“Unhhhh…” You moan as you come to.

You haven’t felt this bad since you went out to celebrate the end of your apprenticeship with Acchi and your other friends. You drank WAY too much Voshj and had to spend the first day of your initiation recovering at Winnow’s house…

“Parin? Are you awake? Can you hear me?” Someone nearby says.

The voice sounds familiar, it takes you a moment to place it, but it’s definitely- “Acchi?” You mumble as you open your eyes and squint against the blinding lights. All that’s visible of her is a dark blob, but that voice was definitely Achillea.

Acchi breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh thank goodness. I was starting to worry that you’d never wake up…” She says.

“Where am I?” You ask. You can feel the Apotropeia around you, so you must be back on the Crossroads. But weren’t you just on Aklabra with Logan?

“You’re in the Milestone’s infirmirary. You were out cold when Jax brought you here, and you’ve been like that for a little over a day now. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up for a while… A lot’s happened since you got here…” Acchi says.

“Hasn’t it only been a day?” You ask, sitting up in your bed.

“A very busy day…” She says, putting a hand on your shoulder. “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. What do you want first?” She asks/

>[ ] Good

>[ ] Bad

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>>31668600
>>[ ] Good
lets start the day with the pleasure..waking up is painful enough

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>>31668600
>Good
We're playing as Parin...
>This is relevant to my interests

>writing

“Good, please.” You say.

Acchi smiles. “Well, you’re not dead or corrupted. The healers managed to flush it all out. And Logan is still alive, probably…” She says, looking away from you.

“Probably?” You ask, cocking your head to one side.

She sighs. “Last contact we had with him went like this-“ She pulls out a calling crystal and you can see her fill it with Aether, then Logan’s voice comes out of it.

“Hey, I got a lead on an infiltration into the Milestone by the Corruption. As well as a lovely big wrench I can toss into its plans. Contact me if you want details.” It says before the crystal hums down and releases the energy it was charged with.

You look at Acchi for a moment while you process what you just heard. “That’s important isn’t it? Have you tried to call him back?” You ask.

“That’s the bad news… Your brother is here.” She says.

Your eyes go wide with shock. “I thought he was on the run!”

“He was. But now he’s back, and he’s spreading some very dire information… So I need to know from you.” She grabs both of your shoulders and looks straight into your eyes. “What happened on Aklabra?”

>What say?

>>31669797
Give her the full deal.

Start with the fact that zesh almost killed us

>>31669909
honesty policy mebe a few tears

>>31669797
We saw he was corrupted, and had his arm chopped off, right? She didn't go unconscious, as I recall.

>writan

“I was with Logan because I knew that Brother was chasing him. I thought that I could talk to him, convince him to stop…” You say, the memory still stings a little…

Acchi backs off a bit. She’s always been stern, but she knows how to be gentle when she needs to be. “He attacked you…” She says.

Your hand goes to your side, where he wounded you. “Something was wrong with him, Acchi. He wasn’t himself. If Logan wasn’t there-“ Acchi holds up a hand to stop you, and then wraps you in a hug.

“I know this is hard…” She says.

“No, you don’t understand. His armor was dead. Logan broke it, and when he did… I could FEEL it. Brother is… he’s… Corrupted.” You labor on the words, forcing them out before the tears come. And the tears do come…

“That about confirms what Jax had to say.” You hear from the other side of the room.

You jump a bit and wriggle around Acchi’s embrace to see who it is. “Grandpa Nosim?” You say. Nosim isn’t your Grandpa, but you’ve taken to calling him that. He’s closer to you than your grandparents, and even your parents ever were.

“Good morning little one. I am glad to see you are alright.” Nosim stands from his chair against the wall and walks towards the door. “But the news you have brought is dire, and the council must be informed. More importantly, the council must be informed before Zeshua catches wind of this…” He says, stroking his long beard. “But first, up with you. Get dressed and get armed, we must deal with these intruders…”

>[ ] What intruders?

>[ ] Do as he says.

>>31670523
walk and talk we follow grandpas orders while asking about them

>>31670523
Do as gramps says.

Getting out of bed is something we have to do anyway.

>writing

“O-okay” You say, hopping out of the bed in your patient’s gown.

Grandpa goes to stand by the door, facing out so you have some privacy and Acchi helps you get dressed. The wound your brother gave you left a nasty scar, and it still sort of hurts. But it’s nothing you can’t take, it could be worse after all.

Part way through getting your trainee’s armor on, you feel a rift opening. “Ah, Achillea come here.” Nosim says from the door. “I do believe our intruders have arrived.”

You can feel the Apotropeia flowing towards Nosim as Acchi draws her sword and goes to his side. From outside you can hear… snarling?

“They’re not as pretty as I was expecting, but they’re definitely not friendly.” Nosim says. You can feel the Corruption emanating off of them, you can sense… 2 creatures. You think, it’s difficult to feel the energies over the movement of the Apotropeia. “Nowhere near as impressive either. Someone is underestimating us…”

The Apotropeia ceases its flow, and the world feels silent. All you can really feel are the two corrupted creatures quickly making their way towards you. And then Nosim whispers “Be gone.” And the creatures are silenced as well. There are no bangs, no flashes, just a slight ‘puff’ sound.

It takes a few seconds for you to realize that you stopped getting ready and you immediately set back to it. You never knew Grandpa could use such advanced magic, and so quickly too. To you he’s never been anything other than…. Well… Grandpa.
You push that aside and continue getting ready. Once your armor is on and your sword belt is buckled, Grandpa turns around. “Hmm. I suppose we’ll have to get you a proper suit now that your initiation is technically complete. But that will wait, we must move quickly.” He says, walking out the door and gesturing for you to follow.

>[ ] Where are we going?

>[ ] How did you do that?

>[ ] What were those things?

>[ ] Other.

>>31671327
Dayum. Am I ever glad logan decided not to fuck with this guy.

>What were those things?

Followed by

>How did you do that?

>>31671327
>>>[ ] Where are we going?
>>31671327
>>[ ] What were those things?
both seem relevant

>>31671327
>[ ] What were those things?

>>31671327
>What were those things?
>Where are we going?
>How in the flying FUCK did you do that?

>writing

“What were those things?” You ask as you follow Grandpa and Acchi out of the room. You look to where the creatures were when their energy disappeared, but there’s nothing there.

“Some form of Corrupted monstrousity. One looked like a chitinous gargoyle, and the other was a dried up corpse with 2 limbs to each joint. Really quite frightening, but not all that threatening.” He says, looking back at you with a cheeky smile showing over his beard.

“And that spell, I’ve never seen anything like that! What was it?” You ask him. That’s not entirely true, you know of spells that work like that. But you read that they take hours to inscribe and cast.

“Disintergrate. Yes, it takes a long time to cast by normal methods, but…” He holds out his hand and a glowing white sphere appears. “A wayknight doesn’t live to be as old as me without learning a few… tricks.” He says.

“Was that ball… inscription?” You ask.

“Entirely.” He says, closing his hand and extinguishing the ball. Normally script runs around you when you cast a true spell, which counts anything more complex than channeling. It sometimes takes a while because you basically have to write out how the spell works. If Grandpa’s little ball was ALL script… well, that would explain how he can cast so quickly…

“Where are we going?” You ask. You’ve never been to this part of the Milestone before, so you’re unfamiliar with its layout. But based on the maps you’ve seen, it seems like you’re headed to-

“The council room. I’ve called the other 10, they should be there waiting for us. I’ve called them together to continue deliberation regarding the Void Knight.” He says as you reach the door. “Now, when we get in there I need you to be brave and tell them exactly what you told us.”

“I will.” You say, brimming with determination.

>Anything to say before you go in?

>>31672354
Zesh was corrupted, wasn't he?

How is he here and no one is noticing?

>>31672477
Apparently his armor is shielding it from notice somehow. And this is obviously planned, so theres could be something more to it as well.

>>31672477
This is a valid point.
Wait, couldn't he make illusions?

>writing

“Wait. If Brother is Corrupted, how is he here and no one’s noticed?” You ask Grandpa.

Acchi bites her lip. “That’s the part that bothers me, and the part that’ll be the hardest to explain. Even with his armor there are people here with senses that are tuned enough that they could still feel it.” She says.

“He could be using one of his clones.” Grandpa says.

“Impossible, those are just illusions. You can’t substitute an illusion for a real person for this long… Right?” You say, feeling uncertain again.

That thought hangs in the air for a moment before Grandpa nods to you and opens the council chamber door.

Inside the chamber, the room has been split into 12 sections. Each section has the emblem of one of the 11 houses at its front except for the last, which is blank. You recognize all of the faces, but there is one you don’t expect.

Zeshua is here, sitting behind your family’s symbol where your father would normally be.

>What do/say?

>>31672971
Act like we didn't see his bitch ass and continue as planned

>>31672971
Dont say anything, just stare.
He knows what he did.

>>31673250
>>31673250
this one imouto scorned

>writing

Zeshua smiles confidently when he sees Acchi. The smile drops when he sees Grandpa, and drops further when he sees you, however. He doesn’t look happy to see his little sister, not one bit. It almost looks like he wasn’t expecting to see you.

In fact, that’s exactly how it looks.

You feel anger bubbling up within you. HE sent those creatures! Acchi alone wouldn’t have been able to take them both, if Grandpa hadn’t been there…

You fix him with a glare. He knows what you’re here to do, and now there’s nothing he can do to stop it.

“I have brought the witness along, as I said I would. But, where is Ferenz?” Grandpa says, looking at Zeshua. Ferenz is your father. He should be here at the head of your house’s section, not Zeshua.

“He’s taken ill, I’m afraid. And had to get his rest. Something I believe that my dear sister must do as well, I propose that we convene this meeting to a later date-“ Zeshua says, before you cut him off.

>[ ] Keep your cool…

>[ ] LIAR!!!

>>31674012
>[ ] LIAR!!!
No, fuck that. he attacks us, thats one thing, But Now he went after our father?

>>31674012
>>[ ] Keep your cool…
cooler heads prevail our anger is a cold burning kind

we shall nail him to a wall slowly

>>31674012
>[ ] Keep your cool…
But still call him a liar

>writing

You want to, with EVERY fiber of your being, to scream at him. But you take a deep breath, and keep your cool.

“I have no problems with doing this today.” You say. Zeshua grits his teeth.

“Yes, we have all gathered here to hear the testimony of Tellnahiparintolia. The actions of the Void Knight are a crucial matter that I do not believe should be put off.” Says Dreged, sitting at the head of the Leppera house section.

“You may begin, Parin. Unless Zeshua has any… amendments he would like to make to his account of the events that took place on Aklabra.” Grandpa says.

Zeshua stays silent, and Grandpa nods to you.

You tell them everything. Every last detail. From the moment you arrived, to the last thing you remember. You take a sadistic sort of pleasure in the way Zeshua squirms. He may have been your brother at one point, but that time has passed. Whatever sits at the head of your house’s table now, it is NOT your brother.

When you finish your testimony, the house heads all rise except for Zeshua. “Then we know what must be done.” Says Dreged, magical inscription whirling around his body. “Tellnasylimzeshuan, by order of the council we hereby place you under arrest. Have you anything to say in your defense?”

Zeshua laughs.

>1/2

>>31674662
>Zeshua laughs.

Not good.
NOT GOOD

“I was hoping to have some more prep time for this, but…”

A sword appears in Dereg’s chest, stabbing him from behind. Zeshua is behind him, half of his face disfigured and colored purple. The Zeshua at the head of your section stands and draws his sword as well.

“Now seems as good a time as any.” The Corrupted Zeshua says, before ripping his sword out of Dereg and raising it to the sky. You can feel them, rifts are opening all over the Milestone. Several open inside the council chamber itself.

“Tonight, the Milestone will BURN!!!” He screams. Corrupted beasts begin to pour out of the rifts, and outside you can hear roars and fighting. The fake Zeshua is attacking anyone in reach.

The real one is coming straight at you.

>roll 1d20

Rolled 14

>>31674897
no plzz don't be ripped by monsters

Rolled 16

>>31674897
HOW THE FUCK CAN HIS DOUBLE HURT PEOPLE!!??

Rolled 14

>>31674897
Fuck him up.

>writing

Your sword is in your hand before you even realize, and you immediately counter Zeshua’s charge with a thrust straight at his chest.

‘Sometimes mercy is a luxury that can’t be afforded.’ Was what Logan told you. You’re starting to understand what he meant…

Zeshua is caught off guard by your sudden onslaught, and is forced to tumble to the side in order to dodge. As soon as he goes to get up, you’re already into your next strike. He desperately parries, then counters with his own thrust. You turn it aside, and make your own counter.

In the midst of the chaos that erupted within the council room, the two of you duel.

Zeshua has more skill than you do, but you’re determined to finish this. Determination doesn’t prove to be enough, though. And Zeshua slowly gains the upper hand.

Until Acchi and Gramps join the fight. The three of you quickly overwhelm him, and you finally get a chance to look around.

The members of the council don’t command the wayknights on station alone. You can see that in the way that the monsters in the chamber have already been dispatched. There are still more coming in through the rifts, but it’s slowed to a trickle now. The wounded are being looked after, and wayknights are starting to leave the chamber to aid in the fighting outside.

“Parin.” Gramps says. “The Forbiddance on Logan’s crystal has been lifted. Go and find him!”

“But, the fighting is here!” You say. You can be of use here, you don’t understand why he’s sending you away.

“The fighting is not just here. They would not attack here and here only. The Void Knight will be in danger as well, go!” Gramps says.

>What do?

>>31675571
>>31675571
grandpa commands and we obey...through palia...since they expect us to go drikidoon

Rolled 14

>>31675571
Call logan.

Hopefully he's awake, considering how the last thread ended.

>>31675571
Chica can rumble!
But seriously, we should find our Mr. Roboto

>writing

>>31675571
Uh... Is Zesh dead? Should we double-tap?

If Logan needs your help, then that’s where you need to be. As much as you’d like to drive your sword into Zeshua’s chest, the others have this handled. So you pull out your Calling crystal, and let energy run from your palms into it.

“Logan, you’re in danger! Link me as soon as you get this!” You say into it. And then you wait.

It takes a few seconds, but eventually you feel the link. Channeling more Aether into the crystal to help establish the temporary thread, you slice a rift into the air and jump in. The warm embrace of the Aether is comforting against the cold, empty darkness of the Void. It was interesting going straight through it with Logan, but you’d take this way over his way any day.

You briefly wonder whether or not he can feel the Aether, before you emerge from your rift.

And before you is a massive crater. “Logan, what-“ You say, but he holds up a hand to stop you.

“Hold that thought for a moment.” He says. Logan is rummaging through a pile of rubble at the crater’s edge, and then he pulls out a… bone? “Phew… still here.” He flips the bone around.

>[ ] Bone?

>[ ] Are you okay?

>>31676105
>>>[ ] Bone?
...innuendo

Rolled 14

>>31676105
Oh good, he's still got the bone.
but yeah, parin wants to know why he has a bone.

>writing

>>31676105
Bone
Also, in lieu of asking if he's ok, EMBRACE our man.

“Logan…” You say.

“Yes?” He responds.

“Why do you have a bone?” You ask him. Of all the things you expected to find him doing, digging for bones was not high on that list.

“I think the word you’re looking for is ‘Skeleton Key’. I was actually looking for the guy this bone belongs to, but he’s probably dead. So I followed the guys who took his bone here, and killed them.” He says. Then he looks down into the crater. “And then one of the fuckers self-destructed. Damn near killed me.”

You grimace. “How long ago was this?”

Logan’s eyes lose focus, and his face goes neutral. It’s an odd habit of his, but he does it a lot. “Not too long ago.” He says. “So where’s this danger I was supposed to be in?” He asks, looking all around.

Now you notice something. He’s got a bunch of long, thin purple crystals sticking out of his back. You can feel Void energy emanating from them.

“Logan, what happened to your back?” You ask.

“What happened to my-“ He says, reaching back with his left hand. He looks surprised when his hand finds the crystal. And then he rips it out...

The look of pain is obvious on his face, and when you see the other end of the crystal you see why. The tip looks to be barbed…

>What do?

Rolled 10

>>31676555
Help him with the rest, check to make sure he hasnt been affected by the void.

Then employ tactical hug.

>>31676669
This

>writing

>>31676669
tactical kiss, he did it to calm us down

>>31676841
KISS DA MAN, FORGOT TO SAY DOMO ARIGATO, MR. ROBOTO

“Don’t just rip them out!” You yell at him and run over. The scent of his blood fills the air. Unlike Hecatun blood, human blood smells… metallic.

“I don’t suppose you have a better way to get rid of them.” He says, the pain obvious in his voice.

“Well… no…” You say, standing behind him and examining the crystals.

“Hang on…” Logan says. Then he holds his left hand out, and you can feel the Aether in his weird glass tubes being released. “This should work.” He reaches back and grabs one of the crystals, and for a moment you’re afraid that he’s going to rip it out again. But then it just shrinks away, eventually disappearing. “Good news. Exactly how many of these things do I have in me anyway? I can’t even feel them.”

“There are 3 more. You want me to help?” You ask. He tells you to guide his hand to the crystals, and within minutes they’re all gone. Once the wounds in his back have been healed, he turns to you.

“You’re alive.” He says, smiling in his half-ish sort of way. The right side of his face smiles wide, but the left side barely moves. It makes the whole thing seem sort of… awkward. But you know he’s smiling.

You wrap your arms around him. “I never did get to thank you for that.” You say, looking up at his face.

“Plenty of time for that…” He says. The two of you move closer, and you close your eyes.

And then you feel it, someone is coming. Logan seems to notice as well, though you aren’t sure how.

“… Later.” He says, pulling away and drawing his odd weapon.

It takes you a moment to follow suite, but you’re ready when the rifts open. “Later.” You mumble, as the two of you move to fight the monsters emerging from the rifts.


>End of Chapter 23

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>That's it for tonight, ladies and gentlemen!

>I hope you enjoyed this thread, as there will probably be more like it from other perspectives.

>Next thread will be up on the twitter an hour before it starts, hopefully /tg/ will cooperate this time...

>As always, CWK and I will be sticking around for a while to answer questions.

>>31677189
Why did you beaverdam us dizzy?

I thought we were friends.

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>>31677189

Noice.

Cheers for the thread OP!

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>>31677226
Beaverdam?
First time I've heard that one... huh.

>>31677377
Well, sleep beckons us. 'Til next time, friends. Good night.

>>31678507
gn