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Welcome back, swamp sorcerers, to the fourth installment of Swamp Lord Quest. Once again, you are Lord Jakob Absol, a man who has terrible luck with nicknames, heir of the Archmage Lord Arnveis Absol the Black, rival of the rebel sorceress Albeda Absol, Liege of the Absol Swamp, and Master of Castle Briarfast.

Last time, you had your first day of proper lording, defused a squabble between two archmages, made plans to turn an assassination attempt into a trap, and boosted your prestige in your own lands. This time, we'll see how those plans bear fruit.
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Jakob Absol, Swamp Lord

Unspent Exp: 2
Total Exp: 10

BODY: 2
COORDINATION: 2
SENSE: 3
Eerie: +1
KNOWLEDGE: 4
Counterspell: +3
Language (Vartynen): +MD
Sorcery: +4
Strategy: +2
Tactics: +2
COMMAND: 4
Haggle: +1
Inspire: +3
Intimidate: +1
CHARM: 2

ADVANTAGES:
Lucky 1 (one reroll per session on a roll where NO sets turn up)
Thick Headed 1 (one extra wound box in the head)
Status 3 (Lord of the Absol Swamp, FREE for plot reasons)
Followers 5 (10 Threat 4 Unworthy Opponents, the Last Loyal, FREE for picking Swamp)
Possession ? (Castle Briarfast, FREE for plot reasons)
Possession 3 (Well-Made Plate Armor)
Literate in Vartynen 1 (FREE for plot reasons)
Wealth 3
Spells (1)
Spells (1)
Spells (3)
Spells (3)
Spells (5)

PROBLEMS:
Hated Enemy (+1 xp whenever the Hated Enemy harms or inconveniences you)

PASSIONS:
Mission: Solidify your hold on the Absol Swamp
Duty: Be a lord your people and ancestors would be proud of
Craving: Find a worthy and powerful wife

SPELLS:
Aqueous Divination (Sense): Weather Wisdom, Clearwater Oracle
Smoke Sculpting (Knowledge): Minor Smoke Form, Smoke Arrow, Minor Smoke Structure, Smoke Armor
The Way of the Wood (Knowledge): Blossom Freshness
Wings of Words (Knowledge): Soar, Words of Lesser Attunement, Minor Lightning Stroke
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After reading Balam's letter, and deciding that you like the Lord of the Plains a great deal, you turn to the last in the pile. Petrine Gwelm's. You know that she was practically born as Lady Gwelm, losing her parents in a shipwreck. You wonder idly if she and Lady Galdynfyrgenbach bond over both being orphans. You also know that she was supposedly a frequent guest at Briarfast when she was young, and that your grandfather, Lord Valter Absol, helped to raise her. If she had been older, and your father hadn't had such a taste for mulberries, it would have been possible that a political marriage would have resulted between them. There is, you vaguely recall from somewhere, a law against the Frontier Provinces merging that would have meant their children split the domains between them, but you're no legalist and don't know the details. That's steward's work.

You pop open the golden seashell seal with your letter opener, and remove the letter. Immediately, a faint aroma hits you. Lavender. The paper is scented with it, and the handwriting is beautiful, written with a thin-tipped quill, every letter flowing, curving, elegant. It's also written in an entirely different style than the others, and addressed to your father.

'Dearest Arnveis,

Please write back to me soon! I was so glad to hear you came back alive from Cheill, when so many others did not. I would have journeyed to visit you sooner, but alas, pirates have taken advantage of the ennervated state of our navy and prey upon every passing ship, and I dread what they would demand of my people should I be taken captive. With that said, I am sure any pirate attempting to take you prisoner would soon come to regret it, and so I have a splendid idea. Why don't you come visit me this summer?

You can surely get a letter to me with the details, and it would be such a jolly time. Oh do say yes! Moreover, you should bring Little Jakob and your apprentice, that Albeda girl. It is, after all, high time we look to the future. You and Lenida were always so kind to me, a family when I needed one, let me do my part to help by arranging suitable marriages for them. Won't it be just such fun? Is Little Jakob old enough to be noticing girls now? Time flies so fast...well, if he isn't, we can certainly arrange for the future, no? I do miss visiting Castle Briarfast, with how things have been lately the whole world feels so small, so empty, and so lonely. In times like these, we need connections with others more than ever. How is Harvin doing? How is your uncle-in-law? Is that scary old woman who tells the sleep-curing stories still alive? Oh, I have so many questions, but I won't be upset if you don't answer them all in a letter, I can wait to hear them in person. Please be well, dear friend, and tell Little Jakob that yes, he may call me Auntie Petrine.

Much love, Petrine Gwelm'

No titles. It could easily be a letter that was written between cousins years apart.

[Continue]
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Included with the letter is a cameo of an attractive and refined noblewoman, and a short note.

'Some silly lord from Passionlip insisted on 'capturing my features with art'. I couldn't refuse without hurting his feelings, but I don't exactly know what to do with a picture of myself. Since I have that nice portrait of you and dear Lenida from your wedding, I thought of sending it to you. At least this way, Little Jakob will know who I am when he sees me!'

Unfortunately, you don't have much time to dwell on it. Shortly thereafter, a couple of farmers come in seeking mediation over which of them owns a particular prize pig. Lilly has a few stifled giggles, but doesn't interfere and patiently enjoys the show as the case drags on for most of the afternoon. Such is the way of lordship. Eventually, your day winds down, and as the sun sets, you venture out into the courtyard. You wear your armor, on Harvin's advice, because it has the family symbol engraved on it and it looks good on you, but you leave both gauntlets off. That is part of the ritual. So is the knife.

[Continue]
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Rank is irrelevant for this ritual, and so the eldest of the Last Loyal holds the knife up balanced on his left palm. Rank is insignificant for the ritual, Behind him, rank by rank, stand the Last Loyal. Each has his billhook resting in the crook of his left arm, and his helmet held upside-down in his right, with his left gauntlet placed inside the helmet and the hand beneath bare, held palm up. It is one of the few, rare reasons for the Last Loyal to remove their masked helms on duty. In the background, a drum beats, slow and heavy as the beating of some vast, slumbering heart.

Harvin hobbles along behind you, carrying a ceramic bowl in his hands, as you approach the knife. By tradition the knife is made of stone. This is a ritual that predates metal, although it was formalized in Lord Amadeus' day, when he called the strongest warriors of the swamp to serve as his houseguard. It is a blade of knapped flint, sixteen inches long, with a simple leaf shape. Its edges are blisteringly sharp, but of course they would be. Its handle is wrapped with woven reeds, as simply as possible. You take the knife in your right hand, and lift it up. By sheer coincidence, the setting sun glints off the brownish stone, making it gleam menacingly. Heartbeats pass, as you hold your left hand out, palm up, and as the sun touches the treetops you draw the edge across the meaty part of the heel of your hand, hold that hand out, and squeeze it. Blood, a lord's blood, drips into the bowl, several droplets worth, where they mix with the thickening agent in the bucket and turn it a deep crimson.

All around the courtyard's edge, a wailing goes up. The women of the castle wail, and weep. “Our lord bleeds!” The youngest of them, a junior kitchemaid, pipes up in her squeaky voice, “Our lord bleeds!”

“We bleed with him.” The oldest of the Last Loyal responds in a monotone. You place the knife, hilt first, into his withered palm, just as you took it from him. Harvin walks with you, bowl held in both hands. The oldest of the Last Loyal is a man well past greying and into whitening, but his back is straight, and his hand is sure as he pricks his finger deeply enough to spill a drop of blood into the bowl before passing the knife to the man behind him. Harvin carries the bowl around as man after man offers his blood to the bowl. The girl who announced your wounding approaches you holding a bowl of her own, scooping up powder from it and packing it against your wound to help it knit and stop wicked influences from seeping in through the wounded flesh to sicken your flesh. Despite knowing how carefully the remedy is prepared, you can't help feeling a sense of paranoia at this part, but you refuse to show it, and she seems to refuse to look for it. She wraps your hand in a bandage packed tight with herbs, and ties it off.

[Continue]
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From how it stings, you suspect that Grandmama made this herself. She probably wouldn't trust anyone else to do it. In fact, she is probably lurking somewhere nearby. Watching. If someone had tried to do anything suspicious to it, they would have vanished into a pit of teeth.

At last, Harvin hobbles back up to you, bowing his bent, humped back and proffering the bowl to you. You take it from him, and hold it in the crook of your left arm. The mixture inside is made with rice flour and the sap of a particular vine, its texture more like goo than an oil, thicker and chalky where it's more dry at the edges. It smells of blood, and is as crimson and gory a color as you would expect. You walk up to the first of the Last Loyal, dip your finger into the mixture, and draw a dark red line down his forehead.

“When my lord bleeds, I bleed.” He intones, meeting your eyes and then lowering his gaze. One by one, you do the same with each of the remaining men, until at last it is done. You circle around the back of the formation, and walk back to your place at the front, while the drums continue to beat and the women continue to wail.

“May I never bleed alone.” You say, and all is silence, the drums and wailing abruptly coming to a half, “You are seen.”

“We are seen, loyal to the last.” The Last Loyal say in unison, and drop to their knees before you. There they will remain until you are out of sight. All but ten of them. As you turn on your heel and walk away, the ten best follow you. They are still men, earlier they joked and laughed in their menacing helmets, but here, bare-faced, they are silent as stone.

[Continue]
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Ignoring the throbbing in your hand, you have dinner and go to your room, only to remember that you had your things moved. You make your way up to the top of the keep, the entire two floors that once belonged to your parents. You always knew that someday, you would be staying here, it is tradition, but it still doesn't feel like your place. The maze of bookshelves that stretch to the ceiling, joined by ladders and walkways, are still your father's books. The massive desk with the many weird little items he picked up on his travels is still his desk. The paintings are still your father's paintings. The dome of the ceiling overhead, painted with the constellations of the night sky, is still your father's ceiling, with its spiralling metal staircase in the center of the suites leading up to a trapdoor that takes you to the roof.

The worst one is the bed. In one corner of the space, where the bookshelves form walls of wood and paper, is a grand four-poster bed, its beams carved from petrified tree trunks. Too great and weighty to move, there was no chance of replacing it with your own, and erasing the memory of your father dying in it. The bedclothes are fresh and unstained, but the memory of him softening like some deep-sea fish dragged by a net into the depressurized world of the surface remains sharply in your memory. Still, you have to sleep, and although you try to hold it off by getting some reading done, eventually fatigue claims you and you stumble into bed half-dressed.

[Continue]
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That night, you dream strange dreams, disjointed and fragmented. You are running through a labyrinth, holding onto a woman's hand, dragging her along behind you. The maze shifts and changes every time you run through it, panting. At first, it's a flowering hedge maze, beneath a golden sky with motes of light drifting down from the heavens and strange, needle-like towers visible in the distance. Then, abruptly, you pass through an archway and it becomes a maze of corridors, the decoration familiar as that of Castle Briarfast. No matter where you turn, the corridors slope down, down, down, and you can hear the panting of your companion growing increasingly panicked as the walls grow mossy and neglected, the furnishings rotting step by step until you're running through a dank, claustrophobic cave. Glowing shelf fungi and mushrooms provide barely enough illumination for you to see your feet as you splash through underground streams full of pale, blind crustaceans. You hear the woman let out a strangled sob, and as you turn to look back you realize that the fungi and cave walls are now the pulsing innards of some unfathomably vast creature, and you are squeezing your way through an intestine or gullet lined with glowing veins and pustules. Steam rises from your sturdy swamp boots as the digestive juices of the creature make them sizzle, but you press on. Behind you lies death. You know this, in the way you know things in dreams. You round a corner, and suddenly, before you, you see daylight. You're walking on a tongue the size of a drawbridge, out of a mouth that matches it in scale, a long open snout lined with sharp teeth. Beyond lies a field of flowers, brilliantly lit by the sun, in every color of the rainbow. You surge forward, and feel your companion stop. Just as you realize you never stopped to look back at her, she pulls her hand from yours, and you know that behind you is something terrible, something that will end you entirely. Heat washes over you, sickly and feverish, but just as you start to move, whether to turn and face her or flee the vast mouth, you are wakened by the crowing of a spotted swamp cockerel.

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You are soaked in sweat, your bedclothes twisted around you, constricting your movements. Your hand, in particular, is tangled in them. The morning feels oddly surreal. You bathe, you dress, you perform your weather divinations, and sigh in relief when they predict rain all day. You know, after all, that it will be a clear sunny day that turns abruptly to hail when the attempt is made on your life. After that, the day is shockingly mundane. A few minor issues demand your presence, mostly domestic issues and finding a place for Lilly to stay, but for the most part you're at loose ends, free to ambitiously practice mastering a pair of Smoke Sculpting spells beyond anything you could cast previously.

It rains all week, and by the end of it, you're used to wearing your plate armor, and can reliably cast Smoke Armor and Minor Smoke Structure at will.

>Week 2 begins. Presumably, you'll want to cast Clearwater Prophet, so start rolling dice!
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An update on the Clearwater Prophet spell. I did some rereading, and talked with some people about it, and here are the conclusions we came to. You can cast Clearwater Prophet more than once per week. However, you can only cast receive a vision of someone who is physically present and thus possible for you to target. This is because the aesthetic of a typical Aqueous Diviner is that of a roadside fortune teller, who is presumably taking on multiple clients every day, rather than long-range scrying once a week on people who aren't there. So for example, you can see a vision of your future, Cailm's future, Harvin's future, Lilly's future, etc. That said, it is extremely rude and illegal in some places to target someone for a vision without their consent, and many non-sorcerers are leery of knowing.
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>>4520670

Er, Clearwater ORACLE.
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Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4520665
Wong's collection of dice, artistically reimagined for the modern era.
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520665
Have a die boss bossman
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Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4520665
Dice time!
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520665

>>4520670
>all of the Last Loyal

How could this ever go wrong?...
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Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4520665
So while we roll dice, I have been meaning to ask for some clarification on this passage from the first thread.
>You feel a prickle of tension up your spine, even though the village is close at hand and the boardwalk here is well elevated, making it unlikely anything could climb up and grab at you...besides the thing in your vision, the thing that scaled the keep as if the walls were a flat plain, the thing whose shape was somehow so unnatural. You realize you're staring at him.

Is this implying that the Chimera is part wolf or Has Cailm mashed into it?
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Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4520693
>>4520665

Or am I just totally off and it's saying we are just staring Cailm down like a lunatic?
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Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4520665
Welcome to the Game of Dice!

TM pending.
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Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4520665

>>4520693
>>4520698

Wtf

This man's crazier than I am.... this is going to be a good session.
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Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4520708
>>4520665

Well at least I'm Not from Brazil
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Meanwhile, I can answer a question which was posed way back in the first thread, about what forms of sorcery you should know about outside of the swamp. In retrospect, there are a few.

The Enlightened of Mihto, for example. Mihto's church practices a unique and heavily guarded form of sorcery in the upper echelons. They claim that it is a blessing from the sun god, who instills a bit of the sun within them to shine out across all who behold them. In this setting, they might be right, since the Shadowbinders also hold (and it seems true to Jakob) that they make a pact with spirits for their magic too. However, the sun god is far more jealous than the dark entities the Shadowbinders work with, there is no temporary attunement spell for the Solar Wisdom school (whose practitioners are known as Sunwise Priests or simply the Enlightened), and none of its spells can be cast unattuned. The church is quite miserly with giving out this power, and a priest must be extremely skilled in the theoretical practice of sorcery before he is permitted to so much as make the holy pilgrimage from which he will either return Enlightened...or blind. The reason for this is simple, the Enlightened are the only known reliable source of healing magic in Vartyne. They are immediately obvious when seen, because every hair on their bodies glows. A short-haired, clean-shaven Enlightened gives off luminescence akin to a lamp, while one with long hair and beard is like several bright torches. Once Enlightened, priests and priestesses stop cutting their hair and beards.

As for farther south, in Old Vartyne, aside from Shadowbinders most of the forms of sorcery you're familiar with have at least some representation, with a few exceptions. Shadowbinders being one of them, on account of Mihtoism's influence. Another, bizarrely, is Smoke Sculpting. Because it's a very traditional swamp-based magic school, its practitioners tend to teach other denizens of the swamp. Furthermore, and it's debatable whether this is sour grapes or inversely the reason why most Smoke Sculptors keep their magic in Absol lands, there is a general perception among Old Vartynen nobility that Smoke Sculpting is associated with poverty. Why summon a smoke ballista when you can simply buy one? Why conjure smoke fortifications when one can hire an engineer corps to do it?

Old Vartyne suffers a bit from what, in martial arts, is known as the McDojo effect. Their sorcery is shallow, and commercialized. A lot of overly wealthy young nobles want to try their hand at sorcery, learn a spell or two, and show it off to their friends, and so these are the people southern teachers frequently cater to. A flashy journeyman who knows a few spells and is good at flattering his or her well-heeled pupils and not demanding the discipline needed for true mastery can easily get a wide reputation as a learned master and make a lot of money. However...
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>>4520713

...this isn't true for all of them. Flame Dancing, for example, is a serious and traditional art in part because it is utterly eschewed by the nobility for causing sterility. Then there are more secretive schools Jakob has only heard veiled references to, of sorcerer-retainers who sacrifice their humanity and become as stone to command stone, of spies who can see through lies and castle walls with equal facility.
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>>4520698

The chimera did not have wolflike nor Cailmesque traits that you noticed. If it was a Cailmera it would have been trying to flirt with the serving girls instead of assassinating you.
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>>4520726

Keep rolling dice, your roll is successful...probably...but we still need to see exactly what you have a vision of.
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Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4520728
Another die then

>>4520726
You have to admit that, Capturing our only friend (As far as Albeda knows) and turning them into a monster to kill us is pretty Albeda thing to do
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520728

>>4520713
>>4520724
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rg6CiPI6h2g
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Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4520732
Don't give her ideas.

Only we are allowed to turn our friends into monsters...
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Keep rolling!
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Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4520745
I'm sorry! I keep getting this board's rules jumbled up!
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520745
To die, or not to die... that is the question.
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Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4520745
>Concerned screaming intensifies
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Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard
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Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4520745
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 2: Electric Boogaloo
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 3: Jakob's Retribution
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Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4520745
Just say "when" Wong
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Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 5: The Missing Four
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Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4520745
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Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 6: Revenge of the Dice Lords
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>>4520745
More dice? Not a 1 this time?
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Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 7: The Cuthulu Chronicles
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Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4520745
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Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 8: Rydian Knights
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Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4520745
Another one
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Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 7: Who Ate Nine?

I'm sorry, it only just came to me.
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Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4520745
Diddy diddy dice
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Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard 10: The Adsol Proclamation
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Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4520770
>>4520771
>>4520773
Triple 9's all in a row
Nice
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Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard: Absol Lute Shun

Again, I'm sorry.
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Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4520745
Have we appeased your thirst for dice rolls yet Wong?
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Alright, we're good!
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Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard: Absol Lute Panic

I swear I didn't run out of creativity, the puns just keep slipping into my mind.
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Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4520745
Die Hard: Absol Lute Pain

Hits head with lute
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Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4520780
Oh, sorry about the last couple then. I was on a roll.

*smack*
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>>4520783
I'll stop now.
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You gaze down into the divining bowl and let your mind go blank as you cast the spell, ripples spreading through the clear water. Beneath the water's surface you see flakes of white drifting by on the breeze, swirling in a howling wind, and see a sky lit by flashes of lightning in a sky pierced by the speartips of dark pines.

A young woman is staring accusingly down at a pair of children. Strangely well-muscled children, and as the vision grows closer to them, you can see that both of them have beards. Grown men? But they can't be more than...your estimation of their height abruptly changes as you realize the truth from the sound of her tread. The girl must be at least eight feet tall. Her proportions are perfectly normal, if probably quite fit beneath her armor, and that was something you didn't expect. If she is who you think she is, you assumed she would be a swollen thing, bulging with muscle that doesn't fit her frame. She wears her bangs long, and what you can see of her face looks quite serious, habitually downcast. A bright purple bow holds her hair back, an incongruously girly touch when the rest of her garb is plate armor. In her hand, she holds a strange sword, a blade four or so feet long, straight with parallel edges and a needle tip, its tang extending deep into a haft of polished ebony, another four feet long and capped with silver at the pommel. It has no guard, as plain and smooth in profile as a common spear, but something about the metal doesn't match the sheen of steel. Her breath puffs in jets of steam from between soft, unrouged lips.

[Continue]
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>>4520812
Ono a giant cutie
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“Stop it.” Her voice is a low, sweet growl. The 'eye' of the vision swings around, to reveal that behind the two armed men is a carriage. At least, carriage is the first word that pops to mind. Really, it's more of a wagon, pulled by oxen, but like a carriage it has sides and a roof, armored and stylized to look like a testudo of tower shields, “I don't want to kill any more of my own people! Get out of my way!”

“A traitor's get is not one of our people, girl.” The older man spits into the snow, his cheeks red from the fury of the snowstorm.

“You can stop this yourself.” The younger man says with a sickly grin. His expression mixes terror and hate. “T-t-take your blade and...and draw it right across your bastard throat!”

She flinches as if struck, and in the flash of light from a nearby bolt of lightning, you see her face clearly, and the scars that crisscross it. Old, mean scars. “I don't care how much they hate me.” She whispers, bringing her blade up into a high stance overhead, “I don't care how many of them pray for me to die. I promised I'd live. I promised I'd protect my land. I won't let a monster like that have it.” Her gaze fixes on the carriage. Behind it, lightning strikes again, and a great pine tree bursts into flame, toppling slowly to the ground, the flames spreading down its trunk and smoke billowing from it.

“You dare call the goddess Frydda a monster?” The older man's voice is thick with loathing, “You may kill us, rapespawn, but you'll stand atop a mountain of corpses, the bodies of every man, woman, and child in this province.” He makes the word province sound like a curse, “Before you have peace. We will haunt you every day and every night of our rule. We have proof that the legends are true! No matter how many southern dogs you bring to reinforce you, you will NEVER truly rule here!” He laughs wildly.

[Continue]
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“W-w-we c-can hold you back l-l-long enough.” The younger man draws an axe from his belt, and gestures with his other hand. Fog seeps over the snow, mixed with smoke from the burning tree. The oxen lurch into motion, and you see despair wash over the girl's face.

Then there is a sound like a cleaver being brought down hard on a thick piece of meat, mixed with wood splintering. The younger man screams as a projectile like a great scythe of smokemass tears through the traces holding the oxen to rip at his flesh.

There is the sound of slow, amused clapping, and something emerges from the smoke rising up from the blazing pine, floating through the air to land on the ground. A man, clad entirely in black plate. Yet, it has a strange sheen, as if overlaid by a layer of smoky glass, accentuated by smoky spines at the joints and the billowing cape of smoke that flows from the figure's shoulders. Yet it is the helm that is the real horror. Sparks blaze and whirl, caught in the blazing eye in the center of the helm's face, while smokemass horns add to its villainous cast.

The figure wags one finger, “This is where I step in. Things have proceeded just as I planned, and now it's time to end this facade.” The smokemass cape flares wide as the sorcerer strides forward, power flowing into him with every step.

The vision ends...but not before you see one final glimpse of how brightly the figure's light is reflected in the girl's eyes.

[Continue]
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You blink, shaking your head. Well then, that...that tells you a few things. You admit, you had been wondering just how much you could do using your Smoke Armor to look the part of a properly intimidating lord, but visions aren't final, you could always change it.

Annoyingly, this vision doesn't tell you quite as much as you first thought. You knew why there was a rebellion, probably. You knew something was probably behind it. At least you know Lady Hannah, at least you assume she's Lady Hannah, is cute.

You casually do your weather divination, pouring water from your divining bowl across your elbow, “Sunny...with a major weather change later...” You note, and for a moment it doesn't register. Then your heart drops.

>[Oh fuck what do?]
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>>4520879
Prepare. Wear your armor, cast some smoke armor, cast the flying spell, notify your guards and mages, prepare a trap for both beasts, put on your cloak... and try to practice your smoke magic.

Structure or form, whichever the lads decide.
>>
>>4520887

Define prepare a trap?
>>
>>4520879
Quick question. We did do some research into the chimera, right?
>>
>>4520894

I don't think so, I don't know what there is to research. You didn't get a great view of it, but the central core of its body seemed to be between 2.5 and 3 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnsons in size, maybe a little more. So it's not dragon-sized, but it's bigger than you. Now, there are some weird creatures out there, but there is also explicitly a school of magic (albeit partially lost) that makes its bread on creating monsters by mixing two or more natural creatures together.
>>
>>4520892
You know what I mean...

Where's Cailm?

>>4520897


Smoke cage inside of the trap door, and a smoke structure to prevent damage to our fath- my room. Needs two sturdy doors to lock it behind, one for trap door and one to escape the cage from. Maybe some spikes on the inside, to damage the monster and slow him down as he enters it (I'm positive Fluffy won't die from it).

For the other trap, prepare a mage ambush party for our... guests. Get a some divination magi nearby to pull some party tricks and tell us her future.

The attempt must be made, though we may decide to let her go anyway (or atleast let her think that).
>>
>>4520897
I would also like to mention ofc that I'd be personally horrified if any harm would come to the books.

It's my one true addiction; books are to me as dice are to you, Wong.
>>
>>4520897
Funnily enough, I can imagine use subtle building another cage uptop as well. Looking like we're trying to create a smoke structure before the storm befalls us, then when the creature comes... have smoke cover us in full, so the creature is blinded as we build the structure areound him. The trapdoor trap cage would be a backup plane if we failed. You thoughts on this mad plan, lads?
>>
>>4520879
Definitely time to suit up and prep pur smoke armour and soar spells
Alert the Last Loyal and have yhe staff light all the fire places so we have smoke all over incase the ambush happens somewhere other than where it did in the vision
>>
>>4520938
Fuck, my post was garbage here. I meant to say we can lay the groundwork of this ambitious trap while under the guise of practicing our smoke magic, then... well, atleast the rest of the post is semi-readable.
>>
Alright, spent a bit of time rereading the vision we got.
Notes: This attacks us on the roof of the keep, when the sun is setting. There's weather magic that's used to knock out our brazier, we're using, then it strikes and the vision heads to somewhere else.
In addition, we are tired at the time, which suggests that we tired ourselves out earlier. We need to stay fresh, and not tire ourselves out before the afternoon.
>>
>>4520965
So we shouldn't spend the entire morning Plowing Lil while thinking about Hanna
I mean reaming out Cailm for telling random bards he meets that we are a shut in that has no conversation skills
>>
>>4520971
I knew I'd love the way you think, mate.
>>
The enemy is clearly confident enough to attack us on the roof of our keep, while the monster scales the walls. This isn't really helpful, because we still don't have any timescale on if it's happening today, and we can come across as a paranoid idiot if we lock up every time it's sunny out. Minimum things we can do is tell the guards to post a few extra watchers around the walls, and keep the fires lit. (For smoke)
>>
I'm reading through Minor Smoke Structure, and the best idea I've got is some sort of tiger-trap cage indoors, where we've got bars that we can slip through, but the beast can't. Bait it inside, slip through the bars, shut the far side shut with a sliding smoke plate, then the Loyal take it to pieces through the bars with crossbows or spears.
Problem is, the thing needs to be braced against something because the whole thing is feather-light, and it needs to be concealed, so indoors is the obvious choice. However, that's also probably gonna cause issues, because we'd need time to cut holes and things to make smoke "Bars" or whatever to brace it in place, and that would probably take time, along with putting holes in our nice stone keep.

For this to work, we'd also need a properly sized place in our castle, that's quickly accessible from the outside, and has a door large enough for a chimera to get through somewhat easily.
Probably spending a bit too much time overthinking this, also trying to find an image that fits what I'm thinking of.
>>
>>4521033
No, I get what your thinking. We can create some smoke structures to brace it against the walls, floor, and ceiling. And I do believe that our trapdoor near the roof would be sufficient, given proper structural supports and a structure itself to work with (even if it is made of smoke).

If all else fails, we can just go back out onto the roof and kite the beast to death.
>>
>>4521033
We could also use a layer of smoke to support and anchor some of the structure to the ceiling/roof of the castle, with some clasps or interlocking structures to connect multiple smoke structures securely (and considered how malleable smoke is in this setting, we could connect other independent smoke structures quite securely).
>>
>>4521048
I don't like the idea of trying to kite it to death outside, because that opens us up to whoever else is outside trying to snipe us. Also we really do need to look into divination defense, because otherwise we're just wasting a lot of time with prep work that's going to waste, because Albeda and her allies will see it coming a mile away.
That being said, it's always better to move your enemy, rather than be moved by them, so if anyone has any more offensive ideas I'm all ears.
>>
>>4521065
I feel the same way, mate. It's why we try to trap the creature trying to kill us, then we ambush the ambushes with whatever loyal mages we have on hand.
>>
>>4521077
*Ambushers
>>
>>4521033
Honestly, I like the way you think as well. Maybe you are overthinking it a bit, but so would Jakob in this situation, so you getting into the mindset of the character, which is alway good. We do need people who can analyze and think deeply in this thread (playing a character inspired by Lelouch and Kazuma accurately necessitates it), so I do welcome and appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
>>
>>4521077
By the way, I want to capture Char.

Gotta catchem all, pok- err, magi?

Who knew a female Charazard would look so... exotic?
>>
>>4520879
Ahhh... do we panic now?
>>
>>4521184
It's always time to give into paranoia and panic
>>
So assuming we don't die by the end of the day
Things to spend exp on
>Master die for Sorcery
An obvious choice
>Minor Lightning strikes bigger lethal sibling
Because having a bigger attack spell is always handy
>Smoke form
Because having the ability to turn into smoke and escape traps is handy
>Raise our Eerie skill
Because as is we only get 4 dice for it and being able to sense magical traps amd spells being cast is very important for our survival when our enemies are currently mostly mages and we know Albeda makes carved magical traps
>Assuming it's a skill or spell, some kind of divination protection
Also an obvious choice
>Upping our counter spell
Because again, we are fighting mages for alot of the Albeda rebellion.

Your thoughts guys?
>>
>>4521313
I was also thinking we could dp some kind of mass announcement to our territory. Essentially pen a message to be sent and read out to all the towns and communities in the swamp addressing everyone as the new lord.
One that condemns the pentical or pentagram or whatever Albeda is calling her crew. One that also gives a sort of history lesson about our ancestor not becoming the ruler of the swamp because he was the mightiest but because he had won the true strength of the swamp, the support of its people.
Then combining it with a call to arms to summon people to bolster our troop numbers. This denying able bodies to Albeda, shoring up our numbers for when we go aid the Hanna and thirdly giving our troops more locals familiar with the outlying areas that Albeda is operating in for when we start stationing troops within the communities to combat her influences.
Should also potentially provide some bonuses to the company rolls end of month.
>>
>>4521313
Agreed, though I am interested in seeing what the Exp Packages do.

Also some mechanics skills for siege weapons or crossbows, potentially a smithing skill for swords, dodge and healing for odvious reasons, enchanting, carving, etc.

But I'm becoming a greedy guts again. We need to establish a priority system so we know what to spend our exp on first. Obviously, magic takes priority. What do we choose to get first on our magic wishlist (we should really crack open those books lads).

>>4521330
Agreed again, though this will odviously come after Albeda's assassination attempt. We should also start a vicious rumor campaign against her as stated in >>4513119, among other great ideas we probably had in previous threads that subsequently forgot about.

Damn my goldfish-like memory...
>>
>>4521313
>Weather Control
Is also an option I meant to put on that list, because being able to drop hail or flood your enemies camp and supply lines with torrential rain is a good skill for a military commander
>>
>>4521365
A priority for our Northern campaign.
>>
Well that's fucked, I closed my eyes while reading you guys debating traps and woke up six hours later.
>>
>>4521375
Hope that doesn't mess up your sleep schedule too badly.
But it sounds like you needed some respite
>>
>>4521375

>>4521378
+1, Wong. Don't worry about it mate.
>>
>>4520879
I'm pretty onboard with the prep already suggested for armour spells and traps, but would like to point out that is critical that we appear to be going about our business like nothings wrong as to not tip of the enemy and cause changes to her plans. We could disguises our magic prep as showing of in front of the bard like she wanted us to.

Also kinda surprises the hail is natural if this is indeed the day, I kinda figured it would be magical in nature and thus not predictable, giving us a lot less time to prepare.

>>4520897
I'd been meaning to ask, the chimaera we saw, could it have been built with shadow monster magic or is OG brier lord magic the only way we would know of IC? I would like to ask Granny about it, even just to get some hints about it if it is shadow based.
>>
I'm trying to figure out if we know if the Pentacle is capable of using the old magic and ended up making a pate bin of what we know of them so far. https://pastebin.com/Yu4wnRD3
The Pentacle

Sister Oath:
Real name:Albeda Absol
Known schools:Mirror, shadow, fire carving,,,
Goals:Become the ruler of the swamp. Instate magiocracy world wide?
Motivation: Sense of entitlement. Magic über alles. Earn papa Absols aproval?
Associates:Mirror images
Territory:?

Sister Char
Real name:?
Known schools:Fire dancing(presumeably,Attuned?)
Goals:?
Motivation:?
Associates:?
Territory:?

Brother Grey
Real name:none?
Known schools:UwU(attuned)
Goals:Follows the pack leader(presumed),
Motivation:Is a furry. Is possibly crazy due to magic turning him into his fursona. Establish might(magic) makes right.
Associates:The wolf pack, other furriers
Territory:Eastern border, Dampmeade

Brother Gloam
Real name:?, one of Granny's grandchildren
Known schools:Shadow binding(attuned)
Goals:Bring back dead family and friends with forbidden magic(can't be done, is too dangerous or price too high), legalize all magic.
Motivation:Grief, maybe delusions of grandeur.
Associates:Some shadowbinders
Territory:to the south, Either well or tower ruin

Sister Shell
Real name:?
Known schools:?
Goals:?
Motivation:?
Associates: ?
Territory:?

Sister Oath:
Real name:Albeda Absol
Known schools:Mirror, shadow, fire carving,,,
Goals:Become the ruler of the swamp. Instate magiocracy world wide?
Motivation: Sense of entitlement. Magic über alles. Earn papa Absols approval?
Associates:Mirror images
Territory:?

Sister Char
Real name:?
Known schools:Fire dancing(presumably,Attuned?)
Goals:?
Motivation:?
Associates:?
Territory:?

Brother Grey
Real name:none?
Known schools:UwU(attuned)
Goals:Follows the pack leader(presumed),
Motivation:Is a furry. Is possibly crazy due to magic turning him into his fursona. Establish might(magic) makes right.
Associates:The wolf pack, other furriers
Territory:Eastern border, Dampmeade

Brother Gloam
Real name:?, one of Granny's grandchildren
Known schools:Shadow binding(attuned)
Goals:Bring back dead family and friends with forbidden magic(can't be done, is too dangerous or price too high), legalize all magic.
Motivation:Grief, maybe delusions of grandeur.
Associates:Some shadowbinders
Territory:to the south, Either well or tower ruin

Sister Shell
Real name:?
Known schools:?
Goals:?
Motivation:?
Associates: ?
Territory:?
Please tell me if i left anything out
>>
>>4521536
I think we know a bit more about grey. He was some ancient evil that our father beat, and was thought dead.
>>
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>>4520879
For an actual plan of what to do:
>setup the smoke cage trap indoors, get practice with smoke structure in.
>Research Divination defense
Still priority #1 to stop us getting any of our plans busted
>Notify the Last Loyal, and set up some extra rotating watches on some walls
>Cast Smoke Armor, at least

What if the Chimera that's coming after us is actually Brother Grey himself?
'A sorceror who has forsaken humanity for beasthood'?
>>
>>4521536
>Associates:Mirror images

Kek.

Grey is old, powerful, probably insane.

Also I believe the chimera was Sister Char's, do to the conversation we had. The question is whether it is magical or just... tamed.

>>4521579
That... you might have a point there.

We have a literal insane magi as a pet. Fluffy, no!

Don't forget casting Soar as well. I'd like to keep all of our options open. And atleast subtlety alert the mages, we should atleast make the attempt of trapping them.
>>
>>4521536

I'm pretty sure when Wong was talking about the Flame Dancing school in the last thread, he mentioned that they used to be prominent in the Absol Swamps, but were pretty much driven out when the Thorn-Dwellers gave up the ghost. Motivation for Sister Char could be trying to regain a foothold in the Swamp, to probably build a base for future power struggles. After all, we are basically the go-to province for Smoke Sculpters, and they compliment the Flame Dancer's art like a house on fire.
>>
>>4521786

They were actually driven out a long while afterward. They were very prominent, but they kind of became TOO prominent, got cocky, and did a Bad Thing. It's not talked about, but it was bad enough to lose them any Absol protection, effectively get them declared outlaw, and saw every other sorcerous tribe in the swamp gunning for them.
>>
>>4521804

Ah, my mistake then. Either way, it's probably safe to assume that Sister Char's motivations will be to either re-establish a Flame Dancer foothold in the Swamps, or revenge on the swamp dwellers. If Albeda does come into control and re-instates (Magical) Might is Right rule, they could come storming back in and have Albeda squash any potential backlash to the Flame Dancers returning with her cabal and followers, in addition to the resources of the province as well.
>>
>>4521536
Seeing as their names seem to correlate with whatever magic schools the member represent does anybody have any idea what sister Shell might be
Char=fire
Grey=wolves
Gloam=shadow
Oath=binds them together, unless she literality knows a school of contract magic.
Shell=Maybe smoke as in building defensive structures, some kind of water magic, ???
>>
>>4521857
Water. A diviner probably. Shell to hold the water.
>>
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So let me see if I have this right. You want to use Minor Smoke Structure to construct a trap. The roof is pretty large, considering that it's the entire flat top of Castle Briarfast's keep, and just given the sight lines involved it would be possible to hide a lot up there.

Now the general consensus seemed to be something akin to a tiger trap, using the trapdoor to the roof as a hole. There are some problems with this, but they aren't insurmountable. For one, there is a spiral staircase immediately under the trapdoor, leading up there. I specified it was metal, I believe. The door to the roof itself is fairly large, because it's not like a little fold-up or fold-down one, it's more like a wheel on a swivel with one big chunk removed set over a hole in the roof, so you spin it until the hole is over the steps and then just walk out. More dignified than the Lord Absol risking a thump on the head or having to scramble through a hole. Now, because I figure Jakob is actually seeing the area he has to work with I figure I could present a few modifications to your plan...
>>
>>4521868
I think Wong passed out again. Well, whenever he gets back, I’d be interested on what we know about scrying and divination. What’s the most common spells, do would writing down instructions and passing them off be a more secure communication than giving orders in person? For that matter, what can advanced diviners get up to? I’m hoping it’s not 24/7 eye over your shoulder, but who should we be consulting on this, or would we just know it from our own prior experience with clearwater oracle and that line of spells?
If we can start pinning down the magical capabilities of the the leaders, we can prepare all the better. Whether that takes the form of researching in our library of the various schools, or calling up our archmages and getting some tutoring while questioning about their schools of magic, it would be something good.
Probably sometime later, tho.
>>
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Now as you can see here, creating a slick sheet of smokemass is entirely doable with the quick version of this spell. Using the slow version allows for considerably more modification and utility. Thus, cover the entire area in smokemass glass. This includes the stairs down. As the rooftop is surrounded by battlements, as is right and proper in a castle, using the slow version of the spell you could angle this ice sheet down in all directions towards the hole in the floor, a bit like an antlion's den. If it falls in, it will have to make some difficult rolls to stand or move...but it would probably end up rolling down the stairs (possibly damaging them in the process), and be loose inside the castle.

To remedy this, a second casting of Minor Smoke Structure could create floor-to-ceiling smokematter bars in the space around the staircase, effectively caging it. The problem of creating a lid for the trap, I leave up to you. Commence rolling dice. For simplicity's sake, each of you roll 8d10 instead of the usual 1d10. I'll take the first five results. MSS, MSS, Smoke Armor, Words of Lesser Attunement, Soar.
>>
>>4521928

No, I had to double and triple check everything.

The most common Aqueous Divination spell is Weather Wisdom. Advanced diviners can do things like give themselves a MD on Lie, Fascinate, and Tactics rolls, but beyond that it's mostly bigger and more detailed visions, rather than the glimpses you've seen.
>>
>>4521933
>>
Rolled 7, 9, 6, 1, 4, 3, 4, 10 = 44 (8d10)

>>4521933

First into the fray then.
>>
Rolled 10, 9, 7, 4, 4, 4, 6, 10 = 54 (8d10)

>>4521933
truly, I am bad at dice rolling
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4521933
Sounds good to me
Have my dice good sir
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 6, 7, 3, 7, 6, 5 = 36 (8d10)

>>4521933
I rolled the wrong dice set oops
>>
Rolled 1, 8, 4, 5, 1, 7, 2, 2 = 30 (8d10)

>>4521933
And have another since you said you needed 5 sets
>>
>>4521947
Oh wow, I rolled poorly here
>>
Rolled 4, 4, 4, 7, 4, 3, 2, 5 = 33 (8d10)

>>4521933
I don't want to wait to have the final set
Please be decent
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 7, 6, 8, 3, 9, 5 = 40 (8d10)

>>4521933
I'll doubleup on the roll if it's needed
>>
>>4521933
>>
Rolled 5, 6, 3, 8, 10, 3, 5, 9 = 49 (8d10)

>>4521957
>>
>>4521933
Could we start creating the smoke lid for the trap in the fire pit, the finish with our censor smoke when the beast falls in?
>>
>>4521974
A smoke lid to slide over the opening, and some latches connected to the structure to seal it. Then we'll let Cailm deal with the beast.

I'll grab the popcorn.
>>
>>4521933
A quick question. What happens to biomass if the magic smoke solidified around it?
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>>4521980
>Then we'll let Cailm deal with the beast.

We don't need Half breed Chimeras babies running around everywhere
>>
>>4521937

Fail.

>>4521938

Pass. MSS 1 goes up, lasting for 10 days (presumably this is the smoke bars)

>>4521941

Pass. For seven days, you'll have the glassy covering on the roof and staircase.

>>4521947

Fail. Words of Lesser Attunement not cast.

>>4521955

Pass. Words of Lesser Attunement successfully cast.

>>4521956

Fail, Soar not cast.

>>4521958

Success, Soar cast.

You still need a set of 5 or better for Smoke Armor. This is probably the only time you haven't rolled well ever, but then again, you're casting big boy magic now.
>>
Rolled 9, 1, 5, 4, 1, 4, 10, 4 = 38 (8d10)

>>4521997

Well, may as well try and redeem my failure from earlier.
>>
Rolled 1, 7, 5, 6, 5, 7, 10, 5 = 46 (8d10)

>>4521997
Yup, this is why that Master die is so tempting
Do you want more sets or are we just out of time and luck for smoke armour?
>>
>>4521982

It would imprison them, but given how light and soft the smoke is they would have plenty of time to get out unless otherwise restrained or drugged into a stupor. As it starts to congeal, thrashing around would clear significant space, after all.
>>
>>4522005

Fail.

>>4522008

Pass, seven hours of Smoke Armor.

I was keeping track and you were two rolls away from not having Smoke Armor cast in time.
>>
>>4522013
*heart attack averted*
>>
>>4522013
Haha hopefully we haven't just exhausted ourselves then
>Almost didn't get our new trump card spell successfully cast for its debut
Man wouldn't that have been painfully embarrassing
>>
>>4522008

Also, looking at some spell intensities, if we get a MD, we can cast Smoke Arrow pretty much whenever, since it's Intensity 1, and a MD will give us any set. We'd mainly be rolling for location and damage, and we can focus on choices we want with the MD too.
>>
>>4522025
That's some good incentive
Especially since it's not countered by Countermagic
>>
>>4522025
So MD first. What's next then for exp. trade?
>>
Alright, gonna dash for a bit.
>>
>>4522042
oh no!
>>
>>4522042
No problem. Hope you have a nice time atleast.
>>
Crazy idea Sister Shell is Petrine.

She obviously had the hots for our dad, must have been pissed when our mom won. Her letter was sealed with a literal wax shell... That letter was addressed to our dad not us like she didn't know he was dead, which seems suspicious considering every other lord/lady knew and she was presumably a lot closer to our family than they were. She is pissed he up and died before she could get him to re-marry her.
>>
>>4522861
Based interpretation. Absol-lutely love it.

Probably not true, but why spoil the fun?
>>
>>4522868
it's true.
i have spoken.
>>
>>4522042
Don't worry lads. He just went to get a pack of cigarettes at the gas station.
>>
>>4523622
Oh thank Jove, for a Second I thought Wong went to get Milk
>>
>>4522048

It was a minor family emergency on the eve of a relative's wedding. Essentially, my suit didn't fit, my measurements were somehow lost to the void, and I had to run out and have everything redone.
>>
>>4523643
Want to borrow my Kilt?
It has a matching shoulder cape
>>
>>4523643
Hope you got it sorted then. Best wishes to you and the happy couple!
>>
>>4523643
Sounds like the start of a cheesy romcom lol
>>
>>4523650
>>4524462
Well lads, let's see what other shenanigans we can get into. Any ideas?
>>
>>4526288
Finding a giant swamp lizard we can use as a mount
Aquiring Some kind of firey familiar
>>
>>4526300
I second the idea of some sort of fire mount. Provides easy access to smoke, carries our stuff.
Only problem is that we are probably more mobile than it with our own fly. Maybe if we had it carry a brazier everywhere, who needs smoke censer when we have a smoke provider?
>>
>>4526300
>>4526327
Well, I got another mad idea that goes along with these two ideas. It invokes the Ryd's dragon...

:^)
>>
>>4526288
well i always wanted our armor to look more intimidating by making it look like it's alive. kinda like the venom symbiote
>>
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>>4526330
I was thinking something more along the lines of this, but you know what they say, go big or go home.....
>>
>>4526330
>mad idea that goes along with these two ideas. It invokes the Ryd's dragon...
No Bad Cailm
>>
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>>4526353
GO BIG OR GO HOME
>>
>>4526361
>>4526353
And then we give it smoke armour and make it look even more terrifying
>>
>>4526343
>>4526353
>>4526364
>didn't know all the lads here were based

This thread is truely blessed with it's anons.
>>
Everything was fine in the end. The wedding went great. It's a bit late to run tonight and tomorrow I have things going on after work, so we'll shoot for Tuesday.
>>
>>4526391
See ya Wednesday then!
Same thread?
>>
>>4526395
>Wednesday
Wow me
Tuesday*
>>
>>4526391
Great to hear I'm looking forward to getting back to it on thursday.
>>
>>4526391
Good to hear. The anticipation is slowly killing me. See you then!
>>
>>4526364
"this is easier than i thought" you said loudly as you block a sword strike with your shield and instinctively thrust your sword to the man's stomach. "i told you these southerners are nothing but boys!" your comrade guffaws as he easily blocks and cleaved a man nearly in half.

just as the enemy army was at a breaking point you smell it. "what is that?" your shirtless comrade inquires "smells like dried medicine herbs" you answered. then you noticed the enemies before you wore a different kind of fear they showed earlier when you were beating them back. a thick fog suddenly blankets the battlefield, your quite used to fighting in coldsnaps but this fog feels different. "what the fuck is our ice mages doing, we can't fight properly in this fog!" "i don-" just before you can finish your sentence you feel the snowy ground rumble and hear loud hisses coming from your left. as you turn your head to the source all you see is a massive mouth with rows of sharp jagged teeth.
>>
>>4526452

Unrelated, but based on my experiences with running Reign normally there is a bizarre and interesting dynamic with how much armor you wear that Jakob neatly sidesteps by virtue of being a sorcerer.
>>
>>4526587

...and it involves shields and how they work.
>>
>>4526587
>>4526588
...come on! You can't leave me hanging like that!

Well, you can, but I'll... just... eh.

I'll just go sulk into a corner.
>>
>>4526609

Well, to put it simply...

There are two skills used to avoid being hit, Dodge and Parry. For Parry, you need to have a shield, a weapon, an armored forearm, or an esoteric technique that lets you block unarmed. Parry is also used with Body while Dodge is used with Coordination. Coordination is the godstat for most warriors, because they'll want esoteric techniques for their favorite weapon and those are all used with Weapon (which uses Coordination) instead of Fight. Parry, however, can be used to shield OTHER PEOPLE, while Dodge only lets you avoid attacks.

So how does this fit into shields and armor choice? Why use a shield if you can parry with your greatsword or if you prefer Dodge? Well, a good shield is effectively AR 3 for the arm it's worn on as well as one location of your choice selected each turn.

Now in my experience, in every Reign game I've run, there is always one person who plays a sword autist, using Path of the Razor Heart (an esoteric skill set for Coordination+Weapon: Sword) and Golden Monkey (an esoteric skill set for Coordination+Dodge). Because they want to use the skills that wearing plate armor penalizes, and they can't just magic their way around it like Jakob, they all independently have gone for a similar setup using mostly chain armor with just enough locations covered by leather to stay in the Medium category rather than Heavy. The rules for that are complicated, and we won't bother getting into them because Jakob doesn't lose much by just hard committing to plate armor as long as he avoids falling into deep water or trying to run a marathon. I believe if you really wanted to two-hand there are some Advantages that compensate for this but there is a fair amount of merit in wearing less armor on your limbs and using a shield to compensate.
>>
>>4527006
>avoids falling into deep water or trying to run a marathon

B-but Jakob loves both of those things. How could we do this to him?

You can tell how much love is there from his Body and Coordination stats...
>>
Important question. Since your plan effectively traps anyone who can't fly on the roof until the chimera has been pacified and you can dismiss the smoke, did you bring the Last Loyal to the rooftop with you, or leave them in the library below outside the smoke bars?
>>
>>4528401
In the library. I could go on and say that they would be trapped, or that if one of them fails a roll, he'll slide into the chimera's cage, or that fighting on a smoke-glass surface would turn this into a weird form of hockey (don't want to delve into how awesome that would be at the moment. It mostly comes down to the interpretation that we were alone on the roof when we decided to practice our smoke magic, when the Fire Nat- ahem, the Pentagram attacked.
>>
>>4528401
Mostly in the library, with some sort of whistle or signal to alert them, and then a different signal to run outside so we can bail off the roof and get their assistance in case of emergency.

Keeping them on the room would alert our ambushers that something is wrong
>>
>>4528429
Keeping them on the roof* would alert ambushers
I'm a guy who can't write
>>
>>4528421
If anything, some should potentially be put into the ambush party, because we'll be dealing with the mages after we dealt with the chimera.
>>
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With trepidation in your heart, you put into action plans you made some time ago. There are a number of factors to be considered, and you have spent long, sleepless nights considering them. You call together the Last Loyal and those sorcerers you have on hand who you trust absolutely, and you issue orders, before making your way to the roof.

MEANWHILE. The gates to Castle Briarfast stand open, as they do in times of peace. This is the way of things, closing them would lend credence to Albeda's claims that you fear her, and besides, you need them to take the bait. After all, you know as well as anyone that nothing that doesn't fly is getting over the Briarfast Wall, those thorns would tear it apart. As they are wont to do, wagons rumble back and forth across the boardwalk, ferrying supplies and passengers to and from the castle. This particular wagon is like any other, drawn by donkeys and laden with big barrels of rice wine. The guards on duty only stop it briefly at the gates, asking the usual questions about the cargo and where it's from. One of the guards starts thumping the barrels with the butt of his billhook, and suggests putting a tap in, before the other guard scolds him for trying to drink on duty and waves the wagon into the castle town. Once it's inside, the guards share a nod. That could easily have been the one they were waiting for.

The woman driving the wagon lets out a deep, shaky breath and mutters a prayer to the gods of the swamp once she's out of sight. If the guard had thumped the barrel at the center of the pile, he would have heard a much more hollow sound, and despite seeing how much poppy-liquor they had poured down the maw of the thing in the barrel before loading it she has a wolf's distrust for unnatural beasts and if it had awakened...she doubts she could have gotten a spell off before it dismembered her. She parks the wagon where directed, leans back, and pulls her wide-brimmed straw hat down over her face.

[Continue]
>>
“Poor kid.” She remarks. Sister Oath is meticulous, and it was long before Lord Arnveis' passing that she procured the beast. Someday, a vicious killing machine almost as clever as a man would be a useful asset to her, and the fact that she's expending it to take out a rival so decisively shows how seriously she's taking this feud. “I wish it didn't have to be this way.” She shakes her head, crossing her arms and hopping down from the wagon, stabling her mules and quietly thanking them for not spooking at the smell of her cargo. She may have been born a farmer's daughter, but she has a wolf's heart. The right way to do it, the proper way, would have been to meet the boy lord in open combat, where he could have died with honor at the hands of the pack. He deserved that much, for returning one of their own.

One of the mules whickers, and she turns, hearing the sound of something disturbing the hay in the loft. She smirks, “Ah, some greedy snake, nesting in the rafters? Are you after the chickens in the marketplace perhaps, or some girl's rabbit hutch? Tsk tsk, away with you!” She laughs. Well, all things follow a natural cycle. Predators eat prey. Sister Oath is the predator, and the boy lord is the prey, and when she has supped, the Ragged Elder will have what he wants and the entire pack will benefit. There is no shame in scavenging, after all. She walks out, full of resolve and confidence, unaware of the eyes watching from the shadows.

Behind her, in the barrel, something awful stirs, and if one listens just closely enough, one can hear the sound of razor-sharp claws scoring the wood.

[Continue]
>>
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MEANWHILE. You've picked the biggest, most oversized cloak you could find, and underneath it you're wearing your plate armor. You leave your helmet off for now, you weren't wearing it in your vision. You know the approximate time of day that the chimera will attack you (as the shadows lengthen with the onset of night) but it takes time to get everything in place, and right now time is a precious resource. Your stomach is doing cartwheels far too rapidly for you to eat anything, and it takes every ounce of willpower to keep your expression cool. Reacting in the moment is one thing, but you know that something monstrous, something unnatural, something you know nothing about is going to stalk you and attempt to devour you. It is fate. The question is, can you cheat it, and even abide by the spirit of the vision enough to take advantage of it?

Atop the roof is a grand ceremonial brazier, the same one from your vision. Its primary use is signalling the nearby villages, but a brazier is a brazier, and you load it up with oil, sage, and green branches before casting a torch in. The oil ignites, and with arms wide, you begin casting. You'll show Albeda that you, too, are a real sorcerer!

...In theory. The currents of magic you seek to tap are deeper and more wild than any you have touched before, and they flow swift and deep. You may have mastery over small magics, but these are the works that separate true sorcerers from dabblers. Your fingers dance through the rising column of smoke, weaving it like a rope, directing it into the form you planned so assiduously, spreading it out into a carefully defined shape...

[Continue]
>>
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...Which wavers and breaks apart, leaving you panting and gasping as the smoke resumes behaving like natural smoke and rising upward in a disappointingly non-solid puff. You hadn't anticipated this, and it feels as though a sudden hole is yawning wide in your stomach. What if you can't do it? What if you aren't destined to do it? What if Albeda is right, and you really are just a fumbling child? You grit your teeth and try again, slowly. Painstakingly. Gradually the smoke solidifies above the flame and bends down towards you like a rope deforming under its own weight, spreading out across the rooftop.

You make your way to the spiral staircase down, and hunker at its edge so you can see your work. Slowly, painstakingly, you begin to weave pillars from the floor to the ceiling surrounding the staircase, set too closely for a human to squeeze between them. It takes effort, your hands are shaking from the concentration needed, you're not practiced enough for this to be instinctual and so it takes real effort to weave the smoke. Still, you know the shape, you worked it out nigh perfectly. One by one you weave the braided pillars of what looks like smoky glass, until an area with a roughly twenty-foot diameter around the staircase has been thoroughly caged off. The realization that you're now effectively trapped on the roof sends a frisson of fear up your spine, but you are a sorcerer. You can fly. This is fine. Strips of smoke flow from the bottoms of the pillars and wind like vines up the staircase, turning the steps into a slick, glossy ramp as smooth as glass. You don't even allow yourself a moment of satisfaction, you know that you don't have this down pat and you're relying on sheer bloody luck. Still, you do your best, and you do it again.

You carefully leave a space around the brazier itself clear and flow the smoke across the ground. Slick as a sheet of ice with a thin layer of moisture on top, the smoke covers the rooftop aside from the space you laid out. You swing your arm in a circle, and more smoke follows your gesture, starting at the battlemented edge of the roof and winding slowly inward, deepening the smoke at the edges, making the sheet angle down like an antlion's pit towards the spiral staircase near the middle. Finally, the smokemass flows over the hole itself, thinner than a hair and as fragile as you can make it, webbed through with nearly invisible cracks, a cover that would shatter and break if a child trod on it. Step one complete, you pant for breath, your head swimming a bit from the exertion, but you aren't done.

[Continue]
>>
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You go to speak the words that will attune you to the magics of lightning and wind, but your mouth is dry, and you cough too hard for the spell to work. You take a swig from your water pitcher, and try again, and this time it works. To your extreme consternation, as this is a spell you're well familiar with and can normally cast without problems, you fumble your casting of the spell that will grant you flight, and have to painstakingly repeat the process. Fear and frustration clouding your mind, you turn to the other spell you've mastered...and a chill goes down your spine as you note the position of the sun. Briefly, you envy invertebrates, not cursed with such shivers.

Again, you fail, the smoke you draw around you forming a cloud that slowly bleeds off and blows away. The shadows are lengthening, the sun slowly descending towards the west. The spell is one that lasts a long time, but it is not easy to cast, it takes time, several minutes. You force yourself not to rush, just take it slowly, weave the smoke. It isn't as impressive looking as it could be with some confidence, but you layer the smoke over your existing armor, a thin layer of unbreakable smoky glass that extrudes into slender backwards-jutting spines at the joints.

[Continue]
>>
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You've scarcely finished, and have just had time to cast a few Minor Smoke Forms to get your confidence back, when abruptly the wind changes. Clouds surge in from the east, and despite your foreknowledge you jerk in surprise when a large hailstone cracks against your shoulder, spraying you with shards of ice. More and more little balls of ice fall from the sky, if you weren't in armor this would be potentially bruising. The fire in the brazier has gone down considerably with time and the fact that your spellcasting has used up much of its fuel, and it sizzles in impotent discontent as the hailstones land in it and melt, producing a bit more smoke but gradually killing the flame bit by bit. You grab your censer, already loaded with herbs, and swing it through the little fire that remains in the brazier to ignite it.

The sun is beginning its descent towards the western horizon, and the shadows lengthening. That strange sense of deja vu you get when a vision comes true settles over you, that surreal feeling some diviners call being caught in the current. You hear screams from below, and a strange sound. Like pitons being hammered into rock, but irregularly and all at once, mixed with a wet, sloppy noise and an eerie low hooting. Almost immediately, something huge flings itself over the battlements and you see a drooling maw filled with long fangs before it lands in a crouch on the battlements themselves, poised to spring.

It is an abomination.


[Continue]
>>
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>>4529105
HERE WE GO LADS
>>
You recognize it immediately. Ghuls, massive gorilla-sized cousins to the baboon and mandrill, are less a problem in the swamp than they are in the Schwaltzwood, but you've still seen pictures of the giant grey monkeys with their canine snouts and their finger-long claws. Only this one is wrong, and the how of it is immediately apparent. The torso and head are indeed those of a ghul, a massive alpha ghul, but everything else about it is wrong. For one thing, its color. Rather than being a dull grey, its flesh and thin fur are almost transparent white, and you can see glowing blue and green dots speckled all over it like some strange creature of the deep. They pulse rhythmically in time with its heartbeat. For another, its throat is distended, bulging, with two massive glands or sacks prominently displayed. For a third, its jaw is overmuscled even for a ghul, creatures known for being able to crunch bone and suck out the marrow of livestock, and its fangs are as long as the backspike on a warhammer and appear just as potent. None of that, though, compares to the true horror of it. Each of its limbs, and even its ropey tail, has been replaced by a mass of cephalopod tentacles, and those tentacles are lined with suckers. Those suckers are lined with sharp teeth, and each with one big, jagged bony hook. It seems to have no problem twining its tentacles together like a rope for more support and crouching on them like a monkey's normal limbs, and those clawed suckers probably help it climb even more effectively as well as giving it a lethal set of sharp weapons.

Thankfully, you were expecting it, and as horrified as you are you take to the air and clamp your helmet on. Your vision has come true, everything from this point on is unknown.

>[Cast Smoke Arrow]
>[Cast Words of Lesser Attunement in preparation for a Minor Lightning Stroke]
>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]
>[Do something else]
>>
>>4529129
>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]

Let's do this!
>>
>>4529129
>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]

Deep breaths Jacob
DEEP, CALM, BREATHS
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 1, 3, 10, 9 = 28 (6d10)

The Chimera is entitled to a Sense+Sight roll...
>>
>>4529129
>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]

We can do this!
>>
>>4529129

>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]

Show some spine, and trust in your sorcery. If shit hits the fan, Soar above it and launch Smoke Arrows until it's dead. Got a feeling those tentacles are going to help it avoid slipping into the smoke cage by gripping like a motherfucker.
>>
>>4529143
It's why we covered it with smoke glass man.
>>
>>4529129
Consulting our spell list....we're gonna need something a bit more deadly than a needle to stun it, so smoke arrow is out for now.
Signal the Loyal to stand ready below with whatever signal you prepared, then:
>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]
>>
>>4529129
>[Trust your trap and spend the next few rounds casting Minor Smoke Structure, the quick version, in anticipation of making a lid over your chimera trap once it falls in]
IT'S TIME
>>
>>4529149

Smoke Arrow does Width in Killing damage man. It completely bypasses Shock boxes, and goes straight to knocking boxes off the area hit. It's also Intensity 1, so any set triggers it. The only thing that'll make it not work so good is if the Chimera has enough Dodge or Parry to deal with it. A Wide enough/High enough set will deal with that combat autism though if we get some good rolls. Really could have used that MD to get better sets though.
>>
Rolled 5, 5, 2, 6, 1, 2, 10, 5 = 36 (8d10)

Round 2...let's see here.
>>
>>4529157

Man that 3x5 would be so useful if I hadn't decided the DC for running on a glass ramp and not falling down was 6.
>>
>>4529154
Alright....sorry, I’m not the best with the mechanics of the spells here.
>>
Rolled 6, 6, 4, 1, 7, 10, 4, 8 = 46 (8d10)

>>
>>4529161
I believe it worked. The way I understand it, sets are good. The width of a spell determines its speed, whiile the high is its power/accuracy. To the best of my knowledge atleast, as I'm unfamiliar with the system as well.
>>
>>4529161

S'all good man. It's a pretty simple spell, and it seemed underpowered until Wong explained it more in depth in earlier threads. It'sone of those things where it seems a bit naff until you exercise some creativity. A real fast (Wide) one does a lot of deadly damage, and speeds into them fast enough that they can't do shit without the powers of sword and dodge autism to save them.

>>4529159

>Narrowly avoid having the Chimera wriggle up to fight us with a decent set by being one short in Height.

Well, Jakob seems to have better luck trapping than hunting at any rate.
>>
>>4529166

Yeah. The way it was described for our two attacking spells (Smoke Arrow and Minor Lightning Stroke), Width of the Set indicates damage (W Killing for SA, and W+3 Shock for MLS), with Height deciding location. The 3x10 we got with the lupomancer did 6 Shock to the Head, knocking him the fuck out since he only had 5 boxes in that location. Lightning Stroke does a lot of Stunning damage that needs to be Counter-spelled, while Smoke Arrow does a fair amount of Killing while only being avoided by Dodge or Parry. Each has it's own benefits, but Smoke Arrow has a better chance of being killing or disabling, while Lightning Stroke fills boxes up like a motherfucker while being harder to avoid.
>>
>>4529162
>2x6
This could be bad.
I can't tell yet.
>>
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The chimera hoots aggressively at you, pounds its chest with its tentacles, and charges...only to slip and fall face-first, its chin crunching against the glass as it slides towards you in a heap. Still, it whips its head up, and as its throat puffs up into two distinct sacks, you remember where you've seen that before.

It looks just like a big frog. Or a chameleon.

Its tongue whips out at you where you hover in the air, long as a grappling hook, and hits your right arm like a big, sticky cannonball. Its amorphous tip, covered in gluey mucus, clings to your elbow. You see a boney stinger emerging from the tip of its tongue, but it seems like it decided to grab you rather than just hit you with the tongue.

Mechanically, you have been Restrained. The Chimera will have to keep making Body+Fight rolls to keep ahold of you each round, and whatever its last set is when you finish casting, it can use that as gobble dice against whatever you're trying to do.

>[Drop Smoke Armor, which it's gripping, to instantly get free]
>[Keep casting, next round you'll be able to make your spell roll]
>[Cast something else and risk the 2x6 gobble dice ruining your roll]
>>
>>4529172
>Lightning Stroke fills boxes up like a motherfucker while being harder to avoid.

Unlimited! Power!
>>
>>4529172

Four boxes. You have five because of an Advantage you have.
>>
>>4529174
>[Keep casting, next round you'll be able to make your spell roll]
>>
>>4529174
>[Keep casting, next round you'll be able to make your spell roll]

Finish casting the lid, then drop the armor. Bonus if we use it's tongue to help it into the trap.
>>
>>4529174

>[Keep casting, next round you'll be able to make your spell roll]

Since we are now connected, is the pulling power of fly enough to act like we are randomly fleeing while pulling the chimera to the trapdoor? Also is this something that can be managed while casting or it is an additional action that eats dice?
>>
>>4529172

Also, forgot to add in, We should use Smoke Arrow versus Sorcerors, since they usually have high counterspell with shittier Dodge and Parry, and Lightning Stroke versus Sword Autists, since they might not have as good Counterspell, and generally have high Dodge and Parry. Against high Counterspelling Sword Autists or really nimble Sorcerors, we're kinda more up the creek, relying on high sets to force our way through it.

>>4529174

>[Keep casting, next round you'll be able to make your spell roll]

It's more important that we get this asshole trapped before he climbs up and tries to disembowel us. We've got two layers of platemail it has to punch through before it starts hurting us, and only the one tongue. If we drop the armour, it can try again, and possibly hit our unarmoured head.

>>4529176

Whoops, forgot that we had that advantage.
>>
>>4529174

For the record, it is right on the edge of the trap zone. It will keep making Body+Fight rolls, but it has to combine them with Coordination+Athletics to avoid sliding further, and if it fucks up just once it goes down the hole. If your spell goes off...well, we talked about what happens when that transpires, didn't we?

>>4529175

That's Minor Lightning Stroke, too. Attuned Wings of Words Sorcerers lose a lot of versatility, but the big boy Lightning Stroke (I don't actually like Major Lightning Stroke, I think it's a DPS loss because it's slow) is obscene. Width killing, and all waste dice (dice not part of a set) do 1 Killing to the location they represent.
>>
>>4529174
>[Keep casting, next round you'll be able to make your spell roll]

Drag it towards the hole, then we can drop smoke armor to make it fall in? Depends on how stronk our fly is.
>>
>>4529182
Or we shock the tongue while it's attached to us, forcing it to retract.
>>
>>4529179

I agree that we should drop the armor before we are pulled into the trap ourselves ourselves if it comes to that.
>>
Rolled 6, 7, 2, 8, 3, 4, 7 = 37 (7d10)

Round 4. START ROLLING DICE!

>>4529182

You put your helmet on when you took off, don't worry.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529187
Now we're talking dice!
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4529187
O please
>>
Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>4529187
DICEEEEEEE
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4529187
We are the flying magetank. But is it enough?
>>
>>4529187

Interesting. Only one success. This means that it cannot both hold you and avoid falling into the pit.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529185

That sounds like something we should go for after we seal the trap, or if we shit the bed casting next round.

>>4529183

>Lightning Stroke does big damage all over.

I kinda hope so, since I'm pretty sure it's an Intensity 6 spell.

>>4529187

Noice. Do we also have Wings of Words cast again, or do we need to do that before another Minor Lightning Stroke?
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4529187
Dice for the Dice Lord!
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4529187
DICE FOR WONG AND HIS DIE ADDICTION!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
Time for the die-ing blow!
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4529187

More for the Heap!
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4529187
Dice dice dice
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4529187
Freedom or die!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
Just keep stacking?
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4529187
Beware the Dice Lords!
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4529187

More?
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529187
Those who are dead may never Die in legend!
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4529187

>>4529203

May as well. Probably factoring in Sorcery dice as well as dice to avoid being pulled into the trap with it.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>4529187
Welcome to the Dice addiction bois!
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4529187
Never enough dice
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4529187
Die-ing was never an option!
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

Holy shit I hate recaptcha
I mean, uh, dice!
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4529187
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4529187

May as well re-use a pic I did up for last thread while thinking up a new one.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529187
To Die is to Serve!
>>
>>4529217
>>4529187
It blessed your roll
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>4529187
I think I’m underestimating the amount of dice needed for this to function
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529220
Forgot my roll
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
Is tie-die-ing an option?
>>
>>4529190
>>4529195

IT'S HAPPENING.
>>
>>4529195

You would need to do that again.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4529187

>Artist's depiction of foreign entities making fatal mistakes in the Absol Swamp.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
All according to plan!
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4529187
We need a squid trap meme here stat!
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>4529232
>>4529187
All the more reason to invest in the plant magic school
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4529187
Dice bois!
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4529187
Rollin, rollin, rollin, gotta keep on rollin
>>
>>4529187
I curse thy to thy die-ing breath!
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4529187
To die or not to die, that is the question.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4529232
Roll till ya drop I guess
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
So, we past the point of die-ing?

And by this I mean rolling.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4529187
Is 35+ die rolls enough?
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
*knock knock*This is the Police! Open up! We know you have dice in ther-
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4529187
If the QM is silent....
Although maybe next time put roughly how many rolls we need?
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>4529187
Time to fly or die, friend!
>>
>>4529266

I really should've. You're well over the 8d that composes Jakob's casting pool.
>>
>>4529273
Well, if we need more die for rolling, can you use the remainder, or do we have to roll them all again?
>>
>>4529273
What you didn't want 32ish extra rolls beyond what was needed?
>>
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You're down to one hand, but that doesn't matter. This thing that could easily shred you or smother you through your helmet slits, whose eyes glitter with almost human intelligence, is the most terrifying thing you have ever dealt with.

You are a noble. A scholarly noble, not a martial noble. Growing up, nobody dared throw a fist at you (your mother used a wooden ladle when you misbehaved) and while you had your share of fears, raw physical violence is not something you are terribly experienced with. This thing could shred any man who isn't a hero with mighty thews and a sword swift as lightning. This thing's fangs are more deadly than being hit with a battleaxe. Being socked in the stomach by its tongue or its tentacles would probably feel like getting clocked with a tree branch. Even wrapped in armor and magic, this thing would rip you limb from limb given time and motivation, and you have effectively cut yourself off from any reinforcements. Part of you feels like...maybe Albeda was right. You're not some great warrior, some legendary brawler or prodigal fighter, you're a boy who likes to read books and play games of strategy where you are nice and safe away from the violence. Maybe this is too much for you. The fear stretches before you like a wall of shuddering lightning, and every pull of the monster's tongue around your arm drags you closer to it. Nobody would hear if you just started screaming, whimpering, and crying for your mother and father to save you. Nobody would know if you pissed yourself. If you just gave up, wouldn't it be easier? The fear would be over. You could fall from the sky, maybe hit your head instead of having to deal with the agonizing death of this thing working out how to get past your armor.

[Continue...sorry guys.]
>>
So the important question now is, does Jakob have a bastard son or a cousin anywhere to carry on as the chimera does its work?

>>4529276

I never said that.
>>
>>4529278
Albeda is there.
>>
>>4529278
I'm sad now.
>>
>>4529278
.....
Wow
>>
>>4529278
Is it too late to dispel smoke armour?
>>
>>4529278

Given everything we had so far, unlikely to be a bastard son. It's more likely to be a cousin, probably on Dad's side, since Mom's side was kind of decimated by the Dancing Fever.

RIP Jakob, at least there's no more embarrassing nicknames in the depths.
>>
>>4529278
Franky, I don't know whether to continue on or not. I guess this is what demoralization feels like.
>>
>>4529278
Well that was anticlimactic. Rather annoying, as it kinda came down to dice rolls, and us deciding to risk it all.
I’d vote yes, but anyone else wouldn’t have the connections or learning.

Perhaps Jakob wasn’t the only one with a grudge against Albeda. There were others who swore loyalty to him, no?
>>
>>4529289
What, we pick up as Cailm?
>>
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But if you did, wouldn't she be right? Wouldn't she smirk? What was it she called you, a cowering sparrow? A feeble child? Right now, feeling the inhuman strength slowly reeling you in, you don't know.

You hear a crunch, and look down to see one of the chimera's tentacle-limbs pressing down on the thin, breakable smokemass lid over the steps. Breaking through. You can barely see it, over all the smoke you've pulled on the strength of your will into that spot. It's prioritized keeping a hold on you to keeping its balance, and with a gutteral hoot it falls shoulder-first through the smokemass, hitting the glassy ramp that was previously a staircase hard, and tumbling. Its tongue pulls, and your stomach drops as it drags you towards the pit with it. Down, down into the underworld. Through the fear. You scream, and pass through the terror into...

Calm. Absolute, tranquil calm. The spell that denied you earlier, that fought you. You weave it effortlessly, quickly. The chimera doesn't have a prayer of stopping you. The smoke around the mouth of the pit, the smoke you have just enough of for one attempt, swirls into a spiral shape. It's soft, it can't crush the tongue or cut it off, but it freezes around it bit by bit like ice, and as the chimera gazes up at you, sliding down the ramp, you see something new mingled with the rage in its eyes. Fear. It lets go with its tongue, hooting in distress as it desperately tries to find something to grip, to climb back out, but all of its thrashing is in vain. The smokemass momentarily grips its tongue, and you actually feel pity for the pain the creature must be experiencing before it manages to wriggle the soft, sticky tip through and pull it back into its mouth. The lid closes over it. Solidifies. You hover over the field of frozen smoke alone, unhurt, and triumphant, the setting sun lighting your smoke armor in colors of flame. You, Jakob Absol, have beaten your first monster.

You have won.
>>
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>>4529282
>>4529283
>>4529284
>>4529286
>>4529287
>>4529288
>>4529289

You guys have only yourselves to blame when you can clearly see you got a 2x8 and a 3x6 on the roll.
>>
>>4529291
You son'ova bitch
This can't be good for my heart
>>
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>best girl in best quest
What a good day.
>>
>>4529292
This is fucking getting stabbed in the face levels of whiplash all over again
>>
>>4529292
*phew* Thank god. I always told you I can't read dice Wong.
>>
>>4529291

Noice, time to celebrate by getting the Last Loyal to put it in the dungeons for future experimentation. Also, fuck you too Wong. Almost deleted the meme pic I was working on.

>>4529292

To be fair, the Chimera did roll up a 2x7, and I missed one of the 8s in the dice deluge before the cut-off amount.
>>
>>4529292
I don’t know the the QM does with the dice. Goddamn it I thought we were headed to rolling a new character.
My mood is like a yo-yo right now. Don’t EVER do that to me again.

Alright, now what the f do we do with this beast?
>>
>>4529277
AHHHHH
>>4529291
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
>>
Fifteen minutes to fix some dinner and we'll continue.
>>
>>4529302
Break it in. Train it. It's our new pet.

Say hello to Fluffy.
>>
>>4529309
>>4529302
We feed it every wolf in the swamp and neighboring provinces until the old wolf"king" shows himself
>>
>>4529302
have we fed jenny? i feel like jenny hasn't been fed enough with all these peace our father brought
>>
>>4529314
I’m thinking we show it off to demonstrate our power, then dispose of it somehow, whether by dissecting it to learn of its creation, or destroying it utterly and hanging its corpse on the briars of our walls.
We should put our faith in men, not monsters.

I don’t really want to have something smart enough to try and kill us once, that might have magical self destruct or assuming direct control sequences spun into it.
>>
>>4529340
Hanging its corpse on the walls is pretty metal
I like that
>>
>>4529343
And by walls I mean the thorn walls of the castle
>>
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MEANWHILE. “Jakob never had an interest in the sword or the shield. Without his bodyguards, and taken unawares, the chimera will rend him in a heartbeat. At least it will be quick.” Albeda sighs.

The woman standing in the shadow of the cypress tree frowns, “Every time that thing eats so much as a chicken it sprays blood everywhere, where is the mess?”

Albeda rolls her eyes again, “Can you contain your hatreds for just an hour longer, Char? His death was necessary, but he was nothing but a foolish boy with no talent. Not one of those you despise so much.”

“I despise them all.” The pyromancer shrugs, rolling her shoulders with a grin in her voice. Her skin is richly tanned, her legs long and with the sort of muscular tone unseen in any of the local girls. She wears a mask, but unlike the ritual masks of the swamp, it's a cloth headscarf, scarlet patterned with roiling wisps of grey smoke and yellow flames. She wears vivid vermilion silks, and not a lot of them. Her feet are bare, and she wears a set of golden bracelets and anklets set with chiming bells. Her eyes are nearly black, and glisten with fascination as she watches for the inevitable bloodspray at the top of the tower.

“Even me?” Albeda cannot help herself, raising an eyebrow at the dancer-sorceress.

“You, loveliest of lovelies? Never ever. You are earning everything you have. They inherit. They demand. They coerce. They break the world and everyone in it into the shape they want because they believe their blood has some divine property that entitles them to it. Yet when their corpses are burnt to ash, there is no difference between them and the most shitstained farmer.” The tall, dark woman begins stretching, as she is wont to do when bored, lifting her leg up over her head and holding it there. She casts a glance at Albeda to see whether she's watching, and frowns when she sees Albeda's beer-colored eyes fixed on the towertop.

[Continue]
>>
>>4529350
Shame we don't have a surprise smoke Ballista to shoot at them right now....
>>
>>4529340
Honestly, I'd like it as a pet. Nothing spells terrifying than showing off a monster sent to kill you as your pet. It'll be hell of an Intimidation factor if we manage to keep it alive and tame, lads.
>>
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“You would get farther if you flattered less.” Albeda observes, “I know your history, remember? There's a brighter torch you carry.” Her voice is dry, detached. “Even were I so inclined, I dislike being second-best.”

The leader of the ragged mass of men and women behind them clears his throat. “Sister Oath, Sister Char.” The man, wearing an eyepatch that gives his otherwise bland face some distinction, bows deeply, “Our wolves grow restless, is it time to enter the castle?”

Albeda nods slowly, and man and wolf alike scale ramps leading up to the main boardwalk that leads over the moat and towards the castle gates. The shadows are long, and so are their fangs. Sister Char seems utterly confident, her swaying movements drawing every eye as she dances ahead, but Albeda's steps are slow and measured. The pacing of a queen.

The gates stand open. No order has been given to shut them. The gate guards see their approach, and hurriedly run inside. Albeda smiles, and calls out, “I AM ABSOL! KNEEL AND BE SPARED! STAND AND DIE!”

“Dearie me...” A crackling, elderly voice intones. “Albeda, darling girl, you have grown so much. Grandmama couldn't be more proud of you.” The old woman shuffles into view between the open doors, her hideous face bared in a smile that, with its jagged teeth, long chin, and long nose resembles nothing so much as one of those increasingly satistic traps people design for the killing of that most accursed yard pest, the mole.

[Continue]
>>
>>4529365

>time to interrupt Albeda's pomp and grand entrance with a shitty meme.

It wouldn't be a proper Absol welcome if everything went her way.
>>
>>4529368

>yellow text on white background

Literally my only gripe with that 9/10 anon
>>
>>4529365
spank her grandma!
>>4529350
great. one of THOSE people.
>>
>>4529368

There's nothing shitty about that meme, oh wow.
>>
>>4529368
+1 mate, would be 10/10 if it wasn't for the yellow text.

>>4529374
Just you wait. I'm positive there's more going on under the surface.
>>
>>4529372

Revised to make the greentext a bit easier to see against the white background.
>>
>>4529382
10/10
>>
>>4529382

And there it is 10/10
>>
>>4529382
Quality meme right here. Already hate Char, also.
Idiots and furries, indeed.
>>
>>4529365
I wonder how many volleys of crossbow bolts are men could fire into their formation before they retreated out of range
>>
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“Grandmama.” Albeda's face softens into a smile, “I'm so glad you see who the victor is.” At the head of a few dozen magi, over a hundred wolves, and with an archmage at her shoulder there is not a drop of fear in her voice, “You are welcome by my side, you always were.”

Few people have ever seen Grandmama look sad, but for a moment, it's there in her black eyes, “I'm not at your side, girl. That's another of your mirror tricks.” She points another gnarled figure at Albeda, “And that is sadly just the problem. I do know who the victor is, and although I used to enjoy a bit of kneeling back when I was your age, I am far too old for it now.” She looks up, and Albeda and Sister Char do the same.

Lit by the setting sun is a figure, hovering over the tower. The smokemass that covers and accentuates his armor catches the light, its rippled hues reflecting grey, orange, gold, and scarlet. He hovers like an avenging god, the short-lived hailstorm fading away as though afraid of his very presence. His armet turns down towards them, and Albeda feels a cold chill run through her as she sees the Absol Eye surmounting his visor. “No.”

“Cunning is grand, girl, but the time comes when one must exercise strength personally.” Grandmama pulls her other hand out from behind her back, and casts a handful of powdered obsidian into the air. Darkness blankets the boardwalk where the head of the procession is, “Leap off, and break your legs, or stay there!” Grandmama cackles. From behind the gates, the Last Loyal march, flowing around her like a current, billhooks lowered to present a wall of bristling points. Their front line kneel, draw crossbows, and fire a volley into the onrushing wolves. From atop the barbican, a handful of people stand up. One throws another pinch of obsidian into the air, and the boardwalk at the rear of the formation is also enveloped in darkness. Two more begin chanting, and the darkness writhes. A Night Hunter's hand and head emerge from the blackness, frantically flailing and screaming about horrible, tiny teeth before he is dragged back in. The remaining two sorcerers on the barbican throw lit torches into a pair of braziers, and as the smoke rises up from them they each take up a large woven fan and swing it through the smoke. Narrow, crescent scythes of smokemass whip across the densely packed wolves

[Continue]
>>
>>4529395
>I used to enjoy a bit of kneeling back when I was your age

hot damn
>>
>>4529398
+1
>>
>>4529398
Grandmama has no Chill but a weird amount of Horny
>>
>>4529404

She got all those grandchildren from somewhere.
>>
>>4529407
Oh so many kidnappings
>>
>>4529395

Well, pretty solid way to show how Albeda lost Might and Influence after us wrecking the shit out of her ambush. Awfully hard to look baller when you get run out of the Castle grounds without even entering the keep by the opposing Lord flying in magic armour while your magician friends are being ripped to pieces by the shadows on the boardwalk.
>>
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Thunder peals from the heavens, and a winged silhouette soars overhead. An indescribable sentence echoes and rolls from Arad's mouth above, and wolves and mages alike trapped between the gnawing balls of darkness find themselves lifted into the air, to the height of a house, before being abruptly dropped. Some land on their heads. All the while, the Last Loyal form a bristling wall of billhooks, which only wavers when Sister Char bursts from the blackness at the rear of the formation, panting and bloodied, holding Albeda's hand.

She's covered in teethmarks, “Albeda, this w-” She looks down at the hand she's holding, and realizes that it's just a hand, slowly turning into crackling shards of glass. “Damn it.” She cracks a smile, “You NEVER get to see me at my best.” She reluctantly drops the Glass Diplomat's hand, and it breaks apart into shards. She looks up to see.

>[A clear path out (fight ends)]
>[You (solo battle against Char, victory captures her and gives you the remaining 2 exp needed for a Sorcery MD)]
>>
>>4529411
i feel extra bad for her now, she would go deeper to whatever hole she started digging, i really hope we can capture her alive and smack the nonsense out of her
>>
>>4529412
>[You (solo battle against Char, victory captures her and gives you the remaining 2 exp needed for a Sorcery MD)]
It was never a choice.
>>
>>4529412
>[You (solo battle against Char, victory captures her and gives you the remaining 2 exp needed for a Sorcery MD)]
Hahaha, Because I'm a gluten for punishment and exp
Dice don't fail me now plz
>>
>>4529412

Torn between letting her get away because we are already pushing our luck, but we're already armoured up and ready to throw down. Fuck it.

>[You (solo battle against Char, victory captures her and gives you the remaining 2 exp needed for a Sorcery MD)]

She's already in a bit of a rough state from Grandmama, and we're already ready to tango. Time to turn this rout into a crushing defeat.
>>
Rolled 10, 1, 8, 10, 7, 9, 1, 8 = 54 (8d10)

>>
>>4529412
What’s our odds here guys? I’m feeling like we pushed enough and crushed them, and that we will get more chances via good planning and stacking the deck rather than yolo 1v1 me. At the same time.....
>[A clear path out (fight ends)]
>>
>>4529421
Yikes.
>>
>>4529421
>Sister Char starts with a pair of 10's
Haha fuck
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>4529421
>>
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>>4529412
>>4529412
>[You (solo battle against Char, victory captures her and gives you the remaining 2 exp needed for a Sorcery MD)]

you've come to the wrong house fool
>>
>>4529421
*grins* I was hoping for a challenge today...
>>
>>4529425
Welp time to see how good our stacked layers of Armour really are
>>
>>4529424

Yeah but she is OBLIGATED to make her best roll of each round Coordination+Dance. She still has 2x8, 2x7 (I accidentally rolled one too few dice for her), and 2x1. She successfully dances, and she successfully casts Immolate (2 Killing, basic firebolt spell) into your chest if you don't counterspell. She also has a point of Killing damage to each location already from getting nibbled on by the Shadowbinders' gribblies.

Will you

>[Counterspell]
>[Cast a spell of your own at her, if this option is selected I'll hold a vote for Minor Lightning Bolt, assuming you successfully cast the attunement spell on the way down here, or Smoke Arrow].
>>
>>4529434
>Lightning bolt

Ultimate! Power!
>>
>>4529432

Unless it explicitly says that it does, armor does not apply against magic. That's what balances spells that do Width killing against a billhook that does Width+1 Killing, Width Shock
>>
>>4529434
>Lightning Bolt
Fuck it, act like her fire bolt spell doesn't even phase you
Magic armour do your thing
>>
I'll use up the dice you've already rolled before asking for more.
>>
>>4529434

>[Counterspell]

Fuck up a good spell, then arrow to the chest in return afterwards. Her Sorcery and Counterspell are probably good, but I doubt she has the stats to deal with Smoke Arrow, and it''ll pile on good with the Killing damage she already took.
>>
>>4529438
Fine.
>Counterspell
>Second action Lightning bolt
>>
>>4529434
>Cast a spell
>>
>>4529434
>[Counterspell]
Still wrapping head around mechanics, but time favors the one with more allies if we drag this out
>>
>>4529442
Just so I'm clear, all I want is the meme, don't care how it comes about.
>>
I'm seeing 2 votes for Counterspell, 2 for a spell (probably Minor Lightning Stroke). Oh no, it's happening again. Remember, you canNOT multiple action with spells unless you're using Flame Dancing, which mandates it. Which is also why she doesn't have a MD.
>>
>>4529434
>lighting bolt

Smite her before she smites you!
>>
>>4529438
>>4529439
Ah, then I'll change to
>Counterspell
Not sure if can beat a pair of 10's...
>>
>>4529449

The 10s were used up on Dancing. We need to beat a 2x8 and a 2x7. We'll have 3x9 I think, which should be fast and High enough to fizzle it out.
>>
>>4529442

You can't Multiple Action spells unless you're a Flame Dancer combining it with Coordination+Dance, you've got to pick one.
>>
>>4529452
Sorry for messing with the mojo.

>Lightning
>>
>>4529451

And a 2x1. For the sake of this still being pretty early in the game I'll explain this. If you declare you're trying to do a thing and someone ruins your set, you can move it to the next one. She rolled a whopping four sets on that roll, one being dance, you would need to ruin at least three sets to stop her here. Keep that in mind if you go with Counterspell.

>>4529200
>>4529201
>>4529202
>>4529203
>>4529204
>>4529205
>>4529207
>>4529208
>10, 3, 10, 9, 2, 5, 8, 1

This is your roll, incidentally.
>>
We are still tied, oh no.
>>
>>4529455
So we have 1 set
And even though it's a pair 10
That would be insufficient to "gobble" 3 sets
Is that correct?
>>
>>4529455

Ah shit, I shouldn't have posted your roll until you decided your action. Well, that's my fuckup.
>>
>>4529455

If that's the case, switching over to Lightning if I'm allowed to.

>[Cast a spell of your own]

Three sets is a lot to try and wipe out, so may as well use our 10s to try and knock her the fuck out like we did with the Lupomancer.
>>
>>4529458

Yes.
>>
>>4529457
After 5 minutes, flip a coin?

I would switch votes for simplicity, but I'm afraid that I'll muck it up again.
>>
Rolled 2, 8, 8, 8, 3, 3, 5, 1, 6 = 44 (9d10)

>>
>>4529459
Don't worry about it. If I didn't fuck up, it probably would have been lightning. Sorry for the mix up lads.
>>
>>4529461
Okay, I think I've got the basics down then thanks
>>4529459
Whistles innocently
Don't mind me just
Changing my vote aaaaaagaaaain
>Lightning bolt her
>Act like her fire bolt doesn't phase you in the slightest
>>
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>>4529463
>3x8
>>
A clarification, she has 1 Killing on each LIMB, my bad.
>>
Well we are certainly living up to “The Hasty” epithet in our votes lol.
>>
>>4529468
Certainly the Monster Hunter one as well.
>>
She looks up...and there you are, hovering before her, the burning Absol eye still glowing in smokemass over your forehead. Her lips twist in a sneer, “I'm not impressed. Little boys are all the same, ego and brute force, desperately tugging their pathetic little manhoods to how strong they are. Gods I will enjoy this.” She raises her voice, “SINGLE COMBAT, LORD ABSOL!”

You could run, call out for Grandmama and Arad to save you, but if you do, people will remember it. You nod.

She twirls and spins, one leg crossing over another as if bowing to an invisible partner, and the heat shimmers around her. One arm she extends towards you as she arches back, her breasts pressing out against the thin fabric binding them, her other arm reaching back in a stylized depiction of a javelin throw.

You spit lightning into her face, but she is far, far tougher than she looks. Her head whips back and she nearly falls, but her dance continues and the bolt of golden flame hits your chest like a lance. You feel PAIN, searing pain, burning you through your armor. Thankfully, you have a helmet on, she doesn't see you grit your teeth.

She continues dancing, and this time, her arms sway wide around her, describing a sphere.

>[Counterspell]
>[Smoke Arrow]
>>
>>4529466

Which must go into Dance.
>>
>>4529473
>[Smoke Arrow]

If she can't dance she can't cast lads.
>>
>>4529474
She's a damn good dancer.

>>4529473
>[Smoke Arrow]
>>
>>4529473
>[Smoke Arrow]
What could possibly go wrong
>>
>>4529473

2x3 is a different area. If I measured out our rolls, we can definitely snuff it out with a 2x7 set. Save our next bunch of sets for a heavy hit pf 3x9 with Smoke Arrow after.
>>
>>4529480

Forget to add my choice.

>[Counterspell]
>>
>>4529474
So what your saying is
We need to incapacitate or out right remove a leg to prevent her from dancing
>>
>>4529480

If you hit with an attack, you automatically knock a die out of one set your enemy has lower than yours.
>>
>>4529473
This is why we should have taken the win. I don’t think unstacked single combat should be our forte.
I’m kinda just guessing that she’s probably doubling down on offense?

>[Smoke Arrow]

Shit talk her about your sister not even showing up on the field? Or is that distracting from casting?
>>
>>4529483
It'll be such a shame...

Her best feature is her legs.
>>
>>4529483

Or her arms. Probably not a lot of spells in Flame Dancing you can use if you can't point at the target.

>>4529484

Ah shit, knew I was forgetting some things from the previous couple threads.

Swapping over to
>[Smoke Arrow]
>>
>>4529486
>shit talk her

Yes, I support if it doesn't interfere with our casting.
>>
Smoke Arrow seems to have it.

>>4529209
>>4529211
>>4529213
>>4529214
>>4529215
>>4529216
>>4529217
>>4529218

9, 7, 3, 4, 7, 4, 10, 8

I'm gonna assume you're using the 2x7 because the 4 is the left arm location.
>>
Rolled 10, 1, 8, 7, 3, 1, 3, 8, 10 = 51 (9d10)

>>
>>4529490
Ye, that seems fine.

But for all the uncultured noobs out there... someone want to explain how the numbers relate to body parts?
>>
>>4529490

>smoke arrow right in the tit.

Kinda hope she doesn't dodge it, would be funny to see the effect.
>>
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>>4529494

Why certainly. This is a normal human's wound boxes and wound locations.
>>
>>4529492
Damn
>>
>>4529492
That’s a lot of pairs
Stand firm Lord Jacob! This is the first step in crushing the rebels and restoring order to the realm!
>>
>>4529497
Thank you! I speak for the uncultured, of course...
>>
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>>4529497

Thanks a lot Wong. This should be one filled in properly for what we know Char's health is at, with Greys as Shock, and Black as Killing, so long as she doesn't have any Advantages that gives extra boxes like us.
>>
>>4529492

She is, again, going to put that 2x10 into dancing and 2x8 into dropping another Immolate into your chest. If you ruin any of those, she also has a 2x3 and a 2x1.

>[Try to ruin all three with a counterspell]
>[Shoot her with Smoke Arrow, ruin her 2x10 so that she has to dance with 2x8 and hit you with the 2x3, taking 2 Killing to the left arm]
>>
>>4529506

So I just realized how I fucked up. Minor Lightning Stroke does, uh, Width+3 Shock, not Width+2. Like you, she has the Thick Headed Advantage for another wound box in the head, but she's out.

You won without taking damage. This battle? It's all going on inside her mind.
>>
>>4529507
Easier than counterspelling
>[Shoot her with Smoke Arrow, ruin her 2x10 so that she has to dance with 2x8 and hit you with the 2x3, taking 2 Killing to the left arm]

Ha ha smoke needle go Brrrr?
>>
>>4529507
>[Shoot her with Smoke Arrow, ruin her 2x10 so that she has to dance with 2x8 and hit you with the 2x3, taking 2 Killing to the left arm]

>>4529511
Kek. Best meme of the thread, Wong.
>>
>>4529506

You hit her for 2 Killing in the chest, remember?
>>
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>>4529506

Added in one to try and keep track of Jakob's health too. If I mess up, give me the heads up so that I can change it up.

>>4529511

Kinda thought so after I saw the number of boxes. Get rekted scrub, just like your furry friend.
>>
>>4529516
We'll beat her in her dreams as well!
>>
>>4529511
So what you're saying is
Once again mother dearest has blessed our lightning from the great beyond
>>
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>>4529516

Thanks, wasn't 100% sure. Got these to help everyone keep track for future fights though.
>>
>>4529507
Second battle we’ve won by knocking them out instantly with a MINOR lightning bolt.

This is becoming a bit silly, why am I advocating for the cautious approach again?
>>
>>4529520

Even better, we dummied her with the same spell in the same location as the Lupomancer. You can bet that's going to resonate among the smallfolk.

>Oo-ar, Lord Jakob struck down a despicable Flame Dancer at Castle Briarfast.
>Really? How'd 'e do it?
>ZAP! Right between the eyes, just like that Night Hunter last week.
>Ooo-ar, definitely gonna wear a tin hat, just in case.
>>
>>4529523
Because out of all our knuckleheaded ideas, yours are the sane ones. Keep it up. We need a voice of reason in Jakob's mind.
>>
Rolled 2, 2, 7, 10, 3, 1, 3, 7, 7 = 42 (9d10)

>>
>>4529525
Always wear headgear to battle. Especially against Jacob ‘the Bolt’ Absol

Eh could use work
>>
>>4529222
>>4529225
>>4529227
>>4529232
>>4529234
>>4529241
>>4529242
>>4529245

7, 9, 9, 4, 9, 2, 7, 5 Oh yeah here's this for the last big Smoke Arrow.
>>
>>4529525
>tin hats become fashionable in the swamp

You can't make this stuff up.

>Illuminati started by Jakob when?
>>
>>4529533
You gotta admit, we got the Eye for it...

Nooo- stop throwing the cabbages!
>>
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>>4529525
cool
>>
>>4529532
I guess the real question becomes, does she have a wet dream about Jakob or not?

Just asking for the memes...
>>
>>4529532
>triple 9's and a pair 7
Wew lad
>>
Her Dance is an impressive 3x7, but her spellcasting rolls are a mere 2x3 and 2x2.

>[SMOKE ARROW]
>[COUNTERSPELL]

Keep in mind, one set on a Counterspell could beat both of those...but on the other hand, if you keep shooting her in the chest, she's screwed.
>>
>>4529545
>[SMOKE ARROW]
Don't fail us now!
>>
>>4529545
Let’s take the easy counter
>[COUNTERSPELL]
>>
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>>4529532

And another arrow to the chest. Looking a bit like a dog's chewtoy with the sooty face and a couple spare breathing holes in the chesttits.

>[SMOKE ARROW]

Fuck it, another arrow to the chest for traitors. Should fuck up another set, and our legs are still in good shape.
>>
I also fucked up again, as a general rule when you mess up someone's sets with a hit, they get to pick which set you destroy. Which is the advantage of Counterspell, Dodge, Parry, and other means of generating gobble dice, you can pick which sets get ruined. My bad, I'll keep it in mind for the future. Knocking the rust off, eh?
>>
>>4529551
But I bet there are only holes in her clothes, not the fleshy bits, if this is truely a dream.
>>
>>4529545
>>[SMOKE ARROW]
Pewpew
>>
>>4529545
>[COUNTERSPELL]
>>
>>4529553

But of course. She is the protagonist in her head during this dream sequence, we're just causing cosmetic damage even though we're putting up a decent fight for a nobleman.
>>
>>4529249
>>4529253
>>4529254
>>4529256
>>4529257
>>4529260
>>4529266
>>4529267

3, 3, 4, 9, 1, 9, 1, 9

That's three more killing to the chest, and the end of our banked dice.
>>
Rolled 8, 1, 9, 3, 1, 9, 3, 8, 8 = 50 (9d10)

Your Smoke Arrow hits her right in the chest, spoiling her magic and sending her reeling. She grits her teeth, “Your petty magics will not be enough to save you. I am the greater, my skill will prevail.”

“If that's the case, why didn't Albeda come here personally?” You swing your censer, inhale a mouthful of smoke through the breath holes in your visor, and exhale. If hers was a javelin of golden fire, yours is an aerodynamic quarrel of glass, striking her right between the ribs.

She drops to one knee, but lurches back up to her feet, somehow turning it into a swaying gesture. She pirouettes, and throws out one hand towards you, “She doesn't need to! Her safety is paramount, without her, the Pentacle is nothing.”

“It's nothing with her, either.” Her firebolt sears your left arm, but you hit her in the chest with another smoke arrow. She coughs hard. These are wounds she might survive, but it will take a long time to recover.

“You're nothing. You're a boy. A pale shadow of a great sorcerer, a weakling by all accounts.” Her voice is full of doubts, and her dancing wobbly and more erratic, though still beautiful and full of grace. Again, flames sear your left elbow, but again, you drill her in the chest with a bolt of smoke spat from beneath her visor, forcing her back. This time when she coughs, her lips are crimson.

“Yet, you will die here.” Your voice seems to echo from everywhere and nowhere. Everywhere she looks, the world is full of mist, save for this stretch of boardwalk and you.

>[Smoke Arrow]
>[Counterspell]
>>
Oh yeah, and start rolling dice!
>>
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Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529559
>>4529562

One more Smoke Arrow to the chest will end this. She's got a lot of sets, but we've got the health to eat a hit to the locations on it.

>[Smoke Arrow]
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4529562
>Smoke arrow

Gotta keep up the meme. Advance on her.
>>
>>4529562
Clearly we need to defeat her in her dream to flip her opinion on albeda being the right choice of swamp overlord to follow. Who follows a coward, after all? The pack?

Alright, she dances on the 9s, casts on the 8s, and if we shoot her the 2x1 is the thing that gets disrupted?
With that in mind,
>[Smoke Arrow]
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>4529562
>[Smoke Arrow]
>>
>>4529573

Dances on the 8s, her fastest set must be Dance, and Width comes before Height.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4529562
>>[Smoke Arrow]
>>4529565
IT IS TIME
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>4529573
>>4529571
Forgot my roll, and we need 2 sets to ensure something gets through after we get shot, or else we get disrupted, right?
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529573
Frankly, I would just settle for a wet dream. Think of the memes, mate.
>>
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Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4529562

Looks like Dream!Jakob will be able to eat another hit, since it'll be 2 Killing to whichever location, so even in her dream, we'll win with a matching set of 7-9
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529562
Dice
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>4529580

Yeah, but we get to pick. If it's just one set getting ruined, we'll pick the 2x2, and use the 2x8 to end this.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4529565
Still hoping for that grand meme, lads.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4529562
>>
>>4529571
>>4529572
>>4529575
>>4529578
>>4529580
>>4529581
>>4529582
>>4529583

8, 2, 7, 2, 6, 8, 3, 8.

3x8. She drops before her Immolate even goes off.
>>
>>4529594

Noice. Even in her dreams, goes out like a punk.
>>
>>4529594
Yes! Now, for the final conquest!

If you know what I mean...
>>
>>4529597
It's times like these I'm glad qm fiat dictates that this is a quest only for committed monogamous relationships and all coitus will be in the missionary position solely for the purpose of procreation
>>
>>4529597
No, bad Cailm
>>
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>>4529597
>>
>>4529600
>>4529601
>>4529602

Come on lads, I want to say that even Albeda's simp basically had a wet dream about Jakob in their first battle. Think of the memez!
>>
>>4529597
>>4529603
No.
Please no.
>>
>>4529597
You see, that’s something that happens if we are playing as Calim. We currently have bigger things to focus on, such as what to do with the prisoners (if any)

I believe we can leverage this position of strength over the pack to perhaps force him to fall into line, we have hostages and can maybe release one of the lower level ones to inform him we could negotiate for his loyalty?
Make sure he knows that sister oath misjudged us and that she can’t fulfill her promises.

If we get him off the table, and with Char in custody, that pentacle is looking like a sad triangle now.
That’s best case.
Worst case we execute them and take a bunch of grunts off the table, still a win. Get a ruthless reputation. Wouldn’t be my top pick tho, esp. with how we released that previous guy.
>>
>>4529603

>imagining bizarro-/qst/ thread of Resurgent Swamp Witch Quest.
>fukking Jake the Hasty, plot armour out the ass.
>spent all that time tracking down a Ghul Chimera and trying to keep it from eating Brother Grey's apprentices.
>Sister Char gets gibbed first go.
>fucker didn't even get knocked below half in any of his limbs.

The seethe and salt would be unreal.
>>
>>4529603
We don't need Albeda's sloppy infertile thirds
>>
>>4529600

Having a kid is useful. There is a delicate balance between getting a bad case of First Girl Syndrome and waiting too long and not being able to decide and ending up with one you're not quite happy with when it comes to securing an heir.
>>
>>4529607
>>4529606
>>4529605
Don't need it, but it's dreamworld anyway, so I'll have no effect on the reality of the situation. It'll just be for the meme of it.
>>
>>4529612
*it'll, not I'll

Fuckin autocorrect
>>
>>4529606
You have people trying to do their cool flame dancer build and then there’s this asshole who just spams bolt first turn and gets lucky, or shoots uncounterable smoke needles all day (yes I understand it wouldn’t be quite as good if he was using the rules correctly, but it’s still a good spell it seems)
>>
>>4529617
Or traps a chimera. But hey, we're supposed to be lucky, right?
>>
There is no more Jakob Absol. Before her is only fog, and a burning eye, firing a thousand smoke arrows. She feels herself tower over the swamp, a hundred feet tall, flame and vengeance, dancing to burn away the world's evils...and yet, to dance requires blood to move through the body, for passion to flow through the heart, and she looks down to see a wickedly barbed smokelance spear lodged through her chest. Her heart is pierced, broken, and as she falls, the fog closes in around her.

The garden is full of flowers, and white stones line the pathways. A young girl in a white dress, with a heart shaped face and a smile full of innocence is looking up at her. Her older brother is off playing with his friends, she can hear the shrill sound of boyish boasts and the clack of wooden swords, but he doesn't matter. “Are you our new guardian? Father says you're to look after us.” The girl smiles.

Sister Char shakes her head, looking down at herself. Coltish, not quite developed, but still tall and long-legged. When was the last time she saw herself this way? “I am to look after you, yes, but I would much rather be called your friend.” She hears herself say.

The girl smiles, and takes her hand, and the two of them walk away. Heartbreak is waiting down that garden path, but it is long ago, and far away. At last, they are together again.

Sister Char's eyes snap open, and immediately she wishes she was still dreaming. Her legs are chained to a pair of heavy iron blocks, and around her is a dank, mossy cell. Across the corridor from her place of imprisonment is another cell where a woman in a straw hat is eating a piece of bread.

“Wow, look at her hair.” Straw Hat remarks, “Those burns on her face, just like...” She raps on the wall of her cell. “Hey, eyepatch-boy, you awake?”

There is a low groan, and the Night Hunter with the eyepatch drags himself to the cell bars. He's a mass of bandages, and his arm is in a sling. Straw Hat regards Eyepatch unsympathetically, “You know that guy with the braided beard? Didn't his face look like that when he came back?”

“Cause he got lightning in his face.” Eyepatch grunts, “Can you piss off? I'm busy feeling sorry for myself.”

“Well why's she like that? Isn't she an archmage?” Straw Hat points at Sister Char.

“What. Happened. To. Me?” Char grits out, resisting the urge to chew her own feet off, dance on the bloody stumps, and immolate them both.

Eyepatch snorts at her, “Lord Absol spat lightning in your face, you fell over, and he sort of...whooped. Like he was surprised. Then that old Stormtongue who threw me into the air and broke my arm hugged him. I was busy surrendering.”

[Continue]
>>
>>4529617

I think the Smoke Arrows were kicking her ass because she was focusing on trying to out-damage race us, and that they couldn't be counter-spelled, only dodged. Can't dodge and dance+cast at the same time y'know
>>
>>4529622
Kek. I will say, this is a bit based.
>>
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>>4529608
well i already know who to vote for a wife
>>
>>4529622

>pic related.
Stay mad hoe.

>>4529627

Lady Hannah is a cute, can't wait to help her squash an insurrection like a good neighbour.
>>
Char looks at him. If looks could kill, he would be less than ash, “You surrendered?”

Eyepatch and Straw Hat both shrug. Straw Hat pipes up, “Yeah? The last one of the pack who ended up in here got sent back. It's not like we're being tortured or anything.”

Eyepatch nods, “We did our best, what more can you ask?”

“And what will Brother Grey do when he finds out how complacent you are with losing?” Char slumps back onto her cot, a crippling headache weakening her voice.

Both Night Hunters look pityingly at her. Straw Hat speaks first, “Some fights are lost. The Ragged Elder punishes only treason with death. The pack was one stronger when Braidbeard returned to it. He won't even be laughed at for losing to a boy anymore, thanks to you.” She turns to Eyepatch again, “Was he even injured?”

“No, at least not that I could see. Not by the chimera, not by her...you, uh, ever think maybe Sister Oath is just wrong?” Eyepatch remarks, “Oh, and do you have any more bread?”

Straw Hat passes Eyepatch a bun, “I think one of the guards is sweet on me. He gave me plenty.”

“Aww, good for you! I knew you'd do alright for yourself” Eyepatch gives her a thumbs up.

Straw Hat snorts, “You just want more bread.”

“Did someone say they have food? I'm starving, we weren't allowed to hunt before the fight...” Someone else calls out.

Sister Char lays back, and vigorously tries to will herself to die and dream of that garden again as the bickering and conversation of the Night Hunters filling every cell in the corridor echoes in her ears.
>>
>>4529631
We still didn't see what the Ryd's are packing yet. They might surprise us still.

Also got another screwball idea.

And no, it's not lewd, but it is devious...
>>
>>4529634
I'm listening tentatively...
>>
Game resumes Friday, feel free to talk and shitpost until then. Enjoy your Sorcery MD.
>>
>>4529632
ugh, our cells will smell like wet dog for months
>>4529641
thanks for running!
>>
>>4529636
Silver ankle and arm bracelets, held tight and incapable of being broken. Something to keep her company on they way back to Oath, a eternal remembrance of her loss to us, a humiliation for all to see, especially Albeda. Maybe even enchanted then to fuck her up every now or then.

Psychological Warfare upped to eleven.
>>
>>4529641
Was great, looking forwards to continuing this. Hope that we’ve got someone listening in on the prisoners so we can justify learning this nonsense.
>>
>>4529641
Good session, Wong! It certainly was a roller coaster ride of emotions.
>>
>>4529641
Thanks for running Wong
>>
>>4529641

Right on Wong, seeya then. Looking forward to the next bout of intrigue and plotting.

>>4529643

At least they don't have their 'companions' with them in the cells. Let them lick their wounds, and tell Brother Grey that he might be better off working with the new Absol rather than the false one. After all, the punishments dealt out so far are in line with his thoughts about treason and a fair fight.
>>
>>4529645
Frankly, just pump them for info and let them go. This will cause more problems for the Pentagram than Albeda can solve.

Plus, we'll need to interrogate Sister Char in person before we release her. Have a fine meal, in the Lord's hall, maybe pleasantly inquiring as to her motives and intent. At worse (or best, depending on perspective) it'll piss her right off, and at best, it'll undermine everything she has come to believe from Albeda. The mind gaming potential here is staggering.
>>
>>4529641
If you ever twist my emotions with that fakeout death again..... I don’t think I can take it.

>>4529650
Treat the prisoners decently, but I’m on board with not releasing them yet. We have one serious upper hand and we really need to not throw it away.

Trying to figure out Albeda’s plan with the glass diplomat tho. If the chimera works, great, but what happens when your double is sitting on the throne and the real one walks in? Not a great face for looking strong, either.
For that matter, why commit one of your archmages, alone? Are the Last Loyal really enough of a threat to require one of them to secure the hall?
>>
>>4529631
i'm looking forward to talk to her thighs when we are in a conversation as looking up to talk would hurt our neck
>>
>>4529645

Bread-Supplying Guard is definitely reporting it all.
>>
>>4529655
Actually, the plan was to assassinate us, and walk in unopposed, which failed quite amusingly as well. Glass Albeda said before that she'd rather commit suicide than continue existing without learning more magic, which is probably a deeply ingrained passion for her.

But I also support keeping them here for a minute. After all, how will they see our domesticated chimera if we haven't trained him yet for their release. The moral blow from that would be well worth it mates.
>>
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>>4529622
>>4529632
Kek, this banter is great wolfboys seem alright for a bunch of furies. I expected them to be a lot less chill and more feral. Though i guess a pack hierarchy would 98% followers and just a few alpha types duking it out for the top. pic related is how i picture them now.

Seems sister char has a grudge against nobles. considering the dream I'm guessing she was hired to protect/serve a souther noble lady fell in love with her and saw her killed in some court intrigue, or maybe just married of against her will.

>>4529641
Thanks for running, too bad usually either when I'm sleeping or at work. Only reason I even caught the end live was my because some dipshit waited until after my boss was done fixing his wires to mention that the entire household had the corona.
>>
>>4529655

It could be Albeda hedging her bets about us. She is sure that she could beat us in a sorcery duel, and we definitely could have been ruined by the Chimera if we didn't get that lucky Clearwater Oracle in the first thread. The issue with the double could be sorted when she strolls in with the rest of the Pentacle, since a strong Cabal would quell doubts among the smallfolk. Plus, Sister Char seems to be one of the more combat-capable mages against the Stormtongues and Shadowbinders she knows we have. Brother Gloam might have misgivings about fighting Grandmama, and depending on what Sister Shell has for spells (might not be suited to open warfare), that leaves Brother Grey, who might cause a bloodbath in the Castle. There's people in our court that are useful to have, and him killing people she might need isn't a way to sustain the fiefdom. Shit luck for her that we mopped the floor with the ambush and captured a critical asset.
>>
>>4529655

The thing to consider is that if Jakob is gone, Albeda is the last Absol. Without her, and with Jakob gone, the swamp would have no legitimate ruler and be reduced to squabbling tribes at the mercy of the other Frontier Provinces. In theory the King could appoint a new noble to govern the Swamp, but that would be worse for everyone involved than Albeda because you would have a foreigner blundering around doing stupid bullshit to prove he's in charge unless you got really, really lucky. Moreover, that requires King Ulrich, to actually DO something, and as far as Jakob has heard the last time he DID anything was declare war on Cheill.
>>
>>4529669

>new noble trying to be a swinging dick to get all these swamp people in line.

The only way it'd be worse if he had the bright idea to appoint a R*d to rule the swamp. Open revolt and insurrection that'll rival the lands of Galdynfyrgenbach no doubt.
>>
>>4529669

In short, it's likely that Albeda figured that even if Arad vowed revenge, if Grandmama hadn't already joined the fighting and committed she would pick the swamp over sentiment (Grandmama literally told you this already). With her collected archmagi and the influence she already has, she could force acceptance of herself as Lady Absol. Just showing up with a mob of armed supporters who can turn into giant wolves, sitting on the big chair, and going "Anyone with a problem, speak up" is a powerful argument when she is by rights Jakob's actual heir.
>>
>>4529667
In this case, hedging her bets was the wrong move. Keep in mind that she broke down into glass in front of all the troops. Combine that and us whooping their ass, as well as mercy/(they not a real threat stick we got going on), as she's got a serious problem on her hands, one I think she won't be able to solve. Frankly, we could tell Char here that if Ableda surrenders now, all would be forgiven (and even if we decide to break that promise, really, what harm has she done that wasn't to her our cause?), and a peaceful resolution could be achieved. While we go that, we could give the same terms to the furries, and there's a bigger chance they would agree to it than not. Either way, it's not how to win anymore, but how hard do you lose before it becomes unmanageable.

>>4529671
Oh gods, I don't even want to think how much of a clusterfuck that would be. The only good thing about that situation is that the Ryd's would get dragged down with us.
>>
>>4529675
Fuck, the grammar mistakes in this post are atrocious. I'm sorry to all who wanted to read it.
>>
>>4529672
Does contract/lawyer magic exits?
>>
>>4529641
Well now that we actually have a full on Flame Dancer I think it’s time we finally find out what the bad thing mentioned in >>4521804 was
>>
Torture all 3 for information.
Then turn sister Char into a quadruple amputee, slice and cauterize her tongue off too. Then send all 3 goons back and demand that they surrender and turn over Albeda.
>>
>>4529797
True

>>4529799
I think that'll send the wrong message. We just whooped their asses without a sweat. I think it'll send a better message if we just ask them for info politely and release them. After all, what threat did they pose with their strength when they tried to depose us? A man without fear doesn't torture his subjects needlessly.

And quite frankly, Albeda may be tempted to try the same, with disastrous results on her end.
>>
>>4529799
This seems like the wrong play. This is our chance to reach out and call out Elder Grey. Find out what he's after, and negotiate with him.
Call him out by sending maybe one of them back to say we want to negotiate with him alone, and offer him the chance to get his packmates back.
Territory, a place to call home? We can (Maybe) negotiate that. Battle, enemies to fight? There's a rebellion that we'll need assistance putting down next door.....

Maybe he cares nothing for his packmates. If that's the case, we can still try and convert them to our side, and if we manage that from a few more victories perhaps to prove our strength, he's not gonna let any who follow us return to him.

Sister Char, on the other hand.....Archmage, valuable asset to Albeda as one of her advisors and field commanders. Don't hand that back, and she can sit this war out in the dungeons, or potentially headless if we need to escalate.
Worst comes to worst, can be used for hostage trading if something goes wrong and we lose some of our archmages or something important.

The moment we execute her, however, those options are all off the table. Largest danger from her locked up is prison break, or feeding some intel somehow via magical means to Albeda.
>>
>>4529963
Frankly, I'd rather give Char a choice between being our well-treated if confined guest throughout this squabble or a chance to be free and return to Albeda, if she puts on the unremovable silver accessories mention above. I'd be interested in how she choose to answer her quandary, as it would be illuminating to observe. Either way, she would be no major threat, and probably a huge headache for our rival even if she is realeased. After all, can she trust an archmage who comes back to her relatively unharmed despite the overwhelming slaughter of her forces she sent under her protection? Even if she can, does she even want to? Keep in mind we took out one of her coven the same way we took out the mook, with a single spell to the dome. Could she even respect after such an archmage for such a massive failure to newly-minted, wet-behind-the-ears magi lord?

Either way, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
>>
>>4529799
The amputee thing is kind of weird but I agree that we can't just let the leaders of the rebellion go. That's a ridiculous move and we need to kill them all eventually in order to maintain any order over the swamp. (yes, that includes Albeda- ESPECIALLY Albeda) The goons might be safely ignored though and we can always hold off the executions until everything is over to make surrendering feel safer.
>>
>>4530007
Eh. I think it's more of a power move to let them live. After all, they figured they could take advantage of the death of our terror of a father and a new, untested Absol running things. They're opportunists, and they've failed to handle it well. I believe showing mercy would both incentivize them to come back into the fold and increase our prestige (whether through that mercy or the inference that we don't see them as a real threat) would better solidify our rule rather than putting everybody's head on a pike.

It would be a different story if they actually knew us personally and still revolted. But we have an interesting opportunity to build a solid foundation from this rabble, and potential one more loyal and indebted to us for it because of our mercy and might. Keep in mind that they aren't inherently disloyal to the swamp, it just that they got the interpretation of that loyalty a little blurred by opportunity.
>>
>>4530105
We still earned this victory, let's get something for it.

Just releasing the prisoners without negotiations just makes us appear weak and uncaring. We can be merciful without being overly soft. These guys are revolting against the current lord, and treason ordinarily means the noose, so just allowing them to live is being merciful.

Not to mention, I don't think Elder Grey was ever really in the fold, considering how our father apparently had to subdue him. Hoping we can get around without needing to attempt another 1v1 solo mage combat, because a titanic werewolf and wolf summoner is almost definitely more than a match for our current skillset.

Maybe we can find someone else who's alpha enough to lead the pack? Or just try to assassinate Grey with a half dozen smoke ballistas at the negotiating table, and let them sort it out. Would be poor form, and cause a whole host of other reputation problems, but it's one solution.(If we can figure out how to craft smoke ballistas, that is)

Also, the mountain delegation should be coming sometime soonish. Something else to keep in mind.
>>
>>4530182
I disagree about releasing the prisoners. We just foiled their plot so one-sidedly that even Jakob was surprised by it. Releasing them after wouldn't be seen as weakness or as uncaring. If we even wait till after we tamed the chimera, it would been seen as a message, and a strong one at that.

Then there's the strategic confusion that that enemy will face when they try to decipher our actions. We clap the ambush, then realease the prisoners? Why even let one of Albeda's top lieutenants leave unmarred? Not to mention the rank and file are already beginning to question their leadership and their cause. Organizational cohesion is already breaking down within the Pentagram, and by releasing our prisoners with a message that we can bend even the most dangerous creatures to our will is going to be terrifying in how unconventionally bold it would be, not to mention the power to see it through. Even on a psychological level it would be terrifyingly impressive, and combine it with all the other metal tricks we're going to be playing on them, and we may see them start dealing with more internal problems than us, even if it's just dealing with operational security (which will force Albeda to either trust that we didn't infiltrate or turncoat her agents, or have her take action to guard against that and ruin the trust and stability of the organization further, all the while driving her mad at all the potential problems our actions bring her). And remember, she's a talented witch, but she isn't a lord. By diluting organizational cohesion with the returning messengers chained up now, it'll force them to focus on the internal problems that would bring, as well as put pressure on the structure of the organization as a whole. The foundations of the Pentagram are cracking, we're just adding water and ice to help it crumble.

Gray may also not be as insane as our mages say, just so beastial as to seem insane. And it seems to me, with us taking to the fight head on and my releasing his packmates, plus with Albeda refusing to face is directly, that we may already have some sympathizers in their organization, and some measure of respect from the wolf pack itself.

And the Ryd delegation is coming, your right about that. We should go out and greet them, when we have the time.
>>
Alright guys, I had a thought
Bare with me here
We need Swamp Sharks
Also we really need to invest in finding that toadification spell to deal with any of the less pleasant prisoners amd eventually Albeda and probably sister Char
>>
Can people please stop trying to act like psychological warfare experts when our character can barely talk to a cute girl?
>>
>>4530105
They can't be trusted. Crush them.
>>
>>4530331
Never.

>>4530331
They can't trust themselves. They'll crush themselves.
>>
>>4530331
as far as I can tell, we're substantially better at psychological warfare than cute-girl-talking, and our history has born that out.
>>
>>4530331
yeah i doubt jakob can do this anyway, any good lord knows diplomacy is key to all conflicts.

i personally want a highly public trial against them, use jakob's strength. heck we can even call out their leaders to defend them
>>
>>4530331
Girls may be from other planes of existence, but we've got decent Knowledge+Strategy, for diplomatic chess.

For the record, I'm still on board with keeping most of them and definitely Char locked up, but not executed. Hostages have value, dead bodies (usually) don't, besides creating grudges and a reputation for ruthlessness.
>>
>>4530434
>>4530454
I should probably clairify things. My thoughts are not geared to fighting defensively. I want to be offensive in the most unconventional way we can so we obliterate our rival's power base while at the same time keeping the Swamp intact and bloodless as much as possible. To this end, I believe that traditional methods will cause more problems for us in the long run in ruling our Swamp and dealing with future conflicts. To this end, I believe unconventional attacks on Albeda's ability to Command (which I think is one of her weaker abilities, as I think her stats are about 4 for Knowledge/Sense, 3 for Charm, and no skills in Command or battle oriented skills) will do the most damage to her coven, while still maintaining a relatively bloodless conflict for the Swamp. While I do believe that there will be more blood shed to come, it's in our best interests to not preside over a ruined, war-torn Swamp. Hence the mind games and tough Command choices we're handing to Albeda, as we're playing our strengths to her weakness. While it is unconventional, I believe that will be precisely the reason why it will succeed.

Now, my thoughts on Psychological Warfare (or playing with their emotions, as I like to think of it) is twofold. One, to divert the enemies attention and focus from yourself and reality, and shift it to themselves and their perceived situation. It is not so much as to cause mental torture, but simply a diversion to self reflection and imagined problems, so as to create an unfocused and self-absorbed enemy rather than a focused, determined one. Two, to obstruct and cloud their thought process with emotions instead of logic. Albeda's greatest asset is her mind, and the more we can obstruct clear thoughts in favor of murky emotions, the better. The more the enemy feels about you, rather than thinks, the more to your advantage and not theirs. This is especially the case with complicated emotion, as not only are they more diverting but also more draining as well.

It's from this perspective that I've based my ideas off of, as I think this is the best path forward in relation to our mission. Now, I don't want you guy to commit to ideas your not fully convinced about. But I figure I'm obligated to atleast inform you lads about where my thoughts come from, and to hopefully clarify my ideas a bit.
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>>4530526

I'm just not sure why you want to give Char the free jewelry honestly. That's my one comment, it's not my job to give my thoughts here.
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>>4530711
>inb4 He's just simping
Idk why he wants to give her magic jewelry and let Sister Char go either honestly.
I'd much rather keep her in prison and deny Albeda that additional Sorcerer and potentially force Albeda into attempting a jail brake that we could then take advantage of
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>>4529641

If it is of any import, I would really like for Sister Char to remain a prisoner for as long as possible.

Returning mooks is one thing, letting a critical enemy commander free is a different kind of stupid. If she is to be free, it's only after we have sufficiently influenced and cajoled her to our ways.
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>>4530711
I'd actually appreciate some thoughts given. I may argue a lot, but that's only to test the other's arguments and see which is sounder (even if I can be a bit autistic with it). The jewelry was meant to be gilded chains, a bit of a reminder of her failure and capacity. A subtle influence for distraction and self-reflection, not necessarily in a positive light. (Giving her the choice of freedom in silver shackles or keeping a flame bound in captivity was both meant as gathering a bit of personal insight into her character, a hard choice internalized and accepted, and emotionally fucking with her since she seems emotionally volatile and may already have a rage boner against us; keep in mind, there are probably other reasons why I thought it was a good idea, just can't recall at the moment).

Though if it seems like I'm talking out my ass, I do expect you lads to call me out on it. Never know when the next idea is just genius level crazy or just stupid crazy (maybe it's just plain crazy).

By the way, is there an enchantment that lets us create a disposable one-use counterspell statue, or something of the like? I'm just curious here.

>>4530729
Could be.
Honestly, it goes to the core trust of an organization. Can Albeda trust a mage released? Would she even take her back because Char got beaten by a baby sorcerer in one hit? Then there's the intimidation factor, if we manage to frame it as giving them a fair shot. This may be the stupid crazy talking, but I don't believe it would turn out hunky-dory for Char and Albeda after that, as well as the Pentagram coven as a group.

>>4530737
Frankly, I understand completely. It's certainly a mad risk. But you do have to wonder, what would the enemy think we're thinking, because we must be trying to pull with these moves. What would you think of your enemy released your commander, for no discernible reason or reward?

Again, could just be the crazy talking.
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>>4530752
Well, at least you can understand the just of it.

Hopefully
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>>4530752
It is crazy talk. You don't just fucking release an enemy general and archmage no matter how much you wanna bang that brown ass.
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>>4530752
>By the way, is there an enchantment that lets us create a disposable one-use counterspell statue, or something of the like? I'm just curious here.

This I can answer. Not that you know of. Cheill's only school of sorcery focused on antimagic, you know that much, but you don't remember it being item-based. Nor are there isekai slave collars.
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>>4530775
Speaking frankly, it's not about the sex. It's about stowing discord in the minds of men.

Again, this may be the crazy talking, and that rational though will prevail. I do welcome you keeping me on my toes.

>>4530782
Interesting. And Kek. You have my thanks, mate.

Another possibility insane question; how feasible is a smoke mass ship? (Besides the obvious flaw of timed destruction.)
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>>4530800
IIRC Wong said one of the Big Smoke crafting spells has its time duration in years of width
So using that to make a Smoke Mass ship could work
But we may need knowledge of ship building for it to work correctly
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>>4530800
They're not going to think 'Just what is that wily Jakob up to?' if we release Char and let her rejoin their ranks. They're just going to think we're a gullible, naive idiot unfit for leadership for letting a powerful archmage just waltz out of prison and let her be free to terrorize and murder our people.

Plus she'll be able to tell them of our new spells and abilities in greater detail.
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>>4529644

Have you ever heard of that Samnite commander, Gaius Pontius?
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>>4530801
A ship made of smoke would be extremely light, and probably outrun or overcatch the other heavier ships. But you post lead to another mad thought. But I should probably stop while I'm ahead.

>>4530809
Maybe. But we did beat their ass soundly. Eh. I'll try to refrain from further arguments about this.

I will point out though, all they seen us do is flight and lightning bolt. Eveything else would be conjecture.

>>4530810
Not before now. I appreciate the warning, Wong.
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>>4530809
>>4530819

Albeda, at least, had a pretty good idea of what your spells and abilities were at the beginning of the game. She did underestimate them, if what you've seen so far is accurate.
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A note to myself, The General's Visage is a good Esoteric path for Jakob since it uses Command+Inspire and affects Company-level Might rolls.
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>>4530845
Oh? Do tell. You have me intrigued.
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>>4530809

Agree with this. Char should be our prisoner for the duration of the conflict at best, and executed publically at worst. Even if we choose to let the lower ranks go free after gaining the information that we wanted, beheading and staking the bodies on the walls of Castle Briarfast is what awaits the traitor leaders. Albeda may possibly survive to enjoy the wedded life with Lord Schwaltzwood by virtue of being kin annd our prior history, but we have no such ties to the rest. Unless Sister Shell is some surprise long-lost cousin or pawn of Lady Petrine

Grey should have been put down when he last rose up, Char is an active threat to our rule, and Gloam is trying to break cardinal rules of Shadowbinding. Not sure what's up with Shell yet, since we haven't seen hide nor hair of her, but it's unlikely to be good given the company she keeps. Losing an Archmage Night Hunter in executing Grey is rough, but it'll likely result in a new leader of the Pack who is more in line with our rule. The others can water the walls with their blood as far as I'm concerned.
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>>4530819

Well, they'll know that we have Smoke Armour for sure. Not even from Char or potential prisoner assets, but from whispers among the smallfolk. Pretty hard to keep rumours of armour that ripples in grey, orange, gold and scarlet down, and she's smart enough to put two and two together without coming up as 5. Unlikely that they know about the rest of our advanced Smoke Sculpting, but probably are thinking that we'll go more into Wings of Words to get stronger attack spells.
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>>4531186
Remember Sister Shell is Lady Petrine.

By the way, Sister Shell is probably where they're getting their divinations from. Unless shell is a reference to monster binding. Unlikely, but you never really know from magi from the Swamp.
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>>4531197
And man, what tales they'll tell, because just the description itself sounds like something out of a legend. The shifting hues of fire surrounded him like a haze, like an mystical eye looking down on the chaos below... Gives a bit of a Sauron vibe, you know?
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It just occurred to me how much of a lucky break we caught with getting visions of the Chimera, and just how screwed we would have been without that. I know it got pointed out before, but without armor and prep time we would likely have been dead, and then invaded almost immediately even if we somehow managed to kill it.

With that in mind, investing some more in some other divination magic seems well spent, or for something into our sense, so we can not get caught with our armor off. Because we are so screwed if a good melee assassin comes after us and we don't have armor and bodies nearby, as our Body, Coordination, and Dodge are ......sub-par, and anyone who can dodge smoke arrows has us in a spot of trouble.

>>4530526
Because we have stronger Command and Inspire, it should be easier to keep the people on our side. We also have the advantage of being the current entrenched lord, while she's perceived as a rebel. Of course, someone in her little remaining square probably has high Command-Intimidate, and that's being used to cow the people into following her, along with having a seemingly more powerful military.

However, for something like personal relationships, that's more likely to land into Charm, which she might be able to use to keep solo assets on her side I.E. Char if we sent her back. It's far easier to target her power base and try to fracture their belief in her to win by landing more victories like the one we just did, and keep directly reducing her available people.

In other news, I've just discovered Reign and I'm trying to read up on the system better.
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>>4529438

Skimming things over again Wong, got a question for you. What order does AR lower damage from weapons? Does it deplete Killing damage first, then reduces Shock if there is enough left over? Mainly curious to see how it works for future fighting. And if Plate is AR4 with AR8 if Smoke Armour is laid overtop, that's a lot of steel and smoke to hack through to do anything substantial to Jakob when he's fully armoured up if the opponent doesn't have Esoteric Techniques or weaponry to reduce it.
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>>4531265
Same. It's an interesting RPG they have going on.

A point on the high Command/Intimidate, though I don't want to get too bogged down in minutia and mechanic details. Brother Grey seems to be what your referencing, as it seems the Grey Hunters are the only Might asset they have going on atm. Deal with him, deal a crippling blow to their Might.

Again though, don't want to travel to far down the mechanics road here. And I will point out, Albeda's Charm is probably based around her looks and her status as our father's student, as I interpret her actions as like a NEET witch suddenly thrust into Politics without any of the social skill set needed to actually keep everything running smoothly. Say what you will, it does sound like an interesting challenge to have, assuming Wong stops joking around and give us a heart attack about Jakob for real.
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>>4531289
Magi too OP. It's why we're the Elite Special Forces despite living like Shrek in our Swamp.
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File: Jakob paperdoll blank.png (850 KB, 616x860)
850 KB
850 KB PNG
Knocked together a quick paperdoll for Jakob based off of an image Wong dropped in previous threads for it, since I know the box distribution and hit locations. Saving it for future reference, and dropping it in the thread for everyone else's use.
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>>4531451
Solid work. Will be useful for gauging our combat options, when we start doing fights that last beyond a single lightning bolt headshot.
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>>4531451
Based.

This tickles an incling of an idea. I know we could put souls into weapons and such, but what about tools or items? Say, a censer for instance?
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So now that we've crushed Albeda's assassination attempt, I feel it's time to compose the letter to send out with criers to all the towns condemning the Pentagram, talking about how our ancestor came to power and overthrew
the Throwndwellers through the support and strength of the swamp people and not through being the most powerful mage and making the call to arms that I had posted about before.
Also Throwing the Last Loyal one hell of a party and thanking them and the mages who participated in today's battle for their support, loyalty and just for being awesome.
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>>4531910
The party is a must, there is no doubt in that.

Add in the fact that their sorcerers tried to sneakily send a monster out to kill us, and we stopped it with not a hair of harm. And that the Pentagram is just the Thorndwellers hiding under a different name, and I think it's golden, mate.
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>>4531910
or we could not make a big deal about it and treat it as nothing more than bandit raids, make them seethe as much as possible
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>>4532043
Oohhh... I like that as well.

Is this gonna go the way of the waifus? There can be only one?

Damnit. I like both. Why does God curse us with such great choices?
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>play it up
>play it down
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>>4532081
>Play it up
I mean, it's our first real "Military" victory as the new Lord Absol
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>>4532081
>play it up

Let our name be known, and our enemies tremble!
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>>4532081

>play it up

Even if it might make the Pentacle seem a bit more powerful than what they are, we DID smoke an archmage Flame Dancer by ourselves, as well as overcome a fuck-off dangerous chimera. Everybody knows that Albeda is a powerful sorceress, and letting them know that we outplayed her twice is bound to be to our credit. People haven't seen us fight much or perform great feats of magic until recently, so the more image they have of us being a competent lord and mage is another step away from the callow youth and shitty hunter we had in the past. We don't skulk in the mud and ruins, we stride on the boardwalks and rice paddies.

Plus, those are some damn bold bandits if they're coming up to Castle Briarfast. Could accidentally make people think that we're weak enough to let them run through the county and not be noticed until they reach our doors.
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>>4532081
>>play it up
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>>4532112
>shitty hunter

I don't know about that anymore. We did bag a chimera after all.
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>>4532112
>smoke an archmage Flame Dancer

I see what you did there
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>>4532135

>bagged a chimera

Yeah, it didn't take us 4 hrs of tracking over scattered bits of dry ground, falling into a peat bog, wrenching our water-logged ass onto dry ground, pulling Cailm out of some quicksand after he stepped in it while talking about the dangers of hunting in the lowland swamp, and arriving to just a head and spine that was being chewed on by a croc that we had to chase off with a branch to it's eye. THIS hunt went swimmingly. Probably because Cailm was busy chasing skirts and staying conspicuously in well-lit taverns tonight.
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>>4529681

Not that you know of. Magic is notoriously unable to think for people or control minds. You could, say, conjure a horrifying illusory spectre that makes an angry peasant mob run screaming in fear, but that's a result of your illusion being terrifying, not it directly tapping into their minds and hitting the Run button.
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>>4531451

I love it, +1 exp.
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>>4532047
>both

At least three so far have the potential to be wife material.
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>>4532081
>Play it up
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>>4532427
I meant the choice. I compare them to waifus because while both choices are good, there can only be one.

Even if you want to be a glutton and have them all....

No, this is nothing like the hunting expedition- or nicknames! Damnit Cailm!
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Two things I want to mention.

Firstly, I'm glad to see the Wong staple of anticlimactic duel endings is still around.

Secondly, Cailm is going to give us so much shit when he hears about how we blasted a beautiful woman right in the face.
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>>4532655

>blasted a beautiful woman in the face after meeting her.

To be fair, she WAS planning to cook us alive in our own armour. Lightning, applied directly to the forehead is a viable response to flaming lesbianswomen who are actively trying to usurp your rule and give it to your shitty relative.

Besides, we want a woman who'll get our fires going, and we need heirs! Heirs damn it, Cailm!
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>>4532655
What? We just unloaded our bolt onto her...

I'd like to see you unload on a witches face lik- Cailm? Why are you rolling on the floor laughing?
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>>4532655

In this case you actually neutralized a fair number of her spells by sheer luck. You were already buffed, so she couldn't close to short range and start automatically rolling 5d10 and doing Killing damage to every location that came up in addition to her other actions every turn (that was the sphere spell she failed to cast and then didn't retry), nor did she have the requisite amount of preptime to cast her big spells while you did. It was an asymmetrical fight, the best kind of fight for a sorcerer.
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>>4533170

New thread up!
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>>4533156
Realistically, I don't know many people who could tank a surprise lightning bolt to the face
And given it does width+3 Shock damage
Uh, I don't think mechanically many people in this system can tank a surprise Lightning bolt to the face either
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>>4533174
Is this our new thing? Just start smiting our enemies and Cailm?

What are we, some lightning bolt salesman or something?

*starts handing out lightning bolt like we're Zeus*



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