanding of things non-magical. Sofiazza is staffing the front desk, looking decidedly out of place, seeming torn between smiling and scowling at me, nevertheless showing as little respect as possible in her irregular recognition of my presence. Since she simply stares expectantly, I speak without further hesitation from my established persona's mannerisms.

"Hello Sofiazza, is your father available?"
"Maybe. Why?"
"I'd like to discuss renting some land on this island-"
"How much and where?
"West up the coast from the port about two miles, a hundred foot by hundred foot area plus a cliffside cave."
"Five hundred marks a month."
"I'm sorry?"
"For the land, Five hundred marks a month, first AND last payment upon assuming ownership actually, so that's one thousand marks to begin renting."
"... I see, one moment."
Speaking through Phohn to Burduko to transcend the lengthy times needed by organic minds I flicker back to the Arcanoworks even as Phohn explains to Dregas my need for one thousand marks, and as I march to the building he occupies I find him emerging in seconds to hand me a small pouch, the substantial clink of coins from within. I nod to him, and again bid Burduko to transport me back to the Manse, back to where I stood. Ten seconds after disappearing, I reappear before Sofiazza and hand forward what now feels like a paltry sum.

"First and last payment, as stated."
"...DId you just teleport somewhere to get money?"
"Yes?"
"Why the Deep didn't you just teleport the bag to you?"
"...Old habit of doing things myself?"

Without warning or hesitation Sofiazza's blank expression breaks into jubilant laughter, hearty giggles of amusement as she nods her head, lifting the bag in one robotic limb (this time a pair with assorted pressure sensors in them... if the whole island makes rent payments.... as I look past her considerations, I note hundreds of heavy sacks stacked behind her. ...Must be rent due for the end of the Cycle... or the end of the month. That should make it easy to remember when payments are due.

"Can I request ownership be assumed tomorrow?"
"Sure, makes it easier to know when you're due too. ..That's it old guy, you got the land. At some point one of us might come out, see how you're doing. As is, most of us are working on that arm you commissioned. ...Dad's really gone wild with the new inventions and cramming tech in that limb, when it's finished and gets mounted again for the final install in three days-oh yeah because dad got so involved in the project and got us involved it'll be done faster, FYI. So if that was it, I have to finish counting everyone's rent before I can get back to fiddling at that Dynamo frame and all its goodies with everyone else, so... do you mind?"
"Not at all, that was it I desired right now."

Again I disappear again, off on another immediate goal.

I am brought to the islands teleportation box I just began to rent land around, noting Burduko's soul to be waning from the rapid teleportations. I recall his mention the number of souls I carry causes him considerable burden, and I wonder if moving through the boxes would alleviate the strain. But first-

>>248233
>>248236
>>248237
>>248258
>>248272
>>248555
My attention turns inward, as I gaze upon the yeti mage souls I harbor... and how comperatively little I got from them. I know Soul magic was used by several of their number... but I seem to have not breached that initial border of magic yet, that gap betwixt mortal frailty and the implacable demands of my form. With five glimmering whispers of paradoxical souls swimming in my Soul Furnace, untouched and free to roam, I take a gamble, grabbing a pair of them to act as a lubricant of the self as I try to irk something more comprehensive from the bare beginnings of Soul Magic I hold.

[-2 PRISTINE SOUL TOTAL PRISTINE SOULS REMAINING: 03]

Something happens. I fell something previously immovable shifting, yielding, something pulled into my realm, understanding, a knack pervading my being. It clings to the Soul Grave ability to sense souls-

Burduko, visible at my side, is abruptly more concretely defined as a spiritual existence. I know that his soul is depleted to two thirds of its ideal maximum, and that he is perfectly balanced between Chaos and Order. With the realization that I can detect Chaos and Order in souls, the pinnacles of existence and anti-existence becoming understood, in some general way at least, comes a new sense of capability, an aspect of magic I know I have not tapped yet. It is small, it is feeble still, nothing like the fully developed buds of Will, or the corporeally reliant Blood... but I reach out to it nonetheless. Not truly understanding the sensation that comes, I find myself surprised as Ozmand the Hammer appears within my mind, words unspoken yet simply known.

>"Woah now, you can talk to me now? Hey that's great! I've been wanting to say that was an awesome ride in the shell you shot at that dragon, WHOO I went fast. ...At some point, I would like to talk to you about the whole 'you're a Sapient Soul Grave' and all that baggage you have with you, but I know you got a BUNCH on your plate, so I'll leave that for when you're ready."

Ozmand's individuated existence flutters away, my grasp of the infantile Soul magic wavering as I consider the things I am coming to understand resulted from my manipulations.

-I gained the passive ability to sense the Chaos and Order of souls, which will likely prove more useful on mortals than on crafted beings like Burduko.
-I can speak with the Heroic Souls within me. I believe I must focus intently to speak with them of my own will.
-I can manipulate the Chaos/Order balancing of a Soul whom is unresisting.
-If I gain the compliance of a consumed Hero soul, I can alter their Chaos/Order balance, and as purely existences of the soul, this could have considerable range to its application.

With my mind still filing away this new knowledge, this understanding forcibly claimed from the few yeti Soul mages within my system, I have Burduko teleport me back to the Arcanoworks via the box, observing his soul barely disturbed in any way at all in transit-the Sameness does seem to help, I shall note that. I exit the intricately carved teleportation chamber and intterrupt Arkus in his administrative work on the second floor. With but a glance, I clear the area of any others, freeing myself from prying ears within the buffer afforded each level of the tower, sonic dampening preventing anyone outside the room hearing what's spoken within.

"I know you have much on your plate right now-"
"Actually not really, not compared to before. Oh, I had forgotten to mention, got the Skyfall cannons installed on each tower. Just one per each of the five wall turrets, but hey, plenty of ammunition. Anyway, what's up?"
"I shall be leaving my sword with you, I wish you to analyze the runes, and tell me how they have changed from before. Seek counsel from Del Rogo, in joint considerations how the object as a whole could be improved. You recall that trick I pulled before, inverting its spatial and temporal stasis, I wish that to be its primary focus."
"Yeah sure I can maybe do that. Uh, what else?"
"Recall those aeromantic wands from Balboa's belongings?"
"Is THAT what they are? I hadn't yet had time to inspect them."
"I desire those analyzed, their runes duplicated to arm each Air Cavalry member with on. The spawn they ride on, and the dragon herself, Nidhogg, all have innate command of Aeromancy, As a Combat Magic, somewhat an Arcane magic for Nidhogg alone. Could you make the items network with one another and with the mounts, to form a collective spell? It wrought shields formed of dense air, Surely that much power could make a considerably potent and amply sized deflector."
"Okay first wow why was I not told the wands could do that, and second since when did you know that much about the mechanics behind the more involved and advanced applications of magic as a conceptual subject? I mean I am only just getting a handle on some of the runes involved with that! Also what's up with those creatures you got?"
"Arkus-"
"Yes yes I'll do it obviously, and yes that should work, and yes the usual 'this will take a bit yadda yadda' That... that should make the Air Cavalry pretty devastating... especially if I can tweak it to just be one-way, so that it pushes all air down, so attacks from the ground are repelled, shots from above are accelerated in passing... yeah that would make the Air Cavalry some beasts. Speaking of which, come on, what are they, the beasts and fabricated people?"
"They are Deep Spawn forged from fragments of my soul using these cores that orbit me even now, which I gained from Deep Spawn in the northern mountains when speaking with the area Administrator."
"...Deep Spawn being what, exactly?"
"Immortal existences forged to care for part of the worlds function as the root of their existence, "
"..Ah ha. So yeah, I'll get on those. ..Ah, also I'm a bit worried, and I can't really think of anyone to talk to about it but you. Ah, I'm, well... generating World Magic. I don't know why, or how, but in addition to being able to tap World magic from, you know, the world, I find my body innately generating it around my veins and nerves... it's a fair bit disconcerting, even if handy for runework, since I have more magical stamina now, but.... what do you think? Should I be concerned?"
"I see a harmony of Chaos and Order in your system, the two artfully interwoven in what at first looks a chaotic scrawl but when looked at more deeply reveals hidden complexities. I see the harmony of your soul, nothing foreign intruding on your existence. I think you should simply count it as the blessing it seems to be, and make full use of it."
"I.... see. ...Thanks. ....Uh, back to work, or...?"
"Yes. I have much to attend to while the Air Cavalry is formed."
"Okay, I think we got it here, I mean we have everything we need to work with."

Without further comment, I make my way back down the steps, the workers flooding back in to resume attending to Arkus, taking orders and missives about the camp as he eyes the sword and rings alike.

>>248232
>>248279
>>248305
[The Blue Knight is the rebel resisting the invasion, what with his noted presence to the South and possession of multiple bases and a comprehensive setup. So.... he's kinda busy for a visit, unless you can bring some muscle. Plus Nidhogg is engaged while the Air Cavalry initial training and final refitting is underway, so Burduko to places past is what you have outside of foot.]
I have Burduko bring me via the teleportation box to the Land of Dragons, nodding to a few workers laboring to fix yet another broken window, as I feel Lubu's immense soul several buildings away. I track down Senth once Phohn informs me of his location, and I explain in the next day or so he shall be earning pay as part of a riading party against an army in the Land of Dragons. He says nothing and only continues to shoot me that dopey grin as he puffs away on Old Bessie, yet he follows me to the box all the same, and just as the sun sets Senth is in the Arcanoworks, his smile thinning for a moment as he appraises our surroundings. I give him no time to gawk at being so much closer to his homeland as I gather up Bang, and seek out Dame Valiria.

"Dame, I mean to travel to your father's land. Would you like to come along?"
"Yes, I would. I find myself of little use in forming this.. Air Cavalry of yours. Truly, they shall be magnificent when ready. ....Oh, do you mean to leave now?"
"I mean to be there before midday tomorrow."
"Ah?"
"Fear not, I have a way to transport you smoothly and safely at such speeds. Shall we go?"
"...Yes, I suppose we should."

I gently float down a metal disk, gently taking command of Valiria's armor and firmly seating her on my fanged replica of Eisenhardt's platform, as I slave the joined magnetic fields to my own, unlocking the Disjoining rune. I turn Nimble Nitro to active, and drive Magnetomancy into myself, tossing a last remark over my shoulder to Bang and Senth.

"Do try to keep up."

WIthout further comment I take off, miles vanishing beneath me as I swiftly climb to one hundred and fifty miles an hour, en route south to the lands of the Blue Knight. I note Senth idly teleporting along at Burduko's side, having taken a clear liking to him, while Bang continues to fire himself like a rocked with every one-legged leap of his immense stride. Hours pass without incident and as the land whips by one day becomes another.

[DAY 150: DAY 10 OF WEEK 3 OF MONTH 4:]
[Randiday of the Third Cycle of Praeclarum (Summer)]

[-1 soul upkeep. 2,998 souls remaining.]

Before the sun has rightly risen, I am in the southlands, passing the place I met Valiria, mere hours later finding something I did not expect:

I see a red human-sized Life Golem, its soul possessing such depth without breadth that it feels out of place in existence itself, is alone against a force of thousands, warriors in plate and chain wearing black tabards showing a man made of weapons as their sigil.

The Life Golemis winning. The soldiers are dying.

Blades and spurs erupt like lightning unending from the golem's flesh, slicing through all in their path with not a trace of resistance. Nothing survives to even get within thirty feet of the life golem, who seems almost bored as he walks through the slaughter he creates, the sword in his right hand not once being raised. Senth pulls up short to frown speculatively at the sight, Valiria looks worried and Bang looks ready to rumble, a manic grin painting his face.





What should I say or do?
Now that I am in the southlands, where specifically should I go? To the mine I met Vonjeen? Or should I ask Valiria where to go?
Or should I attend to the exchange I stumbled upon?
>[Roll for next day passing [in next post] please. 1d100 roll.]

Heroic soul conversations? Awesome.

We need to talk to Abaeloth about the whole imposter thing after this encounter.

...
Phohn. Call Keddic. We've found Aurockoth.
...

rolled 1 = 1

---

>>248733
>I see a red human-sized Life Golem, its soul possessing such depth without breadth that it feels out of place in existence itself, is alone against a force of thousands, warriors in plate and chain wearing black tabards showing a man made of weapons as their sigil.

Could you clarify on this? The men fighting Aurockoth have Aurockoth as their sigil? Or is Aurockoth crass enough to have symbols of himself adorning himself?

If these aren't Carkiano's men or part of the Azelhaedran's military force, I don't think we should engage. However, if we do- Tell Keddic to grab the lined one and Dompaggio and haul ass over here. We are NOT fighting this guy without Keddic.

rolled 87 = 87

---

Oh Gog DAMN. Aurocockoth or however his name is spelled. Should we just run like a babby? I think we've got some pretty potent first strike capabilities, with the AA and railgun, good as a surprise attack.

I think we should railgun, maybe soulboosting magnetomancy if that helps at all, AA, and then continue running like a baby. Ah, fire five shots normally, then on the last shell Railgun.

Actually, Wait, there's probably no way we could kill him in one volley. I think we should run like the wind. Run, Mordre, run! Ask Valria where to go.

>>248738
[DoD symbol is, coincidentally, a picture of a man of weapons, depicting their god's manifestation in the golem, or so the thought goes.]

[Also, LOL GOOD ROLL]

Arkus spewing out magic is probably from either when he touched that stone moss ate, or when he turned himself to stone.


And yeah, changing my plan from "Surprise attack and run" to plain ol' "Run". Tell Bang that Keddic has got dibs on Aurockoth, wouldn't be cool to fight him now while he's down south.

>>248733
My first reaction to this sighting is to both call Keddic and to run. Run very fast and very far away. Aurockoth is scary, incredibly scary. His primary function is to kill Soul Graves, we do not want to fight him without some serious upgrades or help. We'd need help from some serious warriors too, like Jak Stryfe or Lubu. Ideally we'd have one or both of them and Keddic would be fully upgraded, having both completed his training and be wearing his family's ancestral armor. We don't have any of that now. I mean we've got Soul magic now so maybe we could put up a fight, but win? I don't know.

Just have our guys calm down and ask Valiria where she thinks we should go. Probably do all this while running away very very quickly.

>>248733
>[You don't know where The Red Comet is, and Phohn has never spoken to him. So you have no way of contacting him.]

Have Phohn ask one of our spawn in the Land of Dragons to hire a courier or runner to deliver the message, and have Burduko bring the funds for the errand.

>>248743
[yay, go me]

Hmmm, so the "god" that the Disciples of Domintus worship is actually an extremely augmented human, like Aurockoth was just a prototype for the thing inside the soul grave. Or, it could just be the largest concentration of Caged One essence on the surface of the planet- Perhaps this is what the C.O. is planning, mass worship from two sources, Athelens and the DOD, to augement itself enough to escape.

>>248745
Wait I think I may have an idea. What if we lead Aurockoth into Domintus The World Reaper? Wait, that's probably where he's going to go anyway. He hunts Soul Graves and is always looking for a fight, this invasion is probably awesome for him. So maybe our problems with Domintus The World Reaper will solve themselves and he's hunting it now.

hey Bob would shouting at Aurockoth that the DoD called him whimpy have any chance of working?

>Chaos and Order in souls, the pinnacles of existence and anti-existence
>as purely existences of the soul, this could have considerable range to its application.

I am so totally lost right now, somebody help? What does that all mean?

Also, concerning Aurockoth: run, run like hell. Preferably very far from it. If it can be done, suck up all the souls of the soldiers that are dying.

We are NOT fighting this guy without the sword. I want to let loose with a railgun shot, CCC, and AA while also blasting him with all sorts of other arcane magic.

On something related to the prophecy a while ago, I think the last Three Eyed Lord is Lerynt. The three part is because of the split between the form we see her as, the demigod/elder that we know she is a part of, and likely some third for we haven't seen or fail to recognize as her yet. Shes also understandably a threat to Morde on par with the Caged one.

Observations on Pristine Souls:
Note that they are 'Moments of Inspiration', a compatible statement to what occurred to Keddic with White Blood cells. This is because they are a corollary on some levels.

A Pristine Soul is purified Chaos made manifest, likely taken or allowed to be generated through us when we successfully predict the future. As we ourselves are figments of chaos, what we have just done by revealing the future is allowed newness, an essence of chaos to enter into what at one point was a purely defined and set future event.

This essence of Chaos also explains why a Pristine Soul does not 'use up' one of our current souls. Purified Chaos could easily 'create' something new like this.

Other parts of the chaotic nature are that when we use them, change occurs rapidly. Loxrite could be turned from the immutable to maleable, Runes are modified on the fly as seen in the AA, the order of the stronger defeating the weaker is nullified, Dragons are tameable, etc.

As an added prediction so accustomed to the Pristine soul, if this is right, then Morde will soon be much more aware of our presence. If so, good to speak to ya buddy.

First, to the matter at hand: Don't. Fucking. Engage.

Say to Bang:

"Not yet. With Keddic not even present, to attack now would be doing a heinous disservice to our friends honor and pride. However enthused you are, I know you don't wish for that."

It seems the Disciples were not wise enough to avoid engagement. So much the better.

Memorize the runes on Aurockoth's blade (if any, going off the picture here) and note everything he does: the speed at which he creates cutting edges, the number, etc. Make the most out of this passing sighting, but do not stop, and do not let anyone attack.

Now then, regarding more...generalized matters:

We should consider contacting the Reavers of Nibelheim. A mercenary force would be useful, especially a competent one like them.

Ask Valiria where to go. She's the independent sort, the kind with something to prove to her family. I suspect she'll fancy getting a chance to direct your group's path. "I defer to your wisdom as to where we should travel from here. I'm afraid I do not know your lands terribly well."

Finally, when we get a chance, sit down with Ozmand and talk.

"You have questions or something to tell me. I will do my best to answer and listen.

Oh, and glad to here you enjoyed that ride. The idea just...came to me, really."

>>248747
This doesn't seem like it would work, as we still have no idea where he is. Where would we send the runner/courier?

Well fuck, let's just go on our merry way. Hopefully he did not notice us.

>>248786
Well, someone must have seen or heard him leave/where he was traveling to. Though that might mean it'd take a bit longer, depending on when he left/how far away he is.

>>248786
We could ask Reinhardt if he knows anything. We could send a message to Jaegrezweistrik.

>>248792
Except he was constantly using some sort of ability that made him nearly unnoticeable, remember?

>>248793

Phohn never spoke or made connection to Jeagerweizstrick either, as I recall.

Glue 2010/10/27(Wed)06:52 No. 248851 ID: ddd48d
File 128818753679.png - (752.99KB , 931x1762 , jezebel_3.png )

>>248738
>rolled 1 = 1

D:< AHHHHHH
picture related


Ignore Aurockoth. We don't want to fight him now, and we have a meeting to attend to anyways. We told Valiria we'd be meeting with her father at a set time and we should keep that promise.

>>248843
Yes, but we can give a message to the Knights Paradox, as the Red Comet is a member of the Order.

>>248784
I like this, for getting Bang to NOT attack Aurockoth.

However, let us also appeal to his competitive side: "Anyway, you're rather falling behind, Bang! An old man beating you in a race, tut-tut. Come on lad, lets see who gets there first!"

We seem to focusing on Bang, lets also tell Valiria to NOT attack Aurockoth. I don't think she would, but I'd rather be safe then sorry.

>>248851
Keep a promise and NOT DIE.

As for Ozmand, do we have to talk out loud? If not, can we do it while moving? Just ask his opinion on everything thus far, what we should do about our abomination status, and if he has any cunning plans to win.

>>248738
>1
For some reason I dont think we will be able to just walk away and pretend we werent here

>>248748
You know, considering Eisenhardt's description of the the World Reaper, its name, and his opinion that it would take Lenryt herself to take him down... I wonder if the World Reaper and Lenryt are similar in nature. We already had the idea that Lenryt can feed off souls, so maybe the World Reaper does the same? Taking this further, maybe Lenryt feeds off souls for the expression reason of denying them to the World Reaper and to keep up her power so that she can oppose him?

... We need to go back to the land of dragons briefly to ask Lubu if he would like a real challenge. (fighting Domintus The World Reaper)
We can work this into something like, If i can provide you with a real challenge would you grant me a small favor?

He didn't say it was stronger than Lenryt. He said it was an even more alien existence.

How much is 'intense'? Because, if we could try to communicate with Abaeloth while traveling, we could get so much more concerning the capabilities (and origins; we really want to know how to get Magic-Eating and Physical-Eating don't we) of Abaeloth's cloak of shadows, and the crystal sword. (We never did take that cloak of shadows from Abaeloth's corpse, did we? I checked, and there wasn't any mention of it during the post-battle post. Therefore, since the cloak was iconic of Abaeloth's (we got that for our Soul Nexus ability after all), perhaps it was salvaged and used, ala what Trollzaru is doing right now with Goran's arm, to accelerate someone's soul development to become like Abaeloth, with all his attendant capabilities at the height of his power?)

Alright, so let's try this hero talking thing out. Doesn't quite seem like the best time but should you find the time, Mordre, isolate Ozmand's soul and start up a conversation.

“So Ozmand, sorry about the whole 'encasing you in the very device that (indirectly) killed you' thing... And then stuffing the shell that killed you back in there. It was more than a little heartless, in retrospect. Still, you seem to be taking all of this rather well. How do you feel about all this?”

Steer the conversation towards your sapience. “It's strange, all of this. Things were a lot different back then. I've changed a lot. I keep adopting strange mortal mannerisms. I don't suppose you've seen anything different? I am curious about the soul and just how it is that you observe things in your form.”

Ozmand response. Now the next conversation topic. If he mentions anything at all about the other heroes try and dig at that. Otherwise, prompt him into it. “And what of the others? The other heroes? What do you think about them?”

In particular try and get a little information on Thomro and Zaggrath, as they're my next targets. Wrap up your conversation with Ozmand and move on to Thomro. “It's been a long time coming hero of the Empire. Greetings.” Let's shoot the shit for a little here. Get a grasp on Thomro's character. In particular we're looking for oddities of the soul as he's a divided soul, the only one we're truly aware of.

Although if I can make a small prediction I think that Zaggrath has a divided soul as well. His odd mannerisms I think are an indication of a soul division. I think it's likely that the Empire used the souls of deceased heroes in such a fashion, holding part of a soul in a soul tomb and the other in a crystal for later use. It would fit in with their utilitarian nature, getting the most out of every resource.

If Thomro acts in such a fashion to indicate that he and Zaggrath have similarities betwixt them then this could be the start of research into soul division and the consequences of such. A useful knowledge to have that we could very well put to our own use in the future.

Of course, this is for when you have the time. Right now a, ah, strategic retreat sounds in order.

Another thing to add/possibly pristine.

The Paradox Knights, or Order of Harmonious Discord.

Its really obvious in hindsight, but just look at the name. They are completely a play on the need to achieve a balance between Order and Chaos.

As we know, Morde is very much Chaos, and there have been hints that other 'abominations' are de facto essences of Chaos. As such, the other members of the Paradox Knights are likely Chaos filled vessels. However, consider our Deep Spawn, masters of balance by having forms made of chaos, yet being so strongly ruled as to be souls of Order.

I believe that Paradox Knights are a corollary to Deep Spawn, and I predict by looking at Reisenhardt and seeing his soul, we would likely see something very similar to Deep Spawn. A vessel and outside appearance of Chaos, but the enforcement of the Paradox Knights making a force of Order. This also explains the Red Knight's obsession almost with his title, as a member/personality/soul of Order would require a 'stasis' of something as simple as a name.

Even moreso then a corellary (although I cannot be so sure of this), Paradox Knights could actually BE part of the web of Administrators and Deep Spawn tools the system uses or is currently using.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/10/27(Wed)19:55 No. 249098 ID: a76809
File 128823453833.jpg - (114.71KB , 604x840 , The Blue Devil.jpg )

>>248738
[073/200]

>>248752
[Go ahead and try it sometime, see what happens.]

>>248745
>>248753
I speak softly to Bang even as I put together what I see of the life golem rending a path through an army single handedly with what I have been told of Aurockoth, all while imprinting what I can see of the runes on Aurockoth's immobile sword.

" Not yet. With Keddic not even present, To attack now would be doing a heinous disservice, Both to our friends honor and his pride. However enthused you are, I know you don't wish for that."
"...Dammit, you're right.... oh man, I wanna duke it out with that guy SO BAD."
"...Valiria, I suggest we simply move on."
"...If that's who I think it is, I wholeheartedly agree."
"Where do you suppose your father might be? I've only ever seen the mining operation Vonjeen oversees, So I'm unsure as to where specifically to go from here."
"South for another twenty miles you'll hit a bit of road, turn east and you'll be headed straight at the main outpost daddy uses. Odds are good he's there."

Without any further comment or pause, I resume my flurry of motion, whizzing south as my head swivels about to keep an eye on Aurockoth. Just as he finally vanishes behind a copse of trees' coverage, I realize what disturbed me about his soul more so than it's irregular shaping: I could not typify it as Order or Chaos, which to my burgeoning understanding of the field should be mechanically impossible. I consider this for the short time it takes to reach the southern road Valiria mentioned, before I turn west, Bang and Senth still keeping pace at my side as Valiria primly stays seated on the metal disk I gave her as seating. I keep an eye on her form, but she offers no corrections to our path, and I find my attention turning inward, as I tap that new bud of Soul Power and reach out towards Ozmand.
>"Oh hey you have a moment then."
You have questions or something to tell me. I will do my best to answer and listen.
>"Right now? ...Okay, fine. Well, first off, what the hell, you're a sapient Soul Grave. A soul immortal in nature commanding thousands of souls taken from mortals. That's so freaking Anathema that... man, you're like a DOUBLE Anathema. I mean, you're even using Soul Magic, hell that makes you a trifecta of shit people are not supposed to do. ..So, I guess my question, or my first two questions at least, are where you came from... and how you are able to keep your ruse going. I mean, it just doesn't make sense to me."
I came from the Cursed Lands, which you no doubt inferred during your tenure in my cannon, But I presume you meant where my soul came from. As to that... I do not know, not yet at least. As to my ruse, it works because I make efforts to meet every requirement for it to be true, My facade so supported by little mannerisms that it is far easier to believe than the truth.
>"Seriously, I've known you're Anathema since you ate me, and it STILL is jarring. ...Well, since if you go poof, I'm pretty sure I will to, I guess I'm just gonna have to live with it. ...Heh, live."
I was glad to hear you enjoyed the ride down in the Land of Dragons... The idea that led to such velocity just.... came to me, really.
>"Well it was fun, no doubt about that. ...Look, I'm not exactly all that great on involved conversation, you're gonna have to give me some time to organize my thoughts, figure out what I need to find out from you, ok?"
Take as much time as you need, I do not intend to go anywhere.
>"Yeah.... I bet you don't..."

With these oddly disconcerting last words, my conversation with Ozmand the Hammer terminates, but I note that his soul seems more clearly defined within my structure now... perhaps I gained some measure of his trust from that candid exchange. We shall have to see.

>>248851
Several villages and farming communities flash by my sides during our pell-mell jaunt, and just shy of mid-day, Phohn brings me words from Arkus.
Administrator Mordre, Mortal Arkus requested you be informed of how training fares today. The productivity of yesterday has stalled, the wind controlling devices more difficult to decipher than initially expected, Jezebel having trouble mass producing a means for quality night vision, and Nidhogg.... is being resistive. As she cannot respond to me, I cannot discern its cause, but she has displayed a foul mood and an unwillingness to cooperate today. Even when reminded you bid her to take part in this, she only evidenced minimal improvement in temperament. Training still continues, but is slowed considerably by her lack of cooperation. Mortal Arkus wished you informed, and aware that he will appraise you of any changes as they occur.
...Wonderful.

>>249032
My mind drifts towards what led me to target the southern Domintus front, the tales of Abaeloth being at their head... and as I ponder this, I once more reach out to my budding Soul Magic, with my mind so fizated that I cannot help but summon forth the vestige of Abaeloth's soul. I feel his quiet, almost mournful presence for long seconds before thoughts start to drift my way.
>".....Why is it you disturb my slumber?"
To learn what you think of this imposter.
>"What does it matter? My strength waned, my might fled, and now I am dead and done. Why should I care what happens amongst those still warring for the right to live?"
Does not the fact this spits on your death mean anything to you? You did say you respected those who bested you enough to say-
>I remember my words, those moments before death. They are dust, only memories now. Were I to feel discontent over current events, what could I do? There is no point to worrying over something you cannot affect."
But if you could affect it? If the mortal world was not barred to you?
>Elaborate lest I suspect you to be deceiving me.
You have observed the soul of Zagrath the Unseen, dead yet able to act.
>"How could I miss that which you house in your eyes?"[/code]
Perhaps if you let me, I could grant you some measure of control in the world around us, A restoration of some of that might you held while living.
>[i]"You speak of possibilities, not certainties."
Of course, this is new ground to me, I would not promise what I cannot deliver.
>"Then I shall await a more concrete proposal from you. Know that should I be satisfied, I shall speak on all manner of things concerning my life, much of which could prove useful indeed when concerning this replacement Knight Captain."
Once again the connection between my soul and that of one of the Hero souls I hold is severed. ...I wonder, perhaps I am missing something for these exchanges? Maybe I need more direction when calling a soul, to elicit a more impactful response. A thing to consider.

Valiria asks us to stop as we near a considerably sized outpost, frowning as she appraises it from a distance.

"...Dad's flag isn't being flown. He must not be here currently. ...Perhaps to the south and west? Another outpost he frequents quite often awaits in that direction."

Another hour passes, and soon enough we stand before another structure, Valiria's face once more painted with hesitation.

"..Not here, either. ....East-Northeast, past the prior outpost, there is another place he might be."
"Why do we not stop and ask where he is?"
"Perhaps you have grown overly used to the mobility and communication abilities you flaunt. When father is away from his main home-that being the outpost we neared first-he frequently ends up moving constantly, and outpaces any messages concerning his whereabouts. I hope to bypass such a game of catch-up."
"East Northeast then."

The sun has begun to set when finally we near this third outpost of the Blue Knight. Unlike the others, there is a highly stylized flag flying along with the now expected solid blue flags of the Blue Knight, yet when I turn to Valiria, her expression leads me to believe this flag is also not Carkiano's.

"...What is little brother Vonjeen doing here?"

Almost in time with her query, the gates begin to open, and a golem some twenty feet tall strides out, a simple enlarged humanoid shape, no weapons I can observe anywhere on it's form.... yet all the same, it exudes a constant nimbus of clinging blue flames, the grass it treads upon failing to ignite, instead simply converting to ash without any in between. I detect Vonjeen's soul within the metal housing, and as the Golem Armor-clad son of Carkiano comes to a halt before me, flanked by six of the blue skinned Hounds as he bows jerkily towards me.

>"....It is g-g-g-good to see you again, M... M-m-Mordre. You as well, Si-si-sister."
"Vonjeen! Why are you using that?"
>"..Th-th-things have n-n-not been going w-well. The D-d-d..."
"Disciples of Domintus?"
>"..Yes. T-They attack our holders. F-father is busy with this. ...M-mage Mordre, f-f-forgive my brusquen-ness, but could you aid m-m-my father? The enemies are m-many, and our l-l-losses heavy. ....W-w-we will not win, I f-f-fear."

Valiria finally stops speaking, as her jaw drops, contemplating her father facing a third of an entire nation's army, even sounding like he has been doing so for some time. While she does this, I note that Vonjeen likely does in fact know where his father is... unlike Valiria.




What should I say or do?
Do I offer Phohn's services to Vonjeen to mitigate his speech impediment?
And what is my next step now?
Should I do anything with the fact I now have memorized Aurockoth's soul, and will have an easier time tracking him down in the future?
>[Same dealie, I need 1 1d100 roll for the next day. And yes, because the prior roll was so terribad, it only counts for a half-day.]

rolled 47 = 47

---

No words, just rolls.

rolled 70 = 70

---

>>[Same dealie, I need 1 1d100 roll for the next day. And yes, because the prior roll was so terribad, it only counts for a half-day.]

Does that mean two rolls?

Anyways, rolling dem bones, words later.

Try talking to, let's say, Merrack.

Marreck, my bad.

Fuck. Is our dragon PMSing?

"These Disciples need to be taught a lesson in humility! I shall face them here and teach them a right and proper lesson in manners. ILIA, DEAR?"

"y-yes?"

"BRING OUT... THE SPECIAL TEA."

>>249102
When speaking to him, address him as Merrack the Swift, and mention that he has been around the longest, and has helped us greatly in subtle ways.

Get permission from Vonjeen to have Phohn talk to him, and agree to assist him/his father fight the army. We do, after all, have quite a lot of power to our name right now. Mention that we're developing some air cavalry though, and if it's possible to wait a day or two we'll be much stronger for it.

Nidhogg probably misses Bang. Heh.

>Do I offer Phohn's services to Vonjeen to mitigate his speech impediment?
Only if Bob wishes it.

>Should I do anything with the fact I now have memorized Aurockoth's soul, and will have an easier time tracking him down in the future?
YES! We need to try and find a way we can track that signature. Possibly Phohn up Arkus, have him drop everything and work on this. Some way to track that signal. I do not want to get anywhere near that thing until Keddic is Ready.

>And what is my next step now?
"Of course, Vonjeen. As a friend of your father, it is my duty to aid him, as it is any friend's duty. Where is he, and how many strong does he face? I we will aid him, and if this small force is not enough, the Might of Mordre will thunder down like dragons from on high to crush those that would harm my friends."

On the Chaos/Order sense, I wonder what Senth's soul looks like. It shifts constantly, so I'm not sure whether that means his soul is dominated by Chaos, or that his Chaos/Order balance changes with the shift. And on the topic, what does Zagrath's soul's balance of Chaos and Order; if we can determine the quirk that allows Zagrath to leave our form is inherent to his soul's balance of Chaos and Order, we can perhaps somehow alter Abaeloth's soul to also be able to exit our form to his satisfaction, and, by his promise, give up information on this replacement of his. And surely Zagrath knows something of souls (since he was a Mosmordren Hero, he must have utilized Soul Magic of one kind or another) that he could teach us (we, sadly, won't actually be able to utilize it if it is not pure knowledge, since we still aren't able to grow our soul on its own (how many Pristine Souls would it take to gain that anyways?), but even knowledge is useful) something about the various aspects of the unique souls we are encountering?

Also, on Zagrath, his 'Unseen' can still be used while he is out of our form right, and it covers the rubies and the Amaranthine Annihilator beams as well? Since it allow escape from our attentions (and our soul sense), can it not also hide Zagrath and allow him to sneak up close to Abaeloth, close enough to hit Abaeloth with a full-force Amaranthine Annihilator, producing a one-shot kill? Contingent on him not perceiving and reacting to it fast enough to block it with a magic-nullifier of some form or another, of course.

>What should I say or do?

Offer help of course. Can't let one of our most valuable allies in the States fall, especially since he's been so helpful in both metal trade and in bolstering our military with his golem armors. Plus this battle gives us something to sate Bang's lust for kicking ass.

>Do I offer Phohn's services to Vonjeen to mitigate his speech impediment?

Nah, I like it. It adds to both the boy's character and immersion.

>And what is my next step now?

Have Vonjeen lead us to his father. Ask if there's another equally imposing suit of golem armor for Valiria to wear. If there isn't I don't really feel comfortable taking her with us, this will be a dangerous fight. Then again looking back at her stat block I do want to help her along with her Wild Child phase and push her past her Pampered Life problems that make her react adversely to struggle.


>Should I do anything with the fact I now have memorized Aurockoth's soul, and will have an easier time tracking him down in the future?

Yes as best we can. Keep tracking him in the back of our mind if you can. I don't think we will be able to come up with a device unless we create it ourselves as none of our other allies can use Soul magic and devising a system for tracking a soul without it seems like it'd be hard.

>>249121
I love this idea. It could be like Mage Mordre's equivalent to Pop Eye's spinach.

Glue 2010/10/28(Thu)03:28 No. 249258 ID: ddd48d
File 128826170884.png - (800.96KB , 2070x1337 , everyonelovesarkus.png )

>she has displayed a foul mood
Does someone need a huuuuuuug? I think someone needs a hug. Or maybe to kill something...nah she needs a hug.

Bah don't give the boy an easy way out with his speech impediment! I got rid of mine, he can get rid of his! But do ask him and Valiria if they would like a way to contact us long distance, and if they say yes then go ahead and do the Phohn thing.

>>249121
the...special tea?
ITS HUNTING TIME