OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/16(Tue)11:35 No. 991622 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161591971503.png - (28.62KB , 753x656 , OnlyMagicCanPRODUCEMagic.png )

You ask who the fellows with the tablets are, and he shrugs.
"Leyline surveyors. Some magic hokey, looking for a place to properly set up a lab or some other. Best not to interfere, I find. But we are all in service to you, Lord Above, of course."

I had indeed built my castle on a significant leyline convergence. It helps with the flow of energy and makes research simpler and more efficient. If the kobolds are hunting for a lab locale, they are certain to find it soon. What sort of magic they use, and what they will need for it, I can find out later. For now...

>Assign artisans to cut down trees.
>Assign Warriors to cut down trees.
>Ask Sees about kobold magic.

>>Regardless of your choice, time will pass after this update.

>>991622
I feel like other items of furniture aren't terribly important. We can put artisans on woodcutting duty.
Do we need to worry about them getting attacked by wild animals? Could put some guards in the mix in that case.

Put the soldiers to work. Help make their arms big and beefy

>>991644
Gotta agree, lets build up some creature comforts for our forces first, let the soldiers do the wood cutting while the artisans work the furniture

>>991644

I'm okay with the soldiers doing the work, manual labor for soldiers is a good thing and will give them even that smaller boost when they actually will need to fight.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/18(Thu)10:38 No. 991912 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161608909334.png - (34.37KB , 753x656 , ChipChop.png )

Through Sees, you order half the military to take up axes and get to work. He directs them, at your orders, to thin the forest but not to clear-cut it. Not to mention your limited processing abilities: You only take down a few trees before one of the engineers calls it enough for the moment. The warriors are a little demotivated to work such a simple chore, but Mines disciplines the one that voices this opinion swiftly with a sharp glare and some rough gestures, causing the one who spoke up to cower a bit.

You have gained 3 units of wood.
At the end of the week, all things said and done, you're down to 1 unit of stone and clay and two of wood. Mines-heads reminds you - in his own way - that there are still kobolds trapped out there, by taking a chunk from the top of your throne. Sees reminds you that it's not as urgent as his partner thinks, by returning it. He does, however, impress the importance of the goal.

You're starting to worry about Mines' stability.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/18(Thu)10:39 No. 991913 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161608917055.png - (15.03KB , 753x656 , MAP2a.png )

And thus we return to excavation planning to finish the week. This time, the kobolds would like you to choose TWO of the possible projects. Now that they're settled, they itch to dig. According to Sees, this is a natural reflex, and once this floor is to my satisfaction, well, there's always down, as he puts it.

For now...

The first proposal (1) is to smooth out and reinforce the secret entrance and hatchery, allowing for just enough room for a few more eggs, some traps, and the aesthetic value. Sees and some of the engineers assure you that this would only be the start - they aim to restore the entire throne room, and other branches you unseal as well, later. Further, an area that is reinforced like this can hold more and better traps. Something about concealment and the like.

Another engineer doggedly brings up the main, highly trapped and fortified entrance again (2). Much of the original benefits remain from the previous proposal.

A stockpile (3) is proposed. A simple room to hold your resources, it will make it easier to keep track of what you have - and to guard it, as well.

A training hall (4) is brought up by a soldier and quickly sketched out. While not terribly well-equipped, a training hall will allow your soldiers something to do while not specifically assigned to a room or hall, and will allow Mines to work out some of his increasingly apparent temper. Furthermore, hatchlings can be taught how to fight here, something Mines is very adamant on.

Finally, the leyline surveyors have found a good spot for a lab (5). Aside from the obvious benefits of magic research, it gives you something to do - allowing you to possibly build a new body if suitable parts are found. Further research possibilities include item creation, larger-scale spells, and the training of talented kobold hatchlings into leyline technicians - the closest thing that kobolds have to spellcasters. Sees likes this.

>>991913
2,4. Perfect for our goals.

I think we should focus on infrastructure and planning until we know a hostile force has eyes on us.
We must rescue the 'bolds from slavery- but to jump into a fight without enough prep first would be bad for all involved. More time in slavery is terrible, but a botched rescue leading to deaths is much worse. Hopefully Heads can follow with that.
I vote 1 and 4.
A reinforced hatchery increases general QOL for everyone, and provides some basic level defense in the form of traps. A training room will keep Mines from killing anyone and show that we're starting to move towards our goal.

Agreed. 1 and 4. In addition to construction projects, we should also enter into early planning stages for the liberation of enslaved kobolds. Nothing serious just yet, but we should at least take a look at identifying possible targets. Once that's done, we can think about sending out scouts to gather information. Ideally, propaganda would long precede any actual attack, and ideally we could make the liberation look like an internal uprising.

Definitely (4). Mines needs an outlet, and we'll want to train up more fighters soon if we're planning to do any large-scale operations.

As for the other project, I'm torn between (1) and (5). We don't have enough resources to really worry about storage, and... do we really even need a "main" entrance when the secret entrance does the same while also being hidden? It just sounds like it'd just be adding another possible battlefront to the dungeon for... what, lots of room for traps and defenses? You can accomplish the same with (1), although getting the lab installed will allow us to get ourselves (and, by extension, Angela) back in fighting condition.

>>992014
I agree with at least trying to determine the options for achieving the kobolds' objective.

>>992018
>>992014
>>991915
>>991914

Rolling for finds...

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/19(Fri)13:23 No. 992044 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161618538195.png - (10.51KB , 425x360 , StrikingEarth.png )

rolled 81, 84, 95 = 260

---

>>992043
For real this time...

>>992044
hahahahaha holy shit way to go you motherfuckers, this is gonna be a bit.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/19(Fri)14:53 No. 992053 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161619079642.png - (11.84KB , 597x541 , itemgets.png )

>>992044
It turns out that digging out the training hall has resulted in the discovery of some magical items. Only problem is, you don't really recognize them. Oh, you know tyou had them at some point - tributes and gifts and creations of minions and the like - but you don't think you ever got around to actually using them. Angela's excited, the kobolds are anxious, but pleased that you're pleased.

One of them is a black skull of crystal. I think it's some kind of transformed human skull, but whatever it is, it exudes evil. Elemental evil, in fact, I get the feeling that channeling energy into it would render the area unpleasant for anyone who serves holy beings. Not strong enough to break Seals, unfortunately.

A lantern with an eye design for its hooded lens, full of oil, and positively bursting with magic of minor divination. Likely it can reveal invisible entities. Probably we could hang it somewhere and light it steadily when we have a ready source of oil for it. Presently there's just what's in the lantern.

And finally is the black cloth. It's a portable hole. You've seen them everywhere. The kobolds are really excited about it, especially when they learn that you enchanted this one to be activated not by unfolding, but also with a word of command. The same word turns it off. Once the kobolds empty it of stone - giving you four more stone on top of the two you just excavated along with the one you had before (total of seven, it's starting to take up space in the throne room) you find the space inside to be ten feet deep and six feet around.

With these, especially the skull, your defenses have grown significantly in power. The kobold engineers get to work trapping the newly reinforced and smoothed entrance. Sees looks anxious to speak with you, and Mines trundles off into the training hall to overlook its outfitting.

>Talk with Sees.
>Activate the Skull.
>Talk with another Hero? (Who, about what?)
>Talk with a kobold? (Job, about what?)
>Talk to the... skull?
>Something else?

>>992053
Do not use the skull just yet. That kind of large scale magical activity will surely draw attention.

Talk with Sees.

If Sees already has something he wants to talk to you about, then speak to him. And if not, I imagine he'll be able to apprise us of our actual options vise a vise kobold liberation.

Agreed on the "don't activate the skull" bit, but trying to talk to it might be funny.

Don't turn on that skull. We don't want to broadcast BIG EVIL HERE until we're already big and evil.
...how big is the portable hole, when unfolded and laid flat on a surface? Because I think we may have a wonderful new rug for the throne room. We just have to get a hero positioned over it, monologue at them, then speak Power Word: Loony Toons to send them into the floor. The lantern should also probably be hung in the throne room, but not yet lit until we have infrastructure.

What's Sees up to? And speak to the skull if we have time, just in case.

Hello, skull!

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/22(Mon)12:08 No. 992615 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161644011057.png - (9.88KB , 779x694 , Craniumvskull.png )

Attempting to communicate with the Darkskull gets you a lot of vulgarities in a lot of languages along with a whole cachet of insults, most of them referring to your defeat and lack of not just a reproductive system, but also a pelvis within which to theoretically house them.

It is not a productive endeavor, but Sees is patient.

Once you get Angela to move you to face him, he speaks up.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/22(Mon)12:17 No. 992617 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161644066555.png - (36.97KB , 779x694 , HUMANspotted.png )

>>992615
"We've spotted a human scout at the edge of the forest." Sees cuts to the chase right away. "Likely not hunting for you, Lord Above, but for us. He hasn't shown any sign of spotting us - we are very good at hiding - but he is persistent, and owns a good deal of magical equipment. Likely he is meant to find our base and show the way to more powerful or numerous recapture efforts."

He crosses his arms.
"On the one hand, were we to corner him, we could probably defeat him without issue. Doing so would likely yield a goodly amount of equipment, and an assurance of safety for a moment. But his absence would be noticed. Turning him to our cause would be another option, if we could get them listening. Unlikely." he sighs. "Capture is another avenue, though what we would DO with him is another question."

A long sigh. Angela speaks up.

"If he is human, acquiring his skeleton would be ideal." she says, "As it'd be similar enough to give you a basic, simple body again. Probably wouldn't last very long, but it'd be something."

"We also have the resources to seal the entrance completely and hide it for about two weeks." Sees adds, as a final option.

>We should kill him.
>We should talk to him.
>We should capture him.
>We should avoid him completely.
>Something else?

Let's avoid him completely for now. I'd like to build up a bit more before we start attracting actual adventurers to start raiding.

Avoid! A scout that powerful will definitely be missed and attract attention. You can build up your power base in the meantime to make one big move instead.

Definitely hide out. Getting discovered eventually is inevitable, but we want to ensure stronger defences when that happens. We can use the time to dig more living space and shore up our defences.

I don't think hiding is a real option. There's evidence out there already. The cut trees. This scout will find the cut trees and report back, resulting in a larger party arriving, even if the scout doesn't find the entrance to our base.

I vote capture, then try to recruit him. If he cannot be reasoned with then we just take his stuff as loot and keep him prisoner until our succubus grows strong enough to brainwash him.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)10:26 No. 992768 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161652040016.png - (27.18KB , 779x694 , WayTooClose.png )

>>992733
>>992619
>>992618
You order the passage sealed posthaste. There's a mad scramble to put things together, but the disguised bit of stone is set in place. Everyone in the hideout sighs a sigh of relief.

Funny, you thought Mines would have something to say about that. Oh well. On to the matters of expansion...

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)10:33 No. 992770 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161652082242.png - (14.13KB , 753x656 , MAP3a.png )

First of all, (1) the ever-persistent engineer slaps down a new design for the entrance hallway - now with guard posts and, he confidently notes, NOT opening to the surface just yet. He wants the hall in place, properly trapped and gaurded, BEFORE you open it to the surface. He seems quite confident.

The storage room is re-proposed (2). As a reminder, this will allow you to more easily keep track of your items, supplies, and other things you own. Easily sealed against intrusion.

The leyline surveyors press their need for a lab (3), as this will allow them to work their magic - and possibly yours as well.

The beginning of an actual mine is put forth (4). This will allow you to expand for an additional floor, if you need the space, and simply mine for minerals and other items.

An expansion to the barracks (5) is put forth as future-proofing. Once this week finishes - that is, when the excavation is done - you will have a new brood hatching. More space may be needed.

A forge has been requested (6). You don't have any ores to smelt presently, but you might find some with this excavation - and you can melt down metals claimed from enemy invasions.

Since you are trapped in the lair for two weeks, this week's productivity is higher.

>Select THREE projects for the kobolds to work.

Trap hall, barrack, leyline boys. We need defense, housing, and a way to work our mojo in that order.

[1] and [3] are musts. We don't really need [4] or [6] just yet - not until we finish mining out what we have up here and get some smeltable ore, respectively. That just leaves [2] and [5]; which of these you'll want is determinate on whether the new brood will need to move out of the hatchery immediately. If not, then priority goes to the room that fixes the storage issue that's been encroaching recently.

> Funny, you thought Mines would have something to say about that.
UM. Guys, it's time for a quick head-count. (Let's hope he's just putting the training hall to good use.)

1, 3, and 5 should be priority.

Also yeah check on Mines.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)17:26 No. 992822 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161654556557.png - (12.60KB , 529x462 , earthstrikeyouknow.png )

rolled 88, 28, 77, 44, 85 = 322

---

>>992787
>>992781
>>992777
Rolling for excavation results.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)18:33 No. 992833 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161654959690.png - (8.28KB , 820x482 , TheLab.png )

>>992822
You've unearthed a pair of rings - unidentified, but not strong - three units of ore, ten units of stone (for a total of seventee- no, wait, fifteen, you used two for the seal), and 4 clay, (for a total of ten?) resulting in a veritable pile of resources. The kobolds celebrate the finished projects by conking out in their barracks.

All of them except the Leyline surveyors. They spend their time setting up The Lab, speaking in hushed capitals as they carefully set up desks and benches and worktables. The one you rest on at the moment is the working bench, where the leylines converge under. It's kind of like sitting on a slightly warm stove.

Here, Kobolds will research runes, empower them with the leylines, and apply them to equipment to empower them. You can research spells here, etching them to memory on the inside of your skull...

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)18:34 No. 992835 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161654965259.png - (37.54KB , 1891x862 , SPELLBOOK.png )

>>992833

Which brings us to a disturbing problem. Not only was your body unmade, but your memory of spells has as well. You remember your most basic utterings and spells - especially those with only verbal components - but everything else has either been forgotten or has been barred from use, thanks to your loss of a body and especially your arms. Magic needs to flow in a specific way and shape for more complex spells, and fingers and arms are necessary for that.

I mentally create a way to display what I know, what I don't know, and what is kept from me. The spells bordered in grey are locked from me. Those I have forgotten - more complex spells - are to the right of my initial knowhow. The singular spells I do know are present here: Bind Spirit, Create Darkness, and Unmake.

Binding Spirits is the most basic of necromantic studies - trapping ancient scraps of energy that are the detritus of the recently and not-so-recently deceased and either immediately putting them to use, or placing them in a prepared vessel to use later. Spirits are used in the animus of all sorts of constructs and even more advanced bindings.

Darkness Creation is wonderfully simple. By blocking light with simple lensing of magical force, one can easily create a zone of darkness. For you, this can encompass about half your throne room. Total darkness is often needed for more advanced spells.

And finally, unmake allows one to revert some processes of construction. It can't unforge a sword, but it might be able to seperate it into its component parts just before completion, like hilt and blade, if it needed to be fitted together. Or unsewing a shirt, perhaps. It's versatile, but not very offensive.

Currently, we lack the ability to progress here. We need a stable body to unlock more of the spells outside of current reach.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)18:35 No. 992836 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161654970128.png - (34.56KB , 779x694 , INTRUDER.png )

>>992835

Which brings us to the new brood. Nine new kobolds have hatched and will be ready to work in about three weeks. Until then, they will be housed in the Barracks - the room furthest from the entrance, and specially guarded by the females, raised communally.

...Wait a moment.
...Do you hear that?

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/23(Tue)18:37 No. 992837 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161654986828.png - (36.53KB , 779x694 , INTRUDER2.png )

>I don't think hiding is a real option. There's evidence out there already. The cut trees. This scout will find the cut trees and report back, resulting in a larger party arriving, even if the scout doesn't find the entrance to our base.

You are now controlling Mines-Heads.
You are very. Very. Upset.
While anger is more of a continuum rather than a single state for you
This tall one is making you especially ENRAGED with how CLOSE he is to your NEW FAMILY.

Your friend is at your side. You have the advantage of both height and surprise.

WHAT DO YOU DO

Get him! Try to take him alive though. At this point, we need to find out who he is, who his allies are, and if he's already reported the cut trees and stuff to other people.

Mine his head for the precious brain ores

>>992837
Jump directly on top of him. Smash his legs if possible. Priority one is preventing his escape. Priority two is protecting yourself and your friend. Priority three is capturing him.

>>992837
time for the sacred technique known as the goomba stomp

Strike the earth! The earth colored hood. With your claws.
We can kill him, but we need to either disappear him or make it look like natural causes to throw off the backup party. You know which you're best at.

The scout getting back with the location of the cave is worse than the scout not getting back at all. Make sure he doesn't escape, first and foremost.

Yeah, he's examining that spot too closely for it to be a coincidence; he officially knows too much.

Your highest priority; incapacitate him.
Your second priority is; you survive.
Third priority; capture him alive.

To those ends, we start by jumping him with our weapon - notably without giving a battle-cry. Kobolds, even champions, aren't as likely to fare well in a fair fight as other minion species.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/28(Sun)08:35 No. 993531 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161694573494.png - (23.21KB , 753x656 , STRIKEHISFACE.png )

You would have screamed, if you could. It's a specific kind of scream: Not "here I am", but "here is your nightmare". Intended to shock, not alert.

But you don't scream anymore. Or talk, for that matter.
Another notch on the list of things They stole. You'll get it back. For now...

>Don't kill! Capture!
A human can live without its legs. ...! How- How did he - You were SILENT!

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/28(Sun)08:37 No. 993532 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161694582456.png - (25.38KB , 753x656 , NOHISFACE.png )

>>993531
Another swing, even before feet touch the solid earth - wild, but it connects with something, it rips, but there is no blood. Shallow.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/28(Sun)08:42 No. 993533 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161694615007.png - (23.33KB , 753x656 , BOSSTIME.png )

>>993532
You land, steadying yourself, and the Scout shifts out of his slide, smoking something magical from his hood where it was ripped. They eye you from the dark hole that is their hood without a word, a blade under their cloak, and out of nowhere, a bow in the other. They stand right in front of the sealed entrance.

Still, the geography here is thick with trees and the Scout's back is to the wall. They are not untouchable - simply fast. Cool calm flows over you like gentle water and focus slides in where power flees.

What is the plan of attack?
>We need to finish him faster. All out. Don't give them space to retreat.
>Defensive. We need to know more. Force them into initiative and retaliate.
>Get reinforcements. Shatter the seal with your own power and throw him to the traps and allies within.

>>993533
damn their quickness, he's perfectly positioned to get tackled right through into the tunnel, where you could hurl them onto a trap and get reinforcements

If our plan is to capture him, we might as well go with option 3.

>>993531
>But you don't scream anymore. Or talk, for that matter.
You seemed perfectly capable of bellowing at the lich. ("an impressive cry of anger")

>>993533
Drive him inside.

It is most important he not escape. We can give up on capturing him to secure that objective if it seems uncertain. Go all-out.

Don't give him the opportunity to get a hit in. Tackle him through the wall into a trap. We can always get a new wall.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/29(Mon)18:29 No. 993762 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161706774918.png - (17.01KB , 753x656 , DigDeep.png )

>>993554
Probably your last. At least until you take it back. Their hands were clumsy. Their knife was imprecise. They wanted you quiet.

>>993566
>Go all out.

Oh. You should have said that to start with.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/29(Mon)18:30 No. 993763 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161706781339.png - (18.83KB , 753x656 , Doordiscussion.png )

>>993762
You are now in control of [The Lich].

You're discussing options with Sees at the seal. You could tear the matter down within a few days, but it wouldn't do much good for a Mines who is in trouble, or possibly even captured. Sees hems and haws, mentioning something about being Mines' words to Sees' eyes. Sees knows Mines-heads is intelligent beyond the scope of what I've seen - a belligerent pile of muscle and scale - and that his vocal cords were haphazardly removed at some point. Sometimes he can mange simple sounds, but even that is taxing. His outburst earlier must, then, have been important.

"Fear not. I'm sure that whatever-"

There's a pounding at the seal. A scream and cry for help. In the language of the woodspeople? At first clear, then more strangled. Coherence is lost as the beating continues, until finally the seal sunders inwards.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/29(Mon)18:30 No. 993764 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161706783955.png - (24.64KB , 753x656 , Doordiscussionover.png )

A body is tossed in through the opening, skidding on many wounds. It's alive - if only just - with a mattock in its back and wounds all over.

Mines-heads steps to the opening and indicates the cloaked figure with a single claw. He's accessing some well of power I've seen a few times. It's similar to the power that funnels through the Darkskull - a fury beyond berserking, a primal, elemental sort of magic that reinforces the body with elemental anger.
Sees sighs.
"I suppose that's one problem sorted, and perhaps three more in the reckoning."

Stepping inside, Mines-heads shrugs as if to indicate that yes, we have more problems now, but that is a different problem. This one is solved.

Looking at the shivering, bloodied mess on the floor, you're somewhat bound to agree.

>Well, let's get it to the lab, get it dead, and see what is to be done with the remains.
>Save them, chain them, put them in some sort of cell. Make sure they wear nothing with any runes. "
>Seal this damned hole!
>Take the mattock and toss it back out. Maybe a bear got them.
>Something else?

>>993764
Nothing fancy, finish him off and fix the door.

Kill it and fix the door. We can get the leylinebolds to dissect it.
I feel like interrogation isn't all that important. It's an adventurer. They just crop up and wander into the wilderness, usually in packs.

Definitely interrogate it. We need to know who it is, what it is, who it knows, and why it was wandering around here. If it's just a lone adventurer, fine. If it's a scout for a party because there's a job in the tavern or a rumor floating around, we want to prepare adequately.

While capturing it alive was not the most important objective, we should take advantage of the situation while we can. Capture, disarm, study and interrogate. This thing might not be entirely human. If it isn't, we might be able to learn something from dissecting it, but after we have learned what it knows. Thank Mines-Heads for his initiative in protecting the den.

The seal will need to be replaced, of course, since undoubtedly there will be more coming in a matter of days at most. Don't bother trying to frame bears for the kill, I doubt anyone would fall for it. Better to leave them guessing altogether.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/30(Tue)20:53 No. 993933 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161716280525.png - (20.70KB , 753x656 , StitchedThing.png )

>>993897
>>993816
>Interrogate and capture.

You quickly have the best (and only) medic in the lair take it away after disarming it. The other kobolds are quick to recreate the seal.

"Mines-heads." you call. The hulk looks at you. "Thank you. Your initiative is appreciated."

The giant tilts its head, then shakes it, waving his mattock at Sees and the other leyline workers. Thumping his chest once, he wanders away, back to the training room. 'I didn't do this for you.' is the message you get. Just as you begin to discuss the next steps with Sees, those working on the Scout are quick to return to you. You're handed off and Angela roosts on Sees while you're rushed into the Lab.

This... is a 'golem'. A Stitched Thing, to be specific. It's not a True Golem, which requires a connection to the divine to make and is bound to either a location or a faith. A Stitched Thing is an automaton that runs on spirits or a soul engine. This one is the former, thank heavens. A Soul Engine is a forbidden thing, and for good reason. Even at your height you wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

Anyway.

The good news is that all the breaks of bones are clean, all the damage is easily repaired, and it had spent all its energy trying to repair itself and flee, so it's completely harmless and practically whole. And once you and your leyline workers are done - being very careful not to give it any fuel - it grows apparent that this was built by someone who is very good at making them.

But what to do with it?

>Make it ours. A complicated task with a chance of failure (About a 70% chance of success)
>Disassemble it and use the skeleton for your own body.
>Disassemble it, store the skeleton for later use.
>Destroy it. It might be a trap of some kind.
>Something else?

>>993933
Disassemble, use its skeleton for our own body. Time to be mobile again!

Make it ours. Unless there's a booby trap, we can always rip the skeleton out of it if we fail.
By runs on spirits, do you mean... alcohol? Is this golem powered by booze?

>>993935
This!

Make it ours. If successful, we will not only learn all it knows and gain an asset, we may be able convince whoever sent it that nothing is here.

Is there a way to check and see if it's feeding information back or something of that sort? Can we check it for traps? If not, try to make it ours.

>>994008
>>993966
>>993954
writing/drawing now

rolled 99 = 99

---

>>994009
. . .

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/31(Wed)09:51 No. 994013 ID: 9c1ef3
File 161720948770.png - (26.13KB , 753x656 , whereami.png )

>>994012
Less a concern for traps or hidden gotchas, it's more of a fact that the whole assembly is quite fragile. A misstep and the whole thing becomes inert materials. However, there's a small chance it becomes improperly programmed as well.

Well, here goes nothing. Golemetry was never my strongest calling, but crafting servitors is essentially similar from one sort of job to another. And if the original creator jump-started this with a Soul rather than a spirit, well, all the easier-

Something goes sideways.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/31(Wed)09:54 No. 994014 ID: 9c1ef3
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>>994013
The remains of the soul used to power the Stitched Thing's existence fuse with the spirits bound to it and it sucks in others in this very room with a feeling like a gasp, creating an entirely new soul from the mishmash.

In short, you accidentally created a whole life out of nothing.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/03/31(Wed)09:56 No. 994015 ID: 9c1ef3
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>>994014
A very confused new life in a body mostly suited to creating soldiers and assassins, rendering it incapable of expression beyond its gestures, as well as a total lack of anything approaching human characteristics save for arms, legs, and opposable thumbs.

Oh, dear.

>Attempt comfort? Communication?
>Oh god shut it down immediately! This is an abomination against all things normal!
>Fascinating. Let's see what it does next.
>Something else.

See what it does next!

>>994015
Comfort, then observe

>>994015
Comfort, communication.
Welcome to life. We'll see about improving that body over time, don't worry.

>>994015
poor thing, attempt comfort and observe.
we need some chalk and slate asap so it can properly talk back.

Comfort and observe. Golemancy isn't really your deal, but perhaps you could learn to make some modifications, in time?

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/10(Sat)09:30 No. 995547 ID: 9c1ef3
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There's an inherent problem with all this, and it's that you're a very old lich and you're attempting to comfort what amounts to a small child. After a few moments of panic, Angela flies over you and lands on the thing's head.

"I've got this, Master." Angela says, more clear than recently.

A wave of suppression washes over the Stitched Thing, calming it, as Angela perches like an owl on its 'scalp'. She sighs. "We can probably count on this one, if we like, to serve us. I can guide it to a proper development. The problem, though, my master, is that we have lost an opportunity to rebuild you. I had hoped by this point that we would have unearthed some bit or part of you, or some old bone cabinet, something. But... We haven't."

"Have plenty of capable followers, even more, now."

"You do, this is true. But a legion of kobolds and what amounts to a very strong child, along with a Succubus reduced to an Imp in form, do not really project strength. The problem is one of recruitment and loyalty, sir." she explains. "We still aren't strong enough to besiege a camp of slavers. With your body and some clever tactics, it would be no problem..."

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/10(Sat)09:30 No. 995548 ID: 9c1ef3
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>>995547

"... But as it stands, our primary military force will grow antsy and act without us. The young Mines-Heads is a Berserker, a real one, infinitesimal portal to Elemental Fury and all within his soul. And Sees is capable and a decent enough secondary leader to these creatures. But we lack the power to strike out, and that wouldn't be a problem, except we are steadily showing a hand with no cards."

"What can I possibly do?" I find it hard to find the end of this line of reasoning. "There are no bones for me."

"There are plenty, sire." she intones.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/10(Sat)09:31 No. 995549 ID: 9c1ef3
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"They're just wearing flesh at the moment, and happen to be a bit hunched. But we can work with that. We can definitely work with that."


This vote contains actions with the tag [EVIL]. These represent shifts in alignment and sometimes can risk betraying allies or committing disturbing acts for greater power. The more [EVIL] actions you take, the stronger your magic becomes and the more powerful your link to Angela grows - you become harder to kill with finality.

[EVIL] actions require a supermajority vote.

>Absolutely not. These kobolds have pledged their loyalty, not their bodies, to me.
>I don't see the point in losing so much trust for a modicum of power. It's not significant enough for the cost/benefit ratio to make sense.
>[EVIL] Very well. Let us see who is willing to sacrifice for the greater good, and accelerate the freedom of their brothers and sisters.
>[EVIL] I am sure an accident can be arranged. It doesn't matter how I get these bones...
>Something else...

>>995549
Absolutely not. The kobolds have put their trust in us. To be honest, I suspect that indulging in these sorts of acts had contributed much of the reason the world denounced us in the way that it did. If I am still 'evil' to that world, then at least pray I don't also alienate those who would side with me.

All is not lost on this front, Angela; I doubt we could tear down that entire kingdom in a single stroke even with my body restored. If the kobolds are willing to begin with more clandestine operations which will scout and weaken, we can have them capture a suitable vessel for me while they're at it.

>>995549
Ah, was waiting for this to pop up.
Absolutely not.

The morality of it is immaterial, and honestly if we were to ask we would doubtlessly have volunteers, but we look after our own.

Besides, what we'd gain in personal power and advance in timescale would probably not be worth worsening relations with Mines Heads.

These recent developments have given me an idea however: the slaver camp itself might be too hard a target but between Mines, our new friend here and the warriors we do have we should be able to take a caravan of them or their buyers as they transport their slaves.

>>995549
I don't see the point.
This is impatience. There will be spare bodies in time, ones that do not belong to loyal subjects. Once all our defenses are set up we may even... encourage the slavers to attack.
Or maybe we can take down a traveler along a nearby road?

"I don't see the point in losing so much trust for a modicum of power. It's not significant enough for the cost/benefit ratio to make sense."

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/18(Sun)09:46 No. 996724 ID: 9c1ef3
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"Absolutely not."

"But-"

"You have forgotten. Perhaps it is your reduced state. Perhaps it is your starvation for souls. Perhaps it is simple boredom of the many years you sifted through this rubble. I don't know which." The air about yourself darkens. It's an old habit - growing upset, you'd leach the light from the air around you, dark magic leaking from your soul itself. Many magi, even living and lacking your enhancements, experience similar phenomenons. "We have but several dozen loyal servants, including a child-soul within a construct, an imp, and an animated skull. Our position is incredibly precarious. It is not worth endangering for short term bursts or gains of power. Even with access to my full body, yes, I could devastate a slaver camp - but what of what follows? Am I to build again on such lack of trust? Am I to value my people so little?"

"What does it matter? we are immortal! In a thousand years they'll all be dead, either way. And we will be stronger."

"Certainly. But here and now is what matters. And here and now, they are alive - and working for me. Now go. I must coordinate with Sees and Mines."

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/18(Sun)09:48 No. 996725 ID: 9c1ef3
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>>996724


It doesn't take long to get them to the table.

"Sees. Mines. I have summoned you here to discuss what we spoke of when we met."
Mines instantly perks up - Sees looks worried. "And it seems I'll have to, on some level, disappoint the both of you. You see, I have an idea. Mines-heads, you are growing impatient. This is normal, understandable. You are a being of action, and you tire of being held here and waiting. And Sees, you fear that very action will bring danger upon your heads. But any operation has a weak point. Ours is our limited numbers."

Sees perks up, he's a few steps ahead. Mines tilts his head in confusion.

"The slavers have greater numbers. Their weakness is the difficulty of efficiently transporting their cargo, or keeping it in place." you explain. "Recently another servant has expressed that I am severely diminished, and were this remedied, I could lay waste to these camps with ease. She is not... entirely incorrect. Thus, a proposal: We waylay a caravan. Using your natural capabilities, we find some location where the entire caravan can be ambushed, their guards defeated, servants freed. We take from them one of their men. Even if we cannot secure every slave, this mission's main hope is trifold:
First, we secure my real power - a body of real bone, which which to channel my power, cast spells, and so on. Second, we free other kobolds, disrupting their operation. And third, we frighten them - their reaction to this will be most telling."

"And what if they retaliate?"

"With me at my full power, it won't matter. A small slave trader cohort?"

All those bones, all that meat and souls. Equipment. Possibly even recruits. "Gentlemen, this is an opportunity. This is a chance! Now, then..."

>Sees-In-Darkness, I trust you to handle this. Your caution and planning will be of great use, and I trust you to succeed above and beyond.
>Mines-heads, I trust you to lead this. Put the fear of whatever God they worship in them.
>Postpone this action - for a later date, perhaps after the children mature.
>Cancel this action. (You'll need to write up something to say.)

>>996725
This doesn't require subtlety past the initial ambush, which Mines has shown to be proficient at. Have him lead the mission.

Mines Heads should lead

I'm sure Mines-Heads is more than capable of commanding an ambush party.

>>996725
Mines head should lead

This is not a solo-op - we will be relying on a group to succeed where an individual (besides ourselves) would almost certainly fail. Mines is strong, yes, but he makes up for his brethren who are otherwise weak in direct combat. He'd shore up their main weakness, for sure. Sees, meanwhile, would play up their strengths in ambushing, traps, and autonomous tactics.

We send Sees.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/30(Fri)15:53 No. 998528 ID: 9c1ef3
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"Mines-heads, this will be a simple matter. Put the fear of whatever god they follow in them."

Mines-heads nods, and steps away, Sees following alongside him. You learn of the discussion a little later:

"This will be a simple enough mission, as our Lord Above has stated. The route of the slavers is used quite rarely - to bring in and bring out their cargo, and that is all. It is not well-traveled. We will need three others aside from you, Mines. They will dig out two divots. We all remember the length of those carts, yes? The width of the wheels?

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/30(Fri)15:54 No. 998529 ID: 9c1ef3
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Good. We will make use of that.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/04/30(Fri)15:54 No. 998530 ID: 9c1ef3
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Once the cart is immobilized, we move quickly to free our brethren. The guards try to stop us. But even chestplates and maille do little to impede what has seen its way through the toughest rock this realm has to offer.

One is merely decapitated.

He will be for out Lord Above.

You have acquired:
::Five adult Kobolds. They will require a week of rest to be fit for labor. One of them seems different from the rest...
::One human male adult body, sans head. Neck is damaged (crushing force) but otherwise in fine condition...
::Something about Mines' soul feels different...


The recently freed kobolds are taken to the barracks to rest, the body is moved to the lab and divested of equipment.
Mines trundles off to the training area, but the other kobolds from the operation actively avoid him. Regardless, spirits are high - progress has been made and captors slain. There is still much to do. While nothing is urgent, many things press on my schedule - what should take priority?

>Need to look at those rings I dug up, and prep the skeleton for use.
>I need to take a closer look at Mines' Soul. Something changed about him, and it might not be for the best...
>Talk with Sees about the newcomers, especially the odd one out. What sets him apart? Something about him tingles at the edge of your perception.
>Something else entirely?

>>998530
Investigate the strange kobold first. If it's a spy using some kind of disguise, you need to find out ASAP.

Next on the priority is getting your new body, since after that everything will be easier.

Then check on Mines, make sure he's okay.

Check out Mines

If Mines-Heads is unstable, it would be a disaster. But a spy or weapon in our midst could be just as bad. We must prioritise checking on the condition of these two kobolds before anything else. Mines first.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/05/02(Sun)10:13 No. 998747 ID: 9c1ef3
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You bid Mines-heads into the leyline room. He's antsy, you can tell. Ready to be out again, in the blood and the action.

But first of all, a refresher on the anatomy of a Being.

A Being is anything that is born, not created, and is considered alive. Stitched Thing, for example, is not a Being as such, it's a construct. And a statue is not a Being, it is an object. Even yourself does not count as a Being, for various, complicated reasons. A normal Being is three distinct parts: A Body, the solid structure and mechanical composition of its self. The Mind, the seat of consciousness and perception as well as memory. ANd the Soul, where the spark of life originates, the Self is defined as different from the rest of the world, and wherefrom the blueprint of the Body is kept and retrieved.

Thus, each part is linked to the others, influenced by the others, and reliant on the others. Without the Mind, the Soul and Body become an automaton. Without the Soul, the Being loses identity and often its life (there ARE exceptions, rare as they are), and without the Body, naught is left but an ethereal, tortured thing, a living 'exposed nerve'.

Thus it is that the health of the Trinity is just as important as the health of the singular parts, any Necromancer would tell you.

And our dear Mines-Heads, well...

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/05/02(Sun)10:14 No. 998748 ID: 9c1ef3
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>>998747

His Body is fine - mostly. The damages seen there are reflective of Soul damage, so... We can ignore it for the present, and focus on the mind and the soul.

From here we have a picture of his health, and it's no wonder he felt different. Mines-Heads is a legitimate, honest to goodness Berserker. Within his Soul is a miniscule, almost invisible portal to the elemental plane of Fury. Such a force as is on the other end of this portal that is beyond mortal capability of anger - it is a primal thing, a force that both focuses and energizes.

However, Mines is untrained, and worse, he is legitimately still full of his own anger. He has not learned the detached nature that allows one to access such power without polluting their self. His vocal glands, once merely damaged - his roar at you earlier had been haggard, but strong - are now on the cusp of destruction. His hands seem to be growing damaged in a similar way - fine motor control may elude him.

Worst of all, his mind is also beginning to suffer from contact with the portal in his soul. There is no telling how many rages and fights are left in him. Nor how his mental state will degrade over time, or where further damages will occur.

Mines-Heads has become a ticking time bomb.

>He must be benched.
>We must destroy the portal in his soul.
>We must reinforce his soul against the corruption, somehow.
>We need to find him a mentor in the art of Berserking.
>He is a lost cause. Throw him into the largest pack of our enemies as we can find and hope he dies at least nobly.

>>998748
>We must reinforce his soul against the corruption, somehow.
>We need to find him a mentor in the art of Berserking.
One of these two. Possibly the first one first, then the second one when we can manage it?

Don't spend too much time on the reinforcement, he'll probably only get worse when he fights so we can check on the strange kobold as our next priority.

Find a mentor, and then Mines can be a mentor to other kobolds

A mix of reinforcing his soul, benching him except for when he's needed most, and looking for a mentor, which will be our actual goal the other two methods are stalling for.

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/05/10(Mon)09:24 No. 999633 ID: 9c1ef3
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>>998749
>>998751
>>998754
Alright.

Necromancy, the art of death and life, of course has rituals for the healing and bracing of the soul using spirits. The results are better the smaller the wounds. I focus on his mind and his hands, then work on his neck. There is the minor, tiny issue that this may introduce mutations from the parts of the spirit binding to his soul, but that's quite unlikely.

Just need to replace the broken soulmass with spiritual essence I've bound and-

oh n o

OVERLORD!uLb17NbeNY 2021/05/10(Mon)09:29 No. 999634 ID: 9c1ef3
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The spirits...

It is rare but not impossible that a necromatic working involving especially dense amounts of spirits can result in a backlash. Most times this backlash is relatively harmless. At worst, one can expect some physical pain and and, oddly, a sharp memory. Some believe that this is due to the connection between Mind and Soul, but current theory posits that the Spirits are binding to the Soul itself and reinforcing specific memories.

You're recalling... random bits of your initial studies...

- - - -

The skull clatters to the ground, unbroken, but seemingly lifeless. But it's very hot to the touch, and the kobolds leave it be.

END OF THREAD ONE