Did we buy Aero Apprentice or not? Cause last thread the vote passed to buy it but the paste never said we have it.

>>32270458
Done.

The desert sun heats down on white sands, the occasional shrub caught up by wind, the fragments of some vegetation scattered to the breeze after a violent gale's onslaught. The flow of air picks up, sweeping sands in heavy ripples, mimicking a drop into water's surface.
Words are uttered under a hushed breath, parting from Jackie's pink glossy lips, nerve endings in her face shooting up with a magical white glitter as even her dark pupils light up with the force of spell.

She stands to your back, never taking her eyes off of her enemy for a moment, and you follow her example. Your one eye finds the dark red skin of the bitch-demon Beliala standing at your front, roughly twenty meters away. She's placed a hand upon her cheek, touching the fragments of her armor as her mouth moves with words unheard from Jackie's beginnings of incantation.

The priest moves beside her, standing to her back as though she were a shield, he's taking a defensive positioning.

What you presume to be more clone soldiers have moved around to your flanks. They number in total, three since their reveal, one behind your half-closed ranks, still spasming upon the ground as though something's gone terribly wrong. Wind whisks sand off of their bodies, revealing why you hadn't seen them until it was too late- they burrowed under the sand.
Noatak throws a glance at the thing's small body, yet faces front, presumably either considering her a non-threat, or not having the heart to kill a child.

Hot Rod takes in a deep breath, sweat forms upon his brow and evaporates just as quickly with the desert's dry heat. His breathing is more than a little haggard as he keeps his rifle-arm level, the throb of his green magic still persisting along the course of his weapon, revealing that his ache must be sizeable at this point.

>>32270529
Awesome. Thanks.

And while I'm already nagging about pastes, qtg 404'd before I could say this
>>Aqua Jet(1): Costs 9 out of 60 water capacity.
Why is it 9 if it's 3 per gun used and it would most commonly use two guns? Either go with 3-9 or 6.

Good on ya for finally updating it at all, though. Still some other stuff that needs gettin to, like the stam cost on Vacuum Wave and adding it to the list sorted by cost, but that's not really important right now I guess.

>>32270529
Why is
>[] Find and awaken The Painter, “Camille”
still an objective?

Helia's gotten her footing proper, releasing blood from her body to form frozen blades at her feet and forming pink frozen claws at her hands. Her eyes flick to you, and she smiles, flexing her claws as she guards the flank against the clones.

The demon-bitch finally speaks up over the wind, “Good to see you again Asher!” She calls out with a sadistic smile.
Your brow furrows, she knows your name? Fuck, she knows your name, “Can't say the feeling's mutual after what you did in San Diego.” If she wants to talk, you'll let her. If it lets Jackie complete her spell... It'll give Nora the time she needs to work to effect.

“Oh come on now, we had a deal, right? Never would've known about this Follower if you hadn't led us right to them!” She begins to walk forward, the priest following after at her back, their bodies glowing a mutual shade of red, only separated by a few shades. “Resources aside, you've done a fantastic job. Now we just have to take her in and you get paid.”

You stare at the lying demon, already understanding part of what her game is. Down in your stomach, you get that sick feeling. Jackie's staring at you. “Asher,” she whispers, breaking her incantation, the feel of her magic upon the air suddenly dropping from the abandoned spell.
The sick feeling fades, the baleful sensation is relaxed, but she doesn't say anything else as you glance back, seeing her eyes suddenly widen. “Asher!” She yells now, and you whip your head forward to see Beliala suddenly dart forward with a crazed, battlefrenzied smile!

Noatak tightens his grip on his spear and slips in front of you, putting himself a partition between you and the immediate threat. His spear spins forward and the demon darts to the side at the last moment, a red afterimage still staring at the both of you that lingers a for a moment.

Going to try and stay awake as long as possible, but I'll probably miss a good chunk.

With that freakish regeneration ability, she has little to fear as she reaches for you. Flinching away from the claws, you see her arm scatter into ribbons as sonic gales tear at it. The demon doesn't flinch, her regeneration pushing through the damage, and consuming power eating away at the further magic.

Noatak brings the blunt of his spear to her throat, getting it caught for a moment in the grip of her other hand as he forces distance between the two of you. Equipment on her person sparks frantically and explodes at the nature of Noatak's “curse”, a completely dangerous malfunction that catches her off guard, forcing her to wince for a moment.

>Burn: Moderate(medium)
>[] Back off and scan for the other threats. She was too brazen!
>[] Keep your eye on the demon, she's the most dangerous one here. Give her a Devil's Grin.
>[] Take her words to heart, and turn your power on Noatak, she could readily spare you if you did that.
>[] (other)

>>32270583
Copypasta.

>>32270613
>>[] Keep your eye on the demon, she's the most dangerous one here. Give her a Devil's Grin.
LET THE HORROR BEGIN

>>32270613
>[] Keep your eye on the demon, she's the most dangerous one here. Give her a Devil's Grin.
I realy don't want to get the vacuum treatment from jackoe

>>32270613
>[] Keep your eye on the demon, she's the most dangerous one here. Give her a Devil's Grin.

>>32270613
>[] Keep your eye on the demon, she's the most dangerous one here. Give her a Devil's Grin.
fitting against a demon

>>32270613
A thought.

Would we be able to have Nora communicate a plan to Jackie somehow without having Bel. or Priest hear it?

I want to try to suck all the air away from her head and keep it away. Suffocate her.

>>32270687
Through your mental connection with Nora, this is possible.

>>32270613
Hot Rod can "eat" some of our pyromancy flame to enhance his gun arm. Let's give it a shot. At the very least the name hot rod will be more fitting.

>>32270613
Let's try a new technique. Cover the priest in liquid flame and harden it.

>>32270727
You also said that we have a few gallons of water. Maybe we could attempt to jam that down her lungs. Or the Priest's lungs. He can't eat magic like Bel, so it would probably be more effective on him.

Or we could do an illusion in the fire to make it look like we're summoning something fucking huge and have Nora attack from the back while we distract.

>>32270613
>[] Keep your eye on the demon, she's the most dangerous one here. Give her a Devil's Grin.
Well atleast it seems like we have no turncloaks in this thread yet

>>32270780
what is Nora gonna do anyway?
I'm kinda interested in her combat abilities

>>32270786
I think having Jackie directly behind Asher sort of "persuades."

>>32270799
Other than playing jokes and slight misfortune (whatever that even means), she can't do much.

>>32270820
>Other than playing jokes and slight misfortune (whatever that even means), she can't do much.
Well you forgot that she can summon other fae of the unseelie court.
Also you underestimate her "tricks"

>>32270820
are you dranzy? no? I guess you're just making shit up then.

>>32270842
>she can summon other fae
Blessed be Susej that they are also bound to the contract.
Those wendigos Donner will create are not

>minor suggestion and spells based around misfortune

I just realized that Nora has mind magic and we never specifically said not to use mind magic on us in the contract.

Yo Dran, did "do not injure me" cover mind magic or are we about to have to renegotiate this contract? Because while it might not be a problem now, she could probably straight mindfuck us if we ever unlock her true form or whatever her deal is.

>>32270880
We discovered that and I'm now looking for the part in the contract

>>32270876
>Those wendigos Donner will create are not
They are. I don't know why Dran didn't put it in the contract pastebin oh wait, I do. He's lazy with his pastebins but Donner said that the wendigos he creates will follow his contract.

>>32270901
>You state that for the first clause she cannot cast spells at allies unless it is said otherwise.
Are we inside this clause?

>>32270880
I'll have to double check the accepted negotiation. I think "Spells" against you were covered.
>>32270971
All you'd need to do is declare yourself an ally.

>>32270919
I'll have to check his contract thread again, because I don't think that they are.

>>32271008
>I'll have to check his contract thread again, because I don't think that they are.
If I remember correctly they are only bound not to attack our allies

>>32271008
We now instantly tell Nora that we fall under the allie designation.
I'm not letting a fae get away with a loophole

You focus forward, keeping your eye on the demon as you cast your spell, not a word in the process of it, you need to act too quickly.
The space beside her head explodes, and her head rocks, leaning away from the force of the blow as Noatak rides up his spear to deliver a right straight into the demon's flagging face.

She grins wide suddenly and opens up her jaw all too far, dagger-like teeth shining with her blood-red power. Noatak's comitted to far to pull his fist back, and her mouth closes down around it, forcing out a scream of pain from the man as you hear the snap of bones.
Noatak pulls back, abandoning his spear as the demon simultaneously pulls back, suddenly stumbling backward as her foot gets caught on something in the sand.

The priest steps up, and Jackie fires at him, shots hitting him at his calf and chest before he clasps his hands together as though in prayer. His fire-red aura floods through his veins, intermingling with his blood as he utters a prayer in latin. One of the clones slides up beside him, as though to “catch” a spell. What a rotten way to gain some degree of assurance.

You flip your vision away for a moment to see Hot rod flinging away one of the clones. The thing landing on air to spring back, zigzagging like a lightning bolt before delivering a spinning kick, knocking Hot Rod away from the rest of you with the force, before going on to pursue him.

>>32271008
>I'll have to double check the accepted negotiation. I think "Spells" against you were covered.
That kind of stuff really needs to be in the summons pastebin.

Back to the demon and the priest, Helia comes down from above with one of her frozen skates aimed for decapitation. Belialia attempts to get up, getting stuck in the sand and screaming,”THE FUCK?!” As Helia comes down for what looks to be a decisive blow.
You see Belialia's power gleam in her arms for a moment, and then come up in defense, getting the frozen blade stuck in flesh, frost permeating slowly into the wound. “Cunt.” Beliala smiles with her insanity.
A tail comes up from the sand to wrap around Helia's leg, the preacher moves to touch her.

>Burn: Moderate(Medium)
>[] Your action, Asher?

>>32271084
Give Helia some ice armor

>>32271084
Try and drown the priest with water.
I mean it's not like it would be the first priest we drowned

>>32271067
>suddenly stumbling backward as her foot gets caught on something in the sand.
Nora?
>Belialia attempts to get up, getting stuck in the sand and screaming,”THE FUCK?!”
Based Nora.

>[x] Your action, Asher?
Little fire spear blender drill things right into the Priest's eyes.

>>32271164
It'll take a moment to retrieve the water from the cooler. Though it would put it back on the playing field.

>>32271084
About how burn intensive was Donner with a corpse to summon? I want to get an idea of how much it would set us back to bring him out now.

>>32271208
There is no corpse right now if i'm not mistaken

>>32271183
Checked the Donner contract thread. Donner agreed to instruct all Wendigos he created on nights of the full moon in the harm/don't harm clauses only. That is all.

>>32271084
Use ice magic to break off the impaled portion of helias ice blade, freeing her. Turn the ice into steam and hope the rapid expansion fucks Belalia up a little

>>32271164
A little sacrifice can't be wrong after the last "meeting" with her

>>32271223
I know. We can bring him out without one but it will cost a bit more. That's why I asked how much he costs with a corpse, so I could add a bit to that to ballpark his cost now.

>>32271208
The burn will be more intensive without a corpse. It'd push you into Severe(low) which would still give you medium-high before ending up on critical.

>>32271264
...

Is the clone still spasming on the ground?

>>32271264
>The burn will be more intensive without a corpse. It'd push you into Severe(low) which would still give you medium-high before ending up on critical.
We can't go that high so early in a fight.
I would go with the drowning it should be harder for him to do something then

>>32271304
Yeah, she's still spasming... What are you...

>>32271084
Gather all the water into an orb in front of you. blast it with a strong wind towards while making the droplets solid enough to pack a punch

>>32271264
I guess you should straighten this into a vote

>>32271346
I think we have a corpse.

>>32271346
Corpses come from people. Clones are close enough to people to make corpses.

Alright:

>[] Pull the water out of the cooler to force water down the priest's/Use a watery bullet-spray.
>[] Separate the them with a devil's grin.
>[] Finish off the clone and use the corpse as a medium for Donner.
>[] Free Helia by forcefully breaking her blade.

>>32271413
>[] Finish off the clone and use the corpse as a medium for Donner.

>>32271413
>[] Pull the water out of the cooler to force water down the priest's/Use a watery bullet-spray.
Back to the basics

>>32271413
>[] Finish off the clone and use the corpse as a medium for Donner.

>>32271413
>>[] Pull the water out of the cooler to force water down the priest's/Use a watery bullet-spray.

>>32271413
>[] Pull the water out of the cooler to force water down the priest's/Use a watery bullet-spray.

>>32271413
Honestly, those all look bad. The DG will catch Helia in the blast, the water bullets will take too much time, breaking Helia's blade obviously leaves her bladeless, and the clone is a kid so killing em means hello follower shitlist.

>>32271413
Wait whats Nora doing?

>>32271413
>[] Pull the water out of the cooler to force water down the priest's/Use a watery bullet-spray.
Some Ashara invocation should not harm us.
Do not trust Luzifer

>>32271473
Battlefield manipulation. Last turn she was the thing that made Belila fuck up and trip into the sand to get stuck.

>>32271468
Actually the followers are fine with killing the clones.

>>32271473
keeping beelial stuck in the ground if i'm not mistaken

>>32271413
>[] Finish off the clone and use the corpse as a medium for Donner.

>>32271468
You could reduce the power to increase the accuracy, making the explosion directional.

>>32271473
>Noatak pulls back, abandoning his spear as the demon simultaneously pulls back, suddenly stumbling backward as her foot gets caught on something in the sand.
>Belialia attempts to get up, getting stuck in the sand and screaming,”THE FUCK
Nora stronk

>>32271535
Would we be able to do that while we pull the water over? DG is more or less instant and we're going to need a second to gather the water anyway.

>>32271413
We should tell Helia to use her earth magic to bury them in the sand or something.

>>32271543
>>32271473
>>32271497
This is kind of a bad field for Nora in any case. She'll be stronger with more nonhuman variables to work with.

>>32271576
Sure. Would everyone else be happy with that seeing as Water's in the lead right now?

>>32271614
>This is kind of a bad field for Nora in any case. She'll be stronger with more nonhuman variables to work with.
So for sabotaging the dam she'd be golden I'm assuming?

And sure. Let's grin while we grab the water.

>>32271614
Would be nice if we could

>>32271413
>>[] Separate the them with a devil's grin.
Does this mean to separate Helia from Belila with the blast or does it mean to blow the Priest away with it?

>>32271648
>blow the Priest away with it?
This. He's the one looking to molest her.

>>32271614
Dran if we were to infuse human souls into an artifact would it be harder for a Bone to eat?

>>32271656
Good. Then do the thing >>32271614 here with the directional blast.

>>32271658
>Dran if we were to infuse human souls into an artifact would it be harder for a Bone to eat?
This will not work well.
I wonder who would kill us first if we tried something like that.

>>32271658
Yes. Though controlling a soul entirely is a difficult thing.

>>32271687
I think by the time we git gud enough to pull off some bullshit like stuffing souls into objects, it doesn't matter who wants us dead because we'll deadificate them first.

>>32271688
Would necromancy work for that?

>>32271724
This again? Really?

>>32271749
He never explained how necromancy works.

>>32271772
It doesn't work.

>>32271809
What do you mean it doesn't work?

>>32271850
Souls go into the 3rd layer and whoever reaches deep enough to touch it dies.

>>32271772
Yes he did. Necromancy as a school of magic is not a thing. We can emulate it in various ways, such as summoning undead mythos/thoughtforms or even puppeting around real corpses. Shades are the closest you're going to get to messing with souls unless you have a Divine rank spell that is kinda relevant (summoning probably is) or you manage to mindfuck a very high level Vein who is capable of putting their own soul entirely into an object for you.

Attempting to actually deal with the Death layer will just straight up kill you.

You snap your fingers, letting your cyan-red power fly, the air distorting between the priest and Helia. As you focus hard to unleash it away from her, and towards the priest, you divert your attention to the water stored away in the cooler, bottles and moisture fly out.
As you're about to release the blast, the clone beside the priest slides between the two of you and shines a chaste white from behind her dehumanizing helmet and goggles, slipping even through the joints of her kevlar armor.
Your devil's grin has been consumed by the bone, and the priest grasps Helia by the leg.

Jackie steps forward, “Sometimes you need excessive force.” Her finger-tip glows in her gun gesture, as you can see the distortions in the air as the little bone bears the brunt of Jackie's power.

“Hit them from the back.” Jackie says, and you unleash the coalescent waters from their bottles, sending it out in a hard and violent spray, arcing them around to behind the little bone to nail the priest in the back.

Helia shrieks out in agony, writhing and falling off of Beliala, clutching her own leg as she thrashes in the sand. You didn't see what happened, he just touched her. You lose your focus at her sudden change in behavior, your attack wavering and whipping across the priest's back, knocking him over instead of firmly piercing.
Coming back into your right mind, you detonate it into a fine mist, aiming it at the priest, only for the demon bitch to be the one to destroy your spell, shaking sand off of herself.

You feel a sudden burn take its toll from you without a spell cast. (She drained me, handsome summoner! I need to restore myself.)
Of all the fucking times...

The bone before the two primary enemies falls to her knees, dropping dead as blood seeps out from her flesh, her white radiation flashing beyond control, as she suffers “the most painful death.”

Jackie takes a slow, paced breath. “I'm still good to go, but that Demon's starting to see our patterns, and the priest infected Helia with something bad.” She looks over to Noatak, who's been effectively broken with the loss of his arm, the once, somber man clutches the wound, staring at it without words.

You don't see Hot Rod anywhere, nor do you hear his gunshots.

The priest rises up again after getting hit with your attack, staring right at the three of you in red rage.

“Five down, two to go.” Beliala licks her teeth, Noatak's lost arm gathering sand after being forcefully ejected from her mouth.

“Surrender and we won't kill you,” The priest offers as an ultimatum, once more stone-faced after regaining his composure.

>Burn: Moderate(High)
>[] Your move Asher.

>>32272190
Summon Donner with that clone corpse.

>>32272190
Summon Donner
Also fuck Bones

>>32272190
Does anything in this quest not infect Helia?
Why are Bones so OP?

Also Donner is our best choice her

>>32272190
Summon donner. Make some fire behind the priest, materia firma into firelance.

>>32272190
so just to clarify here, it's Beliala and the priest vs Jackie and Asher, right? Also summon Donner, we need a meatshield.

We should let our summons focus on the demon bitch while we take out the priest.

>>32272266
>Why are Bones so OP?
Because they get antimagic, regen, and physical buffs all in one package topped off with the ability to do mythos stuff without getting fucked over.

Also because Belila is way higher level than we are.

>>32272190
what kind of Over was the priest again?
He's a Bone isn't he?

>>32272350
Priest is a Vein.

>>32272190
I wonder if we could somehow use Lucifer's influence to deal with demon-bitch.

>>32272361
>Priest is a Vein.
Vein were weak against nerve right? If yes Summons on Belial and we on the priest

>>32272190
Donner time.

Also, could we boost him to rank 3 for this battle? I think we might need it.

>>32272372
I would rather not have a debt to the Father of Lies.

>>32272381
Summons are still Nerve magic. Bones can eat them.

It would be better to have the summons attack the Priest and focus bursts of magic on Belila until the Priest is dead so that we can then focus the summons on her.

>>32272221
You'll need to spare a moment to off the clone first.

>>32272350
He's a vein.

Also, to be fair. You do have the opportunity for dialogue right now as they've paused their attack.

Continuing your own defense/counterattack will end this momentary lapse.

Anything you'd like to say before summoning Donner?

>>32272406
Well I'd prefer it if the other option is death/capture

>>32272421
>Winter is coming

>>32272421
>You'll need to spare a moment to off the clone first.
One of them -just- died.

>>32272421
ask her how she knew we would be in this particular spot. I've been kinda wondering how they could get under the sand to ambush us.

>>32272421
>Behind you!

>>32272446
You remember what "the most painful death" is, right? Its bones are melting.

>>32272421
Let's try to stall/fluster them for a second while we have Nora go finish off the spasming Bone, then.

>>32272478
>implying Nora can't find something more painful

>>32272481
Nora got et by beliala and needs to recharge

>>32272502
We just recharged her.

>>32272511
Aye.

So:
>Ask how they found you.
>Tell Nora to finish off the spasming bone.
>Summon Donner to begin your counterattack.

>>32272502
She already recharged herself.
We could also pump as much power as we can handle into her and tell her to summon "her" court.
What could possibly go wrong

>>32272542
The first 2 at the same time.
As soon as we get an answer ask another question and start summoning

>>32272542
Let's add in a jab about the Priest working with the demon bitch. Call him a hypocrite or something. Maybe we could attempt to throw him off his game by bringing up his son somehow. I dunno. Anyone got some dickish shit to say to this guy?

Also Donner to rank3?

>>32272542
>Summon Donner to begin your counterattack.

>>32272604
While summoning Donner talk about how we drowned that other priest and summoned an ancient goddess who killed everyome who even said "Lord" or "Jahweh"

Damn. Hot Rod seems like a pathetic bone. Especially compared to Belalia who we are unable to put a lasting scratch on.

>>32272604
>Let's add in a jab about the Priest working with the demon bitch. Call him a hypocrite or something.
I'm skeptical of how effective that would be. The first thing the dude said to us was that he could no longer follow the path of God because he was now seeking vengeance.

Maybe if we say something like "it must make your God sad to see your faith so easily shaken."

>>32272667
We could always let him eat Helia

>>32272715
It wouldn't be so much "let" as it would be "force". Dude isn't exactly stricken with a case of the Helia munchies.

>>32272421
>>32272604
"You don't even realize that you're more twisted than you claim I am. You stood before me, believing that your son rests in heaven, and what do you do? You abandon him for a crusade of vengeance. You would abandon your own son for your petty masturbatory desire for revenge.

Whether you still believe he's in heaven or not doesn't matter, because you sure as hell did at the start of all this."


I feel can the edge flow through me.

>>32272542
Didn't the priest flip his shit over his kid getting killed by the followers? Perhaps we can point out the kid that just died a super painful death right in front of him. "How are you any better?" or something like that...

You glare at the two of them, while Jackie stares at you for a moment before stepping forward to stand at your side. “A question first, how did you find us?”

Beliala smiles at that, a sardonic, haughty smile, “How did we find you? That's what you're asking, right?”
[Nora, finish off that clone behind us.] You hear a delighted squeal in reply. “Yeah. An ambush in the desert? Seems like we're in the wrong place at the right time.”

Beliala throws back her head in laughter, as she gives the pastor a little signal, he walks over to Helia, “I followed your chopper from San Diego. Think it's hard to follow something like that when you're a superhuman? You killed some of my worthless backup in Death Valley.”

It occurs to you... You never did find the sixth assailant that got away... “But why make your presence known now? Why let us get away then?”

The priest grabs the spasming Helia by the throat, lifting her up with his magic augmenting his strength. Her body convulses one last time before she loses consciousness. You swallow, and Jackie sucks in a deep breath, controlled breath.

Beliala leans a hip out, with a hand resting upon the curve, her tail swaying back and forth pleasantly as she believes herself to be in total control, “Now submit quietly or...” She cocks her head to the side, widening slitted yellow eyes, “We'll take you dead, makes no difference to me.”

You don't sense Nora's confirmation of the clone's death yet, she must be tormenting the child, the thing, whatever it is.

>[] Continue with your plan of counterattack.
>[] Try to throw the priest off his game...
>[] Surrender.
>[] Let Jackie choose for you.
>[] (Other)

>>32272927
>[] Continue with your plan of counterattack.
Everyone's expendable

>>32272927
>[] Continue with your plan of counterattack.
Better than the other possibilties
Also don't forget to distract them with something.
BEHIND YOU!

>>32272927
didn't the original plan involve getting captured anyway, though these aren't exactly ideal circumstances it would still fit our plan and not get us killed

>>32272927
>[] Continue with your plan of counterattack.

>>32272927
>[] Continue with your plan of counterattack.
Seems like Jackie's gonna make a move.

>>32272985
You realy want to get Jackie's first bullet?

>>32272927
>[x] Try to throw the priest off his game...
"You know those little clones you're so fond of? Have you seen where they come from? Grisly stuff, really. Would you like to see?"

Then make a flame and Illusion up the clone mother we saw in the divination, but embellish it quite a bit. Make it horrific looking and stuff.

"You really think you're on the right side?"

To confirm, they're threatening to kill Helia right now.

>>32272985
That's so. Surrendering may not yield Jackie's scorn.

>>32273027
Everyone's expendable Dranzy even you.
Also this "may" is too risky we go with the plan.

>>32273025
>>32272927

I'll second this it might actually give us a moment to counterattack and its not outright hostile, so we may still be able to surrender

>>32273051
From the way it looks, I wouldn't be surprised if Beliala could wipe the floor with both of us even without the priest. She can pretty much eat or heal up anything we throw at her.

>>32273149
We still have Jackie with us.
And vacuums are scary shit

>>32273149
It's pretty frustrating that any spell we could think up did zero visible damage to them. Really unsatisfying to fight an unwinnable fight.

>>32273149
Even Bones have Limits. I hope

>>32273180
have you tried gitting gud

>>32273213
Shit, I knew we forgot to do something.

It seems kinda bizarre that Veins are supposed to be the check for Bones, but Bones are so much better in close combat that it just doesn't matter.

>>32273249
Yeah well our nerve powers should be more effective against veins too but we're useless against even the pastor

>>32273338
The Pastor got gud. Asher never got gud.

>>32273338
we've never really learned about how to counter veins. I doubt it's just about slinging spells at them

>>32273338
We put a lot into improving our summons. It shows. Nora was able to even hold Beliala back for a while and she's a Bone on par with Friend and Jackie.

Is Dranzy asleep already?

>>32273570
Probably just busy writing about how we got rekt in vivid detail.

>>32273593
Or maybe how Donner and Nora wreck them?
Who am I kidding

I hope we progress far enough in the quest without dying to be a contender against other overs. Its doubtful that we could survive Asher Must Die difficulty level for much longer though

Hey Dranzy once Beliala's crew reks our crew, before we get captured or killed can you write a scene where Beliala sexually violates us while our companions are forced to watch? And they insult us and call us pathetic while Beliala licks up our tears of shame? That's my fetish.

You take a breath to still your frazzled nerves. Seeing Helia limp like that, it bothers you. The man's hands around her throat just waiting to crush it... But you need to do it. The thought of surrender does cross your mind, though with Jackie beside you, it sounds like accepting your own death warrant.
The only way through then, is to fight. Helia will just need to understand. Fara. Will just have to understand.

You muster up your strength to shout out at the priest, something to throw him off.
“I remember you speaking of your son when I sat next to you at our orientation.”
He scowls at you plaintively, his somber stare like a cold, hard librarian scrutinizing you. His expression says it all, and it's a far cry of how he had been before, “What of it?”

“You said then that your son must be in heaven, however you've chosen to forsake your god in pursuit of vengeance. You know what kind of shit these people are doing? You know where these damn mannequins come from?!”

He nods, “I'm reasonably aware. I asked to meet their mother.” He finally says, “She's a fine woman.”

You clench your fists, “So it's fine to just churn out baby after baby, and forcing them into a war?”

Beliala gawks at your words, pointing at you, and then looking at the priest, “Is he serious? This shit is SERIOUS!” She looks absolutely bewildered, her eyes going wide, “Your fucking 'followers'” she uses air quotes,” Destroyed three major cities, and wasted somewhere in the ballpark of FIVE MILLION PEOPLE!” She quickly goes from sarcastic, to screaming fury, “Do you have the SLIGHTEST fucking clue?! That isn't even the FIRST fucking thing they've done!”
Furious tears stream down Beliala's face, her power pouring off of her in her pure rage.
“Surrender now, or I'm tearing out your fucking spine.”

>>32273664
I keep thinking we are being punished for choosing enlightenment
We have barely survived any given encounter for the last while

You feel inherently unwell at Beliala's display of power, carnage dripping off of her body in lush reds, as her skeleton lights up like it's on fire.

The priest stares at you, never did his face change through your speech, and his heart's been hardened further at Beliala's speech. “I've made my peace, and found absolution. Forgiveness comes from the lord's hand, and he may taketh it away with the other just as he does with life. Murderers must be given judgement. I need not vengeance, but to bring the lord's justice to those that would slaughter his children for an idol's ideal.

Jackie finally speaks, her words suddenly full of passion and devoid of her usual instability. “Our deeds are justified. People must awaken to their true potential, lest they die just the same without ever making a difference. We deliver suffering onto those that do not understand, and those that survive will be the forebearers of kindness and understanding. Before suffering we all become equal, once we are all tested, we will deliver the world onto a new order ruled by the strong and kind in the stead of the weak and cruel.
These are the words of Susej, leader of the followers.”

(Phew. Summoner, I killed the girl. She was a real fighter, wouldn't let me at her arteries without a struggle.)

“And Susej, is dead.” Beliala spits, her saliva boiling and melting the sands. Something in her has changed...

>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance.
>[] Surrender, you don't want to lose your life.
>[] Say something else... (Write in)
>[] (other)

>>32273733
>Summon Donner. It's time to dance.

>>32273733
>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance.
Let me sing you the song of my people

>>32273733
>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance
Rank him up. 2 isn't going to cut it.

>>32273733
Would burning a limit point even help us get out of this?

>>32273733
>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance.
Empower him and Nora

>>32273771
If we had any.

>>32273771
We don't have any. And even if we did, LIMIT spending when it's not 100% hopeless is a waste. It gives up not only the 1LIMIT cost to activate it, but it also spends every point you'd have gotten from the encounter.

>>32273733
>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance.

>>32273787
>Here's where I'd use a LIMIT point... IF I HAD ANY!.jpeg

>>32273733
>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance.
Let's dance with death.

>>32273787
Ah damn. Already forgot about that aeromancy upgrade

>>32273733
>[] Summon Donner. It's time to dance.
Rank him up. He is going to need it

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>>32273802
This one to the priest

>>32273855
>>32273770
This.

>>32273733
I can't tell if Belalia is reaching her limit or powering up for a killing blow

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>>32273857
>Priest's new disciples

>>32273900
Lets hope she melts down.
And then let Nora have some fun while she melts

>>32273900
shes mad
anermay rules thus dictate she emits power like a sun emits light.

I wonder if we're powerful enough to summon the hydra at the same time.

>>32273934
>LucyNot the one you're thinking of.

>>32273934
>I wonder if we're powerful enough to summon the hydra at the same time.
We destroyed that summon didn't we?

>>32273948
nope

>>32273906
>>32273857
What?

Hey dran. Just wanted to say thanks for running this quest. I can't tell you how much I look forward to it every week. The worse part is when they have to end :( You have a lot of demanding fans and players and handle a lot of negativity, so if it ever gets hard remember I spend so much time thinking about your stories and characters and get a great deal of pleasure from them. This is my favorite quest of yours and I'm excited what you can do with Naruto.

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>>32273963
Silly Dranzy, everyones a heretic

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>>32274034
Heed the word of GOD

>>32274032
Y-You too...

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>>32274074
NO, YOU!


>>32274032
>>32274090
I would like to echo anon's sentiments as well. Above all else you are a truly wonderful QM and come across as a great person working with wonderful stories.

Though apparently Captcha thinks your a quack
Captcha: additls quackery

>>32274159
Only thing I would complain about is that you take so long for updates.
And making bones too OP

>>32274209
He takes forever to update the pastebins while at the same time making the stuff that should be in them necessary to know.

Trembling beneath Beliala's enraged gaze, you feel Jackie put a hand on your shoulder. You don't look at her.
“If I die, you need to let them take you so we can complete our objective,” She whispers. “I'll take the demon, you deal with the priest.”

You slowly nod, still on the verge of losing your cool until Jackie turns your head around by the chin, looking you in the eye and planting a firm kiss on your lips. Gently, you try to push her away, the scent of peach-mango filling your nose. She lets herself off shortly after, “Something to remember me by. Stay focused, kay?”

You slowly nod, calming down, if only due to the distraction. You feel a hand on her body as she pushes you away, putting distance between the two of you as her gale launches you through the air.
“Damnit!” You grit your teeth as you see Jackie darting off in the other direction, carried by an invisible force through the air as though she's surfing. “DONNER!” you shout out into the world as you flick your vision to the bleeding out corpse, seeing a definitive twitch as Donner's Astral form partially materializes, invading the body.

(A weak supple form... Yet it has uses.) The demon's wretched voice grates against your mind.

The priest drops Helia, running for you at breakneck speed, his body flashing with the currents of his power. You land against a dune, and Donner starts running at the priest from behind. You cast out a hand, to focus power on the Wendigo, feeling the hot iron burn course through your body, forcing you to grit your teeth against the pain as the apparition suddenly gets bigger, and stronger, its astral visage becoming more of a physical one as it twists flesh and bone into a horned inhuman figure with claws made of bone and a rat-like spectral tail of bone extending from its hindquarters.
Maintaining a silent dash, it seeks to take down the priest.

>>32274400


You can only hope it arrives before the man in black does. After what he did to Helia, you're glad you didn't let the bastard touch you earlier...

Off in the distance, Jackie circles the demonic Belialia as the bone chases after the mage's zephyr, quickly growing furious at her speed as she's pelted with malformed shots of wind. Some absorbed, while non-vitals are tolerated and regenerated by the power consumed.
Her rage, not to be quieted or left to fester and be fettered, she puts her claws forward, even as flesh is turn from her body, and fires out the bones of her fingertips. Poor aim makes most miss, though the scattered shot nails the fleeting Jackie in the side of her body, and a puts a clear hole through her foot, forcing the mage to fumble as the sudden pain registers.

Falling into the sands, she whips up a sudden gust, initiating speed magic to turn the granules into an improvised bird-shot, littering Beliala's body with small holes, and forcing the abomination back.

Jackie struggles to stand again, relying on her power to stand upon the air itself, the injured foot dangling limp to avoid straining it. Something worked, she thinks as the demon lurches forward, spewing out a green flame. Taking Jackie by surprise, though not off guard as she whips up a gust to blow it away.
Though it's a feint, as Beliala reaches for her, clasping a clawed hand around her arm...

The priest, hellbent on getting at you, reveals to you a perceptible flaw. This man is a close combatant while you're any range but. Donner's making pace with the man, but not catching up. You worry for Jackie's situation.
Helia lies in the sand, comatose and abandoned.

>Burn: Severe (Medium)
>[] Your move Asher.

>>32274419
so uhh
technically helia is like a summon. could we somehow empower her in a similar way?

>>32274419
Use Air to slow him down.
Let Helia lie there she can not help at the moment

>>32274419
Devil's Grin didn't send us up a burn grade with multiple uses the last couple times. Use it to blast the priest backwards so that Donner can tear him apart.

>>32274419
Build an ice wall.

>>32274517
We don't have any water on us or the time to gather it. We shot it at the priest and now we're a ways away from there.

>>32274517
Not enough water m8.
You could firewall though.
Or use Frozen Defense Territory.

>>32274545
I'll wait for a bit more.

>>32274487
Is our air control strong enough for that?

>>32274545
I can't wait for achemy. 4 more points and we can get it. Then no more "oh there isn't any water".
Well, I guess it wouldn't really matter at that point since we could just use earth walls.

>>32274545
Frozen defense territory only softens impact, which could allow him to touch as and... do whatever it is he does. (I'm aware it may only effect veins because of that freaky soul corrupt thing, but I still don't want that fucker touching us.).

Fire wall is go.

>>32274545
I say we hit him with devils grin to let Donner catch him and use the fire barrier when he gets closer

>>32274503
Let's go with devil's grin
Defense only when it doesn't work

>>32274608
What about the fire construct thing? Could we have that block the Priest from getting to us and then hold him for Donner?

>>32274419
We threw some water on the Priest earlier, is it still there?

If it is we can manipulate it directly and stab the fucking shit out of the priest with it.

Have Nora try to give Jackie an opening on Beliala.

>>32274656
We can't use Materia Firma on fire yet so he could break through rather easily

>>32274671
...

Do you even read these threads or the pastebins?

>>32274419
have Nora help jackie and just blow up the priest

>>32274645
Make sure to shape the blast towards him without decreasing the power used

>>32274612
I'm starting to wonder why aren't we in an winter wonderland or something? We'd have been pretty good in that environment.

>>32274658
Seconding getting Nora to back up Jackie

>>32274658
>>32274738
If Belila eats Nora again, our contract will automatically put her back up to rank3 and throw us into Critical burn.

>>32274671
You can actually.

>>32274656
The full radius fire construct?


Alright.
>[] Generate a construct of fire around yourself to keep the man at bay.
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.
>[] Throw out a spear of flame

As for a secondary action:
>Send Nora to help Jackie y/n?

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

>Send Nora to help Jackie y/n?

Yes

>>32274780
>[x] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

>Send Nora to help Jackie y/n?
n

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

yes

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner
Y

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

>Send Nora to help Jackie
N

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

>Send Nora to help Jackie y/n?
Yes, tell her to be carefull, we cant afford to refuel her again

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

>Send Nora to help Jackie y/n?
No

>>32274804
>>32274803
>>32274796
See >>32274758

>>32274656
Devil's Grin is literally Aerokinesis to condense air followed by Pyromancy+Materia Firma.

We also have made solid fire things before.

>>32274780
>[] Generate a construct of fire around yourself to keep the man at bay.

>Send Nora to help Jackie y/n?
Yes.

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.
>Y

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.

yes

Also the pastebin says
>Currently restricted to water, ice, and steam.

>>32274824
I don't want us defeating that priest only to see Jackie dying.
We can do nothing against that demon bitch

>>32274836
> -Pyromancy(Advanced Prime Elementary) [Apprentice 0/4]: Gifted by Lucifer, this magic incorporates flame as more than a mere combustion of matter. This fire is far closer to magic. Allows divination for people and things that you've seen before. May be mixed with any known enchants and is accessible by Metas such as Summoning and Illusion.
Allows for properties of fire to be intermixed with other -mancies.

>May be mixed with any known enchants and is accessible by Metas such as Summoning and Illusion.
That also includes Materia Firma because it's an enchantment.

>>32274859
Well I shouldn't just read Materna Firma.

>>32274836
Look over here
>>32274780
>You can actually.

>>32274858
She won't die so easily.

>>32274780
>[] Generate a construct of fire around yourself to keep the man at bay.
Hurry the hell up Donner.
I think we need to rank up summoning a bit more. It seems to be one of our most useful and versatile skills, being able to do it with less burn/ more powerful beings, could be our saving grace. Maybe even Lucy could offer us more than an imp...

>>32274892
Meh the odds are stacked against her,
Vein vs. Bone

>>32274877
Did you not even ever read the entry for the main attack we've been using most of this thread?

>Devil's Grin(Aero+Pyro+Materia Firma)[0.65]: A combination of Pyromancy, Firma Enchantment, and Aerokinesis to generate an explosion that leaves a volley of sticky flames in its wake. Can act as a “firework” as it rains its dense flames down. Also generates a sizeable amount of concussive force.

Or the previous threads in which we made fuckhuge spears of solid fire to impale robots?
Serious question, did you read the archives at all or did you just show up this thread?

>>32274780
>[] Use Devil's grin in a cone upon the priest to slow his advance for Donner.
and yes for sending Nora to help Jackie

>>32274924
I'm close to falling asleep.

>>32274915
>Vein
You mean Nerve. Jackie is a Nerve, so it's Nerve vs Bone.

Veins are actually supposed to beat Bones but they don't because they're CQC and Bones are better CQC.

>>32274951
Meh mixed those two up.

>>32274951
I'm pretty sure their Veins beat our Bones.
Their nerves would mostlikely beat our Bones too

>>32274914
I think part of the problem though is that we are spec'd for summoning but we only have 2 summons and one isn't in her element and isn't a CQC anyway.
If we come out of this alive and intact I think we need to build our little army.

>>32275002
Because it's Hot Rod and he's barely even a combatant. He's stealth and sensory and he just recently picked up the gunhands spell because lolgunhands. Guns are the most commonly defended against attack method.

>>32275005
I think the problem is that we build an allrounder.
We do not excell at anything.
I wonder how many Limitpoints we would get for winning this

>>32275005
>Priest Shade
>Belila Shade
What could go wrong?
No, seriously. If we don't yandereficate them or use shit contracts, what could go wrong? At rank1 when we summon them, they'll be dumb as rocks.

>>32275050
Jackie has 2 spells (Aerokinesis and velocity enchant), both probably at Expert or Master rank.

We have 9 spells, all at Apprentice or lower.
Alchemy will be worth it.

>>32275055
I don't realy like shades.
We should rather search for some mythos than mingle with thoughtforms

>>32275055
I actually happen to agree with you, to an extent anyway. I just really think our biggest problem is we aren't bring enough numbers to the table, and as it is Donner, our best summon by far, just now finally got summoned after we've hit severe burn.

>>32275082
Because he gets pissy without a corpse to use as summoning materials.

>>32275081
Shades are mythos. Sorta. They're mythos-thoughtform hybrids.

>>32275120
yes and with a mythos you know what you deal with, while a thoughtform changes.

>>32275055
You know what? That's actually a good idea.

>>32275131
And Hybrids have neither the adabtability of thoughtforms, nor the defined powers of Mythos

>>32275099
Which is part of the reason we need more summons. Even if they can just keep the minions busy that would have meant several hard hitting attacks landing on the the priest and demon. Anyway, time enough for that later. If we survive...

>>32275149
>Shades don't have defined powers
That's just not true. They have the powers of the mage you base the shade off of. Priest shade would have badtouch powers and Belila shade would have demon rage powers. If we made a shade of the Doc. guy, then it would have healing. Fara's shade had Ice powers because that's what the original mage had, while she also had sound powers because she became a banshee thing in death.

>>32275188
And top of that we can allow them to use our spell.

[Nora, Go help Jackie. I'll handle this guy with Donner.] You instruct your summon as you whisper new words for Devil's Grin.
“The star of morning's prominence surges forth from beyond the veil. Those touched by flame, its fire, paled.” You cast the spell and a small orb of flame blossoms from before the priest, roughly the size of a baseball before exploding into flames that blast him back, the blaze trailing after him with solid burning teeth, closing in around him and forcing him to fight back, using his magic as a defense.
The burn starts to kick in as you let the teeth hold him off, to let Donner catch up...

Beliala's grip aims to crush Jackie's arm, bone and tendon popping under the cruel embrace, thinking quickly as her brain spews out endorphins to cut out the pain, she spits at the monster's hand, accelerating the velocity at point blank to blow out a chunk of flesh, the resulting vacuum taking the blood with it.

Her grip is loosened, letting crushed and bruised arm go, a fist comes up in a crimson glare, though it catches nothing but air as Jackie throws herself back with her own gale force, already beset upon again by the berserking bone as she multiplies her speed.
In a swift action, Jackie whips up more sand, increasing the speed of the buffeting grains again to tear against the demon's flesh, putting more and more effort to wrapping her up in a cacoon of whirling wind and sand to tear apart the demon's body beyond the point of regeneration as she floats off, putting distance between herself and this unholy monster.

Thoughts float through her mind, (How is she THIS powerful? I've never seen a bone with regeneration this quick and complete... Just a little more, though. I hope. I'll find her limit... Or she'll find mine..)

A crimson flash and the dust devil falls dead, releasing the demon. She stands there for a moment, all of her clothing stripped away, her flesh regenerating without the invocation of her magic, her hide glossed over and polished like marble, and her cut lean muscles shimmering with a stone-like luster as though she were covered in an oil as she walks forward with a grim resolve. “I've seen all of your tricks. It's time to die.”

Tricks? Jackie abstains from smiling. (That's right, I've still got one more big one. The bone-killer.)

With a relaxed sigh, as though she's accepted her fate, she lets Beliala walk up to her like the horseman of a pale horse.

In her walk, her foot finds itself stuck in the sand mid-stride, forcing her to stumble a little, breaking the tension.

Tapping into power that she'd hidden for this type of situation, she throws out a snap of her fingers, and a flash engulfs the two of them in a blinding white that sears the very air into ozone.

The demon trembles, and falls to her knees...

Donner slams into the priest, knocking him to the side with a backswing, forcing him to land and eat another snap of your devil's grin, turned Devil's maw as your body burns hots. The man looks to you, yet eats the force of the heated explosion, shrapnel of solid flames stabbing into his body like fangs to aggravate his wounds.

A flash rumbles through the dunes, followed by the sudden impact of a thunderclap resounding and deafening you. The priest looks back, and then to Donner, slipping back out of the way of the devil's maw as it closes, and putting his hands together in prayer as Donner lunges at him, a distended maw of flesh bent in an oh-so-wrong way looking to close down on the man.
You smile as it looks like he's saying his last rights. It's over now, you think as you look at the resulting mess over at Jackie's battle, Beliala's fallen to her knees, and Jackie's limping up on one leg.

>>32275407
>Thoughts float through her mind, (How is she THIS powerful? I've never seen a bone with regeneration this quick and complete... Just a little more, though. I hope. I'll find her limit... Or she'll find mine..)
Is Nora facilitating brain to brain communication? That's useful.

In a bout of faith, the priest presses his hands to the sides of Donner's head. The Wendigo falls as the priest slips around his red magic trailing off from his hands like streaks of blood, and the demonic beast writhing in pain.

(IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!) The beast screams into your mind, causing you some backlash of pain as you try to understand what just happened.

>Burn Severe(Medium!) I'll be putting punctuation to let you know when nearing the next threshold.
>[] Trap the priest between three Devil's Maws. Tear him apart.
>[] Unsummon Donner, he's useless now.
>[] Point at Beliala,”You gonna help her?” At least try to divert his attention.
>[] (Other)

>>32275453
Naw. Just stuff for flavor. I had a lot of thoughts about the Jackie vs Beliala fight and I wanted a little bit of an inside peek. That's why the narrative shows parts that you'd be unaware of.

>>32275455
>[] Trap the priest between three Devil's Maws. Tear him apart.

>>32275455
Get Nora on the priest.
Also
>[] Trap the priest between three Devil's Maws. Tear him apart.

>>32275455
>Devil's Maw
Is this a new cantrip evolved from DG or something? I guess it's like an exploding beartrap of fire or something? If so, that's neat.

>[x] Trap the priest between three Devil's Maws. Tear him apart.

>>32275516
>Is this a new cantrip evolved from DG or something? I guess it's like an exploding beartrap of fire or something?
Yes and yes.
Exploding beartrap of fire.

>>32275523
I gotta say, I love mustang mode. Upping Pyromancy/MF/Aerokinesis is something I'd love to do.

We should increase our summoning.
Also we need more summons.
Do you still have that list of suitable creatures Dranzy?

>>32275523
Just wait until we combo it with Alchemy.
>Transmute the air into jetfuel
>Thermobaric Devil's Grin
Thermobarics are comparable to nukes. Sure, this would be smaller, but still it would be crazy.

>>32275578
>>32275523

Seconding the request for a list of suitable creatures to summon. I think we would really benefit from a large pool of summons.

>>32275581
Did Dranzy said how much something like that would burn?
Instant critical would be my pessimitic guess

>>32275578
>>32275597
I wanted to try out the Fire summon avatar construct thing. It sounded really cool when we discussed it last thread.

>>32275578
We realy need to specialise.
Just going on many abilites won't work out much longer

So consensus is to Devil's maw and tear him apart, yeah? Aright.

>>32275605
The Alchemy rank required to do it would be the same as the rank req to do direct matter->energy conversions. The only benefit is that it probably has a lower chance of blowing us up along with the target.

How much a Thermo.DG costs in burn would probably depend directly on how much fuel we make. I doubt it would be that much unless we set out to level a whole city.

>>32275605
At the beginning it would possibly. Later on I expect it won't be too bad.


>>32275609
Ya know, I wasn't sure about that originally but its really started to grow on me.

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>>32275643
Now comes the part where we wait 40 minutes for our horrible choice to bite us in the ass.

>>32275656
>At the beginning it would possibly.
Actually it wouldn't. Alchemy can only convert between pure Earth/Water/Air/Fire at Novice and Apprentice.

Once you hit adept, though, that's where the bullshit happens and you can nuke countries by converting bagels into energy or turn the air into honey or other weird shit.

>>32275691
Oh yeah. I forgot about that. It really does just hit a point where its power level skyrockets

>>32275632
We should at least -have- the cardinals down. After that, I'm thinking we go fuller into fire for offense, and ice for defense.

>>32275727
Pretty much all the spells are like that. They're all super limited at Novice and then Apprentice just makes them do the same thing but for a little bit cheaper but then Adept rank unlocks most of the options for what it can really do.

>>32275733
We're going to be meeting Lucifer soon.

>>32275733
Honestly? I don't like Ice anymore. It's extremely limited by the environment. Fire we can just pump out all day erryday but Ice we need to have water around for and we've spent this entire fucking quest in a desert.

>>32275763
We need Geo.

>>32275763
Next rank of water would allow you to spontaneously generate water.

Focused water mages forego the restriction.

>>32275691
Actually I think that Novice/Apprentice Alchemy lets us transmute things into the material for any -kinesis/-mancy we have.

>>32275763
One day we'll be floating in the vacuum of space with a water bottle, or we'll be swimming around in the ocean. You may call me crazy, BUT...

Eh, you're right, ice sucks ass. Unless we can upgrade it into a mancy like ou-
>>32275792
Well, there we go.

>>32275643
May as well send Donner to eat the demon bitch. He's useless for us right now, and I don't trust that she's dead. Not until a she's being eaten whole.

>>32275792
I vividly remember you saying that doing that induces burn like a motherfucker.

>>32275828
It does, but it only gets easier with specialization and practice.

>>32275850
I'm more than happy to go for Summoning / Pyromancy / Alchemy then.

>>32275850
Is Lucifer going to grant us Limit points?

>>32275881
>LUCILIMIT

>>32275863
Pyromancy was a gift with a hook in it.
And well we swallowed the bait.
Do not trust the betrayer

>>32275902
Too late
And if we've gone this far we may as well keep going

>>32275902
I have a feeling you're gonna get real old real fast but you'll just keep going anyway.

>>32275932
>>32275924
Being overly careful around Dranzy is never a bad idea

>>32275981
eh
if I shadowruns too hard it stops being fun
Lucy's been nice to us so far, I'm fine making more deals with him.

>>32275455


You dismiss Donner, and his screams continue on into the ether, infiltrating your thoughts with his sudden screams.

The priest smiles,”Didn't think that'd work on such a creature.”

“Shut the fuck up, I'm sick of hearing him scream already.” You hold out your fingers in a snapping pose, holding your head as the screams persist, not in your head, but in your mind.
Why isn't it stopping?

Your concern and frustration seems to be written on your face, as the priest, brings his hands together once more, “It is for penance. A pain that will never go away, nor will it ever be ignored. I give my soul to carry out the Accusor's work.”

“Well fuck you then,” Your eye twitches, “I already work for the Devil!”
With that yell, you snap your fingers, not once, but three times to replicate the gluttonous flame, stabbing into his flesh. The man stands there with his hands together in prayer even as the explosion-formed flames twist and burn his flesh. You maintain them and deign to pull him apart even as his red power glows in defiance.

Two pull at his shoulders, while the third seeks to immolate his hands, yet in his position, and despite his injuries he just keeps praying, and the maws can't bring themselves to tear him apart. Why?

“I was told that Evokers hold dominance over Animists, such as I. However, the area that we excel at more than anything... Is that we don't have a time limit.” The priest grins, his cold, gray features marked by his boiling red soul gushing through his veins.

You feel your burn continue to take its toll, and push even harder, finally ripping off one of the man's arms, causing him to actually wince.

Your body begins to shake and all but one of the flaming maws dispel as you begin to sweat and shudder under the strain “You fuck... Just die already. I'm sick of you, and your stupid face...”

>>32276011

Jackie supports herself on one foot, standing there looking down at the kneeling demon, the thing's eyes finally having gone blank with the icy stare of the dead that she's seen so many times before.

She raises a finger to insure that the monster's dead. Always double-tap. Can't afford one on the path of blood to survive, one this powerful no less.
Just as she's pulling her mental trigger, the demon moves, raising up a fist with a squirming little creature, a fairy, panicking in it. Red energy pulls away at the little summon's light, robbing it further of its form.

“Checkmate.”

Jackie pulls her mental trigger, but the monster's already at her throat...


You buckle, falling into the sands as paralysis overcomes you, your nerves firing off like haywire as magic is inexplicably pulled from you. (Summ... rry...)
Your other maw vanishes, and the priest is freed.

He walks towards you as your vision begins to fade,”I'll forgive you child, even if you've sinned.” His somber voice the last thing you hear as everything goes back to black, before transitioning into the world of color and magic...

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>>32276011
>“Well fuck you then,” Your eye twitches, “I already work for the Devil!”

>>32276011
>the Accusor's work
Wait he also works for Lucy?

>>32276021
>Giving up at the start would have been the better option
I shouldn't be this surprised considering this is the same philosophy you need to take going into Dran's quests.

>>32276021
Shit. We should have recalled Nora. Well that was close at least...

>>32276021
I blame everything on Nora.

>>32276133
What was she doing going near the downed bone? So stupid. Next summon should be totally combat focused.

>>32276133
>>32276088
>>32276180
Because we were stupid enough to tell her to go near the bone.

>>32276180
We told her to. I think quoted anon was joking. Nora was awesome in this fight.

>Vein advantage is that they don't have to deal with Burn/Ache bullshit
>Helia never once gets to take advantage of that because she fights like a retard and gets smothered by damage within the first minute
>Noatok gets his arm bitten off by a Bone despite supposed advantage
>Meanwhile Father Assrape tanks a dozen incendiary shrapnel explosions, 1shots Helia, 1shots Donner, and shrugs off getting fire beartraps slammed on his face 4 times

>>32276295
Yea... Truthfully I was expecting Noatak to be more useful. At least hunter escaped. Little shit better be planing on bailing us out.

You wake up sore as hell in a bed so soft and plush, that you can't believe that its real. You stare at a ceiling of dark colors warmed by a nearby fire. A woman beside you holds your hand. Brining your free one to your face, you find that you possess your left eye.
Wait...

“Glad to see you're up. A gentle voice rouses you to attention. You look over at the source to see a familiar woman of blonde hair and startlingly blue eyes look at you with tenderness and affection, “And no, you're not dead yet, but you have found yourself in quite the precarious situation.”

“Where... Am I?” Your memory is hazy, you don't quite remember what happened.

“You fought in the desert. Against those that would shackle you and with those that you'd freed.”

You rest your head against the pillows, “Who died?”

“They were skillfull in catching you all off-guard and disabling most of you without injury.

“Who died?”

“As for the priest, he is not under my employ, rather he's stricken a deal of some sort with the many faces of Yahweh and his servants.”

“I said who the fuck died?!” You raise your voice, lifting your head from your pillow. Luci falls silent.

“Jacqueline Leblanc fell. Beliala's rage against you was turned upon her. As promised, her spine was torn out while she still drew breath. Gruesome, but not unexpected.”

“What the fuck...” You lay your head back down. Touching your lips, you can still smell the touch of reality, the orange mango lip gloss that she kissed you with. It's not that you loved her, or even had the start of feeling for her but... It's just an odd sensation to know that someone made you their last kiss.

“Where am I now?” You exhale, “In the real world.”

“I can't quite tell. You've been blindfolded. Where you are is a dark space. With the thrum of a helicopter's blades.” She pets back your hair, moving it away from your forehead so that she can plant a kiss in the center.