>>32739205
>>2) Investigate the tower

>>32739205
>3) Talk to your Subjects.
"Tyre, Madreon, is there a problem?"

>>32739205
>2) Investigate the tower
Lets explore!

>>32739205
>2) Investigate the tower

Why not talk to them while we explore? I mean we can summon demons, I think that means we can multitask enough to talk and walk at the same time lol.

>>32739205
2
Make sure this place is actually secure.

>>32739227
>>32739266

"You two, scout the lower portions of the tower, I'm going up." You ascend the stairs quickly and find only a single room that you can even enter, the rest all cluttered by the rubble, destroyed, or just inaccessible.

Fortunately, it's a bedroom, and you look around it, checking under the bed, around the desk, and finally, open the wardrobe. Inside of it you find a few dusty black robes, a few pairs of pants, and a relatively untouched. The wardrobe and its contents, however, are notably cooler than the rest of the room in this warm spring evening.

You close the wardrobe and rifle through the desk. A few notes are left. The tower, it seems, belonged to a man named Mortarion, He conducted a few experiments downstairs, it seems, attempting to combine humans and demons, but this is mentioned only once on a single sheet of the remaining three you have access to.

>1) Continue downstairs
>2) Other (write in)

>>32739474
"Dame Tyre, does the name Mortarion resound within your memory?"

>>32739474
>1) Continue downstairs

>>32739474
Get downstairs and see whats up

>>32739474
2
Examine the robes closer. By significantly cooler, is it coolness explained by being in a wardrobe, or unnaturally cold?

>>32739560
>>32739518
Lets do these two.

>>32739518
>>32739582
Tyre is downstairs, not with us.

>>32739518
>>32739527

You put the papers in your pockets and head downstairs. The staircase goes on for a while and after almost a minute of walking down the stairs you can sense that your Subjects are close. "Tyre, tell me, do you recognize the name of a man named Mortarion?" However, your words are cut short from the sound of combat. Metal on...stone?

>1) What do we do? (write in)
>2) Rely on your instincts.

>>32739688
Must be a fucking gargoyle thing.
We need to make sure the two co-operate and allow ourselves a good amount of time to retreat.
But first we need to access the situation down there, which means eye contact.

>>32739688
Call for both our servants, if possible with magic, to make sure that whoever of them fights, isn't doing it alone. Then get to the fight and force them to cooperate against it, but stay out of sight.

>>32739711
>The Culling was an event where the Gargoyles broke their bonds and began slaughtering mages wholesale. Gargoyles, created under the decree of the last Grand Arcanist, as a sort of "end-all-be-all" weapon against rogue mages who would try to assert themselves outside of the proper channels. Gargoyles, created in collaboration of all Twelve Orders, are the ultimate in mage and magic hunting and killing machines. They are stronger than giants, faster than dragons, more silent than a shadow, and nearly impervious to magic thanks to their Spellturn Runes and Null Stone hides. Nearly all mages, save for a few Theurgists and a surprising amount of Diabolists, escaped the Culling.

>The Gargoyles eventually tore most of themselves apart. Not all, however, there are still estimated to be about anywhere between ten and thirty Gargoyles left, roaming the world, hunting down the greatest sources of magic and waiting for the proper time to strike. And yes, I did mean died. Only the Theurgists and the Diabolists survived, to our knowledge.

Every so often a Gargoyle appears and special Companies, called Skybreaker Companies, are formed of the best Diabolists and their Subjects. There's around a 30-40% survival rate of around 10 Warlocks/Witches to 1 Gargoyle. That's assuming they actually manage to kill it and not just wound it enough to make it flee.

We need to run.

>>32739688
Those two assholes are probably killing each other

Fuck'em up to make them stop

>>32739736
>>32739711

You close your eyes and focus, "Both of you, hold that enemy off and work together." Neither of them respond, you aren't sure if your words even reached them. You lower yourself and sneak down towards the fight.

At the bottom of the stairs a sudden gaping hole in the ground lies in front of you, the ledge in front of it slick with some sort of fluid, and you can see that someone slipped on it. You glance down into the hole and see massive stone spider caging in your two servants. As you lean close to it, however, you feel your mystical energies burning inside of you, and quickly lean away.

You call out vocally, "Tyre, Madreon, are you alright?" The voice of Tyre returns quickly, "Master!? Yes, we're unharmed. We both fell and this...thing fell on top of us. We can't get out. I'm weaker than I've ever felt before, my strength enchantments are not working. Madreon isn't strong enough to break the stone. Help us!"

You quickly analyze the situation. Whatever that thing is, it seems to be anathema to magic, negating enchantments and making your internal magic burn.

>1) Try to make a Lore Test to identify what's wrong. (Difficulty: 8)
>2) Think of a solution (Difficulty: [9-2 (Pensive)] 7)
>3) Other (write in)

Rolled 7

>>32739944
>>2) Think of a solution (Difficulty: [9-2 (Pensive)] 7)

Rolled 1

>>32739944
>1) Try to make a Lore Test to identify what's wrong. (Difficulty: 8)

Can't we just unsummon and re-summon them?

Rolled 4

>>32739944
>1) Try to make a Lore Test to identify what's wrong. (Difficulty: 8)

Rolled 5

>>32739944
>2) Think of a solution

Rolled 1

>>32739944
>2) Think of a solution (Difficulty: [9-2 (Pensive)] 7)

>>32739980
>>32740021
>>32740025

You think hard on everything you know about the situation, but you can't figure out what you could possibly do. To your frustration, you also cannot remember what could possibly be causing this. The idea comes up to just release them, but you shoot it down quickly for a few reasons. While it would be possible to end their Pact, you would need to undo the tattoo, or have them negate it with a touch and your order. Secondly, while you could bring Tyre back, Madreon's state of being your Subject is...tentative at best.

>Make a Reflexes Test (Difficulty: 7)

Rolled 5

>>32740101

Rolled 10

>>32740101
I hate average of rolls

Rolled 9

>>32740101

>>32740125
>>32740177
>>32740186

You spin around just as someone shifts from behind, almost taking you by surprise. An old man jumps away rather spryly and lifts his hands, chanting words of ancient sorcerous power. You see in his left hand a knife that would have found your back, had you not turned in time.

As he chants you notice that he stands on the threshold between the downstairs door and the main landing. A door is a portal, and you, like all Diabolists, hold affinity over portals. While it is not a proper Circle, and thus you will have to expend great energy to invoke the spell, your spells ARE applicable. He seems to be unaware of this as he keeps his knife pointed at you, but chants his spell.

How to handle the situation...?

>1) The Wrack, a tortuous spell used to tame unruly Subjects
>2) Damnation, a murderous spell that can destroy all but the hardiest of demons, the old man doesn't stand a chance.
>3) Spinebiter, a spell that prevents all movement and speech, rendering the target temporarily, but totally, paralyzed.

>>32740273
>>1) The Wrack, a tortuous spell used to tame unruly Subjects

>>32740273
>>1) The Wrack, a tortuous spell used to tame unruly Subjects

Rolled 5

>>32740273
>3) Spinebiter

Rolled 8

>>32740273
>>3) Spinebiter, a spell that prevents all movement and speech, rendering the target temporarily, but totally, paralyzed.

Rolled 5

>>32740273
3

Rolled 5

>>32740273
>>3) Spinebiter, a spell that prevents all movement and speech, rendering the target temporarily, but totally, paralyzed.

>>32740273
>1) The Wrack, a tortuous spell used to tame unruly Subjects

>>32740292
>>32740297
>>32740308

Your hand thrusts forward and you draw the energy forth, a cascade of heat shooting through your body as you invoke the Spinebiter. A barbed serpent-shaped demon appears behind the elderly mage and lunges forward, biting his neck smoothly before vanishing, leaving only its effluvium on the man's shoulder as a mark of its passage. The old man drops backwards onto his back, hitting his head cleanly on the floor.

You approach with caution and when you get close enough, to your frustration, you see what you've attacked is nothing more than a stone replica. The old man appears again, his dagger in hand, as he reaches up from the ground beneath you, stabbing for your hamstring.

This time, however, you are ready. His spell being cast was not overlooked by the Circle, and you sensed the vague direction of his movement before he became invisible to you. You grab his arm and slam your knee into his jaw, making him drop the knife before you pull him out of the earth and pin him in the doorway.

"Alright, alright! Enough! I surrender! You can end my life if you want, Demon-witch, but I won't ever release your charges from my trap." The old man spits at your face, which you avoid narrowly and you can see the hate in his eyes as you keep him restrained.

>Keep him restrained physically
>Keep him restrained, magically (Lose some Vigor due to over-drawing our magic)
>Kill him physically
>Kill him magically
>Other (write in)

>>32740443
>>Keep him restrained physically
Try to get him to let our guys go

>>32740443
>Keep him restrained physically


Gotta interrogate his ass

>>32740443
>Keep him restrained physically
Also
"Who the hell are you?"

So why did you guys give up on the mystic?

Rolled 2

>>32740542
He sounded like he was going to literally back stab us at any moment

>>32740542
The simple answer?
He was too smart.

>>32740568
>>32740565
Noted, i like having characters like that, here is hoping we get a chance to summon him again, since we can't cast spells for shit.(half way through the last thread)

>>32740598
Uhhh actually
>A door is a portal, and you, like all Diabolists, hold affinity over portals. While it is not a proper Circle, and thus you will have to expend great energy to invoke the spell, your spells ARE applicable

Rolled 9

>>32740598
I would personally prefer weaker celestial caster for support rather than stronger demon one

>>32740443
"Demon-witch? Do you not see who you have trapped? It is one of the celestials! An angel! What right do you have to call me a demon-witch?!"

>>32740598
*like that since it keeps the players on their feet, and they can be total bros or huge dicks that are fun
>>32740643
Eh, i like to have strong and smart summons, but i understand where you come from.
>>32740637
No clue, but i probably will find out once i catch up.

>>32740498
>>32740501
>>32740504

"I don't plan on killing you. But I do want to question you." He laughs bitterly, "a Diabolist who doesn't want to kill? That's a lie if I've ever heard one. Your kind are demons in physical form!" It's your turn to laugh now as you shake your head, "Don't be ridiculous, old man, if I were a demon you'd have been dead from your first ambush. Now, tell me your name, and then you will let my friends go."

The old man doesn't even struggle, you can feel the faint strength in his thin arms is nothing close to the strength your youth affords you. He sighs, "Very well. I am Barith, the last Stonespeaker...well, I suppose you know us as Earth Elementalists." He looks back up at you, "As far as your friends go, I see no reason to let them go. You'll just use them to kill me and devour my soul."

You assume, fairly reasonably, that he cannot cast while so restrained. If you keep him talking, it's unlikely that he can overwhelm you in his current state. However, you remember....something at the corner of your mind.

>1) Recall the lesson (Difficulty: 7-2 (Pensive)=5)
>2) Convince him (write in)
>3) Kill him

>>32740696
Show him the white tattoo and say >>32740686

Rolled 1

>>32740696
>>1) Recall the lesson (Difficulty: 7-2 (Pensive)=5)

Rolled 7

>>32740696
1

Rolled 1

>>32740696
>1) Recall the lesson (Difficulty: 7-2 (Pensive)=5)

Rolled 4

>>32740696
>1) Recall the lesson (Difficulty: 7-2 (Pensive)=5)

>>32740770
FUCK.

I'm done for a while.

>>32740781
>>32740787
>>32740784

[Seeing the dice have an apparent disparity towards rolling extremes, we'll tamper with the dice system. Instead of average of best 3 rolls, we'll take 2nd best roll. Dice will be more defined when we find the in-game character sheet item. I'll also give you a freebie.]

You recall that earth Elementalists can draw physical strength and durability from the stone, and it was something they often gave to their Champions in the older days. Quickly, you grab him and pin him down on the rug, causing him to chuckle as a bit of blood runs down his cheek. "Alright, you're smarter than most of your kin." You look at him and indicate towards your arm, "One of the beings you have trapped is a Celestial. Is that the Subject of a Diabolist?" The older man chuckles, "Fine...fine....maybe you are, maybe you aren't. But you've got me dead to rights either way now. Very well, I promise, I will release them. In my left pocket there is a pouch with dust, pour the dust on the spider and it will reset to its original place and the Null Field will disable itself."

>1) Take his word, let him go, and go free your friends.
>2) Make him do it.
>3) Other

>>32740920
>2) Make him do it.
I'm a bit hesitant to do so, mind if I ask you to try it? That way I'm not the one who bones it up.

Rolled 8

>>32740920
>>2) Make him do it.

>>32740920
"May I ask your name?"

>>32740920
>[Seeing the dice have an apparent disparity towards rolling extremes, we'll tamper with the dice system. Instead of average of best 3 rolls, we'll take 2nd best roll. Dice will be more defined when we find the in-game character sheet item. I'll also give you a freebie.]

Why not best of 3 or 1D100?

>3) Other

>Drag him and the Rug over near the hole

As long as he's not touching stone then I'm okay with whatever option you guys take

>>32740994
We already got his name.

>>32740920
>[Seeing the dice have an apparent disparity towards rolling extremes, we'll tamper with the dice system. Instead of average of best 3 rolls, we'll take 2nd best roll. Dice will be more defined when we find the in-game character sheet item. I'll also give you a freebie.]
why not do the dice system Soma has?

>>32740988
>>32740978

"I appreciate it, Barith, but I am not comfortable with another's Arte, So, I would like you to do it." You bind his hands to his legs with a length of nearby cloth, then place the old man on the rug, dragging the both of them to the ledge and telling him to do it. He reaches into his robes and pours the dust on the spider, and then gives a command. The spider leaps up to the ceiling and freezes, and you feel the painful sensation in your chest subsiding. Barith chuckles wheezily, "You're very smart. Avoiding all of my traps."

Madreon is floating in front of you, hovering with slow heavy wingbeats, Tyre's hand in his as he places her on the ledge and he looks down at the old man. "And who is this, Brother?" You respond to the angel, "This is Barith, the Elementalist. He managed to survive the Cullings, but hiding here, I presume." The old man laughs, "I have tricks that very few of my kind even knew about. Let me free and I promise, on my magic itself, that I will not escape you or attempt to harm you. I have no interest in leaving my home, anyway."

>1) Trust the old man
>2) Do not trust him.
>3) Other (write in)

>>32741053
>>32741014
[I have a dice system in mind, but we just need to get one thing in game.]

>>32741179
>1) Trust the old man
Make sure we shake on it and write that on paper somewhere

>>32741179
"I would like you to teach me of your art."

>>32741179
>2) Do not trust him.
This is the mystic all over agian.

>>32741214
how will that help us?

>>32741179
>>1) Trust the old man

Rolled 3

>>32741265
Mystic was not under threat of death

>>32741290
this guy just tried to trick us 2 times already, and people are willing to trust him again.

>>32741179
>1) Trust the old man

>>32741303
But now we have the upper hand of our angel and dame.

>>32741283
I don't know why not?

Rolled 8

>>32741179
Tell them to disable him if he tries anything

>>32741179
Ask him about Mortarion.

>>32741341
People were paranoid as hell with a demon, but are trusting with a crafty guy that survived a slaughter, and could be just as bad as the mystic.

>>32741365
>>32741286
>>32741214

You cut him lose with his dagger and hand it back to him. He sheathes it, shaking your hand. "Whatever you are, young man, you are a bright and academic mind. I can respect that very highly. Were these the days before the Culling I would have expected you to have a bright future ahead of you." He walks back to the main room and sits at the table opposite you and smiles, his wrinkled eyes actually turning up with a smile for the first time.

You sit opposite him and he smiles, "So, what brings you to this tower?" You keep all the details close to your vest and simply say you were looking for a new place to make your domain. He nods, "Well...I don't mind giving you the top of this tower if you don't mind me keeping the bottom of it." When he mentions the upstairs a light comes on in your mind.

"Tell me, Barith, what do you know of Diabolist Mortarion who occupied the tower above?" The old man chuckles, "Ah," he says as he produces a stone pipe and touches it, turning just the bottom of it to lava, giving him a pipe, "I see you've been snooping. Yes, while I was away Mortarion took up residence here in my tower, and conducted all manner of experiments. Of course, I drove him away, and slew the abominations he created below. All for the best really."

You curse internally at the mention of his experiments being ruined by the old man.

>1) Ask him something (write in)
>2) Let him keep talking.
>3) Other

>>32741446
>1) Ask him something (write in)
"I never thought I'd see an Elementalist. How do you do that in fact?"

>>32741446
"Two things."
"One, I would like to see those experiments."
"Two, I would like to be a stonespeaker, even if it is just basic."

Gotta learn 'em all.

>>32741446
"TEACH ME YOUR WAYS, OH WISE ONE!"

>>32741507
>>32741549

Once you start plying him for his craft he holds up his hands and laughs, "No, no, no. Just because the system's gone to the Low and the Magocracy is sundered doesn't mean the Tenet of Twelve is broken. In fact, I've checked, it's still quite strong. Perhaps you don't know the rule, since you're a whipper-snapper, but it is forbidden to teach a single person more than a single Arte. We created Gargoyles to hunt those people down." As he finishes talking he winds up chuckling to himself, "Well...at least, you know, when they listened to us."

The man's eyes drift off to the side before snapping back forward. "Anyway, the answer is no." You relent, "Very well, then may I see the experiments of Mortarion?" At this the old man shrugs, "I suppose if it would interest you, there's not much left really. The stones disintegrated most of them and what wasn't destroyed that way is so small I ignored it."

The two of you, your minions in tow, head down to the basement where he shows you a long wide hallway, full of rubble. With a gesture the rubble parts instantly, forming into a beautiful archway and giving access to a massive library-like center.

"Find whatever interests you. So long as it's not on a shelf, on or in a desk, or clearly an Elementalist item, it's all yours."

>1) Begin searching.
>2) Have your Subjects search.
>3) Search together.
>4) Maybe later

>>32741732
>3) Search together.
order the angel not to fuck things up, and the demon not to eat the buggers/destroy it.

>>32741732
>3) Search together.
Because fuck skeletons

I bet you guys the Mystic would be a great help to the party.

>>32741783
welp we have a ranged unit, and a close up fighter, a mage would fit perfectly now.

Rolled 6

>>32741732
>3) Search together.

Rolled 3

>>32741732
>3) Search together.

>>32741732
If you've noticed, the only people holding that tenant up are the...."Demons in physical form!" wasn't it?
Why do you have any want to uphold the tenants when none but enemies remain for you?

Rolled 5

>>32741904
I assume its because people who could learn multiple magicks were crazy powerful, or turned mad so it was better to kill them instead of facing a monster.

>>32741928
>I assume its because people who could learn multiple magicks were crazy powerful
That's the point.
That's why I'm trying to convince him

>>32741928
>>32741904
>inb4 using multiple schools allows you to be possessed by a big bad
>or opens a portal to hell
>breaks down reality and makes magic beings from other realms enter ours

>>32741950
He seemed to think that the gargoyles were a good idea though.

>>32741982
He also seems to hate diabolists.
The people in power

>>32741773
>>32741767

"Madreon, if you find anything, do not kill it, just alert Tyre or me. Tyre, same thing." The three of you set off and search the large catacombs/tunnel system. Eventually the three of you create some space between yourselves and the search begins.

An hour later the two of them, you are informed telepathically, have found a few small bits of demonic flesh or scraps of Diabolist cloth. Tyre had the biggest find, half of a page containing some notes. As the time stretched on the distance between the three of you increased vastly and you walked deepest down the tunnel you chose to enter.

The blackened stone, showing silhouettes of goliath stone figures blasted by some sort of hellish fire, has no secrets to yield. That is, until you find a small corner section where you see a positively minuscule summoning circle.

You blink a few times in the darkness and hold your arm aloft, placing your mind on Tyre, causing the script to glow red and cast light on the circle. It is, in fact, an honest-to-the-Dukes Summoning Circle. You can't even read the writing, seeing how small it is, and wonder how a grown man possibly managed to write it. You doubt that even you could write a proper summoning circle of that size. The broach holding your Soul Vessel glows slightly, letting you know that the Circle is actively serving as either a gate or an anchor for a Low Subject.

>1) Investigate more
>2) Call your Subjects
>3) Touch it

>>32742054
>3) Touch it

>>32742054
>3) Touch it

Rolled 1

>>32742054
>>1) Investigate more

>>32742054
>1) Investigate more
I'd rather we find out what the hell it says before we touch it

>>32742054
>3) Touch it
Do eeet

>>32742126
Touching things have always worked out well before!

>>32742180

But mah pensive nature

>>32742209
Quiet you!

>>32742209
That was a stupid fucking nature, knew we should've gone sadistic.

>>32741179
Ooh! Are we gonna go with a sexy in-game dice rendition mechanic? Or do you mean that you really want us to find the tome of dark secrets and doom?

>>32742246
I still think keeping the mystic would have been better, especially when most of the votes for changing summons was for a succubus.

>>32742101
>>32742116
>>32742147

Deciding, rationally of course, to experiment by touching it, since it worked so well last time, you figure why not now as you reach your hand out and place it upon the circle. Immediately you feel your body freeze up and your hand begins pulling you forward, into the Circle.

You lose sight of the tunnels and when you can move again you collapse on a hot floor. The heat of the entire area is overwhelming, and feels like you just entered a furnace. As you collapse backwards, your hands stopping you, one of them lands on an eerily familiar sensation; dead flesh is hard to forget.

You scramble away and look down to see a bald man, his face tattooed with marks of Diabolism. That same face, as it happens, is contorted into a look of unparalleled horror, his last expression. You look around and see that you are in little more than a stone cell with roaring open flames surrounding the ground. However, as you finish your inspection of the area your Vessel shakes, uncontrollably around your neck as you grab it to hold it steady.

A crimson summoning circle lights up, tracing itself on the stone floor, and from its size, enough to roughly fit fifty of your own body, whatever is there is quite large indeed.

(cont)

>>32742293
There was 2 Sccubutt fools and the rest was a brute we can still get a mystic later

>>32742338

Without any further warning, upon the circle's completion, a massive serpent's appears. Plunging from the depths of the Circle, pushing himself free with massive burly arms, his several tree-trunk thick tail following with a whip-like snap. Its head turns to face you, and you are met with a snake-like man's face. The eyes, however, you catch a glimpse of, from just the corner of one eye, only the faintest flash. As soon as you do so, however, indescribable pain fills you as you close your eyes, screaming out in futile pain as you feel a coldness creep up your un-Marked arm...

>Roll for Vigor. Difficulty (15-8 (Teenager)=7)

Rolled 7

>>32742412

Rolled 1

>>32742412
Either forceful binding or Poseidon either way
FUCK

Rolled 5

>>32742412

Rolled 4

>>32742412

>>32742412
So why the FUCK did people think touching it would be a good idea?
Or are you just that stupid?

Rolled 5

>>32742412
>Expected to get 30% every single roll

File: Wheatley_model[1].jpg (174 KB, 514x492)

174 KB JPG

>>32742550
Good idea?

Rolled 2

>>32742550
Maybe we should get some one smart on our side, some one who could teach us.

>>32742428
>>32742460

You look, with horror, as your left hand freezes up entirely and turns black. The veins tracing up from your hand blacken as well, but fortunately the rest of your body remains wholesome flesh.

"Who dares intrude on the Summoning Circle of The Stiller of Breath?!" The snake's voice is an ear-shatteringly loud reedy whistle of a voice that seems to scrape the ash off the stones around him. From looking at his lower body you can see that he's wrapped his long tail around into a chair for him to lean back, imperiously in.

"What brings you to my prison, Diabolist? Come to make the same ill-fated mistake the other human did? At least you have the good sense to not become an abomination of Low and Mortal flesh, thinking it would protect him from my imperious gaze. SPEAK, whyfor do you intrude upon my cell? Dare you to mock one such as I?"

>1) Deferential, try to reason (write in)
>2) Assertive, take control
>3) Other

>>32742669
3
We were a retarded little shit that couldn't follow the most basic of precautions and touched an obviously active summoning circle.

Rolled 10

>>32742669
>2) Assertive, take control

Rolled 5

>>32742669
>>3) Other
Well, I thought it was a good idea at the time!
Rolling for endearing naivete.

>>32742669
"I apologize, Stiller of breath, I am young and curious, I did not expect it to be the summoning circle of someone of your stature."
"I wished to know what this man had intended, and I have done so, I did not wish to mock you, or belittle you."

Rolled 8

>>32742669
>>2) Assertive, take control

>>32742731
>>32742722
>>32742711
It's not a rolling situation, it's a writing situation.

>>32742669
"Oh, um hello. Well if it's a prison I'm not sure you could claim intrusion, you know? So, what are you in for?"

>>32742763
>Oh, um hello.
no

>>32742669
1
"I apologize for my impertinence. I had no idea that the Summoning Circle held someone of your eminence. May I inquire as to who created the Circle?"

>>32742763
>>32742722
For fuck's sake, why are you being such complete fuck-ups compared to the first thread?

>>32742838
You mad bro?

>>32742763
>>32742725
>>32742722

You drop to your knees and lower your head, "Forgive the offense, Great One. I meant no trespass" As novice as you are to the names and natures of the greatest Low Subjects, even you have heard of the Stiller of Breath. He originates from Ras, and there he served as consort to the Duchess, Malerai. The Tome, which you have so fervently read, mentions his absence. It appears that this is where he was the entire time.

You can feel the nearly palpable sensation of anger and hate he inflicts upon you wearing off as it is replaced with a sense of sheer dreadful wonder, "Ah....of course, mortal. I see there can be no ill will in the heart of one so young as you. Please, allow me to take a form more suitable, so we may speak as equals." The overwhelming sense of gravitas he inflicted on you vanishes as, at his beckon, you look up and see a tall and weathered-looking man with a slightly long nose, shirtless and standing just at the edge of the Summoning Circle.

He sits down and rests his arm on a knee as he smiles, "Please, sit with me, young one. Tell me your name."

>1) How do we respond? (write in)

>>32742933
Wait.....what is our name?

>>32742933
Anon

Rolled 4

>>32742933
Quick question first does names = power and or dominance?

>>32742950
Alaster, wasn't it?

>>32742933
"My name is Alaster, Stiller of breath, I do not think I am yet worthy to speak as an equal to you yet however"

>>32743017
>>32742989
>>32742979

[First names, given names for us, hold no power. A Low Subject's name from the Repository of the Realm, in their Duchy, holds immense power over them. Yet another reason why human souls are so desirable; they cannot be claimed or taken by knowledge of its true name.]

>>32743017
this

>>32742933
Wait a minute. Names hold power, because it's basically the same as a metaphysical MAC address.

1
"I am far from being your equal, Great One, and my name is Alaster. What would you like to speak of?"

>>32743110
>>32743017

"I am Alaster, Great One, and while I am far from your equal, I will speak." You sit opposite him and he grins at you, "So, a young Diabolist like yourself wanders over to a Summoning Circle he doesn't recognize and touches it," the Great One chuckles to himself, a few minutes later, as you told him how you got there (leaving out key details), "you're a smart young man, but it's a novice mistake."

He throws back his head and laughs, his serpent tongue flailing around as he does so before he grins, showing massive hypoderm-like canine teeth, "Perhaps you could use a Mentor. A Tutor, as it were." he leans close, his face nearly passing over the barrier of the summoning circle, but not quite, as you know he cannot. "Take Covenant with me; free me from this Circle and I will enrich you with deep knowledge that can give you power beyond any living Diabolist. Swear your loyalty to Ras, above all other Duchies, and you can begin the process of Ascension."

You know what a Covenant is; it's basically a Pact, but instead of a term of service in exchange for souls, you trade service for service. Ascension, however, is something you have never heard of before.

>1) Accept
>2) Refuse
>3) Ask a question (write in)

>>32743299
>>3) Ask a question (write in)
What is Acension?

Rolled 4

>>32743299
How long were you in this prison?

>>32743299
3
"What is Ascension, Great One? I have never heard of it."
I don't like the idea of being bound to only one Duchy. Though trading a debt and getting tutelage for freeing the Stiller sounds like something useful.

>>32743299
>>32743355
Yep

>>32743299
>3
"I've never heard of this, and I haven't collected enough souls to satisfy my own subjects yet, so I apologize for being hesitant but I do not wish to disappoint you."
"However, if I can free you I would like to hear more details."

>>32743299
How would swearing loyalty to Ras affect us?

>>32743441
>>32743355
These

>>32743441
It would limit us to only getting Reavers, high-offense, low-defense, attack-only demons.

>>32743375
>>32743355

You hold up your hand, "What, exactly, is Ascension, Great One?" When you ask he laughs, a whistling laugh as he shakes a single finger, "Not so fast, little mortal; knowledge has its own price. My knowledge is very valuable. Tell you what, for every question you answer, I will weigh its value and demand souls from you once I answer it. Alternatively, if you feed me one of your Subjects upon completion of our Covenant, I would be happy to answer five questions, so long as they do not involve me or Her Grace."

>1) Ask questions at the price of Souls
>2) Ask questions at the price of your Subjects
>3) Ask no questions.

>>32743495
"I apologize then Great one, I have nothing valuable to offer you."

>>32743495
>1) Ask questions at the price of Souls
Sweet jesus, this make me want the mystic more.

>>32743523
What, so that it can outsmart you and tell you how stupid you are?
You don't need a mystic for that.

>>32743495
We don't have any souls though
And I don't want to give up our servants
>3) Ask no questions.

>>32743536
to feed it to the demon.

Rolled 8

>>32743536
So we could give him for questions probably

>>32743495
>1) Ask questions at the price of Souls
Just ask about Ascension

>>32743536
He could have told us this info for free.
>>32743560
We don't know that actually.

>>32743520
>>32743560
But tell him we very much will return

>>32743495
While the Stiller can tell us the price, can we determine when the debt is to be paid?
The Stiller only specified how many souls an answer is worth, not when he would be paid.

>>32743495
>>3) Ask no questions.

>>32743624
>demand souls from you once I answer it
So after answering the question

"I wonder if you would accept future payment of souls until I manage to acquire a few souls..." This way we are not actually asking a question.

>>32743495
>3) Ask no questions.

>>32743495

Wait a fucking moment. He's offered the covenant and personally offered one of its terms as "Ascension".

That's tantamount to offering the definition of "Ascension" by placing it as a term in the covenant to be agreed upon.

>>32743680
Right, and we would have to agree to the Covenant before he tells us what is Ascension, or we have to pay him some souls.
So all in all, we're getting pretty shafted by this.

>>32743680
To put forth an offer willingly with the expectation of its comprehension is to place it into understandable language. By expressing his desire to make an offer, he is required to translate it into our language fully, or the premise of a covenant is false as it cannot be understood to be agreed upon.

>>32743730
I'd rather not be limited only to Ras summons

Also if though he wants to be free he can still kill us so lets not bargain too hard

>>32743741
Yeah! What this guy said!...

>>32743784
what did he say anon?

>>32743560
>>32743520
>>32743616

"I apologize, Great One. Your terms are impossible, I cannot accept that price." The man laughs again and shrugs his shoulders, "No matter, your kind are hopelessly addicted to knowledge, you'll be back."

Silence falls over the two of you as he just stares, focused and unerringly, at you, like a snake watching its prey. His gaze is very uncomfortable, especially with the knowledge that he can turn what gazes upon his wondrous form into....whatever it is your hand has become.

He breaks the long silence, "You know, mortal, the Circle is tied to mine. There is no way to return to its origin, should I not wish you to. You're stuck here, and though I am not well versed on human biology, I seem to recall you need to eat or drink, eventually. And this fire is very warm."

Unfortunately, he's somewhat right. There is a time limit on your end of the equation.

>1) So...about that Covenant? (Write in)

>>32743784
>>32743741

Essentially, a demon cannot offer a deal by saying "bibbuldeeboppingoop" in other languages until you accidentally say "yes". All of the words must have an understood definition.

It's his offer, and he has to make it clear what he believes is meant by the terms.

>>32743741
Okay let's say I'm an idiot
Pls translate into idiot

>>32743840

Tell him >>32743741, and that we're his only way out. We die, and he enjoys his time here even more.

>>32743846
The demon has to make the deal in a way we completely understand or we could agree to anything and everything.

>>32743840
Aww shit we gotta go Crazy Hassan with this fuck face
Okay I say we neither enter a covenant with him and or feed him our current subjects

Rolled 8

>>32743840
Can we use magic for sustenance?

>>32743840
Knowledge for freedom? Sipulate that he must answer your questions as your mentor truthfully and fully or something

>>32743845
Or he waits until we're near death and desperate, and gets us to sign whatever he wants.
And a contract signed is a contract signed, since the mystic was trying its very best to shaft us.

>>32743904
Exactly. For all we know, "Ascension" means "I kill you and you ascend to the afterlife".

Or it could be a word in another language that merely sounds like the word we have heard.

>>32743923
You wish to sell him a used camel at discount prices?

>>32743840
"And if I do not accept your covenant you will be trapped here forever."
"I, despite my youth, am not stupid, great one, I would like to hear all of the terms and conditions of this covenant, of which I know little about, I apologize about my lack of knowledge."

File: image.jpg (727 KB, 1980x1350)

727 KB JPG

>>32743951
Used camel souls at discount prices

>>32743840
How long will he be our Mentor? Is it tied to a length of time, our natural lifespan (barring accidental and inflicted deaths), or until we pass some test?

Is swearing loyalty to Ras an absolute requirement? I want to be able to recruit from the other Duchies so that we're more well-rounded.

>>32744024
>>32743923
>>32743845
This.

>>32744031
But thats such a deal! We are trying to get the best for ourselves Hassan not make him a loyal customer

>>32744024
>>32743927
>>32743901
>>32743904

"I won't sign anything, or agree to anything, without knowing the terms fully. That's what a proper contract is, oh Great One." This is met with uproarious laughter as he leans forward, getting on his hands and knees, "You stupid little mortal, are you simply mad from the grandeur of seeing me, or are you stupider than I thought? Whatever you and I agree to is a Covenant, regardless of your understanding, especially when I refer to something as commonly known as Ascension. I see they don't teach you whelps as well as they used to. However, since I see that you are as arrogant as you are ignorant, I will offer you one final chance. Free me and I will educate your embarrassing gulf of knowledge for the remainder of your natural life. Ascension is off the table, for one so lowly as you would be a blight on the name of Ras. Remember; you will die in two days, there will be another Diabolist; be it in a year or ten thousand, it matters not to me."

He raises his hand, "Do you promise to free me in exchange for my education?"

>1) Yes
>2) No
>3) Haggle (write in)

>>32744129
"Well, first of all how do I free you?"

>>32744129
He's gonna kill us the second he is free. His knowledge will be to not trust a demon

Rolled 1

>>32744129
Ascension = becoming demon
Not worth it really
Say no

>>32744129
>Ascension is off the table, for one so lowly as you would be a blight on the name of Ras.
Does this mean we would ascend to become a demon of this realm?
Well good that interferes with becoming The Spirit King

>>32744129
>2) No

>>32744129
It's not that we didn't know what a covenant was, merely that we didn't know what it entailed, and what ascension was.

>>32744154
This.

Since he turned human, does that make him weak enough that we can kill him with Damnation, or does it just mean he looks different?

>>32744129
3
I cannot swear to hold Ras above all other Duchies; to do so would cut me off from other skills and services that they provide, and that I may require.

>>32744129
Hah! He can claim it's commonly known all he likes, he had no evidence that it is.

By offering it already as a term, he has offered its systemic definition personally to us. To put forth any offer willingly is to put for all relevant definitions of the offer. End of story.

>>32744227
>>32744154
[You know that simply breaking the Circle's continuous material, whatever it's made of, will give him freedom.]

Rolled 8

>>32744187
And worst of all we would become one of Ra
Thats like one of worst choices for us
And assassin demon quest would be boring in this setting anyway

>>32744240
[He just assumed human form.]

>>32744261
It's simple. If he puts the premise of an apple on the table, he puts forth the premise of calling it "a fruit". They mean the same thing.

To enter into a negotiation willingly is to gift the meaning of the words deliberately for the purpose of deciding upon the related negotiation.

By merely asking us to decide upon something, he has signed over any rights to its definition.

>>32744364
>he has signed over any rights to its definition.
Except, he just said "fuck what you think you're entitled to".
He's not going to answer until after we sign the contract.

I say we try and eat the other guy trapped in here

>>32744474
What are you going to do for water?
A human can go for a week without food, but only 2 days without water.
And the heat here will shorten that time.

Say that before anyone will find this circle again all diabolists will die in next culling

>>32744444
Oh no, he's just delaying. Trying to scare us. That's why the haggle option is still there.

He's required to answer, since he already ostensibly made a pact of negotiation with us. He OFFERED a decision.

Like, there's the decision, and then there's the decision to discuss a decision.

By asking us to make a decision, he has decided to offer us a choice upon terms he gave. Which means he has gifted us the meaning of the terms.

>>32744129
What if we played Rock Paper Scissors for our freedom?

>>32744518
Surely he's trying to scare us right?

I mean he really can't fuck us in the ass like this right?

>>32744554
Well, in theory, the people who imprisoned him were able to leave. Perhaps we need only believe the circle can cut off all power he has over us? Or maybe we can draw another circle.

>>32744530
I honestly want to know how did you come to this conclusion? And why you think he care about what we think we are entitled to?

Okay lets Kaiji our way out

WE GAMBURU

>>32744580
>draw another circle
Brilliant! We can summon weakass demons, then eat their flesh and drink their blood! Then we can throw their bones at the big jackass.

>>32744168
>>32744190

"Then, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse." You say, resolutely. In a flash his face becomes a snarl and his flesh explodes; unleashing his true form, trying to catch you staring at him. You quickly turn away, shielding your eyes and making sure he doesn't as his shriek fills the cavern, "You will die then, die a lonely and meaningless death, you worthless nothing!"

With that, he opens the circle and hops down into it, disappearing from sight. You are left alone in the blazing hot inferno of this pocket dimension.

Time passes, a few hours at least. You read the Tome, since you have it with you, anything to take your mind off the throat-burning thirst you are suffering from. As you read, however, you see that the pages, when exposed to the air outside of your robes, start to blacken and curl, burning from the sheer heat of the air. However, while certainly hot, it doesn't feel THAT hot to you.

You quickly hide the book, your inquisitive mind curious as to the nature of this oddity. You pull a piece of string out from the lining of your robe and drop it. It burns to a crisp before ever touching the ground. By that logic, you should be burned alive, but it feels like little more than an inconvenience.

>1) Continue Analysis
>2) Talk to the Stiller
>3) Read the Tome
>4) Other

>>32744582
That is how diplomacy works in real life. But between humans the negotiation can be terminated.

However, if it is a demon, mythological pacts and offers are binding on spoken word. Meaning that he's already bound himself to negotiate and define those terms by offering it.

Can we make circle to summon upon cold winds of Ixithor?

>>32744650
>1) Continue Analysis

>>32744650
See if we can find a source to the heat. And other investigation!

>>32744650
Yes we continue to fuck with stuff

>1) Continue Analysis

>>32744650
>Continue Analysis
And keep the Tome safe with us. It's too valuable to risk burning.
Also check the body of the other Diabolist. See what's there.

>>32744650
>1) Continue Analysis
Oh no you don't you fucking fagget I'm on to you

>>32744650
"Why do you keep me alive?"

Rolled 4

Guys this is best time we have to learn fire magicks
Try connecting to fire or something

>>32744756
fuck off

>>32744756
Why don't you try to be productive with your posts, instead of being a colossal retard?

>>32744685
>>32744696
>>32744703

The idea comes to you to just make a Circle of your own. Putting that aside for just a moment you experiment more and determine, through about ten more minutes of analysis, that anything that isn't directly touching you or shielded by your robes is vulnerable to some sort of greater heat than you feel. Somehow, though you aren't quite sure, you are shielded from the heat.

You scour the other Diabolist's body, finding little of value, until you find the most valuable things he possesses. First, you find a scroll which, after reading the symbols on it, you decipher as his personal history of summoned Subjects. You tuck that away quickly.

Secondly you find his Vessel, the container for all of his Souls that he gathered through his life. He keeps it in the palm of his Gauntlet, which is also relatively unharmed from the environment, save for a bit of charring at the fingertips.

Not taking anything yet, you realize that it would be a wise idea to draw a circle, but have nothing to draw it with. Usually you would use blood from an animal, but you don't even have a dagger for that, or an animal, come to think of it. Chalk is also common, but you have none of that either.

>1) I have an idea! (Difficulty: 4)
>2) Other (write in)

>>32744844
>1) I have an idea! (Difficulty: 4)

Rolled 3

>>32744844
>1) I have an idea! (Difficulty: 4)

>>32744844
Use the blood of the diabolist, we might be able to bludgeon it out of him.
Although considering how things char there might be some charcoal or ash around.
We should also take his gauntlet.

>>32744844
I have a feeling using our blood is gonna end up being a bad idea, so lets use the dead guys blood.

Rolled 10

>>32744895
>Bludgeon
Why not simply bite through him?

>>32744895
Agreed, it gives us two starting items, also lets summon that mystic, he is a better choice then this asshole.

>>32744920
If we're doing that why not bludgeon out his teeth and use those?

>>32744928
We don't have many souls though, unless that guy had some.

>>32744844
Is the ground malleable? We could also use thread from clothing, potentially.

Oh, and OOC QM, do you use that djinn/pact mythology wherein requests for action are considered offers of definition?

>>32744941
look at
>>32744844
>Secondly you find his Vessel, the container for all of his Souls that he gathered through his life
We can pay a short sum of souls easily.

>>32744962
But how many is in it?
How many did the demon that feeds on souls take from it?

Rolled 9

>>32744844
>1) I have an idea!

>>32744979
his highest rate was 20 souls for a whole year, they didn't even need to be human.

>>32745008
>they didn't even need to be human
What sort of other stuff are we talking here? Can we Elder Scrolls him with mouse spirits?

>>32744928
Is there a reason you're do keen on having the Mystic? it's not like there aren't other magic summons

>>32744979
>which is also relatively unharmed from the environment, save for a bit of charring at the fingertips.
>You scramble away and look down to see a bald man, his face tattooed with marks of Diabolism. That same face, as it happens, is contorted into a look of unparalleled horror, his last expression. You look around and see that you are in little more than a stone cell with roaring open flames surrounding the ground. However, as you finish your inspection of the area your Vessel shakes, uncontrollably around your neck as you grab it to hold it steady.
>A crimson summoning circle lights up, tracing itself on the stone floor, and from its size, enough to roughly fit fifty of your own body, whatever is there is quite large indeed.
Makes me think the ass hole couldn't touch it.

>>32745008
>they didn't even need to be human.
For a soul to be worth something, a peasant human won't do.
It has to be a human that's accomplished something with their life.

And if it's not going to be a human's soul, then it'd have to be one of a Celestial. But most transactions are done with human souls.

>>32745032
>Elder Scrolls him with mouse spirits
It was explained previously that this wouldn't work.

>>32745035
Honestly, I'd probably support any option that got us more 'arcane knowledge' and the like. It's just good policy for a summoner.

>>32745032
Last thread it was said that souls have a value, so the stronger the being the more souls they are equal to.
>>32745035
Well other than being a buffer and a mage, he has knowledge we sorely lack.

>>32745060
It's also good policy to not summon up something that's smarter than you, or agree to the contract that it wrote which would screw you over.
Mystics are smarter than the Diabolists that summon them, and will constantly be trying to backstab us in some way.

>>32745076
>so the stronger the being the more souls they are equal to
Right. But does this fully preclude stuff like mass soul-vortexing non-human stuff, or are we talking sentients only and absolutely?

>>32744895
>>32744920

You roll up his sleeves and, to your frustration, see that he is desiccated entirely, just dry skin on bone. Frustrated, you pull his Gauntlet off and put it on your hand. His hand, however, reveals that it is still quite healthy, as if he were just recently dead. You cock back your hand and smash his teeth out of his skull, cut the hand and drip blood, being extremely careful to not mess this up, a circle around you. Then, you run his hand on the blood and form a complete circle. To finish the circle, and make sure that it is complete, you tear apart his robes and tie it together to make a full circle outside of the blood circle, a reinforcing ring.

A few minutes of symbol-drawing later and the circle is available for service. You clench your gloved hand into a fist, feeling the energy of a dozen souls flowing through your body, encouraging your spirit, that you can make it out of this place.

The time is nigh, the circle is ready, and though the flames of the nightmarish dimension itself lap at your heels, you are strengthened by forces unknown. You rack your mind for an appropriate way out of the situation.

>1) What do we summon? (write in)

>>32744952
[The system more functions on a face value sort of system. If either party agrees to something, in the language of the agreement, that they fail to recognize or understand, they are liable for its payment/action. Intent, however, is not considered. Low Subjects are not often this way, bad rep]

>>32745104
his deal was pretty cheap, if you check out what he says.
>1) Short-Term, up to a week. Fee: 1 Human Soul
>2) Average, up to a month. Fee: 3 Human Souls
>3) Long-Term, up to a year or more. Fee: 20 Souls by year's end, and the pact will be renegotiated at yea
Also why do you think he will back stab us?

>>32745154
>1) What do we summon? (write in)
The first mystic

>>32745154
>1) What do we summon? (write in)
The first mystic.

>>32745199
Here, i would like to say we can offer the knowledge of this place, since it seems knowledge is valuable and the location of this monster should suffice, for a discount.

>>32745154
1
I hate to bring him in again, but summon Vorelix. We need to be able to get out of here now that we've pissed off the Stiller.
And hope that he has the magical knowledge needed to get us out of here.

>>32745154
[Ahh, I meant that for example in Djinn mythology, it's hazardous to wish for something because you as the wisher are liable to have thought of every definition for the mystical being to be bound to. This is why the being itself does not offer you anything specific, because then THEY would be liable to support your ability to decide by defining what they had meant. They'd basically be taken to have requested your service of thought in the matter.]

>>32745269
>>32745176
>>32745199

"I call forth, Azoriz-born, the Mystic Vorelix, prior summoned, I do so beckon him to answer my call." A welcome sight, a flash of white light floods the prison and there, floating above the ground on skeletal wings, is Vorelix. "Ah, Master, I am surprised to see you again." He bows his head, "You have grown quite a great deal since we first met. Time is difficult to keep track of in the Library, you know." His eyes dart around the circle and he laughs, wheezily, "Still just as good at making a complete circle. You've even reinforced it, for one as meager as I."

Cleverly, you have to admit, you have him summoned with his back to the other summoning circle. But, judging from last time, and the relative stillness of your original Vessel, the Stiller would be on his way soon, he can tell when other energies are used.

"So, Master. What are the terms of our deal? How long do you request this learned one's service?"

>1) A length of time (write in)
>2) Just get me out of here
>3) Other

>>32745330
[The rules as they are very stacked against Diabolists. Despite that, due to the intelligence of the Diabolists and the value of Souls, at the end of the day it's pretty close to even, on a neutral playing field.]

>>32745464
[Be back really quickly. While I'm gone, talk about fun stuff or ask questions?]

>>32745464
>2) Just get me out of here
then we can talk about
>1) A length of time (1 year)

>>32745464
"The last yearly deal you talked about, first priority, get me out of this and back to where I was originally."

>>32745464
Short time for one soul followed by getting out of here
>>32745507
Remember we can't have too many followers right now and we already have two

>>32745464
>2) Just get me out of here

>>32745551
How many souls do we have anyway?

>>32745464
>2) Just get me out of here
And add -first. Then we will re-negotiate a long-term contract.

We need to be in a better spot, one where we're not under pressure.

>>32745464
1
A week's service, to be renegotiated at the end of the week, for the price of one Human Soul.

If he proves that he's as good as he implies, then we may hire him on for a year.

>>32745585
>feeling the energy of a dozen souls flowing through your body
I don't think we had any before so 12

>>32745615
Seconded.

>>32745615
thirded

The problem with turning down the Stiller's offer is that, he is the consort to a Duchess; to be his pupil would have meant gaining access to incredible amounts of knowledge and power.
Power and knowledge we likely will not have access to, now that we have insulted the Stiller so much.

>>32745669
he is trapped, and we will make him regret what he says later on.

>>32745669
Who says we can't come back at a later date, when we're better prepared? The circle we found should still be there when we get back. Take not of it, maybe seal it off for now, and we can come back later.

>>32745615

"I will take you on for a week's service at the price of one Soul." Your offer seems good as he extends his hand and then ponders, "Wait...I feel....a great presence..." He turns and sees the circle, "Oh my....who is in there?" The Subject faces you and extends his hand, "I will do a year of service for the chance to peer into your mind and observe what you have seen in this prison, no more, no less." He says, his bone-like hand against the perimeter of his circle.

>1) Sounds good
>2) Keep to the Souls

>>32746083
>1) Sounds good

>>32746083
Okay then fuck Stiller

>1) Sounds good

>>32746083
If he peers into our mind, he's going to see everything, including the runes on the Summoning Circles.
This could be very dangerous.

We'll need to come back here and release the Stiller with the promise of mentorship before the year is out, in order to take full advantage of the situation.

Maybe even try to get some Ras demons to become indebted to us if we return their Duchess' consort.

>>32746083
Do any if the duchies have rivalries? How do they react to one another?

>>32746083
knowledge isn't cheep. 5 years.

>>32746167
Second

>>32739205
A few questions, is the tiny summoning circle the only access to this prison?

Is the summoning circle with the Stiller able to be redrawn to summon him?

>>32746083
What can he do with knowledge of the Circles?

>>32746103
>>32746121

You grip his hand with your gauntleted hand and the contract appears in floating black letters before entering the Vessel in your glove. The Subject steps over the circle and laughs, his jaw clattering as he does so. "I suppose you want to go to the other side of that Summoning Circle. Hold on, Master." The Demon raises a long bony finger and traces glyphs into the air before pushing the symbol forward. A flash of light fills the air and when it clears you are standing back in the tunnel outside the original small circle.

"Welcome back, Master. Now, before any interruptions..." The demon presses its bony digit against your forehead and your brain heats up before he moves it and laughs, "Oh my, Master. What a game you have stepped into, without even knowing your place in it. Welcome to the War of Sixes. You have made an invariable enemy of Ras, should the Stiller be made free."

>1) Ask a question. (write in)
>2) Other (write in)

(cont)

>>32746214
[As far as you know, yes, then no.]

>>32746166
[They all have rivalries. It's known by all Diabolists. Everyone hates Empire, Ras is the neutral party for hire. Ixithor invades Zordas without stop. Azoriz disdains Tas'Alar for its distractions from knowledge. Tas'Alar looks down on everyone for not being as fabulous. Empire sees everyone as worthy subjects of the Grand Duke. Zordas hates everyone.)

>>32746272
[He? Can do nothing. Demons cannot make circles that work, even in our world.]

>>32746083

Sounds fine. "Seen" means visually, correct?

File: Farseer happy.jpg (34 KB, 318x336)

34 KB JPG

>>32746340
"But what if I free him later on for no cost at all?"

>>32746340
>1) Ask a question. (write in)
Can you tell me the politics of my current predicament and what is Ascension.

>>32746394
Fuck that, we are gonna kill him.

>>32746340
"He seems to have made the enemy himself by not being forthright in an honest discussion. Why are demons so obtuse about getting what they want?"

>>32746397
A vote for this

>>32746416
And make an enemy of the Duchy known for assassins?

>>32746340
he can help us analyze our findings

>>32746416
Why? No point of making another enemy?

Alright, time to get the old man to guard this place until he dies.

>>32746444
No one knows where he is.
>>32746453
I doubt letting him go will go well with us.

>>32746490
>>32746453
He's probably a dick and already have seven grudges noted to our name. Only way around it is probably making a pact for his memories of this prison in return for his release.

>>32746545

Oh wait a fucking moment. Can we actually make a pact for HIS memories of this prison?

Maybe even offer them to the mystic for more service time. Ras guy forgets everything but that we released him, mystic gets delicious information.

>>32746428
>>32746394
>>32746397

"Ah, dear Master, greater demons like that have a....personality they develop. Any traits and any flaws they had before becoming a Great One becomes magnified. They're the most horrible and amazing Subjects, in each their own way." When you ask about your position and Ascension he chuckles, "Ah...I'm surprise no one told you about that. Well, the two tie together nicely enough."

"A Diabolist, of great power and prowess, is sometimes offered the chance to swear fealty to a Duchy. If you do so, any Subjects from the Duchies opposed to that one will be harder to persuade, or in extreme cases, refuse to work with you. However, by tying YOUR Soul to that Duchy, it becomes receptive to the energies of the Duchy. Thus, if you were to align with, say, my Duchy, you would become smarter, and even develop the ability to read the minds of lesser men. These abilities can be fostered, and can lead to other things down the line, but on the whole, it is a rare privilege offered to great Diabolists."

When you ask about Subjects being obtuse he laughs, "Well, you have to see it from our side, Master. We perceive humanity as having all the power over us, able to rip us from our homes and force us into servitude or at least submission. It's very disheartening."

Madreon and Tyre appear, "Master!" Tyre checks you over, are you alright? What has befallen you?" The Virtue floats over to you and puts his hand on your head. You feel refreshed and fed.

(cont)

>>32746545
>He's probably a dick and already have seven grudges noted to our name. Only way around it is probably making a pact for his memories of this prison in return for his release.


That's...,actually not a bad idea.

Making the best of a bad situation.
Why'd we look a gift horse in the mouth again?

>>32746656

Barith appears from the wall, "Oh," he says, stroking his jaw, "So that's where Mortarion vanished off to. I see, I see....well, I am glad to see you have returned, young Master. Tell me, would you like me to protect this little pocket dimension?"

>1) Yes
>2) No

(Also, last post after this one)

>>32746721
I would suppose so. Although I really do like the pact of him to forget us. Or at least, only remember that we released him.

>>32746721
>1) Yes

>>32746721
>1) Yes

>>32746721
>>1) Yes

>>32746721
1

>>32746721
"Thank you Madreon, Tyre, everything is fine, I just gained some new life experiences."
"Barith, I may be back, but yes, I'm sure you would like to as well, considering it contains The Stiller of Breath"

>>32746721
yes

>>32746721
>yes
Tell him have his anti magic spider guard it

>>32746656
>"Well, you have to see it from our side, Master. We perceive humanity as having all the power over us, able to rip us from our homes and force us into servitude or at least submission. It's very disheartening."
"Well you know, there's always the chance for peaceful cooperation. Humans do that shit to each other all the time, but eventually you get more helpful arrangements like protection and policing agreements."

>>32746871
>"Well you know, there's always the chance for peaceful cooperation. Humans do that shit to each other all the time, but eventually you get more helpful arrangements like protection and policing agreements."

I don't think the power of friendship works with demons.

>>32746747
>>32746761
>>32746767

The man raises his hands and clenches them into fists, radiant white energy rippling from them as massive stone guardians appear, bearing shields of stone with heavy clubs, crouching down in front of it and guarding it from sight and access. He conjures another one of those wicked spiders in the ceiling, waiting for a victim.

Your, now three Subjects, gathered around you, reminds you of the passage in the Tome, 'There is no true facet of our Arte greater than the command over several Subjects and their orchestration in battle'.

Barith whistles, "I hate to interrupt your thoughts, but I have been sensing a few tens of beings on various steeds about a mile away from here. I think it's a Hunting Party for a Gargoyle. How foolish; the Gargoyle is not so poorly made as to fall to the hands of Diabolists, no matter how many."

You put aside his disdain for your kind, for now, wondering about whether or not this is a chance to learn more about your craft and the dreaded Gargoyles that put magic at risk of extinction.

(Thanks guys! That'll be all for tonight, someone could please archive this, I would appreciate it. Twitter is at the top of the page with news and updates for the Quest. I appreciate your playing, and will open up, once again, for Questions our character may or may not know.)

>>32746927
Honestly, I find Modern Diplomancer Diabolist to be fucking hilarious.

"Hey, you know demons, it's possible we could set up a democracy where we honestly work together, so you guys don't get hurtfully summoned and we don't get soulflayed."

>>32746961
Are you going to set a kind of schedule on when you're posting, or are we just going by twitter updates?

How hands-on has our master been with us? Will she be bothered by our sudden disappearance or try to find us?

>>32747130
[This week had kind of a surprise bump in it, so I had to move Wednesday's game to today. But I'm shooting for M/W/F. Meaning I will be back tomorrow.]

Our Master was fairly distant with us; she respected our intelligence and intervened only when needed. Obviously, in the early stages, she was very hands on, but we proved we didn't need much help very quickly.

However, despite that, she never pretended to us that we were family with her. So, while it's unlikely that she wants you to die, thus wasting all her time training you, it's unlikely she'll go hunting. She's also kinda getting older.

>>32747205
>we didn't need much help very quickly.
That's being disproven pretty quickly.

>>32747310

[Admittedly, we're a little above our depth. Most Diabolists spend nearly a decade doing what is essentially contractor work for nobles and joining up to hunt Theurgists and so on. We left the reservation pretty quickly and are kinda winging it.]